Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - Mata Mata - Arnoud Quanjer Wildlifephotography

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - Mata Mata

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 20:46 |

(1 vote, average 5.00 out of 5)

Mata Mata is located in prime game viewing area. I rate the Mata Mata area as very good for game viewing, and as the best for wildlife photography. All the waterholes close to Mata Mata are very productive and they have been well laid out for photography. What Mata Mata camp lacks, in my opinion, is 'atmosphere'. I can't really describe it, but it just didn't feel right to me. When I go to the Mata Mata area I prefer to stay at Kalahari Tented Camp.

Facilities

Mata Mata does not have a restaurant so you'll have to do your own cooking. The shop in Mata Mata is small and sells the most basic food items (some canned food, beer, soft drinks, wine and some frozen meat if you're lucky). I always bring all my food with me to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park as the shops are not very reliable. In April 2007 the shops were well stocked, but don't count on them having anything other than drinks. Mata Mata does not have cell reception and you can only pay in cash. Credit cards are not accepted for paying anything.

A pool has been constructed at Mata Mata, but they should have thought a bit harder when constucting it. This pool has got no shady areas whatsoever so either bring your own gazebo or be prepared to get severely sunburned. Of all the pools in the Kgalagadi this is the worst one by far.

The camp offers a very nice nighthide. From this hide you can view a waterhole that's located approx. 100m from the camp. At night this waterhole is lit by a floodlight until 22:00pm.

Borderpost

Mata Mata restcamp is located in the East of the park on the Namibian border. It's possible to enter, or leave, the park using the Mata Mata borderpost which was opened on 12 October 2007. The Mata Mata gate has been opened in order to promote regional tourism and to facilitate access between the southeastern areas of Namibia and this northwestern corner of South Africa. Only bona fide tourists to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park can use the Mata Mata Tourist Access facility between South Africa and Namibia. In terms of SANParks regulations, which are based on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) a scoping document was compiled. Tourists are required to stay over for two nights in one or more of the official overnight facilities of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. This regulation will be strictly enforced and no commercial traffic will be allowed.

When going to Namibia through the Park, you have to go to immigration in Twee Rivieren to have the passport stamped. There are no South African customs officials in Mata-Mata- only Namibians. If you arrive in Mata-Mata, finding out that you've forgotten to go to SA immigration, you'll have to drive back to Twee Rivieren to have the passports stamped! Namibia will not allow you to pass without the stamp, and the S.A. officials will not drive to Mata Mata. You are allowed to enter from Namibia as a day vistor, however do bear the following in mind: should you plan to use the Park as a thoroughfare between SA and Namibia, you must spend two (2) nights in the Park; people entering and trying to pass through without spending the compulsory nights were escorted out of the Park at their ports of entry, so please don't take chances!

Also, do take the immigration office's hours in consideration- not passing by immigration because the offices were closed will not be accepted as an excuse! The office hours are 08:00-16:00 (at Twee Rivieren and Mata-Mata)- just remember that Namibian time is GMT+1, and not GMT+2 as in South Africa, so they will run an hour earlier.

For more information please call +27 54 5612000

Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography