Want to truly escape modern life and all its exhausting expectations? Then there’s no better place than the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. And within the park, there’s nowhere more indulgent than !Xaus Lodge. This secluded four-star oasis offers endless red dunes, dreamy salt pans and hours spent discovering wildlife and scenery. One Wild fan stands a chance to win an all-inclusive two-night stay for two worth R15,960!

A visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is like balm for the soul. At the four-star !Xaus Lodge, a private concession within the park, you will truly be off the grid and removed from life’s many demands. With 12 individual chalets, the lodge prides itself on serenity, captivating landscapes and a desert experience not to be forgotten.

Chalets der !Xaus Lodge im letzten Abendlicht, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kalahari, Südafrika, Afrika

Pictures courtesy of !Xaus Lodge

Dreaming of a trip to the Kgalagadi? These are the five essential experiences you shouldn’t miss out on.

Top 5 Kgalagadi experiences

#1: Top sighting

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The Kgalagadi’s leopards are an impressive bunch and most of them have a unique and fascinating story behind all those dots. Learn more through the Kgalagadi Leopard Project and make your own contribution to the research by sharing your leopard sighting.

#2: Top photo

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Picture by Willem Kruger

The big open skies of the Kalahari Desert make for spectacular shots at sunset. Scope out your location during the day so that you have everything lined up to take the shot at sunset and get back before the gate closes. If you’re lucky, an obliging animal might walk into the frame.

#3: Top game drive

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Driving through the dunes along the Kgalagadi’s Auob River (meaning bitter water) will surely deliver many treats, such as black-maned Kalahari lions and the oh so elegant gemsbok – the park’s emblem.

#4: Top birding

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Ask any Kgalagadi lover and they will quickly tell you this desert park is famous for its birds of prey – such as this immature black-chested snake-eagle. Download the Kgalagadi’s birding checklist and see how many species you can identify.

#5: Top pastime after dark

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With no ambient light pollution, stargazing in the Kgalagadi promises crystal clear skies and dazzling constellations. But wrap up warm, nights in the desert are rather chilly.

!Xaus Lodge

Buschmann-Guide der !Xaus Lodge erklärt Touristen auf einer Fußwanderung die Natur der Kalahari, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Südafrika, Afrika

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Fußsafari mit einem Buschmann-Guide der !Xaus Lodge in der Kalahari, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Südafrika, Afrika

!Xaus Lodge’s 12 chalets offer twin or king beds and your very own viewing deck – each overlooking the heart-shaped salt pan that is visited by wildlife. Venture out with one of the lodge’s knowledgeable guides to track animal spoor during morning wilderness walks, embark on a game drive in search of the mighty Kalahari lion, or simply relax at the pool admiring the captivating Kgalagadi view.

Making the lodge even more special is the fact that it’s owned by the local ǂKhomani San and Mier communities. Visit the Bushman crafting school and experience how this ancient culture has adapted to the modern world.

Win a stay at !Xaus

What’s included in the prize?

  • Guests will be met at Kamqua Picnic Site in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on their day of arrival and be transferred to and from the lodge in a game drive vehicle to enjoy the 35km, 90-dune trip.
  • Accommodation for two nights for two people sharing a chalet
  • All meals
  • A morning wilderness walk and mid-morning walk on the pan
  • A visit to the local Bushman crafting school
  • An afternoon or evening game drive
  • Night sky-viewing and stargazing (!Xaus Lodge provides telescopes)
  • Sundowners on the dunes

Good to know

Telecommunication signals do not reach the lodge – this means no TV, cellphones, WiFi or telephone disturbance. Bliss, right?

How to enter

Email the answer to our simple question below to [email protected] (subject line: !Xaus) before 20 November 2016. Remember to include your full names and contact details.

Question: In which national park is !Xaus Lodge situated?

Winner: Deepak Daya

Terms and conditions

The prize excludes SANParks conservation fees (Wild Card member enter the park at no cost), all alcoholic and other beverages purchased at !Xaus Lodge, crafts purchased at !Xaus Lodge and gratuities. Entrants must be 18 or older. The prize is not exchangeable for cash. The competition closes on 20 November 2016 at 12:00. Wild will randomly select a winner after which the winner will be issued with a Wild !Xaus Lodge voucher detailing the prize inclusions and exclusions. The winner will be notified telephonically. A booking must be made before 31 December 2016 and the winner has to use the prize before 31 December 2017. The booking will be subject to availability.

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