Mata Mata Camp- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Accommodation, facilities and General Information
Mar 30, 2009
Mata Mata Camp lies on the banks of the dry riverbed of the Auob River, on the western boundary of the Park and borders Namibia. The surrounding Kalahari Dune vegetation provide food and shelter for a number of herbivores including Springbok, Giraffe, Oryx, Blue Wildebeest and Steenbok.
Visitors may enter and exit the park from Namibia through the gate at Mata Mata Camp, but must spend a minimum of two nights inside the park before they depart. The Mata Mata border post doesn’t clear wood and vehicles and visitors must clear these at Twee Rivieren Camp.
Facilities at Mata Mata Camp
Visitors to the camp are able to replenish fuel supplies as well as basic provisions, at the small shop. During the summer months, especially during the local school holidays, ice is not always available. As the temperatures reaches a scorching forty degrees Celsius during these months, visitors must ensure that they have enough cool drinks to combat heat exhaustion. The tree in front of the shop also houses a couple of White-faced Owls, which hide in the branches during the day.
A small, but well kept swimming pool nestles between the park homes and camping sites and offers visitors a chance to cool off in the summer heat.
The small birds of prey museum next to the reception office is well worth a visit. The display includes large and small birds of prey including different owl species. Large high detail photographs augment the informative text.
Inside the camping ground, a bird hide overlooks a man made watering hole. Various animals arrive during the day to quench their thirst. Lions, jackal, hyena, cheetah and various herbivores frequent the water hole and visitors rarely have to leave the camp to view these animals.
Camping at Mata Mata Rest Camp
Campsites are gravel with no grass. The sites are relatively level, but not clearly marked. Some of the sites are small and large groups will have to search for the larger stands. Each campsite has a fireplace or portable braai stand and there are taps for water between the sites. Most of the sites have electrical outlets supplying power to campers.
A generator supplies electricity to the Mata Mata camp and operates for 18 hours per day. At night, management switches the generator off by eleven o' clock, ensuring peace and quiet during the hours of darkness. Large trees provide shade and most campsites have shade during part of the day.
Ablution facilities include a scullery for washing dishes and laundry. The washing lines are behind the scullery and partly obscured from view.
Chalets/Park Homes and Chalavans in Mata Mata
Mata Mata also provides accommodation in chalets and park homes. These range from two- bed chalets to family cottages, catering for families or groups of up to six people. Each cottage/chalet features a bathroom, kitchen and fan.
General Information about Mata Mata Rest Camp
The water at the camp is brackish and tourists must provide their own drinking water. Internal roads in the park are not suitable for sedans and are heavily corrugated at places, but the South African National Parks Board is attending to this problem. Wearing closed shoes at night is advisable as scorpions are abundant in the camping area.
Booking is essential and can be done at the South African National Parks office, Tel: +27 12 428 9111
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