Nossob Rest Camp Set for Major Facelift Inside the Kgalagadi Wilderness
One of the most treasured safari camps in Southern Africa is about to get a significant upgrade. SANParks has confirmed that Nossob Rest Camp, situated deep inside the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, will undergo scheduled maintenance and improvement works starting around 25 February 2026. The project is expected to run for roughly four months, bringing meaningful enhancements to the camp's facilities while the park remains fully operational for visitors.
For those in the African travel trade, this is essential planning information. Clients with upcoming Kalahari bookings need to be aware of what to expect during this period, and agents who communicate proactively will build trust and avoid unnecessary complaints down the line.
The improvements at Nossob will focus on several key areas. Campsite ablution facilities are being upgraded, alongside work on premium campsites and the popular riverfront units that give guests a front-row seat to the dry Nossob riverbed, one of the park's prime wildlife corridors. These are not cosmetic changes. They represent a deliberate effort by SANParks to lift long-term standards and ensure that the camp continues to meet the expectations of both domestic and international visitors for years to come.
The good news is that all existing bookings remain valid, and SANParks has stated that accommodation availability will not be reduced during the construction phase. However, guests staying at Nossob during these months should be prepared for some disruption. Construction activity, maintenance vehicles, and occasional noise are to be expected, although park management has committed to keeping disturbances as low as possible. Agents would do well to include a clear note about this in booking confirmations, setting realistic expectations while reassuring clients that the wilderness experience itself remains intact.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the great wildlife destinations on the African continent, straddling the border between South Africa and Botswana across nearly 40,000 square kilometres of semi-arid Kalahari savanna. On the South African side, there are three rest camps at Twee Rivieren, Nossob, and Mata Mata, along with six unfenced wilderness camps offering a more remote and intimate bush experience. Visitors travel from around the world to witness the park's famous Kalahari lions, which are among the most important lion populations in Africa [[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kgalagadi_Transfrontier_Park), as well as cheetah, leopard, and an extraordinary variety of raptors and desert-adapted species.
Nossob camp holds a special place in this landscape. Positioned along the dry Nossob River, it serves as a base for exploring the northern reaches of the park, where predator sightings can be exceptional. The camp also acts as the departure point for the popular Nossob 4x4 Eco-Trail, an adventure route that draws self-drive enthusiasts looking for a deeper connection with the Kalahari wilderness. With the upcoming upgrades, SANParks appears to be investing in ensuring that Nossob's infrastructure matches the quality of the wildlife experience it offers.
This kind of facility investment is part of a broader pattern across SANParks properties. In recent years, the organisation has carried out similar improvement projects at other camps within the Kgalagadi system, including work at Urikaruus Wilderness Camp, which was temporarily closed for essential upgrades before reopening for peak wildlife viewing season These rolling investments signal that SANParks is taking a long-term approach to maintaining its product offering, which is encouraging for agents who sell the park regularly and need confidence in the quality of what they are recommending.
It is worth reminding clients that the Kgalagadi, while stunning, is South Africa's most remote national park and requires more planning than destinations like Kruger [[2]](https://coconutsotr.com/the-kgalagadi-transfrontier-park-our-complete-guide/). The distance from Upington to the park entrance is approximately 250 kilometres, and once inside, infrastructure is deliberately kept minimal to preserve the wilderness character. Twee Rivieren is the only camp with 24-hour electricity and mobile phone reception [[3]](https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kgalagadi), so guests heading further north to Nossob should understand they are entering a space designed for unplugging and immersing in nature.
For agents packaging Kalahari safaris over the coming months, the practical advice is straightforward. Do not cancel or discourage Nossob bookings, but do set honest expectations. A short note explaining that upgrade works are in progress, alongside reassurance that wildlife viewing and the overall park experience remain unaffected, will go a long way. Clients who understand the context are far less likely to be disappointed, and many will appreciate knowing that the facilities are being improved for future visits.
Looking ahead, the completed upgrades should make Nossob an even stronger product to sell. Better ablution blocks, enhanced premium camping, and improved riverfront accommodation will raise the comfort level without compromising the raw, authentic Kalahari atmosphere that makes this park so special. For the African travel trade, the Kgalagadi remains one of those rare destinations where the experience genuinely exceeds expectations, and SANParks' willingness to invest in its upkeep is a positive sign for the long-term health of the product.
The message for the trade is clear: keep selling the Kalahari with confidence, brief your clients properly about the temporary works at Nossob, and look forward to an upgraded camp that will make future bookings even easier to recommend.
