MEERKAT SANCTUARY
WELCOME TO KALAHARI TRAILS,
Kalahari Trails, better known as the Meerkat sanctuary, is home to one of the Kalahari’s best-known animals, suricates. Kalahari Trails Meerkat Sanctuary is 3500ha in size, nestled right in the heart of the red Kalahari dune fields, just 35km before the entrance to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP). This unique piece of heaven offers visitor experiences where you can get closer to nature and possibly interact with the Meerkats like no other place in the Kalahari. This unique experience provides visitors with a chance to walk the dunes and learn more about all the critters great and small that would be otherwise unseen, if you were traveling in a car or game drive vehicle. The dunes create miles of limitless beauty where the sky meets the sand and beyond.
This unique landscape is home to various game species as well as over 250 species of birds, but its all the small creatures that make this part of the desert so unique. This piece of land is vast, safe and quiet, offering the photographers, birders, botanists, nature lovers, astronomers and just about anyone wanting an interesting, informative and peaceful getaway close to nature, an unforgettable and unique experience.
Kalahari Trails offers a both day visitors and overnight visitors the chance to visit our rehabilitated colonies. Many of these meerkats are ‘misfits’- animals confiscated for cruelty, orphans and unwanted pets – which, now rehabilitated, have formed their own family group.
They roam freely about the lodge grounds, breeding and living a natural life. Photographers will be delighted at the photographic opportunities they offer.
Kalahari Trails offers a wide range of accommodation at reasonable prices. The main guesthouse commands impressive views of the Nossob riverbed and the dune fields stretching to the horizon. It has a large verandah (stoep) where guests can sit in comfort and visitors are welcome to use the barbecue (braai) facilities.
Visit us at Kalahari Trails to learn more about the magnificent Kalahari and its animals on our guided walks and tours.
ABOUT KALAHARI TRAILS
Professor Anne Rasa, an ethologist, known for her extensive studies on the social behaviour of dwarf mongoose in Kenya’s Taru Desert, and the author of the book, Mongoose watch: A family observed, was still in Bonn University and doing her research when she set her eyes on the Kalahari Trails farm. She wanted to buy the farm with all her heart but to no avail, each time she passed the farm she would make a stop and enquire about purchasing it, but the owner declined her offer each time, until 1997 when she finally got her wish and bought the farm.
Kiki and the image on the memorial service program
by | | Richard Rasa-Phillips
The farm was in a dilapidated state, and Richard, her son remembers them setting off to see the farm their mom had bought. They travelled along a dirt road back then and arrived at the farm all shook up from the drive. The main building was in total disrepair, and someone had even made a fire in the lounge instead of the fireplace. He remembers sleeping under the stars in their bakkie, while his mom and sister slept in the living room that night.
Professor Anne Rasa continued her work at the Bonn University while the house was being renovated. in December 2000 she finally moved to the farm and started building the Kalahari Trails as it is known today.
One day she was given an injured meerkat by a neighbour. With all her knowledge working with Dwarf Mongese, she took care of the meerkat, helped it heal and released it back into the wild. This was followed by another meerkat and another. It was not long before she was asked by the Northern Cape Authorities if she would be interested in being the Northern Cape Meerkat Sanctuary, of course she agreed, and the rest is history. Prof. Anne used her position to make a crusade about people having meerkats as pets, as most of the meerkats she received were abandoned pets, by people who thought buying baby meerkats was a great idea, and when they got bigger, disregarded them.
Prof. Anne turned Kalahari Trails into a haven for nature lovers to experience the Kalahari Desert in all its glory. She started guided talks on all the local flora and fauna, along with all her amazing conservation efforts.
Unfortunately, Professor Anne fell ill and passed on, on 15 November 2020.
The Kalahari Trails legacy continues as her son Richard Rasa- Phillips has completely taken over the reins, as he was managing the farm since his mom fell seriously ill earlier in 2020.
Richard had led a very interesting life up until he took over the reins at Kalahari Trails. Richard worked at the Corps of Royal Engineers for the British army, and eventually ended up as a studio manager for the film industry, for movies like Assassins Creed, Dark Crystal, Cursed and Bridgerton in the UK, and formed part of the film crew and was involved with the production of Jurassic Park, Fast and Furious 6, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter and even appeared in Harry Potter 7 (2) among others, where he resigned when he heard about his mom falling ill, and came to Kalahari Trails to assist. Talk about going from one extreme to the next. But he loves the quietness, fresh air and the beauty of the Kalahari. He has spent a lot of time here over the years with the Prof. and has always been passionate about the Kalahari, meerkats and nature in all its glory.
Richard’s dream is to continue with his mom’s legacy and continue creating a safe place where people can come to relax, enjoy nature apply mindfulness and walk in the Kalahari. There are not many places in the Kalahari that grant people the opportunity to enjoy the red dunes and learn more about the small critters that make the dunes their home. When you’re on a game drive or driving in a park, you miss out on so many amazing things that you will not see unless you are walking. Richard would love to share “being at one with nature” with as many people as he can.
My Kalahari the poem
by | | Richard Rasa-Phillips
"My Kalahari" Whilst going through my mother's stuff, I came across this poem. There is no signature, no handwriting, so I do not know who wrote it. There was no hit on the internet either. However, it was so apt and fitting to explain why my mother loved the Kalahari...
ACCOMMODATION
Kalahari Trails offers a wide range of accommodation at reasonable prices. The main guesthouse commands impressive views of the Nossob riverbed and the dune fields stretching to the horizon. It has a large verandah (stoep) where guests can sit in comfort and visitors are welcome to use the barbecue (braai) facilities.
To eat your meal on the stoep in the quiet of the desert night under the stars is an unforgettable experience. For bird-watchers there is a small waterhole in front of the house where flocks of desert birds come to drink every day. We also have a small botanical garden with typical plants found on the Reserve. For those chilly winter evenings there is a large, comfortable living room with a fireplace as well as a small dining area to seat twelve people. Kalahari Trails is set up for self-catering. Groups can be catered for if we are given notice of this at least ten days in advance, we can supply the groups with an array of soft drinks, game meat and wood.
There is a large communal kitchen which is fully equipped with everything necessary to keep and prepare your food (refrigerators, freezers, gas cookers, microwave oven, toaster, all cooking utensils, dishes, cutlery, glasses etc.). We also have a small shop selling basic foods, snacks, a wide array of soft drinks, meat and wood for barbecue (braai) fires.
We recommend that guests bring their fresh food (especially meat, fruit, vegetables, bread etc.) with them because this is difficult to obtain in the desert. Upington has several supermarkets with a wide choice of available foodstuffs.
Please take note: The Kalahari tap water is salty, we do supply drinking water to our guests.
PRIVATE CHALET
Situated 2km from the main guesthouse with 5 single beds in two separate rooms, fully equipped kitchen, shower and toilet, air-conditioned, stoep overlooking a birdbath and waterhole, braai facilities.
THE MAIN GUEST HOUSE
The guesthouse has a large lounge (air conditioned), dining area, fully equipped kitchen and very large stoep in front as well as a lapa with braai area at the back.
Room 1
Room sleeps 3 persons
3 x Single beds
Shared ablution in the Main house
Room 2
Room sleeps 2 persons
2 x Single beds
Shared ablution in the Main house
Room 3
Room sleeps 2 persons
2 x Single beds
Shared ablution in the Main house
Room 4
Room sleeps 3 persons
1 x Double & 1 x Single bed
On Suite Bathroom
Room 5
Room sleeps 3 persons
1 x Double & 1 x Single bed
On Suite Bathroom
CAMPING – DUNE SIDE
Duneside campsite with private covered camping sites, ablution block with showers and a toilet, there are 4 power outlets at the campsite, this is the perfect place to experience the night life in the Kalahari, under the stars. . Pensioners get a 10% Discount
CAMPING – ECO VELD CAMP
The Eco Veld Camp is perfect for the nature lover. These are single campsites with their own ablution blocks and braai stands. Ideal for
self-sufficient trailers etc. We have 4 units all with a power point, toilet, shower and a Basin. The camp is just a stone’s throw away from the waterhole where the birds and game come down to drink. . Pensioners get a 10% Discount
CAMPING – THE TREE CAMP
A magical place, suited to larger groups, who enjoy camping in the raw Kalahari Desert. Situated, a few minutes drive, in one of the streets, away from everything, yet still close enough to be able to visit KTP Park. It has 2 showers, 2 toilets with outside basin. Hot and cold running water (Hot water is Donkey Boiler operated) and a large braai pit beneath a live sociable weaver tree. There is some solar power lighting for the ablutions.
The rate, per night, ( Possible discounts for large groups)
Our Activities and Tours
Explore the Kalahari at Kalahari Trails. One step closer to nature….
All guests can walk freely through the Nature Reserve. We provide a map with clearly marked roads and landmarks for orientation. Before leaving, guests are asked to inform the management as to the direction in which they are going and approximate time of return. We strongly advise visitors to take good sun blocker, hat and at least one litre of water with them. Children under 12 years pay half price for the tours.
GUIDED WALKS
On these tours (2-3 hours) you are accompanied by a qualified field guide and possibly our family of meerkats. You will learn about the geology of the area as well as the animals and plants of the Kalahari dunes. The tour begins approximately 1 hour after sunrise. This is an experience not to be missed – an introduction to the dune life from the insects to the large mammals, including the tracks of many that are rarely seen because they are not active during the daytime. The guide will interpret the tracks of those that have been active during the night. This popular tour will open the visitor`s eyes to the amazing variety of creatures that call the seemingly “barren” dunes their home.
Recommended: Sun blocker, hat, water, camera
SCORPION HUNT
Join us on an exciting and interesting guided night walk through the dunes, looking for scorpions, capturing them under UV torch lights (UV torches are provided) and with tweezers. Scorpions are captured by our qualified guide. The tour ends at the main house living room, were our guide provides an informative and interesting talk about the Kalahari scorpions over some hot chocolate. The scorpions are later released back into the dunes after the talk.
From October to May only.
Tour lasts approximately 2 hours.
Recommended: Torch (can be provided), 1 litre of water and during the cooler months, a sweater.
DAYTIME DUNE GAME DRIVE WITH TRACKING WALKS
Come game spotting over our adventurous dune roads with a zoologist and try to spot as many of the bird and mammal species present on the Reserve as you can! Learn about the lives of the different species that you see. Track the game on foot across the dunes at any point along the route or stop anywhere to take a closer look at things of interest. This is the way to really get to know the Kalahari Duineveldt. The tour lasts 2-3 hours, depending on how many stops are made.
Recommended: Sun blocker, hat, at least 1 litre of water, binoculars, camera.
SPOTLIGTHED NIGHT DRIVES
This tour begins shortly after sundown and visitors are driven through the Reserve to see the rarely sighted nocturnal animals and are provided with hand-held spotlights to look at them clearly. It lasts approximately 2 hours. A windbreaker or jacket should be taken along as well as good binoculars.
From 1 October 1st to May only.
Recommended: Warm clothing, binoculars, 1 litre water.
SUNDOWNER DRIVE
Watch the sunset from a remote dune after a game drive followed by a night drive.
Visitors leave the guesthouse about 1.5 hours before sunset and guests can choose their drinks beforehand, which will be packed in a cool box for the drive. After a game drive through the Reserve, we stop on a high dune where, while enjoying their drinks, guests can watch the glorious sunset. The silence is only broken by the calls of the barking geckos and the evening songs of the dune birds. Once darkness has fallen, the tour continues with a spotlighted night drive home to see the nocturnal animals. This trip is “Kalahari Pure” and should not be missed! The entire tour lasts approximately 3 hours.
From 1 September to 1 May only.
Recommended: Warm clothing, binoculars, camera.
