Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

🇿🇦 South Africa

🦁 Lion Roams Kgalagadi's Vast Dunes
🌍 #106 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #44 in Africa #7 in Desert & Scrub
Southern Africa, South Africa 629 spp. recorded

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a desert and dry‑scrub reserve that straddles the border of South Africa and Botswana. The landscape is a mosaic of red sand dunes, sparse grasslands and occasional rocky outcrops, offering open horizons that contrast sharply with nearby savanna parks.

-25.746° S   20.335° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely
Gemsbok ★
LC Endemic

Gemsbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx gazella

50–60% · Likely
Common Ostrich ★
LC

Common Ostrich

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Struthio camelus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

80–90% · Very likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

70–80% · Very likely
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
LC

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser mahali

70–80% · Very likely
Social Weaver
LC

Social Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Philetairus socius

60–70% · Likely
Pale Chanting Goshawk
LC

Pale Chanting Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax canorus

60–70% · Likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
LC

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius atrococcineus

50–60% · Likely
Mariqua Flycatcher
LC

Mariqua Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bradornis mariquensis

50–60% · Likely
Tawny Eagle
VU

Tawny Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila rapax

50–60% · Likely
Scaly Weaver
LC

Scaly Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporopipes squamifrons

50–60% · Likely
Kori Bustard
NT

Kori Bustard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardeotis kori

50–60% · Likely
Lanner Falcon
LC

Lanner Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco biarmicus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely
Gemsbok ★
LC Endemic

Gemsbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx gazella

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Blue Wildebeest
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

50–60% · Likely
Springbok
LC Endemic

Springbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antidorcas marsupialis

40–50% · Likely
Cape Ground Squirrel

Cape Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Xerus inauris

40–50% · Likely
Yellow Mongoose
LC Endemic

Yellow Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cynictis penicillata

40–50% · Likely
Steenbok
LC

Steenbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Raphicerus campestris

40–50% · Likely
Khama

Khama

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alcelaphus caama

40–50% · Likely
Cheetah
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

40–50% · Likely
Slender-tailed Meerkat
LC

Slender-tailed Meerkat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Suricata suricatta

30–40% · Possible
Southern Giraffe

Southern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa giraffa

30–40% · Possible
Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse
LC

Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhabdomys pumilio

20–30% · Possible
Greater Kudu
LC

Greater Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

20–30% · Possible
Bat-eared Fox
LC

Bat-eared Fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otocyon megalotis

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Common Ostrich ★
LC

Common Ostrich

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Struthio camelus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

80–90% · Very likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

70–80% · Very likely
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
LC

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser mahali

70–80% · Very likely
Social Weaver
LC

Social Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Philetairus socius

60–70% · Likely
Pale Chanting Goshawk
LC

Pale Chanting Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax canorus

60–70% · Likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
LC

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius atrococcineus

50–60% · Likely
Mariqua Flycatcher
LC

Mariqua Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bradornis mariquensis

50–60% · Likely
Tawny Eagle
VU

Tawny Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila rapax

50–60% · Likely
Scaly Weaver
LC

Scaly Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporopipes squamifrons

50–60% · Likely
Kori Bustard
NT

Kori Bustard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardeotis kori

50–60% · Likely
Lanner Falcon
LC

Lanner Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco biarmicus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Karasburg Tree Skink
LC

Karasburg Tree Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis sparsa

40–50% · Likely
Ground Agama
LC

Ground Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama aculeata

30–40% · Possible
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

30–40% · Possible
Cape Cobra
LC

Cape Cobra

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Naja nivea

20–30% · Possible
Bibron's Thick-toed Gecko
LC

Bibron's Thick-toed Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chondrodactylus bibronii

20–30% · Possible
Mole Snake
LC

Mole Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pseudaspis cana

20–30% · Possible
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

20–30% · With luck
Common Barking Gecko
LC

Common Barking Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Ptenopus garrulus

10–20% · With luck
Western three-striped skink
LC

Western three-striped skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis occidentalis

10–20% · With luck
Spotted Sand Lizard
LC

Spotted Sand Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pedioplanis lineoocellata

10–20% · With luck
Namaqua Sand Lizard
LC

Namaqua Sand Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pedioplanis namaquensis

10–20% · With luck
Kalahari Tree Skink
LC

Kalahari Tree Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis spilogaster

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Tandy's sand frog
LC

Tandy's sand frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Tomopterna tandyi

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Lion Pride Activity

JanFeb

Male lions with distinctive black manes patrol territories and display roaring contests during the dry season.

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Gemsbok Rut

FebSep

Gemsbok engage in intense rutting battles, making males conspicuous as they clash for breeding rights.

Gemsbok
LC Endemic

Gemsbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx gazella

50–60% · Likely
🐦

White-backed Vulture Roosting

SepOct

Large roosts of white-backed vultures gather on cliffs to feed on carrion during the late dry season.

White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
Lion
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
Gemsbok
30–40
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
Common Ostrich
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
Fork-tailed Drongo
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
90–100
70–80
90–100
70–80
Cape Turtle Dove
60–70
80–90
50–60
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
60–70
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
Social Weaver
70–80
70–80
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
40–50
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
Pale Chanting Goshawk
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
60–70
50–60
30–40
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
Mariqua Flycatcher
60–70
40–50
20–30
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
70–80
50–60
Tawny Eagle
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
Scaly Weaver
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
Kori Bustard
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
40–50
60–70
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Lanner Falcon
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
50–60
Animal Events
🦌 Lion Pride Activity
🦌 Gemsbok Rut
🐦 White-backed Vulture Roosting

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦁 Lion Roams Kgalagadi's Vast Dunes

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
441
🐒 Mammals
96
🦎 Reptiles
83
🐸 Amphibians
9
629 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
28 Threatened 13 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
65%
📊
Coverage (148 species at ≥5% of 629 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
98
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
25
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
32

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

The most likely sightings are Fork-tailed Drongo (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Ostrich (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Social Weaver (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 629 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park for wildlife?

September has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Lion in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

Yes — about 55% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 152 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Gemsbok in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

Yes — about 58% of wildlife watchers report a Gemsbok sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 167 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Ostrich in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

Yes — about 71% of wildlife watchers report a Common Ostrich sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 180 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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