Entrance Gate #2
Entrance Gate #1
Spookhuis Restcamp
Picnic Spot
Gate locked (to Mountain trail)
Picnic Area 2
Jct SW=Kalahari Mountain View Trail

This trail is 40km long and would take 4 to 6 hours to complete. Low range gears are required to complete this trail, the vehicle needs good ground clearance, it is a self-drive trail, GPS waypoints are available, camping facilities and covered accommodation are available, swimming and conference facilities are available. Most visitors to the Northern Cape make a beeline for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. And not surprisingly. If you want to see wildlife - in particular the magnificent, dark-mained Kalahari lion - this is the place to go. But if you're looking for something more relaxed and personal, a place where you can soak up those breathtaking Kalahari vistas without the big game hype, try Witsand Nature Reserve. The reserve gets its name from the unusual white dunes that occur here (Kalahari sand is normally a deep ochre, but at Witsand the oxides that give it this colour have been leached out by water). This white sand is incredibly pure, and under the right conditions sometimes emits a curious humming sound - the famous Roaring Sand, or Brulsand, of the Kalahari. All this sand will probably have you itching to let down your tyres and tackle some dunes, but don't even think of engaging low-range - being a protected area there is no off-road driving permitted. The good news is that there's a 4x4 trail on a neighbouring farm, which offers a generous dose of sand driving. Permits can be organised directly through the Witsand reception, who will also supply you with GPS points and a detailed map of the route. The 16 km trail meanders all over the farm, picking out the best patches of sand and offering a variety of driver challenges. Low-range is necessary if you want to tackle steeper dunes, but the trail is also suitable for soft-roaders as all the harder sections can be bypassed. (Remember the difficulty of the driving varies greatly from season to season). If you want to try something different there's an optional 4 km loop up a mountain. This is rocky and very steep in places, so good ground clearance and low-range are essential. The accommodation at Witsands is first rate. There are 10 stunning, thatched-roofed, air-conditioned, self-catering lodges. Each boasting beautiful, shady braai areas. There are also dorm style bungalows accommodating up to 20 persons, as well as a lovely, well-maintained caravan and campsite. Conference facilities are also available. You are free to wander throughout Witsand, so put on your walking shoes (or grab a bike - available for hire from reception) and go explore this gem of a reserve. No big game, but plenty of antelope and smaller mammals to look out for. The birdlife is amazing. If you fancy something more adventurous, sand boarding can be arranged, and for fitness freaks there's the annual Witsand-Kumba Desert Challenge. No quads allowed!(Information supplied by DriveOut Magazine).

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