HOW TO CROSS THE BORDER
The border post at Mata-Mata connects the Kgalagadi to Namibia but it’s currently closed due to Covid restrictions. Twee Rivieren is also a border post and under normal conditions, you’d go through immigration there if you were planning to exit the park via Mabua and travel further into Botswana.
But Twee Rivieren is also currently closed due to Covid restrictions, which means you’re not allowed to exit the park on the Botswana side if you entered from South Africa.
The same goes if you enter the park from Botswana. You can drive around and stay on the South African side, but you can’t exit at Twee Rivieren. You’ll have to return to the Botswana side, exit the park there and then make your way to the nearest open border post (Ramatlabama or Skilpadshek) to get you passport stamped.
Take note: When Mata-Mata and Twee Rivieren are open, you have to stay in the park for at least two nights before you can exit to Namibia or Botswana. You can’t use Mata-Mata as a short cut to Namibia, in other words.
Once you catch the Botswana bug, you have to go back. Many people were frustrated at having to cancel travel plans during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though Botswana is open again, you might still be wary of crossing the border, fearing another wave on the horizon.
Here’s the solution: Go explore the Botswana
