KTP Seasons and Weather

[Mel]

Here are three links to check the weather forecast for your upcoming trip:

AccuWeather

A Norwegian provider

Zoover
When you scroll down on this one, you'll also find a table with the average low and high temps throughout the year.

[iNdlovu]

here is a link for the Upington weather report

http://dev2.weathersa.co.za/web/Home.as ... =1&f=68424

[Flutterby]

Kgalagadi means "place of thirst", which aptly sums up the Park's arid state, as it is located largely within the southern Kalahari Desert. The terrain consists of red sand dunes, sparse vegetation, occasional trees, and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob rivers. The rivers are said to flow only about once per century; however, water flows underground, feeding the plant life growing in its riverbeds and the wildlife dwelling within it. The rivers may flow briefly after large thunderstorms, which is a momentous occasion and results in the wildlife flocking to the riverbeds and quenching their thirst. This allows for magnificent game-viewing for visitors to the Park.

The weather in the Kalahari can reach extremes. Daytime temperatures in midsummer (December - February) are often in excess of 40 °C (104 °F), whereas winter nights can be quite cold with temperatures sometimes dropping to below freezing. Extreme temperatures of –11 °C and up to 45 °C have been recorded.

Rainy season: Precipitation is sparse in this desert area (annual rainfall rarely more than 100 mm), but the rains usually fall during dramatic thunderstorms often accompanied by strong winds and dust-storms, which occur during the Summer months (November - April). The first rains transform the red dunes; covering them with fresh yellow flowers.

Dry season: Winter (June to August), is when the air is dry and very clear days can be expected and the temperatures lie around 25 degrees Celsius; however the nights are extremely cold. Winter is also the best time for animal viewing. Because of the drought, the game is forced to come to the waterholes in the riverbeds.

Source: http://www.sunsafaris.com/safari/botswa ... tier-park/

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is characterised by two dry riverbeds that flow through the heart of the game reserve: Auob and Nossob, and the main roads – and game viewing sites – are concentrated along these rivers. As with all deserts around the world, the freedom to move to where water and grazing is available is central to the park’s ecosystem. Thus in winter (when it is dryer and colder) the antelope herds tend to move further north where the savannah vegetation is less susceptible to frost. Predators in turn move into the dune areas where it’s slightly warmer. Conversely, during summer the antelope herds congregate in the dry river beds, and it’s not uncommon to see a thousand head of springbok at a time, standing still in the available shade. In turn, the predators also return to the river areas where there is good hunting.

Source: http://www.xauslodge.co.za/kgalagadi

[nan]

Have a look here while I search some flowers, dunes and other wet riverbed

[Flutterby]

Hot, hot and more hot!! -O

[nan]

February 2011
all was yellow, Blue, pink... due to the good rain in the park
even the dunes was covert with flowers









even the roads

[nan]

everywhere... only one drop of rain... and it's a festival

[nan]

January 2012

Sprinkboks in the DRY Auob riverbed



and... a very, very heavy rain
It's the second time I saw the river with water... seems to be surnatural

[nan]

the small dunes road, from Kiliekrankie to Kij Kij
all the lianas, bushes was in flower (in 2011)
and what a traffic ... in the sand







April 2007

my first travel... Union End... so far away to everywhere

[Flutterby]

Amazing how those flowers spring up out of nowhere!