Union's End, Tripoint in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
Union's End is a tripoint in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park where the borders of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana meet. The site sits in a dry riverbed and features an information board sheltered by a reed-thatched roof, directional markers, and a picnic table.
The name refers to the Union of South Africa, whose territory ended at this sharp angle in the Kalahari. A border post proposed in 1934 to combat poaching was dropped for financial reasons, and a waterhole was dug for travellers in 1936. Passage between the Union and South West Africa was blocked from 1938, and the border fence, begun with the Kalahari National Gemsbok Park in 1931, was completed only in 1966.
The camel thorn trees (Acacia erioloba) along the dry Nossob valley are the area's most visible plants. Botanists from the University of Pretoria found in 2008 that individual trees near Union's End can be more than 200 years old. The name Union's End recalls the Union of South Africa, whose territory ended at this corner of the Kalahari.
Union's End is reached by gravel track along the dry Nossob riverbed, about 284 km north of Twee Rivieren Restcamp and roughly 25 km from Grootkolk Wilderness Camp. There is no border crossing: a wire fence blocks the way into Namibia and a sign forbids continuing into Botswana. A picnic table and information board stand under a reed-thatched roof at 24°45′55.3″S 19°59′58.7″E.
The Nossob River flows past this location and forms Namibia's eastern border while creating a natural waterway boundary between the three nations. Some acacia trees in the area are reportedly over 200 years old.
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