Trip Report Botswana 2008
December 22 (Day 1)
We left JHB at 5:15 to Ghanzi where we spent the night. The border post (Skilpadshek) was sufficiently quit and we went through with no problems or hold ups. We reached Ghanzi about 15:00 after driving the Trans Kalahari Highway where the road are so straight and flat you can see your dog run away for three weeks. The lodge was reasonably priced and had a nice bar and swimming pool area and the food was good. The main thing I liked about it was it was out of town and we even saw a hyena after dinner when we returned to our tent.
Trans Kalahari Highway
Lodge in Ghanzi (Can't remember the name kudu something they are on the right before you inter Ghanzi)
December 23 (Day 2)
We got up early so we could go to the veterinary services in Ghanzi to get a permit to transport red meat due to the foot and mouth disease that is currently in Botswana. They then told us that we could get one at the veterinary gate just outside Ghanzi. We got to the gate and got the permit without any problems, the government officials were very helpful, and in about 10 minutes, we were on the road again.
We reached Maun where we filled up and got some final supplies at Reilly's Garage and were on our way to Moremi's South Gate. We reached South Gate at about 14:00 where we set up camp and spend the first night having a braai and some cold ones next to the campfire keeping an eye on the 4 Hyenas around our camp looking for a easy meal. We cleaned up every thing after we ate, putting it away in the bakkies, so they had to go and find food elsewhere.
South Gate Camp just before we cleaned up.
December 24 (Day 3)
We broke up camp went to the gate to pay and were on our why to Third Bridge when the heavens opened up just after 13:00 and rained cats and dogs the rest of the day. The +- 65km to Third Bridge took us 4 hours in the wet and I got stuck twice but recovered myself quickly by hooking my winch to Swart Bard's Hilux. It was difficult driving in front with all the water I hit all the bad spots so the rest can take the better lines, but hey, it was great fun.
At Third Bridge we set up camp had dinner and listened to the Loins, Hippos and Hyenas sound, putting us to sleep.
This is the second time I got stuck after the bakkie slid into a hole of the main track, after all we drive Toyota we like playing.
Rain, rain and more rain
25 December (Day 4)
X-Mass morning we had a nice breakfast after which we moved camp to the working ablution block and went for a game drive for the rest of the day, the weather was cloudy but luckily no rain. We then had a nice dinner and a couple of cold ones next to the camp fire, enjoying the peacefulness and the amassing view of the sky.
Hippos in a pool that we saw on our game drive
Crossing a bridge while on our game drive
26 December (Day 5)
We broke down camp early and hit the road at 7:00 to be abele to get to Lenyanti in Chobe, (Fat change with all the rain) when we realized we will never make it we decided to go play a little. We got off the main track, taking the other little tracks, we had great fun as we bumped into some of our friends on honeymoon, while they were fixing a bend steering arm on his Cruiser he picked up after he got stuck and drove over a log which bend it. We knew they were in Moremi but what was the change we would bump into them. We decided to travel together for the day as they were also spending the night at North Gate, now we really had fun on the smaller tracks.
Main Track full of water
Water crossings
The Cruiser and trailer which joined us for the day
Our camp at North Gate
27 December (Day 6)
And the heavens opened up again we only managed to get to Savuti where we spend the night.
Elephants on our way to Savuti
Road to Savuti
28 December (Day 7)
We had to cover 112 km off-road through Chobe and 480km on road through the Caprivi to reach Shakawe fishing lodge in Botswana next to the Okavango Delta before 18:00 when the border closed at Shakawe. We made it with no problems and had a nice relaxing dinner and slept in a room for a change.
Pumping up out tyres to road pressures
Crossing the Lenyanti river into Namibia
29 December to 3 January
Relaxing and fishing on the Okavango, the fishing was not that good due to the river being very high and dirty of all the rain, but at least we caught some fish before January when a total ban on all fishing until the end of March was imposed so that the fish can spurn. (Fisheries with there nets catching the spurn stock is the reason for the ban) I personally think it is a good thing. We drove back to JHB on the 3rd of January on road 1380km the round trip was just less than 3500km.
Three spot bream
Small Tiger
Stopping for a braai
Sunset over the Okavango
That is our trip it was great fun and our vehicles took the roads beautifully but I will suggest the following mods before doing this trip Snorkel, Suspension and winch is a must. We had our share of maintenance on our vehicle as well but nothing big, oil changes and greasing and so on, the normal stuff to do after driving in water as we did.
