Zimbabwe - Hwange (Wankie) National Park

thirstytraveller · Post by **thirstytraveller** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:56 am

Awesome trip report so far Mark - thanks for great feedback and pics!

Offtopic

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:34 pm

The gals doing the dishes..... everyone has a job...very important

Mine supervising...

That afternoon we came across a herd of +50 ellies at this drinking hole. What an awsome sight :!: Babies, males and bossy females

Some playing in the mud:

Daughter had the best view.....

All good days have good endings

Supper alla Denise....pasta and mince...not my all time high, but something different and very tasty

...........anyway.........the kids seemed to enjoy it

: Hwanke 2011 298 (Small).JPG (37.76 KiB) Viewed 5923 times

These are only for show.....there is no fuel available in the park.
There is however a small town 10km away, who can supply, called Dett. When we got there, we were told the owner with the key was at the police station, as he had not renewed his 'fuel' liscence, so we went to the station, found him and he gladly topped up the KZ (once again....)

The next morning we headed for Bulawayo (280km) form Hwange Main and came across these funny signs....WTH is a painted dog???

Gunta · Post by **Gunta** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:48 pm

Thats what happens when a baboon looks in the mirror and does not recognise himself and he becomes the president.

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:27 pm

Low and behold....my daughter spotted the Painted Dogs ....

Amazing

Then off to Bulawayo around 270km....with 2 or so more US$ 1.00 toll gates, but the road was good

I was really looking forward to Bulawayo, and was reaaly amazed how clean everything was

Sorry petrolheads....... :wink2:

Really a pretty town, even today

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:08 pm

Some more of B

From there we headed for Plumtree border post back into Bots, to avoid BBridge.......

Once throuh the border we headed for Francistown, where we would overnight.

We opted for Woodlands...nice place! But the unfriendliest staff ever...well that's another story....never again :!:

Nice camp area, ablutions and pool

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:45 pm

The next morning a quick cuppa and hit the road....

Through a couple of vet points, no problem

Only in a Toyota!!!

Some boababs, along the road towards Zanzibar border post

Once through the Bots border post we stopped halfway in no mans land for breakkie

Almost done....

All of us

The long road home.....

Some tips and hints to follow

The end :!: :!: :!:

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:52 pm

Tips:

- Two way radio's with two or more vehicles are not an option.....a must

- Use currency of the country :!: :!: :!:
- Be friendly and patient, especially at border and vet check points ie. let your wife do the talking...

- Make sure you have warm clothing, it can get cold in the evenings
- Take spare slops / shoes along
- Take 2/3 camera's along, you may miss something
- Ensure all fridges, connections are tested before the trip. At least 4 weeks in advance.
- Keep to the speed limit at all times

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:08 pm

OOOOMS wrote:Tips:

- Two way radio's with two or more vehicles are not an option.....a must
- Use currency of the country :!: :!: :!:
- Be friendly and patient, especially at border and vet check points ie. let your wife do the talking...
- Make sure you have warm clothing, it can get cold in the evenings
- Take spare slops / shoes along
- Take 2/3 camera's along, you may miss something
- Ensure all fridges, connections are tested before the trip. At least 4 weeks in advance.
- Keep to the speed limit at all times
- Have a comprehensive medical bag...very handy!
- Take a few nuts, boltz & washers along, they come in handy
- Don't go looking for relrctive tape the day before you leave....AA has for between R10 - R20 p/m
- Up-to-date GPS, makes looking for campsites, filling stations, shops easy!!!
- Paper map, the kids understand it better :wink2:

I can add to this list...forever!

Popmar · Post by **Popmar** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:16 pm

Mark, vir watter maand beplan ons volgende jaar.

Manna Pools bly `n droom

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:18 pm

Popmar wrote:Mark, vir watter maand beplan ons volgende jaar.

Manna Pools bly `n droom

Maart / April

Franken · Post by **Franken** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:50 pm

Great trip report - maak mens sommer lus om nou te ry. Dankie vir die moeite en tyd om dit op te sit en met ons te deel.

Sien ook sommer meer uit na Desember.

Bulletjie-3 · Post by **Bulletjie-3** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:06 pm

Ai baie dankie. Vertel my weer die storie toe !!

Post by **Royco** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:26 pm

Very nice trip report (again), Mark!
Thanks for sharing

Post by **Mud Dog** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:44 am

Great Mark! Thanks for sharing!

arnize2 · Post by **arnize2** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:43 am

Dankie Mark. Dit maak mens lekker jaloers. Ons beplan iets soortgelyks, maar net meer uitgebreid vir Mei 2012. Is daar miskien 'n storie agter elke tip???

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:19 am

arnize2 wrote:Dankie Mark. Dit maak mens lekker jaloers. Ons beplan iets soortgelyks, maar net meer uitgebreid vir Mei 2012. Is daar miskien 'n storie agter elke tip???

- Two way radio's with two or more vehicles are not an option.....a must

Frans se handheld battery het so laat middag pap geraak....dit was nie lekker nie....
- Use currency of the country :!: :!: :!: Probeer met ZAR en UD$ vir goedere betaal en dit veroorsaak groot confusion met die cashier......
- Be friendly and patient, especially at border and vet check points ie. let your wife do the talking... Geen kommentaar nie......:oops:

- Make sure you have warm clothing, it can get cold in the evenings Vra ma vir Ma
- Take spare slops / shoes along Dis nie lekker om more oggend nat skoene aan te trek nie...
- Take 2/3 camera's along, you may miss something Net 'n tip wat gewerk het
- Ensure all fridges, connections are tested before the trip. At least 4 weeks in advance. Frans se DC/DC sisteem wat hy laat installeer het het nie gewerk nie.....
- Keep to the speed limit at all times One fine for me...
- Have a comprehensive medical bag...very handy! Altyd handig, glo my!
- Take a few nuts, boltz & washers along, they come in handy Stoel het gebreek en kon dit reg maak
- Don't go looking for relrctive tape the day before you leave....AA has for between R10 - R20 p/m

Mega vra R299 vir 'n 5m roll.....5m wat de jorrie wil ek met 5m maak????
- Up-to-date GPS, makes looking for campsites, filling stations, shops easy!!! just worked 100%, T4A
- Paper map, the kids understand it better So uitgevind....

Moet iets vertel.......

Toe ons die leeus gesit en kyk het, het daar 'n trop buffels van die linkerkant aangekom om water te drink.

My 6 jarige (Kiara) se toe kliphard (met die boma vol mense) " KYK Mamma.....hier kom die koeie ook.... :!: :!: :!: :!: "

arnize2 · Post by **arnize2** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:49 am

Weereens Dankie Mark. Ja, doen meeste van wat jy noem. Het net gedink daar sit dalk 'n humoristiese storie agter 'n paar van die "tips".

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:02 pm

arnize2 wrote:Weereens Dankie Mark. Ja, doen meeste van wat jy noem. Het net gedink daar sit dalk 'n humoristiese storie agter 'n paar van die "tips".

Daar is wel maar ek glo nie Frans sal daarvan graag wil hoor oppi ope forum nie.....

Dit was absoluut awsome en sal enige dag weer saam hulle en hul famielie gaan :wink2:

Tjokkie · Post by **Tjokkie** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:54 pm

Partt ouens weet darem net hoe om 'n breather tte vat....(en dan die wat dit nie kon doen laat sleg voel..)

Baie nice trip EN trip report Mark.

Dankie vir jou moeite om dit met ons te deel

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 2:07 pm

Tjokkie wrote:Partt ouens weet darem net hoe om 'n breather tte vat....(en dan die wat dit nie kon doen laat sleg voel..)

Baie nice trip EN trip report Mark.

Dankie vir jou moeite om dit met ons te deel

Mens moet net tyd maak...anders word jy oud

jacques kotze · Post by **jacques kotze** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:06 pm

OOOOMS wrote:
Tjokkie wrote:Partt ouens weet darem net hoe om 'n breather tte vat....(en dan die wat dit nie kon doen laat sleg voel..)

Baie nice trip EN trip report Mark.

Dankie vir jou moeite om dit met ons te deel
Mens moet net tyd maak...anders word jy oud

Die tyd maak is nie die probleem nie, my probleem is die moola, julle weet mos, as jy jou eie baas is, werk jy vir n *a* baas

Racing snake · Post by **Racing snake** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 11:17 am

Jacques. It's easy. Decide where you want to go. Make the booking and pay for it. Then you have to go. Everything else is just detail and works itself out.

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:16 pm

Racing snake wrote:Jacques. It's easy. Decide where you want to go. Make the booking and pay for it. Then you have to go. Everything else is just detail and works itself out.

So maklik soos uit die boom uit val

jacques kotze · Post by **jacques kotze** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:31 pm

Racing snake wrote:Jacques. It's easy. Decide where you want to go. Make the booking and pay for it. Then you have to go. Everything else is just detail and works itself out.

I hear you! sometimes you just need a push in the right direction

jacques kotze · Post by **jacques kotze** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:32 pm

OOOOMS wrote:
Racing snake wrote:Jacques. It's easy. Decide where you want to go. Make the booking and pay for it. Then you have to go. Everything else is just detail and works itself out.
So maklik soos uit die boom uit val

Groot bek

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:19 pm

jacques kotze wrote:
OOOOMS wrote:
Racing snake wrote:Jacques. It's easy. Decide where you want to go. Make the booking and pay for it. Then you have to go. Everything else is just detail and works itself out.
So maklik soos uit die boom uit val
Groot bek

Hier is van die plekke waar ons gekamp het.
Elephant Sands: http://elephantsands.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Vic Falls rest camp: http://vicfallsrestcamp.com/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hwange: http://www.hwange.co.za/show_sub.asp?id=679" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Woodlands: never again....

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:16 am

Just another tip, make a list, a paper list in pen of the small thing you forget, if you don't you prob. will forget it the next time you go away

: stock-photo-do-not-forget-don-t-reminder.jpg (41.84 KiB) Viewed 5817 times

Donkey · Post by **Donkey** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:18 am

Lovely report Mark, hoping to join you next year,

Thank you for sharing.

Ego10 · Post by **Ego10** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:51 pm

Hi Mark, nice report and someday I will be going there. But this December it will be Chobe, Lynyathi, Savuti and Xakanaxa.

Hilux01 · Post by **Hilux01** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:00 am

Mark,

As always a good read, thanks for sharing. See the Featherlite is looking good on the Hilux

Glad to see Hwange still worth a visit was there last in 1994. "Time for another trip me thinks"

johnfrombrum · Post by **johnfrombrum** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:47 am

Many thanks for the informative report.

Next year I hope to bring a Hilux from the UK for a 2/3 months bimble - perhaps getting as far as Nairobi this time !

Your info on campsite has been entered into my Trax4Africa map for future reference

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:54 am

Pleasure is mine

Bernie · Post by **Bernie** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:43 am

Mark,
Happy to see you stayed at Elephant Sands and that the pool has been repaired after the Elephant damage. The Hunters road is a trip I want to do but want to take a little while, not one day...we will chat about your route one day soon....Isn't it time for a get together again....we have to miss the Christmas rush.

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:46 am

Bernie wrote:Mark,
Happy to see you stayed at Elephant Sands and that the pool has been repaired after the Elephant damage. The Hunters road is a trip I want to do but want to take a little while, not one day...we will chat about your route one day soon....Isn't it time for a get together again....we have to miss the Christmas rush.

Sounds like a good plan Bernie

Post by **TumTum** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:28 pm

Lovely trip! Ooooms & Ooooods! Last December (30 day trip) we did Hwange (Jambile & Kennedy picnic spots), Hwange Safari Lodge, Chizarira, Mana Pools, Kariba Town, The Sea Lion ferry from Kariba to Mlibizi, Vic Falls with overnite stops en route in Zim and via Botswana - an unbelievable experience with fondest memories....Will do it again and again and again

Nice to see the swimming pool rebuilt at Elephant Sands after Oom Ben had the horrific experience with the resident ellies just before December last year, completely destroyed the pool after a baby ellie fell in....an ellie flung Oom Ben, he had to be heli'd to SA clinic, fortunately recovered, perhaps some forumites remember the incident.

Unfortunately we could not do Matusadona, it was not advised with a trailer, especially the Commander - so it's on the waiting list for one of our next trips....oh and Gonarezhou

For those of you wanting to go to Zim - bite the bullet, do it! It's becoming a popular destination, especially the picnic spots at Hwange has to be booked in advance, be well prepared, and enjoy it, guaranteed a memorable holiday

Ego10 · Post by **Ego10** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:59 am

Hi Mark,

Thanks vir die report. Dis nog op my to do list maar eers Botswana in Desember. Lekker jaloers.

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 10:03 pm

Ego10 wrote:Hi Mark,

Thanks vir die report. Dis nog op my to do list maar eers Botswana in Desember. Lekker jaloers.

Lekker! Waar gaan julle orals?

Ego10 · Post by **Ego10** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:50 am

Centurion - Ihaha - Lynyathi - Savuti - Xakanaxa - Centurion. Ry die 16 Desember en terug die 2 Jan

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:59 am

Ego10 wrote:Centurion - Ihaha - Lynyathi - Savuti - Xakanaxa - Centurion. Ry die 16 Desember en terug die 2 Jan

Oh ja skuus, nou onthou ek jou post....

Julle sal dit geniet

Popmar · Post by **Popmar** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:40 am

Mark,

Bladsy 7 van die November uitgawe van die Weg gee `n briefskrywer `n heeltemal ander weergawe van wat julle ervaring was.

Wys jou maar net weer hoe verskillende mense verskillende ervarings aan iets koppel.

`n 4x4 Gids het eenmaal aan my die storie vertel van sy ervarings met mense en het hy eventueel vir `n gesin gesê terwyl hulle oor die geriewe in die Serengeti gekla het - "as julle marmer uitgelegde toilette (hy het `n ander woord gebruik wat miskien bietjie kru sal wees hier) wil hê, gaan na die vyfster hotelle in Kaapstad, Sandton ens.

Die bos is beslis nie vir sissies nie

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:01 pm

Janee Martin, ek het dit nog nie ontvang nie, maar ek is bly daar is mense wat sulke goed skryf....

Dan is die plekke nie so crowded nie

Laat ek raai, hulle het seker gekla omdat daar nie warm water was nie....

Rudi J · Post by **Rudi J** » Wed May 09, 2012 3:01 pm

Hi Mark,

Ek het jou trip report baie geniet, jy kry darem ongelooflik baie inligting op die manier by almal - hou so aan!

Waar is die foto's van Hwange, ek is seker baie mense wil graag sien hoe dit daar lyk?

Dankie weereens..
Rudi

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Wed May 09, 2012 3:05 pm

Rudi J wrote:Hi Mark,

Ek het jou trip report baie geniet, jy kry darem ongelooflik baie inligting op die manier by almal - hou so aan!

Waar is die foto's van Hwange, ek is seker baie mense wil graag sien hoe dit daar lyk?

Dankie weereens..
Rudi

Rudi, see page 2 of this thread

Here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21528&start=30" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tokkie · Post by **Tokkie** » Wed May 09, 2012 3:39 pm

Mark as ek die datums so kyk dink ek dit was ek wat daai Overland trok gery het wat jy by Elephant Sands gekry het.

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Wed May 09, 2012 4:13 pm

Tokkie wrote:Mark as ek die datums so kyk dink ek dit was ek wat daai Overland trok gery het wat jy by Elephant Sands gekry het.

Hmmmm...laat ek

.....daar was 'n trok inni hoek regs agter met 'n wind waaier ding oppi dak, dit kan ek goed onthou.....weet nie of dit julle was nie....

Tokkie · Post by **Tokkie** » Wed May 09, 2012 7:22 pm

Nee daai lelike International trok. Hy is in 2 van jou fotos. Een ry jy agter hom en een kamp jy langs hom, maar ek het weer gekyk. dink dis een van die ander drywers gewees. As jy weer by Elephant sands verby gaan vra oom Ben vir die foto van die wit boesman.

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Wed May 09, 2012 7:30 pm

Tokkie wrote:Nee daai lelike International trok. Hy is in 2 van jou fotos. Een ry jy agter hom en een kamp jy langs hom, maar ek het weer gekyk. dink dis een van die ander drywers gewees. As jy weer by Elephant sands verby gaan vra oom Ben vir die foto van die wit boesman.

Ja Oom Ben is nice ou

Witblits · Post by **Witblits** » Fri May 18, 2012 12:16 pm

Thanks, Mark. Best of reads, as always.

mushroom · Post by **mushroom** » Fri May 18, 2012 1:29 pm

Hey Mark,

Very lekka TR as always..let me know when you are going up to south Luangwa, I'm keen to do that neck of the woods, and try fit in Liuwa plains too...gotta see that last lady before she croaks..

Will have to be next year for us though, got the Bots venture in Sept/Oct..
ciao