As my birthday present OOOODS suggested we go away...
...which sounded just like a fab idea
Initially we planned to go to South Luanga (Zam) however time would not be on our side as we only had 9 days of holiday.
So we decided to visit Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.
Frans (Hou da nou daar) and his wife, Denise (from Groblesdal) have been very keen and decided to join us. (x4 kids - 2, 8, 10, 12y)
Frans towed an off-road trailer and myself, wife and x2 daughters (6, 14y) went with my DC with x2 roof tops.
So we chatted one Sunday afternoon and quickly finalized the food arrangements and general stuff....
The plan was to avoid Beitbridge (for obvious reasons....
) and travel through Botswana via Zanzibar border post
Francistown
Nata
Hunters road
Pandamatenga border (into Zimbabwe)
Vic Falls
Hwange National Park
Bulawayo
Plumtree border (back into Botswana)
Francistown
Zanzibar back to ZA
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Total km's 3006km (Jhb - Jhb)
We left on 02/10 Sunday at 02h00 as Zanzibar border post only opens at 08h00 and would meet Frans and his family at 05H00 in Pietersburg (Polokwane). From there we would travel together and reach Zanzibar by approx. 07h30. The last 16km to the border is pretty badly corrugated gravel road.
The girls were nice and comfortable in the back after a nice morning sleep
Zanzibar border crossing has two low water bridges and is not always open, depending on the level of the river. However we had no problem at all. Upon our arrival at 07h45 there was only one vehicle and took us about 45mins to complete both sides. No problems!
Water crossing in 'no man's land'
Botswana side: Please note, take Botswana Pula to pay for your road tax (TIP) if you are planning to exit the country and re enter, ask for a re-entry pass. It is cheaper!!! Cost around 160 Pula for a vehicle.
Just outside the border post is a lodge called Oasis and next time we will sleep over there for sure
Starting a trip at 02h00 in the morning is for da young ones.....
From the border we drove to a nice picnic spot +-50km (boabab tree) and had some well deserved breakkie
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Back on the road again....towards Selebi-Phikwe
At Serule we encountered our first vet check point, but no problems at all
Heading towards Francistown, there was another vet check point, however they just wayved us through. We filled up with Diesel and where the ladies popped into the Spar.
Once again it is much easier paying in Pula :!: :!: :!:
Frans, Frans, Frans......
The road was very busy to Nata as the locals celebrated some National holiday....
We headed off for Nata, where we would stay overnight and rest at Elephant Sands lodge approx. 50km North of Nata:
We found a nice campsite and decided as there was a pool, pub and restaurant and animal drinking hole we would relax here for two nights
The camp site was was not spectacular imo, but we had some ellies visiting us that night about 5m from out vehicles....while we were fast asleep...........
)
