Botswana Mabuasehube - May 2017
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 1:21 pm
Botswana Mabuasehube - May 2017
Mabuasehube in Botswana is located in the Kalahari Desert covering an area of almost 2,000 sq. km. The unforgiving desert terrain is characterized by high red dunes and scattered vegetation. In 1992 the reserve was incorporated into the Gemsbok National Park, and in 2000 it was also integrated into the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
The reserve's name is derived from the Senalonga language, and means "red earth". The reserve was once home to the San people, sometimes called Bushman, and to small groups of inhabitants called Kgalagadi.
The vast open wildness of Mabuasehube allows you to experience the untouched wilderness of the Kalahari. The campsites in Mabuasehube are very basic and has no fencing around them. It is not uncommon to encounter predators in and around your campsites. As we clearly experienced ,first hand, with regular visits from Lion and Hyena, not an arm’s length away from our tents.
Unitrans 4x4 and a few of their Toyota Service Clients packed up and met at Vryburg at 09h00 Wimpy for breakfast, the usual greetings and introductions, saw the excited group put their Toyota`s to another “Test Drive” with a difference.
30km out of Vryburg we climbed on to the gravel, corrugations and thick sand was what lay ahead of us and deflated our tyres to 1.5 bar –to compensate for the road and its conditions. Yokohama have given me a set of the newly launched Yokohama Geolander G015 A/T tyres to test. I am not sure if its due to the combination of Hilux, suspension and tyres, but She ran like a dream in the rough terrain. Selecting 4h on the move – the Hilux was straight as an arrow on the gravel at 80 to 110kph in some places.
The vehicles a Land Cruiser 200, Land Cruiser FJ, Land Cruiser 79 D/C , Hilux D4-D, a 2.8 Hilux and one Nissan Patrol, Loaded to the hilt with fuel, water and all provisions for a week put the suspensions to the ultimate abuse, I for one was thankful for the adjustable Tough Dog suspension from Opposite Lock. It was amazing to feel the heat difference in the shock absorbers, by touch of the various vehicles.
17h00 we arrived safely at the Gate, formalities done, we headed off to set up camp for the first night. The weather forecast was minimum 4 degrees and maximum 27 in the day, well they got the day time temps right, but totally lost it on the minimums – We froze every body part that night.
Early coffee and everyone left before sun up (except me) to go view Game. Idiot I am, they saw what they came for, and me- all I had was the Lion footprints in camp to contend with.
No Kalahari trip is without its dangers--- and excitement. From the highly venomous Parabuthus Scorpion, to Lion and Hyena coming very …..VERY close to our tents at night. In fact the Lion visited every night for our entire stay.
True to Kalahari conditions, Springbok and Gemsbok were abundant, and as for the Birding, this is paradise. Mostly the various Raptors has been given the thumbs up, with amazing sightings and displays.
Small mammals, Bat eared Foxes, Jackal, duiker , field mice, Meerkats and more, kept making an appearance to compliment what was still to come.
Gerhard and Louise with their 200 Cruiser, would not miss an early morning departure and evidently their diligence paid off with stunning Leopard and Lion sightings (Photo credit to them)
Before long ,we found ourselves having to pack for the journey home again, all in all a very successful Tour, without incident – O wait,,,, Terrance had a flat tyre on the way to the border.
What I learnt :-
• You need a decent rig with correct kit.
• You need a good camera/Lens
• You need a good fridge
• Take everything with.
• And you need to Love the bush and be patient.
We will be planning another Tour to this remarkable and beautiful Park soon (just not in the heat of summer) stay tuned – and get ready for this one.
Mabuasehube in Botswana is located in the Kalahari Desert covering an area of almost 2,000 sq. km. The unforgiving desert terrain is characterized by high red dunes and scattered vegetation. In 1992 the reserve was incorporated into the Gemsbok National Park, and in 2000 it was also integrated into the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
The reserve's name is derived from the Senalonga language, and means "red earth". The reserve was once home to the San people, sometimes called Bushman, and to small groups of inhabitants called Kgalagadi.
The vast open wildness of Mabuasehube allows you to experience the untouched wilderness of the Kalahari. The campsites in Mabuasehube are very basic and has no fencing around them. It is not uncommon to encounter predators in and around your campsites. As we clearly experienced ,first hand, with regular visits from Lion and Hyena, not an arm’s length away from our tents.
Unitrans 4x4 and a few of their Toyota Service Clients packed up and met at Vryburg at 09h00 Wimpy for breakfast, the usual greetings and introductions, saw the excited group put their Toyota`s to another “Test Drive” with a difference.
30km out of Vryburg we climbed on to the gravel, corrugations and thick sand was what lay ahead of us and deflated our tyres to 1.5 bar –to compensate for the road and its conditions. Yokohama have given me a set of the newly launched Yokohama Geolander G015 A/T tyres to test. I am not sure if its due to the combination of Hilux, suspension and tyres, but She ran like a dream in the rough terrain. Selecting 4h on the move – the Hilux was straight as an arrow on the gravel at 80 to 110kph in some places.
The vehicles a Land Cruiser 200, Land Cruiser FJ, Land Cruiser 79 D/C , Hilux D4-D, a 2.8 Hilux and one Nissan Patrol, Loaded to the hilt with fuel, water and all provisions for a week put the suspensions to the ultimate abuse, I for one was thankful for the adjustable Tough Dog suspension from Opposite Lock. It was amazing to feel the heat difference in the shock absorbers, by touch of the various vehicles.
17h00 we arrived safely at the Gate, formalities done, we headed off to set up camp for the first night. The weather forecast was minimum 4 degrees and maximum 27 in the day, well they got the day time temps right, but totally lost it on the minimums – We froze every body part that night.
Early coffee and everyone left before sun up (except me) to go view Game. Idiot I am, they saw what they came for, and me- all I had was the Lion footprints in camp to contend with.
No Kalahari trip is without its dangers--- and excitement. From the highly venomous Parabuthus Scorpion, to Lion and Hyena coming very …..VERY close to our tents at night. In fact the Lion visited every night for our entire stay.
True to Kalahari conditions, Springbok and Gemsbok were abundant, and as for the Birding, this is paradise. Mostly the various Raptors has been given the thumbs up, with amazing sightings and displays.
Small mammals, Bat eared Foxes, Jackal, duiker , field mice, Meerkats and more, kept making an appearance to compliment what was still to come.
Gerhard and Louise with their 200 Cruiser, would not miss an early morning departure and evidently their diligence paid off with stunning Leopard and Lion sightings (Photo credit to them)
Before long ,we found ourselves having to pack for the journey home again, all in all a very successful Tour, without incident – O wait,,,, Terrance had a flat tyre on the way to the border.
What I learnt :-
• You need a decent rig with correct kit.
• You need a good camera/Lens
• You need a good fridge
• Take everything with.
• And you need to Love the bush and be patient.
We will be planning another Tour to this remarkable and beautiful Park soon (just not in the heat of summer) stay tuned – and get ready for this one.