Thread: Botswana trip – June 2013
2013/05/07, 01:41 PM #1
Hi, firstly I would like to say that this is a FANTASTIC forum The amount of info is unbelievable.
We are a group of 4 vehicles and 9 people travelling from Langebaan on the West Coast of South Africa.
We are so excited, but would appreciate any tips on the areas that we are visiting. Also do’s & don’ts, places to stay/go and things not to miss or to avoid.
Day 2: Berrybush Farm
Day 3: Mabuasehube. Monamodi – Booking made
Day 4 & 5: Depends on how far we can get. Hoping to spend 1 night at Planet Boabab.
Day 6: Kubu island – Booking made.
Day 8 & 9: Vic Falls
Day 10 & 11: Kasane
Day 12: Savuti – Booking made
Day 14: Buitepos, hoping for Harnas, depending on group decision
Day 15: Mariental
Day 16: Somewhere along the Orange River
2013/05/07, 01:43 PM #2
You are attempting too much in way too little time.
2013/05/07, 01:51 PM #3
We so seldom get the opportunity to go on such a trip that we want to see as much as possible. Will sleep when we get back home. HaHa.
2013/05/07, 02:01 PM #4
Problem with that type of itinarary is that you actually see very little other than the road ahead. Work on something less than 500km/day. Keep in mind that Kasane to Savuti and savuti to Maun is not far but ut is two long driving days. It is not worth going to Kubu for a one night stand
2013/05/07, 07:04 PM #5
Thanks 4 advice. Do you perhaps know how many hours it would take from Kasane to Savuti and then on to Maun.
2013/05/07, 07:49 PM #6
Originally Posted by XDORS-WP
Kasane to Savuti via Kachikau 100km of tar, then 77km thick sand via Goha Gate. Not much to see along this main road from a game point of view - bar a few elephant (Time of day dependent).
Savuti to Maun - 150 km's. Thick Sand if you go on the Sand Ridge - and average game viewing. Marsh Road was dry when we were there - though the grass is long along the tracks and have deep ruts which & elephant footprints that are hardened into the road making it bumpy! We did not experience this as we were told by 2 travelers who did both and advised us to miss this.
Sand Ridge Road to Maun would take you at least 5 hours averaging 30 km/h, but more than likely you'll do 20 - 25 km/h.
The guys with the experience have suggested that the route you have planned is too far in too short a time. I have to agree with them - we only had 2 nights at Savuti and wanted another 2! Once you are in these places, you need time to explore the area, slowly - if you race through these areas you'll end up being frustrated. Setting up camp, Breaking camp early, no time for game drives?
We did see quite a few whirlwind foreign tourists through Moremi - arrive late, try scavenge for firewood in the dark, leave camp the next morning at 09h00 and off to the next site 50 km away for another one night.
If you got the time, spend more of it at Savuti and Moremi - if not, swop time at the Pans for Moremi or time at Moremi/Savuti/Maun for the pans?
2013/05/07, 08:11 PM #7
Get a Tracks4Africa map, it gives you the average travelling time for a set distance. Agree with the above , rather travel shorter distances and stay longer, you can go back later for the rest.
2013/05/13, 11:35 AM #8
Thanks for the travelling times and I also managed to get a Tracks4Africa map and it will help a lot.
We are thinking of skipping the 2 nights at Vic Falls because of the elections and have also heard that theft at the camp site is a problem.
Do you have any idea what the average cost is for doing a day trip? If we take into account all the stickers and yellow waistcoasts needed then it might be more worth our while.
Best place to stay at Kasane?
2013/05/13, 06:46 PM #9
Jy gaan net ry en niks werklik sien nie.
Vic Falls is great, Savuti is great Mabu .....als plekke wat 'n week op sy eie regverdig.......
Herbesin oor jou roete asb...anders gaan dit 'n laaaang rit wees met min hoogtepunte.
Net my opinie..use it or don't
2013/05/13, 06:53 PM #10
Danki Gryskat. Ons gaan definitief teruggaan na hierdie toer. Dan beplan ons om langer te bly op 'n plek. Ons het ni oral bespreek ni so ons kan dit aanpas as ons sien dit is te uitputend of ons sien te min. Wens net ons het langer verlof gehad.
2013/05/13, 07:49 PM #11
Day 4 & 5: Depends on how far we can get. Hoping to spend 1 night at Planet Boabab. Jammer, dit is net te ver en te veel om een dag te ry. Jy gaan dit nie maak om vanaf Mabua tot hier te ry nie. Jammer. Jy sal moet kies watter een - gaan trek gerus jou roete en kyk hoeveel tyd dit gaan neem.
Day 8 & 9: Vic FallsBly by Kasane. Daar is dagritte na Vic Falls. Kontak gerus vir Simo by 00267 73658405. Hy neem jou vir die dag soontoe en terug.
Day 12: Savuti – Booking made Ek dink hierdie is ook beslis te veel vir een dag. Jy gaan ry en ry en ry en waarskynlik ounag aankom . Probeer eerder 3 nagte hier
Ek weet jy se jy het beperkte tyd, maar beslis wil jy te veel doen in te min tyd,.
2013/05/13, 08:13 PM #12
Wel, ek het so bietjie getrek en gekyk dit is ongeveer 5 400 km sonder juis rondry.
Hier is jou roete soos jy se.
My probleem is egter soos jy die afstande sal sien. Vanaf Mabua na Planet Boab is ongeveer 14 ure se ry.
2013/05/13, 08:14 PM #13
Hier is die afstande
2013/05/13, 08:52 PM #14
Baie danki Elize. Ek gaan dit saamneem na ons volgende toer vergadering en kyk hoe voel almal. Ek sal baie graag langer by Savuti wil bly.
2013/05/14, 07:52 AM #15
Danki Gryskat. Ons gaan definitief teruggaan na hierdie toer........
Na so toer gaan niemand wil teruggaan gaan nie.
Jou toer is myns insiens sinneloos, jy gaan baie tyd en geld spandeer en jy gaan net op die pad wees, doodmoeg by die kamp kom, kamp maak, gou braai, uitgeput in die bed val en die vroeg die volgende dag net weer dieselfde herhaal vir die dag. Elize se tye en afstande bevestig dit.
2013/05/14, 08:32 AM #16
Ek wil ander voorstel maak.
Hoekom nie terwyl jy by Maun is, nie sommer Savuti doen , op na Kasane en dan terug via Kubu eiland nie?
En dan moet jul mooi besluit, hoekom net een nag in Mabua? Jy gaan nie regtig Mabua kan verken en geniet nie. Net gebruik as oornag?
Ek persoonlik dink jul moet besluit ons het 12 dae en ons besoek net hierdie. Die volgendes kan op 'n volgende keer besoek word.
Ek sal voorstel ten minste 2 aande by Mabua
Dan ry tot Ghanzi, oornag en dan ry tot Maun, opvul en aanry tot Kwai gemeenskapskamp. Geniet 2 dae hier.
Dan Savuti - ten minste 2 nagte.
Dan op na Kasane. Ten minste 2 nagte - en indien jul dagrit Vic Falls toe wil, dan 3 nagte.
En dan terug tot by Nata. Dan Kubu eiland toe en dan jul roete terug huis toe.
2013/05/14, 08:39 AM #17
Stem saam, Kubu is iets om te sien maar doen dit oppad terug, anders is alles vol stof vanaf dag een....
2013/05/25, 08:59 AM #18
Baie dankie Elize vir al jou moeite en idees. Ons kom die 1ste weer bymekaar en dan sal ons alles weer beplan. Ons sien baie uit na ons trip. Nou min dae.
2013/06/12, 08:15 PM #19
OK. Nie veel het verander ni. Soos hulle se 'go with the flow' Sal verslag gee as ons terug is. More 5 uur op Velddrif!!!!! Kan ni wag ni.
2013/08/05, 03:04 PM #20
Hi almal en dankie vir al die advies voor ons gery het. Ons is al 'n tydjie terug van ons toer, maar ek kry nou eers tyd om verslag te kom doen. Ek verstaan wat julle gesê oor te veel wil doen in so 'n kort tyd, maar dit het vir ons gewerk en ons het verskriklik baie gesien en gedoen.
Ek gaan net 'n klein bietjie oor elke dag vertel en julle moet verskoon hoe ek dit skryf, want ek is die enigste engels in die groep van afrikaners en het probeer afrikaans skryf vir hulle onthalwe ook.
Aan almal wat nog 'n toer gaan doen in Botswana - gaan voluit, want dit is 'n stunning land en die mense is so vriendelik.
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