GHANZI - MAUN 270KM.

Palm Afrique Lodge was a real pleasure  to stay at , great facilities and have chalets and bungalows and the staff were real helpful and friendly. Took us 3 hours up to Maun where we booked in at the Crocodile Safari Camp, just outside of town.

Did a makoro ride and a 5 mile walk in the Okavango Delta in the blazing hot sun, which was a full day affair, saw some Zebras,  Wildebeest and some hippos, kinda lame and the makoro's aren't wood anymore , now made out of fiberglass. 

The following  day I booked campsites for Moremi Park which is a total pain , cause you have to book at four different places for the different  camps, absolute joke how it works. They couldn't  make it more difficult if they tried, very frustrating  and  in April the prices go up 103%, as it is it is expensive ,so can't  see many South Africans going there anymore, but what do I know. 

So booked for 10 days and then went and got groceries and beer, thankfully my fridge keeps the beer real cold and has plenty of space for the food. 

TO 3RD BRIDGE AND BACK TO MAUN !

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Took 7 hours from Maun to 3rd Bridge campsite, 135 km. Saw the normal animals ellie, buffalo, giraffe,hippos and zebras along the knarly road heading heading up there. The campsite has a tap and a braai pit under a tree and the ablutions are very clean with hot water and flushing toilets.

Paid 1642 Pulls for three nights for the parks entry fee (R 2161)   The team conjured up a Salmon salad for supper , where we ate around our small table with two candles, needless to say it was very romantic..

Did a game drive in the morning  but the grass is to tall and some roads are inaccessible due to the water. The actual 3rd Bridge has collapsed and nobody knows when it will be fixed, so it is a huge schlep to go to the other campsit, you have to go all the way back to South gate which is 48km south and then head back north for 3 hours to get to the camp which is 15km from 3rd Bridge !

We only stayed two nights as the shortage of animals and the mutiny by the crew and shortage of petrol, we haeded back to Maun to re - group and get fuel and will then head up to Khwai Community Camp which shows on the map to be two and a half hours away, which is more like five hours away. 

Upington to Mabuasehube 543km.

After getting our Covid 19 tests , I asked my assistants to find find a place in Upington, 42km later we were at Oranje Resort almost in Kakamas!  The crew failed dismally. We did have a great evening sitting on the banks of the Orange River, 42km downriver of Upington. Sunset was beautiful and the location and had a delicious meal but drank to much.

Next morning we left early to get my bakkie in for a service, 42km back to Upington , and I found the place to stay at, Sun River Safari Lodge on the banks of the Orange River,  beautiful setting and room was outstanding. 

Went to the Red Ox , same owner as the one in Van Rhyns Dorp, elevated overlooking  the river, the place to dine. The restaurant is beautiful, no expense spared and the meal of lamb shank, spare ribs and lamb chops was excellent as were the staff. 

UPINGTON - ASKHAM - BOKSPITS - TSABONG - MABUASEHUBE      543KM.

We had a quick breakfast and then went shopping for some supplies and then left for the border of Bokspit which is about 300km away. The border was very efficient on both sides with no hassles at all. Tar road all the way to Tsabong ,only passed about 20 cars and a donkey cart in the 270km stretch. Then it was dirt and mostly sand road all the way straight north up to Mabuasehube,  lowered my tyre pressure and augered through the sand . Arrived quite late and luckily the park was still open and we were able to get a camp spot which was in terrible shape and the ablutions were abandoned, no water , but happy to have a spot.

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Mabuasehube - Hukuntsi - Kang - Ghanzi  512km.

Fred slept in his tent on the concrete and we clambered into our tent at 9pm. Next morning left early for Ghanzi, a lot of sand and then two lions laying on the side of the road was the highlight of the drive. 

Arrived in Ghanzi at 4 and went to Palm Afrique Camp which is a real nice camp site and Fred got a Chalet. Had a fat sizzling T Bone 16oz steak cooked to perfection.

MATA MATA TO NOSSOB 166km

Left at 6am on the 8th for the 166km drive to Nossob, headed south then east and then north. We hardly saw any animals en route and arrived at 11am and was able to get Fred a Chalet again.

 The camp site is very nice with large trees and very impressive ablutions, clean and organized. Went on a short gameless drive and then had a huge electric storm that lasted for hours into the night.  

Once again we left at 6am to Upington which is about 400km and saw a lot of Wildebeest and Orynx and Springbok with a brief Lion sighting.We got a PCR test ($38) just before they closed  which was lucky cause it would have cost us another whole day to wait for the results.

KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK

MATA MATA   5th - 8th February 2022

Left at sparrow fart for Mata Mata which is 493 km away, passing through Kakamas  and stopped at Upinton to replenish the food and beverages so the Mexican doesn't dehydrate or starve.

Fuelled up the Troopy (R 2985.00.   R15.50 to the $)  stopped in Askham for a sambo and arrived  at 5pm and Fred was able to get a Chalet which worked out great for him, as tent life is hard on him, I always thought those old Mexicans were all tough , but apparently not all of them.

The next day went on a game drive and saw a tortoise, despondent, we returned  to camp and braaied at the Chalet. 

Fred and I left at 6am for a game drive and had a close leopard sighting which lasted awhile. The some folks told us about some lions,  which we located and tracked for over an hour. Charmain missed out big time but at least got all the housework done , so it wasn't all for naught. 

Had a braai at the Chalet , no sightings at the waterhole but did have plenty of thunder and lightning.

Mata Mata Chalet. 

 Gemsbok / Orynx

Augrabies Falls

Spent the first night at Van Rhyns Dorp and then drove North to Augrabies Falls and got a real nice camp spot. 

The volume of water was mesmerizing,  never seen it like this before and I guess rwo weeks prior it was full on flooding. Could only do a short hike as the other hikes were impassable. Very hot with lots of miggies and mozzies and other creatures,  monkeys were not an issue ,only saw a handful.

2 - 2 - 2022 Getting Going to Somewhere .

Picked up my bakkie yesterday,  the new suspension did not arrive in time, but they got the radio, backstep, fuel filter,  rear view mirror camera and fridge anchored. 

Got up at 5am but only left at 11:30 am ater cleaning the rental and packing the bakkie. Went to the yacht club for a quick fix and then fueled up and left for Augrabies Falls.

But only made it to Van Rhyns Dorp and had a great dinner at the Red Ox.

Preparing for the trip.

 The Troopy is in the shop getting the suspension and fridge fitted and hoping I can pick it up tomorrow as we plan to leave in 3 days time.

The exterior has all been done with the table and bumpers, lights, winch and spare wheel mounts and rooftop tent. Nothing in the interior has been built except for the centre console . 

THE CREW FOR THE TRIP

We have a motley crew of three, a Mexican from Palm Springs, Fred, my American wife and myself. Fred decided to come on the last second so we have had to make some adjustments, mentally and to the vehicle. He has been in Cape Town for a week and have been sightseeing , eating and drinking and laughing non stop.