Good Old Bots!!

[MikeP.86]

Without question, my favorite place in the world! ( Not that I've been all over the world but I can't imagine it gets better than this) I love South Africa..It really has it all, but Botswana man....now that's a special place. A water-world in the middle of the desert, salt pans like no other, Kalahari scrubland, Tsodilo Hills. Amazing! Those of you out there that have never been, do yourselves a favor. But take your time. I've been to Botswana a few times but at length. It makes all the difference. The worst thing to do is rush through a place, rather pick one or two really good spots and spend an extra night or three.

My first trip was a month long and we did Khutse(Central Kalahari), Khwai River, Moremi, Chobe, Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and Kukonje Island(Also in the pans and quite by chance, but what an incredible place!). A lot of driving for a month but worth every minute. That trip was done with a Mazda Drifter 2.5TD S/C kitted out for overlanding and it did incredibly well. Its really good in the thick Kalahari Sand. Much like a Land Rover. And in that whole month we got stuck once(in the Khwai) as it was very wet and we had one puncture which was driver error. Driving too fast in a rutted trail on the way out from Kukonje Island and a protruding root slashed the sidewall. Other than that no issues, and we were alone. No back-up vehicles at all. Not ideal, but not everyone can take a month long holiday and as myself and my friend had just resigned from the lodge we were working at, it seemed a great idea. An Authentic African Adventure! And boy was it.. From a 4x4 driving point of view, its not incredibly challenging but that really depends on where you go and how much rain has fallen. Obviously the delta and surrounds can be very wet and sticky. The pans can be like wet cement and the road to Chobe might just be one of the worst roads in the world. We got very very lucky but a bit of common sense goes a long way. It is predominantly flat but when you get into wild areas it obviously becomes a bit more challenging, but only a bit. The river crossings are really a lot of fun though when you reach the Delta and if the pans are wet, be bloody careful. KEEP TO THE SIDES! The big attraction for me to Bots is the wildlife though..I just cant imagine anywhere being more pristine and genuinely WILD.

My second trip worthy of mention was 3 weeks and that was to the Pans, Lake Ngami(Super full though and we couldn't get a great view), Khwai River, Shakawe (Drotsky's Camp) and the incredible Mountains of The Gods, Tsodilo Hills. Again a lot of driving as we went from JHB to the most north western part of Botswana and back. Thats a lot of hours on the road. Well worth it again though. Some new places, awesome experiences and zero car troubles. Not one.. This time around in a D/C Cruiser 4.2D. A donkey on the open road but damn it comes alive in the thick stuff. Great vehicle! The Khwai is most definitely my favorite place in Bots because its just very relaxed. Its community run and still very much wild. I've had some great sightings there and the Birds!!Wow! The birds there are fantastic..Moremi as well, but maybe I just got lucky in Khwai. Tsodilo Hills is full of history and a really awesome place to visit. The camping is FREE as well..you just gotta pay for a guide to take you for hikes but its like R150 for the day. Beautiful though, very mysterious and spiritual. There are loads of San Bush painting there that will blow your mind! I will definitely return there.

The only problem with Bots now is that they are making it very expensive to visit the National Parks, but thats only gonna push people toward the community camps, private lodges and other places of interest, but then thats where the real magic is to be honest. When I go to the Delta itself again, I'll definitely fly in to Maun and take a boat into the Delta to an Island Camp. Being a water-world of note, there is only so much of it you can see with a vehicle. Just a thought when you plan a trip there. Places are pretty far apart and with the petrol prices of today, the cost difference overall to fly and take boats into the Delta are fairly similar to driving, but it depends on your travelling setup I suppose and whether or not its the only place you gonna visit.

[JacquesK]

Botswana is still a dream for me, I've been to Namib last year, my next trip will be Namib and Botswana. Can't wait

[MikeP.86]

Yeah, you gotta go. There really is no place like it.. Like I say though, its probably better/easier to do the community camps and places of the like. Along with the ridiculous prices(they were proposed, don't know if they have been implemented yet) of the national parks, you have to book long in advance..long. We never did and always took a chance to just arrive at a gate and try hussle a campsite..Most times we got it but always have a back-up plan.

My next trip, I wanna do Zim. I was gonna go after Bots in late 2009 but I had to return to SA for work and a couple years ago, it was still uncertain as to whether it was safe or not. A Zim National I met in Bots said there was never an issue with the tourist destinations, but that we would have to be careful what we say and stay out of major cities. Supplies were also iffy and petrol/diesel. I hear its all good now and I'm very keen to go. Coolest thing about Zim is that you can walk anywhere within National Parks (without a Guide) and don't have to be confined to vehicles. Makes for memorable times and fantastic photographic opportunities.

[love-my-cruiser]

Mikey!!

Those photos look mighty familiar. Hmmm, I have one or two from Balule which you might remember. It was after our "elephant tracking", when we returned to the vehicle,, huh, huh?

[JacquesK]

Never new you're allowed out of your vehicle in the parks. interesting.

[love-my-cruiser]

You are not usually. We worked together in the Kruger and enjoyed tracking.

I am going to Mana Pools at the end of the year and you are allowed to walk there with no guide. Great oppurtunity and great game viewing..