Hi All,
Just back from a multiple leg tour through the CKGR and the Moremi-Savuti- Chobe area over the last 4 weeks.
Here a bit of a warning:
In general the water level is receding and most tracks are now dry again. However, the remaining water crossings are now much deeper than before (July) as the wash out by passing vehicles is leaving deep ruts and sink holes.
I am not lightly saying this, I drowned my rig with all the consecutive damage in Khwai river early Oct, water standing over the seats and just touching the steering wheel.
Damage report:
Engine initially working again after draining water and changing oils, but knocking sounds under load and firing on 5 instead of 6 cylinders. Fixed the missing cylinder on Maghoto campsite and continued to Savuti- Chobe with misfiring and overheating. On return misfiring continued but knocking sounds subsided - temporarily. On the Maun to Orapa road then disaster as the piston rod decided to knock out the cylinder wall and the sump, consequently, engine write off and P 6000.00 towing fees to return to Gaborone. Further damages: Fridge in trailer, electronic controller destroyed, dual battery monitor, controller destroyed. Full day stripping of wet interior and re-assembly -plus drainage of fuel tanks from grit and water. All in all not that good feeling, but let me explain what happened.
We crossed the easiest stretch in the
Xakanaxa to
North Gate water crossing (close to
hippo pools) but lost the alternator on a Nissan Rental due to water ingress. Next on the plan was the concrete slab outside
Khwai village which is now protruding from surrounding sand by about 50 cm, I nearly stalled the vehicle when hitting it sideways trying to leave the deeper part of the crossing, but managed to get through. Then the double crossing before the new bridge, looked deep and I walked it in various alternatives. A LandCruiser safari vehicle crossed right in front of us and wow, water over the bonnet and up to the windscreen. So I decided to "play it safe" [that's what I thought ] and select 1st low range instead of 2nd as usual, just for more torque. Evidently it was a wrong decision and I was too slow and water immersed from below the engine which got sucked into the air intake - result as above.
COME-ALONG ADVICE: Keep it safe - use some speed - or leave it out and detour 120 kms via South Gate & Mababe village. At this moment only experienced 4x4 drivers should attempt the classic route from North Gate to Mababe Gate!! 
I am now rebuilding the rig, will later comment on the outcome and costs....! On the positive side, lots of lions and leopards in both Moremi and Chobe, but Savuti largely devastated by fires and Moremi game viewing generally poor, they moved away from traditional tracks.
Water levels are dropping in the delta but the water crossings are deeper than ever due to wash outs by vehicles pushing through them. In Moremi there is only one scary one, the Hippo Pool area along the Xaka to NG route. 4th bridge, avoid the water on the 3rd bridge approach and venture through the grass on right, the water crossing is murky with soft ground and you hit the embankment hard when the front wheels sink into the soft ground.
source: Kalahari Safari, Gaborone
