Savuti & Moremi track conditions (till end of October)

[kingshaka]

Hi
Does anyone have any up to dat information on the road from moremi to savute via north gate / kwhai? We will be attempting it on 30 September.
Thank you, Lisa

Hi Lisa,

We've heard of self drivers (last week) that did the direct route from North Gate to Mababe Gate but the general status now is still to do the Detour via South Gate...
Personally I think it would try to do it on September 30! But ask the Rangers at North Gate first and try to do it with 2 vehicles

Cheers, Shaka

[Lisa]

Thanks Shaka! We are 2 vehicles but have no snorkels. We're up 4 an adventure tho!

Regards,
Lisa

[come-along.nl]

Update on the situation in Moremi Game Reserve:

Although officially still closed but people managed to do the direct route from Xakanaxa to Khwai (North Gate). After 12 km on the maintrack from Xakanaxa to South Gate take a left turn to Dombo Hippo Pools. There was only one longer watercrossing (50 cm waterdepth) to negotiate.

North Gate to Savuti is also possible but not to be done without a schnorchel. The right track isn't easy to find. Wait for a vehicle with a tourguide to lead the way

[come-along.nl]

Third Bridge - September 11, 2011:

[kingshaka]

Fourth Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve - September 2011)

[come-along.nl]

Recent Pics (2 weeks ago) from the direct route Khwai (North Gate) to Mababe Gate:















Arrived at Magotho Community Campsite!



Our reward:

[MichelG]

We took that same crossing over the Sable Alley near the new "white bridge" in the Transit road on august 1st,
coming from Savuti, and with the info from the rangers at Mababe gate we went trough smoothly.
At that time the water level was still rising. It pretty much looks like the water is still pretty high.
Some Germans with a camper that took the crossing straight through the middle soaked their engine
and were stuck just on the other side. They should have taken the left wide curve as advised by
the rangers. They had to wait for a mechanic coming from Maun the next day.

LL017a.JPG

LL017b.JPG

LL003.JPG

LL001.JPG

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LL005.JPG

LL008.JPG

We had to do a second crossing just before Khwai village on the main road, but as this crossing
was very deep we were advised to take an alternative crossing some couple of hundred meters to the
right (coming from the north) from the main road.

LL018a.JPG

The one to the right, at that time, was easy to negotiate.

LL023.JPG

[kingshaka]

Still lots of water around Third Bridge and Xakanaxa, not all tracks accesible. But the road between Khwai and Xakanaxa is no problem, just one easy watercrossing. Also the watercrossing in the new transfer road between North Gate (Khwai) and Mababwe can be done without snorkel. Water depth around 80-90cm, steel balls required. Crossed it with two Hilux on October 16th.

Via John54

[John54]

Attached two videos of the water crossings just north of Khwai and between Khwai and Xakanaxa.
http://vimeo.com/30985727
http://vimeo.com/30980970
Walk them before you cross, and avoid mud!
John

[come-along.nl]

Today I was able to talk to Lonneke Westerik (currently in Kasane) via Skype:

[14:02:27] Hans Schoelink - Come-Along.nl Safari: How was Moremi? Easy?
[14:02:35] Lonneke Westerik: Hmmmm..... Not quite
[14:02:46] Hans Schoelink - Come-Along.nl Safari: And the direct route from Khwai (North Gate) to Mababe Gate and onto Savuti?
[14:03:39] Lonneke Westerik: From 3rd bridge to Khwai preferable via South Gate and from Khwai to Savuti again via South Gate. These tracks are still a nightmare (unless you have a schnorchel and hire a guide...)