Selfdrive4x4forum.com

September 12:

We drove from South gate, along Xini Lagoon, first water crossing (just around the first termite mound about 150 m) stick to the middle of the tracks on the sandy bit. Dont go left into the grass/mud, you will sit there forever. This is where I got stuck last time. Dont underestimate this crossing at all!

ALWAYS STOP and walk the water crossing before attempting it.

I then took the road for the Bodumatau Loop, take a right at the green cement sign block. Continue through the Mopani around on Bodumatau loop, stay right on the loop. (the 500 strong herd of buffalo was on this loop). Dont try and get through to fourth bridge on this loop, its impossible, unless you have an amphibean vehicle. You CAN complete the bodumatau loop and maybe another 1 km, but then its just water.
Also cant cross on the short cut at the bottom of the loop, you will have to return on the same track.

SWAMBO and the folks was not in the mood for me to show them how well the Pajero can cross through the water at first and second bridge, so we slowly started heading back. Stopped and had some lunch and then headed back home. I wrote our sightings on the sightings board at south Gate, and then stopped at Kazakini to have a look for future camping. All Basic but nice. We saw plenty animals outside the park also. Ok, so unfortunately I did not go all the way to Third Bridge as planned, but I talked to a few people in the park and there is still water everywhere. All passable though.

The bridges, first, second and third bridge are they all OK ?

Like I said I didnt personaly go to first, second and third bridge yesterday. BUT reports that I got is that you can cross over first bridge, but double check it for yourself, also possible to pass on the left hand side through the water. Second bridge is a no go, but also possible via a detour to the left of the bridge or a water crossing on the right as you drive towards third bridge.

Third Bridge is all ok and good to use!

Source: http://www.kavangoair.com

Pictures taken recently:

Savuti, 3,5 km after Dombo Pools into the direction of Xakanaxa & 4th Bridge...

Message from Kasane (September 20):

We have just arrived in Kasane. Went through Moremi & Chobe with a Toyota Hilux.

- South gate - 3rd bridge (1 night)
The watercrossings are not a big problem. We walked them prior to crossing them by car. They are all doable like mentioned before in this forum. The instructions from the rangers at South Gate were correct

- 3rd bridge - Khwai (2 nights)
We had one watercrossing that was more muddy then it was deep. Also no major problems here.

- Khwai - Savuti (2 nights)
From North Gate to Mababe Gate you'll have to cross a few waterobstacles. One was really deep! When approaching this watercrossing from Khwai then stick to the far right. Our Hilux it's nose was fully submerged with water up to the bonnet for a few meters...

Source: Flavio (customer Come-Along.nl)

New Video's Come-Along Botswana (Sept. 2010)



More new vids here:

www.come-along.nl/gallery/videos.html

September 2010

Moremi GR

First Bridge, Sept. 8:
http://www.silke-und-max.de/Images/Bots ... Bridge.jpg

Second Bridge:
http://www.silke-und-max.de/Images/Bots ... Bridge.jpg
http://www.silke-und-max.de/Images/Bots ... ridge1.jpg
http://www.silke-und-max.de/Images/Bots ... ridge2.jpg
http://www.silke-und-max.de/Images/Bots ... ridge3.jpg

Third Bridge:
http://www.silke-und-max.de/Images/Bots ... Bridge.jpg

In Moremi:
http://www.silke-und-max.de/Images/Bots ... ertest.jpg

Hi all,

Just had 4 nights at Ihaha and a night at Savuti.

What a difference since our last trip out this way in April. You can drive all along the Chobe riverfront now. A few gnarly bits and a little sand but nothing too troubling ... and the game was spectacular. We saw leopard twice - both excellent sightings - one on a kill under a bush next to the road and one posing beautifully in a tree - both were within 1.5km of Serondela. Huge numbers of elephant around the river - easy to see several herds totalling 100+ in the early evening. There was a huge herd of buffalo (1,000+) at Puku plains most evenings. There was an elephant carcass just west of Ihaha and we had great fun watching hyena chase off the vultures.

I had read a few negative things about Ihaha recently but it was great. We were a little concerned as we had old DNWP bookings and had heard horror stories about double booking. In fact a 2 night booking for CI13 (aren't there only 10 sites?) was pencilled it alongside our campsite (CI7) on the board in the office but it was scrubbed out when we arrived. Staff were friendly, ablutions were clean (there was even soap!), and water was hot. They have also provided some wire to fix the supposedly baboon proof bins shut. Much to the annoyance of the baboons. We had elephant in camp one night. I could see his trunk sniffing us through the gauze on our roof tent!! Try getting back to sleep after that.

Only (minor) negative points were people related. Large party making a lot of noise late into the night on one night and a guy who hadn't made a booking asking to camp "in the vicinty of" our campsite if he couldn't find an empty site. Which is to my mind not fair on the people who have planned months ahead or those who would have loved to stay at Ihaha but were turned away. We noticed that staff at the campsite gate left before gate closing time and didn't arrive until after opening time so I guess people can just drive in and out and fly camp without anyone knowing.

The road to Savuti is still rough. You drive on gravel alongside the new tar road for about 35km. Then it turns into a two lane sand track which is fine. The last 18km to Ghoha gate is deep pitted sand and it's very difficult to pass oncoming traffic. We were asked to show our booking for Savuti at Ghoha gate. There are also signs everywhere saying no photocopied permits accepted. Road inside park still pretty sandy though better than the approach.

The channel is getting deep! Much more water than when we were here in April. We watched a couple of vehicles go across at the crossing next to the office and it looked pretty hairy (though I am a wuss about water). I have to say it felt better from inside the car than it looked watching the others. They are in the process of building a bridge which should be ready in December.

Campsite was fine. Clean ablutions, hot water etc.

Game viewing was quieter than Chobe riverfront - a lot of elephant but not much else. But early this morning we had one of our best sightings ever. We had pulled over for a coffee alongside the river at the top of the marsh. Just as we stopped a female kudu ran past very close to the car... followed by a pack of wild dogs! She jumped into the river (shallow enough at that point for her to bound across) and the dogs lept in after her (they had to swim). The pursuit continued on the other side of the river but we soon lost sight of them. What an amazing thing to see. We didn't stop a) shaking b) gabbling about it for about an hour.

Road out was pretty grim. Sandy in places but mostly just very bumpy. Took us 2.5 hours from camp to gate.

So that's it for Chobe and Savuti. We will be at Kaziikni tomorrow night and Xakanaka and Third Bridge for the next three nights.

Will try and post some pictures later, at the moment my better half is still going through them.

Source: 4x4community

Hi all,

We've just had a great few days in Moremi and I thought I'd drop a note about current conditions. Roads were OK. Some very deep sand in patches that made for a bit of an uncomfortable ride. Some areas around Bodumatau and Xakanaka (including Dead Tree Island) were impassable due to water but you could get most places. Re the water crossing at Fourth Bidge. You can actually cross to the middle point, ie the island, entirely on dry land now though it isn't that obvious. It wouldn't have occurred to us unless we'd seen a vehicle go across. Go to the right of the water (coming from Third Bridge).Then there's only a small puddle to cross to get to the bridge. Crossing the water was OK though there is a bit of a trench in the middle so take care. Would suggest going to the right (again coming from Third Bridge) of the wooden post in the water. We saw a game viewing vehicle go to the left (which looks shallower) and it almost got stuck. There is a brand new bridge under construction which is apparently due to be finished mid November. Xakanaka was a bit of a shambles. Couldn’t find the camp attendant. Seemed to be only 7 pitches numbered and they varied widely. So 3 is tiny, 4 is huge, 5 & 6 are kind of together. Some were empty. Ablutions fine though – hot water etc. Third Bridge was very impressive. Sites are nicely spaced and located under huge trees. All rubbish to be brought to one lockable cage by the office. No hot water in ladies as baboons had just trashed solar panel but we were told to use gents for showers until it was fixed. All seemed very well run, clean and tidy and we had no troubles with monkeys. Game was a little on the quiet side though we did have lions set up camp just outside our campsite for the day (and night). Also would have had a great leopard sighting (he was rolling around in the grass at Second Bridge) – were it not for the ring of game vehicles surrounding it. We waited 20 mins for someone to move then gave up as it was getting dark.

All in all a great trip. Will try and post some pics later. Off to CKGR tomorrow....

Source: Itchyfeet - 4x4community

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