Savuti & Moremi track conditions (till end of June - 2012)

[come-along.nl]

Khwai Village is only reachable via Moremi Game Reserve and the bridge at North Gate. The direct route from Khwai (North Gate) to Mababe Gate is no longer possible. Unless you have a schnorchel , high placed battery, a powerfull 4x4 and nerves of steel... It looks like it will stay this way until November. So do the Detour via South Gate and the Steel bridge at Mababe Village.

source: Carsten Möhle

[come-along.nl]

Skype Chat (May 3) with Sango Safari Camp about the tracks North/East of Khwai Village:

[10:10:06] Come-Along-Safari.com: Can you ask the people from Sango/Khwai Village if it's possible to drive from North Gate to Mababe Gate via the Transit road?
[10:10:31] Sango Reservations: stand by ill ask and get back to you shortly
[10:10:52] Come-Along-Safari.com: heard rumours that it won't be possible until November...
[10:11:05] Come-Along-Safari.com: Detour via South Gate and Mababe Village
[10:42:58] Come-Along-Safari.com: ?
[10:46:17] Sango Reservations: Apparently it is not adivsable to use that route. its better to use the round about trip.
[10:46:41] Come-Along-Safari.com: thx!
[10:46:52] Sango Reservations: u r welcome

So the Detour via South Gate it is...

[martacip]

Hi,
we're staying one night in Khwai this August and then we're going to Savuti.
As I've read in this post I think we will do the detour via South Gate and the steelbridge at Mababe village...
Does someone know how much time will take the detour ? it is possibile to do it in one day?
Thank you very much
Marta

[John54]

Hi Marta,

There seems to be mixed information on the net regarding accessibility of roads between Savuti and Moremi. I found this post (may 7th 2012). Link here:
http://botswana.startpagina.nl/prikbord ... g-15453846

MESSAGE:

Goodday (Fred)
On the 7th and 8th of August I have a reservation at Mogotho campsite. Now there are rumours that the whole area is flooded (untill aprox. november this year). Can you acknowledge this? What would be the best route to Magotho from Khwai Gate / Khwai village. Is Magotho also flooded? Is it possible to drive from Khwai village to Savuti? Many questions but I hope you can answer them!
Kind Regards, Frans
===

Aswer from Khwai development Trust:
Hi! Frans
All this stories that are going around about khwai is not true, all the site are not in water including Magotho where you are to stay and the crossings to Savuti are not too bad and also sandy.
With regards, Fred

[come-along.nl]

Does someone know how much time will take the detour ? it is possibile to do it in one day?
Thank you very much
Marta

Dear Marta,

It's doable in one day but better leave early! This is what Tracks4Africa tells us: 197 km and driving time of 7 hours and 38 minutes...

Cheers,
Hans

[come-along.nl]

Received short text messages via SMS and WhatsApp from customers currently in the Moremi area about the direct route from Moremi's North Gate to Chobe's Mababe Gate:

"Hoi hans net een gids gesproken. Hij heeft de crossing bij khwai gisteren gedaan. Volgens hem nog geen 50 cm water"...

"Ha Hans! Net weer bereik. Wij zijn na tips van rangers door de Khwai gereden. Je moet echter precies weten welke bocht je in het water moet maken! Diepte is dan ca 1 meter. Nu aangekomen in Maun"

"Hoi Hans vandaag iets soortgelijks gehoord. Passeren op het bredere stuk wel langer maar ondieper"...

So it seems to be possible to do the direct route (May 16) from North Gate to Mababe Gate (or Vice versa). Take care and always check with the Rangers!

Kind regards,
Hans

[martacip]

thank you! we'll surely check with the Rangers,
reagrds,Marta

[come-along.nl]

SMS received today from a customer who did the direct route from Mababe Gate to North Gate:

Hoi Hans crossing ging prima. Niet bij de weg maar spoor naar links en dan de crossing in de ruime bocht. Eergister wilddogs en vandaag cheetahs. Top dus! Gr. Erik

Translation:

"Crossing went smooth. we didn't do the crossing straight on the transitroad but took a track to the left and made the crossing in a wide curv. Saw Wilddogs & Cheetah's. So Great!"

[come-along.nl]

Update May 19 & 20:



We were able to do the direct route from Mababe to North Gate (transit road) and from North Gate, via Xakanaxa to Third Bridge as the video shows.
To be more specific: When coming from Savuti you first cross a bridge and then after approx. 1 km you encounter a watercrossing. Don't try to attempt a direct crossing here! There's a tracks going to the left that you have to follow. At the end of this track there is a do-able crossing. Again don't do the direct route but do the loop round 3 'bushes'...

See map:


From North Gate to Third Bridge (via Xakanaxa) we did another watercrossing. Also do-able. As can be seen in the video.

Very sandy conditions near Savuti. Got stuck once (probably because of my lack of 4x4 driving skills...). Lowered the tyre pressure and proceed our tour.

[come-along.nl]

Dear Mr. Hans,

I am back from the 3 days Safari Savuti, Ihaha and Kasane. The road from Maun to Mababe Gate is pumping but not that bad. Mababe to Savuti the sand ridge road is not bad you can drive using hi-range (4x4) till you get to Savuti. Savuti to Kachikau Village the road in between Savuti and Ghoha Gate is bad the best way is to use Air strip road. I used the main road from Ghoha gate to Kachikau Village you have to use hi-range and Low range because their are some other places where the sand is too soft. I am told the cut line is difficult to drive. The advice is you should drive in the morning while the sand is cold and not lose. Ihaha is not bad you can drive with 4x4 engaged.

Kind Regards
Julius