Third Bridge Moremi - Botswana

Third Bridge camping site is located about 50 km north-west of South Gate.

Nestled under shady trees this is a very popular campsite. 

Surrounded by swampland, game and birdlife are in abundance.

A negative aspect of camping at 3rd Bridge is the ever presence of baboons and monkeys pursuing and begging food from the tourists.

It is an unfortunate situation that has arisen, as some tourists still persist in feeding wild animals, thus discouraging them from their natural habit of gathering food.

Although the distance from 3rd Bridge to Xakanaxa is only about 20km, allow a couple of hours driving time.  There are numerous loops and scenic drives along this route.

You travel through Mopani forest and grasslands surrounded by blue lagoons on your way to Xakanaxa.  At places the road can be very sandy.  Once again it must be emphasized that the condition of these roads can change drastically, and vary from wet to dry season.

It is wise to be prepared.  Ensure that your vehicle is equipped with a jack - preferably the high-lift type and engage into the right gear when approaching loose sand or muddy pools.

Don't let the road condition stop you from exploring the wilderness.  The harder it gets to reach a destination, the more rewarding the result will be. All you need is a sound, well equipped 4 x 4 vehicle, common sense and a will to answer the beckoning call of the wild.

Moremi Game Reserve - Botswana

About 25 km from our last stop, the tar road ends at Shorobe. A good gravel road leads you up to Buffalo Fence about 15 km on.

Travelling further north for about 35km, on a sandy but scenic road, where game can already be spotted, the southern entrance of Moremi Game Reserve is reached.

The Moremi Game Reserve is situated within the Okavango Delta, and offers a landscape of lagoons, winding waterways, reeded banks, Mopani and Knob thorn forests.

Cape buffalo, lion, elephant, zebra, giraffe and other animals

live in the riverside forests, hippo laze in the shallow

lagoons,  while overhead vultures and eagles ride the thermals in search of a meal.

There are four public camping sites in Moremi, which must be booked for in advance.  Entrance and camping fees are high compared to Southern African standards, which with the new booking system,  ensures a low volume of visitors.

South Gate Campsite is situated at the Reserve entrance and is set amongst huge Mopani’s.

Like all the other campsites inside the Moremi, the ablution facilities are very basic.

Showers, running water and flush toilets are available.

Road conditions inside Moremi differs from season to season.  Sandy parts during the dry season, which becomes compact during the rainy season and good hard clay surfaces through the Mopani woodland, which could become treacherous and slippery during the wet season.

The overall road condition should not deter anybody from visiting this magnificent wilderness, though 4 x 4 is essential.

Maun Botswana

Maun - The Gateway to the Okavango.

This buzzing town is the center of the tourist industry in Botswana.

It boasts banks, supermarkets, specialized shops and take-away, where you can obtain almost anything - including ice.  At the service stations, which are well stocked with spares, qualified mechanics are available to assist you.

In case of an emergency, Maun also has a hospital, chemist and private doctors.

In and around Maun, various hotels and lodges with camping facilities can be found.

Riley’s Hotel is located in the center of Maun.  It consists of 32 air-conditioned en-suite double rooms, and 3 executive suites.

There are 2 bars, an A-la-carte restaurant and a curio shop. 

A beautiful swimming pool is situated in the garden.

Island Safari lodge is 12 km outside of Maun on the road to Moremi.

It is situated on the bank of the Thamalakane River, which is dry most time of the year.

The Okavango Delta as well as the Thamalakane River gets its water from the highlands of Angola where the rainfall is about 1500mm per year.  This water flows for about 1 300km before it enters the Delta.

Rains falling in Angola from September on, only reaches Maun between June and July. Only 3% of the water that enters the Delta, eventually reach Maun.  2% seeps into the sand and the rest is lost through transpiration and evaporation.

At the lodge a cozy bar overlooks the Thamalakane River and a sparkling pool to cool off in, is available for guests.

The accommodation consists of thatched chalets, with en-suite facilities.

The shady campsite with good ablution facilities is situated on the banks of the river.

Various activities, including Makoro trails, are available from the lodge.

The restaurant offers an a-la-cart menu.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve - Botswana

At 52 800 square km, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, referred to as CKGR, is the second largest game reserve in the world.  Larger than Lesotho and Swaziland combined.

A desert in name, the CKGR supports diverse habitats - from salt pan to savannah.  The land is home to at least 64 species of mammals and 250 types of birds.

Meandering through these great open spaces are four fossil river valleys - the most famous being Deception.

Countless pans and dunes are concentrated in the northern third of the Reserve.

The roads around Deception are in excellent condition, but could become slippery during the wet season and 4 wheel drive might be necessary.

It is here in Deception Valley where Mark and Delia Owen researched the brown hyena for 7 years.  Their book "Cry of the Kalahari" makes excellent reading.

The valley is scattered with islands of trees.   Here on one of these islands, the Owens have put up camp.

The world-renowned San people have lived in this area for perhaps 30 000 years.

Originally the reserve was set up in 1961 to protect the natural resources on which the San Hunter-gatherer-lifestyle depended.

As there is little or no surface water, the game rely on artificial water holes scattered through the park.

Other than Deception, these water holes offer good game viewing like those at Sundays Pan and Letiahau.

After good rains, the harsh landscape is transferred into a green haven for thousands of springbok, gemsbok and wildebeest.

Giraffe, cheetah, hyena, jackal and lion also roam the valley.

There are no lodges in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Camping is allowed at designated sites only.

Camp sites that can be recommended are those overlooking Deception valley. There are also good camping sites at Sundays Pan.

As camping sites are far apart, you can enjoy the wilderness experience in utmost privacy.

There is no water at the campsites.

You have to be totally self reliant.

A portable shower, a toilet stool and a spade would be very helpful and could add to the excitement of your adventure.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve ... where nature remains wild and solitude is the rule.

Road condition from Savuti to Linyanti - Botswana

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Linyanti is only 40 km from Savuti but could take a couple of hours to reach as the road is very sandy at some places.

Because of these long stretches of heavy sand that must be negotiated, Linyanti is the least visited area of Chobe.

Another drawback for visiting this forgotten corner of the

Chobe Reserve is that it only offers about 7 km of riverfront drive for game viewers.

But for those who want to get away from it all, Linyanti offers you quietness and tranquility.

What makes this trip especially worthwhile is the beauty of the woodland and the Linyanti Swamp where the public campsite is set on the river bank