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Articles Travel Articles Two Pajero's, 16 Days, Chobe, Moremi and Vic Falls
Two Pajero's, 16 Days, Chobe, Moremi and Vic Falls
Micha Coetzee, Pajero Club member describes his adventures to Moremi, Chobe and Vic Falls.(April / May 2009)
Day 1 Travelling from Witbank to Platjan border post.
Platjan near Alldays.
Information received on border closure was 18:00..... Wrong!... For some reason it closed just after 16:00 and we did not know it. We arrived at Alldays filling station just after 16:00 and was approached by a very BIG man (Big in posture, big in name and big in heart) asking where we are going to. After we told him we are going to Botswana and wanted to camp at Limpopo River Lodge, he said that we are welcome to use his hunting camp on the Limpopo river and gave us the directions. We proceeded to the border post and found it was already closed at 16:00 (I think he knew). Obviously we took his invite.
.
3 Km from Platjan border post...... his entrance gate.
Camp site next to the Limpopo
It turned out to be John Williams (Former Springbok rugby player). A great guy! See if you can spot him....Ha..ha.
One of the chalets with the Limpopo river on the background.
Packing up to go to Nata Lodge about 450 Km away.
Day 2
Platjan Limpopo crossing entering into Botswana into the Thuli block on route to Nata. When the river level is high, this border is closed as water will flow over the bridge.
Border officials on both sides were very friendly and most helpful. Remember to take your vehicle papers as well as your driver’s licence as you will most definitely need them. Fuel is available all along the major routes and cheaper than in SA (About 30 to 40 cents / Lit Diesel)
Take it slow and enjoy the view.
Just across the border in the Thuli block Botswana we found the gravel road to be littered with ditches and holes which caused us to travel at 40 Km /hr at the most.
Lots of Elephants in the Thuli block to see (Then why the need to hurry?)
The gravel road was bad to fair and the first 20 Km took about an hour’s drive. When we reached the very quiet tar road (in excellent condition) it was pure pleasure driving. We drove at max 100 Km/hr
Watch out for donkeys, cattle, dogs and horses crossing the road. For that reason we never travelled after dark. Note that no animal and dairy products are allowed to be taken from South to North or the other way round. We took our time in towns, stopping frequently for the lady’s....... and for ourselves (too much coffee I think). The road to Nata was in a very good state. All the stopping to “rest” resulted in us arriving at Nata Lodge at about 17:30 which had burnt down and was being restored. No sleeping there at the time. You can buy good meat in Nata (Best is to buy everything in Maun) but you will be stopped at the veterinary fence and checked for meat and dairy products.
A grim reminder of how fast a fire can get out of hand. This ensured that we made certain that the campfire was put out or covered with enough sand before we went to sleep at night. We then turned back a short distance and booked in at Nata Bird Sanctuary for the night. The ablutions were very basic with no lights, but nice campsites and good drinkable water’ (Remember to fill up your drinking water supply if you do get a chance. It is close to the main road and vehicle noise can be a problem.
Day 3
After breakfast and dish-washing we were packing up to take a drive through the sanctuary where you could see thousands of Flamingos, Pelicans, Geese and lots of other water birds.
Good to see so much grass in the pans.
Then past Nata on to Maun passing a lovely Lodge and camp site with a cool swimming pool called Planet Boabab which is about halfway between Nata and Maun.....60 Pula / person camping, an ideal stop over especially if you want to visit the pans or Nxai Pans. This lodge offers a restaurant with a large bar and tranquil surrounds. Peacefully indeed. The staff is also very friendly.
The road from Nata to Maun is tarred with quite a few bad potholes and lots of animals. Be very alert.
Careful! It could end up on your bonnet!?
Audi camp, Maun. Lovely shaded sites with power and romantic showers.
Swimming pool and restaurant is on the banks of the river.
In Maun you can take a one hour trip of the Delta in a plane (min 4 persons @ R 550). You can book through the camp officials. What a sight!
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