Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Eish David

I think your first night is a bit ambitious. My Google map reckon its about 920km from my house, which is not that far from yours, and an estimated 11h30min driving time! With a baby on board? Well lets just say rather you than me. But then again I very seldom travel more than 450km in one day, so my reference might be tainted.

I would however have broken up that first day in two and maybe travel only up to Kuruman(Red Sands just outside Kuruman work well as a stopover), Kathu or even just up to Upington. That last stretch from Upington to the Falls is still a bit to go and then you must still pitch camp!

Also night 2 is probably past Kakamas you mean, not Kuruman? Otherwise you need a new map.

Anyway, just take it easy whatever you decide and drive safely.

CATS

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Thanks CATS,

Day 1 may be a bit optimistic, so far we have done max 8 hours driving with the little one. Going there and back we are just going to crash in the chalets and not pitch camp for 1 night, makes it alot simpler, a pain to setup a good camp just for 1 night and then to packup early the next morning, and time the sleep time for the little one, becomes a little busy. We may still leave on the Thursday and crash at Vryburg though, still deciding though to make the trip there a little easier

You are correct my head was thinking Kakamas, but the fingers were typing Kuruman , hate it when that happens.

Have to agree with Christo here. I would rather skip Augrabies and stay here: http://www.spitskopmonate.co.za/ They have chalets and a nice campsite available.

It's not worthwhile going to Augrabies and back for a single night's stay. Rather visit there at some other time.

Johan

David, looks like a relaxed itinary. My only comment is that I don't think you will do Riemvasmaak justice by diving through it. It is quite a detour and one may not appreciate the place without staying there.

My 2c

Doing the Kgalagadi trip too.
From Jhb meeting the team at Springbokpan on Sunday 15th April 2012.
Then Mabuasehube, Mosemane, Nossob, Polentswa,Nossob, Twee R, van Zylrus, Jhb.
2005 Paj.LWB Glx. 160 000 km on the clock bought new.

Johan, Chris and Bill.

Thanks a mil for the feedback, very helpful. We will be doing this area of the country more regularly over the nex 5 years to stay away from malaria countries, so will be exploring alot more around Augrabies and Rimevasmaak over the next few trips, more just a recce for us to see what is lekker and where we will come back, one of the things is a 3 day+ Orange river trip, so will be doing slot in that area when we do that and would want to track the orange river a little as well, and spend a few more days at the places we are dashing through on this one. After Simons report Richtersveld is also going to get a visit soon.

Just 1 last question is availability of fuel at Twee Rivieren, Nossob and Mata Mata, I always take a jerry or 2 with as in this case, but with the trailer in tow just don't want to take any chances, and don't like running low on fuel, happened too many times already.

David

I agree day 1 is very ambitious. To spend that little time at the falls is also a bit of a waste. But if you want to stay there I would suggest staying over in Kuruman (redsands http://www.redsands.co.za/)then stock up in Upington (Kgakgladi is horrendous expensive) drive to the falls (Confirm that the bridge over the orange river at Kuruman is open) then from the falls go to twee rivieren via Noenieput.

Make sure that you get braaihout outside the park again.

Enjoy the park it still remains a firm favourite of mine

Thanks Roelof, and thanks for the chat yesterday, much appreciated!

Always good to get some inside info.

Just a quick update on road conditions to and from Twee Rivieren.

Route via Upington (mostly between Kuruman and Upington), has 15+ stop/go road works sections. If your timing is out, this can easily add 1+ hours to your journey. Looks like they will be busy on this for a while still.

Route from Tween Rivieren via Vanzylsrus to Upington has 160km of dirt before vanzylsrus and then a further 30 km after vanzylsrus. Next 10km of tar has bad potholes and the rest of the road to Kuruman is good tar. Travel time from Twee Rivieren via vanzylsrus to Kuruman is +- 5 hours, expect 80Km/h on dirt sections as a good guide, max would be 90-100, but would not advise any faster, has got some tricky and surprise sections along the dirt, as always I guess. Dirt road is not that bad, but the road via Upington is tar and painless (very straight - direct to Upington ). Travelling this route again, I would probably go the Upington route, although the vanzylsrus road is probably more scenic with still alot of red dunes, and mostly farms along the way.

After the Kgalagadi roads, the tar definately is more attractive, did pickup some chips on the trailer with the mudflaps and net (mostly on the parts where the net didn't cover, so will need to review this).

The road through Vn Zylsrus takes you in to unspoilt nature much quicker than the tar road and I have had some awesome sightings of fairly unknown animals like bat eared foxes and such. The bad part is that the road can be a killer for a vehicle and add a lot of travel time to your schedule, best is to contact the SAP and ask them about the conditions, they patrol the border and have always been extremely helpful. On my last visit I assumed everything to be good and I lost 4 spot lights, a new set of shocks on the trailer and had to have emergency repairs done on my bull bar in twee rivieren before I could venture in to the park. The friction also managed to scuff through 5 X 2l cokes and cause them to leak spraying the back of the vehicle with a nice sticky coating
Going through Van Zylsrus you would probably run in to the self appointed "president" called Stokkies, a colourful character that can entertain you for hours if he has just the right mix of blood in his alcohol stream



The fences in Mata Mata and Nossob are not what you see in Kruger and are more like the domestic type of mesh wire fences of old. Keep a constant eye on the young one especially if you put the smurf down to play, there are some nasty scorpions even in daytime, The Parabruthus lot could put you in serious trouble and for a youngster it can be lethal ( thick tail & small pincers)

Fuel should not be a problem in the big camps but it is good practice to never leave a camp that has fuel without filling up, reception at TR should be able to advise you of any possible shortages.
Take all your drinking water with you as the stuff those folks call water is hardly fit to flush with, you an buy bottled water at the main camp shops but it is very expensive. Increase the smurfs fluid intake, the dry heat does strange things to small bodies.

Take a good spotlight with you, if you heat the jackal causing a ruckus look at the waterhole it is a sign of some sort of predator around, scan the trees for owls and other raptors there are some brilliant photo opportunities around.

Do NOT let your feet touch the red sand, this is most important, once the red sands touch your toes they will always return