[Davidvan]

Hi,

We have got 10 days booked in Kgalagadi end April, and is our first trip to this park, and can't wait.

Have just got a few questions which I am sure you guys have all gone through several times before

What suggested routes are there from PTA?
What is the route via van zyls rus like?
Should we go via Augrabies/Upington instead and up to TR the next day and then into the park - first stop is Nossob for 5 days and then Mata-Mata for another 5 days?
Who has stayed at van zyls rus hotel - any recommendaations?
Is it worth going to riemvasmaak as well either on the way there or back?
What other options are there - Vryburg may be too close to home for a first stop, want to get alot of ground covered on day 1

Any advice is welcome and we are travelling with our 11 month old baby, so need to do more stops along the way.

Have booked at Mata Mata and Nossob with the fences, at least something, but believe them not to be the best though.

Any advice on drives inside the park would be awesome as well.

Here is the van Zyls Rus Hotel

http://www.vanzylsrushotel.com/index.php?p=18

Thanks

David

[SimonB]

Cant comment on your route to the park because it is many moons since I drove from Gauteng.

Other comments though, Riemvasmaak and Khamkirri are well worth a visit for a couple of days. Khamkirri has a nice 4x4 trail.

As regards camping next to the fences, make sure you take decent shade with you. There is little shade around those sites close to the fences. Also, just because you have a numbered campsite it doesn't mean you will get one. People don't usually care a toss to the extent they will even unplug your power, even though you have paid for a powered site, and run their 100m cable to run their entertainment systems in a powerless site. Try get to the camp as early as you can. We usually sacrifice a little game viewing time to get to the camp as soon as possible (within reason of course ).

Be prepared to change your kiddie's nappies in the car... from picnic site to camp can be a long way and last time we had a lion taking shade next to the entrance of the toilet. Also make sure baby is well hydrated.

5 days at Mata Mata can be a drag , because you end up driving the same corrugated road day in and day out, so be prepared for that.

[Chris]

Hi David, I suggest you phone the Vanzylsrus hotel and ask them about the condition of the road to Kgalagadi. If they really want you to stay there they may say it's good. The last time I've travelled it (approx 5 years ago) it was in terrible corrigated state. Broke shocks on two vehicles. Although the road via Upington is longer it actually travelled faster.

Riemvasmaak is one of those special places if you enjoy quiteness. I love the place.

We are travelling to Namibie end of April and I'm curious to know which road is best from JHB. There are 3 options. 1) Carletonville/Coligny 2) Klerksdorp/Sweizer & 3) Klerksdorp/Wolmaransstad. The distance and travelling time is much of a muchness according to Mapsource. The variable is in the road condition/repairs. I hate these stop and wait situations.

[Davidvan]

Thanks Simon and Chris,

Will watch my power point, still stands available so not fully booked (at least not yet). Will ensure we make a pass at Riemvasmaak and Khamkiri (saw 1 place for accomodation thereabouts which looked very nice). Are there any recommended sites at Nossob or Mata Mata that I must look out for?

I have heard that the road is in very good condition from van zyls rus side (from a guy that passed through there in Jan this year) and says can do between 100 and 120 without any issues, also want to drive 2 different routes 1 there and 1 back as far as possible, if slow going, then hope the scenery is good . Some advice on recent guys going that way would be very helpful as well and very welcome, it can definately influence that decision very quickly as well. Alot of the guys have said Upington is the better route as well.

Our plan is just to chill so staying at Mata Mata and just doing nothing for a few days sounds awesome even if to miss some corrugations, just being out away and in the bush is enough for me, although will probably do at least 1 drive a day though. On that point what is a good pressure 1.5bar or 1.8 bar?

How do the corrugations compare to say the Purros area which was also pretty bad....

Cheers

David

[LowRange]

David, we will be leaving for Kgalagadi on Saturday, returning on the 09th. Will then give you a heads-up on the roads.

Will be staying over outside Upington on the way down to meet up with some friends coming up from CT . Still have to decide the route back.

The corrugations - I go as low as 1.3 Bar on the car and van.

Johan

[CATS]

Agree. I also go to 1.3 bar pressure on the Pajero and the van. I would also say Upington is the better route. Make sure you stop at Kathu for some photos of the rigs.

The problem with Kgalagadi is that the camps are basically at the 'end of the road' so you will travel the same stretch there and out every day, and those roads get terribly corrugated very quickly. Be prepared for that and relax some days at the camps. Nossob has a decent waterhole so it is easy to stayin camp. Also be aware that the going is slow inside the park and the travel times on the sanparks map is a good indication of the times. For instance, traveling from TR to Mata Mata could take the best part of the day if you stop for every animal you see.

Kgalagadi is a funny place. Every time I have been there I left the last day with a feeling that I will never return as the corrugations are just too ruff, but as soon as all the sand are out of my shoes, I long back to the place! Go figure!

CATS

Sent from my green robot device using Tapatalk

[Davidvan]

Thanks Low Range, the feedback will be most useful.

CATS, thanks for the input, will be trying 1.3 bar for the roads.

As for the roads and stone rash on trailer, this will be my first long haul with the Bush Baby, have replaced wheel bearings and have spare, replaced shock and upgraded suspension blades to handle the punishment it will sustain on some of these roads and others when we travel. I have got my mudflaps fitted at last on the rear of the Pajero, should I consider the alu plating or some shade net for protection of the trailer as well?

Or to get the long rubber mat made between the Paj and my trailer.

Looking forward to the trip, peace and quiet and hopefully some good big cat sightings.

Thanks again

David

[CATS]

I would do the shadecloth as well, especially if you are gonna take the Vanzylsrus gravel route.

The Kgalagadi itself is not that bad on gravel rash as you must go slow in any case and a lot of the roads are more sandy than gravel.

CATS

[LowRange]

David, we will be leaving for Kgalagadi on Saturday, returning on the 09th. Will then give you a heads-up on the roads.

Will be staying over outside Upington on the way down to meet up with some friends coming up from CT . Still have to decide the route back.

The corrugations - I go as low as 1.3 Bar on the car and van.

Johan

We are back from a quick, but lovely break in Kgalagadi. Took the N14 all the way via Upington both there and back.

Only encountered 2 Stop/Go's at Sannieshof and 3 longish ones between Kuruman and Kathu. Nothing to be too bothered about though. Rest of the route is fine.

The roads in Kgalagadi presents it own dangers (See pic) Keep the windows closed - one of those youngsters stormed the Hilux in front of me!
(Maybe he feels the same about T ys )

Enjoy!

Johan

[Davidvan]

Thanks Johan,

Thought we would try the 1 route there (N14) and the van zyls rus route back.

So plans are as follows:

Night 1 - Augrabies - Long haul with 11 month old, but only 1 way to find out I guess - got the list of stuff from a previous post travelling with little ones, will be with me all the way
Night 2 - Twee Rivieren (via Kakamas and Riemvasmaak and die pienk stalletjie)
Night 3 - 7 - Nossob
Night 8 - 12 - Mata Mata
Night 13 - van zyls rus (Kgalagadi lodge) - want to go and visit the Meerkat Manor at some stage but no kids under 12 else if time a quad ride in the dunes or with the Paj if permitted
Night 14 - By die huis

I am hoping that van zyls rus is a hidden gem and not a painful route, either way, like travelling different routes.

Here are some details on some of the actviites at van zyls rus area - sounds interesting:

Red Dune Sundowners (R75,00 per person, excluding drinks) We drop you off on a high dune to experience the awesome Kalahari sunset.

Molopo Picnic (R150,00 per person)
We arrange a picnic about 20 km out of town on a farm, in the dry riverbed.
The rock formations are absolutely beautiful.

Quad Bike rides (R250,00 per bike per hour) We hire quad bikes which enable you to experience the red Kalahari dunes.

Donkey car rides (R100,00 per ride)
Go for a sight scene through town.

Visit to the Meerkat Research Project (R250,00 per person - no children under 10years)(Visits only on Sunday afternoons and booked 2 weeks in
advance)
Visit the well-known "Meerkat Manor" research project and experience the beautiful Meerkats

Links to van Zyls rus accomodation:

http://www.vanzylsrushotel.com
or
http://www.safarinow.com/go/KgalagadiLo ... 1&nights=1

Got the mud flaps fitted and the net stone guard almost ready for the trailer, so hope the road is still good, else we just have to stop and take lots of pics