Useful info for Botswana

[PLJ Jakkals]

Ek en my vrou doen ook Bots in December solo. Ons ry die 14de van Jhb af en slaap oor in Khama vir die eerste aand. 3 aande dan in CKGR, 2 aande in Maun vir supplies en relax, dan 3 aande in Xakanaxa, 4 aande in Savuti en 3 aande in Linyanti. Kasani vir drie aande by Sinyanti en dan af Kubu iisland toe. Alles behoort OK te wees behalwe die Kubu geddelte wat my pla aan gesien ons solo is. Enige raad...?? Hopelik sien ons van julle daar in Dec.

[Philly]

Hey Almal. 4 van ons gaan ook Des Botswana bietjie beter verken. Wil net mat almal deel. As mens Savuti boek moet mens deur SKL gaan. Ongelukkig kan mens nie die park fooie ook deur hulle betaal nie en soos almal gese het moet mens die fooie Of in Gabs Of in Maun direk gaan betaal. MAAR ek het deur die hulp van SKL n plek in Maun gekry wat mens se park fooie vir jou betaal in Savuti of Chobe vir die saak. Hulle diens is puik en hulle reply hulle mails dadelik (my experience wat ek van hulle af gekry het vandag) die kontak besonderhede is [email protected] en die dame wet met wie ek onderhandel het se naam is Irene. Hulle vat ook krediet kaart transaksies wat my baie gehelp. Hulle vat wel hulle diens fooi en as mens krediet kaart betaal is daar nog n 5% fooi vir die gebruik van hulle masjien. So dit is dalk nie baie goedkoop nie, maar ek dink net bietjie meer geriefliker. Ons is in Maun kersdag en is seker daarvan die plekke gaan nie meer op wees teen die tyd wat ons daar aankom nie. (ons ry van central kalahari direk Maun toe) en dit spaar my n ekstra stop om nog park fooie ook te betaal. Hulle se ook die copys van die betalings is nie n probleem in in die parke in te kom nie.
Hoop dit help.
Veilig ry almal wat wyd gaan!

[lekhubu943]

Philly, I am going to answer this in English so that a wider audience understand it

It is a fact that the Parks staff at the entry gates to the Park will ask you for proof of payment of park and entry fees. If you don't have proof, you will have to pay again.

It is extremely easy to pay park and entry fees directly to DWPN even if the accomodation booking is done through a privatised company like SKL. Simply phone, fax or e-mail DWPN with the dates you are in the park, number of people and vehicles. They send you an invoice for it and you pay via credit card. They send you confirmation back which you show at the gate. And of course there is no additional fees involved.

This is how I did it for our visit to Makgadi and CKGR in April. Everything was sorted, paid and confirmed in less than a week.

[Philly]

Philly, I am going to answer this in English so that a wider audience understand it

It is a fact that the Parks staff at the entry gates to the Park will ask you for proof of payment of park and entry fees. If you don't have proof, you will have to pay again.

It is extremely easy to pay park and entry fees directly to DWPN even if the accomodation booking is done through a privatised company like SKL. Simply phone, fax or e-mail DWPN with the dates you are in the park, number of people and vehicles. They send you an invoice for it and you pay via credit card. They send you confirmation back which you show at the gate. And of course there is no additional fees involved.

This is how I did it for our visit to Makgadi and CKGR in April. Everything was sorted, paid and confirmed in less than a week.

Hi Lekhubu
Yes I understand what you saying. I have been struggling to make payments just for Central Kalahari for almost 2-3weeks now with DWNP, and then we asked them to add our Savuti parks on that as well. That just worsened the whole thing and confused them. I sent through my credit card forms 4 times, and they say they never received it. So instead of confusing them even more and me getting frustrated I tried the guys in Maun. Arrangement and payment was done in 1day. They give will give you all the necessary paper work and confirmations within 2 days. So you wont have problems at the gates.
I am still going through DWNP for my booking in Central Kalahari, phoned them yesterday and then only did they confirm they received my credit card forms.
I guess it’s just luck of the draw or telephone, mail or whatever. And please this is just an alternative if you struggle like me. Try and go through DWNP first and then if you end up like me and don’t mind paying little bit extra these guys are worth it.

Looks like you were 1 of the lucky ones to get everything sorted so quick. My friend also booked through DWNP, he made booking beginning of the month and only got his bookings sorted out recently.
But like I said luck of the draw and try and use DWNP first.

I wish it was 20 Dec already so I can get in the car and go to Botswana!!

[tinus1144]

on route to botswana/moremi from cape town any better option than camping in pilanesberg reserve? any nice affordable lodges in that area?

[Puma 130 ADJ]

At Sibubu gate Chobe ( Kasane) is a SLK site office,but the chances of getting a booking then and there are very slim.For those of you that are stuck with a place to camp Panda Rest camp in Pandamantega has a few chalets and a good camp site this is 100km on the way back to Nata,from Kasane.

For those of you on the Maun side and want camping,try Mankwe lodge near Moremi in the Khwai tribal trust.

[tinus1144]

best place to camp in makgadi pse? we just want to stay 1 or 2 nights june next year.

[andyrag]

this post is supposed to be a sticky for general botswana info, please create a new post for info on specific sites, places, routes etc.

[cvanvollenstee]

Hello,

I am not sure if this is the correct place to put it, but here is my litle bit of information on booking the camps at central kalahri

http://4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=130063

[Ocicat58]

I have valuable info on Botswana, that is phone numbers and waypoints for police, medical and auto repairs.

I am going to be doing a good 2 week trip through Moremi and Chobe in July 2013. What are the chances of getting a list of phone numbers for the relevant police, gates, butchers, fuel stations etc in the area? Also recovery and repair services, as I have a SAT phone, but what good is that if you can't phone anyone??

[andyrag]

I am going to be doing a good 2 week trip through Moremi and Chobe in July 2013. What are the chances of getting a list of phone numbers for the relevant police, gates, butchers, fuel stations etc in the area? Also recovery and repair services, as I have a SAT phone, but what good is that if you can't phone anyone??

http://www.jacanaent.com/PDFs/PhoneBook.pdf

[Ocicat58]

http://www.jacanaent.com/PDFs/PhoneBook.pdf

That is great. Thanks.

[Munniks]

hi- am wanting to stock up in Ghanzi with pre=packed, frozen meat as well as fresh produce before heading into CKGR- where is best place for these goods and contact details please?

[Peter.Rau]

Spar, Choppies and for meat Artok Buthery

[ZS6NCK]

Going to Kubu and Nxai pans in September.

What are road conditions like at the moment? Are they very sandy?

Thanks

Nick

[mulleroni]

I was hoping you could point me in the right direction. Brand new to the site and hardly know how to post a question but am very keen to do an overland trip in southern Botswana in April 2014. Am a bit nervous about the options because we don't have a 4x4 we have a Fortuner 4x2 which will be towing a camper trailer (Echo 4)- can anyone give advice on the various options? We have 10 days and don't want to be on the road every day and we come from Jhb. Many thanks in advance , Gavin

[witklipbank]

I was hoping you could point me in the right direction. Brand new to the site and hardly know how to post a question but am very keen to do an overland trip in southern Botswana in April 2014. Am a bit nervous about the options because we don't have a 4x4 we have a Fortuner 4x2 which will be towing a camper trailer (Echo 4)- can anyone give advice on the various options? We have 10 days and don't want to be on the road every day and we come from Jhb. Many thanks in advance , Gavin

April to Botswana in 4x2 why not think of eastern Botswana. Like Elephant Sands. And if it didnt rain too much even Huntersroad, but if wet, stay away! Khama Rhino is also a good place to visit for 2-3 days.

Or if you want to visit Moremi try to book at Mankwe lodge and drive there.

[James MacKay]

I was hoping you could point me in the right direction. Brand new to the site and hardly know how to post a question but am very keen to do an overland trip in southern Botswana in April 2014. Am a bit nervous about the options because we don't have a 4x4 we have a Fortuner 4x2 which will be towing a camper trailer (Echo 4)- can anyone give advice on the various options? We have 10 days and don't want to be on the road every day and we come from Jhb. Many thanks in advance , Gavin

Hi Mulleroni

welcome to the forum, my advice is spend time in Eastern Bots
Khama Rhino sanctuary 1 or 2 nights
then
Elephant sands 1 or 2 nights
then Kasane 6 nights
Nata 1 night
My reasons are that in April the East it normally still experiencing some rain and the sand will be more compacted, these area's have vehicle traffic so you wont feel totally deserted. Use this trip for experience and as a base for other trips. It will be your first of many. Chobe in April with rain can easily be done in a 4x2, in winter and before the rains come when the sand is still dry and loose then its a different story. you aren't the first to want to do it and you wont be the last. In BW more locals drive 4x2's than 4x4's its just how you drive.

[mulleroni]

Many thanks James, will look into it and do a bit more research

[couper-zn]

Hello guys,

We are 4 people looking at spending 2 -3 weekes in botswana in december 2014. Im trying to get an idea of what the cost of such a trip will be?
I have never been to botswana before so im abit clueless as to where to go.? We would like to see all the main attractions and lots of wildlife. I understand it will be really hot in botswana in december but it the only time my wife can get 3 weeks away from work.
We would like to do 50/50 camping and chalet accomodation to make the trip more comfy for the two ladys.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

We will be traveling in a fortuner just the one vehicle prob with a trailer.

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