CKGR, Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan Itinerary. Advise needed.

[CScheepers]

Hi All,

We will be visiting Botswana for our second time at the end of April next year. This will be our first visit to this specific region.

Our current itinerary is as follows:

Khama Rhino Sanctuary - 1 Night
Kori Campsite - 2 Nights (Still trying to secure site 3 or 4)
Kubu Island - 1 Night
Nxai South Camp - 2 Nights
Khumaga Campsite - 2 Nights
Martins Drift - 1 Night

A few questions:

Is Kubu Island easily reachable in a day from Kori and Nxai South Camp again easily reachable the next day? Will one night at Kubu be worthwhile?

The other option we have is to spend an extra night at Kori and then spending three nights at either Nxai or Khumaga and not visiting both places. If this is a better option then which one of the two sites do you guys recommend?

Is A/T rather than road oriented tyres recommended for this area?

Any suggestions and tips regarding other sites and specific campsite numbers are welcome!

[lekhubu943]

Suggested route deleted

[RobH]

The other option we have is to spend an extra night at Kori and then spending three nights at either Nxai or Khumaga and not visiting both places. If this is a better option then which one of the two sites do you guys recommend?

This is a better option, you're first itinerary is very rushed. My personal preference would be for Nxai, but try and find out when the zebra migration is and see which camp is likely to have more activity at that time of year.

AT's are fine for that trip.

[TRON]

Hi, I would drop Kubu and spend a extra night at either Kori, Khumaga or Nxai. The following might work beter:

Khama
Kori 2 nights
Nxai 2/3 nights (a long trip from Kori but doable)
Khumaga 2/3 nights (in this order you will still have a doable drive to Martins Drift)
Matins drift

It is difficult to call where the Zebra migration will be so long before the time. If late rains you might miss them at the Boteti so make a call and hold thumbs i.e. a 3 nighter at either Nxai or Khumaga

[Wildpicture]

We drove Kubu - Nxai last august. That was of course in the dry period. It can be done but it was a very long drive. We took the route north-west, through the salt pans. It was great to do. But it is a long drive, sometimes very confusing to find the right track and there is nobody around to help if something goes wrong. We saw just one other vehicle in the whole day. We were with just one vehicle and that gives a great sense of freedom but might also be scary. If you get confused by the tracks, take a detour and break down, help is VERY far away! Sat phone required!

When arriving at the entrance gate of Nxai near the A3, we thought we were practically there. But then you have to drive the VERY bad road up north (40km?) to the campsite. That took us much longer than we had anticipated as the road was in terrible condition with only deep very loose sand.

[CScheepers]

Thanks for the info everybody! We decided to leave Kubu for a next trip. We'll be spending an extra night in CKGR an doing both Nxai and Khumaga. Hopefully we'll catch the migration.