Advice require on Southern africa trip

[Kesheshe]

Hi

I am in the planning stage of the following trip in September / October 2009 (i know it is early but booking at Etosha is difficult so planning early) and am looking for some general advise.

Date DestinationTravelling DistanceName Of Accommodation2009/09/04Chobe1194Toro Safari Lodge2009/09/05Lusaka559Pioneer Camp2009/09/06Chipata570Mama Rula's2009/09/07South Luwanga115Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/08South Luwanga50Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/09South Luwanga50Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/10South Luwanga50Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/11South Luwanga50Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/12South Luwanga51Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/13Chipata115Mama Rula's2009/09/14Lusaka570Pioneer Camp2009/09/15Lusaka50Pioneer Camp2009/09/16Mana Pools224Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/17Mana Pools50Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/18Mana Pools50Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/19Mana Pools50Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/20Mana Pools50Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/21Livingstone720Maramba2009/09/22Livingstone20Maramba2009/09/23Livingstone20Maramba2009/09/24Livingstone20Maramba2009/09/25Ngepi camp450Ngepi camp2009/09/26Etosha620Namutoni2009/09/27Etosha200Namutoni2009/09/28Etosha200Halali2009/09/29Etosha200Halali2009/09/30Etosha200Halali2009/10/01Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/02Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/03Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/04Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/05Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/06Windhoek2009/10/07?2009/10/08?2009/10/09?2009/10/10?


I have a few question that i hope you can help me with:

1. Can i carry meat into Zim from Zambia for mana pools?

2. Has anyone stayed at elephant sands as alternative to nata due to fire. Or does anyone know when nata will be available again?

3. What is the best alternative for South Luwanga as i believe i can't camp at flatdogs during this period from 2009?

4. Is there an alternative to Pioneer Camp in lusaka except eureka?

5. On trip home need advice on accommodation near windhoek. Also i guess the next stop should be kang or open to suggestions?

[DEVAN]

Hi

I am in the planning stage of the following trip in September / October 2009 (i know it is early but booking at Etosha is difficult so planning early) and am looking for some general advise.

Date DestinationTravelling DistanceName Of Accommodation2009/09/04Chobe1194Toro Safari Lodge2009/09/05Lusaka559Pioneer Camp2009/09/06Chipata570Mama Rula's2009/09/07South Luwanga115Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/08South Luwanga50Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/09South Luwanga50Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/10South Luwanga50Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/11South Luwanga50Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/12South Luwanga51Flat Dogs / wildlife camp / Track & Trail River Camp2009/09/13Chipata115Mama Rula's2009/09/14Lusaka570Pioneer Camp2009/09/15Lusaka50Pioneer Camp2009/09/16Mana Pools224Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/17Mana Pools50Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/18Mana Pools50Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/19Mana Pools50Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/20Mana Pools50Nyamepi Communal Campsite2009/09/21Livingstone720Maramba2009/09/22Livingstone20Maramba2009/09/23Livingstone20Maramba2009/09/24Livingstone20Maramba2009/09/25Ngepi camp450Ngepi camp2009/09/26Etosha620Namutoni2009/09/27Etosha200Namutoni2009/09/28Etosha200Halali2009/09/29Etosha200Halali2009/09/30Etosha200Halali2009/10/01Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/02Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/03Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/04Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/05Etosha200okaukuejo2009/10/06Windhoek2009/10/07?2009/10/08?2009/10/09?2009/10/10?


I have a few question that i hope you can help me with:

1. Can i carry meat into Zim from Zambia for mana pools?

2. Has anyone stayed at elephant sands as alternative to nata due to fire. Or does anyone know when nata will be available again?

3. What is the best alternative for South Luwanga as i believe i can't camp at flatdogs during this period from 2009?

4. Is there an alternative to Pioneer Camp in lusaka except eureka?

5. On trip home need advice on accommodation near windhoek. Also i guess the next stop should be kang or open to suggestions?

Hi there

That sounds awesome.

Excellent planning thus far

Yes i am sure you wont have any problem with meat ,i have just been back from my trip Bots, Zim ,Zam and Moz

There is also a good accommodation between Nata and Maun thats called Planet Baobab

If you want i will send you the contact details

Take care and njoy your prep

Devan

[MikeAG]

For camping or chalets near Windhoek I used the Trans Kalahari, which is a few kilometres out along the airport road (about 15 or 18 I reckon). Not only is there a nice little pool and a decent restaurant (Carnivores only, I'm afraid!!), but there are also excellent workshop facilities, a foreman who knows what he is doing in the workshop, plus vehicle storage for about 80 overland cars & trucks.

I found the alternatives in Windhoek to be very noisy, particularly Arebusch which is right next to a main road, a truck stop and an Airport (Eros).

Mike

PS I know it is nice to plan.........but it often better to NOT plan, I think!! "Go with the flow" a bit......you never know what you might discover by just turning up and looking around. A schedule can make you push on when you perhaps don't want to. I know it is a bit different with young kids.....

[gemini]

We have stayed at Elephant Sands and would recommend it to anyone.

[Kesheshe]

Hi

i would like to thank everyone for the replies to this thread and the general information provided by members on other threads which made the planning for this trip easier. Below is my final route etc:

Day 1 = nata area (Elephant Sands)
Day 2 = Kasane (Toro Safari Lodge)
Day 3 = Lusaka (Pioneer camp)
Day 4 = Chipata (Mama Rula's)
Day 5 = South Luwanga (Wildlife Camp)
Day 6 = South Luwanga (Wildlife Camp)
Day 7 = South Luwanga (Wildlife Camp)
Day 8 = South Luwanga (Wildlife Camp)
Day 9 = South Luwanga (Wildlife Camp)
Day 10 = Chipata (Mama Rula's)
Day 11 = Lusaka (Pioneer camp)
Day 12 = Lusaka (Pioneer camp)
Day 13 = Mana Pools (Nyamepi Communal Campsite)
Day 14 = Mana Pools (Nyamepi Communal Campsite)
Day 15 = Mana Pools (Nyamepi Communal Campsite)
Day 16 = Mana Pools (Nyamepi Communal Campsite)
Day 17 = Mana Pools (Nyamepi Communal Campsite)
Day 18 = Livingstone (Waterfront)
Day 19 = Caprivi (Camp Kwando)
Day 20 = Caprivi (Camp Kwando)
Day 21 = Caprivi (Camp Kwando)
Day 22 = Caprivi (Ngepi camp)
Day 23 = Etosha (Namutoni)
Day 24 = Etosha (Namutoni)
Day 25 = Etosha (Halali)
Day 26 = Etosha (Halali)
Day 27 = Etosha (Halali)
Day 28 = Etosha (okaukuejo)
Day 29 = Etosha (okaukuejo)
Day 30 = Etosha (okaukuejo)
Day 31 = Etosha (okaukuejo)
Day 32 = Etosha (okaukuejo)
Day 33 = Windhoek (Trans Kalahari Inn)
Day 34 = Kang (Kalahari Rest Camp)
Home

[Henris]

Sounds like a great trip.

I also like to "wing it". When the sun goes down, then find a place to camp. (Within reason of coarse). I would have a broad schedule, but I don't dot the i's and cross the t's. Not to sure where they will be when you get to that stage of the trip.

Have fun and cover your back.

[Kesheshe]

Hi Henris

I don't disagree with you statement but my experience is that with
the national parks i am visting like Etosha is you don't book then
you wouldn't get in during peak season when this trip is planned
for.

[Henris]

That is why I say I would have a broad schedule. That would include the Parks for eg. As when we went to Lesotho in Dec. We just went and did it day by day.

[MikeAG]

I'm amazed at the amount of time you are planning in Etosha! It isn't that big a place......you'll know every individual large animal by name at the end of your trip!! Personally, I would stay longer in South Luangwa, and explore a bit of southern Zambia not in the parks.

Mike

[Hoffie]

I agree with Mike on the Etosha thing. You also do not allow yourself time to replenish food stocks on some stretches. Eg. Ngepi to Namutoni is 600 odd kms (6 to 7 hrs). There is a vet gate between Rundu and Grootfontein where they will confiscate all your meat. You have to stop for shopping and refuelling (2 to 3 hrs if not longer - lots of stuff needed for the long Etosha stay). This will turn into a long day. Check all your travelling days to allow for this and border crossings (1 to 2 hrs)

[Kesheshe]

Thanks for the advice. I guess each one has to look at planning trips around what each member wants out of the trip. Since myself and
wife are both mad on wildlife i guess that the rest of opportunities to explore to some degree on this trip have been sacrifised. i do take your points of view but as we did zambia and malawi 2 years ago but dicided not to do SLNP we focused only on this in Zambia.

I agree about the statement made about re-stocking etc. My theory even thou it maybe incorrect was that as we are only 2 people it is fairly easy. Basically our 2 main re stocking points are the extra day in lusaka before we go into Zim purely for shopping. The other major restock is on the way to Etosha.