Bush to Sea Trip Report - Limpopo, Banhine and Zinave National Parks

[Bush2C]

Please see attached in case it could help other travellers. These three parks really deserve more visitors!
I also attach the kml file for the south western access to Zinave.

[Webster]

What a great report. Thank you.
Banhine looks amazing

[Frans 90]

Thank you Herbert for this report. Really useful information in there.

[Kalahari Safari]

Thanks Herbert for the excellent report.
Indeed a destination to consider.

I have been through the Limpopo Nat Park just 6 months after it opened, got a bit lost as there were no maps and we followed to most used tracks which led us to villages still operational inside the park area, and to a fenced off area where new animals were released after relocation.
These were guarded by friendly soldiers with AK47's on rotation for 3 months.
Then after getting lost again and ending up on the wrong side of a fence we opened the lock and slipped out securing the gate with stainless steel wire we carried.
It later turned out that it was the international border fence into Krueger close to Shingwedzi where we reported the next day, just to drive up to Pafuri on the SA side on gravel tracks to fake an arrival from Mozambique.
We never got a Moz exit stamp though.

Lucky you were not travelling to long on NR1 otherwise the police check points would have become a burden.

[mudgrubber]

Great trip and excellent report. Those parks call.

[River Rat]

Very timely report because we are planning to visit Zinave in October via Pafuri. Also knowing that there's no petrol at Mapai helps with the planning, thanks.

[Rudi Maritz]

Great trip and great report!
Well done.
Thank you.

[landandsea]

Please see attached in case it could help other travellers. These three parks really deserve more visitors!
I also attach the kml file for the south western access to Zinave.

[Bush2C]

Very timely report because we are planning to visit Zinave in October via Pafuri. Also knowing that there's no petrol at Mapai helps with the planning, thanks.

Mapai has one pump each for petrol and diesel, but they were out of petrol. Mondlane did mention that the fuel station is not well managed, so this may happen from time to time. On the other hand Joao, the manager of Casa Bufalo Lodge across the road, told me beforehand that they always have petrol and diesel.

Always a bit of a risk with a small town with only one filling station. I would suggest planning on either Mapai or Mabote being out of petrol/diesel and one should be fine. With the second filling station being built at Mapinhane on the coast, one should be ok if you plan your range up to Mapinhane.

[River Rat]

Mapai has one pump each for petrol and diesel, but they were out of petrol. Mondlane did mention that the fuel station is not well managed, so this may happen from time to time. On the other hand Joao, the manager of Casa Bufalo Lodge across the road, told me beforehand that they always have petrol and diesel.

Always a bit of a risk with a small town with only one filling station. I would suggest planning on either Mapai or Mabote being out of petrol/diesel and one should be fine. With the second filling station being built at Mapinhane on the coast, one should be ok if you plan your range up to Mapinhane.

Thanks, as it turns out we have two Fortuner V6s in our convoy and one diesel Mitsu, our trip takes us to Inhassoro and then Zinave and back via Pafuri. Going in is the challenge one of the Fortunas has 128 liters and the other 65 liters so one of them will get from Punda to Inhassoro while we will need at least two jerry cans for the other. The round trip to Zinave means both will need jerry cans at least we can check availability on the way in.

[Bush2C]

I budgeted on around 20 litres per 100km on the V6 Tuna without a trailer for the dirt and bush roads, and it turned out about right.

[River Rat]

I budgeted on around 20 litres per 100km on the V6 Tuna without a trailer for the dirt and bush roads, and it turned out about right.

Yip and on thick sand you can go to 22.

[Bush2C]

Rhinos released in Zinave - all the Big 5 are now there.

https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/sa-n...rs-in-dekades/

[antvz]

I've been reading the OP (Bush2C) trip report at the top of this post with interest.

Banhine really seems to have very little info out there.

Does anyone have an idea how much water there is there currently, and what sort of conditions one would expect in December (this year)?

One article in Siyabona mentions that even the wetlands are basically dry due to a drought. Another talks of there being extensive water. However, the articles are not dated, only come up in searches and don't appear to have any sort of chronological order.

I suppose I could email them or contact them from their website. I'd like to do a trip out there, hang around for some days, photograph bird life and water birds, etc. But I'm not sure if it's even accessible. The website even talks about navigating some of the wetlands with a canoe!

Edit: sent the park warden an email. Maybe some info is forthcoming.

[antvz]

I've been reading the OP (Bush2C) trip report at the top of this post with interest.

Banhine really seems to have very little info out there.

Does anyone have an idea how much water there is there currently, and what sort of conditions one would expect in December (this year)?

One article in Siyabona mentions that even the wetlands are basically dry due to a drought. Another talks of there being extensive water. However, the articles are not dated, only come up in searches and don't appear to have any sort of chronological order.

I suppose I could email them or contact them from their website. I'd like to do a trip out there, hang around for some days, photograph bird life and water birds, etc. But I'm not sure if it's even accessible. The website even talks about navigating some of the wetlands with a canoe!

Edit: sent the park warden an email. Maybe some info is forthcoming.

...and the email bounced.

I guess a certain white Landy will be doing a trip out there some time to do some exploring... plus a R500 Takealot inflatable boat...