CKGR / Mkgadikgadi / Nxai in December

[Jules_inAfrica]

Hi, I got a surprise 3 weeks of leave in December (2-23) this year and we're thinking about trying our hands at a Bots trip during the early wet season for the first time.
We've only ever travelled northern Botswana during Sept/Oct before.

I was thinking about flying into Windhoek, picking up a rental and doing a CKGR trip maybe with a trip to Mkgadikgadi or Nxai depending on the advice here.

We'd appreciate any info about how green and wet we can expect it to be (we'll only be one car) and any particular campsites or areas people have enjoyed in the green season?
How busy are the campsites in CKGR and Nxai / Mkgadikgadi? We haven't booked yet and were thinking about leaving a few days open and just playing it by ear and weather (or maybe try and find the zebra migration - any tips or resources for that would also be appreciated!) as we get there, which obviously wouldn't be possible in the dry season.

Any other places you feel should be included? Our usual trip is Moremi, Savute, Chobe in the dry season.

Also, are there any somewhat reliable weather sites to check on rainfall etc. to kinda get a feel of how much of a green season we can expect by then? I've read that some people are expecting somewhat early rains in November / December this year.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

[Kalahari Safari]

Your crystal ball is as good as any in terms of weather.

I don't think you need to book in advance as it is not the main travel season as long as you are a bit flexible of where you will camp.

CKGR can be bone dry (tracks) or submerged in 20 cam of water, depending on the crystal ball outcome.
But with a bit of skills you don't need to worry too much.

Just avoid black cotton soil when wet and that applies in general.

[CalDriver]

We ended up in almost the exact same situation last year; I think this thread will help: https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum...d-Makgadikgadi

As you saw in the other reply, it all depends on the weather. Rains came late (or not at all in some places) in late 2023. According to forecasters, a mild La Niña is probably more likely than not this year, which should result in increased rain in Southern Africa.

[Jules_inAfrica]

I read your trip report, please transfer your sightings luck if not currently needed
I was really hoping not to pre book but your report sounds like it was quite busy (at least booking wise)...

[Jules_inAfrica]

I remember seeing a whatsapp nr for the bigfoot sites on the forum somewhere but stupidly didn't safe it - any hints on where to find it? I don't see it on their website unfortunately.

Also, from what I've been reading would everyone advice entry from Windhoek via Ghanzi and Tsau Gate rather than Xade (i thought maybe Xade and going to Piper from there might work but the road to Xade might be one to be avoided? We've only ever used Matswere before).

[CalDriver]

I remember seeing a whatsapp nr for the bigfoot sites on the forum somewhere but stupidly didn't safe it - any hints on where to find it? I don't see it on their website unfortunately.

Also, from what I've been reading would everyone advice entry from Windhoek via Ghanzi and Tsau Gate rather than Xade (i thought maybe Xade and going to Piper from there might work but the road to Xade might be one to be avoided? We've only ever used Matswere before).

I would book the CKGR ahead, but you can safely not worry about Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan. Check when the school holidays start; that is when you will need to think more carefully about bookings. In the CKGR there are always* (almost always) campsites, but they may not be the best ones. For example, I expect Piper is rarely available.

Bigfoot - you can try this, but I'm not sure: +267 395 3360

You can enter from either Tsau or Xade. The road to/from Xade is deep sand and is monotonous to drive, but if you air down and are patient you'll be fine.

[Jules_inAfrica]

I would book the CKGR ahead, but you can safely not worry about Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan. Check when the school holidays start; that is when you will need to think more carefully about bookings. In the CKGR there are always* (almost always) campsites, but they may not be the best ones. For example, I expect Piper is rarely available.

Bigfoot - you can try this, but I'm not sure: +267 395 3360

You can enter from either Tsau or Xade. The road to/from Xade is deep sand and is monotonous to drive, but if you air down and are patient you'll be fine.

My thinking was if we would get Piper it'd be worth booking ahead and going via Xade, on the other hand we were thinking of maybe just pitching up and seeing or finding out how the rains have ben in which areas and kinda go from there - but obviously I'm used to the fully booked dry season problems so a bit wary of not getting anything. I mean, there's always South Gate to go and drive around Blackpools and Xini weather permitting, we've been neglecting those areas in favour of third bridge in the dry season.

But there's obviously pros to booking now and maybe getting a campsite we might not get later on... but you have to compromise, I'm just not sure which is the better option

After reading your trip report, I'll have to read up on scorpions and such before going This has never been an issue obviously in dry season and we're very much "slops around camp" people, but that will have to change...

[Jules_inAfrica]

Another thought - would anyone have any other suggestions on where to spend time around there in December? Anything between Windhoek and Maun landscape or wildlife wise worth spending the night?

[CalDriver]

My thinking was if we would get Piper it'd be worth booking ahead and going via Xade, on the other hand we were thinking of maybe just pitching up and seeing or finding out how the rains have ben in which areas and kinda go from there - but obviously I'm used to the fully booked dry season problems so a bit wary of not getting anything. I mean, there's always South Gate to go and drive around Blackpools and Xini weather permitting, we've been neglecting those areas in favour of third bridge in the dry season.

But there's obviously pros to booking now and maybe getting a campsite we might not get later on... but you have to compromise, I'm just not sure which is the better option

After reading your trip report, I'll have to read up on scorpions and such before going This has never been an issue obviously in dry season and we're very much "slops around camp" people, but that will have to change...

I forget what kind of scorpions they are. The good news is the ones that seem to abound don't move much, so you can risk it with flip flops (my wife does sometimes) but I feel much better with shoes.

As to bookings, to each their own. It seems easier to wing it in other places where the camps aren't so far apart.

[Jules_inAfrica]

We've sorted our car rental, but for budget reasons we will now be driving from Joburg, same as most of our previous trips so we know the route to Rakops/Maun.

I've been reading trip reports etc. for December and am now torn between keeping the trip to CKGR and Nxai or Mkgadigadi and extending it to Moremi/Khwai.

We'd love some input from people who've driven the area in December - any preferences and if so, why?
Would you do 1 week CKGR, 1 week Moremi/Khwai and maybe a few days Mkgadikgadi or Nxai or rather spend more time in CKGR with a bit of time for Nxai/ Mkadikgadi?

Usually Savuti is our trip highlight in the dry season but we were hoping to keep the distances between camps short and spend more time in one area (something we never manage because we wanna go everywhere everytime ), so unless the majority of experienced wet season goers vote Savuti, we'd probably have Khwai as our northen limit.

Thanks!