After a short stop in Maun to buy necessary things, we headed for Moremi National Park.

Moremi National Park

They have everywhere veterinary fences where officers control, if you do not carry forbidden goods. Also our dogs paper are checked at the fences.This time we were lucky and they just waved us through.

The road was as expected terrible. We arrived at Kaziikini Community campsite and this was situated beautifully. Everywhere tracks of elephants round the camp. Broken tree branches and other traces of elephants.

The waste bins were locked, so there for sure were monkeys as well. Alexandra prepared a delicious dinner – watch her website gesundeeinfachekost.com as well. We made a campfire as well and spent a romantic evening.

During the night we listened to the hyenas.

31.04.2012 Khwai River Concession

Next day early in the morning we continued to Khwai River. The river and its surrounding landscape were just fantastic. From tracks4africa we knew there must be a camsite close which we could not find first but nice Capetownians should us the way. Next to the sandy road everwhere elephants, elephants.. We thought we were in paradise.

Finally we got to the campsite. It was in the middle of the bush. The area is not really a national park but a concession area of the local people there. It had hardly any infrastructure. So we put up our tent. Next to us spring bok were grazing, elephants were scrubbing their back at the trees. Not even 20 meters away from our tent. So there must have been lions and hyenas as well so we made a huge campfire while cooking and eating. Later we went to bed.

I woke up when I heard strange noises next to our tent. Quickly the noise was identified as hippos. They are rather dangerous. When they had passed we decided to sleep in the Land Rover as we also heard lions quite close.

01.05.2012

We left and went back to Maun and stayed at Old Bridge Backpackers for 2 days. We worked on our computers and did some necessary “housework”

02.05.2012

Next to the backpackers there was a vet. Tara’s claws had to be shorten. A good vet so it was no big issue for her.

03.05.2012 Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Leaving Maun to Gweta. Our next destination should be the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, a huge area of salt pans.. Nature became more dry with every km we drove. We checked in at Planet Baobab Campsite and met a Swiss-German couple who were traveling in a rented camper van in Botswana. Their names Melanie and Florian.

05.05.2012

We spent 2 evenings with them she cut Aexandra’s hair and Alex was massaging her. In the evening we made a huge campfire Florian was baking bread.

07.05.2012

Finally we left for Kubu Island an elevation in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The track to this island was not easy to find inspite of the navigation device. So what is Kubu Island?

Kubu Island is situated in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and is a little bit elevated than the surrounding area, thus island. If there is water in the pan, it forms a little island with beautiful trees and a campsite.

The tricky part there is to find the right path.If you leave it you might get to a spot where you just sink with the vehicle in the mud under the sandy surface. The truck is lost for ever.

We passed Ntwetwe Pan, lots of Springbok were grazing, and finally reached Kubu Island, a heavenly place with lots of old baobab trees. We were the only ones and set up camp and made a campfire for the evening.

Unfortunetly we had no beer and wine left, so was supposed to become a real dry evening.

I had to check and fix the exhaust because on the way to Kubu Island, it broke. It could be fixed with gumgum a strange stuff to bandage exhaust pipes. It was of course only a temporary solution.

The necessaries were done, now we could go arount and film and take photos.

When we returned to our spot a South African Camper vehicle was parked next to us. I turned out it was Martin and Christin and their dog. They had contacted us via internet about our experiences when traveling with a dog. So we knew each other at least from the internet. Now by accident we met them here in the most remote place on earth.

With them it got a very nice evening and as we ran out of good drinks they offered Gin Tonic all evening. Christin was cooking noodles with meat and Alexandra prepared the fire while we guys exchanged important travel information.

08.05.2012

As we got along quite well we arranged a meeting in the near future. We left the site and drove along the Sowa pan to Nata and finally left Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. There we found a guy to weld our exhaust. We checked in at Nata Lodge Campsite and had to ice cold beer – cheers. We enjoyed the stylish decorated Lodge.

09.05.2012

We continued on a good tar road, but good road in Africa still means 30 km/h because of lots of potholes. In the evening we checked in at Panta Camp but as we wanted to pay they had no change so they said they will come later.

Christin and Martin arrived and we spent a nice eening with them.

10.05.2012 Hunters Road

Our destination was the Hunters Road a dirt road that leads to the North and runs along the border to Zimbabwe.

Hunters Road refers to a strip of land all along the Zimbabwe border of Botswana, stretching from Kasane in the north to just north of Nata in the south. The off-road track along the border runs parallel to the A3 and passes through many hunting concessions, forest reserves and tribal trust land or villages.

Camping within forest reserves are not allowed, but you may drive through these areas. The road condition may vary from season to season, so always inquire before you go, especially after heavy rains.

It s said that it is full of wildlife so we were full of expectations. We left early and forgot to pay the campsite.

The route was scenic and the track not so bad but sandy but the wildlife was not overwhelming. Some birds, a herd of zebras and Kudus could be spotted.

When the track was becoming difficult our fear was that the Land Rover might turn over as our roof rack was loaded heavily. And it happened that when declining a river bed that we almost turned over.

We had big Zarges Boxes on the roof rack which were packed full so the weight on the roof was a lot of kgs.

We followed the river bed that is why it can only be traveled in dry season. Finally we arrived in Kasane. In Kubu Lodge we made camp directly at the River Chobe. When we checked in and paid for camping, we realized we had not paid for the last one.

In the afternoon Christin and Martin arrived as well. They had seen lots of elephants. They were lucky.

11.05.2012

The days were fleeting, during the day we had to work on our computers. In the evening we sat together with Christin and Martin. Every day we prepared perfect dinner and had delicios wine.

14.05.2012

Martin had a Kanu on board and we both guys wanted to try it at Chobe River. It was an amazing trip, but the River is tricky but we managed to get back to the campsite in one piece.

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In the morning I organised with Vital the owner of Oppi Koppi the pilot project for a donkey tour. The plan was to drive to a outlook to enjoy the sunset. There guests should have sparkling wine and some snacks. This was planed as a tourist attraction and I had to make a video for the website of the Lodge.

We managed to make the tour to film the donkeys and the cart and of course the sunset. It was a really nice evening. At night we all drove to the Lokasi, the hometowns of the native Namibians who are living there. The workers of the Lodge also lived there.

It was a nice evening we danced at the loud music of the Namibians and had fun with them.

Next day a Friday we had dinner with Vital, Marianne, Rick and Anne. Kind of a farewell dinner as our departure was getting closer. We packed everthing and spent the weekend at Andrea and Volkers place. I used the time to edit the videos for Vital and Andrea and uploaded everything to their websites.

On 02.04.2012 we finally left Kamanjab again and headed to Grootfontein. In Grootfontein we checked in at a campsite that belonged to a guy from Austria. He kept a Lion and lots of Ostriches at his farm.

Next day we travelled to Botswana again to Tsumkwe and Dobe. Before the border we stayed at a wild camp under marvellous Baobab Trees. Some of the San people came to get the camping fee and we spent a perfect night near the border.

Heading to the Border

Next morning we went up early as we had to leave Namibia exactly this day because our Visa expired. The alternative would have been to go to jail. So we were in a hurry and took the wrong path and after a bend we ended in a pool. Luckily only with the front wheels so with reduction gear and all wheel drive we could free ourselves.

Just in time we reached the border, The crossing was easy without hassle and we headed direction Maun. They were not issuing visas at this border it was just a mud hut. So we had to get to Maun to immigration.

Difficult Road Conditions after the border

The sandy road was difficult to drive and we managed this time not to get stuck. As it was so difficult, we underestimated time and it was already dark when got to the tar road. Not only we underestimated the time but also petrol consumption. It must have been around 40 litres per 100 km. We ran out of petrol in the middle in the night. Somewhere in the nowhere about 30 km before Maun.

I took the spare jerry can and was hitchhiking in the middle of the night. A car stopped,Tara and Alexandra stayed at the truck. I was bargaining the price to take me to Maun to the filling station and back to the car. So we had no cash left and I had to get an ATM as well. The 4 guys drove me to Maun to an ATM. T hen to the petrol station where I filled the jerry can and they were supposed to bring me back.

But they did not follow the main road and turned off in a strange neighbourhood. Finally we entered the courtyard of a house. I was scared like hell and tought the worst would happen right now in the dark. The guys went out of the car and disappeared. After a while another one came back and finally drove me back to Alexandra and our car.

I paid the guy and quickly topped up the petrol. Late we drove on to Island Safari Lodge at around 2 o’ clock in the night. Exhausted, dirty we killed a bottle of hard spirits and fell asleep in our new home the Land Rover 109

Again in Maun

We had to go to Maun to get our visas, but we only got 45 days instead of 90 days. We were already in Botswana within 365 days, so for this period we only could get 45 more days. We had already spent time in the country. At the ATM we withdraw money but the amount possible per day was 2000 Pula. Not really much if you need a bigger amount.

Our daily routine consisted of writing texts, working on the computer, translating into English and so on, as we had to push our new job.

From Rick and Anne we had a tent, which was fixed to the Landrover to spend some shelter but the zipper was already broken, so we had to get a new tent. As we now had to work on our Laptops while traveling we needed some shelter to work. As it was windy the fine sand was everwhere and this would for sure damage the laptops over time.

So we looked in Maun and at the Indian Lady we months before had bought the coffee pot we now found a rather huge tent for a good price. Back at the campsite we put it up and were quite satisfied with our purchase.

We had to get tires: 06.04.2012

Next new tires were on the agenda. So our dimension was not so common but we found a place where we could buy Bridgestone 750 R16 4 pieces for 6200 Pula. A perfect fit for our Land Rover.

And we had to get a power generator: 07.04.2012

As we now had to work on computers and electricity was a big issue in most of the countries, we decided to buy a generator for 220 Volt. Nothing to find but we found a laptop bag, as mine was already done. Walking further we came to a quarter with lots of Chinese sops and there we found a generator for around 40 Euros. At the camsite we just tried it and were happy that it worked but not very smooth, I found out later that you need to mix the petrol with 2-stroke oil.

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In Island Safari Lodge we get acquainted with Ute and Oli, a German couple that took half a ear holiday to travel through Southern Africa. We had lots of fun with them and spent the evenings together.

Another couple arrived, Heidi and Guido, who we started our Africa adventure with. They had shipped there now car to South Africa and now we had arranged a meeting in Maun at Island Safari Lodge. We spent Xmas together, our 4th Xmas already on tour.

New Year we spent at the Lodge, there was kind a party which was very nice. Got aqcainted with Astrid, the daughter of a German couple called Därr, who were running an expedition shop in Munich. After New Year we did some shopping in Maun, to stock up our supplies, as we wanted to go back to Namibia soon.

Maun is a town located in northern Botswana. It is the fifth-largest town in the country and serves as the administrative center of the Ngamiland District. Maun is situated on the southern fringes of the Okavango Delta, a unique ecosystem known for its rich wildlife and picturesque landscapes.

As the gateway to the Okavango Delta, Maun is a popular destination for tourists and serves as a starting point for safaris and exploration of the delta. Many visitors fly into Maun’s international airport before embarking on their wildlife adventures. The town offers a range of accommodations, from luxury lodges to budget-friendly options, to cater to the diverse needs of travelers.

In Maun, you can find various tour operators and safari companies that organize trips into the Okavango Delta and nearby game reserves. These excursions provide opportunities to experience wildlife sightings, including elephants, lions, hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species.

Aside from its natural attractions, Maun has a vibrant local market where you can find crafts, souvenirs, and local produce. The town also has a few restaurants, bars, and shops to cater to the needs of both residents and visitors.

If you visit Maun, it’s worth considering exploring the nearby Moremi Game Reserve, which is renowned for its diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife. You can also take a scenic flight over the delta to witness its breathtaking beauty from the air.

Overall, Maun is a charming town that serves as a gateway to the natural wonders of the Okavango Delta. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or a wildlife lover, Maun offers an excellent starting point for unforgettable adventures in the heart of Botswana’s wilderness.

Taking a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta is a popular activity for visitors to Maun. This unique experience allows you to witness the vastness and beauty of the delta from above, providing a different perspective on its intricate waterways, lush vegetation, and diverse wildlife.

Several tour operators in Maun offer scenic flights over the Okavango Delta. These flights are typically conducted in small aircraft, such as light planes or helicopters, which can accommodate a small number of passengers. The duration of the flights can vary depending on the operator and the specific package you choose.

During the flight, you’ll have the opportunity to see the meandering channels, lagoons, and islands of the delta, which form a stunning mosaic of colors and textures. From the air, you can observe the movements of wildlife, including herds of elephants, hippos bathing in the water, giraffes grazing, and various bird species flying above the treetops.

The pilots who conduct these flights are usually experienced and knowledgeable about the delta and its wildlife. They often provide commentary during the flight, pointing out points of interest and offering insights into the ecosystem and its inhabitants.

Scenic flights over the Okavango Delta offer a unique and unforgettable way to appreciate the sheer scale and natural beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s important to book your flight in advance, either through a tour operator or with the assistance of your accommodation in Maun, to ensure availability and make necessary arrangements.

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Next: Himba People near Kamanjab

End of August we were leaving South Africa with 2 vehicles, the Land Rover and the Camper Van. It was impossible to sell the van, although we tried hard but the laws were against us. Alexandra was driving the Land Rover and me the van. As we had to extend our Visa in South Africa, we had been a home affairs in Cape Town to extend. Unfortunately the officer at the border to Namibia did not accept the stamp and informed us that we had to pay a fine of 1000 Rand when we wanted to re-enter South Africa. Not far from Otjiwarongo Alex had a flat tire at the Land Rover and we had to change at the Road.

Safely we arrived again at Oppi Koppi in Kamanjab, Namibia. Next day Robi told us he would like to Camper Van for the farm and he would try to get the papers to be able to import it. Our Visa was about to expire, so we had to exit Namibia for a while, so we left to Dobe via Tsumkwe. We went to Maun and stayed at Sedia Hotel. So we arranged a price for a month. For 3 days it was quite nice and a dog was visiting us regularly. He got along with Tara quite well and we thought it was the dog of the owner. So we let him sleep in the tent and he felt quite comfortable.

One day the owner discovered the stray dog and also discovered that we had a dog as well and turned completely crazy and kicked us out, and called somebody to shoot the dog next day, but allowed us to stay overnight and that he will give the money back.

So there was an urgent need to rescue the dog. Early in the morning I got the dog into the car and drove off with him in a 20 kilometer distant village, where I discovered an old man who I asked if he wanted the dog and I gave it to him. Unfortunately the dog escaped the man and ran after my car until it was so exhausted that the dog gave up. One of my worst experiences with animals. I felt miserable.

Then we packed our things and moved to Safari Island Lodge.

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