Khutse Botswana

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:51 pm

Hi all on the spur of the moment I'm planning a trip to Botswana next weekend 25th to 28th Jan with a good friend and colleague of mine driving a Landrover.

We are still organizing the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) permits as well as camping permits with Bigfoot Safari into Khutse. We will be going through Ramotswa border and will appreciate any advice you can give me.

I'll be taking a R1000 of Pula's with for fuel.

Remember there will be no power, a bucket to shower and a long drop.

I'm in need of advice, tips and tricks and to see if my list to take with is comprehensive...

Stuff I need to take with: (have I missed anything?)

4x4
Rooftop Tent
Gazebo, awning
Table
Camping chairs
Sleeping bag, pillow

Medical kit, toilet paper

Clothes 2 warm, 2 cold, towels and toiletries.

50L water, 20L drinking water
Lots of booze and cold drinks

3 bags of wood and charcoal
Firelighters and lighter
Diesel extra 2 Jerry cans (not sure how I'll carry these as I don't have a roof rack, maybe just inside the canopy?)
Tools and spare parts like oils (engine and diff), Q20, coolant, brake fluid, cable ties, extra fan belt, duck tape etc

Recovery gear, tyre repair kit, tow and snatch rope
Gas braai, gas light and braai
Torches and camping lights
Binoculars, camera
12V fridge and 12V lights

Kitchen utensils and braai stuff (salt and pepper)
Kettle
Coffee, sugar, milk, custard
Meat, should I take or buy there?
Bacon, cold meats, buy there?
Eggs
Bread, rusks
Pap
Canned food, and fruit
Oil, tomato sauce, chutney
Margarine, cheese

Laptop, 12v chargers, batteries AA and AAA
Triple 12V sockets

Reading material/magazines

Post by **Haboob** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:52 pm

Dish washer & soaps & toiletries, kettle, mugs & plates

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:12 pm

Haha, got the kettle, some more cigarette plugs, led lantern and a brand new Nuvi 50

Donkey · Post by **Donkey** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:46 am

wash line?

you may want to carry mielie meal, instead of pap

sunscreen
peaceful sleep

Donkey · Post by **Donkey** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:46 am

wash line?

you may want to carry mielie meal, instead of pap

sunscreen
peaceful sleep

Ahari · Post by **Ahari** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:29 am

Take some Doom spray - last time I was at Khutse (25 years ago!) the ants were something else! They are the big black ones and come out when they sense you are there - swarm all over the place, up your legs and get in everywhere. Had to do everything while stomping my feet!!

Lots of deep sand on the way in, so make sure you have a tyre pump.

Ahari · Post by **Ahari** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:33 am

Never had a problem with taking meat in, but be prepared to lose it if they check! Safest is to buy there - the beef is generally excellent!

You can use your petrol card at the bigger petrol stations, but cash is always good to have for the smaller stations or in case it doesn't work.

Ahari · Post by **Ahari** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:51 am

An inverter is much better for the laptop and you can then dispense with all the 12V chargers for the cellphones, etc... Make sure you get one that is powerful enough for your laptop - 500W should do it - and wire it direct to the battery, the cigarette lighter won't handle it!

If you stick with all the 12V stuff, then make sure to upgrade the wiring to the cigarette lighter 'cos it won't cope well.

Can opener!

Pop corn is always fun :)

Wire is handy to have.

Good to take the recovery gear along, you never know when you may need to tow the Landrover out!

Have fun - wish it was me. It has been too long....

mushroom · Post by **mushroom** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:22 pm

I would , wood, would ???.....definitely pack a couple more bags of firewood in. They have banned the collection of wood in the BNP, and theres nothing kukker than running out of wood, especially when things go roar in the night...

Definitely buy your meat at the SPAR at Game city in Gabs - cheaper and better tasting than ours here in SA

Letlhakeng has a little petrol station, they might not take card, but in Gabs they will accept credit card for petrol (just let the bank know youre crossing border - and the med aid and the insurance company). If your car is still financed you will need a letter from the bank in order to cross border - Ramotswa is a lekka little border post, We have never had any trouble crossing. Try and get some Pula for entering on their side - otherwise the exchange rate gets inflated !!

Enjoy you lucky bu.......

oh, and ja, and a compressor !!

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:50 pm

Donkey wrote:wash line?
you may want to carry mielie meal, instead of pap
sunscreen
peaceful sleep

Wash line - check
Geen Pap wiel - check

Sunscreen - check
Mozzy stuff - check
Doom - check
Can opener - check
Inverter - Mmm quite expensive, besides I'll load the pics when back home

Recovery gear 4 LR - double check

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:53 pm

Thanks for that..
Got a certified copy of vehicle papers and P1000 for would that I'll get outside the reserve, also do you know if Modipolole has card facilities? We're not going to stop at Gabs, want to rather make the one stop here...

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:55 pm

And compressor is loaded... But will do a Top Gear stunt if it fails on me...

mushroom · Post by **mushroom** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:16 pm

4x4Maniac wrote:Thanks for that..
Got a certified copy of vehicle papers and P1000 for would that I'll get outside the reserve, also do you know if Modipolole has card facilities? We're not going to stop at Gabs, want to rather make the one stop here...

Modipolole or molepolole? Molepolole, or mollies, is quite a big town, lekka SPAR, atms and fuel. If you wanna bypass Gabs, leave ramotswa and go straight over the A1 at the four way stop to Tamaga just before Gabs, this is a longer but quicker route cos you dont get stuck in trafficlights etc...

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:27 pm

Werner ,you forgot the most important thing,relax and enjoy the trip

Only advice i can give is on your next trip,you'll leave half the stuff you packed at home.

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:32 pm

mushroom wrote:
4x4Maniac wrote:Thanks for that..
Got a certified copy of vehicle papers and P1000 for would that I'll get outside the reserve, also do you know if Modipolole has card facilities? We're not going to stop at Gabs, want to rather make the one stop here...
Modipolole or molepolole? Molepolole, or mollies, is quite a big town, lekka SPAR, atms and fuel. If you wanna bypass Gabs, leave ramotswa and go straight over the A1 at the four way stop to Tamaga just before Gabs, this is a longer but quicker route cos you dont get stuck in trafficlights etc...

Yip Molepolole, I'm terrible with these names, thanks

I think we'll stop there...

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:34 pm

Thunder02 wrote:Werner ,you forgot the most important thing,relax and enjoy the trip
Only advice i can give is on your next trip,you'll leave half the stuff you packed at home.

Most probably ne? Thanks, I'm really looking forward to it, will report back with lots of phodies! Now to just get through the week.

GI Jane · Post by **GI Jane** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:30 am

Werner and please!!!! Don't forget, lots of photo's and a trip report when U back. Am off to the Kalahari in March ending in Kutse for a few days.. Would like to know road conditions etc.. We going in from Mabuasehube side though but want to know about those pesky ants, if they still around.. Enjoy the trip, you have min dae now..

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:07 am

GI Jane wrote:Werner and please!!!! Don't forget, lots of photo's and a trip report when U back. Am off to the Kalahari in March ending in Kutse for a few days.. Would like to know road conditions etc.. We going in from Mabuasehube side though but want to know about those pesky ants, if they still around.. Enjoy the trip, you have min dae now..

For sure, I'll take lots of phodies. I'm all packed and ready to go!

GI Jane · Post by **GI Jane** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:23 pm

When you leaving?

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:46 pm

Leaving early hours on Saturday morning, back Tuesday eve. Can't wait

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:17 pm

4x4Maniac wrote:
Thunder02 wrote:Werner ,you forgot the most important thing,relax and enjoy the trip
Only advice i can give is on your next trip,you'll leave half the stuff you packed at home.
Most probably ne? Thanks, I'm really looking forward to it, will report back with lots of phodies! Now to just get through the week.

Not to worry,only two more sleeps

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:51 pm

So I’ve been promising a Trip Report and finally here it is.
Wow what an awesome experience! We hit the road at 03:30 am on Saturday the 26th via the N14 and then towards Ventersburg and then starting taking the back-roads through Groot Marico towards Swartruggens… This way we could avoid the Toll roads and enjoy the scenery.

At Swartruggens we did a quick pit stop, filled the tanks and the stomach with a garage pie and coke and then on our way again. The SFA Hilux unfortunately wasn’t part of the convo.
Only myself in the IFS Hilux, and my two colleague’s one in a Mitsubishi Colt 2.4 and the other in a Landrover Puma.

We saw lots of sheep and goats whilst making our way towards Ramotswa/Swartkopfontein border. And then just before the border we came acrross many Donkeys and cattle crossing the roads all the time without giving notice.

We had to go through this two spoor pad (D2705) just before the border.

Then it was getting the passports ready to take through and get stamped. What a breeze getting through the border, no searching, no asking too many questions, just the basics what was asked on the form. Paid our P50 (pula) for insurance, P20 for the road fund an P40 for the road permit. There wasn’t any cars at all and we had the whole border for ourselves. This time it was already about 09:00am in the morning.

Once through the border it was an easy road through to Thamaga via the B111 and then left at the A10 and then right again on the B111 towards Molepolole. Here we bought some Beef and Bacon and one of the ladies in the convoy forgot a towel, so she could easily stock up from the Super Spar/Pep store… There’s even a KFC now at the Superspar. I bought some jucy T-Bones and bacon and filled up here again using about P300 and then it was off again turning right on the B102/B120 towards Lethlakeng.

Here we came across to whitest road I’ve ever seen, at some point I thought we might have taken the wrong route and ended up in Namibia. Absolutely amazing.

Then just before Khutse Game Reserve entrance we came accoss this nice thick sand road. We had stopped just before this road for a pit stop to have some ham and cheese sandwitches.

Not long thereafter we came to the entrance and quickly signed in to get the paperwork done for the weekend. You do your camping booking through Bigfoot Safari and then the booking through the reserve itself. But you can do all your payments at this gate. Even if you want to travel further north the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

We went up to Maharushele to our first camping spot for the day (KHMAH-03) There’s a nice Camlthorn Acacia tree. We had a lekker kuier and braai.

This was what it looked like during sunset.

Day 2, started with a lekker cup of coffee and some rusks, and then stopped later for a brunch. We saw this beautiful Gemsbok as we were making our way through to Moreswe camp site via Molosi.

We some some rugby players having fun with the ostriches.

Lunch time was awesome! I’ve never experienced something like this in my entire lifetime… We stopped at Molosi in one of the campsites and unpacked our skottel braai, made a lekker brunch with bacon, eggs and left over steak from the previous night. Then in the horizon we saw a real Khoi-san boesman! First thinking it was a poacher we were armed and ready with a police bat. But soon as he came closer, he started putting down his bow and arrow and his arsenal of spears and hooks, then sat under a tree. He couldn’t speak Tswana, Sotho, Afrikaans or English. A bit westernized with clothes and takkies he must have gotten from other campers, but his methods and ways were traditional. We gave a bottle of water (a Savanah bottle) and he looked at the bottle, went through his stuff and then took out a straw, sipping the bottle dry. We gave him a paper plate of food and he was so grateful for the food, as he finished he started showing us how he would catch a squirrel. He even showed us how he made fire through his stokkies.

We showed him a picture of a Lion and he pointed into a direction, calling in Gham (spelling).

It was very special to have met Putha-Da-Dom (spelling) as we tried to figure out what his name was. We packed up our skottels and left the Boesman at peace, knowing he has so much knowledge that we could still have learned from him. One of my colleagues kept on saying that he would love to spend a week with him, just to learn as much as he can.

So after brunch we went to Moreswe camp (KHMOR-02) to setup for the night. Here we had a full moon the night and just before sunset saw some Eland, more Springbuck, Kudu and some Rooihartebees. We had a nice dinner and early to bed, thinking about all the great things we experienced that day.

The next morning, with a cup of coffee in the hand and some rusks (again) we heard Lions. All with camera and binoculars at hand we jumped onto the roofs of the bakkies to see what’s going on, thinking we heard them a mere 50m away. And true as rain, we saw them. Quickly we jumped into our bakkies and made way to go and take some photos.
A beautiful young male jumping across the waterhole, he definitely wasn’t too impressed with the fact that his feet were getting wet.

After the Lions we went back to Molosi and packed up camp to go part Molosi again. And right as rain, here we find Lion’s again. They were just chilling underneath the shade and having a blast.

Also spotted this guy… Marshal Eagle.

Then we started making our way through to Khutse camp and settled in for the night here. (KHKHU-09)

Here we saw the most amazing sunsets…

Late that night as we started making ready for bed, we moved the ground sheet and I got stung by a green scorpion, luckily non-venomous. At least I had a good nights rest.

The next morning I was good as rain and we started to make our way back…

What an awesome experience, we even had some fun on the road back.

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:02 pm

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4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:06 pm

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4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:10 pm

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4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:13 pm

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WayneSchalk · Post by **WayneSchalk** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:18 am

Jis dit lyk asof dit 'n baie lekker trippi was

maar ek sien daar was een ding wat nie op die lys was nie........

BIER!!!!!

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:07 am

WayneSchalk wrote:Jis dit lyk asof dit 'n baie lekker trippi was

maar ek sien daar was een ding wat nie op die lys was nie........

BIER!!!!!

Haha, daai foto's is ge-censored...

GI Jane · Post by **GI Jane** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:00 pm

Hi Werner, Thanks for the trip report and photo's. Looks like you had an awesome time there. I'm hoping to go for 2 weeks from 8th March via Kagalagadi, Mabuasehube and then onto Khutse... Definitely made me very excited about the thought of going.... Might spend a few nights sleeping in my hilux though if the lions are to close...

4x4Maniac · Post by **4x4Maniac** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:59 am

Kgalagadi and Mabuasehube are next on my list. Hope you have a great trip!

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:52 am

Stunning pics,looks like you had a great trip,thanks for the trip report

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