Benedi

Although we've been to Northern Africa (including Sahara & Mauritania on 4x4 adventures through deserts), it's been my dream forever to go further south, and see the animals (especially giraffe!) This year was the chosen one and after deciding on Botswana, we bought books, maps and investigated until we created a personalised 15 day, self drive (4x4) itinerary, sleeping in a roof-top tent for most of the nights (my husband & I alone). But now we have a problem; our trip has been delayed until 10 November. From what I've read, November is rain season and there is a bigger risk of getting stuck in mud, not being able to follow the planned route and, worst of all, not seeing the animals as much, if not at all. Should I still go? Should I go to another country? If I don't do a Safari this year, I probably won't do so for a few years as I am planning to get pregnant at the beginning of next year. I would like my first Safari to be memorable, so I am prepared to sacrifice this trip for a better one in 4 years time if necessary...

AllanE

Hi, November is not the 'heavy' rainy season. There may be a few showers but the rains normally start in ernest in Jan. But, dont take self-driving in Botswana lightly. You need good mechanical knowledge and 4x4 experience. The sand is very thick.

santharamhari

Benedi, self-driving in the bush is tricky....what is your 15day itinerary? Are you guys experienced in the bush.

Regarding the rains, you should be ok November 10 is fine....

Hari

Benedi

The itinerary:
Maun (1 day) - Nxai Pan Nat. Park (2 days)
Nxai Pan Nat. Park-Nata Lodge (1 day)
Nate Lodge - Chobe Nat. Park Ihaha Campsite (2 days)
Ihaha Campsite - Savuti Campsite, Moremi Game Reserve (2 days)
Ihaha Campsite - Khwai Community Camp (2 days)
Khwai Community Camp - Xakanaxa Camp (2 days)
Xakanaxa Campn(1 day)
This is more or less the initial idea although we are still in preparation phase (we are also debating whether to start in Maun and end in Kasane).
Regarding 4x4 experience; together we've done Spanish & Morroccan mountains, Saharan & Mauritanian deserts and Mauritanian sea-shore with our own 4x4s. My husband has done rallies through Kazastan, Uzbekistan, Turmenistan and Russia. He also has good knowledge of the Landrover Defender we intend to rent. But we've never been anywhere close to Southern Africa...
What we need to know is the risk involved of getting stuck & being alone and also, VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME, will we see animals?

santharamhari

Yes, most of the areas you mentioned are good for game viewing....

Hari

afrigalah

Your proposal is right on the cusp of the rainy season. I don't think anybody can predict how wet November will be...therefore, no guarantees. The odds are that it will be OK, but you will have noted two threads in recent weeks about Okavango rain-- there have been some good early falls. All this tells us is that it is impossible to say what your chances are. There have been early falls, but November might be bone dry. I can only repeat: the odds are that it will be OK. Unless you can find some Maun guru to tell you otherwise, I'd say go ahead. If it remains dry, your wildlife experience will be fine. And a bit of rain here and there will only add to the excitement of the safari (I gathered from the wording of your initial enquiry that your 4x4 experience is- to put it mildly- quite adequate).

John

mv

Benedi
Personally I have very litle experience in 4x4 driving but I have been talking to the guides in Botswana about it. There are a couple of things you need to think about.
First of all driving in 1 vehicle is not a very good idea. The roads are not signposted very well and since there is no traffic, the chances of getting help are very small.
The sand can be extremely! soft and deep, if you get stuck you are in deep trouble.
On the other hand the the rains in november could actually help you. The areas with soft sand will be much easier to traverse once they have had some rains, and as others have pointed out I dont think you will have had major rainfalls by that time.
I dont want to scare you, just give some friendly advice. Have fun if you decide to go. Botswana is fantastic.
Michael

Benedi

First and very importantly: Allan, Hari, John & Michael. THANKS A MILLION FOR YOUR ADVICE!
Michael: Regarging emergencies or getting stuck, we intended to rent a Satellite phone along with the 4x4. Also, included in the rental (South African company called Bushlore) is "24 hour roadside assistance". But, as it's the first time we rent this type of vehicle, I'm not sure how much we can rely on this assistance. Why do you say that we are "in deep trouble" if we get stuck? Is it because we'll never be able to get out? Is it dangerous? Or is it just that we might lose a day just trying to get out... To tell you the truth, it's the first time we'll be doing a 4x4 trip on our own so we really need to know how tricky the bush is and if it's very different to other terrains (desert sands/tracks, mountain sands/tracks).

santharamhari

I'll allow Michael to answer your question about the area and getting lost and stuck.

But with 24 hr road side assistance, i would think it would take a loooong time for the service team to get there. You are going to have a GPS, right? However, i assume you guys can fix some basic stuff? like changing tyres and other similar stuff.....

Hari

mv

Benedi
as I mentioned I am not an expert in this matter. Most people and books will advise that you have at least 2 vehicles together, so that you canpull each other out if in trouble. You will be travelling in areas with very deep and soft sand. The problem is that over long stretches the sand will be quite firm and then suddenly it changes very rapidly to extremely soft sand. If you dont react in time there is a very high risk of getting stuck. Digging yourselfes out might be very difficult and help can be a 10 hour drive (or more) away. Even with the 24 hour assistance I am not sure I would like to be stuck for 10 hours in an area with so much wildlife.
I hope this clarifies it a bit. But I suggest that you seek advise from someone who has actually tried it.
Michael

Bill_H

Benedi, this couple did a self-drive from Namibia thru the Caprivi Strip to the Okavango in Bostwana. Even though they went a couple months earlier (and drier) than your trip dates you could probably glean some useful info from reading it and emailing him with Q's.

http://www.wildworldweb.co.uk/holida...ia2/report.htm (report)

http://www.wildworldweb.co.uk/holidays/namibia2.htm (pics)

Bill

santharamhari

Michael,

I relate to the sand experiences from both Lagoon and Lebala, but, personally would leave the driving to experienced hands like the professional guides.........

Hari

mv

Hari

that sand can be tough and I never tried driving in those particular areas.
I have been told that a very famous formula 1 driver kept stalling the vehicle in the soft sand.
I wish I was back in Botswana!
Michael

sundowner

I think what you are doing would be really fun. I was looking for something else and ran across this trip report from someone doing the same thing except with 2 vehicles. Here is an excerpt from their trip - ...we break up camp and head for the wilderness of the Moreni and Chobe National Parks. The first 50 km is still tarmac, but then we hit the worst tracks we had to navigate so far. Paul is forced to keep Wa Bashasha on almost full throttle in low gear to get through the deep dry sands and even then we sometimes sail from one side of the track to the other. Late in the afternoon, covered with sand and dust, we reach the Khwai camp in Moreni National Park, only to discover that the shock absorbers of Marc’s Land Rover Defender have sheared from the rear axle. We asses the damage – serious – and phone the Britz rental agency in Windhoek to ask them for advise. All they can tell us is that, one way or another, we have to get the car back to Maun for repairs (130 km). After this piece of useless information, they hang up on us and leave us in the wilderness. Paul decides to try to remove the sheared off shock absorbers and after an hour of hard work Paul and Marc manage to extract the damaged parts from the car. In the process, however, they discover that the left rear tyre and wheel rim are both irreparably damaged. We convene a crisis meeting and decide to stay in the camp overnight and try to drive the Defender back to Maun without shock absorbers and on his coiled springs only in the morning... http://www.zambezi.demon.nl/botswana.htm

This just emphasizes what the others are saying about self-driving alone. I'm going back and read some more of it.

santharamhari

Michael,

hahaha...yes, i heard that same story from my favourite Kwando guide. Knowing that he jokes around all day long, didnt take it seriously.....i pumped up my guide's ego by saying he is far better than the F1 champion.....ofcourse, he likes the attention....

Hari

santharamhari

And yeah, i would love to be at Lagoon or Lebala right now.....

Hari

Benedi

OK, now this is the latest. I've contacted the 4x4 hire company for advice. They say we are very experienced so there should be no difficulties. My husband now wants to cut the trip from more or less 13 days to 7 days which brings us to the following:
- Kasane-Chobe (1 day)
- Chobe-Moremi (1 day)
- Moremi (1 day)
- Moremi-Maun (1 day)
- Maun-Nxai Pan (1 day)
- Nxai-Pan-Makgadigadi Pan (1 day)
- Madgadigadi Pan-Maun (1 day)
I don't agree with this idea because I believe we should take a bit more time in some of the places. But maybe I'm wrong and this itinerary is enough to observe the animals. What do you guys think?
By the way, any more rain?
Thanks!

afrigalah

Too rushed for me. Though I'm not familiar with all those locations in Botswana, I have spent a full day being driven between Savuti (Linyanti) and the Chobe River, and we had three nights in camp at either end of that drive. I just feel that you need more than one or two nights to appreciate a place properly, especially when doing a lot of travelling. Even when transferring by air, my preference is for longer stays.

John

santharamhari

Yes, definitely sounds rushed.....

Dont worry about the rains...probably passing thunderstorms until mid december or so........

Hari

sundowner

I did this 17 night itinerary in 2005
2 nights Livingston
2 nights Chobe
2 nights Savute
2 nights Khwai on the border of the Moremi Game Reserve
2 nights in the Xakanaxa region of the reserve
1 night at a remote island in the Okavango Delta
1 night in Maun
1 night in the Makgadigadi pans
2 nights on the Boteti river-Meno A Kwena Lodge
2 nights in the panhandle area of the Okavango Delta at the Xaro Lodge

and I felt it was too rushed. Your itinerary is 1 night in several of these places. I wouldn't spend less than 2 nights anywhere (except Maun). I think you should pick a couple of places instead of a different place each night. You want to enjoy your trip and not spend all of your time driving.

Good luck planning your trip!