Thank you both for some great tips.We will also be carrying some packed pre-processed food which has a long ( 4+ months) shelf life.All that needs to be done is cut open and re-heat or cook/shallow fry on open fire.These will be accompanied by a variety of sauces(thai and continental),pickles and preserves.
These would also include,rice,noodles,semolina based pre-cooked,vacuum packed meals made by a friend of ours.

All this is besides what our guide has planned for us.So every meal would most likely be a feast, time permitting, and of course accompanied by a chilled Savannah Dry ,some great South African wine and probably a single malt by the fire at night.

We are going to be 6 of us and are travelling in a convoy of 2 vehicles, one driven by our guide and the second will be driven by each of us,by turns.

The guide has organised to pick up all rations,food,water et al.The check list is elaborate and he's in charge of it and its part of the deal, which includes helping us cook meals and set up camp.So a major burden of planning and shopping is being taken care of before the tour begins.What's left to be done is to stock up the vehicle which is to be hired from Bushlore.

The stop at Hukuntsi is to re-stock(will be primarily water) and re-fuel for the next 4 days.

Canadian_robin, this is what we are going to be doing :

Kuruman to East Gate entrance Mabausehube 350kms 6 1/2hrs drive. Camp in Manomodi (50kms) 3 Nights

Manomodi to KAA Concession ( Name Pan) 220 Kms 6 hrs drive.One night

Kaa to Swartpan Campsite.1 or 2, one night

Back to Kaa one more night.

Kaa to Nossob 180 Kms 7 1/2 hrs drive.Over night

Twee Rivieren 170kms 4hrs drive ( Rooiputs not available )

Back to Kuruman.

This is a fair indication of driving distances between Camps and time,provided to us.This excludes game drives on dedicated routes.Guess I will be able to provide more accurate info after the trip.Will keep you posted.

I would be really concerned about getting those meals through customs. Also unnecessary - your guide will have enough and I actually enjoy S African meats and veggies more than at home - it tastes more like real food (did you know an American chicken goes from egg to plate in six weeks?). And on a braai - Ack! I'm checking flight prices as soon as I finish this. I prefer a vodka tonic, but S African wine is GOOOOD!! Bring plenty. Pick up Peri Peri sauce.

Did you gain 2 people? I thought it was four. Fun. Seven of you camping out in the bush sounds like tons of fun. I tried to hire a ranger a few years ago for KTP. Shortly after we asked him to arrange it, he quit the whole biz. His girlfriend hated him being away.

I can't wait for your trip report. It's going to be a fun read.

Christabir, what we are taking is processed hot filled,fully
/partially cooked and sterilized food, filled in laminated multi-layered aluminium pouches, they have a long shelf life.These are ready-to-eat 'dishes' which can be stored at room temperature.I've done this before, though not for 10 days almost out of touch with civilisation in one stretch.It works very well.Getting these through customs in SA(taken then into Namibia,last May) before has never been an issue as its sealed.

Of course, we have a choice of South African meats and other fresh food which will be available to us, will be stuffed into the 2x60l fridge,which would certainly be bursting in the seams.Guess it's an over-kill.Wont hurt either,will be spoilt for choice.

Sauces and marinades are high on the list.Sure Peri Peri, Tabasco,Mustard, Mayo,Tandoor masala (Indian Kebab seasoning),
assorted herbs,BBQ sauce (Thick & Spicy or American Garden).

No stone left unturned.A Porta-Bar to quench thirst.The heat of the mid-day sun would certainly be suppressed with either a Belvedere or Grey Goose or a chilled Savannah Dry Premium Cider.

The tales around the campfire,every evening, warrants a whisky, a single malt at that.

We are 4, with the (good) possibility of another joining us from Singapore.This does not include the guide.That makes us 6.

Sounds as though you have some great campsites - I envy you getting up as far north as Swartpan. I suspect it will seem as though you have the park to yourselves.

The pre-cooked meals will be very convenient, especially on the day that you drive from Monamodi to Kaa, which will be a long drive/day.

I see that it is not long until your departure. Have a wonderful time. I will hope to read about your trip when you return home. Go well! CR

Kgalagadi TFNP - Fire and Ice

A beautiful, enriching celebration of this land's tones and topography. A stunning landscape which entices & enchants you with its raw beauty. Grassy dunes, acacia woodland and scrub jungle make up the landscape. Words are not enough to describe this ethereal land. Its harshness stands in sharp contrast with softly changing moods of the vast desert. Unreal !!

After a few relaxing days in Cape Town, landed in Jo’burg airport. Joined by the rest of the entourage, we were met by Eloff & Anneke of Fresh Tracks. Wonderful people, who be our guides/companions taking us through this experience, I’m about to narrate, four weeks too late.
First of all let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the help and encouragement. It was truly a trip of a lifetime... scripted to perfection. The mobile camping experience was incredible, made even more memorable by this couple from Fresh Tracks, who looked after us and we eventually became one big family. Will provide more info as I go on.
We were drive from O R Tambo straight to Rosewell Spa and Guest house in Magaliesburg . The reason I had booked there is to primarily save travel time the following day on our way to Kuruman. A one hr drive with packed lunch on the way arrived at the resort, early evening. In the meanwhile E & A ( Eloff and Anneke ) and got in touch with Clyde of Bushlore and had brought all the necessary paperwork for the Toyota Hilux, which they had to pick and drive it back to the resort the following morning. A relaxing evening. Early to bed, an early rise and we were on our way to Kuruman. While I drove the Toyota with my other 3 companions, E & A were in their Land Cruiser. We journeyed on…..,pl bear with me, this report will be in posted in parts..

So glad you had a perfect trip! I thought about you when we got stuck in a dry river bed in KZN - proved I would need a second vehicle for a trip like yours!! Sounds like a wonderful safari.

Fortunately did not get stuck anywhere, though some parts of the KTFNP, especially Kaa and Swatpan region had deep sand:)

It was a long drive to Kuruman. Its a small town,primarily catering to motorists either on their way to and from Northern Cape/Botswana..Stocked up for the onward journey.Water,diesel,vegetables,some fresh/frozen meat,fruits & juice... etal,stuffed into the 2 refrigerators.Stayed over at Red Sands Country Lodge

The following morning we were in the way to Mabausehube , around 350 kms.Arrived at McCarthy's Rest Border Post,through with the formalities,crossed over to the Bots checkpost.The clearance and paperwork were rather slow.They insisted on checking the vehicle and the contents.Content,they let us go.About an hours drive arrived at Tsabong.Its a another small town at the cross roads.Changed some money into Pulas, some refreshments and we were on the mud track towarde Mabau.The going was good. A few foto ops,the last stretch of about 40kms to the Gate was a deep sand and need the switsh to 4x4.

As we arrived at the Mabau Gate at around 4pm,we it under lock and key and no one in sight. A little intrigued,we took a side road into the park towards the campsite,soon we had a couple of rangers tailing us. Asked us to return to the office.Obviously furious that we had entered without 'permission'. We informed them that we found the gate locked and had no option but to enter before dark and would sort out the formalities later. Clash of ego,some argument,some convincing,matter settled we proceeded to set up camp.
Fire lit and meat in the spit, a couple of cans of beers and Savannah,good supper,settled in with the sounds of the desert at night.An overcast sky opened up later into the night.Not heavy,pretty incessant.

Woke to a brilliant day.Beautiful sunshine.Fresh coffee,eggs for breakfast...started packing up for the game drive.....