Ivory 4×4 Hire

Question: I am considering a South to North transit of the CKGR, entering through Kutse Game Reserve and exiting to Rakops.  Is this feasible with the fuel capacity of the Isuzu?  (Obviously we’d like to drive around a little in the CKGR as well).

Answer: Your last fuel stop before entering CKGR is at Lethlakeng, and your first fuel stop after exiting the park is Rakops. The distance between those two places is 611km (see the map below). Lets say you’ll drive another 400km in the park you’ll need fuel for 1110km. On a tarred road at a reasonable speed you’ll easily make 650km on a tank, but in 4×4 in sand (such as at CKGR) you’ll probably not travel much further than 550km. You’ll need at least 60 Litres fuel extra. As standard we give you two jerry cans (40 litres combined). You’ll be all right regarding fuel. We also give you two jerry cans of water, those are quite remote areas, rather take enough water as well.

Maun is 210km from Rakops, there you can sleep at Audi Camp. Moremi’s 3^rd bridge campsite is 133km from Maun. Maun is a good place to sleep over, there you can do all your bookings for Moremi, resupply and there are loads of good info about the area in Town.

Q: Do you do any suspension upgrades, I’m worried about clearance since we’re going to North Western Namibia?

A: As standard we fit bigger tyres (improve clearance and sand & rock driving capability), extra leave spring at the back (to improve weight carrying capability over rough terrain) and heavy duty shocks (to improve offroad stability and road holding). We also adjust the front suspension  to compensate for the increased lift at the back due to the extra leave spring.

We’ve travelled Namibia a few times with Isuzu’s (see attached pictures), especially North Western Namibia where the roads can get very rough (like van Zyl’s Pass). At the time none of our vehicles were modified and we did not have a problem anywhere, there were Toyotas in our party as well. On the rough stuff the Isuzu’s were equal to the task, but on the open gravel roads the Toyotas complained about road holding at speed. In my opinion the Isuzu is one of the most versatile 4×4 pickup on the South African market, the vehicle offers the best ride quality, excellent  torque at low refs, superior fuel economy and more than enough space.

A standard Isuzu’s approach and departure angles are better than a standard Toyota Hilux approach and departure angles, after our suspension modifications the Isuzu is far superior.

Isuzu on van Zyls Pass Northern Namibia

Q: We have heard from other agency’s that there are a lot of bribary going on in Mozambique when travelling alone. Have you heard anything of the sort? Please let us know as we will then revert to another destination eg. Drakenberg

A: Mozambique has the most awesome coastline imaginable, but unfortunately the Mozambicans do spoil the fun a bit. Most of our clients going there encountered corrupt officials, and nearly every time one of our vehicles enter Maputo it is broken into. When we were the 4 years ago we were also stopped by a corrupt official wanting a bribe.

If you are hesitant to visit Mozambique because of bribery or Malaria I would really suggest visiting Swaziland, Northern Natal and Drakensberg. Below is a route a quickly put together just to give you an idea of the distance and lay of the land. Following the route below will take to  Swaziland, Kosi Bay, Greater St Lucia Wetland Area(World Heritage Site), 5 x different National Parks in Northern Natal, down the coastline to Durban, Underberg (where you can drive up the famous Sani pass and sleep a night or two in Lesotho), you visit most of the famous areas in the Drakensburg such as Champagne Castle, Vergelegen Nature Reserve, Giants Castle, Monks Cowl, Cathedral Peak and Golden gate. You’ll also see Clarens and parts of the Eastern Freestate.

I have two small children, so we can’t go to Malaria areas such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe or Botswana. So our last 3 trips were to Lesotho, Golden Gate and Drakensberg – awesome!!!

This route below is 2480km long, you’ll visit 3 countries (SA, Swaziland and Lesotho) and you’ll see some of the most spectacular scenery South Africa has to offer.

Q: We’re visiting Mozambique for 3 weeks in October, do you have any suggestions regarding trip planning etc?

A: I don’t know if you already have a route planned, but with 3 weeks you have quite a few options available that’ll make your trip very interesting. The border post at Komatipoort is a nightmare to say the least, we advice our clients rather to enter Mozambique through Swaziland, that way you get to see Swaziland (which is a beautiful country) and you’ll have a very pain free border crossing. Below is just a suggestion.

From Swaziland you can travel to Kosi Bay in Northern Natal where you can do the following white touring the area:

• Swim in very nice tropical warm water
• Deep seas fishing
• Horse riding on the beach
• Drive on the beach in 4×4 on a parked route to look for sea turtles
• Visit the Tembe Elephant Park
  • Tel: +27 31 267 0144
  • www.tembe.co.za
• Visit Ndumo National Park
  • +27 21 975 2189
    +27 21 975 4472
  • http://www.kznparks.com/accommodation/ndumo_kwazulunatal.aspx
• Visit the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (World heritage site)
  • +27 083 584 7473
  • http://www.stlucia.org.za/
• Visit Itala National Park
  • http://www.places.co.za/html/2267.html
• Visit Umfolozi Game Reserve
  • +27 33 845 1000
  • http://www.game-reserve.com/south-africa_hluhluwe-umfolozi.html
  • bookings@kznwildlife.com
• Visit Hluhluwe Game reserve
  • http://www.nature-reserve.co.za/hluhluwe-game-reserve.html

From Kosi Bay you can head North into Mozambique and just keep going along the coast. These are just suggestions, let me know if you need more info or have other plans.

Q:Thanks for the extensive reply we received earlier today. Very helpful. As you may have seen on our website, we’ve been travelling several times in South-Africa, Namibia and Botswana. One of our favourites in all these trips was (and is!) Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park… We know it’s quite a drive, but we’re seriously considering that effort. We do truly enjoy the remoteness of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. – we hope to find the
same in northern/middle Kruger. But… no decision yet

A: We did a trip to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. last year September. We went through Mokopong border post up to Mabuasehube and did the wilderness trail from there to Nossob. Attached are a few of our pictures!! Only 1 party is allowed on the wilderness trail at a time, halfway to Nossob you can camp at Mosemane – as remote as it gets!!! Awesome!! Below is a screen shot of the route we took, and attached is the Mapsource file we used for the trip.

Q: We’re planning on a 3-4 weeks roundtrip in South Africa in the period August-September.
High level plan is to make a round trip: Johannesburg, Kruger Park (about 7 days, exploring from north to south), drive to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (also about 7 days) and return to Johannesburg.
Other possibilities are a visit to Botswana or skipping the Kgaligadi TP and instead drive south through Swaziland to visit some of the parks in the northern part of Kwazulu Natal (Hluhluwe or Mkuzi or Itala).

A: All our vehicles are fully equipped. You just need to bring your clothes, food and bedding (we also supply a 100% cotton duvet with 2 pillows on request), all the rest are already in the vehicle.

We also offer one night free accommodation our farm (25 minutes from Johannesburg Airport) for our clients: Read more on Free First Night Accommodation

I had a look at your route plan, I’ve mapped both options. I suggest you tour the Kruger National Park from North to South and the you enter into Swaziland. From Swaziland travel to Kosi Bay in Northern Natal where you can do the following white touring the area:

• Swim in very nice tropical warm water
• Deep seas fishing
• Horse riding on the beach
• Drive on the beach in 4×4 on a parked route to look for sea turtles
• Visit the Tembe Elephant Park
  • Tel: +27 31 267 0144
  • www.tembe.co.za
• Visit Ndumo National Park
  • +27 21 975 2189
    +27 21 975 4472
  • http://www.kznparks.com/accommodation/ndumo_kwazulunatal.aspx
• Visit the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (World heritage site)
  • +27 083 584 7473
  • http://www.stlucia.org.za/
• Visit Itala National Park
  • http://www.places.co.za/html/2267.html
• Visit Umfolozi Game Reserve
  • +27 33 845 1000
  • http://www.game-reserve.com/south-africa_hluhluwe-umfolozi.html
  • bookings@kznwildlife.com
• Visit Hluhluwe Game reserve
  • http://www.nature-reserve.co.za/hluhluwe-game-reserve.html

Also, in August and September it is still quite cold inland, but in Northern Natal the weather is very nice and warm.

Your second option is to visit the Kruger National Park, and then to drive to the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park.
I’m very fond of the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park, but in your case I’d recommend you to rather visit the Kruger and then tour Swaziland & Northern Natal. I’m saying this because to drive from Kruger to the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park will take you 2 days, it is 1366km. Much of the road is flat and quite boring. Then you must drive back to Jhb again.

You’ll be spending your time in Southern Africa much better & more economical if you stay on the Eastern side of the country. Also, the variety of places to visit, activities and scenery is much bigger in Northern Natal, Mpumalanga and Swaziland.

There are so many places to stay in Botswana, yet it is not always easy to find those places let alone contact them to make enquiries or bookings. We’ll keep adding to this post as we come across more information, any tips form your side will be welcome as well.

Kubu Island

Waypoint: S17 47.735 E25 13.665

Cost: 100 Pula per person

Bed Levy: 2 Pula per person

Tel: +267 297 9612

_______________________________________________________________________________

Kubu Island

Situated very close to Maun

Waypoint: S19 55.470 E23 30.540

Camping: 50 Pula per person

Tel: +267 686 0300

_______________________________________________________________________________

Xakanaxa Campsite

Situated in Moremi National Park

Waypoint: S19 10.983 E23 24.936

_______________________________________________________________________________

Moremi National Park

Situated in the Okavango Delta

Camping: 30 Pula per person

Vehicle: 50 Pula per person

Park Entrance: 120 Pula per person

Moremi Telephone Number: +267 686 0368

_______________________________________________________________________________

Savuti Camp

Waypoint: Booking office in Maun: S19 59.467 E23 25.363

Waypoint: Savuti Camp: S18 34.231 E24 04.178

Camping: 30 Pula per person

Vehicle: 50 Pula per person per day

Tel: +267 686 0368

_______________________________________________________________________________

Chobe Safari Lodge

Waypoint: S17 48.350 E25 08.806

Camping: 65 Pula per person

Tel: +267 625 0336

Nearly everyone coming back after a 4×4 rental that used two rooftop tents said they’ll never do that again, they’ll rather use one rooftop tent and one dome ground tent.

Lately we’ve decided just to bring the following under everyone’s attention before we kit the vehicle with two rooftop tents:

Advantages of 2 rooftop tents:
•    To pitch the tent is quite quick
•    It feels safe up there
•    Built in mattress
•    Quite adventurous

Disadvantages of two rooftop tents
•    Vehicle is top heavy & less efficient
•    Older people struggle to get in & out of the rooftop tent
•    You can’t stand up in the tent – have to get dressed lying on your back
•    If anyone of the 4 “sleepers” turns around during the night the whole vehicle moves
•    Once the tent is pitched you can’t drive around

Advantages of a ground tent
•    Much more space
o    Can get dressed standing up
o    Have shelter if it rains
•    Can still drive around once the tent is pitched
•    Doesn’t have any impact on the vehicle such as drag or top heaviness

Disadvantages of a ground tent
•    Takes 5 minutes longer to pitch
•    You have to use a separate inflatable mattress
•    Takes up space in the luggage compartment (size of 3 shoe boxes), but can be stored on the roofrack

At least you have all the info now, you can’t say afterwards that I didn’t give you the option

Ivory 4×4 Hire

Q: We have two routes in mind:
1 SA – Botswana – south of Namibia (2008 we did Namibia central and north)
2 SA – Swaziland – Lesotho

For us camping is the way that we would like to spend our holiday. So we are interested in a trip which could for see in this, but if to cold a B&B is fine.
Due to personal reasons we are NOT able to sleep in malaria areas.

1. Given the facts above, do you maybe have an alternative route you would suggest?
2. Do we have to book something in advance, like campings/hotels?
3. Which type of GPS do you rent out?

Answers:

1. Both the areas you have in mind is worth visiting, but anywhere near Swaziland & the Kruger Park is Malaria area. To be on the safe side I’d rather visit the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier National Park and Southern Namibia

2. Personally I never book when going to Namibia, but you must book when going to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

You can contact the Botswana Parks Board here: (be aware, it is really frustrating making a booking with them, just try to be patient)
Tel:          (+267) 3180774
Fax:         (+267) 3180775
Email:          dwnp.parrogabs@gov.bw

The last time I was in that area we went to Mahubasehube, it is the most Eastern part of the Kgalagadi Park – highly recommended!! We only spent 2 days at Mabua 4 (That is part of the Mahubasehube area), from there we went to Nossob, and down to Twee Rivieren, if I were you I’d turn North at Nossob and head towards Namibia

There are loads of places to go to in Southern Namiba, the places I’ve been to and can vouch for are the following:
•    Kokerboom Forest near Keetmanshoop
•    Giants Playground Near Keetmanshoop (Awesome!!!)
•    Campsite at Aus
•    Visrivier Canyon
•    Luderitz (Fantastic town to visit)
•    Sossusvlei (Where those magnificent red dunes are)
•    Swakopmund
•    Spitzkoppe (Awsome, but no running water/showers)
We were in a great hurry going through Southern Namibia, we only spent 3 nights there – you need at least a week!!

You can also consider visiting the West Coast of South Africa starting in the Richtersveld   in the North (I haven’t been there, but I only get good reports form that area) and then work your way down past Springbok, down the coast to Cape Town. My wife and I went down the West Coast 2 years ago just before our first born came, and we enjoyed it so much!! The people there are very nice and welcoming. Unfortunately I managed to delete all our pictures of that trip.

3. The GPS we rent out is the Garmin Nuvi 710

Q: We’re hiring a 4×4 to go to Namibia, how much firewood must we take with, or do we buy there?

A: You don’t need to take any firewood with, because you can buy firewood at nearly all campsites. But, it is a good idea to take at leaset 1 x 5kg bag charcoal with just in case you can’t get firewood. Often you can buy firewood next to the road from the locals as well.