Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Hi JG

Get a Chobe Park entry permit and just go. You will be ok. I did 3 extensive Botswana trips, including all those areas, never booked any accomodation and never being chased away. It leaves you with muuuuuch more flexibility in any case.

Is this true in the SA school holidays? I am thinking of doing another trip to Bots, as we missed Chobe last time.

Thanks
Peter

where can you get a Chobe park entry permit?

Hi Peter,

All three my trips was done during school holidays, including Savute twice. Savute has two camps. The Chobe Park camp, at least, will always accomodate you. Keep in mind that in general I always aim at the "less travelled" roads and therefore try to avoid the common stop-over places.

I will PM you with the website for the Chobe Park permits, however, the site is not reliable. Permits can be bought in Gaberone, Maun and Kasane. We buy them when passing through Maun. I will not advise anyone to start their Chobe trip at Kasane (north to south) because of the methodology in which the fito-sanitary regulation is applied...which affects your red meat transport ability.

Hi Wheels,
thanks for the tip, I contacted Lizette at info@roadstoroam.co.za and she managed to get me into Mankwe Lodge campsite , this was the closest available to Savuti. has anyone been there, apparently rustic, with bucket showers, but good?.
Cheers

Hi Babelaas

We stayed tthere a couple of nights in July 2010. Pretty rustic, but nice. Campsites are far apart, thus quiet, hyenas will come and check you out and facitlies are adequate. Area is Mopane forest. At the main camp there is a pool and a bar.

Hi Peter,
thanks, looks billiant

Hi Babelaas

I forgot to mention, they have flushing toilets at Mankwe.

In case you are still interested in Savuti, SKL can assist in booking there as well as in Linyanti and North gate and other places. Try Irene at reservations@sklcamps.co.bw They have been prepared to help me although these camps are rather expensive now (R250 per grownup per night plus P120.00 per person and P50 vehicle access, all fees being per day). If you PM me your E-mail address, I can send you their current price list. I have never been to savuti, but scratching on google Earth it is much more picturesque than Mankwe, and you are likely to see more as there are no water holes at the camps at Mankwe. Of course in the wet season the game is not nearly as dependent on water holes, but because at the Mankwe camps they have neither water nor good graze you are unlikely to see any game from your campsite except for the odd hungry hyena?

Cheers
Peter

cHECK WITH mANKWE - MAYBE THE "bUSH cAMP" IS AVAILABLE [LESS AMENITIES - BUT ALSO COSTING LESS] oooopsssss, capslock on - too lazy to type over so live with the shouting

The Bush Camp is closer to Moremi 'border' - More game. [careful on the drive to Mankwe .. soft sand can catch you out - DON'T leave you vehicle - Lions aplenty.
look-out for DEEP tracks left by Unimogs & Overland trucks on the top section towards Mababe Gate & Village
And please do not give the children sweets [take note books & pencils & Bibles if you want - but NO sweets please? .. they don't have t/brush & t/paste and the nearest dentist is a million miles away]