Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

We have just returned from Botswana CKGR, Kubu Island and Elephant Sands, and then Zimbabwe where we visited Hwange N.P., Chizarera N.P., Matusadona. N.P and Mana Pools including Chitake Springs. I can't attempt to put together a report with photos, being a bit dim in this regard. However I can answer questions on crossing borders, routes, road and track conditions, the situation in the Zimbabwe parks, availability of fuel and food etc.
The "rig" is a 1995 Patrol plus Imagine Trailvan which we can also comment on.
We were away for 30 days, so had plenty of time to enjoy each of the places we visited.
Thanks
David Digges

Hi David, I cant wait for the report back. But pse tell me more about Zim Parks, is it still GREAT, and fuel and food. I want to go Jun 2010.
Koos

Hi David

Sounds like an awesome trip ... prey do tell ...
As I tow a Trailvan (my wife's) - some other day's long story involving a new kitchen - I would be keen to hear how you experienced the trailvan.
We towed our 4 sleeper up to Kenia last year and I still have the utmost respect for the trailvan for the way it handled the terrain!
Hope you had similar good fortune!

I would also be keen to hear about the Zim experiences as well the terrain conditions (water etc) in Bots.

Glad you are back to tell the stories ...

Hi David,

Sounds like an awesome trip.

Please give us some feedback on what you found in Zim? I was last in Hwange in September 2006, and am itching to return as it is one of my favorite places in the world.

If you could give us some info on what you found in terms of track conditions, food and fuel availibility, as well as what the game is like in the parks that you visited. Did you encounter any security concerns at any point? What boarder posts did you use, and were you hassled at the crossings at all?

Look forward to the feed back.

Regards,

Ross

Hi Koos, Saltman and Ross. Hope you don't mind if I do a general reply. The Trailvan did very well and nothing really serious broke except for the aluminium frame which supports the water tank. The frame itself broke at the LH rear corner and both RH supporting brackets disintegrated. We only discovered this when we got home - the tank was resting on the axle and hanging on by a thread. I have replaced it with steel brackets and frame. I did do a report for Imagine and sent it to them last week. I will attempt to attach it to this. I have now discovered that the lighting system doesn't work, as well as the 2x12v plug points at the back. I may have disturbed the circuit whilst removing the water tank but haven't yet found the fault. The other comments in the report to Imagine are pretty clear. I do stress that we gave the Trailvan a real workout and it is basically very good. It's easy to operate, well thought out and very comfortable.
We were last in Hwange in 2007 and stayed only at Masuma dam for any length of time. As you know there is a wonderful hide there, in memory of or paid for by someone called "Hawksley". I wonder who he was. There is an "attendant" at this capsite who gets the donkey going, and offers to wash dishes and clothes. He gets the statutory $ 100 per month so I guess the extra was appreciated. Tea, sugar, mealie meal and salt are always appreciated. We spent 4 nights there again and shared it for one night with another small party from Cape Town.\
Zim is a delight for those who want an adventure rather than a structured, pre-booked trip. We were able to get petrol everywhere, in some cases having to part with the odd $ to persuade the attendant to open up. Basic foodstuffs were available. Meat, cheese, eggs etc were in short supply but dry goods could be found in most towns at Spar and the like. Vegetables were available at the roadside. Both petrol and bread cost the same - $ 1.25 and diesel $ 0.90.
There have been late rains so the game is spread about. But it's still there. We saw everything - lion and elephant (both solitary males and a breeding herd) in the Mana Campsite, hyena, leopard at Masuma, buffalo etc. The warden at Mana had flown over the area recently and said he had been really surprise at how much water is lying on pools and pans.
We entered Zim at Pandamatenga without difficulty except that the Immigration Officer had to be rousted out of bed at 10.20 am. But we were the first people through for 5 days. Unlike SA you can take up to 100l of fuel in Jerry cans without paying duty. But please remember the reflective white tape on your front bumpers.
We left at Plumtree also without difficulty.
There is a notorious police road block just north of Karoi which will always find something to get you for.
As far as road conditions are concerned we were very surprised at how good the tar surfaces still are. Some small potholes on the major roads caused by heavy trucks but otherwise fine. At one stage we passed at road sign" deadly hazard". This was a bit of rippling in the tar and no problem at all.
But the tracks are another story and we encountered all the dongas, ravines, corrugations, wash aways that one could possibly wish for. If you want to go to Matusadona go by boat! We were OK going there (well done the Trailvan) but the only other "tourist" vehicle we saw was a much modified Land Rover owned by Martin Bacsak broke the bracket on one of his OME shockabsorbers.
If you want to go to Chizarera check that there is water up there because if not then there are no toilet facilities whatsoever. The only place we felt a bit uneasy was it Chizarera. Not welcoming at all and nothing functioning at the campsites.
I would recommend booking campsites in Mana as the parks is v. popular. This can be done through the Zimparks office in Harare by email.
I have tried twice to attach the Trailvan report to this. It's a Word document, so if it doesnt appear please tell me how to do it. I also have many photos currently lying in a Picassa album. If interested I will willingly let you see them - but you will have to tell me how to do it.
Thanks
David Digges

Hi David, I enjoyed the report. What a beaut of a place , especially Mana.Sorry cant help you with advise on how to let us view the pics, but I hope there is someone out there that can help.
Koos

Hi David,

Good to know that Zim is slowly "allows" us to visit their beautiful country in a way that we can enjoy... As mentioned buy yourself, the supplies is still not what we would like it to be, but at least you didn't have to starve, like many of their own people.... They welcome our money!!

Also good to know that didn't experience any real hostility!!

Thanx for your feed back.

Regards

fanie

Hi David,

Thanks for the feedback!

Cheers,

Ross