Southern Africa Safari 2017 : Day 22 – Namibia/Botswana Safari 2015. Maun and Moremi Game Reserve

Following a Wimpy breakfast we head out for Moremi Game Reserve, the first 29kms is on a tar road, but it also accomodates cattle and donkeys galore and those donkeys believe they do not have to move off the road for anyone. It is another 30kms and we turn off for Moremi South Gate, we immediately see elephants, giraffe, warthog, impala, zebra and kudu, we even get to go off the road down to a water hole and see more wildlife and it is elephant, elephant and more elephant. For an in transit day visit it cost us R348, the route is up to North Gate at Kwaai, but when we come to a fork in the road I say to Denise why don’t we go up to 3^rd Bridge and then cut across to North Gate, which we did.

We soon realise that we have seen more wildlife outside the reserve than in it so far, the road is very bumpy on dried black cotton soil and tracts of deep sand. On reaching 3^rd Bridge gate the ranger there says the bridge is closed as it is damaged, but we can go and have a look, I ask him three times if he would recommend crossing and he says no three times.

On getting to the bridge we see a Suzuki Jiminy on the other side and the occupants are inspecting the bridge and the access and then they commence the crossing and without incident, so I cannot let a Suzuki cross and I turn back, the driver of the Suzuki tells me that some of the log construction as split apart leaving big gaps in some areas. The water at both sides is quite deep, but Salama handles it with aplomb and we make it to the other side and continue our journey.

Distances are not great, but they do take a long time as we are travelling at slow speeds. Denise takes on 4^th Bridge also a deviation through very deep water, however we meet a guide with Kalahari Adventures who turns round and drives through the water to show Denise the right line the water is up to the doors, but she ploughed through it, but there is always a sting in the tail and we encounter this on the main road after North Gate when we have to take another deviation around the Kwaai river, which we assume has washed away the road or bridge, however, we never did see what the real problem was.

We again encounter very deep sand and around a corner we come across a broken down vehicle that forces us to deviate through the bush, if Denise does not know how to tackle deep sand driving after this trip she never will.

Driving at night in Botswana, which we vowed we never would, but we have no choice you have just got to be very alert what with cows, goats, horses and elephants not to mention people. We arrive at Theklakane River Lodge where we enjoy a stiff drink and a very nice oxtail dinner, getting back to our “lodge” after 21h00.