Offroad in the Central Kalahari

26-28.02 Tuesday-Thursdays:

After studying the maps of Botswana we decided to first drive through the Central Kalahari. We arrived late in the evening at the gate to the national park. We were not allowed in anymore so we parked in the wilderness a few hundred meters in front of the gate. It was full moon, a night to remember.

The next day we drove for 10 hours through the bumpy Kalahari sand tracks. It was real test for our 4&4 Nissan Patrol, for the tires and our driving skills. It seemed like the lions, giraffes and elephants were on summer vacation because we did not see any. However we saw lots of Oryx Antelopes, spring bock herds etc..  Very exhausted we stopped at an unfenced campground and set up our roof top tent always scanning the near distance for some wild animal ready to attack us. We discussed what should be done in case of a lion attack and decided to use the fire extinguisher as a weapon. Of course nothing happened in the end.

At sunrise we packed our stuff and drove out of the park taking along a African girl with her sick child. We dropped her off at the next village doctor.

 Our next destinations were the big salt pans a 3 hour drive from the park. We found a luxury lodge close by the pans with a huge pool. We  stayed at the campground but could use the nice facilities. Ju swam for 1 hour in the pool. Meanwhile I relaxed in the hammock ate a burger, recharged my body and camera batteries.