Trip Report - Kubu & Bots Northern Parks 2012

[Tinus lotz]

ja boet!!!!ek ry somme nou weer!!!!!!!daai stuk langs die Chobe was asof ons in n dieretuin gery het!!!!!!!!

[Peter Connan]

_DSC9428.jpg (365.96 KiB) Viewed 1750 times

_DSC9364.jpg (373.84 KiB) Viewed 1750 times

_DSC9412.jpg (426.15 KiB) Viewed 1750 times

The above herd of ellies held us up for about 40 minutes, each time we edged closer, they demonstrated and we backed off. By this time some of the guys were getting seriously worried about fuel, so we took the upper road to Serondela as this was an easier road. We ran into another herd of ellies, and a car from the other side. They were gesticulating wildly at something slightly behind us:

_DSC9430.jpg (546.56 KiB) Viewed 1750 times

from Serondela we headed straight north for the tar road, and from there into Kasane, where there was no fuel to be had. We finally found fuel at the Kazangulu turnoff, but there was also a major lorry prang there and ques of lorries several km long. fortunately due to a roadworks-related detour we approached the garage from behind and missed the jam.

We then headed into Kasane for a much-needed resupply, and then off to our campsite.

[Peter Connan]

Senyati has a bar with a deck looking out over a waterhole, Sonya and I went there early the next morning:

_DSC9473.jpg (551.81 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9491.jpg (586.07 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9533.jpg (616.39 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

Later, we went back to Serondela and then headed west along the river.

_DSC9594.jpg (415.62 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9597.jpg (550.97 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9647.jpg (519.62 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9658.jpg (541.99 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9662.jpg (454.52 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9687.jpg (577.79 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

[Peter Connan]

_DSC9689.jpg (156.65 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9703.jpg (555.81 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9705.jpg (590.77 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9716.jpg (333.86 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9731.jpg (478.84 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9749.jpg (581.71 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

Then back to town as we had a boet cruise booked for the afternoon:

[Peter Connan]

The boat ride:

_DSC9761.jpg (558.87 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9766.jpg (550.25 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9781.jpg (554.02 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9822.jpg (574.44 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9829.jpg (253.08 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9842.jpg (551.85 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9844.jpg (547.23 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9857.jpg (477.82 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9868.jpg (554.89 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9911.jpg (426.65 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

[Peter Connan]

_DSC9915.jpg (552.74 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9921.jpg (549.16 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9926.jpg (336.85 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9957.jpg (556.3 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9976.jpg (575.96 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC9985.jpg (333.73 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC0041.jpg (615.12 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

DSC_0056s.jpg (917.41 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

DSC_0139.jpg (860.65 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

DSC_0140.jpg (971.93 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

The boat ride was certainly worth it, and probably ranks as a "must do" in my book. Also, if you want to see elephant, Chobe is the place. We counted more than 200 elephant in one day!

[Peter Connan]

If your friends hear you are going to visit the Victoria falls, they may well advise you to take a raincoat. Ignore them. It will do you no good, you will still get soaked to the bone. I think I have gotten out of swimming pools drier.

Nevertheless, it is worth every moment, an incredible spectacle!

_DSC0149.jpg (556.56 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC0159.jpg (965.09 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC0175.jpg (482.88 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC0187.jpg (540.44 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

_DSC0198.jpg (498.84 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

That evening we were all feeling rather down. Our trip had come to an end, and the next day we were starting for home. At least the Ellies took the trouble to come and say goodbye.

_DSC0272.jpg (398.71 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

The trip home was without incedent untill 40km from Potties, where my Dad's bakkies rear wheelbearing gave up the ghost. Since it was after lunch on saturday, we decided to have it loaded onto a lorry and taken home.
Apart from Gerrit's fan and Johan's bent towbar, this was really the only vehicle trouble we had that required intervention. Nobody even suffered a puncture.

And nobody managed to get stuck even once.

[Aries66]

Peter

Dankie vir die mooi verslag en foto's. Net bly daar was so min drama en skade en dat almal weer veilig terug is.

Groete

Louis

[Herrie]

Julle het regtig 'n baie goeie tyd gehad!!

[Stefan]

Awesome trip-report en stunning fotos. Dankie Peter!