Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Baie mooi! Dankie vir die fotos.

PS. hoe het jy jou T-bene so verkleur?

Stefan wrote:Baie mooi! Dankie vir die fotos.
PS. hoe het jy jou T-bene so verkleur?

Party van ons leer mos maar stadig - Die Patrol sny mos die krag af as jy afskakel en nie die sleutel op ACC hou nie. Normaalweg ry ek mos heeldag rond en dan is die yskas net af in die aand. Toe gaan slaap ons mos 2 aande by Camp Syncro en dit was lekker warm (drink baie bier en koeldrank!) wat die yskas se temperatuur die 2de dag toe laat styg na so 16 grade wat die ou kultuurtjies lekker laat groei! WWW Twee aande later grou ek die ou steakies toe eers uit - lekker slymerig en groen

eisjjjjjj - en EINA van die styx ... NOU, vertel vir ons watse yskas is daai wat jy gebruik [het] ???
Die draad op die Jurgens se yskas het afgeskuur en hy was 3 dae sonder krag [van Mohembo tot by Swartbooisdrif - en niks het iets oorgekom nie - die boonste lagie het ontvries maar was nog YSkoud. [dis 'n ZERO 3-way outydse ou dinges..]

Hi David,
Fantastic Pics and Oom Mac also sent some great ones too (see 12-07-2010)
Please could you give us something to chew on:
1. What time of year did you choose, and why?
2. Is there fuel available - because the GRX is so heavy on fuel, it becomes problematic for us with these monsters, and the old argument again rears its head - do we go for rooftop vs trailer for storage and capacity? My personal choice always has been trailer, and once I have sorted that one out in my own mind, trying to balance the risks e.g. fuel, water, etc., what quantities do we carry?
3. I am aiming for the very places you have been to, but next year and with SWAMBO of te not.
4. Road surfaces on A/Ts?
5. GPS programming updates?

Well done a great report!
Regards,
Chris

Kagiso II wrote:...vertel vir ons watse yskas is daai wat jy gebruik [het] ???

Engel - maar dis nie die yskas se skuld nie - vleis was nie gevries nie en die yskas word heeltyd oop en toe gemaak soos ons koeldrank en bier uithaal. Buite temperatuur was ook in die 30's

Dr Chris wrote:1. What time of year did you choose, and why?

Winter months are always better as it gets very hot in summer and in winter the river beds are mostly dry. The chances of flash floods are also very low. In the northern parts the temperature in winter still in the 30’s.

Dr Chris wrote:2. Is there fuel available - because the GRX is so heavy on fuel

I don’t have a long range tank so I took 4 Jerry cans and it was still not really enough – I would have liked to explore more. I think it is good practice to fill up every time you can as some of the pumps are sometimes without fuel for a day or two. I filled up at Kamanjab, Opuwo and Sesfontein. Fuel is sometimes available at Okongwati from a drum but there were none at the time we went.

Dr Chris wrote: 3. Rooftop vs trailer for storage and capacity?

Personally I would not take a trailer as Van Zyl’s will be hard on a trailer as it cannot follow the vehicles tracks exactly and the chance for damage is much greater – but many people have done it and it makes live much easier. If you take it easy it should be fine.

Dr Chris wrote: 4. Fuel, water, etc., what quantities do we carry?

I took 50l of water from home but we also bought bottled water everywhere so it isn’t a problem.
Meat – just enough for each day because raw meat will be confiscated at the veterinary fence at Palmwag when traveling south.
We packed way too much clothes. Next time I would only pack 3 sets of summer clothes and maybe 2 for the colder parts in the south and evenings. (een in die was – een aan die bas en een in die tas)

Dr Chris wrote:5. I am aiming for the very places you have been to…

If it is your first time in the area I would go from Etosha to Ruacana and add Kunene River Lodge at Swartbooisdrift and Epupa falls to my route – Beautiful!

Dr Chris wrote:6. Road surfaces on A/Ts?

No problem – Just make sure your tire pressures are correct and keep the speed down in the bad areas. We experienced a lot of corrugations and very rocky at times but had no problems.

Dr Chris wrote:7. GPS programming updates?

Tracks4Africa should be just fine.

Okavango to Kaokoland Tour 18 June to 3 July 2010
Your Guide advisor: Oom Mac
Pretoria - Kang Distance for the day 850km.·
VAT SAAM : Vehicle papers, passports and Pulas to pay for road taxes(Dual entry as we will be returning from Namibia to Botswana).· We will re-fuel at Lobatse and Kang.[Botswana Petrol is goedkoper...]
·PRE BOOK at Kang Ultra [NOT a Shell stn - It is Engen but the roadsign still shows Zenex - Trty the wood cabins - very neat and get your mind-set "in the bush" on day one already
Day 2 Kang to Drotsky's Cabins Distance for the day ± 850 Two veterinary crossings!!! What you need or get· WDrotsky's Cabins .. you wil want to stay just there ... it is supreme (se groete vir Jan )
Day 3 should be for resting as you still have 2 full days travelling before reaching or ultimate destination.·

Game viewing, fishing and boat rides are a few of the activities available.[The Okavango Tiger fish are MASSIVE, so gaan vang 'n paar.]
DAY 4 onwards to Okango Community camp· Distance for the day 500 km of serious driving includes the border crossing into Namibia.· One veterinary crossing before border. What you need or get· Fuel is available before crossing the border at Shakawe and at across the border at Rundu.· Namibia border crossing - payment of road tax own cost.· you go through the Caprivi Game Reserve for about 35km.·then travel westwards to Rundu, from Rundu we connect up to the Kavango river and travel west along it till we reach Nzinze. Turning south we connect up with the main road and travel west till we reach camp.· Attractions in the area·Popa Falls -
Okango camp is basic and offers running water and a safe place to camp. Do not rely on ablution facilities (1 flush toilet and 1 shower).
DAY 5 Okango Community camp to Swartbooisdrift· Distance for the day 565km with some exciting viewing. What you need or get· Fuel is available at Oshikati and Ruacana. Fuel yourself for at least 700km, this excludes any recreational travel.· View the Ruacana Falls. Now its the Kunene Rivers chance. From the falls travel west along the Kunene River and for the first time you are in the Kaokoveld.· Swartbooisdrift offers camping facilities and ablution facilities with flush toilets and hot showers. [maar ek lieg van die ;'hot' showers .. :-))]

DAY 7,8 & 9 24 - 26 June - Swartbooisdrift to Epupa Falls· leave early to drive 120km's.· Your true wilderness experience begins here. What you need or get· take the river route to Epupa a night may be spent next to the Kunene River. There are no ablution facilities or water.· Completely self sufficient - no water - provide own ablutions(Spade)· Do not tread alone, especially at night. Crocodiles in river.· Stay close to a vehicle at all times.· Epupa Falls will have camping facilities and running water with flush toilets.(No hot water)
DAY 1027 June - Epupa to van Zyls Pass· leave for the next camp at the top of van Zyls Pass. 145km· This is a slow drive with varying road surface and surrounding environment.· at Van Zyls Camp: Camping facilities with running water with flush toilets and hot showers.
Day 1128 June - Van Zyls Pass to Marien Fluss - Okarohombo camp· leave for the long in time, short in distance drive down Van Zyls Pass 12 km's and then in the plains to the Kunene 90km's.· This a slow and difficult drive and we will rely on all your 4x4 experience.
Marien Fluss to Puros camp· leave for next leg of the journey south 222 kms to Puros.· turn south and follow the riverbed, the khumib River, till the tracks turn west and transverse a mountain and down into the Hoarsib River valley.· Game is in abundance and first encounter with desert Elephants is probable. NB - let your tyres down to 1,5 or even ;less. The sand is pwderdust and if you dont do it right you WILL get stuck [no, I did NOT get stuck with Boezman, and I was towing the Carvan [Jurgens Oryx] and yes - some of th eother guys [Cruizer; Hi Lux; Fortuner ] did get stuck .. And LOBO [but that was Cobus' fault .. tyres to hard, wrong gear, wrong speed [momentum ...] (Stubborness ..} (nee ek het nie gaan help nie ... )
Running water with 1 x flush toilets and 1x hot showers.· Explore the river and surrounding areas for the local elephant herds.
Puros to Kamanjab· leave for Sesfontein 109kms to fuel up, then towards Palmwag and on to Kamanjab. 324kms· One veterinary crossing· {by now your meat must be eaten .. only processed meats can go furter .. Smoked Chicken last well & tastes O K .. also Bully Beef etc...]
Kamanjab has superb camping facilities and ablutions· An opportunity to become civilized again after 7 days of wilderness.
Kamanjab ... and home bound - If you want to [and still have oomph left - head west for the coastal regions - hit Swakop * Walvis, swing by Solitaire ....

Oom Mac - Dit lyk my ons het mekaar net-net gemis - Toe julle opgaan met die Marienfluss het ons afgegaan na Puros - sou lekker gewees het as ons 'n aand kon saam kuier

This is not only beautiful pictures. This is also how true memories are formed. Ek is baie jaloers! Mooi David!