Trip Report - Bots in July

[iandvl]

So, just a place holder for my trip report for Bots. I arrived back yesterday.

Folks wanted to see Elephant Sands (my mother is Elephant bedinges) and having recently had their 50th Anniversary, I was tasked with knocking together a trip at short notice.

The idea that emerged was Elephant Sands for two days and another hodge-podge of pans, windy roads etc....

People: My folks - Div and Hilary and myself and Liana - the LF.

Some stats:

Distance: 2430km
Driving time: ~33 Hours
Fuel: I drive a Patrol - these discussions only happen between consenting Patrol owners....

I'll write up my thunks and things when I get the time / motivation. First day behind a laptop again and I am sad about that...

[Mad Manny]

I find it hard to believe that an accident prone Bogan like yourself, who tends to stagger around like a stabbed Arab at the best of times, managed to pull of this trip without injuring himself...

Or is that part of the report still coming...?

Princess.

[Mad Manny]

I also find it hard to believe the 2430km in 33 hours part.
That's like 74km/hr, in Bots, on game drives, in thick sand?
Not likely...

[Johannes]

Manny , you also find it hard not to interrupt?

[Jadranko]

during it's last visit to star base 122,IP45GrX has been replenish with a batch of highest grade Dilithium crystals
and plasma injectors were re-calibrated to new specification.
speed is not a issue .
it is more likely that while off the grid crew has experienced missing time caused by temporal flux .

[Mad Manny]

during it's last visit to star base 122,IP45GrX has been replenish with a batch of highest grade Dilithium crystals
and plasma injectors were re-calibrated to new specification.
speed is not a issue .
it is more likely that while off the grid crew has experienced missing time caused by temporal flux .

.. and this Children, is why you shouldn't sniff glue...

[Jadranko]

person must keep its mind open.
with any means necessary .

[PsyPhin]

during it's last visit to star base 122,IP45GrX has been replenish with a batch of highest grade Dilithium crystals
and plasma injectors were re-calibrated to new specification.
speed is not a issue .
it is more likely that while off the grid crew has experienced missing time caused by temporal flux .

Did you disengaged the external inertial dampener?

[iandvl]

2024/07/05 Pretoria to Potchefstroom

Distance: 179km
Driving Time: 2h16

Headed through to Potch for the folks' 50th anniversary on the Friday evening. Did some shopping for the trip con Saturday and had a few beers at the River Cafe near Potch dam. Damned nice Belgian ale they had on tap there...

[iandvl]

2024/07/07 - Potchefstroom to Gaberone

Distance: 359km
Driving Time: 4h24

Headed out from Potch early, taking the Ventersdorp before taking the R53 out towards Swart Ruggens and then the R52 to Lichtenberg and then up North to Zeerust. Reason for this route, as although it is a slightly longer route, the road is very good (except in Lichtenberg itself) and there are very few trucks. Refuelled in Zeerust and then pushed through to Botswana, entering at Kopfontein / Tlokweng.

Before we checked in at the guest house, we took a drive around Gabs to see some of the government centres - ie: Parliament etc. We stayed at Birdville BnB which I booked via booking.com. Very basic, and not exactly like the photographs, but comfortable enough. My mother decided to take a swim...

Booked a taxi via "inDrive" - the Bots "e-hailing service" for dinner at Dros at the Molapo Crossing shopping centre. Had a great meal and then an early night.

[iandvl]

I also find it hard to believe the 2430km in 33 hours part.
That's like 74km/hr, in Bots, on game drives, in thick sand?
Not likely...

Manuel - I refer you to the screenshot of my recorded track. Driving a lesser vehicle, you'd probably battle more in thick sand.

[iandvl]

2024/07/08 - Gaberone to Francistown

Distance: 461km
Driving Time: 5h36

Resupplied early AM in Gaberone and headed out North on the A1. Stopped for some photos at the Tropic of Capricorn sign just before Dinokwe. The monument there consists of a whole series of volcanic rock pillars which were formed around 180 million years ago near Francistown. There is one labelled for every country the Tropic masses through.

Rather an uneventful drive - the A1 was relatively quiet and in good nick. Made good time to Francis Town where we turned off on the N3. Camped at Woodlands, which I highly recommend. Supper was steak and braabroodjies.

[Mad Manny]

The monument there consists of a whole series of volcanic rock pillars which were formed around 180 million years ago near Francistown.

I was not aware that Francistown was that old...

[iandvl]

2024/07/09 - Francistown to Nata / Elephant Sands

Distance: 239km
Driving Time: 2h54

We stopped for a few photos on the way out of Woodlands to check out the Hunters Road memorial which is just off the entrance road. After that, we hit the tar road north. Road was relatively quiet - quite a number of trucks though. Although it's tar, the road is not in fantastic shape with some nasty potholes and runouts. It's also pretty narrow, so one needs to be wakey with the trucks.

I restocked beer in Nata. The Patrol restocked petrol in Nata, and then we drove the last couple of kilos to Elephant Sands, checked in and set up camp.

There is a massive drought in Bots at the moment, and even though the water hole still has water, there is not very much. There were already elephants when we set up camp, and several came ambling by whilst we had a beer and lunch before heading down to the pub. Actually rather interesting seeing them walk past so close with no fences...

[HenriSteyn]

We stayed at Elephant Sands in 2014. Also a massive drought then.

Owner was transporting water in with 8 ton trucks that had 5000 litre water tanks mounted on the back.

Really is a fantastic experience when these monsters move right past you.