02 April 2010    to      05 April 2010

Click HERE for Bigger Map

In April 2006 during the Easter weekend we got as far Morokweng. That's where the R375 tar road stops and the gravel road starts to the Molopo Nature Reserve. The reserve borders on Botswana and is already semi Kalahari. We decided to wait until we have a better car capable of handling the 90km or so of very corrugated gravel road from here to Molopo.

Well, four years later and we were ready. After some initial hassles getting a booking we decided the Easter weekend is a good time to see this part of the world.

The first 30 to 40km is terribly corrugated after Morokweng. It gets a bit better further on.

The second gate on your left, once you get to the reserve, leads to the Reception and the Phiri Camp site.

The reception is housed in the managers house.

Phiri Camp is situated relatively close to the reception . +/- 2 or 3km. It's the only camp site in the Molopo Nature Reserve. There are other camps with chalets, but you really need a 4x4 to get there. This is the main ablution block at Phiri Camp. The water is obtained from a bore hole and even though they say its drinkable, it tastes awful due to the limestone substrate.

The hide at Phiri Camp overlooks the dry Phepane River.

An artificial waterhole created in the bed of the Phepane River.

One of the small inhabitants around Phiri Camp.

The bush around Phiri Camp.

The camping spots are generally quite far apart, so you really get the feeling of camping in the African bush.

Relaxing with a beer and a braai fire.

Watching the sunset.

There is nothing like an African sunset in the bush for that real feeling of peace and tranquility.

Cleaning the cars windscreen of all the "Gogos" that we picked up along the 650km stretch to Molopo.

Next morning we decided to explore the reserve a bit. The first stretch went OK. There seem to be two types of sand in the reserve. A relatively harder and easier going white sand, and the red Kalahari sand which seems to grind any vehicle except a 4x4 to a halt.

Still going.

The beautiful bush in the area.

The road that we traveled runs past the reception and a few km further on joins a public road that runs through the reserve.

Molopo Nature Reserve had had some good rain and the bush and grass was very green. Everywhere were small yellow flowers.

After travelling a stretch along the public road we headed back into the bush along one of the many tracks that exist in the reserve. That's when we found out the properties of the red Kalahari sand. Even with the Diff Lock switched in, I battled getting through here. We decided to try and get out of this part of the reserve in case we really got stuck and could not get out again.

This area is beautiful but treacherous.

Eventually we made it back to our camp site, grateful not to have gotten stuck.

Next day we did the trip to the edge of the Molopo Nature Reserve and the Botswana border.

The northern end of Molopo Nature Reserve.

The slight depression that constitutes the Molopo River and border with Botswana. The river is normally dry.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon was spent giving Silvia some practice driving along the sandy roads. Here we came across some Wildebeest.

Flowers everywhere.

We decided to stop along one of the tracks and just enjoy the bush.

Back at the camp site, we found this interesting shower that they had built for the camp sites further away from the main ablution block. Its made out of a plastic water tank.

Another beautiful sunset.

Packed and ready to tackle the long trip home.