Hello all,
I wanted to drive myself around in Botswana on roads where a 4WD is recommended. But i have a sturdy car (pick up) with high weel base and diff lock, but no 4WD.
Last week we got stuck in the Sani Pass in Lesotho and i realised diff lock is not 4WD. (Duh!) How are my changes on the roads in south Botswana in the wet season? Can anyone help me here?
Thank you very much.
Petra
I want to drive from Gaborone to Kutse, Southern Kalahari.
Are you there now? The state of the road seems to depend on the season and the rain.
How are my changes on the roads in south Botswana in the wet season? Mud and water, soft sand you need a 4x4 or a great amount of time to dig yourself out! Not fun if you have to do this constantly! The problem with diff lock is that it’s attached to the back wheels and when you entered a problem spot your front wheels are already so deep into the problem and the diff lock action will not be able to pull you out without great difficulty! You need all 4 wheels to do the job and sometimes you need to dig out as well. You need skills and some experience as well and deflate and inflate the tyres regularly as per road condition. I’ve traveled solo many times in Botswana, not in the middle of the rain season but at the start and was it not for the 4x4, I would still be in Botswana! If you are with a 4x4 group, yes maybe, and maybe you can do it with a diff lock vehicle, depending on others to tow you out but even then your friends will not be impressed as it waste a lot of time. You can take a change in the southern part of Botswana as it is more sand than mud; there are muddy and clay spots but not as much as say Moremi and Savuti. Wet sand or moisten sand is easier to drive than dry sand it is the back or turf sometimes also called “cotton” that can cause serious delays! Obviously it is an adventure, do it but be prepared for the worst, spades, recovery ropes and straps, plenty of emergency food and drink water supplies.
Hard to believe that you got stuck in the Sani Pass, yes depending on wether conditions all 4 wheels are needed for pulling but also you need to deflate the tyres as well.
I assume you were going up and got stuck at one of the tight bends and you experienced wheel spin and no forward motion!
Thanks for your reply. I am back now, i decided not risk it with the 2WD.
I was (partly) right, on the way there i wouldn't have managed because of the massive rainfull that day, but two days later when i returned everything looked completetly different. I think i would have managed in the 2WD that day.
But since it so much depends on the weather and how well you know the roads i think i would not advise anyone to take the chance to try it in a 2WD and definitly not in a saloon.
The guy that helped us out in the Sani pass said it was indeed the worst bit of the whole track and it was only a bit of 20 mtrs orso. I imagine those roads don't stay in the same condition all year road. I am sure they get worse and get fixed up from time to time. So unless you were there recently, you might have experienced a different road.
Thank you for your comments, maybe this will help other people with the same questions in the future.
