Kalahari Self-Driving

Hi, Everyone. Our car rental company does not want us driving in the Southern Kalahari from Khutse Gate to Matswere. They're saying that the high grass on the "road" will hit the oil pain. We looked at the "road" on Google Earth and it does not seem terrible, no worse than the one we traversed in Eastern Mongolia, but there were no sand traps there! We are thinking of entering Khutse Gate and just finding a spot to camp, and then double-backing to hit the highway and up through Kang and on to Maun to get out. We have a 4X4; we understand we should be "fully independent," i.e., gas, water, food--and would like to have comments on this plan. Thank you.

I don't know that road myself but I am familiar with the tracks in the north of Namibia where there is long grass. The problem, if you are aware, is not from the damage but the risk of fire plus the blocking up of the radiator from the seeds. Maybe it is this they are bothered about.

Hi, Mark. Thanks for this. No, we had no idea that the seeds produced a problem, or that there was a danger of fire. This is very helpful.

Hey Profgarcia, The only deepish sand is one or two Kms just before the gate. Combined with the Seeds from the long grass that can most certainly cause wild fires are most likely why the rental company is saying they don't want you to drive there.

I would recommend a hi-clearance vehicle and a Seed net (make one yourself out of shade net)

"There are no permanent camps in Khutse and only three public campsite but only one, Golabodimo Pan, near the entry gate, has running water and showers." ~ Khutse Game Reserve

For more info on Overlanding go to LifeRemotely.com

Thanks for the tip on the campsite and the deep sands. I think we have a high clearance. I'll check with my husband.