Botswana - Ntwetwe pan (Makgadikgadi) advice wanted

[Darren P]

I’m planning to drive from Orapa to Gweta across Ntwetwe this September (see route map below). Anyone done it? Any advice? 

I’m happy with the need for extra water, food, GPS, the usual stuff.

How is the route compared to Khubu to Gweta which seems more popular (not done that route either). There’s very little information on this route and it looks like it could be very interesting, dramatic, etc.

I was planning to stop at Gabasadi Island for a stopover (even considering it overnight). Then keep heading north and visit Chapman’s and Green’s Baobabs, before finishing in Gweta.

 Any advice, guidance, and especially recent experience of this leg/trip would be invaluable! Thank you in advance.

[Fanie du Plessis]

We did it north to south many many years ago, it was extremely dusty with powder potholes that would explode into a huge dust bowl if a wheel dropped in there.

The guys in the Series 3 drove with doors halfway open once we hit the tar at Orapa and the car disappeared into a dust cloud again as the dust collected inside blew out.

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[Hannes Thirion]

I have never been to Chapman's and Green's, but I have read that Chapman's boabab collapsed in 2016. 

Regards 

Hannes Thirion

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[Hennie Rautenbach]

I also recommend you ask these questions on the "4x4community.co.za" and Track4Africa forums. This forum has unfortunately become quite dormant. 

Regards

[grahambowring2]

I've been caught out twice on Kubu by unforecast rain in September.

Both times we got out OK but on one occasion (heading South) the rain was so heavy we could only see for 20 metres or so.  Didn't dare stop in case we got bogged so we were very happy to follow the T4A road line on a zoomed in GPS screen!

Moral of the story.... be ready for either dust or rain!

As Hennie suggested, the Tracks4Africa forum site has more traffic.

Graham B

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[Graham Bowring]

Ask on the T4A forum but the T4A map shows your route as current so it should be OK as long as it is not wet. The T4A map confirms Chapman's Baobab fell in 2016

BTW, Gweta has a few shops, fuel & limited car repairs. Ask at the filling station to find someone selling firewood too.   You definitely want current T4A maps to navigate the confusing tracks around Gweta.  Though probably more of an issue heading South or South East as many of them are donkey cart tracks that peter out in the bush. (Don't ask me how I know...)

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Graham Bowring
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