SANParks.org Forums

The mind boggles Vundla.

I don't think it would stick if you were found there and were not a residence!

Hi White Rhino

Welcome to the forum.

I also stayed at Rooiputs for three days a few weeks ago and it was my first camping experience ever. And what an experience. I am sure you'll enjoy it.

I'll be back in Kgalagadi for a quick long-weekend in December 2011 - expecting a very hot trip. Then another planned trip in March 2012 for a week before heading to Nam via Mata Mata.

Enjoy

Hi I am sure this must be covered somewhere here but i have failed miserably in finding the info I require.

So OK, we are entering the park from RSA at Twee Riveren and going up into the Kaa concession area;
having done this before I know that I clock out of RSA and Clock into Botswana at the customs post at Twee Riveren.

Now, so far so good. We are coming back into the park from the Botswanian side down the wilderness trail from Mabuasehube to Nossob and then taking the Bitterpan Wilderness Route to Mata Mata & crossing here into Namibia.

Why is it that I suddenly have this huge sinking feeling that having arrived back at Nossob from Mabuasehube that I am going to have to take a detour all the way back down to Twee Riveren & back for the passport stuff before we will be allowed to cross at Mata Mata

Please someone tell me I'm wrong ! please.................

Hi lostshepard a warm welcome to the forums
Have you read
this?
It might help until someone comes along with more info.

Hi thanks Dotty (BTW I have been a member here since 2006 just don't post often!)

It seems to me that I will have to go via Twee Rivieren but I wonder if when coming out of the Bitterpan wilderness trail that instead of heading straight up to Mata Mata where we are booked to stay - we make a detour ( 5 hours !!) & rather go down to Twee Rivieren and then back up to Mata Mata given thats its a shorter route from Twee R to MM than from Nossob to Twee R.

Obviously we will have been in the park for quite some time already so does the two night rule still apply if you go down to Twee Rivieren just to get your passport stamped and then leave the next day out of Mata Mata effectively meaning, for the official mind, that you have only spent one night in the park from the passport stamp date ? Hope this is clear.

Crazy.

The Guru should be back from the Forumites Eco Trail soon Perhaps he will be able to tell you
Didn't look at your registration date but glad you are here and posting

@Lostshepard,

I have spoken to the South African Imigration department and they unfortunately informed me that you will have to come down to Two Rivers (Botswana side) to clear out of the country, you will not have to see the S.A. Immigragtion only Botswana as there is no immigration staff at the Mata Mata border post.

Unfortunately Botswana's rules.

KG

I am sure I read somewhere on Sanparks website that the Bitterpan route is for residents only, meaning that you will at least have to do a stay over at Bitterpan before proceeding to either Mata Mata or down to TR?

Blackie.

Blackie,

You are correct, the Bitterpan road can only be used if you are a resident at Bitterpan, the road cannot be used as a short cut.

Thanks Yes I have booked to do the Bitterpan route and stay overnight there.

Thanks for the other info which I had worked out - it was a good job that i remembered this, it would not have been a pleasant surprise once there !!

No worries, Glad we could help

We are interested in booking a few nights on the Botswana side. Which camps are not accessible if one is towing a 4x4 trailer or caravan?

If we go in two vehicles, 4 people, can we book only one camp site so to camp close together or do we have to book two?

Hi JenB

No trouble with two vehicles and 4 people at any of the single-book sites. Theres plenty of room. However, travelling with a trailer and or a caravan could be risky. We went Nov/Dec last year just with a landrover and it was pretty sandy. We were never stuck but crossing the dunes there and back could be difficult if you are towing.

It looks wetter from the webcam shots so it might be firmer going this year.

Trevor

I was there a week ago Jen, and went to Both Rooiput and Polentswa.

If you are driving on the SA side all the time I see no problems, as the roads to the camps are quite short. I don't know about coming from the east though.

Hi Kgalagadi Guru,
hi everybody!

Happy New Year from Hamburg, Germany!

very similar topic for me.
We will enter KTNP from Botswana side via Mabuasehube Gate, spend a few days in Mabuasehube section, then want to proceed directly to Bitterpan Camp and leaving KTNP towards RSA later via Twee Rivieren.

That is allowed? Do we get the Botswana emigration and RSA immigration the moment we reach Twee R.? Or otherwise do we have to check out from Botswana at Twee R. immediately after leaving Mabuasehube Section and then proceed to Bitterpan (what would be a very VERY huge ride actually )?

Thank you very much for your help!!

Kind regards
Jorg