SANParks.org Forums

Hi to all,
I have some question, and had not found the right answers yet - maybe I have just overseen them.

We are travelling end of December, beginning of January to SA, and would like to see also KTP for a couble of days.

My friend I am travelling with is disabled, i.e. he has got just one leg and can therefore
a.) not make any hard walking tours and not in soft underground
b.) need a private shower, where we can put a small chair
c.) we can only drive a normal car (automatic)

Question:
1. Are there specific camps we can not use (e.g. the wilderness camps?)
2. Is there a problem by going to KTP (street situation in Dec/Jan)?
3. Is there an interney you would sugest (primaly we thought about visiting the cape area and garden coast)?

Thank you all in advance, question 1 is the most important for us.

Kind regards

Hi bfboobies, and welcome to the forum!
Firstly, I think a couple of days won't be long enough to see KTP. The park is big, the distances between camps are far, and it takes way longer to travel (what with the sand roads and game spotting) than you would think. I would usually recommend 10 days if you want to see properly. Plus of course I'm a KTP addict so could stay for months.
If you are only going for three or four days, then you should stay in the south of the park (Twee Rivieren, Kieliekrankie, Urikaruus, perhaps either Nossob or Mata-Mata) or you'll spend most of your time in the car!

By the same token, if it's a relatively short trip, I would advise flying into Upington and renting a car there. Cape Town to KTP is a long way.

Most of the game viewing in KTP is from your car, or the camp, so walking isn't a problem from that perspective.

The camps mostly have sand underfoot, which is soft, but you usually only have to walk a short distance from your car to the accommodation, so I don't think it'll be too much of a problem.

The cottages in the traditional camps all have their own bathrooms with showers (except perhaps the converted caravans at Mata-Mata ?) The only wilderness camp that I've been to is KTC, and I can't think it'd be too much of a problem.

Twee rivieren and Nossob should be fine.
You can park your car next to the cottages.
Been at Kalahari Tented Camp and Kieliekrankie.
Its a bit of a steep route from the car park to the cottages at
Kieliekrankie. All deep sand.
But KTC wont present a problem.

And showers are big enough to fit in a plastic chair
(terrace chair)
All showers and toilets are private and within your own bungalow/cottage

Agreed with Restio
Take a domestic flight to Upington.
Done it this year and is great

Thank you so much for your answers.
It is hard to decide what to let out to have more time.

One more question came to my mind, do you know if and in which of the places they have a refrigerater - for some medikaments?

Kind regards

ONly stayed in chalet's at Twee Riviern, and they have fridges in each chalet. If only going for 2 days I would just stick with TR, you do at least have a choice of two different roads to travel on there.

SueJ

You might take a look at the below "HOME Page for
Disabilities", as there are a lot of topics on the side
bar.

http://www.sanparks.org/groups/disabilities/general.php

Congratulations on putting forth the extra effort, as
you do.

Daan

P.S. absolutely LOVE your screen-name. D.

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on the forums. I've been addicted ever since I accidentally stumbled onto the Tale of the Kalahari Girls!!

My question: Should my elderly (77) mother and I attempt a trip to KTP? I am a quadriplegic driving my adapted Subaru Forester. I know the accommodation won't be a problem (we have been Sanparks fans since 1987 because of the wheelchair friendly accommodation! ), but my concern is the condition of the roads and possible damage to my vehicle. We have booked TR 11, 12 July 2009, Nossob 13-16 July 2009 and TR 17, 18 July 2009.

I am also still fighting with reservations because they won't allocate the 4-bed unit at TR to us "in case a group of people in wheelchairs might need it" !! They have allocated the 2-bed unit to us. My sister and little daughter might accompany us and I cannot afford 2 X 2-bed units. I shall have to cancel the whole trip if I cannot get the 4-bed unit. There are 2 4-bed units available, but the supervisor I spoke to won't allocate one to me. I think the disabled units should also be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If I cannot sort this out tomorrow, I'll have to cancel the trip.

19 Aug. 15h50 Sanparks have just contacted me and told me that they have allocated the 4-bed unit to us. Thank you Joep and Sina!!

Kind regards

Hi Quickie! We're about to take our Forester to KTP for the second time. The last time we got a puncture, which the great people at Nossob fixed for us, but aside from that, no issues. Will update you when we get back in mid-Sept.

Hi Quicky, welcome to the forum.
You should have no problems with the Forester - Subaru problems seem to be only flat tyres, especially the Outback and Legacy versions with the low profile tyres. Last year some friends went up with us in their Legacy - had a flat on the first day and only noticed it when the tyre was ruined. Sanparks arranged for a tyre from Upington.

So if your tyres are in a good condition, you should have no worries. I have been to KTP 16 times (I think) in all sorts of vehicles and never had a flat (Touch wood).

Enjoy your trip

The chalet we stayed in at TR in 2006 was fully equipped for the disabled with a wheelchair friendly shower (no step) railings in all the right places and ramps onto the verandah. I would suggest that you contact KTP (more specifically TR) and enquire about this chalet. I believe that there could be more in TR and possibly even at Nossob!

The chalet I stayed in at Nossob (#7) is also fully equipped for the disabled.

Ok, so we leave in a little more than two weeks time.

Mabua / Kgalagadi itenerary:
2 Nights Mabua Camp 4
1 night Khiding camp 1
1 night Matopi Camp 1
1 night Polentswa Camp 1
1 night Rooiputs Camp 3

Questions:
1. When and where is the best time to spot game or do you basically spend the day next to the pan waiting for the game?

2. Is it worthwhile driving all the routes in Mabua? My guess is yes, if not for the game, just to enjoy the beauty of the place.

3. Where has the most game been spotted in recent weeks?

4. Has there been much rain in the area?

Can't wait!
Carl

Hi Carl,cannot comment on your topic, but please post photo's when you get back, and please check out to see if the capms are wheelchair friendly.

We are planning a trip like this , but I need "inside" info regarding the camps for handicapped people.

Hope you have the time of your life....

I will certainly check it out. From what i know so far is that the camps in the Mabuasehube area are extremely basic with a shower cubicle and "longdrop" toilet. Some of the camps we will be visiting do not even have these facilities.

Running water (cold only) is also not guaranteed.

I will get back to you

Carl,

Don't chase your tail in Mabua, it's not that sort of place. Chill, enjoy the experience. Yes the best viewing is around the pans, the bush will be thick if they have had lots of rain. Ask the guards at the entrance gate about recent sightings.

On your trip your best sightings will inevitably be in the Nossob riverbed when you stay at Rooiputs and Polentswa.

Ladyhawke,

The campsites aren't wheelchair friendly, they are very basic, and sandy which would hamper wheelchair movement.