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That takes some doing ototw, but just in case, fly your YR, and let us know what vehicle you are in.

YR"
a yellow ribben around drivers mirror,is that the way 2 do it

That's it ototw Read about it here

exactly ototw, and look out for others!

Hello

I will be coming to KTP next week, and it's the first time I will drive there myself. I have two questions re. driving in KTP. I am sure the answers are somewhere on the Forums already but I haven't found them yet. So I hope someone can help me.

- I know about reducing the pressure in the tyres. But how many bar should I reduce it to? Does is depend on the type of vehicle I will be driving? My rental car will be a Hyundai IX35 (2x4) or similar.
I suppose that I can reduce the pressure at the filling station at TR... ?

- I seem to remember reading something about leaving your permit at the reception and telling where you are going when you leave camp. Do I remember correctly? If yes, what exactly is the procedure? And what do you do in the wilderness camps that don't have a reception?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi Katja

Sorry, can't help with everything but I'm sure someone will get back to you soon that will be able to help.... especially with details of the tyre pressure ...

What I DO know is this - yes, you can deflate at the garage at TR when you arrive - if I remember correctly the sign there says about 1.5 or 1.6 bar - think its on a notice at the petrol station but I think it has been scratched out and changed so now I'm not too sure what it should be - ok just checked my old entry permit and that says 1.6 bar

Can't help with the wilderness camps unfortunately ( ) but at the 3 main camps you keep your permit with you during the day and hand it in when you return "home" in the evenings - then you go and fetch it first thing in the morning before you go out for your first drive and let them know where you are going that day and they write it down on the back of your permit and in their book and they give you your permit back which you keep with and hand in when you get back etc or hand in at the next camp you are staying at ..... hope that helps .... had me confused the first time until I realised the permit has to "sleep" in their office - then I was ok ... sounds silly now I know but it helped .... At TR the hokkie where you leave and collect your permit is at the entry gate, at the others it is at reception ...

Have a wonderful holiday

Hi Katja
the pressure, if I remember correctly is 1600 bar... not important what car... it's a mesure for a tires
you can do that a thet petrol station at Twee Rivieren

Yes, the permit is to know if you are coming back... from the desert = no permit at the reception = go on convoy to search you

at TR, Nossob and Mata 2x you could do the check in for the small camps

next week... have a great time, great travel, great sightings... and return with a... travel tale

There is a photo of the sign about tyre pressures here

Hi Katja,

The permit procedure is the same at the Wilderniss camps. The camp assistant will keep your permit when you return back from your game drive and hand it back to you the next morning when you leave for a morning drive. There is always some-one at the camps who will check your reservation form and show you your unit. The check-in for all wilderness camps can be done once off at Twee rivieren if you will not be able to pass one of the main camps, e.g. if you stay at Urikaruus and the next day at Kieliekrankie you do not need to return to Twee rivieren to book in.

Thank you so much for all the replies! They help a lot.
Now I feel better prepared for my stay in KTP.

@Katja;

1.6 Bar is a good starting point. However remember if you set the pressure early in the morning to 1.6 Bar, the same tyre will reach +/- 2 Bar during the hottest part of the day. Same if you set the tyre pressure after driving at noon you will have a softer tyre in the morning. I know this because my vehicle is fitted with tyre pressure sensors when I visit Kgalagadi. I recommend 1.4 Bar as measured early in the morning, as it allows for the best all round pressure.

The profile of the tyre has a lot to do with how much it can be deflated. For instance a high profile tyre (big wheel, small rim) like those normally found on 4x4's can be deflated a lot, without the possibility of damaging the rims. On the other side a wheel with a low profile tyre (big rim with less tyre) does not allow much for deflation - which is a bit obvious. I mention this specifically because a lot of the newer cars have these low profile tyres fitted - even some high end 4x4's. They are very good for on tar performance but no good for Kgalagadi roads.

Thank you for your advice, WeskusKlong!
I will keep that in mind.

We've been last month in Nossop,our vehicle a 2.5 Nissan X-Trail,BF Goodrich A/T 215/75R15,we took it down to cold 1.2bar,recommended by Nossop fuel station,drive was fine,a bit corrugated,

@ototw Nothing wrong with that. You had a light SUV with high profile tyres and a very good brand tyre, so @ 1.2 Bar COLD the attendant made a good choice. However depending on the load, size of the vehicle and the brand of tyre, it may be on the low side - hence the "safe" margin stating 1.6 Bar as a rule of thumb.

Hi all,

Sorry if I missed recent information on this but I am wondering if there are electrical outlets at any of the Kgalagadi chalets? I am going to the main camps + Kalahari tented camp and Kieliekrankie.

I found this info on the FAQ but it's from 2006:
"Electricity
The newer tented camps don't have electricity, it is all solar battery powered, so you cannot charge camera or video batteries. At Mata Mata you can have this done at the office, but as it takes a while to charge, sitting there can become quite tiring. There is no charging facility at Bitterpan. "

Thanks in advance!
K.