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Was there in mid december and the roads were not too bad and they were graded while we were at MM You will bounce around but it is worth it

It is important to always keep in mind that heat is the tyre's number-one enemy.

A tyre the size of your average 4X4 rotates about 440 time per kilometer. Each time a tyre rotates, the sidewall flexes about thirty to forty times. A tyre sidewall, like a piece of wire that gets bent back-and-forth builds up heat - and like that piece of wire - will break if it gets too hot.

The sidewall of a tyre is designed to flex - at its optimum inflation pressure - and the heat generated by this flexing is known to the designers and is "catered" for. When a tyre is deflated, it is flexing beyond its design and excess heat is generated. The solution to this is to reduce speed and distance travelled. The more you reduce the pressure - the more you reduce your speed and distance travelled.

I do not know of any tyre manufacturer who recommends below 100kPa (1 BAR), and certainly not for any sustained period and not faster than 25kph.

I am fully aware of the ongoing discussion on this forum regarding tyre inflation pressures and road corrugations. I have previously offered some information on this topic and do not wish to comment further on some of the "theories" on offer here.

This is simply a cautionary note to weigh up short-term comfort vs. long-term damage to tyres. The problem is that the damage that can be caused in this way is not obviously apparent because it is internal.

Tread-separations, internal damage of the tubeless inner-liner and subsequent failure are the types of heat-related problems that could be experienced. Simply put, at a high enough temperature, rubber breaks down. Not to mention damage to the increasingly exposed sidewall caused by sharp objects.

When you take into account the prevailing ambient temperatures that can be experienced in the
Kgalgadi it makes these facts even more thought provoking. Of course, increased load affects the sidewall profile of the tyre in exactly the same way that under-inflation does. In other words, if you are carrying a load, do not deflate to the same pressure as when there is no load.

Not sure if this had been answered somewhere in this thread, but I want to know if the road on the Botswana side from Leeudril to Kij Kij (due to the normal road still being closed) a two way road is, in other words, can yo also drive from Kij Kij down to Leeudril on the Botstwana side?

Blackie.

Hi Blackie

Yes, you can drive it both ways - gets a bit interesting when you meet another car coming in the opposite direction but its easy enough to find a spot to wait for the other car to pass you

Yes, it is a two-way road so it's no problem to drive from Kij Kij down to Leeudril.

Thanks guys for the heads up.

BTW, any news on the progress made with the road from Leeudril to Kij Kij? Last I heard was that new contractors had been appointed and would have started soon.

Will be there from 9th to 20th April and was hoping the road would have been completed by then.

Blackie

Morning all,

Regarding the road from Leeuwdril to Kij Kij. The new contractors have started about two weeks ago and they are pushing hard to get the road done.

Regards

KG

Hallo Jannie!

We are heading back there on Sunday for 2 weeks. I just heard from someone else in the Park that Rooiputs waterhole is closed with the construction taking place again on the road now - is it true? And can one still drive from Twee Rivieren to Kij-Kij now if you have an SUV?

Thanks for your time

Morkel

Morkel,

Unfortunately the part of the road just before Rooiputs waterhole has been closed where the contractors are working on, BUT we have made provision for n two track road joining the Botswana road which can be taken enabling guests to drive from Twee Rivieren to Kij Kij waterhole / Rooipouts camp site.

KG

Thanks Jannie.
I assume with the work continuing there's more noise and a decrease in animal activity on the stretch between Leeuwdril and Kij Kij then?
M

Morkel777,

That was what i was thinking as well that the heavy trucks and the workers would scare the game off in that area but as always mother nature will prove us wrong. There is still plenty predator activity around and general game.....who knows maybe the predators think that they are building a fast food outlet and therefore hanging around

Mac D... is for Kruger... which one here

Jannie does this mean I can drive from Twee Rivieren to Nossob via the Rooiputs waterhole and do not have to take the dune road? Do I need a special permit? Thx

Hi saskia
no, nothing.... only a 4x4

No permit required....We have done it.