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The road in to Gharagab is pretty straightforward. On the way out there a few dunes that might be tricky for someone not accustomed to sand driving.

We went in a vehicle that has the same ground clearance but does have low range - nice insurance!

The answer is: if you know how to drive in sand, you should be ok.

William

I am going to KTP for the first time in September and booked time at Nossob & Mata Mata (SO loves Giraffes) to get from one to the other I thought you had to drive from Nossob back to TR and then up to Mata Mata which is a long drive and a petrol gussler (V8 Defender).

I see that there is a road via Bitterpan but am led to believe that you have to spend 1 night at Bitterpan in order to use it. Any reason why - with the petrol price it would be very kind if SAN Parks would let it be used to get to Mata Mata as long as you have a booking there.

Anyone fill me in on the proper situation?

Hello DSouter

Forunately not The easiest way from Nossob to MataMata is down to Dikbaardskolk, then over the upper dune road to Kamqua and then to MataMata.


Yes -- it is a wilderness camp and the roads to/from wilderness camps (and the camps themselves) are for residents only

But do yourself a favour and spend a night at Bitterpan -- had a couple of brown hyena sightings there ....

Have a great trip

I have tried to book at Bitterpan for the night of the 15/9 but at present there are no bookings - hoping for a cancellation!

The upper dune road is not a bad road, if you drive slowly you can actually pick up quite a lot of game hiding in the dunes. We have seen leopard, jackal, badger, cheetah, lion, lots of antelope, and also a good number of birds along this road. People tend to drive quite fast along this route in order to get to the main roads along the river beds, and they miss the beauty of the surrounding dunes and landscape. There are picnic places at both junctions, so you can break up your journey.
I don't know whether you'll be camping, just keep in mind that the track to Bitterpan is for 4x4 vehicles only, and no trailers are allowed. It's a one way track, quite deep sand in places, however if you know how to drive in sand you won't have a problem, even with a "soft" SUV. The only possible problem could be grass in the "middelmannetjie" that may start to smoulder when trapped under the exhaust pipe, so it's advisable to stop every few kilometres and check that there's no potential fire hazard

@Lonehill_Birders -- quite agree with you re the dune roads I hate it that people tend to speed so much over them

@DSouter

Keep checking for a cancellation -- they do come up !
Maybe you could also try swapping a night (or 2) at TR for a night (or 2) at Bitterpan in this thread : http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32089

Hi folks,

Can't wait to experience the solitude and sheer beauty of KTP. We will be going from Nossob to Mata Mata. We always loved the quiet and peace of the bush in our last visits to southern Africa so I think a slow drive through the upper dune road will be heaven after a busy year of work. I'll just have to make sure that we don't take too long and get to Mata Mata with plenty of time before night fall (Late May). Are there loops off the upper dune road that we can take passing water holes or habitats?

Relaxevous, there are about 3 waterholes on the upper dune road. You are more likely to see honey badger on the dune roads than the 'river' roads. Look for pale chanting goshawks on trees. They wait for the HB to dig up delicacies for them.

Also you will see oryx, and maybe red hartebeests on the dune roads. I have seen bat eared fox, lion and cheetah on them too. Birds there are fawn coloured lark (lots), kori bustard, and other raptors that feed of the rats & mice that scurry across.

And look out for steenbok -- always seen far more often on the dune roads.

Reading all these things makes me too excited for words, and I'm not even 100% sure I'll be coming to KTP yet!!! *crossing everything*

Can't wait, thanks for the tips. I've never been a die hard twitcher but seeing graceful PCGs perched or Kori Bustards and Secretary birds strutting around is something I could watch all day.

Is the road between Twee Rivieren and Nossob still closed?
Will we be able to do an afternoon drive from TR to Leeudril and back, is that part of the road open? - our first night is at TR, then Kieliekrankie.

4 May Twee Rivieren
5 May Kieliekrankie
6 May KTC
7 May KTC
8 May Nossob
9 May Gharagab
10May Gharagab
11May Kieliekrankie

When we went in Dec, the road from TR to Leeudril was definitely open, then at Rooiputs w/h there was a slight detour to Kij Kij and then you could go up to Nossob from there, but I was lead to beleive that the road was quite corrugated at the time.

We did the upper dune road going from TR to Nossob, but it does take a good while.

I am sure that the people at TR will be able to give you an up-to-date report on the situation.

Whichever road you take, may you enjoy it!

Hi LB
What Rookie says is quite correct. Hope to see you in Nossob on the 8th. Look out for a silver Isuzu flying a yellow ribbon

We found the road to Mata Mata was worse corugated than the one to Nossob. It depends when it is graded.