SANParks.org Forums

Just got back from 15 nights in KTP - was fantastic!! TR hopefully to follow shortly!! As far as roads go the road between samevloeing and Kij Kij consists of pretty good uncorrugated gravel and then a single track detour on the Botswana side from just before Rooiputs until Kij Kij - this stretch of road is very scenic and we had fantastic sightings of both cheetah and lion. The road works is very much happening around the Rooiputs area which does obstruct your view of the waterhole but Kij Kij was teeming with game!! The road from Mata Mata south to Kamqua is so badly corrugated it is only possible to go 20km/hour which is actually a great game viewing pace. So pack your coffee's/snacks and take it easy!!! Enjoy your trip!!

Great Aristocat, thanks for the info. We're planning on coming down that road from Kieliekrankie to TR on our last day in the park
P@m, we have had quite a few incidents while birdwatching, that some predator would pop out of the bush, once we didn't even notice it, until my husband casually glanced in the rear-view mirror, and a cheetah was crossing the road right behind us! Another time my sister and I were looking for birds in Kruger Park, near Engelhard dam. A car came speeding past from the front, and before the dust had settled, out stepped a leopard, crossed the road, and flopped down about 20 metres in front of our vehicle. We had the leopard to ourselves, which was fantastic!

Lonehill Birders

It is so often that when you stop for the small things that a predator appears.....happened to us near Lijersdraai Picnic Spot - we stopped to observe a large herd of hartebees -only when we turned the engine off did we hear the yelping of a hyena _ 10 minutes later they were all around the car - had we not stopped we would have missed them entirely!!

Hi, We are planning a 5 or 6 night stay in KTFP in April. Can anyone advise on the general conditions of the roads at present?
We are hiring a sedan (VW Polo or similar from Jo'burg) but could hire a 4x4 from Upington if deemed necessary. Any comments or advice??

Many thanks in advance.

I would go the 4x4 route from Upington.

Take the 4x4 from Upington.

Hi lornhend and Welcome!

While many visitors prefer a higher clearance vehicle for KTP, it is NOT necessary at all. Since I feel that the cost of a 4x4 (or similar) is prohibitive for me as a solo traveler (I prefer to spend my money on more nights in the park), I have always visted KTP in a sedan (Toyota Corolla, VW Polo, Ford Fiesta) and I really do not feel that I have missed out at all. Amongst other things, for photography I prefer to be more on eye level with the animals rather than always looking down on them from on high So don't feel compelled to hire a 4x4, you will be just fine in a VW Polo!

Have a great trip!

If you're driving a rental, then 4x4 etc is not necessary (the rental will, however, never be the same again ).

In the Auob riverbed, you don't need vehicle elevation even during the "wetter" months, ie when the vegetation is high. In the Nossob riverbed, however, there are long stretches where you wont see a thing unless you're in an elevated vehicle. 4x4 is certainly not needed (assuming that you didn't use the term loosely), far more important IMO is vehicle elevation (at least along most of the Nossob river, especially further north).

My greater concern would be the toll that the roads take on your chosen vehicle (notwithstanding it being a rental). We've just returned from the park and found the roads in the Auob (esp between Kamqua and Mata Mata) the worst that I've seen in 8 visits. During a few days staying in the area last week there were two Fortuners with UJ failures, 3 (!) broken trailers (springs broken, including a new offroad trailer on its first outing), one cruiser briefly dropped its aftermarket fuel tank (brackets snapped), a Lada had some or other propshaft issue, a hilux nearly lost its bullbar, another vehicle's fuel pump packed up (could be co-incidental)... the roads take no prisioners and don't discriminate by brand - so whatever vehicle you chose, take it easy (we find 20km/h to make the bad sections bearable - plus you see so much more that way).

A big advantage of the 4x4-type vehicle (fourwheel drive or "pickup" with canopy) would be that you have far more space to store your goods...assuming you're camping etc.

edit-typo

Some of the milder corrugations in the Mata Mata area last week:

lornhend, there is good news. The roads are regularly maintained, and you may be lucky. The roads stay good for about 5 days after a grading, in our experience. Its all to do with the heavy volume of traffic.
The other good news is that it is the place to be, no question

Hi Lonehill_Birders

We were detoured over the dunes on our trip from Nossob to TW due to the above roadworks in mid March this year.

The TW to Nossob road is badly corrugated from Dikbaardskolk picnic spot to Nossob especially in the canals where the grading has built of banks on either side of the road. What with the grass and bank their is no chance of viewing and as a result everyone is in a hurry to get to a point where you can view the country side instead of the sandy banks.

Take head of the warnings about the inconsiderate, selfish long lens brigade as there interpretation of 50km / hr is very different to most others.

make me and

I can't understand anymore... in January/February we can pass on the Botswana side... not detoured over the dunes
it's new.. we can't no more drive this little road
or I understand very wrong

@anne-marie -- maybe they meant they used the upper dune road instead ...
Maybe no 4X4

thank you P@m

The transit road between Rooiputs and Kij Kij was in fairly good condition over Easter. From Kij Kij to Dikbaardkolk also very good, same all the way to Nossob.

All the roads were in the best condition I saw in all my trips to the park

Hi all,
I've read a couple of times that the wilderness camps and their access roads are only for those with accommodation booked there. How about roads like the loop across the Auob on the way to Urikaruus. Can I drive this? Can I drive up to the camp for a look at the waterhole?
Also there is another trail I can see starting at 26 22 06 S, 20 41 50 E. It ends at Auchterlony. Can I drive this or is this the trail that was mentioned in other older threads where you register first at TR if you want to do it.
Can anyone suggest any loops to do from Nossob and Mata mata or do people normally just follow the two river beds. Sometimes it's nice just to get away from traffic. Also we are spending 3 days in Nossob and 3 or 4 in Mata mata so we don't want to drive the same circuit every day.

Thanks for any tips.
R.