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Kalaghadi - July 2010
By Frans O'Kennedy
Participating members: Frans & Lyn, George & Susan, Wayne & Marjorie Coram, Greg Bond-Smith,
Hannes (Steers) & Lotie Theron
On our way to Upington, Frans & George investigated Dinky's Dunes situated between Pofadder
and Kakamas next to the highway. Dinky's Dunes is definitely not of the same standard as Amam dunes
and is not to be recommended at this stage. The campsite is situated in a quarry and although there
is place for 6 tents, there is only one shower/toilet combination. Decidedly not adequate for a group.
With a major cold front in Cape Town, we struck the Kalaghadi at the coldest time of the
year. Every morning was frosty with a temperature of -7°C to -8°C. The days were quite pleasant with
no wind but from 4pm we started layering again in anticipation of the cold after sunset.
From Nossob camp we took the access road (sand track) to Mabuasehube and camped overnight at
Matopi. There are no facilities at Matopi and as with the rest of Mabuasehube, there is no fence to
provide some security. So if nature calls after dark, you are very careful and don't venture too
far from the circle of light.
What surprised us in Mabua were the large herds of Eland in various places. Although we saw many
lion tracks, they managed to evade us - which probably wasn't a bad thing as some group members
were sorry that they were in a ground tent.
Wayne had a fuel shortage at this stage and they returned to Nossob via the direct road while
the rest of the group exited the Mabua gate and drove north west along the border of the park to
KAA gate. This is a very sandy road but quite fun to drive. It is possible to drive it in a 2x4 with
soft tyres. While on this road we loaded up with firewood as there is a P10 000 fine for collecting
wood in the park.
Greg Bond had an infra-red camera which triggered by motion detection. He set up this camera at
various camp sites and managed to get photos of a leopard, Jackal and Brown Hyena in our camps.
Surprising what walks around in your campsite when you are sleeping.
From KAA gate we drove down to Nossob and while at Nossob we found that an elderly couple
who were camping at Nossob had been missing since the previous day. The parks board organized a
search of all the side tracks and "No Entry" roads and found them on the Mabua access road at 4pm
the following day. Their Jeep's timing chain had broken and being on their own on a very seldom
used road they were in dire straits. They had a half flask of coffee and an orange in the vehicle but
no warm clothes or blankets. With nighttime temperatures dropping to -8°C they were lucky to survive.
Moral of the story - Don't drive alone on obscure roads! Accidents happen when you don't expect them.
A very pleasant trip by all standards but I think the best time for this trip will be in April
when it is not so hot or cold and when the pans still have water.
Frans
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