botswnana parks booking

Hello everyboby
I'm trying to send a mail for booking entry and camping fee in Moremi and
Chobe NP.
The mail seems to be wrong (return to
sender mail box disabled)
The fax number uin Gaborone is a wrong number (267) 391 2354 teh same for
the fax number in Maun.
Somebody knows the good way to reach the parks reservation service ?

Thanks for any help
Emile

"emmo1" schreef in bericht
...
Hello everyboby
I'm trying to send a mail for booking entry and camping fee in Moremi and
Chobe NP.
The mail seems to be wrong (return to
sender mail box disabled)
The fax number uin Gaborone is a wrong number (267) 391 2354 teh same for
the fax number in Maun.
Somebody knows the good way to reach the parks reservation service ?

Thanks for any help
Emile




Emile,
This happens often, they often don't react on mail.
Advice, (that's what we have done going to Moremi GR).
Let the booking done by the office where you've rented our 4x4WD (neccessary
in order to enter Morem & Chobe)
Keep in mind that your camping place is hard to find (no signs in the
parks!)
Below some information and sites (try these sites also, at least it will
give you more info)


Botswana
We made two years ago a trip through Moremi Game Reserve
(4x4 required). If you plan to do such a thing, you should have experience
with (4x4) driving through the african bush. Don't do such a thing for
a first visit to Africa!
Botswana is big and empty and if you have a problem, nobody is going to
look for you and bear in mind that the bush (or NP)is a very unforgiving
environment.
You need to be familiar with driving under very bad conditions there, even
out
of the rainy season. You will meet several tracks with deep and soft sand
and if
you are not driving in the correct gear (or too slow) you will get stuck.
Going out
at that time (in order to solve the problem) is dangerous as all animals are
around you.
Maps of Moremi GR (although indispensable) are not up to date due to the
fact that during the rainy season new tracks are made by people and the
old tracks are not maintained. Driving in Botswana National Parks can not
be compared to South Africa!
Prices of the park are high (even for independent travelers), this is due
to the fact that the government discourages independent travel.
But it is a really fantastic country for wildlife and neverthless above
mentioned don't let you discourage to make this trip on your own, but
make good preparations (for your own safety). Advice: Buy a handheld GPS
with a track-back function!!)
If you hire your car at Namibia or SA, ask your car rental organization
for a "Letter of Authority" (this letter serves to confirm that the person
& vehicle whose particulars are given, has permission the said vehicle
into Botswana and/or Zimbabwe.

Government sites of Chobe NP and Moremi NP a
http://www.gov.bw/tourism/attractions/chobe_n.html
http://www.gov.bw/tourism/attractions/moremi.html

For extensive information about this and the other countries places of
interests
buy/use the "Lonely Planet" (wich is absolutely indispensable), as it will
give
you also information about important internetsites

Booking
Maun (phone 661265/Fax 661264, at Parks & Reserves Reservations Office
of the Dept. of Wildlife and National Parks) or look
at http://www..btc.bw/directories.htm
You can book the public campsites by yourself in advance by sending faxes to
the
with your wishes- Campingground, Date and very important: alternatives- and
call them directly (if you have the correct phone number)after sending the
fax.
Ask the officers name, and if the fax has received and ask him when you will
get
A reservation response via fax. You have to show the received reservation
forms
at the gate and pay there cash (Pula) and no credit cards. Be aware that
they do
not respond to any e-mails. Booking in advance is absolutely necessary.
Even though the parks might not be fully booked, they will NOT let you
enter withouth a written confirmation of your booking.
A good option: let the car rental organization do the booking for you!!
Depending on the time of the year, the parks may be really "full" or empty
Getting the sites to want is hard. We wanted to camp at Xakanaxa but could
only get reservations for Third Bridge Campsite (a good alternative). Being
there
we drove to Xakanaxa and found out that the campsite was less than half
filled

Namibia
Normal cars are available at quite reasonable prices. Fuel is inexpensive.
Depending on where exactly you will travel, you will need a
much more expensive 4x4 (required for Botswana: Moremi and Chobe) with
camping
equipment and rooftent.
A normal car might already available from 30-40 euros per day. A good 4x4
with camping equipment and rooftent will cost 77 euros per day included
AEDW1
(rental in Namibia, that's what we paid for).
Info at; http://www.iwwn.com.na/

Things to see
Sossusvlei - Highest sand dunes in the world and SPECTACULAR
Sandwich Harbour - south of Walvis Bay with a sea of sand and sea of water
meeting each other and millions of water birds including flamingoes and
pelicans
Cape Cross - thousands of seals on the main land north of Swakop
Goanikontes - a moon landscape just east of Swakop
Spitskoppe - the Ayers Rock of Namibia, north-east of Swakop
Twyfelfontein - excellent bushmen rock art
Look also at www.getawayafrica.com .

Car rentals
It depends also on where you want to start and end.
A good site for information see: http://www.natron.net/autose/htm

Let me know if you want more info
==================================
Lou Andreoli
Human, wildlife & nature photographer
http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~louine

==================================

Anyone who thinks he/she might EVER want to drive
into the game reserves of Botswana should copy Lou's
posting and keep it in a safe place.
Thanks, Lou.

Thanks Lou for the good tips and advices.
Fortunately I have a not too bad experience with 4WD driving in bad
conditions (Morocco, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Uganda and more...) and I
drive a 4WD car on snowy roads in my place in the Alps every winter.
Thank you for the phone numbers. I'll try to get a reservation by fax and
phone.
Emile






"Lou" a écrit dans le message de
. ..

"emmo1" schreef in bericht
...
Hello everyboby
I'm trying to send a mail for booking entry and camping fee in Moremi
and
Chobe NP.
The mail seems to be wrong (return
to
sender mail box disabled)
The fax number uin Gaborone is a wrong number (267) 391 2354 teh same
for
the fax number in Maun.
Somebody knows the good way to reach the parks reservation service ?

Thanks for any help
Emile




Emile,
This happens often, they often don't react on mail.
Advice, (that's what we have done going to Moremi GR).
Let the booking done by the office where you've rented our 4x4WD
(neccessary
in order to enter Morem & Chobe)
Keep in mind that your camping place is hard to find (no signs in the
parks!)
Below some information and sites (try these sites also, at least it will
give you more info)


Botswana
We made two years ago a trip through Moremi Game Reserve
(4x4 required). If you plan to do such a thing, you should have experience
with (4x4) driving through the african bush. Don't do such a thing for
a first visit to Africa!
Botswana is big and empty and if you have a problem, nobody is going to
look for you and bear in mind that the bush (or NP)is a very unforgiving
environment.
You need to be familiar with driving under very bad conditions there, even
out
of the rainy season. You will meet several tracks with deep and soft sand
and if
you are not driving in the correct gear (or too slow) you will get stuck.
Going out
at that time (in order to solve the problem) is dangerous as all animals
are
around you.
Maps of Moremi GR (although indispensable) are not up to date due to the
fact that during the rainy season new tracks are made by people and the
old tracks are not maintained. Driving in Botswana National Parks can not
be compared to South Africa!
Prices of the park are high (even for independent travelers), this is due
to the fact that the government discourages independent travel.
But it is a really fantastic country for wildlife and neverthless above
mentioned don't let you discourage to make this trip on your own, but
make good preparations (for your own safety). Advice: Buy a handheld GPS
with a track-back function!!)
If you hire your car at Namibia or SA, ask your car rental organization
for a "Letter of Authority" (this letter serves to confirm that the person
& vehicle whose particulars are given, has permission the said vehicle
into Botswana and/or Zimbabwe.

Government sites of Chobe NP and Moremi NP a
http://www.gov.bw/tourism/attractions/chobe_n.html
http://www.gov.bw/tourism/attractions/moremi.html

For extensive information about this and the other countries places of
interests
buy/use the "Lonely Planet" (wich is absolutely indispensable), as it
will
give
you also information about important internetsites

Booking
Maun (phone 661265/Fax 661264, at Parks & Reserves Reservations Office
of the Dept. of Wildlife and National Parks) or look
at http://www..btc.bw/directories.htm
You can book the public campsites by yourself in advance by sending faxes
to
the
with your wishes- Campingground, Date and very important: alternatives-
and
call them directly (if you have the correct phone number)after sending the
fax.
Ask the officers name, and if the fax has received and ask him when you
will
get
A reservation response via fax. You have to show the received reservation
forms
at the gate and pay there cash (Pula) and no credit cards. Be aware that
they do
not respond to any e-mails. Booking in advance is absolutely necessary.
Even though the parks might not be fully booked, they will NOT let you
enter withouth a written confirmation of your booking.
A good option: let the car rental organization do the booking for you!!
Depending on the time of the year, the parks may be really "full" or empty
Getting the sites to want is hard. We wanted to camp at Xakanaxa but could
only get reservations for Third Bridge Campsite (a good alternative).
Being
there
we drove to Xakanaxa and found out that the campsite was less than half
filled

Namibia
Normal cars are available at quite reasonable prices. Fuel is inexpensive.
Depending on where exactly you will travel, you will need a
much more expensive 4x4 (required for Botswana: Moremi and Chobe) with
camping
equipment and rooftent.
A normal car might already available from 30-40 euros per day. A good 4x4
with camping equipment and rooftent will cost 77 euros per day included
AEDW1
(rental in Namibia, that's what we paid for).
Info at; http://www.iwwn.com.na/

Things to see
Sossusvlei - Highest sand dunes in the world and SPECTACULAR
Sandwich Harbour - south of Walvis Bay with a sea of sand and sea of water
meeting each other and millions of water birds including flamingoes and
pelicans
Cape Cross - thousands of seals on the main land north of Swakop
Goanikontes - a moon landscape just east of Swakop
Spitskoppe - the Ayers Rock of Namibia, north-east of Swakop
Twyfelfontein - excellent bushmen rock art
Look also at www.getawayafrica.com .

Car rentals
It depends also on where you want to start and end.
A good site for information see: http://www.natron.net/autose/htm

Let me know if you want more info
==================================
Lou Andreoli
Human, wildlife & nature photographer
http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~louine

==================================