Getting stuck in Botswana

Getting Stuck in One of the Most Beautiful Places – Botswana: It’s a little funny

Getting Stuck in Botswana: Off-Road Adventures and Travel Tips

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Ah, Botswana! A land of breathtaking landscapes, majestic wildlife, and… getting your vehicle stuck in the sand. Yes, you read that right. This is the tale of how I, a self-proclaimed decent driver, found myself and my trusty Mahindra belly-deep in the sands of Botswana. Buckle up, folks, because this is going to be a bumpy ride!

Mahindra Scorpio Adventure playing in the mud
Getting Stuck in Botswana: Off-Road Adventures and Travel Tips
Mahindra Scorpio SUV Adventure playing in the mud

The Prelude: Confidence and Sand

I’ve always considered myself a pretty good driver. I’ve tackled sandy terrains before and come out victorious. So, when we set off for Botswana, I was confident. Some might argue that my vehicle isn’t a “proper 4×4,” but I beg to differ. My Mahindra might not have lockers, but she’s a beast. And this trip was going to prove it—or so I thought.

Elephant Sands: The First Encounter

Our journey began smoothly, with tar roads leading us to Elephant Sands. The first few hundred meters off the tar were gravel, which soon turned into soft sand. The landscape was barren, a testament to the drought’s impact. Elephants had ravaged most of the vegetation, leaving behind a desolate beauty.

Feeling quite pleased with myself, I navigated through the softer sand patches with ease. We were almost at the reception when we had to stop to let an elephant pass. Everyone in the car was excited, not just because of the elephant but because we were almost at our destination. Once the coast was clear, I shifted gears and drove the remaining distance to the reception.

We checked in without any issues and were told we could camp anywhere. The place was bustling due to the recently concluded “OppiPanne” festival. We hopped back into the car and headed towards the camping area. That’s when things started to go south.

I attempted a right turn, trying to break out of the two-spoor track we were on. The car refused to cooperate and started digging into the sand. Realizing what was happening, I stopped, reversed, and tried again with more speed. This time, we managed to get out of the rut. Feeling a bit annoyed with myself, I inspected the spot where we almost got stuck. The dig wasn’t too severe, but it was a reminder of what lay ahead.

The Road to Savuti: A Comedy of Errors

Before leaving Mwandi View, we chatted with the owner, who gave us directions to Savuti. He also shared stories of recoveries on those roads, hoping we wouldn’t become one of his tales. He assured us that the Mahindra would be fine. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

About 10 kilometers after leaving the tar road, we hit a fork. The owner had said to go straight, but the path ahead was deep, soft sand. To the right was a firmer road that seemed to go in the wrong direction. Decisions, decisions. We chose to go straight and, predictably, got stuck about 100 meters in.

Out came the spade, and I started digging. Just as I was about to remove the sand from under the car, we saw a vehicle approaching. It was an old Land Cruiser, followed by another. Out jumped three men and a woman, all dressed in greenish overalls and berets. The leader, sporting reflective Ray-Ban sunglasses and camo gear, looked like he stepped out of an action movie.

Initially, we were sceptical about accepting their help, but they insisted. They offered to tow us past the soft sand, about 2 kilometers. I wanted to drive, but Ray-Bans insisted he would. Nervously, I got into the passenger seat. One of the men took a shotgun from their vehicle, which Ray-Bans assured me was for our safety and hunting guinea fowl. Comforting, right?

With a few more instructions, we were off. The Land Cruiser towed the Mahindra for what felt like an eternity. It turned out they were friendly and worked for the Botswana Parks Board. After a small token of appreciation and some advice—“switch off the aircon and put foot”—we were on our way to Ghoha. This advice saw us through the next three hours of sandy roads without further incident.

The Road Between Mbudi and Xakanaxa: The Grand Finale

Leaving Mbudi campsite in Khwai, we drove over the bridge over the river Khwai with my wife whistling a familiar tune. There are several routes to Xakanaxa, and as usual, we checked with some locals about which road to take. They all agreed we should take the dry route. We were treated to front-row seats in this wild world, spotting zebra, kudu, and a huge elephant bull.

About 15 minutes before reaching camp, the sand turned very soft and very deep. The Mahindra bellying out on the centre ridge again. So out came the shovel while my wife surveyed the area, making sure I didn’t get eaten by lions. The digging started and was made more difficult by the fact that the two-spoor was sunken. Not only did I have to dig the wheels out, but I also had to dig a space next to the car to remove the sand that had the Mahindra firmly in its grip.

In keeping with convention, about halfway through this digging (about half an hour), we heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. We waved them onto the harder surface so they wouldn’t get stuck as well. A friendly Italian couple got out of the vehicle and offered assistance. They assured me they had the proper recovery gear that came with the rental and quickly dug out a small pouch with a recovery rope. I eyed it suspiciously, knowing it wouldn’t do the job. I politely suggested a snatch recovery rope might make things easier and grabbed mine from the car.

The young gent went over to his vehicle to fasten it, only to find the rental didn’t have any recovery points. After being informed of this, I got under the vehicle and found a spot where we could shackle the rope to the chassis without damaging the vehicle.

I quickly explained how the kinetic rope worked to the young man, and we each got into our vehicles. I gave him the signal, and one, two, three—we were out. Afterward, we offered them a drink as a token of appreciation, which they respectfully declined. We bid them a safe journey and parted ways.

Learnings: The Takeaways

In all three of these events, what seems to have caused the almost getting stuck, as well as the actual getting stuck, was purely related to the clearance of the Mahindra. Generally, in these parts of the world, it’s all Land Cruisers and Hiluxes with bigger diameter wheels and modified suspensions, offering more clearance. So, shaving the center ridge in Elephant Sands and bottoming out on two other occasions, for our next trip, I will be sure to add an electronic winch (to self-recover) to the Mahindra. If finances allow, I’ll lift her a little and add tyres with a larger diameter to ensure a bit more clearance.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Adventure

Botswana is a land of incredible beauty and unexpected challenges. Getting stuck in the sand was just a part of the adventure, one that I’ll remember with a smile (and a bit of embarrassment). If you’re planning a trip to this stunning country, take my advice: be prepared, stay calm, and enjoy the ride. After all, it’s the bumps along the way that make the journey memorable.

So, here’s to more adventures, more laughs, and hopefully, fewer instances of getting stuck in the sand. Until next time, happy travels!

What are your ideas on the subject? Let me know in the forums.

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