Namibia Etosha camping vs Kgalagadi — comparison for a 10-day loop from SA
Back from 5 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Vaalwater.
The spot: Walk-in only, no advance booking, and we had it to ourselves mid-week.
Facilities: Basic pit toilets and cold shower only — bring a solar shower bag for comfort.
Wildlife: Heard lion calling two nights — spine-tingling from inside a rooftop tent.
What worked: The Engel fridge ran the full trip on 140Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 247W solar. Didn't need the generator once.
What to bring: Your own firewood (collecting prohibited in most reserves), minimum 20L water per person for 3 days, and a headlamp — the bush is seriously dark.
Would I go back: Immediately. This is exactly why we overland.
5 Replies
> > On the signal front — this is why I bought the Garmin inReach Mini. Even where there is zero cell signal, I can communicate with my family and call for help if needed. It is a non-negotiable item for any remote camping trip for me now.
> > — riaan_bezuidenhout
>
> The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 136Ah battery with 204W solar keeps a National Luna 40L fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 15 months.
> — an_nell
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 106Ah battery with 263W solar keeps a Dometic CFX3 45 fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 24 months.
— liezel_erasmus
Good tip on the firewood — this catches so many people out. I now carry a 30kg bag of hardwood in the back of the bakkie on every trip. Enough for 3 nights of evening fires without relying on anything available on site.
On the signal front — this is why I bought the Garmin inReach Mini. Even where there is zero cell signal, I can communicate with my family and call for help if needed. It is a non-negotiable item for any remote camping trip for me now.
— riaan_bezuidenhout
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 136Ah battery with 204W solar keeps a National Luna 40L fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 15 months.
On the signal front — this is why I bought the Garmin inReach Mini. Even where there is zero cell signal, I can communicate with my family and call for help if needed. It is a non-negotiable item for any remote camping trip for me now.
> On the signal front — this is why I bought the Garmin inReach Mini. Even where there is zero cell signal, I can communicate with my family and call for help if needed. It is a non-negotiable item for any remote camping trip for me now.
> — riaan_bezuidenhout
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 136Ah battery with 204W solar keeps a National Luna 40L fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 15 months.
— an_nell
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 106Ah battery with 263W solar keeps a Dometic CFX3 45 fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 24 months.
What is the booking lead time for this spot? I have been looking at it for a trip in December and starting to wonder if I have left it too late.