Pretoria to Livingstone thru Bulawayo?

[Hindu1936]

What are the roads like on the route to Vic Fall? We weren't going to Victoria falls because we didn't want to ride through Zimbabwe nor go around through Zambia, but just can't miss a once in a lifetime thing, so will chose the best route recommended by anyone who has been there. I know the route is probably not sealed but if it is packed and not rainy season, we can handel it. I will put on new grip tires in Pretoria or Jburg although the selection of scooter tires is not great for off roading. Is 150 miles a day too optimistic?

From Vic falls we will head for Tanzania by any suggesting sightseeing route.

thanks everyone

[Martman]

The route should all be tar, not sure of condition in Zim but SA side is mostly good. even if you go up through Botswana you can stick on the tar all the way to the Zambian border, once again not so sure of the state of the roads in Botswana as I haven't been that way in a while. good luck and if you wander east of Pretoria for a few hours (about 4hrs) you could join me for a bitterly cold frosty.

Martin

[petefromberkeley]

The roads in Botswana are good. There is a nice small paved road that enters SA just north of Pretoria. It's a good way to go if you want to skip Gaberone. You can cross Botswana in a day this way and be on the Zambia side of VIC falls. They let you cross into Zim without a visa if you just want to walk across the bridge to look.

[Hindu1936]

Thank you, life just keeps getting better and better. sealed roads, ice-cold coke, and a new movie video camera to get that rare footage of Old Woman running from the lion. How sweet it is.

thanks again

[Surfer]

EXCEPT for the killer potholes...they are the hidden kind that catch you on blind corners. horrid things....

[Roboyobo]

Not sure I would recommend "crossing Botswana in a day". Things that might get in your way:

Dry heat, expect to get dehydrated quickly.
Animals on the road - expect goats, cattle and even elephants.
Bug trucks.
Pot-holes - they are good at repairing them, but they do appear quickly.
Friendly Batswana - stop for a cup of tea, take your time.

If you're crossing at Kazangula/Kasane, it's worth stopping for a game drive in Chobe, or a trip down the river to see the elephants.

[Hindu1936]

good advice. the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. what in the name of glory is a Bug truck? we have mosquito trucks here. Same? the mozzie trucks drive around early in a.m. spraying mozzie killer around the paddies, streams, and grape vinyards. noise darned things, but life without them would a constant itch.

[petefromberkeley]

I'm not saying you SHOULD cross it in a day. The original post was about concern regarding how hard it is and I'm just saying it is a snap.

Oh, and I love comming around a corner to find elephants in the road. It reminds you that you are in Africa!

[Hindu1936]

Being surprised by elephants on the road would indeed be good as long as the elephants recognized that I am not good to eat, that I pose no threat, and that the big brown pile slowly covering me and the bike is purely a defensive measure.

[Bundubasher]

The route through Zim is good tar all the way - very few potholes but definately elephant in the Gwayi area. You can then visit Hwange national park and stay at the very cheap national parks lodges at Main Camp or even live it up at the Hwange Safari Lodge.

South of Bulawayo is the lovely Rhodes Matobo national park which includes Rhode's Grave at World's View plus some great bushman paintings.

If you need fuel in Bulawayo I have a contact who can supply but you'll need to pay before you get into Zim.

[Hindu1936]

We are thinking about going through Botswana just to avoid the political strife and stuff in Zimbabwe. If you or other riders believe it is safe, then we would like to take you up on your offer.

many thanks

Joe

getting short until retirement.

[Bundubasher]

I was there last month and the situation between the Falls and Beitbridge was stable - very calm and normal in fact. If you have forex then everything is available inc. fuel at approx. 1USD per liter.

We by fuel tokens for family in Zim - we pay here in the UK and they issue the coupons in Bulawayo. Blend only though.

[photographicsafaris]

Beware of the lightning.
No seriously, I was struck on the side of my suzuki jeep which knocked us off the road this casued the door to seal shut, so we had to climb out of the windows. Later on it hit somewhere but our windscreen shattered. With all the bugs flying around, we put on peak caps and a mosquito net over out heads to prevent the stinging as they hit you in the face. Funnily enough when we climbed out the car, by now we were using the windscreen as it is bigger. Attendant saw this and just ran away shouting something like tokoloshe tokoloshe.

The locals are all friendly, wave and make a noise as you go by in Zim I wouldnt worry about Elephants, you should see and miss them.. but those little kids, I simply dont know how I missed one, it ran straight at the landy, and sort of out the other side, diddnt hear any bumps. Scarey.

I take it that you mean livingston Zambia, not Malawi... anyway The "road" up the east coast of Kariba is well worth a visit, but if you are going onto Lusaka after that it gets kinda hairy, big hill trucks with no brakes, an all that.

The big issue is if you are there prior to the rains.

Bugs as big as Cricket balls, you will know they are around because the butterfly's are all coming out of the ground (V. beautiful) the air is thick with atmospehere, static litterally cracking around you, and there are several million bugs on the roads.

Then smack, youre doing 60 and hit an insect flying along carrying its eggsac. The mess is amazing and it will hurt.

Enjoy probably the most beautiful country in the world (needs one little assination though).

Oh and if you can stop at Todds bar (on the right about 45mins after beit bridge border, maybe more, cant remember I was coming back) and buy a bottle of Mukudiki Bin 16, a truly unforgetable vintage... Hey hey!