Trucks in Chobe & Moremi
 

We've picked up a rumour that trucks may not be allowed to enter Chobe and/or Moremi due to weight restrictions. We're travelling that way with our 7.5t Unimog - does anyone have any recent information to either confirm or dispel this rumour?

Thanks, Ian

Hi,

Well when we got there we changed the documents of our 12 tonns truck to 3,5, used a coin as a stamp and were allowed to enter:

Offroad extrem: Im 4x4 LKW durch Afrika

Enjoy it, Tobi

Hi Ian,

me again ;-)

Despite of ta-riders very "helpful and sophisticated" reply I would not mind to enter the parks with an "only":cool4: 7-ton unimog. Never heard about or saw a weight restriction in Chobe, in Moremi might be some single resticed tracks because of limited bridges or in wet season (when many tracks in Moremi are not accessible to tourist traffic anyway).
If I can find/dig out some papers from my archive I maybe get you some more details, but generally no probs to go with the Mog into Botsuanas parks ...

Cheers
Jörn

If you look at the fees charged by DNPW the charges are 50P per day for a private vehicle under 3500kg and 1000P per day for a private vehicle between 3500kg and 7000kg. Above 7000kg isn't permitted.

I suspect they enforce this as I've never seen an overland truck in either. They go to both Chobe and Moremi but stay outside the park and clients go in in safari vehicles. Contrast with Etosha/Serengeti/parks in SA where there are plenty of overland trucks in the parks.

In Moremi there is a more immediate problem which is the bridges. Apparently third bridge has just collapsed again after recent repairs and I'd definitely worry about a unimog on the new fourth bridge - a raised pole structure.

Not the end of the world though. At least it's possible to stay outside in Kasane and get a safari (via car or boat) into the park from there. Also possible to do For Moremi from Maun.

Thanks for the replies, the DWNP website links to Moremi seem to be broken at the moment, but I did find a "general" fee structure for all parks : Department of Wildlife and National Parks. This seems to indicate that over 7t it's a massive 1500P per day instead of 50P for up to 3.5t, but maybe it doesn't apply for Moremi due to the bridges....

trucks in moremi chobe
 

hello
post your question in 4x4 community sa.probably get very current info there
bridges,track conditions,water crossings
good luck
kevin

Chobe National Park
 

Ian we visited Chobe in May 2010. Yes we did have a issue with our truck 7.5 tonne bu after making some changes to our paperwork we received the permit in Maun. You do have to be carefull with the bridges but having a Unimog I suggest you take the water crossings (SOME ARE DEEP) but this is why you drive the Mog. Mogs are designed to go OFF ROAD and not drive over bridges??? Good luck with your negotiations.

Fearless - out of interest what issues did you have? Is it "over 7 tonnes" that is the problem, or "over 3.5 tonnes"?
It should be possible to make changes down to around 7t, but 3.5t would be so unbelievable.....!! Or don't they actually look?

We're coming up to the start of the waters rising (mid-October), so are going to be a little careful about deep water crossings.

Ian

Just a thought.

There is an operator that uses unimogs for photographic trips in Chobe. It's called Pangolin Photo. They may be able to give you some useful info as regards taking a unimog into the parks.

Also as a previous poster says if you aren't already signed up to the below forum do it before you get to southern africa.There is a wealth of incredibly detailed and up to date info on there. They have also rallied together and rescued more that one unfortunate foreigner who has got in a mess on the road (I recall one traveling 1000 + km with a lowloader to collect someone's drowned vehicle from Moremi for just the cost of the diesel for example) in Moremi. Good people to know!!

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In Bots overland trucks can't get in - measures to protect the park roads etc, but also the Bots own tourism industry.

Private vehicles are usually different, but if you fake your paperwork (Photoshop being an essential overlanders skill!!) then make sure you don't have an accident or break a bridge. I was hit my a park truck (TWICE!!) in Chobe when I was stationary and the police immediately inspected my paperwork with great thoroughness looking for a way out for the park drivers.