KTP - Gharagab Wilderness Camp

[Mel]

I've just sent off an email to swap around some accommodation from Nossob
for Gharagab in March next year. Our initial target was Grootkolk, but that's
hard to come by these days... Somehow we ended up with 3 nights at Nossob.
A thought I can't stand despite the hide and Mr. Handsome. I rather go to solitude
than having crowds around me. Even if I forgo some big cats.

So now: Anybody around who has already stayed at Gharagab? Maybe a pic or two
of the accommodation? And what unit is the best to observe the waterhole? Next
to which unit is the camp attendant's unit? Or is it laid our like in Grootkolk -
opposite the units?

[Toko]

Hi Mel,

I will look for a pic for you.

The two units in the middle are the best, but all have a good view - the waterhole is not close though Ei

The attendant's hut is behind the guest huts.

[Toko]

I can not find my pics, the only ones I have on my laptop are these videos and pics


Gharagab 2010






Riding to Gharagab

Ghargab camp

Gharagab dune trail

[Mel]

Brilliant, Toko! Thanks heaps!
Actually, I reckon your videos are even better than photos to get an idea of the whole thing.

More questions came up now:

How long did it take you to go into the camp?
And how long to get out again?

I assume, you went in October, so the grass wasn't too high (and still looks tall in places...)
Did you use a seed net?

[Toko]

Mel,

from the turn-off to the camp is one-and-a-half hour drive (at least) but it is easy driving, the way out is with all the dunes and it's also one and a half hour without stops. On previous trips we had longer drives sometimes, the "road" (or the drivers ) are in various conditions Ei and if you don't like dune driving, don't go, if you like it, it's wonderful .

My visit was end of August and the grass was higher in some places as it looks like on the video clip.

Seed net was not used - we have never used one.

[Mel]

Brilliant advice, thanks again!

[Flutterby]

What is a seed net?

[Mel]

It looks like this or similar, Flutts:

(c) http://www.disco3.co.uk

[Flutterby]

Aha!!

[Mel]

Gharagab lies in the middle of the dunes and is accessible by a 4x4 route (no sedans allowed there)
north of Nossob. In fact the entrance is even north of Union's End waterhole. They way in is about
33 kilometres and has a waterhole (Gharagab Dam) after 16 kilometres into the route (the dam was
empty on the 23rd March 2013).

Here are some views of the ride in:









It was already pretty hot when we left the Nossob riverbed but the temps in the dunes exceeded
all our worst fears:







Here are some pics from unit 2 - the one with the best view on the waterhole, in my opinion:










The shower offers a lot of space and you can safely put your towel on the bank
without it getting wet (if you are the normal type of showerer -O )



View on the waterhole and surrounding area form no. 2


View on no. 2 from the look out tower


There is no shade on the decks until about noon time to 1 pm.

The water is extremely salty there and leaves smears when you leave your dishes to dry.