We sat and gave instructions from our vehicle - hoping to hell they didn't hear us. Some of our comments were not very polite. Down he came - but not far enough to build up enough momentum to get up the dune. Not only to get to the top but to make the nasty little turn on the crest of the dune. At this point some of the group left and headed for camp leaving two vehicle behind as they were all supposed to be staying at Mata Mata. They did not have a hope of making Mata Mata before sundown even without the dune problem. The front runners were hoping Nossob could help them out with space for them. Knowing Nossob was full we wondered how the problem would be solved. I cannot understand why they had left Bots as late as they did that morning. They had not overnighted at the camps on the road but had come all the way from Mabuasehube. The leader of the group did say to us he had totally underestimated how badly the road had deteriorated since the previous year. They had come in from the Botswana side so had not driven the dune road as yet.
After the fourth or fifth attempt the driver of the second vehicle told us to go ahead - otherwise we would be very late arriving at camp. We suggested that he drive both cars over as he had no problems getting over - or getting back to help his friend. We also suggested they unhitched the trailer and hitch it up to the more powerful vehicle. I am not sure if they took very kindly to women suggesting how to get out of a sticky situation - but we really didn't care. Now our concern was to get over that dune in the first attempt. It was badly churned up and deep tire tracks had been dug close to the top. Here goes nothing! We cruised over the dune with no problems and then had the cheek to wave cheerfully as we crested the top.
The rest of our trip to Nossob was uneventful. When we arrived we told the balance of the group that we had left the two vehicles still battling the dune. They were then in a quandary on whether to go back and look for them. Not a good idea in our book.
It was almost two hours later we saw the two vehicles pulling into the gate. The guys at Nossob were not happy about letting them spend the night but it was the better option than allowing them to drive to Mata Mata.
We were feeling at a bit of a loose end. No camp to set up as we had a brick tent for the next two nights. We lit our fire - but it is definitely not the same as having a roaring blaze on the ground with not another soul in sight.
It was very strange to hear people talking and laughing. We had become so used to being alone it was difficult to adapt to being in a "town". With the dying sun
- the jackal started slinking through camp, looking to see what they could scavenge. We watched them sneaking around like thieves in the night - but they certainly did not have the same allure as there rural cousins.
That night we could hear the lion and although we got up and went outside - the roaring was not that close. We knew there was a pride of over 20 lion in the area that had been patrolling the fences at Nossob - but it seemed as if they were moving away again.
The following morning we were up bright and earlier and decided to go for a drive before we carried our bits and pieces across to the chalet we had been allocated for that night.
Before we left we were treated to a truly spectacular sunrise. If you looked in one direction - then looked in the opposite direction it was if we were on two totally different planets.
In front of use we had a spectacular flaming sky
To the left we had a bit of blue and grey trying to peep through the flames
Behind and to the right the pinks and mauves were competing to see who would come out tops.
Having taken more than enough pictures, armed with coffee and rusks, we headed out onto the long white roads. I am ashamed to confess - at this point - we had not dressed for the day. Although the last few days had been beautifully warm, this morning the temperatures had forgotten to rise and it was a lot colder than we expected and we decided to stay in our warmer clothes, knowing we had to be back early to vacate our chalet.
Not because you don't mind interferring with nature (I agree with you on the point you made) but certainly
Not so nice to read that people don't stick to their camp and travel with more vehicles than allowed. Max 3 vehicles per camp site and 8 people. According to my map Matopi 2 is first which means they cannot read a map either. 
