Day 4: Mata Mata to Nossob.

For those that have done the drive from Mata Mata to Nossob will know it is quite long in terms of time and one has to cross the Upper Dune Road. No matter how many times I have done the Upper Dune Road it still remains boring for me with little reward. Today was no different.

I have stayed very few times in Mata Mata. I booked here on purpose mainly to get the “feel” of it. Any place in the Kgalagadi is nice, it is just that some are nicer than others. The game viewing from Mata Mata this time was limited and I have already talked about the dearth of plains game. There is only one route and that is south for as long as you want to make your drive and then along the same road back. It is true that there are a few deviations around 13 and 14 boreholes.

The day started out as only a cloudless day in the bush can do. It was beautifully cool early, but it was going to warm up later. No real sights other than the usual suspects until 14th borehole where I could see about 6 cars stopping then going again. I was told that cheetah were on the prowl. This borehole has two options for the road; a lower road next to the borehole and the higher dune road which has a limited view down over the plain. The whole circular drive must be about 3km. These cheetahs must be the same ones I saw previously as it was in the same area. Cars were looking on the pan then going around the dune road in an effort to cut them off. I did not see them, but rather, enjoyed the pan in stunning green.

After breakfast the upper dune road was despatched with. Again, several areas had standing water that had to be negotiated with care. As I progressed on this road the veld was changing a bit. Still lots of green grass, but more spread out than on the Mata side. A tea stop at the Nossob Road intersection was welcome and the stopping point was quite full.

Immediately on the Nossob road the plains game concentrations increased. More frequent pods of buck, wildebeest and gemsbok were in evidence. The groupings were much larger than those on the Mata side. I was stopped by a kind couple who told me that 31km back (in the direction I was going) was a cheetah. I thanked them politely, but to expect a cheetah to be in the same position after close on two hours may be expecting too much. It was so and there was no cheetah. Having said that the drive to Nossob brought back all the old memories, dust, corrugations and more game.

In Nossob camp now, but the temperature must be upper 20 or close on 30. A late game drive to Maries se Gat may be in order. As I have detailed above, the motivation for the trip was the straight six-night stretch at Nossob in the Premium Campsite that I could book, that made the trip.

Part of the advantage of these sites is that you have an allocated unit, so you do not have to rush to get to the campsite early to book a decent spot. The booking in was effortless and I was allocated number 3. I did not have a clue which one that was as some of them are right on the perimeter fence and some units are one row behind, still nice, but the view is into the unit in front. I was very pleasantly surprised that number three is right on the fence. I have a completely uninterrupted view of the Nossob plains. The units are superb in camping terms. A lovely covered stoep, plenty of work surface, a sink, an electric socket for the car fridge and lights. Inside is you own bathroom with separate loo and shower with basin. Even a cake of parks board soap in soap dispenser. Your car is parked right next to the unit and, if you are pitching a tent, there is plenty of level space for this. The units are nicely spaced apart as well. Recommended if you wish to have upmarket camping.