Hans Schoelink

I am to arrive in Botswana in two weeks time coming from Pilanesberg (South
Africa) and want to find a campsite in or near the town of Palapye,
Botswana. I stayed at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary last year and a couple of
times at the Marang Hotel campsite in Francistown but want to try my luck in
Palapye.
Do you know a good campsite? I know of one near a hotel and the
railway but that one didn't have the setting I am looking for...

Thanks, Hans Schoelink
www.come-along.nl

Riverman

"Hans Schoelink" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    >I am to arrive in Botswana in two weeks time coming from Pilanesberg (South
    > Africa) and want to find a campsite in or near the town of Palapye,
    > Botswana. I stayed at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary last year and a couple of
    > times at the Marang Hotel campsite in Francistown but want to try my luck
    > in
    > Palapye.
    > Do you know a good campsite? I know of one near a hotel and the
    > railway but that one didn't have the setting I am looking for...


I stayed at the one behind the train station just last week, and was very
pleased with the accomodation. My friend stayed in one of their safari
tents, and we pitched a tent at a spot out by the showers. The ground was
just hardpack dirt, but it was clean and the campground had a nice homey
feel, excellent bathrooms, and a nice bar. Although there wasn't a
restaurant, you could buy food to put on the braai, and they had a firepit
going to it cook on. They also had a complete camp kitchen set up for
tenters, with couches, reading material, microwave, fridge and gas stove
where we cooked up our dinner.

Other than that, there were the really expensive hotels, and the campsite at
the Rhino sanctuary. If the type of setting you are looking for includes
grassy lawns and shady trees, I don't think you'll find it in that part of
Bots.

--riverman

Hans Schoelink

ThX Riverman, Do you have a website of the campsite for me? I think the one
I am looking for is owned by South Africans (they had difficluties with
locals last year...?)

R. Hans

Riverman

"Hans Schoelink" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > ThX Riverman, Do you have a website of the campsite for me? I think the
    > one
    > I am looking for is owned by South Africans (they had difficluties with
    > locals last year...?)
    > R. Hans

The campsite is called Camp Itumela. I don't think they have a website, but
I found their phone number online; +267-7180-6771. It pretty easy to find
in the daylight, but at night the abundance of signposts around town make
the signs to the camp impossible to spot. To get there (I'm assuming that
you are coming into town from the south); when you get to the center of town
by the mall/gas station, there is an intersection. The left turn (westwards)
will go to the Rhino sanctuary. Take the turn to the right...headed East,
and go for 7 km. You will pass through a sparse rural zone, then enter
another busy area. In that area will be a right turn (signposted) that
crosses the RR tracks within a few hundred meters. Immediately after you
cross the tracks, the road reaches a T junction. Go right again and proceed
for about 300 meters on a deteriorated road. You will pass the train station
(on your right) and a large, dirt field on the left. On the far side of the
field will be the entrance to the campsite. The approach makes you ask
yourself "what the hell is THIS gonna be like?", but once you pass through
the gates, it's instantly a very pleasant place.

Beware the bartender....he's a nice enough guy but he absolutely cannot do
math. If you have to pay with foreign currency (Rand), you will have to walk
him through the process of changing it into local currency.

--riverman