Overland food planning for 10 days — what experienced SA overlanders actually pack
Back from 4 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Bloemfontein.
The spot: Booked 6 months ago through SANParks — these sites go fast.
Facilities: Rustic — pit toilet and fire pit. Carry everything in and out.
Wildlife: Elephant at the waterhole every morning at 06:30 without fail.
What worked: The Engel fridge ran the full trip on 150Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 197W solar. Didn't need the generator once.
What to bring: Your own firewood (collecting prohibited in most reserves), minimum 20L water per person for 3 days, and a headlamp — the bush is seriously dark.
Would I go back: Immediately. This is exactly why we overland.
5 Replies
The campsite you mentioned matches what we found when we went. The mid-week option is much less crowded and worth adjusting your leave days for.
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 147Ah battery with 268W solar keeps a Dometic CFX3 45 fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 30 months.
Did you see any large wildlife in camp? We had an elephant push over a tree about 13m from our rooftop tent at just before midnight. Incredible to experience — absolutely terrifying in the moment.
What is the booking lead time for this spot? I have been looking at it for a trip in August and starting to wonder if I have left it too late.