Kgalagadi sand tracks — tyre pressure strategy and what to expect
Went through last month in a Suzuki Jimny. Here is the full report.
The Nossob River road is 160km of red sand. Let your tyres down to 1.4 bar — in the deep sections near Nossob camp we went to 1.2 bar. The sand is soft especially mid-afternoon after the sun has worked it all day. Morning and evening the surface firms up. We saw 4 lions, 2 cheetahs, a honey badger, and so many gemsbok and springbok you lose count.
Camping: Nossob camp is basic but functional — electricity from generator only, cuts at 21:30. Best game viewing in the park.
Fuel: filled up in the last town before the turn-off. Diesel consumption was around 10L/100km on the technical sections — budget for higher than your tar road figure. We carried 21L spare in jerry cans.
The whole experience is world class. Happy to answer any questions from people planning this route.
4 Replies
Good write-up. One thing to add from our trip there — the permit system has changed since the last reports I read. The gate closes 30 minutes earlier than the old signage says — check the current hours before you go.
Went through this one two seasons back and our experience was similar. The crossing you mentioned was also the part that got our attention. What tyre pressures were you running? We found 1.3bar front and rear worked well on that surface.
How was the fuel situation? We are planning this in a Ranger Raptor which drinks more than it should on technical terrain. Trying to figure out whether to carry extra diesel in jerry cans or whether the consumption was manageable.
How was the fuel situation? We are planning this in a Ranger Raptor which drinks more than it should on technical terrain. Trying to figure out whether to carry extra diesel in jerry cans or whether the consumption was manageable.
— surika_hugo
Nice one, tayla. Did you do the river crossing at the bottom of the valley? We skipped it last time and regretted it. Adding it to the plan for our next trip.