From South Gate to Third Bridge

Take the most westerly exit from the campsite and the route is very easy. After about 24km you'll pass a right turn, marked by an old green cement block. One side of this notes that Mboma and Third Bridge are off to the left. There are no indications where the right turn goes, though it actually leads around the east side of the Bodumatau Lagoon.

Keeping on the main road (left), you'll then pass in order First Bridge (GPS: 1BRIDG) and Second Bridge (GPS: 2BRIDG), before finally reaching the campsite and Third Bridge (GPS: 3BRIDG).

From South Gate to Xakanaxa

Usually the best route is to follow the directions to Third Bridge, above, then continue southwest to Fourth Bridge (GPS: 4BRIDG). From there proceed north, keeping slightly east until Xakanaxa airstrip (GPS: XAKAIR), where you turn west. You can navigate through this labyrinth of game-viewing loops using Veronica Roodt's map, or by sticking to the main track, setting your GPS for Xakanaxa, and then keeping slightly east of the direct-line direction.

However, if it's late in the dry season and you've plenty of time, then you may want to take a detour around the Bodumatau Lagoon, which avoids Third Bridge completely. (This track is marked as 'seasonal' on most maps, and is much less reliable than the main track, especially when wet.) In that case, take the right turn at the green concrete block which is about 24km from South Gate. In that case you'll take around 16km to reach the Bodumatau Bridge, and then a further 13km will lead you to Fourth Bridge.

One local operator refers to the first part of this road after the green concrete block as 'Elephant Alley' – for its winding road though dense mopane is often frequented by elephants. Drive carefully.

From South Gate to North Gate

A very direct, straight road leads about 30km north-northeast from South Gate to North Gate (GPS: NOGATE). There are no game-viewing loops off this road.

From South Gate to Maun

Leaving the park from South Gate, after a few hundred yards there's a well-signposted fork: right to San-Ta-Wani Lodge (and then south to Maun); left directly to Maun.

Keeping left on the main road, you should still keep looking out for wildlife. I drove this way some years ago, in May 1993, and about 14km from the gate the road was virtually blocked by a large pack of lazy wild dogs wandering about the road, showing little interest in our vehicle. There are several areas of sandy thornveld shortly after the gate, with some stunning, tall old camelthorn trees, Acacia erioloba, which are a particular favourite of the local giraffe. Within these sandier areas, the road is so wide that during the rains it can seem like a series of small lakes. Although the centre of these tend to be deeper than the edges, they are generally firm, whereas the shallower edges can be much more muddy.

To the right of this road is a non-hunting area, NG33, whilst to the left is an area managed by the community, NG34. Both are good wildlife areas, but note that technically the road you are on is a 'transit route,' and as such the land and the wildlife here are managed – so you are not allowed to stop and camp here.

About 32km from South Gate you join the main road from Chobe to Maun. Bear right for Maun or double-back left for Sankuyo Village and Chobe National Park. (This road north to Chobe is referred to as 'the Mababe Road' by the signpost.) Your nearest camping site would probably at Mankwe Bush Lodge in NG45, just north of Sankuyo Village.

Shortly after that junction, about 34km from South Gate, you may need to stop to pass through the Veterinary Cordon Fence. After a further 17km you'll reach the sizeable village of Shorobe from where the road to Maun is tarred. The total journey from South Gate to the Okavango River Lodge and Crocodile Camp, on the outskirts of Maun, is about 80km.

Shorobe Village

About 54km south of Moremi's South Gate is the village of Shorobe – which marks the furthest extent of the tar road from Maun. You'll be able to buy a cold drink from one of the roadside vendors, and the Babomoso Basketry Co-operative on the east side of the road is worth a look. However, there's little else to tempt the passing traveller.