Molopo high-way

After entering South Africa at Gemsbok border post, our next border post on the tour is Middelputs, about 180km east. There is more than one road that will take you there, some faster than others. We wanted to stay as close as possible to the border, and that, according to most maps, is to follow the Molopo river. 

We found the turn-off just before the little town of Molopo. The border post officials could not understand why we want to use this road ...

The only indications of a river along this road are on the road maps and the twisting road. On my Garmin GPS, the road on the South African and Botswana side, as well as the 'river' appear as one and the same purple line. So the roads are in the river. A policeman at Middelputs later told us that this river was in flood in 1974 and 1988. But today this is a dusty, sandy road. Do not use it if you are in a hurry (there are 15 farm gates!) or when it did rain.

The first 40km is the worst. It is a normal sized gravel road, but very sandy where you expect it the least. At places I was thinking that the sudden soft sand holes will take the spare wheel of the Toyota Hilux off. After the first 60km it becomes a single jeep track, but much better than the first part. This is where we started counting the 15 farm gates... The 160km from Gemsbok to Midddelputs took us more than 3 hours to complete - but once again, well worth the effort.

On the opposite side in Botswana, a mere 10 meters away is a new tarred road (the B211). According to the locals, this provides a nice alternative route for travellers from Gauteng to the Kgalagadi.

15 farm gates on the Molopo high-way

Molopo high-way on the right, Botswana tarred B211 on the left - border in between