Five o’clock, still very dark, 12 degrees and we are on our way.
I have wanted to return to Namibia since our 2011 Sandton to Serengeti trip. We had planned on traveling into the north west areas but due to the heaviest rains and flooding in 40 years, the area was impassable.
We put out the word about a year ago about our plans and had many nibbles but unfortunately most people couldn’t take a months leave or dropped out for one reason or another. So it's Panda and myself and Tony and Al, our neighbors and fellow travelers on many of our Southern African trips. We are also fortunate to be joined by George and Sue Krafft for the second half of the trip. George and Graeme have been great friends for the past 40 years.
Sadly,this will be our first trip without Robs, her Stellenbosch University holidays don't coincide with mine and she is very upset about missing out. She was 5 when we first took the kids up to the Richtersveld and southern Namibia – I remember packing her a small case of fairies and barbies to keep her occupied. Where has the time gone? Kirst is incensed that we are leaving her at home for a month, over her birthday. Being her first year of work, she doesn't have leave to join us. Gareth, on the other hand, was happy to wave us good bye – party time! Not that his work commitments will allow too much partying.
As always, Panda, our Africa Agent, has spent months poring over maps, investigating camp sites, parks and lodges. Unlike our 2011 trip, where we were not sure where we would be sleeping each night, this trip is planned and booked. This is necessary at this time time of the year as half of Germany travels to Namibia for their summer holidays.
We are traveling in our old and ‘trusted’ Discovery. I suggested that possibly we needed to upgrade but Gray loves this car and can fix most problems, like replacing the broken prop shaft on the side of the road in Zambia. I am a little concerned, however, yesterday I found his ‘vehicle recovery’ unit on the back seat as opposed to its usual spot under all the luggage in the boot 😅
We are also armed with 2 GPS’s directing us in unison - so annoying - Boys and their toys.
Our first stop was breakfast in Delareyville. On our previous forays into this forgettable dorp, on our way to the kgalagadi, Botswana, Richtersveld or Namibia, we had always stopped in at the Wimpy. The Wimpy has clearly closed down and been replaced by a KFC.
So it was a KFC breakfast.
The terrain in the Northern Cape is flat with miles of scrub bush. It always amazes me how red the soil is around Kuruman. Even the trees are red with fine dust. We stopped for a picnic lunch outside Olifantsfontein. It's such a treat to travel with Al – before we knew it we had the tablecloth out, matching serviettes 😉 - I was just waiting for the crystal wine glasses.
Upington expands every time we visit or pass through but my greatest thrill about this, town, on the banks of the Orange River, are the huge sociable weaver nests that hang like thatched umbrella on the electricity poles along the road before you enter the town.
We then passed through Keimoes and Kakemas. These little towns have their own charm but we are definitely not rushing up here to retire. There are thousands of grape vines but but judging by the state of the vines, they would be lucky to get raisins.
We arrived at Augrabies National Park around 3:30. To my absolute favorite – a caravan club, with 9 caravan couples all trying to outdo each other. It took us ¾ of an hour to queue up and 5 minutes to book in.
We have 2 very comfortable cottages.
After settling in we went for a long walk around the falls. The Augrabies is a waterfall on the Orange River, around 60m in height. The name Augrabies means ‘The place of Great Noise’ and the water capacity flowing over the falls is greater than that of Niagra Falls. The impressive granite gorge is 240m deep and 18km long.
We ate at the restaurant - great kudu pie - and drank the local wine from the ‘Orange River Vineyard’ – the Chenin Blanc was great but the Cab not so much.
In bed but 9, after a long day.
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