Trip Report - Namibia and Botswana
Posted: 26 Jun 2017 11:49
Hello guys. I'm going to post my trip report now.
I want to just apologies to all those on the forum who helped me plan this trip, and were expecting pics and words soon after my return.
To be completely honest, 3 weeks before this trip something extremely traumatic happened in my life, and i was going through a very sad and difficult time. It's only now , exactly one year later, that i've actually looked at my photo's for the first time.
Anyway, all is good again,and life is lekker. I've really enjoyed being back on the forum and apart of the Patrol Family again.
My report will not be as detailed as some, but if anyone has questions on a particular location/set up/route etc, please do post in this thread, and i'll try answer accurately.
In all the mess of it, i left my camera.... I know,....lets not even go there,.... and only had my awful old iPhone 4s at the time, so that is what my images are limited to unfortunately. So i won't be wining any medals for that.
This is my Trip report.
The plan was to tour the best parts of Namibia and Botswana, traveling for almost a full month.
It was a lot of moving, typically staying 1 night in each spot, sometimes 2, and 3 at most. This wasn't a camping holiday, it was an over-landing journey (with crap loads of camping)
Total distance traveled was 8700km
Originally, my Mom and Dad were joining in their D4D DC Hilux 4wd for the Namibian half. I was to do Botswana solo. However, a week or two prior to the start, i got a call from them asking if they could join for the Botswana part. I could see that my intended route and spiked their interest, but i also knew it was out of worry, particularly after the above mentioned events leading up to this trip.
I was really happy that they had extended their trip to join, but i knew it was going to also be hard on them, as they were, in essence, doubling their trip distance, and along with it, the setting up and breaking down of camp (which they actually become extremely efficient at!). Being Transkei born and bred though, they showed resilience and embraced the challenges and every part of the journey, which at 63-65 years respectfully, was amazing to watch. My parents are super fun people, always up for adventure, so i had a feeling it would work out that way.
I was in my Trusty Patrol 4.2d N/A Bakkie , rocking my OZtent RV3
My folks took their Trusty Hilux D4D 2.5 turbo Diesel, along with their Howling Moon 3x3 canvas Dome
I tried to persuade my dad to lose the Dome tent as i could get him a BRAND NEW Oztent RV3 for R6000 prior to the trip..... a decision he later humorously regretted.
Final Route looked like this.
Travel from Cape Town to Namibia/Transkei to Namibia
- Ai Ais | Ais Ais Resort Camp Site
- D707 Road | Koiimasis Farm Camp site
- Sossusvlei | Oasis Camp Site
- Usakos | Friends House
- Spitzkoppe | Camp site
- Dinosaur footprints | Farm camp site
- Etosha | Okuakujo Camp site
- Etosha | Halali Camp Site
- Popa Falls | Ngepi Tree House
- Mavunje | Mashi River Camp Site
- Chobe River | Camp Chobe
- Nata | Nata River Lodge Camp Site
- Makgadikgadi Pan | Kubu Island Camp Site
- Maun | Audi Camp Site
- Kang | Kalahari Rest Camp
- Mabuasehube | Entrance Camp site
- Mabuasehube | Bosobogolo Camp site
- Kgalagadi TFP | Matopi 2 Camp Site
- Kgalagadi TFP | Nossob Camp Site
- Kgalagadi TFP | kgalagadi lodge
Travel back to Cape Town
This was my basic set up...
So they left the Transkei and headed for Augrabies Falls and stayed for 2 nights at Kalahari Lodge, which was apparently fantastic.
A day later i left cape town and headed up the west coast road. I spent a night at my Aunties Farm in the Cedarberg, where i left my dog Angus, my Black Labrador. he was happy as a pig in poo, jolling with his old farm dog buddies and Nina, the sheep he knows very well. bloody cute seeing them cuddle up and wonder about together.
The goats had just dropped Kids, so i helped them sort out the babies at the shed, then settled into a nice Whiskey and a lit a Moer of a fire. The dogs came back with half a baboon skull,... so we went and found the jaw... incredible to be so in tact.
Angus on the right,... with the gang,... waiting to go play with the sheep. .... weird, i know. I got up early the next morning and hit the road before the sun came up... it was freezing. I filled up in springbok and hit the border... no worries, got the green light
Crossed the bridge and once i was in Namibia i pulled over to get something from the back. I had also lost reception already, so i just wanted to double check my map. It looked like i had teleported to the fringes of Afghanistan.... i mean.... End of Part 1.
I want to just apologies to all those on the forum who helped me plan this trip, and were expecting pics and words soon after my return.
To be completely honest, 3 weeks before this trip something extremely traumatic happened in my life, and i was going through a very sad and difficult time. It's only now , exactly one year later, that i've actually looked at my photo's for the first time.
Anyway, all is good again,and life is lekker. I've really enjoyed being back on the forum and apart of the Patrol Family again.
My report will not be as detailed as some, but if anyone has questions on a particular location/set up/route etc, please do post in this thread, and i'll try answer accurately.
In all the mess of it, i left my camera.... I know,....lets not even go there,.... and only had my awful old iPhone 4s at the time, so that is what my images are limited to unfortunately. So i won't be wining any medals for that.
This is my Trip report.
The plan was to tour the best parts of Namibia and Botswana, traveling for almost a full month.
It was a lot of moving, typically staying 1 night in each spot, sometimes 2, and 3 at most. This wasn't a camping holiday, it was an over-landing journey (with crap loads of camping)
Total distance traveled was 8700km
Originally, my Mom and Dad were joining in their D4D DC Hilux 4wd for the Namibian half. I was to do Botswana solo. However, a week or two prior to the start, i got a call from them asking if they could join for the Botswana part. I could see that my intended route and spiked their interest, but i also knew it was out of worry, particularly after the above mentioned events leading up to this trip.
I was really happy that they had extended their trip to join, but i knew it was going to also be hard on them, as they were, in essence, doubling their trip distance, and along with it, the setting up and breaking down of camp (which they actually become extremely efficient at!). Being Transkei born and bred though, they showed resilience and embraced the challenges and every part of the journey, which at 63-65 years respectfully, was amazing to watch. My parents are super fun people, always up for adventure, so i had a feeling it would work out that way.
I was in my Trusty Patrol 4.2d N/A Bakkie , rocking my OZtent RV3
My folks took their Trusty Hilux D4D 2.5 turbo Diesel, along with their Howling Moon 3x3 canvas Dome
I tried to persuade my dad to lose the Dome tent as i could get him a BRAND NEW Oztent RV3 for R6000 prior to the trip..... a decision he later humorously regretted.
Final Route looked like this.
Travel from Cape Town to Namibia/Transkei to Namibia
- Ai Ais | Ais Ais Resort Camp Site
- D707 Road | Koiimasis Farm Camp site
- Sossusvlei | Oasis Camp Site
- Usakos | Friends House
- Spitzkoppe | Camp site
- Dinosaur footprints | Farm camp site
- Etosha | Okuakujo Camp site
- Etosha | Halali Camp Site
- Popa Falls | Ngepi Tree House
- Mavunje | Mashi River Camp Site
- Chobe River | Camp Chobe
- Nata | Nata River Lodge Camp Site
- Makgadikgadi Pan | Kubu Island Camp Site
- Maun | Audi Camp Site
- Kang | Kalahari Rest Camp
- Mabuasehube | Entrance Camp site
- Mabuasehube | Bosobogolo Camp site
- Kgalagadi TFP | Matopi 2 Camp Site
- Kgalagadi TFP | Nossob Camp Site
- Kgalagadi TFP | kgalagadi lodge
Travel back to Cape Town
This was my basic set up...
So they left the Transkei and headed for Augrabies Falls and stayed for 2 nights at Kalahari Lodge, which was apparently fantastic.
A day later i left cape town and headed up the west coast road. I spent a night at my Aunties Farm in the Cedarberg, where i left my dog Angus, my Black Labrador. he was happy as a pig in poo, jolling with his old farm dog buddies and Nina, the sheep he knows very well. bloody cute seeing them cuddle up and wonder about together.
The goats had just dropped Kids, so i helped them sort out the babies at the shed, then settled into a nice Whiskey and a lit a Moer of a fire. The dogs came back with half a baboon skull,... so we went and found the jaw... incredible to be so in tact.
Angus on the right,... with the gang,... waiting to go play with the sheep. .... weird, i know. I got up early the next morning and hit the road before the sun came up... it was freezing. I filled up in springbok and hit the border... no worries, got the green light
Crossed the bridge and once i was in Namibia i pulled over to get something from the back. I had also lost reception already, so i just wanted to double check my map. It looked like i had teleported to the fringes of Afghanistan.... i mean.... End of Part 1.