Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

2019/08/10 - Riemvasmaak to Redsands

Distance: 385km
Moving Time: 4 hours, 13 minutes.
Stopped Time: 55 minutes.
Woke up in Riemvasmaak to the sound of a massive baboon barking. Very impressive hearing that echo through the kloof. Did not see the babboons, but they must have been very close.

Had coffee, broke camp and headed back out. Route I followed out of Riemvasmaak this time was through Riemvasmaak itself, on the gravel road that links up with the N14 just East of Kakamas. Reinflated my tyres just before the tar road at Lutzburg, collected family of a friend who needed a lift to Pretora and had a very quick chat with Forum member Jan Van Wyk there. After this, I crusied along the N14 until Redsands. Overnighted in Kuruman and had dinner at the restaurant there which is always fantastic.

2019/08/11 - Redsands to Pretoria to Brits

Distance: 660km
Moving Time: 6 hours, 57 minutes.
Stopped Time: 3 hours, 21 minutes.
No photos for this day, as I was driving hard to get back home. Was required to clock in on-site with a new project the following day, and I had to sort of get my life sorted out.

Not much I can say about the road back. It was quieter than I expected, being the end of a long weekend at any rate. Traffic only picked up in Ventersdorp.

Anyways, refuelled just outside Vryburg, after which I followed the generic N14 all the way to Pretoria. Dropped off my passenger and took the N1 / N4 to Brits. Put in my final tank of fuel there so that I could work out my trip stats (ie: I left with a full tank, and I returned with a full one). And then I headed home, unpacked and real life started again. Still very sad about that.... :(

A few final thoughts before I put this story to bed.

1: I absolutely loved this trip. It's checked a bunch of bucket-list items for me and I've seen so much interesting stuff.
2: A few things I would probably do differently. One is to try and see less. Seriously, I sort of blew my mind with everything I saw and I've still not got around to processing some of it all. It's just been a complete overload.
3: A number of people have told me I'm mad spending that much on petrol and similar. Seriously ? I'd do it again in a heartbeat for this experience.
4: A number of people have told me I'm mad because of my vehicle's petrol consumption. Seriously ? My truck ran 5639 kilometres and didn't skip a beat. Water used ? None. Oil used ? None. Power steering fluid had to be topped up by a squidgen in Luderitz. Petrol used ? A lot, but that is my worry.
5: I was always very indifferent about the whole indeflate tyre inflation / deflation system. However, watching my father operate one quite recently on another trip, I was impressed and decided to try it out on this trip. My verdict ? It works super ueber well, which was great considering the number of times I stopped to adjust pressures during this trip.

Anyways, that's me done. Thanks for reading.

.... well done !!

Nice report Ian. Sounds like it was a great trip!

Bre wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019 15:15 Nice report Ian. Sounds like it was a great trip!

Thanks. It was epic. Still battling to adjust to real life again... :(

Brilliant Ian, thanks for this. Really helps others for future planning.

My friend and I left Left TR in Kgalagadi on the 10th but we headed down to Williston and he went off to Redsands. He told me he had seen a Patrol camping there that night, mustve been you. He was in a P38 Rangie

JTEC wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019 16:17 Brilliant Ian, thanks for this. Really helps others for future planning.

My friend and I left Left TR in Kgalagadi on the 10th but we headed down to Williston and he went off to Redsands. He told me he had seen a Patrol camping there that night, mustve been you. He was in a P38 Rangie

Could very likely have been me. I saw a white P38 leaving Redsands. In fact, I think I left right behind him. I did not camp at Red Sands though - I normally grab a chalet there as I'm sort of between places.

If it was a metallic green, very, very dirty Patrol with RTT and stuff on the roof rack, that would have been me.

Awesome Ian, what a trip and you have a good eye, some great pics
Happen to be at Red Sands tonight (braai night).

Wow Ian!
I'm soooo jealous but so glad you had a great trip and that your are back home safely.
This whole trip is Graham's bucket list to do, so maybe one day we will come back to this great report for ourselves.
But for now, work hard to get ready for the next adventure!
Chow for now.
Van

Thanks Ian, this is a lovely trip report!