Namaqua - Flowers - August 2014
We had long wanted to go and see the flowers of Namaqualand. We had tried once previously when we needed to travel during the school holidays and had missed the best of them. So, in 2014 we decided we would go back, but this time at the correct time of year, we hoped.
So we planned a trip, camping, in August 2014.
Our trip was to be from Johannesburg, thorough Keimoes, Riemvasmaak, and onto Springbok. We planned to progress down the west coast a little, but had some car trouble which shortened our trip (more about that later).
On this trip we were using our Ssangyong Rexton and off-road trailer.
The first day was from Johannesburg to Keimoes. This is a rather long stretch and we had a good day. We arrived at our campsite in keimoes, right on the Orange River.
This was to be our base for a couple of nights. We had decided to have a look at Riemvasmaak and traveled there on one of the days. Its not a very long trip, with most of the road being dirt.
I had heard and read so much about this place that I was looking forward to the trip. We were not disappointing. The scenery is fantastic and there are a couple of 4x4 trails in the area. However, the Rexton is a little low, so we did not tackle any of the trails. We did go down to the hot springs and for a short walk in the area. The Molopo river runs through the gorge and there was some water in the river. There were also some reeds and nice green foliage.
The following day we traveled to Augrabies. It was quiet warm there, and we had a short walk down to the falls. However, having visited here many times in the past, we did not linger long.
The following day we traveled to Augrabies. It was quiet warm there, and we had a short walk down to the falls. However, having visited here many times in the past, we did not linger long.
From Keimoes we traveled across to Springbok. Springbok was to be our base for the flower viewing.
We were about 60km's out of Springbok when the vehicle died. I was driving at about 100km per hour and all the dials went out, and the engine cut out. I was forced to stop. Once stopped I tried to start the vehicle again, and it did. We limped into Springbok. The local auto electrician found that the alternator had blown a few bearings. This took 2 days to repair.
Once repaired, we were able to drive around and see the flowers.
We had decided not to book at the popular parks and chose a smaller one called Namastad. The park was not busy. We first of all tried to get the off-road trailer onto a grassed site, but it was not suitable. We decided on a nice level site under a few trees. This was perfect for us. We found the ablutions very clean and the water nice and hot. There was electricity as well.
We were about 60km's out of Springbok when the vehicle died. I was driving at about 100km per hour and all the dials went out, and the engine cut out. I was forced to stop. Once stopped I tried to start the vehicle again, and it did. We limped into Springbok. The local auto electrician found that the alternator had blown a few bearings. This took 2 days to repair.
Once repaired, we were able to drive around and see the flowers.
We had decided not to book at the popular parks and chose a smaller one called Namastad. The park was not busy. We first of all tried to get the off-road trailer onto a grassed site, but it was not suitable. We decided on a nice level site under a few trees. This was perfect for us. We found the ablutions very clean and the water nice and hot. There was electricity as well.
We found the best flower viewing just outside Springbok.
Of cause we also visited the Namaqua National park. This was an amazing site. We went back a few times.
We also drove on some side dirt roads and these were very quiet. We stopped and looked at the flowers and had a relaxing time.
We even found a local farmers wife selling pancakes on the side of the road. We stopped and enjoyed a few.
One of the days we had read that the drive to the sea was a good sightseeing drive. We selected to drive from Springbok to Kleinsee, then onto Honderklip Bay, Garies and back to Springbok.
The roads are all mainly gravel and in a shocking condition. We also did not see many flowers at all.
Kleinsee is not worth visiting, everything has closed down and the village is like a ghost town.
On our travels we also had problems with the Rexton, again. This time it was the turbo, where a pipe kept blowing off. I had the necessary tools, but could not get the clamp tight enough, so every few kilometers we had to stop and reconnect the turbo pipe.
I obtained a piece of steel pipe and fixed the problem. The next few days, it did not blow off again.
Our trip was then from Springbok down to a place near Clanwilliam. We only made it as far as Kammieskroon before the turbo pipe blew off again. We unhitched the trailer and left it at a coffee shop in Kamieskroon and headed back to Springbok. We found a friendly fellw who cut a piece of steel pipe and fixed our problem.
However, I was not happy to travel the remainder of our trip, some places being remote, dirt roads and from Clanwilliam through Putsonderwater onto Witsand Kalahari and then home.
So we made a decision to fetch the trailer from Kammieskroon, spend the night back at a B&B in Springbok and head home.
We traveled back through Keimoes, again, and this time stayed at a self catering chalet, which was very nice.
The trip home was uneventful.
On returning home, though, I went along to the service agents of Ssangyong. There were not at all helpful and said that I could not get parts for the vehicle. They did say, however, that if I bought a new one they would guarantee parts for the new vehicles. That made absolutely no sense to me, as the new vehicles are basically, mechanically, the same.
So I sold the Ssangyong Rexton and bought a Chevrolet Trailblazer. Wow, what a fantastic vehicle and you can feel the difference.
Thanks Ssangyong !
Of cause we also visited the Namaqua National park. This was an amazing site. We went back a few times.
We also drove on some side dirt roads and these were very quiet. We stopped and looked at the flowers and had a relaxing time.
We even found a local farmers wife selling pancakes on the side of the road. We stopped and enjoyed a few.
One of the days we had read that the drive to the sea was a good sightseeing drive. We selected to drive from Springbok to Kleinsee, then onto Honderklip Bay, Garies and back to Springbok.
The roads are all mainly gravel and in a shocking condition. We also did not see many flowers at all.
Kleinsee is not worth visiting, everything has closed down and the village is like a ghost town.
On our travels we also had problems with the Rexton, again. This time it was the turbo, where a pipe kept blowing off. I had the necessary tools, but could not get the clamp tight enough, so every few kilometers we had to stop and reconnect the turbo pipe.
I obtained a piece of steel pipe and fixed the problem. The next few days, it did not blow off again.
Our trip was then from Springbok down to a place near Clanwilliam. We only made it as far as Kammieskroon before the turbo pipe blew off again. We unhitched the trailer and left it at a coffee shop in Kamieskroon and headed back to Springbok. We found a friendly fellw who cut a piece of steel pipe and fixed our problem.
However, I was not happy to travel the remainder of our trip, some places being remote, dirt roads and from Clanwilliam through Putsonderwater onto Witsand Kalahari and then home.
So we made a decision to fetch the trailer from Kammieskroon, spend the night back at a B&B in Springbok and head home.
We traveled back through Keimoes, again, and this time stayed at a self catering chalet, which was very nice.
The trip home was uneventful.
On returning home, though, I went along to the service agents of Ssangyong. There were not at all helpful and said that I could not get parts for the vehicle. They did say, however, that if I bought a new one they would guarantee parts for the new vehicles. That made absolutely no sense to me, as the new vehicles are basically, mechanically, the same.
So I sold the Ssangyong Rexton and bought a Chevrolet Trailblazer. Wow, what a fantastic vehicle and you can feel the difference.
Thanks Ssangyong !
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