Travel

Other Travels that we have been on (1)

We have been to many places and this is just a summary of these,

2009 - Witsand kalahari

In 2009 we decided to be a little m ore adventurous and we booked to travel to Witsand Kalahari.

This time we were staying in a chalet.

We left Johannesburg and overnight in Vryburg. We booked at a B&B called, Hannekraai. It was a fantastic place, but the lady kept show cockerels, which "Kraaied" from early morning. (we have stayed there on an other 2 occasions and most of the cockerels seem to have gone, its still very nice.)

After a fantastic breakfast we left for Witsand.

The accommodation was superb and we stayed in one of their chalets.

There were some small animals that visited daily. We went along to the "Roaring" dunes (but they did not roar for us).

We also proceeded to a nearby 4x4 trail in the dunes and had a good time driving around there.

The ground squirrel visited every day and was a really friendly fellow.

The Witsand dunes are referred to as the Roaring Sand. This is because they can make a sort of rumbling sound. However, the conditions, temperature and moisture content have to be correct. I've not heard them roaring !

below is a view from the top of the main sand dune. Its quiet a walk up, but we made it.

below is part of a 4x4 track on a nearby farm.

below we are walking down the main sand dune. Coming down was easy !!!

The sand was rather thick on the 4x4 trail. However, we let the tyres down and the Range Rover had no problem at all.

Somabula - 2009

This is a place not very far from Johannesburg and we camped here. There is no electricity, but it is in a game farm. It was a fun weekend.

The girls tent next to the caravan.

Giraffe and buck near the campsite. You are able to drive around the farm.

Fish River Canyon

We tool the Land Rover Discovery and off road trailer and went off to Fish River Canyaon in December of 2009. It really was very hot.

We travelled to a farm stay just outside of Upington, then onto Ais-Ais, up to Canon Road Lodge, onto Aus, then Luderitz and back via Rosh Pinah, a campsite near the Richtersveld (caled Brandkaros which was in need of some maintenance - but I just read on the internet - December 2015 - that it has been taken over by new management and upgraded), Upington and home.

Ar Ais-Ais we were to camp, but it was just much too hot, so "converted" the campsite in to a hotel room with aircon. Camping at Canon road lodge was also not an option and opted for a room there as well. We did camp at Luderitz, which was very nice and cool.

The farm near Upington where we stayed on our way to and from namibia.

The Ai-Ais resort in the Fish River. It really was so hot here !!

The Discovery and off road trailer parked in the parking places under the rooms at the hotel.

leaving Ai-Ais. The roads are all good in Namibia.

We stopped ff at the Canon Road Lodge. We stayed here, in one of their rooms, as well. Was very comfortable. Was wondering if the landy would look like the old truck, after our trip !!

Either the tree or the truck had been in one place for a very long time (or perhaps even both !)

Above, we visited the wild horses on our way to Luderitz. Its amazing how they live together with the Gemsbok and other animals. Some horses were looking sad, but the all seemed healthy.

the road down to Luderitz. Not much around, but loads of sand.

We stopped off at Kolmanskop and its amazing to see the houses in which the mining people used to live ibn. Most of them are full of sand, but I guess that's whet the wind and sand will do.

We camped at the Shark Island campsite in Luderitz. It was much cooler in Luderits and enjoyable. We had heard that the wind can blow gales, however during out time there, we experienced no wind at all.

From Luderitz we traveled via Rosh Pinah where we overnighted in a small hotel. It was fine.
The next day we exited Namibia at the Sendelings Drift pontoon and border post. They even provide life jackets for all travelers and it was mandatory that we put those on. The "trip" across the Orange/Garip river was no problem.

From there we moved onto a small campsite, on a farm near the Orange river.The park was called Brandkaros. The camp site was really nice and there was green grass, shade and electric power points. The only problem was that the farm was/is part of a land claim and is no longer operating. It was a real shame to see the fruit trees just dying, not been watered or looked after. But, thats the way it goes, I suppose. (I was reading up and found some information on the web that the camp has been taken over by new owners/management and is again operating and fine to stay in).

We went for lunch into the small town of Port Nolloth and the restaurant we chose was on the beachfront and called Vespetti. It was really good. This old fishing boat was washed up on the beach.

the Vespetti Restaurant.

We also visited the Augrabies Falls on our way back home. It was 45c when we arrived here, so we did not even walk down to the falls (we have been many times previously). We enjoyed a cold drink and something to eat.

Moholoholo 2010

Easter 2010 and we decided to visit Moholololo. Of cause, it rained !

It rained and was misty basically the entire week-end. But we still managed to get to see some of the local sights and also visit the Kruger. We went along to the rehabilitation center, the cheetah park and Gods window etc.

We caked up the caravan and tent all sopping wet. Had to put them out on the veranda when we got home to dry !

We stayed in what they call the unique caravan park, and I'm still not too sure why it is/was unique. Anyway, it was good fun !

Below is our campsite. The resort is advertised as a "unique"campsite. It was rather unique, I suppose.

This is the view of the vendors from the Three Rondavels view site. There are quiet a few vendors and they mostly sell wooden and stone items.

We also visited a cheetah sanctuary. You are able to "touch" the cheetah (it sits on a table with the handler). It was quiet an experience to be so close to such an animal.