Author Topic: NAMIBIA (AS NEVER SEEN BEFORE) - ON THE ROAD AGAIN (MAPS NOW ATTACHED) (Read 25370 times)

Vis Arend · « **on:** May 02, 2011, 12:04:09 pm »

NAMIBIA – ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Who will be going   -   My wife and I
Mode of transport   -   Yamaha Super Tenere
Destination      -   Namibia, as far north as possible, Epupa falls will be the ultimate.
Duration of trip      -   21 days, planned to leave on 9 April and have to be back on the 30th of April

Before I start, I’m writing this ride report in English, so please bear with my grammar and language. Spelling will be corrected where possible.

Where do one start, well let’s start at home. We were planning a Namibian trip for May/June 2011. Due to work commitments, my leave was brought forward to April. So the Namibia trip were sooner on, so less planning could be done and all of a sudden everything happened in fast forward mode.
Our initial plan (30 days) was to do the western side of Namibia all the way up to Epupa falls and then down the eastern side, through to the Kalahari. Because of the fewer days at our disposal, we decided to see how far we could get and we had no real plan on where to be or to sleep on a specific day.
Luck was on our side as we could leave on the 8th of April instead of the 9th. We wanted to get to Namibia as soon as possible, so my RR will be concentrated more towards the Namibian side.
Most of the photo’s in this report were taken in ride by my wife. Some pictures were taken backwards.

So let’s see how far we got.

Day 1 King William’s Town to Jeffreys Bay – Visit parents.

This needed to be packed

Packed

Starting kilometres

Ready as can be

Namibia map

Still clean and shinny

Even the boots

Getting the feeling

Do we know what is lying ahead?

Yipee, first gravel for the trip (picture taken backwards).

Karl Landman monument.

See the difference in travel modes. Ox wagons vs motor bikes. How privileged we are.

Our trip started muddy

First almost “oopsie”

Barkley bridge between Addo and Sundays river

The famous (for the wrong reasons) Van Stadens bridge

Gamtoos bridge

This is where we slept the 1st night, my parents house, had lekka pork belly, roast potatoes and veggies.

ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2011, 12:10:55 pm »

Sien BAIE uit na die res van die RR.

Sprocketbek · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2011, 12:11:21 pm »

Lekker. Can't wait for the rest.

Tweets · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2011, 01:14:24 pm »

How I envy yu guys. Have a great and safe journey. We'll follow your reports

Would I? · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2011, 02:11:18 pm »

Looking forward to this. We were supposed to have arrived back today.

Had to delay our trip......

Laban · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2011, 02:19:37 pm »

Gooi die portrette Vis Arend, gooi!!

Vis Arend · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2011, 02:48:19 pm »

Die portrette is oppad, sukkel so bietjie, maar sal regkom.

Quote from: Would I? on May 02, 2011, 02:11:18 pm

Looking forward to this. We were supposed to have arrived back today. Had to delay our trip......

You missed out big time, Namibia is the best I ever seen it.

Vis Arend · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2011, 04:31:44 pm »

DAY 2 JEFFREYS BAY TO FRASERSBURG VIA SWARTBERG

Although we wanted to get to Namibia as soon as possible, we set Frazersburg via Swartberg as our target for the day. Swartberg is one of my favourites and I did not want to miss it.
Leaving Jeffreys early morning.

Just before the turnoff to the Langkloof I was caught speeding, 143km in a 120km zone, friendly guys made me R200-00 poorer.

Langkloof

Our head gear with communication system attached

Before the turnoff to Oudshoorn

Looking at the Swartberg, one of my faviroutes

Heading up the Swartberg, let the pictures talk for themself

Die Top

If we knew what laid ahead, we were getting news that Namibia had the worst rains ever, roads were washed away and river were flowing. Ja, ja , ja, it can’t be that bad.

Mussel fossils embedded in the rock in the Swartberg

A fellow biker told me once that this is Gods headquarters. I agree.

Going down

Prins Alberweg Sation

Goods shed

Sad to see this on your route

Settling in

Evidence of heavy rains in the area

Teekloofpas

Ducks at our self catering cottage in Frasersburg

Karoo tjops to end the day

Pieter Willering · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2011, 04:37:45 pm »

Well done - looking forward to the rest

Heimer · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2011, 04:56:25 pm »

Maak my lus.

Ek wag vir nog.

JMOL · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2011, 06:11:52 pm »

Nee man - waar's jy nou

Kan nie wag vir die res . . .

Gee S · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2011, 07:41:50 pm »

Nice! Ons wag in spanning vir die res.

Cave Girl · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2011, 08:37:13 pm »

some beautiful pic's

looking forward to the rest

hayleyscomet · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2011, 09:46:14 am »

Well done Guys ...look fwd to the rest of the trip and photos

Be safe

Poenjas · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2011, 10:37:58 am »

Lekker ene wag self vir nog

Vis Arend · « **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2011, 12:55:22 pm »

DAY 3 FRAZERSBURG TO SPRINGBOK

Springbok or Vioolsdrift were set as our target, depending on time spent on route. It would be a long haul with most on tar, so we started with first light.

This peacock were my alarm and we were early up packing

Just the thing to start the day, coffee, tea and rusks

Church in Frasersburg

Notice the peacock feather, this became our good luck charm

Early morning shadows

Dirt on the wheels, I like

Close to Williston, I was checking the sheep out, thinking of the “skaapkop gulde” later this month.

On route to Calvinia

Vanrhynspass

Brunch at Vanrhynsdorp, and it was boiling hot

The more, the merrier

On the way to Gharies/ Springbok, it was 42 degrees celsius

Then we passed this guy with his Vespa scooter, dog and a trailer. We greeted and carried on.

More scenery on route

We decided to stop in Springbok, bought some meat and wood and settled for a night at Springbok caravan park. The flies were plenty full, they didn’t even went to sleep.

Then the guy with his Vespa, dog and trailer dropped in. His name is Des Pistroruis and he was busy with an epic Vespa redline tour. He was planning to cover some 6500km in 40 days.

And then we had a lovely braai, flies and all.

Vis Arend · « **Reply #16 on:** May 03, 2011, 12:58:11 pm »

Namibia next, then the fun starts.

Bergie · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2011, 01:06:30 pm »

"Then the guy with his Vespa, dog and trailer dropped in. His name is Des Pistroruis and he was busy with an epic Vespa redline tour. He was planning to cover some 6500km in 40 days."

This guy was in a big accident last year on the way back from the Buff, sadly his pillion was killed, same dog was with in in that accident, apparently on his Goldwing that has more than 1 000 000 km's on it.

IRISH · « **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2011, 01:13:17 pm »

Mooi Visarend. Beautiful pictures as always. I am always impressed by bikers who have NEAT luggage. You get top honours. Des Pistorious is in his seventies now and still biking. Looking forward to the rest.
Ride safely.

RobC · « **Reply #19 on:** May 03, 2011, 01:14:37 pm »

Waiting for the rest in anticipation!