Author Topic: Africa Raw Paws (Read 8591 times)

Hubs640 · « **Reply #40 on:** February 09, 2013, 12:35:25 pm »

Seeheim hotel

Hubs640 · « **Reply #41 on:** February 09, 2013, 12:59:45 pm »

Day 4 - Seeheim to Zaris [ 430km - 95% gravel]

We met this guy [Johan] at the hotel who has traveled extensively himself and told us how to read an Namibian map properly with the C,D and F roads. We then [staying off the beaten track] tried to connect all the D roads in the direction we wanted to go. This led us through some amazing scenery...high peaks that drop off into deep valley's with wild horses running around and goats doing there thing. Through farms that you cannot help but wonder what exactly they are farming with,because there is so little. We reached Bethanie and came across our first Overlander truck - we were looking forward to these and the females they might bring from over see,but this one only had grumpy Germans in. Fueled up en moved on to Helmeringhausen which only has a fuel pump and a hotel and bumped into the same damn truck.From there to Betta we went through the most amazing scenery of mountains and large open plane's. The road had sneaky 'storm water canals' that would appear only on the last minute...traveling at those speeds you have very little chance of braking and all that is left to do is to hold on and hope for the best....I would ramp of the decline and be spat out the other side wondering if my panniers were still intact. We stopped under the only tree for lunch to admire the beautifully nature. After fueling up at Betta we encountered the red devil....red sand that is!Sand is one thing - this red powder is a whole different storie! We originally aimed for Siesriem,but after taking the wrong turn and with the sun going down we settled for a lodge just outside Zaris called Hammerstein[Hammertime]. At first it looked WAY too expensive for us [Our budget was R80 a day for camping] , but after a long day in the saddle and sore arms even a rock would be comfortable. In the end it was not that expensive - we had brandy at the bar and settle for canned food for the night [ we carried enough food for 4 nights...always].The lodge was nice and had Springbuck walking around freely with some leopards and sable behind fences.

Hubs640 · « **Reply #42 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:02:47 pm »

Stunning valley's on the D-roads

Hubs640 · « **Reply #43 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:04:16 pm »

Some more highway's

Hubs640 · « **Reply #44 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:06:17 pm »

Great open spaces

Hubs640 · « **Reply #45 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:08:14 pm »

Picnic with a view - nobody for miles

Hubs640 · « **Reply #46 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:10:01 pm »

Add for the KTM Sable campaign

Hubs640 · « **Reply #47 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:48:59 pm »

Day 5 - Zaris to Swakopmund [410km , 80% gravel]

This was by far one of THE most challenging legs of the trip - fiscally and mentally. We left Hammertime early and by now the confidence level is pretty high,still it takes about 100km in the morning to get there. Our first stop was Solitaire through the Namib Naukluft park - what a beautiful place - this nothingness with its silents is something amazing. From Solitaire the road turned into a daemon...loose gravel with corrugation that will leave dents in your teeth. We later found out that the contracting company to maintain the road has stop doing so and the government does not care. We went through the Gaub and Kuiseb pass,but I failed to see the beauty having such a hard time staying on the road. We met 2 guy's from England that has done the west coast of Africa from the north and now heading south-smoked some siggies together and shared stories while baking in the heat. The corrugation got so hectic that we got separated at a smoke stop - I just wanted to get it over with...bad idea. With the sand being so white it is difficult to see the sand patches and the constant consentration required combined with hanging on to your teeth soon took its toll with a few near oopsies. Then the landscape changed into high dunes and strong winds - this could only mean we were nearing the coast. We road past dune 7 which looked like Kilimountjaro in the distance and then reached Walvisbay.At this point we were both moer-toe....fueled up and did the last stretch to Swakopmund all along the beach. Amazing to see how the dunes rule in this part of the world - it consumes what it wants,period. At Swakop we stopped at the PnP to stock up then found Mile 4 campsite on the far side of town....soon the tents were up and the fire burning and all the wounds licked with a stiff brandy.

Hubs640 · « **Reply #48 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:51:29 pm »

Namib Park

Hubs640 · « **Reply #49 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:54:00 pm »

Lots of dust and open space's

Hubs640 · « **Reply #50 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:57:27 pm »

Making friends allong the road

BiG DoM · « **Reply #51 on:** February 09, 2013, 02:15:23 pm »

Quote from: Hubs640 on February 09, 2013, 01:48:59 pm

Day 5 - Zaris to Swakopmund [410km , 80% gravel]

This was by far one of THE most challenging legs of the trip - fiscally and mentally. We left Hammertime early and by now the confidence level is pretty high,still it takes about 100km in the morning to get there.

I am sure you mean 'physically and mentally '(you also spoke earlier fiscal fitness) = fiscal means butgetry finance. Sorry not to nit pick your english but it raised a question that I think would be great if you also tell us how much this trippie cost and alerts to rip-offs and where one can save bucks. Lekker RR so far guys

Hubs640 · « **Reply #52 on:** February 09, 2013, 06:28:20 pm »

Day 6 - Swakopmund

Our first off day was spent checking the bikes over and giving them some TLC like needed fresh air filters - these dusty roads really had their toll on them.We both had steal sprockets and golden x-ring chains on which we sprayed every day. We took tools and links with in case it would ever brake[never needed it] and other spares included oil,filters, spark plugs and even wheel bearings with a press Roadkill made that also acts as a jack.
The luggage rack were surprisingly intact and the WP suspension solid.
For the rest of the day we tried to fish [unsuksessfully] , did some washing and through more meat on the braai. Our route was never defined - we would discuss it over a cup of coffee in the morning,have a outs-so-easy and off we went.

Hubs640 · « **Reply #53 on:** February 09, 2013, 08:08:26 pm »

Mile 4 camp site - apparently full during December. Now it looks like a graveyard

Hubs640 · « **Reply #54 on:** February 09, 2013, 08:10:40 pm »

Out fishing

Hubs640 · « **Reply #55 on:** February 09, 2013, 08:25:14 pm »

Day 7 - Swakopmund to Outjo [530km , 90% gravel]

We headed north towards Hentiesbaai on a road almost as hard as tar and then followed the C35 to Uis where we fueled up again. Its a long boring road,but it felt nice to get out of the desert. From Uis we tried a D road [short cut] to Outjo which led us to a gate...locked with no key and no way around. The landscape has changed to something you would see in Sun City with fun curved roads.We then took a 100km detour which lead us through a game farm to Kalkfeld. We probably open and closed about 20 gates over 40km....damn irritating,but at least there were some wild life. And again both maps were wrong - no fuel at Kalkfeld,so we had to push on.It started getting dark and bodies were sore,so we found a safari camp [Sasa Safari] just 20 km short of Outjo and pulled in there for the night. They were full,but after some flirting with the gay host we even got cold beer!

Hubs640 · « **Reply #56 on:** February 09, 2013, 08:27:59 pm »

Henties

Hubs640 · « **Reply #57 on:** February 09, 2013, 08:30:23 pm »

Another pit stop from the heat

Hubs640 · « **Reply #58 on:** February 09, 2013, 08:39:21 pm »

View from Sasa Safari bar

Hubs640 · « **Reply #59 on:** February 09, 2013, 08:52:46 pm »

Day 8 - Outjo to Tsumeb [ 270km , 85% gravel]

The day started late due to the sore bodies of the previous day - I saw buck eating but 50 meter from where we camped as we left. In Outjo we stopped for petrol - its a big touristic town,but the people are becoming more friendly the further north we go and Rand is still excepted everywhere,so is Afrikaans. With more greenery along the road comes more bugs and baboons crossing the road as the peaks start rising next the road. The roads were nice and scraped often so we could manage a decent speed. We went through Otavi till we got to the industrial town call Tsumeb. There we found a Dros...amazing,exactly like in SA,but this one had a fancy camp site attached to it with a Olympic size swimming pool! We stayed for the night and I had a chance to give some attention to a slow puncture on the front....first of the trip and it was not even my fault!