Brandy without Coke, Cheap cigarettes and being footloose in Ovahimba land

[bud500]

My pub wishlist het nou n paar updates gekry....

[punisher]

ohhhhh to be fit .......... and nimble enough to do this .......................

[P.K.]

ohhhhh to be fit .......... and nimble enough to do this .......................

Your profile says you are 55...where`s the problem?

"ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA"

[Knucklhead]

mmmmmm this looks befange , following with keen interest..

[Hardy de Kock]

ohhhhh to be fit .......... and nimble enough to do this .......................

You might just surprise yourself

[Tom van Brits]

Sounds like an awesome adventure to be had. Maybe one day!

[10Klr]

Business and finance have no place on this thread, but if Hardy could send me a message with a ballpark figure for an adventure like this it would help me set a target 

Definitely bucket list trip!!!!   Thanks for all the information, it really does give so much insight, and with characters described I am sure this will be a legendary trip    Following with a twinge of jealousy

[10Klr]

Thanks Hardy 

Given a glimpse so far of the amount of effort that goes into this, it's definitely worth it and a lot of ppl are closer to achieving one of their bucket list items than what they think!

[Hardy de Kock]

The purpose of the first part of the ride report is for exactly that - giving the readers a different perspective of what goes into the planning (and execution of a tour of this magnitude). I do understand that some might find the details boring and tedious, and that most readers prefer to just get on the bikes and ride. Unfortunately, as a operator, it simply does not work like that. People are spending big money and most will only do something like this once. Making sure that they have the best possible opportunity to have a great time and to get their money's worth is crucial, given where the tour is held.

The actual report will be a lot more light-hearted - I promise.

[10Klr]

I think the detail helps a lot of people get more interested in going with a tour operator.

By the looks of it you have an outstanding crew and i love a good back story! 

I have no doubt the ride section will be off the charts.   Keeps me going whilst stuck at work for sure. 

[Hardy de Kock]

Covid tests - and the logistical nightmares it brings.

The impact of Covid on the tourism industry was devastating and it continues to be.
Camps and hotels who took bookings for 2020 and never saw those guests because of lockdown,  now require fully paid bookings only, and it seems as if everyone is trying to recover from 2020 losses, by increasing their prices substantially. This of course results in operators requiring the same from their customers, which in return results in a much lower number of bookings.
No one knows when Kopdoek & co decides to close borders again and you never really know if you will get your deposit back until the situation presents itself.

Covis protocol at the borders is just as tedious and with the new rules in place it becomes a costly affair.
The fly in guests will have to present a negative covid test at the border that was done less than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Windhoek.
Our team rives up and we obviously have to do the same.
Now - given that we are based in Loxton, we have to drive the 350km to George, get tested, turn around, drive back to Loxton, finish the packing, and re-strapping of the clients bikes, before we head of to Upington (500km) and from there another 100km to the Nakop border.
Remember that the tests have to be less than 72 hours old.
Someone like Oubones who drives all the way up from Durban to Loxton will have a tough time making all of this work with this 72 hour deadline.
We found out that there is a PathCare clinic in Upington that can do the testing, BUT.... They send the tests to Cape Town for analysis, and it might take up to 4 days to get the results back - 

This will be an interesting challenge.

[Knucklhead]

Thanks Hardy 

Given a glimpse so far of the amount of effort that goes into this, it's definitely worth it and a lot of ppl are closer to achieving one of their bucket list items than what they think!

if you can post the target cost here too?

[onderbroek]

Sub

My moontlike voorland

[big oil]

Is posting cost wise?  With prices fluctuating and increasing rapidly, tour cost may be much different month to month or 12 months down the road from today. 

[m0lt3n]

Covid tests - and the logistical nightmares it brings.

The impact of Covid on the tourism industry was devastating and it continues to be.
Camps and hotels who took bookings for 2020 and never saw those guests because of lockdown,  now require fully paid bookings only, and it seems as if everyone is trying to recover from 2020 losses, by increasing their prices substantially. This of course results in operators requiring the same from their customers, which in return results in a much lower number of bookings.
No one knows when Kopdoek & co decides to close borders again and you never really know if you will get your deposit back until the situation presents itself.

Covis protocol at the borders is just as tedious and with the new rules in place it becomes a costly affair.
The fly in guests will have to present a negative covid test at the border that was done less than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Windhoek.
Our team rives up and we obviously have to do the same.
Now - given that we are based in Loxton, we have to drive the 350km to George, get tested, turn around, drive back to Loxton, finish the packing, and re-strapping of the clients bikes, before we head of to Upington (500km) and from there another 100km to the Nakop border.
Remember that the tests have to be less than 72 hours old.
Someone like Oubones who drives all the way up from Durban to Loxton will have a tough time making all of this work with this 72 hour deadline.
We found out that there is a PathCare clinic in Upington that can do the testing, BUT.... They send the tests to Cape Town for analysis, and it might take up to 4 days to get the results back - 

This will be an interesting challenge.

maybe find out if you can have it done in Kathu.
Our pathcare lab is here in town, most  guys get their results the same day.

But I am a privilidged employee, you will have to follow up on that as a private individual. (Kathu is 2hrs beyond Upington)

[m0lt3n]

Hardy could you also send me the typical costs to join?

And whoever wants to pull out, need to start planning that now, time is getting short to tag the bench/keyboard warrior dreamers

[Hardy de Kock]

Covid tests - and the logistical nightmares it brings.

The impact of Covid on the tourism industry was devastating and it continues to be.
Camps and hotels who took bookings for 2020 and never saw those guests because of lockdown,  now require fully paid bookings only, and it seems as if everyone is trying to recover from 2020 losses, by increasing their prices substantially. This of course results in operators requiring the same from their customers, which in return results in a much lower number of bookings.
No one knows when Kopdoek & co decides to close borders again and you never really know if you will get your deposit back until the situation presents itself.

Covis protocol at the borders is just as tedious and with the new rules in place it becomes a costly affair.
The fly in guests will have to present a negative covid test at the border that was done less than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Windhoek.
Our team rives up and we obviously have to do the same.
Now - given that we are based in Loxton, we have to drive the 350km to George, get tested, turn around, drive back to Loxton, finish the packing, and re-strapping of the clients bikes, before we head of to Upington (500km) and from there another 100km to the Nakop border.
Remember that the tests have to be less than 72 hours old.
Someone like Oubones who drives all the way up from Durban to Loxton will have a tough time making all of this work with this 72 hour deadline.
We found out that there is a PathCare clinic in Upington that can do the testing, BUT.... They send the tests to Cape Town for analysis, and it might take up to 4 days to get the results back - 

This will be an interesting challenge.

maybe find out if you can have it done in Kathu.
Our pathcare lab is here in town, most  guys get their results the same day.

But I am a privilidged employee, you will have to follow up on that as a private individual. (Kathu is 2hrs beyond Upington)

Thanks Molten - Do the do the analysis in Kathu?
From what I understand all the NC test labs send it to Cape Town?
If that is the case it would really help.

[m0lt3n]

yes, analyses in Kathu.

The mine actually have a PCR machine, that thing testing the antibodies. But dont see that being used or authorised for something like this.

I managed to get a quick test kit the other day from a nurse. Result within an hour, but also dont know if that will be available for private use or even accepted at the border.
I would say google and give them a call. net nou jok ek hier

[Hardy de Kock]

yes, analyses in Kathu.

The mine actually have a PCR machine, that thing testing the antibodies. But dont see that being used or authorised for something like this.

I managed to get a quick test kit the other day from a nurse. Result within an hour, but also dont know if that will be available for private use or even accepted at the border.
I would say google and give them a call. net nou jok ek hier

Yep - Namibia does not accept quick testing. Will phone them tomorrow.
MetalJockey just told me a girl from his office phoned Ariamsvkei (Namibia side of Nakop) and they told her that they accept 7 day prior to arrival tests??
Will phone and confirm tomorrow. 
Thanks for the advice - much appreciated

[Hardy de Kock]

yes, analyses in Kathu.

The mine actually have a PCR machine, that thing testing the antibodies. But dont see that being used or authorised for something like this.

I managed to get a quick test kit the other day from a nurse. Result within an hour, but also dont know if that will be available for private use or even accepted at the border.
I would say google and give them a call. net nou jok ek hier

Yep - Namibia does not accept quick testing. Will phone them tomorrow.
MetalJockey just told me a girl from his office phoned Ariamsvkei (Namibia side of Nakop) and they told her that they accept 7 day prior to arrival tests??
Will phone and confirm tomorrow. 
Thanks for the advice - much appreciated

I received a message from @Rickus two days ago - with all the right onformation for crossing the border into and out of Namibia. Thanks Rickus.
Our logistics will now be a lot easier than we thought.