johang
Race Dog
In February 2008 Michael Steyn sent out and email to the Africa Twin email Group asking for participants in a â??recceâ? tour to Botswana. That is how it all started. Now six months later the trip to Botswana realised and what a memorable trip it was. On the way back Heine Engelbrecht asked what the most outstanding moment of the trip was, but more of that laterâ?¦
O, and if you wonder what TUKUVIC stands for:
TU: Tuli block.
KU: Kubu island.
Vic: Victoria falls.
The build up to trip was full of mixed emotions as the few weeks before the trip was full of pressures at work, dampening the excitement a bit and then the Friday night before the trip was here.
I was lucky to be able to do the trip on one of the Honda Adventure Academyâ??s bikes, a XL700V TransAlp (thanxs Heine). These bikes are very specialised and specifically build for the African countries and therefore had to be trailered to the borderâ?¦ (hahahahaha) just joking, it provided a more cost effective way of travelling and we also had to come back a bit earlier, so it made sense.
DAY1: SATURDAY - 20 SEPTEMBER 2008
Bikes on trailer (later we added a KTM for colour scheme)
We left Saturday morning at about 08:00 (20 Sep 2008). The trip took us past Vaalwater where we had brunch and then to Ellisras where we met up with the rest of the group. The group were:
* Honda Africa Twin (x2): Dave and Rudi.
* Honda TransAlp (x3): Johan (me), Heine, Craig and Tammy.
* KTM 640 (x1): Hein
* Kawa KLR 650 (x2): Kobus, Brain and Annelie.
* BMW GS1200 (x1): Monty.
* BMW GS800 (x1): Hardey.
* Land Cruiser with trailer: Michael ) â?? this became the sharing vehicle.
That afternoon, after a long struggle with importing the bikes at Maartinsdrift we left the car and trailer at Kwa Nokeng and set off to Stevensford Game Reserve about 20km away. This would be our base for Saturday and Sunday night. The first evening was about meeting each other and this is one of the key aspects of a trip, meeting people and making some good friends.
Campsite at Stevensford Game Reserve next to the river.
DAY2: SUNDAY - 21 SEPTEMBER 2008
Sunday saw us leaving for the Tuli block. It was a good trip with a â??softâ? introduction into what was awaiting us in terms of dirt roads and sand. The road was in good condition and we could achieve some high speeds until we realised that this was actually very risky with the amount of antelope and other animals crossing the roads.
At the veterinary control points we waited for the whole group to regroup before we took off again.
Otherside Platjan Border Post I was leading the group and suddenly realised I was all on my own. Turned back and found Craig and Michael busy trying to remove a wire from the rear wheel of the one TransAlp's Craig was riding. Luckily Craig and Tammy did not go down in the process and neither did their legs get hurt by the wire.
Removing a wire from the back wheel of the TransAlp.
Passed through the Motloutsie river at about 13:30. Saw lost of antelope on the way.
Hardey passing through the river.
Other side the river is where we saw all the elephant, and some close to the river.
Rudi next to his bike getting ready to take pictures. The amount of photos taken on this group could make anyone belive that we were actually a japanese tour group.
My trusty TransAlp in view of the elephants.
On the way back we passed close to six rhinos close to the road, what an unbelievable sight. They just look so majestic in the wild!
Near the Zanzibar border post we started running out of fuel with the TransAlps, with some 60kmâ??s to the camp site. We had to wait for the back-up vehicle to share 20l of fuel between the three TransAlps. This is one of the major drawbacks of a small fuel reach. At the turn-off to Zanzibar we waited for the other bikes to catch up and also enjoyed a lunch at the Oasis Lodge.
Hein, Hardey and Michael taking a break.
DAY 3: MONDAY - 22 SEPTEMBER 2008
It was Tammyâ??s birthday and she was surprised with a cake and candles (candles did not burn as the wind in the parking area at Serowe was too strong)â?¦
Tammy, the birthday girl
Tammy and Hein (the soon to be birthday boy)
After stocking up at Serowe we left for Letlhakane where we fuelled up a last time before heading for Kubu Island. We deflated the tyres after a hard corrugated and dry dusty road at Mmatshumo. We expected lots of sand, but were surprised to find more rocky roads and were a bit concerned about the low tyre pressures. And then the first part of the Makgadigadi pans met us. Between the 10 bikes we had 1 puncture from here towards Gweta that could have been an impact puncture, tyre pressures at 1.2 bar.
Heine arriving at the pans
The first six bikes arriving in the pans (Left to Right Kobus, Craig, Hein, Rudi and Heine)
And then it was time to enjoy the flats of the pan, what better than some speeding and wheelying
The whole group on the pans (Left to Right Monty, Johan Heine, Hardey, Hein, Michael, Annelie, Dave, Kobus, Tammy, Rudi, and Craig) â?? Brian taking the picture
Some direction boards to Kubu Island
Hardey at some â??mock??â? graves just before Kubu Island
The final stretch of road before Kubu Island (Hardey on the GS800)
The campsite at Kubu Isalnd
Sunset at Kubu Island
DAY 4: TUESDAY - 23 SEPTEMBER 2008
We left early for Chapmanâ??s Baobab on the way to Gweta. We were told by at least two parties not to take this route so we listened to ourselves and took it. This was one of the highlights of the trip. Worth doing, but could be risky and definitely very tiring.
Thorn bushes will grab anything on a pannier, specifically a tent.
The road next to the fence that I have always dreamt about.
Then the TransAlp got stuck in a deep track, coverer by â??tulcumâ? power, took my feet off and nearly through me over the handbars.
A cow left in the pans whilst the others continue
Arriving at Chapmanâ??s Baobab, what a majestic tree
Tammy enjoying some melted jelly babies, but the heat had a different idea
The road is filled with deep tracks covered by â??tulcum powederyâ? stuff as Craig found out
Rudi with Annelie on the back, as smooth as ever (Brianâ??s bike had a broken gear lever and was relying on a vice grip to change into second. Once set he had to take off and keep it in second, most of the way from Chapmans to Gweto, thus Annelie with Rudi)
Then the real roads started between Chapmanâ??s baobab and Gweta â?? Craig on the TransAlp
Hein showing us how it is done on the lighter (race) bike
DAY 5: WEDNEDAY - 24 SEPTEMBER 2008
At Gweta we slept over and filled up the next day for Victoria Falls
Just outside Gweta on route to Nata is this well known land mark
Monty and Tammy in the Cruiser, both due to injuries and even the Cruiser was not comfortable
And eventually it was Heinâ??s birthday, unfortunately Nata did not have a proper cake and he had to settle for some packet biscuits (Heine and Hein)
Brian and Annelie reunited on the trusty KLR
About 40km outside Nata towards Pandamatenga the road deteriorated and provided for some interesting riding with the locals owning both sides of the road at any time that the wish
Doing the border post thing at Pandamatenga. The Bots side was a breeze but the Zim side took long with all the paper work and all the officials. We paid road tax and carbon tax. They only accept foreign currency. We paid R120.00 or P90.00 for all the taxes. Dave with his British passport had to pay U$70.00, they really mean to get the British back
From here we took the dusty road towards Vic Falls. A large area was burned out and still burning when we got close to Vic Falls.
Our second puncture for the trip, the one in the Makgadigadi pans and the other on this road towards Vic Falls. Kobus and Heine busy fixing the tyre. Lesson learned, do not assume it is an impact puncture.
It was already dark when we arrived at the tar road, about 35km from Vic Falls. We ended up in a road block, wanted all our details for the bikes and see licenses but did not have any lights at the road block, eventually they let us go.
Arriving at Vic Falls camping site where we would spend the next day.
DAY 6: THURSDAY â?? 25 SEPTEMBER 2008
Dave having a late morning
Having â??sellersâ? swarming the campsite is normal as everyone is trying to sell something
Kobus and Monty doing some maintenance. Kobus had a trip planned for the next day from Vic Falls to Gaberone
Otherwise, this was a day for relaxing with the first activity a gin and cup of tea at the old Victorian hotel. About P70.00 for a gin, cup of tea and a scone, but worth the experience.
Brian and Annelie doing some site seeing
Awaiting the gin, tea and scones
Rudi enjoying the luxury of the Victoria Falls Hotel
Craig on the way towards the bridge for our bundgy jump.
Getting some guts as we watched someone else doing it
Rudi has jumped before, but Hardey and I have not jumped before. About P640.00 or R700.00 for the jump, not sure how the conversions worked. Then Hardey was ready
The bridge is very hot on the way back as Rudi found out
Hardey was next to find out, at least it keeps the street vendors at bay for a while
Again one needs to pay for the Vic Falls, P100.00 or R120.00 if you show a RSA passport otherwise you need to cough. Catching the rainbow.
After visiting the falls it was about getting fuel. Not a regular item
What is a pity is that this is a proud nation and beuatiful country taken aback to a poor country, beautiful and depressing at the same time. You can buy Zim$ 300 Bn for R20.00 as tokens. This is sad.
Then the second high point of the trip, a booze cruise on the â??mightyâ? Zambesi river. Here one needs to shop around and negotiate a price otherwise you will pay. Really beautiful, saw elephants crossing the river and some beautiful sunsets.
Monty looking at the mighty "English fleet" on the river
When we returned we tried to find a decent place to eat. At the first restaurant they asked US$18 for a starter so we moved on. The local Spar did not have much to offer either with empty racks. So we went to camp and got a hamburger for P50.00
DAY 7: 26 SEPTEMBER 2008
The last day for Heine and myself as we had to come back earlier. A long haul from Vic Falls to Maartinsdrift (880km) and then 400 km to Pretoria. The others left a bit later and slept over at Nata that night.
Crossing over at Kazungula.
At Nata we filled up and were told that Nata Lodge burned out the previous evening. It was not a good sight to see. Luckily no-one got hurt.
SUMMARY
It was an excellent trip organised by Michael Steyn and the participation in the group to plan and agree the next dayâ??s travel, which ultimately changed around three more times was excellent. I do not want to do a planned trip to the minute, the more general the better, just as this trip.
Leaving on Friday and travelling further and further away from the group left an empty feeling and enforced the realisation that the friendships created was going to be long lasted and covered with good memories. Heine and Honda Adventure Academy, thnxs again for the borrowing of the Transalp. Did very well the whole trip and with the big Kaoka bag on the back, although it badly affects handling in the deep sand.
Really worth the time, when is the next one???
Regards
O, and if you wonder what TUKUVIC stands for:
TU: Tuli block.
KU: Kubu island.
Vic: Victoria falls.
The build up to trip was full of mixed emotions as the few weeks before the trip was full of pressures at work, dampening the excitement a bit and then the Friday night before the trip was here.
I was lucky to be able to do the trip on one of the Honda Adventure Academyâ??s bikes, a XL700V TransAlp (thanxs Heine). These bikes are very specialised and specifically build for the African countries and therefore had to be trailered to the borderâ?¦ (hahahahaha) just joking, it provided a more cost effective way of travelling and we also had to come back a bit earlier, so it made sense.
DAY1: SATURDAY - 20 SEPTEMBER 2008
Bikes on trailer (later we added a KTM for colour scheme)
We left Saturday morning at about 08:00 (20 Sep 2008). The trip took us past Vaalwater where we had brunch and then to Ellisras where we met up with the rest of the group. The group were:
* Honda Africa Twin (x2): Dave and Rudi.
* Honda TransAlp (x3): Johan (me), Heine, Craig and Tammy.
* KTM 640 (x1): Hein
* Kawa KLR 650 (x2): Kobus, Brain and Annelie.
* BMW GS1200 (x1): Monty.
* BMW GS800 (x1): Hardey.
* Land Cruiser with trailer: Michael ) â?? this became the sharing vehicle.
That afternoon, after a long struggle with importing the bikes at Maartinsdrift we left the car and trailer at Kwa Nokeng and set off to Stevensford Game Reserve about 20km away. This would be our base for Saturday and Sunday night. The first evening was about meeting each other and this is one of the key aspects of a trip, meeting people and making some good friends.
Campsite at Stevensford Game Reserve next to the river.
DAY2: SUNDAY - 21 SEPTEMBER 2008
Sunday saw us leaving for the Tuli block. It was a good trip with a â??softâ? introduction into what was awaiting us in terms of dirt roads and sand. The road was in good condition and we could achieve some high speeds until we realised that this was actually very risky with the amount of antelope and other animals crossing the roads.
At the veterinary control points we waited for the whole group to regroup before we took off again.
Otherside Platjan Border Post I was leading the group and suddenly realised I was all on my own. Turned back and found Craig and Michael busy trying to remove a wire from the rear wheel of the one TransAlp's Craig was riding. Luckily Craig and Tammy did not go down in the process and neither did their legs get hurt by the wire.
Removing a wire from the back wheel of the TransAlp.
Passed through the Motloutsie river at about 13:30. Saw lost of antelope on the way.
Hardey passing through the river.
Other side the river is where we saw all the elephant, and some close to the river.
Rudi next to his bike getting ready to take pictures. The amount of photos taken on this group could make anyone belive that we were actually a japanese tour group.
My trusty TransAlp in view of the elephants.
On the way back we passed close to six rhinos close to the road, what an unbelievable sight. They just look so majestic in the wild!
Near the Zanzibar border post we started running out of fuel with the TransAlps, with some 60kmâ??s to the camp site. We had to wait for the back-up vehicle to share 20l of fuel between the three TransAlps. This is one of the major drawbacks of a small fuel reach. At the turn-off to Zanzibar we waited for the other bikes to catch up and also enjoyed a lunch at the Oasis Lodge.
Hein, Hardey and Michael taking a break.
DAY 3: MONDAY - 22 SEPTEMBER 2008
It was Tammyâ??s birthday and she was surprised with a cake and candles (candles did not burn as the wind in the parking area at Serowe was too strong)â?¦
Tammy, the birthday girl
Tammy and Hein (the soon to be birthday boy)
After stocking up at Serowe we left for Letlhakane where we fuelled up a last time before heading for Kubu Island. We deflated the tyres after a hard corrugated and dry dusty road at Mmatshumo. We expected lots of sand, but were surprised to find more rocky roads and were a bit concerned about the low tyre pressures. And then the first part of the Makgadigadi pans met us. Between the 10 bikes we had 1 puncture from here towards Gweta that could have been an impact puncture, tyre pressures at 1.2 bar.
Heine arriving at the pans
The first six bikes arriving in the pans (Left to Right Kobus, Craig, Hein, Rudi and Heine)
And then it was time to enjoy the flats of the pan, what better than some speeding and wheelying
The whole group on the pans (Left to Right Monty, Johan Heine, Hardey, Hein, Michael, Annelie, Dave, Kobus, Tammy, Rudi, and Craig) â?? Brian taking the picture
Some direction boards to Kubu Island
Hardey at some â??mock??â? graves just before Kubu Island
The final stretch of road before Kubu Island (Hardey on the GS800)
The campsite at Kubu Isalnd
Sunset at Kubu Island
DAY 4: TUESDAY - 23 SEPTEMBER 2008
We left early for Chapmanâ??s Baobab on the way to Gweta. We were told by at least two parties not to take this route so we listened to ourselves and took it. This was one of the highlights of the trip. Worth doing, but could be risky and definitely very tiring.
Thorn bushes will grab anything on a pannier, specifically a tent.
The road next to the fence that I have always dreamt about.
Then the TransAlp got stuck in a deep track, coverer by â??tulcumâ? power, took my feet off and nearly through me over the handbars.
A cow left in the pans whilst the others continue
Arriving at Chapmanâ??s Baobab, what a majestic tree
Tammy enjoying some melted jelly babies, but the heat had a different idea
The road is filled with deep tracks covered by â??tulcum powederyâ? stuff as Craig found out
Rudi with Annelie on the back, as smooth as ever (Brianâ??s bike had a broken gear lever and was relying on a vice grip to change into second. Once set he had to take off and keep it in second, most of the way from Chapmans to Gweto, thus Annelie with Rudi)
Then the real roads started between Chapmanâ??s baobab and Gweta â?? Craig on the TransAlp
Hein showing us how it is done on the lighter (race) bike
DAY 5: WEDNEDAY - 24 SEPTEMBER 2008
At Gweta we slept over and filled up the next day for Victoria Falls
Just outside Gweta on route to Nata is this well known land mark
Monty and Tammy in the Cruiser, both due to injuries and even the Cruiser was not comfortable
And eventually it was Heinâ??s birthday, unfortunately Nata did not have a proper cake and he had to settle for some packet biscuits (Heine and Hein)
Brian and Annelie reunited on the trusty KLR
About 40km outside Nata towards Pandamatenga the road deteriorated and provided for some interesting riding with the locals owning both sides of the road at any time that the wish
Doing the border post thing at Pandamatenga. The Bots side was a breeze but the Zim side took long with all the paper work and all the officials. We paid road tax and carbon tax. They only accept foreign currency. We paid R120.00 or P90.00 for all the taxes. Dave with his British passport had to pay U$70.00, they really mean to get the British back
From here we took the dusty road towards Vic Falls. A large area was burned out and still burning when we got close to Vic Falls.
Our second puncture for the trip, the one in the Makgadigadi pans and the other on this road towards Vic Falls. Kobus and Heine busy fixing the tyre. Lesson learned, do not assume it is an impact puncture.
It was already dark when we arrived at the tar road, about 35km from Vic Falls. We ended up in a road block, wanted all our details for the bikes and see licenses but did not have any lights at the road block, eventually they let us go.
Arriving at Vic Falls camping site where we would spend the next day.
DAY 6: THURSDAY â?? 25 SEPTEMBER 2008
Dave having a late morning
Having â??sellersâ? swarming the campsite is normal as everyone is trying to sell something
Kobus and Monty doing some maintenance. Kobus had a trip planned for the next day from Vic Falls to Gaberone
Otherwise, this was a day for relaxing with the first activity a gin and cup of tea at the old Victorian hotel. About P70.00 for a gin, cup of tea and a scone, but worth the experience.
Brian and Annelie doing some site seeing
Awaiting the gin, tea and scones
Rudi enjoying the luxury of the Victoria Falls Hotel
Craig on the way towards the bridge for our bundgy jump.
Getting some guts as we watched someone else doing it
Rudi has jumped before, but Hardey and I have not jumped before. About P640.00 or R700.00 for the jump, not sure how the conversions worked. Then Hardey was ready
The bridge is very hot on the way back as Rudi found out
Hardey was next to find out, at least it keeps the street vendors at bay for a while
Again one needs to pay for the Vic Falls, P100.00 or R120.00 if you show a RSA passport otherwise you need to cough. Catching the rainbow.
After visiting the falls it was about getting fuel. Not a regular item
What is a pity is that this is a proud nation and beuatiful country taken aback to a poor country, beautiful and depressing at the same time. You can buy Zim$ 300 Bn for R20.00 as tokens. This is sad.
Then the second high point of the trip, a booze cruise on the â??mightyâ? Zambesi river. Here one needs to shop around and negotiate a price otherwise you will pay. Really beautiful, saw elephants crossing the river and some beautiful sunsets.
Monty looking at the mighty "English fleet" on the river
When we returned we tried to find a decent place to eat. At the first restaurant they asked US$18 for a starter so we moved on. The local Spar did not have much to offer either with empty racks. So we went to camp and got a hamburger for P50.00
DAY 7: 26 SEPTEMBER 2008
The last day for Heine and myself as we had to come back earlier. A long haul from Vic Falls to Maartinsdrift (880km) and then 400 km to Pretoria. The others left a bit later and slept over at Nata that night.
Crossing over at Kazungula.
At Nata we filled up and were told that Nata Lodge burned out the previous evening. It was not a good sight to see. Luckily no-one got hurt.
SUMMARY
It was an excellent trip organised by Michael Steyn and the participation in the group to plan and agree the next dayâ??s travel, which ultimately changed around three more times was excellent. I do not want to do a planned trip to the minute, the more general the better, just as this trip.
Leaving on Friday and travelling further and further away from the group left an empty feeling and enforced the realisation that the friendships created was going to be long lasted and covered with good memories. Heine and Honda Adventure Academy, thnxs again for the borrowing of the Transalp. Did very well the whole trip and with the big Kaoka bag on the back, although it badly affects handling in the deep sand.
Really worth the time, when is the next one???
Regards
