Day Fourteen Sossusvlei to Walvis Bay

We had a late start this morning as our next stop would beWalvis Bay. We stopped briefly at Solitaire and viewed some of the old cars scrap cars the were lying around the entrance.

The entrance to Solitaire with its display of scrap cars

We no sooner had left and dissaster struck. Des had gone through one of the dips which are frequent along that road probably a little on the fast side and the sudden dip tore something loose on the chassis. It was as if the chassis had bent backwards.

 A local road repair fellow looks on as Des jacks the camper

We nevertheless jacked the trailer up at the back and managed to tie the trailer forward so as to keep the mudguards from touching the wheel. Our journey then became very slow. Every couple of kilometres we had to stop and tension up the ropes as there seemed to be stretch on our ropes. This continued all afternoon with us making very slow progress. At dark we contemplated pulling off and sleeping for the night but it was so open, proper dessert, so we just continued and eventually arrived at Walvis Bay at 9pm that night. We booked camp site at the Lagoon Challets. We were however still in good spirits, so we had our evening meal at midnight.

Day Thirteen Helmeiringhausen to Sossusvlei

We refueled before we left and headed up the C14 and then joined C19 which took us to Sesriem where we booked in for the night.

After looking around we walked down into Sesriem canyons which is a narrow gorge about 1km long and spent about an hour walking around.



Deep gorge in the Sesriem canyons

We waited for the late afternoon sun to be right for some photographs and then took a drive down to Dune 45 to see if we could  capture some nice sunset photos of the dunes. We later reitired after nice potjie.

Dune 45 at Sossusvlei

 

Day Twelve Ai Ais to Helsmeiringhausen

After a nice nights rest and a bit of cleaning up of our camper we left Ai Ais. Our first stop was at Hobas, the Fish River Canyon. We went to the lookout post and viewed these magnificient canyons.

Looking down on the canyons

There was a group of backpacker who were about to start the venture down the canyon. The guide tried to explain to us where they would end up after four days. I personally think that that would not be for the faint hearted, definately an experience for who ever is able to do such a hike.

View of the Fish River Canyons

We left the canyons in hot conditions and made our way to Seehiem where we reached the main road leading to Ludritz. We branched off the main road and went through Bethany, because it was a Sunday we could not get fuel so we went on the Helmeirngshausen and decided to stay over for the night. A pleasant camp that had a grassed area. It was here where we fisrt experienced the hospitality of the people of Namibia. We were also told that we must remember that our time has been changed by one hour.

Grassed campsite at Helmeiringhausen

Day Eleven Richterberg to Ai Ais



Mountains as far as the eye can see

We made an early start from the Richterberg campsite as we were now going to make our way to the exit gate at the Helsberg gate. We travelled through the Kokerboomkloof and then on to the Helskloof pass. There is not much wild life to see in the Richterveld but the scenery and landscape is unbelievable.

Winding roads through the hill tops

To see a mass of rocky mountains where ever you look is magnificent. I do not even think a photograph does justice, you need to see it in reality. We exited the park and went back to Sendlingsdrift where we did the necessary paper work to enter into Namibia.



Crossing the Orange River at Sendlingsdrift



We crossed the Orange river by ferry and travelled along the Orange River for a short distance and branched off and eneded up at A Ais where we booked a campsite. It was nice to have a shower and freshen up as the last time we had ablutions was in Springbok. We then watched the rugby test on the stoep of the Ais Ais Restuarant before returning to our campsite to enjoy a couple of cold ones and a well desreved braai.



Campsite at Ai Ais





Day Ten Potjiespram to Tattesberg

We left the campsite early morning on our way to our next campsite which would be at the Tatesberg which would take us probably the whole day as the driving conditions were very slow.

A lone halfmens tree on the slopes

 We travelled  through the halfmens pass where we did a little climbing to get a closer look at the famous half mens tree which grows on the slopes of the kranses.
We continued and arrived at the Hand of God which is a shape of a hand in a rock. We spent a bit of time there taking a couple of photographs and took a bit of break

The Hand of God on the rock face

before continuing past De Hoop and all the way down to the Richterberg were we set up camp, again on the banks of the Orange River. The camp area was very sandy and we had no water with no ablutions only a tiolet.

Sandy campsite on the banks of the river at the Richterberg

Day Nine Ekstenfontein to Sendlingsdrift

With a nice early start we set off and arrived a Kuboes another village in the middle of nowhere.

Welome to Kuboes sign with the village in the background

After a brief look around and a chat to a local farmer we made our way to Alexander Bay where we filled up with fuel and after a while we backtracked again a tool a dirt road which would evenyually bring us out at Sendlings Drift where we would made our bookings for the Richterveldt.

Approaching Alexander Bay

Our first campsite was at Potjiespram a campsite on the banks of the Orange River. Monkeys were again fearless so you had to keep a watch on your food and perishables.

Potjiepram campsite in the Richterveld

Day Eight Des and myself on our own

After breakfast this morning our ways parted with Anton and Debbie going down the West Coast and Des and myself heading up North. We did our last bit of shopping in Springbok and then headed up towards Steinkopf where we took a tunoff to Port Nolloth.

Heavy mist hangs over the sea at Port Nolloth

There was a heavy mist which made sight seeing a little difficult so we did a quick visit to the museum. We left Port Nolloth and backtracked a little way and truned off heading to the Richterveldt.

The road leading to Eksteenfontein

 We headed up a a dirt road and eventually came to Lekkersing a small village and then went on to Eksteenfontein where we thought we would stay over for the night. But there was no decent campsite so we moved out of town a couple of kilometres and camped off in a quite spot off the side of the road. We just made a small fire and braaied a pork chop for ourselves.

Relaxing around a small fire just off the road 

Day Seven searching for the flowers

We waited until the sun was quite high before we left camp in the hope of seeing the flowers in bloom. We travelled to Okiep and Nababeeb to do some sight seeing.

We then made our way down to Kleinsee and spent a bit of time there, riding around this deserted old mining village.

From there we went down to Soebatsfontein and Kamgas but it was dissapointing as their were only small clusters of flowers here and there. After going around the Kamieskroon we ended up on the highway back to Springbok. As it was Anton and Debbies last night with us we decided to use the oven in the kitchen of the chalet and I deboned a chicken and roasted some potatoes for our last meal together.

Day Six Augrabi to Springbok

A picturous view of the campsite with the mountain in the backgtround

We left the Augrabi Falls campsite mid morning and headed down toward Sprringbok passing through Pofadder before reaching Springbok.



The Pofadder Hotel

 We would stay for the next two nights at the Springbok caravan park.The caravan park was full of campers who had come from all over the country to view the flowers of the North West Cape. Anton booked a chalet for his family for the two nights as they had been camping in a normal tent on the ground. It was Debbie's birthday so we all went out to the Grasdak Steakhouse to celebrate her birthday.

Springbok  campsite and chalet

Day Five A day in the park

Des with his grandchildren Jena and Seun on the moon rocks

We spent a quiet Sunday morning  in the camp, took a stroll to the falls and later took a drive through the park, walked on the moon rocks and went to all the look out points.

A view of the Augrabie falls

The water level in the river was quiet low but the view was still spectacular. The monkeys in the campsite cause havock among the campers. You dare not leave anything lying around, they are absolutely fearless, you turn your back and they get into your tent.

Jena crossing the bridge on the Dassie trail

Later in the afternoon I took Jenna with me and we walked the Dassie trail. Anton did a chicken potjie for us in the evening.

Day Four Oranjerus to Augrabie Falls

We left Oranjerus campsite at 9am and travelled down to Keimoes did a little turn in the town and went on to the Vergelegen Guest house where we had a breakfast.


Breakfast at the Vergelegen Farm stall


We arrived at Kakamas where we stopped at the Pink Paleis and looked and admired all the scrap that had been refurbished in one way or another. From there we went to the Augrabie falls and set up camp.

Unique toilet at the Pink Paleis

Next to our camp site was an elderly couple from Port Alfred in a caravan. He set up his dish and invited us to watch the rugby test at his caravan. It was not long before other campers joined in and we became one happy family. After the rugby everybody went their ways and we treated ourselves to a nice steak on the fire.

Watching the rugby test at Augrabie fall campsite

Day Three A day in and around Upington

Relaxing and enjoying the camplife



 The Oranjerus campsite became a hive of activity as the tourist started filtering into the camp all with more or less the same idea of going down to Springbok with the hope of seeing the flowers in blossom. We had a nice breakfast and went into Upington, and from there we went to the Oranje winery where we did a wine tasting and bought a couple of bottles.

The canals and wineland on Kononeiland

 We then did a little tour through the winelands on Kanoneiland (Kanonie land) and returned to the campsite where we mingled a bit with the campers sharing some experiences before enjoying a braai.

Des looking very serious

Day Two Prieska to Upington

Thursday morning there was no rush, we did what we had to do, and then sat around and enjoyed a nice breakfast before eventually leaving the campsite at about 11am heading for Upington.



Des admiring the breakfast in the skottle


We travelled the straight, long, tedious roads of the Northern  Cape,  stopping occassionally to observe the movements of the social weaver which makes these enormous nests just about on every telephone pole.

The nest of the social weaver on a telephone pole

The further North we went the more barren it became apart from lush greenery in the distance with the willow trees embracing the banks of the Orange River.

Des and myself sharing a joke on the side of the road

We eventually arrived at Upington and after a short drive around at the municipal park we decided to head for Oranjerus campsite on the banks of the Orange River. We set up camp and enjoyed a nice lamb potjie around the fire.

Day One Departure from PE

After a couple of months of plotting and planning our trip to Etosha via the Richterveld, the day finally arrived for Des and myself to departed from PE. We left at 6.30 in the morning and met up with Anton and Debbie with their two little ones Jenna and Seun, at Cradock who were going to accompany us for the first leg of the trip to Springbok where we hope to view the spring flowers of the Namakweland.

Meeting up with Anton and Debbie with their children Jena and Seun

We then travelled together and arrived at Prieska at about 4pm and found a campsite at the Gariep Country Lodge where we had a braai and settled for the night in very cold conditions.

Getting ready for our first braai of the tour