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