16 Day Namibia Zimbabwe Botswana 7000km Solo Adventure on My Harley

[mother]

So i did this recent ride in comfort and decided to leave the GS at home for a change

 

[petri oosthuizen]

So i did this recent ride in comfort and decided to leave the GS at home for a change

Well..........is that ALL you gonna say, Young Man,..........???

 

[mother]

I took my 360 camera along for the ride and am putting some footage together for any one who wants to check out what its like if you havent been there!!

 

[mother]

Well..........is that ALL you gonna say, Young Man,..........???

hahahahaha im still busy typing.....

 

[Jors Troelie]

Waiting in anticipation. Did you swim again with your inflatable mattress?

 

[petri oosthuizen]

hahahahaha im still busy typing.....

Well...........move it along now, Lad!!!!!!!!

 

[mother]

It started like this.....

 

[mother]

Waiting in anticipation. Did you swim again with your inflatable mattress?

No went in style this time .....

 

[Chrisl]

You rode Vioolsdrift, Rosh Pinah to Aus and then Keetmanshoop?

 

[mother]

I made a list for incase i forget something


Things to do for trip


Passport


Wallet


Bikes papers


Advise bank on travel using credit card


Advise insurance on travel outside of SA with vehicle


Puncture repair


Towel


Airflow jacket


Cameras


Top up oil and funnel


Night light


Water bottle


Duct tape


Medical kit


Toiletries


Clothes


Warm jacket


Leatherman


Spare phone for roaming pay as you go


Pula ........The Bank dropped me last minute on this but i was able to use my credit card for money and fuel....f$%&k the bank


Rands

 

[mother]

The first few days went like this......

 

[mother]

After Keetmanshoop this was the next section.......to Swakopmund

 

[mother]

Just finished editing from Swakopmund to Rundu...... its a long process will post the other leg asap
This is part 3.....

 

[mother]

I also did a recap after the 7000km ride for those that might be interested in some details etc re pricing......here it is


2024 My Big Ride a Recap





Namibia Petrol Price $21.20 = 1 to 1 with Rands


Botswana Petrol Price in Pula P14.77 = 1.429 Rands to Pula on petrol card = R21.11 per litre


Zimbabwe Petrol price in USD $1.61 per litre at 20 to 1 rate they used =R32.20 per litre





Total Route 7155km





18 January 2024 Thursday Day 1


611 km from home to


Portnolloth


Stayed Scotia Inn R550 per night





19 jan Friday Day 2


564km to


Keetmanshoop


Keetmanshoop self catering accommodation


R400 per night





20th Jan Saturday Day 3


498km to windhoek


Windhoek


Dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse restaurant


160 Nelson Mandela Ave Windhoek





Stayed at Merwe Inn R550 per night





21st Jan Sunday Day 4


Swakopmund


362km from Windhoek





Stayed 2 nights





Sandcastle B&B Self Catering Apartments


R280 per night


4 Woker Street Vineta Swakopmund


Nb information…no credit card machine





22nd January





Monday Day 5


Swakopmund





Rest Day


23rd Jan Tuesday Day 6


500km Swakop to Otavi


Otavi


R680 per night including breakfast





24th Jan Wednesday Day 7


360km to Rundu


Rundu


Stayed at Kavango River Lodge


R780 for bed and breakfast





25 Jan Thursday Day 8


514 km to





Katima Mulilo





There’s petrol every 200 km on this section





Kololo Guest House R420 per night


B8 Katima Mulilo


Girl from Youtube “On her Bike” stayed here this is how I found the place





26 Jan Friday Day 9





I paid a total of P340 for multiple entry for my bike all inclusive because I was entering Botswana twice within a few days





Entry to Zimbabwe cost me the equivalent of R620 that was for the Road toll and Insurance and the fee for customs border consultant helping me process the TIP temporary import permit for my bike





210km Katima to Vic Falls Zimbabwe


Into Botswana into Zimbabwe





Vic Falls Zimbabwe





Victoria Fall backpackers lodge


40 USD per night negotiated


No card machine only cash paid R800 per night they took Rands converted at 20-1


357 Gibson Rd Victoria Falls





27 Jan Saturday Day 10


Rest Day


Victoria Falls


SA Citizens pay entry $30


Rest Day


Booze cruise arrangements made at your place of residence just arrange with lodging


$10 park fee $40 booze cruise all usd





28 Jan Sunday Day 11





I went through Zimbabwe to Bulawayo then Francistown 670 km…. Do not recommend this road as it currently has very bad potholes





Francistown


Stayed at Minestone P450 negotiated per night





29 Jan Monday Day 12





To Gabs 433km





Gaborone


Stayed in Strand Meadows B&B P500 negotiated for the night





30 Jan Tuesday Day 13


400km to


Pretoria


Stayed with Family





31 Jan Wednesday Day 14





Pretoria


Stayed with Family


Rest Day





1 February Thursday Day 15


Pretoria to Laingsburg 1234km


Laingsburg Stay R500 at Grand Hotel near Police Station





2 February Friday Day 16





Home 350km





Actual costs





7155 km


Petrol R8315.06 average R1.16 per km


Accommodation was 13 days because of staying with family R7400 average per night R570


Meals 16 days average per day was R300


Other total costs ie border crossing sight seeing booze cruise etc was R3600


Total cost of 16 days Namibia Botswana Zimbabwe South Africa was R24K





1.Was it worth it


Absolutely!! To experience the open roads and life outside of SA in the neighbouring countries


2.Best time of the year ??


Probably winter months but I was happy to go as soon as school started to avoid silly season and yes it was warm some days but it never overwhelmed the ride


3.I always wore my buff and kept it wet for cooling during the heat always used sunscreen and long sleeves airflow jacket and was never without water to rehydrate


4.One of the best things I did was get a pay as you go simm card for spare phone to have communication in Namibia at a decent price from MTC Namibia cel network


5.I know Botswana well from living there so found my way around very well


6.Zimbabwe was somewhat frustrating experience mainly because I had no comms and to crown it all my wonderful Harley Davidson GPs did not work there… I should have had a map at least but talking to locals made it ok to get around


7.I did not get any rain on my trip except for a brief thunderstorm on my second last afternoon heading home.. It was a relief from the heat


8.No issues with my bike I did have oil to top up and did so twice… I did lose the right radiator cover but replaced it when I got to Jhb… no punctures but I did have repair kit


9.I rode the speed limit mostly and in some places around 10 km slower a lot of this depends on the road conditions and I was enjoying the ride to look around a lot


10.Google maps distance is not quite accurate vs what my speedometer was reading but it’s a guide


I use old fashioned maps my iPhone and the gps to get around when it works and sorry I don’t have the track record of my ride just the google map snap shots to show the route I took


11.All the roads were fairly good tar roads with the exception of Zimbabwe which I would definitely not recommend

 

[mother]

You rode Vioolsdrift, Rosh Pinah to Aus and then Keetmanshoop?

No .....Port Nolloth Oranjemund Rosh Pinah Aus then Keetmanshoop

 

[mother]

I started from home on the west coast then to Port Nolloth then to Keetmanshoop via Oranjemund

 

[Chrisl]

Loved the first video and choice of music!!

A Woolworths in Oranjemund, i be damned!!!?

 

[Striggs]

The first few days went like this......

Your footage really does convey the freedom of riding, fantastic, thank you.

The great choice of music certainly helps too!

 

[Chrisl]

These videos have just made my longing for Namibia worse!!

 

[punisher]

following