Cape Town, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Cape Town

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Day 10
This was a relaxed day for us, waking up, going for a walk down the lagoon, and a swim. The water temperature in the lagoon is really warm. We also went exploring around town. Nobody rides their bikes or quads with a helmet in town. Rest of the day was spent swimming and drinking beer. There is plenty of fresh produce at the markets and the best pineapples - they peel it and you eat it like an ice cream. I spent the evening with one of the locals at a local restaurant while my dad was at another campsite making some friends. The local restaurant was very good, yet primitive and the owner cooks all the food on fire and coals. It cost me R60 for 2 quarts and 2 plates of delicious chicken, pap and sauce - with plenty of chillies. I had such a good time, that I had to take my dad the following night.
 

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:ricky:
 

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Day 11
All I wanted to do today is to eat some prawns. My local friend of last night arranged fresh prawns and fish for us. The fish was for my dad, as he is allergic to shellfish. Lunch was spent at our campsite, with the local preparing our fish and prawns served with fresh bread.  
 

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Wat 'n trip.  Lekker om so saam te ry... Jammer ek het my riding partner vir eers verloor.  Maar ek het hom vertel dat volgende jaar Mei is die honeymoon oor en dan gaan ons ALMAL saam ry.   :ricky: :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:
 
For the afternoon my local friend arranged for us to take a boat ride out to Turtle Island. At Turtle Island you will surely see some sea turtles, and it was an enjoyable boat ride across the lagoon followed by an hour's walk along the beach. There was thousands of crabs on the beach that day.
 

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We decided to try the local drink which is called Tipo Tinto Rum with Sparletta but with the Sparletta is tasted terrible so we quickly replaced it with coke. This tasted way better, so we end up buying a case. You get a box with 12 x 500ml plastic bottles at R60 per liter. We thought we would have some to take home...but not many made the journey home.  :biggrin:

The evening I took my dad to the local restaurant that I enjoyed the previous night. I had prawns, pap and chillies and dad had chicken, chips and a salad.
 

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:ricky:
 

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Day 12
Camp was broken down and we hit the road early en route Swaziland. The road was tarred but with heavy traffic. We went through Maputo which was an absolute nightmare! Sorry I've got no photos - we were just trying to stay out of hospital. Whatever you do, just try to avoid traveling through Maputo. Its just plain dangerous. We also came across a few road blocks with the police being much more arrogant than the ones we came across in Zimbabwe.

We were happy to reach the Swaziland border, but less impressed when it started raining again. The rain was followed by a hailstorm. This was when my dad decided it is a good time to get a flat tyre. We found cover at a buss stop and repaired it. We were hoping on spending a night or two in Swaziland but with the bad weather we headed for clearer skies. We ended up driving straight through Swaziland up to Wakkerstroom. We booked in at the Bird's Nest - a hostel. We enjoyed our stay at the Bird's Nest in the beautiful Wakkestroom. Christmas Eve was spent around a fire. The wood that we used did not make coals good enough for cooking, so we had to fry our chops in the pan.  
 

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:ricky:
 

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:ricky:
 

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Day 13
Today the plan was to say hello to my girlfriend who was spending Christmas with her parents at her grandparents in Bloemfontein. When we arrived in Bloem we enjoyed a very good Christmas lunch. Chantel's granny knows her way around the kitchen  ;D :biggrin:

We needed the lunch for the ride from Bloemfontein to Colesberg. The wind was pumping!! At Colesberg we got off the N1, en route Aberdeen. The ride was more pleasant but still a lot of wind. Today was a long day in the saddle covering 1050km. When we arrived in Abderdeen around 7pm all the shops were closed but we came across really cozy accommodation and the owner sold us some meat and also gave us bread, cheese, tomato and onion for braai broodjies. The day was concluded with a braai and much needed beer.
 

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Day 14
We left Aberdeen the morning just wanting to get back home. We had about 650km left. We arrived at my dad's house at 3pm. We finished the trip with one last cold one.

Trip summary:
Botswana is WET in December but a beautiful rural country. Would love to go back in the 4x4 to explore Chobe and the Okovango Delta.
Zimbabwe is a little drier, but also a beautiful country. Just a pity they have a poster of old Bob in every establishment.
Mozambique: The parts of the country where we went through was dirty but the tourist areas on the coast is beautiful. Good food - mangoes, cashew nuts, pineapples, seafood and chillies

Total km covered was 6600. Most expensive fuel was in Mozambique at R 24.50 per liter.
Bikes ran flawless :ricky:
It was not a holiday, but definitely an adventure of a lifetime!  :ricky:
Doing it with your dad = AWESOME!  :)

Thank you all for reading and the comments. I am no writer  :-[ but just thought it was time to give back to Wilddogs. Maybe someone can learn something as I did from all the great ride reports on this forum.

Until next time, ride safe! :ricky:

:thumleft:




 

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Really loved this RR. :thumleft:

Next time you do it in Dec I will make you some "mudriders" stickers. ;)

 

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ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS said:
Really loved this RR. :thumleft:

Next time you do in Dec I will make you same "mudriders" stickers. ;)
:imaposer: I'm glad you spotted your stickers. Can I please just get clean ones next time  :peepwall:  :ricky:
 
Ian in Great Brak River said:
Well done and well said, thanks for sharing.

8)

:thumleft: I will be doing more RR of other trips we did :ricky:
 
grizz said:
Just perfect, and you ride my dream bike.

Still rate the 1150 above my current 06 1200GS

Yes grizz, the 1150 is great! Unfortunately I sold my 1150 after the trip. Knowing before the trip, that this would be my last one with the bike. I bought it for touring, which it did great. Took me to many places. I will be going a lot lighter for more technical riding. I will miss the 1150 :)

Thanks for reading :thumleft:
 
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