IN FLIGHT WITH THE FISH EAGLES – NAMIBIA, BOSTWANA, ZIMBABWE

[IRISH]

Wow,what a good read. Kudos to you, Louis, Nanni and the S10. This was an awesome trip and I have really enjoyed my daily fix here in NZ.

 

[Vis Arend]

Thanks for all the great comments.  :thumleft:

I wish I could show my dad the photos of the road to Epupa and the Falls. I travelled there with him in the 70's in an F 250 with long range tanks. he loved that area. Thanks for the memories.

Ondangwa. I spend 9 months of my life there. Lekker to see pictures of that area again.

Yip, every time we visit Namibia we can see changes.  I believe they are now in the process of tarring the road from Swakopmund right up to Kamanjab.  That will be from Swakop to Henties, Uis, Korixas and then Kamanjab.  Something to do with transport of goods from Walvisbay to Angola.  The road from Kamajab to Opuwa is already tarred. 

 

[Vis Arend]

Day 16 Rundu to Katima Mulilo

Today’s route will take us to Divundu, cross the Kavango river into Caprivi strip and the Bwabwata National Park, Bangani, Omega, into the Kwando area to Katima Mulilo next to the Zambezi river.

The horses were there to say good bye.


The road out to the main road.  This you will get throughout this region as well as in Botswana.




A quick Wimpy coffee in Rundu before we hit the road.


This you get all along the road, selling grass, meat, wood and all sorts.


A toasted samie bought in Rundu for padkos.


The tar road to Divundu is boring to say the least.  We entered the Bwabwata National Park and a few kilometres in we saw elephants in the distance.  It was not worth taking any pictures, as they were too far and behind bushes and trees.
You get these warning signs all along the road and the speed limit in the park is 80km/h.  Good for the tyres, not so good for the ***.






We saw no other wildlife on this whole stretch, except some of these.


We booked in at the Caprivi River lodge and met up with Marco and Sylvia. 
Here is there story of the Wilddogs that helped them on their way.
https://marcoundsylvia.blogspot.com/2013/04/on-road-again.html
They could not thank you guys enough and only spoke highly and with lots of respect of the Wilddog Pack.

The Zambezi


They had no camping facilities, but gave us this hut at a special prize.




Tomorrow we will be crossing the border to Botswana and Zimbabwe.

 

[Vis Arend]

Day 17 Katima Mulilo to Kasane

Today will be a quick jump over the Namibian border to Botswana at Ngoma Bridge, into the Chobe National Park to Kasane, book in at Thebe River Safari Camp, offload the bike and head to the Zimbabwe border post at Kazangula for a visit at Vic Falls.  Hopefully we will be back in time for a river cruise at Thebe River Safari’s.

Namibia is just a great country to travel in, there is so much to see and do.  We will however, if everything goes to plan, be back into Namibia in 3 or 4 days time.  For now it will be a bit of Botswana and the Vic Falls.

We greeted Marco and Sylvia, they had to get back to Walvisbaai where their trip will end.  We were on the road for an early border crossing.
Departure from Caprivi River Lodge


Arriving at Ngoma Bridge border crossing






This is not a great photo, but as we entered Botswana we were greeted by two Fish Eagles cries and they flew off in the distance.  Was it a good sign?


Water crossing?  No, foot and mouth disease control point, one of many.


We had no problems at the border post, the people were friendly and it was the normal booking in and paying of road tax and we were on the way.


Then it was into the Chobe National Park.  Elephant dung was all over and according the official, herds of elephant were there earlier.  We missed them.


We did see some giraffes thou and later on a lone Buffalo.






We got to Kasane quit early and booked our camp and offloaded the bike and headed for the Zim border.  Kentucky was on our menu today, so we had a streetwise two as a brekkie, bought in Kasane.


Out of Botswana was once again a quick affair, but the booking into Zim was another story.  I will not elaborate, all I can say it took us a good hour plus and something like 300 pullas later.


You also travel through the Zambezi National Park, but the grass next to the road is not cut and it is very difficult to see any wild life.






We got to Vic Falls, paid another 300 pullas to enter.
Vic Falls is an amazing sight.  It is unbelievable to see so much water at one place.  What a spectacular sight.










When we booked in at Thebe River Safaris, they told us the boat cruise starts at 15:00 so we had to rush to get back.  We already wasted more than an hour at the Zim border.
On our way back to Botswana


We got some ellies on route


Booking out of Zim was again a waiting story %&#@*&#&.  Booking back into Botswana was as usual no problem.
The delays at the Zim border cost us our boat cruise.
We got back to our camp and decided to eat at their restaurant.

 

[Swift]

:sip:

 

[Vis Arend]

Day 18 Kasane to Elephant Sands

Remember Marco and Sylvia, the two Germans we met at Katima, well they told us about Elephant Sands and said it is worth a visit.  Our original plan was to go to Planet Baobab, but decided rather to stop over at Elephant Sands.  Elephants are my wife’s favourite animal and apparently you cannot get closer to wild elephants than there.

The route is a short one from Kasane down south on the A33 to 50km before Nata.  Elephant Sands is on the right, about 2-3 km off the road.
You will find wildlife in Kasana, we even saw elephant dung amongst the houses in Kasane.


2km Outside Kasane we saw the first elephant for the day.


Another few kilometres down the road another elephant.


There is an abundance of wildlife on this piece of road.


We came across these three elephant and I could see that they wanted to cross the road, so we waited for a while.








Some giraffes.


Even sunflowers.


A brekkie along the road.




50 Kays before Nata you will get the turnoff to Elephant sands and as per usual, die road off the main road is very sandy. 
Don’t mind the sand, mind the elephants on the road.






The 3km to the camp was a workout but worth it.  Here are some photos of the wildlife we saw there.




























The story of Elephant Sands.

Elephant sands have a natural waterhole where wildlife drinks from.  The Lodge with a pool was build around the waterhole.  The water at the waterhole is salt water, and obviously the water in the pool is fresh water.  Elephants prefer fresh water and started to drink the pool empty, and then the owner decided to build a pit next to the pool for the elephants.  This kept the elephant away from the pool, but only meters away from where people stand and watch them.
The lack of fences allows all animals to roam freely, and the elephants walk through the campsite as they please, from there the saying “Elephant Sands, where the Elephants rule...”.

They told us that they also have a pack of wild dogs, lion, leopard and a variety of buck that visit the waterhole. 

We were not disappointed, we saw elephant a couple of meters from us.  What a unique and amazing experience to watch wild elephants and their behaviour at such close proximity.
The photos are not of the best quality, as we were not allowed to use a flash.  I need to learn how to take night photos.




We bought braai packs for the night, but the ellies kept us so busy, we opted to order food from the restaurant.


Out tent was pitched, we lay in bed and experienced the serenity and peacefulness of the real African bush.

 

[jimjim]

Wow, what a RR! Great phodies. Respect to both of you and the Yami  :thumleft:

 

[Cheetah]

Great RR Mnr en Mev. Visarend  :thumleft:
:sip:

 

[Capitan]

Man...voel of ek op vakansie is.... daai fotos lyk of dit by National Geographic geleen is Mev. Vis.... dit is besonders mooi...  ek wag geduldig... beste RR nog... 

Eks reg... kan ons nou maar weer ry...  :ricky:

 

[Vis Arend]

Day 19 Elephant Sands to Maun

Yesterday was another special day in our lives, I will defiantly return to this place.

Our route for today was just to get closer to Namibia.  From Elephants Sands it is to Nata, then west to Planet Baobab en then eventually to Maun, on the banks of the Okavango Delta.
We packed up and an elephant came to visit the waterhole, a couple of meters from us.  We were packed but were reluctant to leave.  Eventually we managed to get away.


It’s back to the main road, and yes you guessed it, through the sand -  there is only one way.




It was time to inflate the tyres.



We stopped in Nata to refuel and had a brekkie at Wimpy.


I was glad we stayed over at Elephant Sands.  We stopped at Planet Baobab, but the place looked to fancy for us with far too many tourist hanging around.




Then, on the way to Maun, I think something like 83km before, she became 50.
She served me good the last 50 000km and we are looking forward to the next 50.


It was time for celebration.














She still looks good for a 50 year old lady.


We reached Maun and booked in at Okavango Lodge.
Our camp for the night.


I bought wood from these guy’s mother up the road and they delivered it for me.  They each received a nice little tip, check their smiles.

 

[Vis Arend]

Day 20 Maun to Gobabis.

Yesterday was an uneventful day and so would today be.  The main aim is to get back to Namibia.  Our plans changed a bit and we decided to visit our friends in the Kalahari.

The route for today is from Maun to Ganzi and then to Gobabis, out at the Botswana border and in at the Namibian border.

Botswana is a beautiful place with friendly people and well worth another visit.  Our aim for this visit was to get a feeling for the place for future exploration.

Me and wifey


The long road to Ganzi


The last foot and mouth disease control point


Lo chicken likes something on the bike.




We once again had no problems in booking out of Botswana, and so it was the same booking into Namibia.
We were back into Namibia.






We reached Gobabis and booked in at Gaba Lodge, what a lovely little place.






My wife nagged the whole trip that she wanted pumpkin, so I bought some in Gobabis.  I told you that little pot is a lifesaver.






Tomorrow it is back to one of my favourite places, the Kalahari.  Sand................yes, and plenty of sand.

 

[Geotraveller]

That last controll point is at Kuhke if I am right? Just past that roadsign ahead is a gate and road on the left. 40 km along that road leads to the entrance of th Central Kalahari Game Reserve. We had an exploration camp opposite that entarnce. Awesome place Botswana!

 

[Vis Arend]

That last controll point is at Kuhke if I am right? Just past that roadsign ahead is a gate and road on the left. 40 km along that road leads to the entrance of th Central Kalahari Game Reserve. We had an exploration camp opposite that entarnce. Awesome place Botswana!

Spot on, I saw the turnoff to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.  Would like to explore that area a bit more.
We were impressed with Botswana, we will definitely return.

 

[Vis Arend]

Day 21 Gobabis to Rooidraai.

Todays route is from Gobabis to Loanardville, Aranos, Stampriet, Gochas and then on the C15 until you get the D503, 20km on the D503 is our friends farm, Rooidraai.

With 1st light we were on the road.  The gravel roads were in good condition.




We reached Loanardville in no time, Aranos was the next dorpie, but we missed it completely.  My navigational skills are taking a knock.
We ended up on another D road, but the scenery was spectacular.


Time for padkos.


Group bird’s nest, I elaborated about them in my 2nd post, on day 2.










Somewhere along this road a kudu almost jump into us, what made it turn away at the last moment can only be described as a miracle.  Another pair of undies moertoe.
Beware for the powdery parts on top of the dunes.


I just love it to ride here.


We reached Stampriet, got onto the C15 to Gochas, filled up with fuel there and pushed on to the tweespoor on the D503.
Gochas Hotel


On route to the D503


From here it is another 20km’s and two falls to the farm.










The camel thorn trees between the red dunes are stunning.










The farm house


Some photos of the farm


I think we should get a couple of wild dogs together and camp on this dune.








We stayed on the farm for 2 days to recharge our batteries before the last stretch home.

 

[cloudgazer]

what an epic trip.
but sheesh all that red meat would kill me.

Makes me wanna do Namibia more than ever.

 

[Geotraveller]

That last controll point is at Kuhke if I am right? Just past that roadsign ahead is a gate and road on the left. 40 km along that road leads to the entrance of th Central Kalahari Game Reserve. We had an exploration camp opposite that entarnce. Awesome place Botswana!

Spot on, I saw the turnoff to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.  Would like to explore that area a bit more.
We were impressed with Botswana, we will definitely return.

You wont be dissapointed
here is an example of the road and some wildlife you may encounter. These two guys were in the farming area near the reserve, about 3 km from our camp. The fence is the control fence stretching across Botswana.



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Mark Hardy has ridden the fire roads around the CKRG, he will be the guy to talk to.

 

[Mev Vis Arend]

what an epic trip.
but sheesh all that red meat would kill me.

Makes me wanna do Namibia more than ever.

:biggrin:The first night on the farm I asked my friend what's for supper.  She said "vetribbetjie soos altyd"  When I asked her what's she going to serve with the ribbetjie, she said "kai'ings".  So, we had vetribbetjie, kai-ings and baked potato that night.  :lol8:

 

[Sithe]

Nice .... very nice ... must do trip one of these years

BTW Vis ... you need to add some greens to your meals  ot:

 

[Jakkals]

Nice .... very nice ... must do trip one of these years

BTW Vis ... you need to add some greens to your meals  ot:

:laughing4: :laughing4: :laughing4:
Ek sien geen fout met daai vleis dieet nie, geen ete is gesond as vleis nie die hoof dis is nie. :imaposer: :imaposer:

 

[Vis Arend]

Nice .... very nice ... must do trip one of these years

BTW Vis ... you need to add some greens to your meals  ot:

:eek7:  Lyk dit vir jou of daar plek op daai S10 is vir "greens".  :lol8: