- Joined
- Oct 19, 2008
- Messages
- 15,249
- Reaction score
- 3,650
- Location
- Bothasig , Cape Town
- Bike
- Honda CRF-1000L Africa Twin
Day 10 : 16th June : Twfelfontein – Khowarib lodge - in the meat of things
Twfelfontein is as gorgeous as it is interesting, a UNESCO world heritiage site boasting one of the most extensive collections of rock art engravings in the Southern Africa region , anyone travelling in the area who is not camping is drawn to the place and I can see why. The heavy dust in the air makes for some spectacular sunsets over the Huab Valley, the staff are friendly and the extended buffet was a delight for the taste buds. Shout out to Twfelfontein Country lodge https://twyfelfontein.com.na/
Travelling to a schedule with deadlines takes a different level of planning, so far Chantal has the bookings down to a fine art and besides myself and Willie nearly sharing a bed back in Gecko Lodge all has been smooth sailing, for the record I was fine with sharing a bed but Willie had a 2 lines he couldn’t cross, one was sharing his toothbrush after I left mine behind at one of the accomodations and apparently sharing a bed. We know too much about each other and thanks bud for buying me a toothbrush a few days back.
Up before sunrise with much to get done, scripts were still being finalised well after 12pm the night before and now it was time to film some intro scenes, conduct a few interviews and grab a few filler shots with the sunrise.. yet another crunch day, yet another amazing day ahead with another bucket list location to tick off the list on route.. technically we had a decision to make regarding the proposed guest route which included 40km of deep sand riverbed, the filming yesterday in the riverbed got tricky technically and trying to get a convoy up the riverbed seemed like an unnecessary risk just in terms of how long it would take and notably the potential risk to the cars requiring recovery under those conditions with elephants very close which could be encountered in the riverbed potentially leading to a lengthy delay was all taken into account. There were such good views to be had on an alternative route, it's more rocky and slower going but these Scorpio N series cars had no issues with technical roads. Just as well the agreement was to take an alternative route as giraffes were spotted multiple times much to the delight of the guests.
Jaco being filmed for his intro scene being directed by Hardy ..
Willie capturing some interviews with Mhlo, Jaco & Chantal
Desolation Valley lies in central Damaraland, and follows the Huab River West into the Torra Conservancy. It’s a secluded and desolate as the name suggests, but the views, only obstructed by dust blowing over the plains are spectacular and a feast for the eyes. The road leading down into desolation valley is a bumpy one but the views were distracting enough for us not to notice. When I get a chance i will pull out all of my video footage and post it.. it will be worth watching.
Down in Desolation Valley, Chantal’s coffee bar was open, Hardy was giving briefings and a few hours of filming got underway... 1st drone shots of the cars in formation across the sandy plains right before us and then technical shots of the cars capabilities in this environment and the Scorpio N didn’t disappoint. The car really is living up to the hype with front and back cameras, seamless gear changes and shifting to 4H with a touch of a button are just some of the features everyone used and enjoyed.
Packing up and leaving windy desolation valley we turned off the C40 and onto the C43 towards Palmwag, a quick pre-ordered chicken salad lunch was enjoyed before Willie and I set off into the distance seeking the perfect light location for an approaching dust trail give away of a convoy . Shot planned & executed,. We were getting some fantastic footage, as a bonus when Jaco stopped as a sweeper while we Willie was packing up the drone, a giraffe walked right into frame and thus we were rewarded with an epic giraffe shot totally by chance.. What crazy timing and hustle but it was the shot of the tour...
Some fantastic sightings along the way
Khowarib Lodge... our destination and our base for the next 2 evenings as we film the car in some jaw dropping and testing conditions, from knee deep fesh fesh, deeply sandy riverbeds up Khoraib Canyon, rocks and gnarly climbs. The plan was to conquer the area but for now we got to enjoy yet another Namibian sunset on the fringe of Kaokoland.
Khowarib Lodge nestles on the banks of the Hoanib river in the magnificent Khowarib Gorge. 14 tented chalets project out from the river bank on stilts over the river bed providing shady views of the cliffs opposite, generous bar and dining areas under thatch with the fire pit ablaze with stories that night accompanied with a buffet dinner & whiskey as the staff treated the guests to a few traditional songs.
Twfelfontein is as gorgeous as it is interesting, a UNESCO world heritiage site boasting one of the most extensive collections of rock art engravings in the Southern Africa region , anyone travelling in the area who is not camping is drawn to the place and I can see why. The heavy dust in the air makes for some spectacular sunsets over the Huab Valley, the staff are friendly and the extended buffet was a delight for the taste buds. Shout out to Twfelfontein Country lodge https://twyfelfontein.com.na/
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803664-03.jpg)
![7.jpg 7.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803667-7.jpg)
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803670-11.jpg)
Travelling to a schedule with deadlines takes a different level of planning, so far Chantal has the bookings down to a fine art and besides myself and Willie nearly sharing a bed back in Gecko Lodge all has been smooth sailing, for the record I was fine with sharing a bed but Willie had a 2 lines he couldn’t cross, one was sharing his toothbrush after I left mine behind at one of the accomodations and apparently sharing a bed. We know too much about each other and thanks bud for buying me a toothbrush a few days back.
Up before sunrise with much to get done, scripts were still being finalised well after 12pm the night before and now it was time to film some intro scenes, conduct a few interviews and grab a few filler shots with the sunrise.. yet another crunch day, yet another amazing day ahead with another bucket list location to tick off the list on route.. technically we had a decision to make regarding the proposed guest route which included 40km of deep sand riverbed, the filming yesterday in the riverbed got tricky technically and trying to get a convoy up the riverbed seemed like an unnecessary risk just in terms of how long it would take and notably the potential risk to the cars requiring recovery under those conditions with elephants very close which could be encountered in the riverbed potentially leading to a lengthy delay was all taken into account. There were such good views to be had on an alternative route, it's more rocky and slower going but these Scorpio N series cars had no issues with technical roads. Just as well the agreement was to take an alternative route as giraffes were spotted multiple times much to the delight of the guests.
Jaco being filmed for his intro scene being directed by Hardy ..
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803660-01.jpg)
Willie capturing some interviews with Mhlo, Jaco & Chantal
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803661-02.jpg)
Desolation Valley lies in central Damaraland, and follows the Huab River West into the Torra Conservancy. It’s a secluded and desolate as the name suggests, but the views, only obstructed by dust blowing over the plains are spectacular and a feast for the eyes. The road leading down into desolation valley is a bumpy one but the views were distracting enough for us not to notice. When I get a chance i will pull out all of my video footage and post it.. it will be worth watching.
Down in Desolation Valley, Chantal’s coffee bar was open, Hardy was giving briefings and a few hours of filming got underway... 1st drone shots of the cars in formation across the sandy plains right before us and then technical shots of the cars capabilities in this environment and the Scorpio N didn’t disappoint. The car really is living up to the hype with front and back cameras, seamless gear changes and shifting to 4H with a touch of a button are just some of the features everyone used and enjoyed.
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803665-04.jpg)
Packing up and leaving windy desolation valley we turned off the C40 and onto the C43 towards Palmwag, a quick pre-ordered chicken salad lunch was enjoyed before Willie and I set off into the distance seeking the perfect light location for an approaching dust trail give away of a convoy . Shot planned & executed,. We were getting some fantastic footage, as a bonus when Jaco stopped as a sweeper while we Willie was packing up the drone, a giraffe walked right into frame and thus we were rewarded with an epic giraffe shot totally by chance.. What crazy timing and hustle but it was the shot of the tour...
Some fantastic sightings along the way
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803683-13.jpg)
Khowarib Lodge... our destination and our base for the next 2 evenings as we film the car in some jaw dropping and testing conditions, from knee deep fesh fesh, deeply sandy riverbeds up Khoraib Canyon, rocks and gnarly climbs. The plan was to conquer the area but for now we got to enjoy yet another Namibian sunset on the fringe of Kaokoland.
Khowarib Lodge nestles on the banks of the Hoanib river in the magnificent Khowarib Gorge. 14 tented chalets project out from the river bank on stilts over the river bed providing shady views of the cliffs opposite, generous bar and dining areas under thatch with the fire pit ablaze with stories that night accompanied with a buffet dinner & whiskey as the staff treated the guests to a few traditional songs.
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803666-05.jpg)
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/wilddog/data/attach/803/803672-06.jpg)