‘The thing about Namibia is that it makes you feel small'

The Overlanders' Handbook (one of our best buys before the trip) suggests that once on the road, it is common to want to rush ahead and try to cover excessive mileage. Instead, "make a conscious effort to start slow, park up somewhere sunny and warm, or visit friends after a few days on the road to catch your breath." Windhoek was our warm and sunny place - thanks to the Louws. We got to know Windhoek front to back and every camping shop inside out. Also managed to have coffee with the Dieners who did a year long sabbatical (South America and South East Asia) to chat about life on the road. Their best advice; be adaptable. And spend that extra cash even if you don't think you can afford it at the time.
After a small 'shakedown camping trip' with cousin Ria-Leen we finally hit the road for the long run.
Traveling South a bit (the locals conviced us...), we chose Kolmanskop as our Southermost point and will travel northwards from here. Only a few days in and we've had stunning sunsets and desert views, gemsbok and zebra along the road, warm Namibian hospitality and many small laughs (Bovril leaking, wrong size wheelspanner, someone who knows someone in Namibia).
With only childhood memories of Kolmanskop and Lüderitz, it is great to visit these places anew. It is clear that tourism isn't doing great and one wonders about the times we live in. But if a random stranger shows you a photograph of their farm 'that year when it rained' you realise people here are used to waiting and taking their time. The landscape asks it of you. Namibia is teaching me so much already.

Photographs:

South West of Windhoek: Namib-Naukluft area, Kolmanskop, Diaz point
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Stellenbosch to Windhoek - detours and rainy starts

It's been 6 days since we left Stellenbosch and we've travelled 2000km so far. 

We left home in a bit of a rush (afraid we'll get stuck in another lock-down) so on top of being somewhat ruffled, a lekker cape winter downpour caught us unawares while loading the car and prepared us for the many unexpected twists (and the rainy season on the equator) that awaited us. Stuffed into the cruiser with wet clothes and sullen spirits, we knew there was still plenty of work, kit and car to be finished, but at least we had 'lift off' for now.

The simple drive to Windhoek proved to be more adventurous than we hoped when we encountered a closed border post at Vioolsdrift and had to take a 700km ompad to the closest border post, Nakop-Ariamsvlei. Luckily we were well stocked up on plattelandse hospitality after brief visits to Ladismith (the Basson family) and De doorns (the 'groenboontjiebredie' was amazing, thanks Carstense).

After a stay at the Okiep Hotel and fuel stops at Kakamas and Pofadder, a long day's drive to Grunau ensued, with another early morning start heading for the Louw family in Windhoek. August's last 'remote work week' proved a bit hard to maintain with the unplanned detours, but breakfast just outside Keetmans' gave us wifi and breakfast with a smile. And the folks at Capitec were great.

Windhoek is hot, dry and cold, if that makes sense, with night temperatures dropping below freezing point. But the Louw hospitality is always exceptional and with some good contacts and help from the family we managed to fit the last of the kit on the roof rack and sort out some last items (Sasol Bird Guide, free haircut, rusks and rooibos tee, some good advice on touring Namibia). Plus, having listened through our entire playlist on the first 3 days of driving, it was probably a good idea to add some more to the mix (thanks Rub and Arina for the playlist, can't go without baby shark).

We plan to spend the next two or three weeks travelling Namibia and the Caprivi, but will send updates of the beautiful places we visit as we go. 

For some of Ydi's photographs you can see https://www.instagram.com/overlandtrip2021/ Also please use the link to "follow the adventure by e-mail" if you want to get updates. 

 

Not a bike trip 2021

We decided to keep August's 'hikeabike' blogspot for our new trip, although it's not a cycling adventure this time. 

Follow us (August and Ydi) as we embark on an exciting overlanding trip from Cape to Congo via Gabon and back (this is plan A). The exact travel plans are subject to change and covid restrictions, but we'll keep you posted where we are and what we're up to (#plan B, C, D or J).

Some people say you need a year of planning for an overlanding tour - we started talking and dreaming in December (August randomly told someone at a family braai we're going on a trip and since then we were committed!) The planning phase is slowly coming to an end, switching into the next gear for the final countdown (two weeks before lift-off). 

The neverending lists seem to be abating, as well as the crazy preparation things no-one tells you about (lots of forms to fill in, insurance, medical, licensing, insurance, medical, licensing). Lots of meeting random people for 2nd hand goods (camera bag, tent, cruiser, GPS). Lots of fun things to fix - August did a great job rebuilding the winch (youtube fixing), while I fixed up our playlist (and revived the blog - August says: We'll see if it lasts beyond this post). Lastly, a lot of reading, researching and catching up with people who have done similar trips and who could give us advice. You'll never be 100% prepared for what's ahead, but you might as well try. We're hoping the previous backpacking and public transport travels make up for being 110% prepared 😇. 

This week we moved from our house into a smaller place (with just the essentials - August disagrees on the essentials part) while we tie up any loose ends at work and acclimatise to living in a smaller space. Then it's over to mounting the last things onto the roofrack (including our homemade shower-aka-potato gun), getting last-minute orders in the mail, buying last medical supplies, and hopefully managing to 'leave at least half of your kit behind', as many experienced overlanders have told us, while making the COVID border cut-off.   

Adventure awaits...