Aus to Cape Town
Leaving Aus, there is a good road south to the border town of Rosh Pinah. Our original first plan had been to cross over at Sendelingsdrif, using the pontoon ferry, … Continue reading
Windhoek to Aus
After a couple of nights in Windhoek, it was time to head south first to the Quiver Tree forest outside Keetmanshoep. After a night in a quaint ‘igloo’ we explored … Continue reading
Epupa to Spitzkoppe
The long dirt road route continued for many hours/miles. Eventually reaching Omanji, the glorious sight of a brand new fuel station appeared. Having filled up, it then transpired the card … Continue reading
Divundu to Epupa
The route runs alongside the Kunene river most of the way. The river is the border between Namibia and Angola. Our progress was such that we carried on past the … Continue reading
Ngepi – Tiger Fishing
Our friends, Daniel and Ezeth from Windhoek, were meeting up with us and the highlight was a day tiger fishing on the river. These fish are aggressive and have serious … Continue reading
Ngepi
Ngepi River Lodge, on the bank of the Kavango river, (think Okavango), is a quirky and fun camp. One notable feature was the river swimming pool in a submerged cage … Continue reading
Chobe River and Divundu
Kasane, a town on the bank of the river that forms the border with Namibia, was a useful stop to rest after the mammoth drive from Kwai. It also made … Continue reading
Kwai to Ngoma
The route crossed a couple of reserves, (each involving registering and payment), and after some 60 kms of soft sand, we arrived at the first gate. There was then a … Continue reading
Khwai
Kwai is situated towards the northern part of the Okavango, and is another substantial conservancy run by the local community. It is very flat, and is effectively bordered on two … Continue reading
Xakanaxa to Khwai
Water buffalo look benign and lazy, but this hides a fiercely protective nature and care needs to be taken around them. Telephoto lenses are highly recommended. A termite mound that … Continue reading
Xakanaxa
As we were packed ready to leave, our attention was drawn to a spot about 30m from where we were standing. A pack of wild dogs had huddled up for … Continue reading
Moremi – Third Bridge & Xakanaxa
After breakfast, the trailer is unhooked, (with a quiet prayer that the baboons don’t get too inquisitive whilst we are out), and we go out on a game drive. (They … Continue reading
Maun & Beyond
The town is rightly known as the gateway into the Okavango Delta. It is the last point of ‘civilisation’, and the place to provision and replenish. You can get most … Continue reading
Southern Karoo roadtrip
The Karoo desert that starts about 3-4 hours drive from Cape Town, to be visited for the dramatic landscapes. That and the isolation. Starting from Cape Town, take the N1 … Continue reading
Exploring Southern Africa
When we left England in 2013, our expectation was to be living aboard Freebooter for the forseeable future with periodic visits back to the UK to see family and friends. … Continue reading
A Profitable Death
Funerals in Ghana carry a different slant. If you are ‘someone’ this can involve taking out full page colour ads in the local paper, listing all the principal mourners and setting … Continue reading
A Whistlestop Tour of South Africa – Part 2
A six hour trip took us to Birds of Eden, the largest aviary in the world, where you see everything from Macau’s to Flamingos to Fruit Bats flying free in … Continue reading
A Whistlestop Tour of South Africa – Part 1
When our Australian teacher friend, Wendy, asked if she could come and visit us in South Africa, the brief was broad – she wanted “to see as much as … Continue reading
The Pink Globe
The spectacular Zulu Memorial at Blood River showing the shields of the different chiefs. One always likes to think of one’s country as a peaceable entity, … Continue reading
The One-Legged Army
One-Legged Army? Looking for somewhere different for a day out, a colleague suggested Parys, (pronounced Par-ace). Apparently named after Paris, the two places could not be more different. A quaint little … Continue reading
Its all been a bit hectic…
We have been rather quiet, so here is a bit of an update After a manic decommissioning of Freebooter in Grenada at the end of June, it was back to … Continue reading
Steynshoop
After what seems like a very intense few months, our last weekend before heading back to Freebooter called for a local break. South Africa has many public holidays, almost always … Continue reading
Xenophobia here in South Africa
A few words on the topic that has made world headlines. As ever, trying to find out the reality from the rumour and news headlines is not easy. What reportedly started … Continue reading
Best Laid Plans………
My wonderful wife decided that we needed a break, and as Easter this year arrive close to my birthday, she made her plans for us to take a week away. … Continue reading
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