December 13th onwards
Incredible crazy journey and many adventures. A few highlights:
- Being largely self-sufficient with roof top solar panels to supply our battery for the induction cooker, fridge and a water tank for drinking and washing.
- Beautiful and varied landscapes from the Western Sahara to the tropical rainforests near the equator and the cold desert of Namibia to the hot dry heat of Botswana and the heavy rains of Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.
- Poor road conditions, city traffic, corrupt police.
- Huge insects and plenty of wildlife. So many species.
- Sleeping in a roof top tent and local hotel accomodation.
- Unsanitary shower/wc facilities.
- Met wonderful people on route and a few unsavoury characters.
- Eating delicious and strange local dishes.
- Enjoying the outdoor life with evenings spent gazing at the stars.
- Friendly campsite companions (dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, lizards, frogs, spiders, sacada beetles, mosquitoes).
- Getting away from it all is good for the soul.
Allen’s perspective…
After leaving the Drakensburg region we headed on south, towards East London, following the coast past Port Elizabeth and George, on to Hermanus. Along the way we stayed at a fantastic little campsite beside a lake, all by ourselves. As it turned out that was to be our last night of camping on the trip. From there we stayed at a few different B&B type accommodation, including one which specialised in the making of Venetian Carnival Masks. I did find that particular owner a little peculiar. Before Hermanus we stopped off at a small farmstead, in this beautiful old building miles from anywhere. The last morsel of peace before we hit Cape Town and then back to the UK.
Hermanus offered us a few days of familiarity, in a beautiful seaside town. A chance to enjoy the views, relax from the road, and to pack up the vehicle ready for shipping. It’s amazing the stuff you accumulate whilst travelling, each piece with its own story, from a particular store, hotel, country, etc. Even a box of tea takes you back to a shop in Zambia, or Tanzania, or even Cameroon. We made sure to go and buy plenty of our favourite wine beforehand, Newton Johnson, returning with 15 bottles to enjoy. Our packing efforts were made all the easier after being very fortunate to have come across a Krazy Town store where the friendly manager gave us several boxes. And whilst this was going on our host in Hermanus was incredibly accommodating to the comings and goings of us emptying out our vehicle and then loading it back in again. It was sad to pack up the vehicle, but it felt like the right time to begin our trip back home.
From Hermanus we headed back to Somerset West to stay with Ash, Will, and the girls for one last night. We managed to have a picnic in the woods at Vergelegen and packed up the remaining items at theirs which we had left in August. Then, on Thursday 21st December we drove out to African Overlanders at Brackenfell where we met Duncan, a British expat with an intriguing personality. In his safe hands we left the car, all packed up, loaded with wine, and hoping to see her safe and sound back home in the UK. After a lift to the airport by one of Duncans staff we waited for that final flight home.
9 months on the road is hard. Whilst we enjoyed a month in Cape Town in August, the rest of the time we were on the road, experiencing all kinds of weather, temperatures, people, road conditions, insects, crap accommodation, and more. But for all of the negatives, for all of what it took out of us, we had the most amazing experience of our lives. Meeting fantastic people, making new friends, becoming reacquainted with friends of old, getting married, and having the opportunity to experience something which most people never will. If we decide to ever do it again who knows, but after this trip Africa has an even more special place in our hearts and our memories.