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5th february - 13th march

Overlanding across Afica in our Land Rover Defender: South Africa 1

Andy Lees
2006-05-16 13:55:49

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towards the far north-eastern corner of south africa. thereby curtailing several thousand miles of fast roads that can't really be tackled in a fully loaded land rover - well, not at a speed that we would really like.

the sani pass is only open to 4x4s (lucky for us) and we drove at first light to ensure that we got to the top before the clouds came down. it wasn't a particularly difficult drive, the land rover powered up, even the sharp hairpin bends didn't require second attempts. reaching the top was like entering a different world but that's another story. we warmed ourselves with hot chocolates at the highest pub in south africa (even andy thought 10am was a tad early for a beer) before moving on.

kgalagadi transfrontier park - 7th march

back in south africa we pit-stopped in blomfontein, picked up supplies in upington and then rode the long, straight road north into the desert, rollercoastering over the endless rows of grass covered dunes like a beetle crossing a ploughed field. there was not a lot out here. ever so often we would pass the shells of once lived-in houses, brick buildings that lay empty, the locals favouring the more affordable and perhaps more fashionable tin abode. after a couple of hours we passed some road construction workers in their flourescent orange overalls, a small community in the middle of nowhere building a road for tourists in the most inhospitable conditions. they seemed pleased to see us.

before entering the park we spent one night at kalahari trails nature reserve where we were able to walk the dunes at sunset amongst antelope and play with a tame meerkat. it transpired the owner was originally from claire's home town. in the morning we entered the kgalagadi transfrontier park that shares borders with botswana and namibia. this is the kalahari and its location is as remote as you can get in south africa. due to the undulating landscape there are only ...