DAY BY DAY ACCOUNT OF MY 2011 NAMIBIA TRIP - OVERVIEW & DAY 1

Overview

During May and June 2011, myself, my wife, Marlene and a friend, Rene Snyman, traveled from Bloemfontein, South Africa, to Namibia, We were away for a total 39 days, of which 35 days were in Namibia, camping with a tent most of the time. During the next couple of blogs, I will give a day-by-day account of our travels coloured in with many photos.

A preview of one of the places that will be featured in the blogs.

Useless Information (all monetary values are in South African Rands or Namibian $: ZAR 1 = NA$1)

8765 km traveled of which 3850 km were on gravel roads

Fuel:  966 liters used @ R9206.00

Accomodation: R8923.00

Entrance fees: R1785.00

Food and other expenses: R10957.00

Total expenditure: R30875.00 for 3 people

Vehicle used: 1997 Toyota Venture 2.2 GLE with Limited Slip Diff
Built-in 12v - 240v inverter

Camped 30 days

Stayed with family 7 days

Other accommodation 1 day

What we have learned: never to use inflatable mattresses again - invites the cold air from below and get punctured regularly...

Trip report - day 1 (2011-05-13)

Nothing much to report - just a long, boring road and and as we were pressed for time, no photos. We departed from Bloemfontein to Kimberley via Petrusburg on the N8 early morning. A quick stop in Kimberley to stretch our legs and then on to Groblershoop via Griekwastad. Obviously the area around Griekwastad received exceptionally good rains as there was water next to the road as far as I could see for km's on end, sometimes nearly up to the level of the tarred road surface. A fuel stop in Groblershoop, just across the Gariep (Orange) River, and then on with the N10 for a lunch break with family of Rene's in Upington. We stayed for the night on a farm 80 km North of Upington.

Total distance traveled for the day: 680 km, all tar except for the last 2 km.

The map below is an interactive Google Map showing the actual GPS track we followed (imported from a .gpx file). Zoom in to follow our route. Click on a balloon for more information.