Getaway had been planning this trip for a few months as a reader event, however, spiraling cost meant a last minute revision in the planning.
Now I, along with Daniel Botha our Getaway illustrator, and competent motorcyclist would tackle a ten-day Namibia camping expedition. The Extreme Namibia Expedition was born. The plan, loosely speaking, was to outfit two BMW 1200 Adventure motorbikes, pack lightly and follow our noses, camping wherever we could while taking in the scenery and meeting the locals.
It always takes me some time to unwind and get into a journey such as this. I’ve likened it to peeling off mental post-it notes as you drive. The clutter we gather in our heads finally has the time to be dealt with and cast into the slipstream.
The first day’s travel was to have been a Cape Town to Springbok run, but a later than planned start saw long shadows appearing as we forged up the N1. 25 kilometres from Springbok we saw the Namaqua Game Lodge, which advertised camping so we pulled in and met the caretaker Clive Botha, who advised us that the campsite was five kilometers up in the hills and that we were most welcome to come down for a beer or two later.
40 minutes later, we were pretty much exhausted after winding our way into the hills through thick sand, gravel and along a winding goat path. We drove through a last sand trap to a fenced camp site with a koppie behind us and a broad valley in front. Beautiful. There was just enough time to put the tents up and fire up the stove before darkness drew down the curtain on day one. Stars we city dwellers rarely see in their full magnificence took centre stage. Clive’s offer of a cold one, although appreciated, would have to wait for another day.
