1. Jeffreys Bay

Jeffreys Bay is a little town that hugs the coastline on the Eastern Cape. It’s not uncommon to see surfers battling the beautiful blue waves that lap against the shore. Stop off to enjoy a leisurely stroll along the sand before having a quick bite to eat at Die Walskipper. Situated between Jeffrey’s Bay and Anston Bay, this lovely restaurant offers a delectable selection of seafood along with some more traditional South African fare.

2. Tsitsikamma National Park

Situated near the Storms River, Tsitsikamma National Park is a world of luscious forestland, rocky hilltops and sparkling seafronts. The park is home to a huge variety of wildlife, including the adorable Knysna Golden Mole and the elusive Cape wild cat. Stop off to stretch your legs and soak up that wonderful pure air before you re-start your journey.

Overlooking Knysna.                                                               Photo: exfordy

3. Knysna

The gorgeous port town of Knysna is the perfect place to grab an afternoon snack. Make your way to Il de Pain, a favourite amongst the locals, for a sweet treat or a delicious slice of home-made bread. If you’re lucky, you might catch the local food and design market which showcases the beautiful handiwork of local designers. When it’s time to settle down for the night, grab a couple of drinks at the swanky and sophisticated Cornuti cocktail bar at Knysna Heads. Situated right on the seafront, the restaurant offers stunning views across the bay.

4. Stilbaai

Plettenberg Bay and Knysna attract a lot of tourists travelling along the Garden Route, so if you’re looking for a more peaceful destination you might want to check out the little town of Stilbaai. Often referred to as the Bay of Sleeping Beauty, this lovely town is the perfect place to come and dream a couple of hours away. Take some time out to relax on the beach or enjoy a round of golf on a nearby course.

5. Oudtshoorn

Nestled between the Swartberg and the Outeniqua mountains in the Klein Karoo, this town is the perfect pit-stop for animal lovers. Oudtshoorn is home to a huge number of ostrich farms as well as the famous Cango Wildlife Ranch, where you can cuddle up with some cute baby tigers or stroke a beautiful full-grown cheetah. If you’re feeling brave, you can even get up close and personal with some crocodiles!

Becky is a passionate traveller who blogs about her travel adventures and the hidden gems she finds along the way. She currently writes for Enjoybedandbreakfast.com, which showcases unique, unusual and the truly special bed and breakfasts and guest houses from across the world.

Image from Flickr user exfordy

Travellers visiting Botswana are advised to travel with an equipped 4x4 hire option, seeing as one sometimes travels on rough terrain. Another alternative is meeting up with a tour group operator.

Botswana Travel Guide: Driving a 4x4 in Botswana.    Photo: Taylor 90 on Flickr

Botswana Travel Guide: Road conditions in Botswana

When travelling deeper into Africa, roads become less accessible. If you are travelling with a sedan rental car it is advisable to stay on national roads, seeing as most of them are tar roads. Like roads in Namibia, national roads in Botswana are fairly good, but when visiting national parks, game reserves and travelling on the gravel roads an equipped 4x4 vehicle is a must.

Be aware of pot holes, elephants, antelope and farm animals when driving in Botswana.

Airports in Botswana mostly have limited car rental fleets available and it is advised to book your travel option well in advance, to ensure you have the right vehicle when travelling through Botswana.

Botswana Travel Guide: Approaching Moremi crossing. Photo: Georg.Schmidt on Flickr

Botswana Travel Guide: Most important airports

• Francistown Airport
• Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone
• Ghanzi Airport
• Gumare Airport
• Hukuntsi Airport
• Jwaneng Airport
• Kasane Airport
• Maun Airport
• Orapa Airport
• Selebi-Phikwe Airport
• Shakawe Airport
• Sua Pan Airport

You also might want to consult our South Africa distance chart for more travel information on other destinations within South Africa.

Botswana Travel Guide: Male lion. Photo: Amhuxham of Flickr

Botswana Travel Guide: Top tourist attractions in Botswana

• Chobe National Park and Chobe River
• Okavango Delta
• Moremi Game Reserve
• Savuti National Park
• The Makgadikgadi and Nxai PAN National Park
• The Central Kalahari Game Reserve
• Khama Rhino Sanctuary
• Nata Bird Sanctuary
• Kazangula Crocodile Farm

Visit Discover Africa for a more detailed Botswana Travel Guide.

Airports in Namibia mostly have limited fleets and it is advised to book your travel option well in advance.

Namibia Travel Guide: Roads in Namibia.                           Photo:Enricod on Flickr

Namibia Travel Guide: Road conditions in Namibia

National roads in Namibia are mostly in a good condition, but if you do decide to travel to the game reserves, national parks or famous sand dunes an equipped 4x4 vehicle is your best options.

Roads in and around game reserves and national parks are usually gravel and the rough terrain normally makes it a bit difficult to drive a sedan - keep this in mind when planning your trip. Also allow an extra 3 to 4 hours travel time when you plan to travel on dirt roads and through national parks. 

Namibia Travel Guide: Windhoek International Airport.Photo: John Connell on Flickr.

Namibia Travel Guide: Most important Airports

• Gobabis Airport
• Grootfontein Airport
• Halali Airport
• Karasburg Airport
• Katima Mulilo Airport
• Keetmanshoop Airport
• Lüderitz Airport
• Mariental Airport
• Namutoni Airport
• Okaukuejo Airport
• Ondangwa Airport
• Oranjemund Airport
• Otjiwarongo Airport
• Rundu Airport
• Swakopmund Airport
• Tsumeb Airport
• Walvis Bay Airport
• Eros Airport in Windhoek
• Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport

You also might want to check out our South Africa Distance chart for more travel information on other destination within South Africa.

Namibia Travel Guide: Elephants at the Etosha Park.   Photo: Camnian on Flickr

Namibia Travel Guide: Top Tourist attractions in Namibia

• Travel to Sossusvlei
• See the Spitzkoppe
• Visit Etosha National Park
• Visit the ghost town Kolmanskop, near Luderitz
• See Swakopmund and Walvisbay
• Visit the Skeleton Coast
• Go fishing in Hentiesbay
• Experience German culture in Windhoek
• Experience the Fish River Canyon
• Visit the Waterberg Plateau Park
• Travel to Damaraland

Please visit Discover Africa for a more detailed Namibia Travel Guide.

Watch Toyota Hilux Review:

This Toyota Hilux 4x4 is equipped with: 

• 2.5L diesel engine
• Long range fuel tank
• 160 litre fuel tank capacity
• and Fuel consumption of about 9.4 litres per 100 km
• 5 speed manual transmission
• Power steering
• Radio/cd
• Air-conditioning
• ABS brakes
• airbags
• and 5 seats belts
• 12 Volt Power supply
• 2nd spare wheel
• lockable canopy
• Air compressor
• Roofrack with ratchet tie-downs
• Grass seed net
• Fire extinguisher
• Spade
• Tool kit
• Puncture repair kit
• Tow strap, triangles, axe
• Hi lift jack or air jack
• lantern or torch
• Kitchen equipment for four
• Table and chairs
• A fridge-freezer
• Braai grid
• 60L freshwater tank
• Gas stove & 4kg gas bottle
• 1 or 2 roof top tents, or a ground tent
• Bedding for four (bed dimensions of 1.2m x 2.4m)

Hire a 4x4 in South Africa, Namibia or Botswana, specifically, hire the Toyota Hilux 4x4 in South Africa, Namibia or Botswana, and traverse a beautiful stretch of Africa on a 4 wheel drive adventure.

The public transport system in a lot of the cities is not that extensive, although this has improved in recent years due to the World Cup 2010.  Due to the limitations in most cities, possibly with the exception of Cape Town, most people tend to drive so hiring a car will be your best bet if you need to get to different destinations whilst on your trip.  We’ve put together some general hints and tips that will help you to navigate and drive safer whilst on the road - as it can be a daunting experience for a traveller who is not used to the rules, regulations, and driving habits of the country. 

Drive on the Left Hand Side of the Road

One of the first and probably most important aspects to driving in South Africa is to remember which side of the road you should be driving on.  Due to the historical reasons and connections with the British Empire, the South African road network is set up so vehicles are driven on the left hand side. 

Stick to the Speed Limits despite What Other Drivers Do

You will probably notice that most drivers on the road don’t stick religiously to the speed limits.  However, as a tourist and visitor we would advise that you to stick to the rules, especially as you will be unfamiliar with the road network and any potential speed cameras on route.  The speed limitations are typically as below, and will always be sign-posted – although if you have a GPS this will also show display the limits too.

•       Residential Areas: 60 kph
•       Major Urban Roads: 70 or 80 kph
•       Open Roads: 100 kph
•       Freeways & National Highways: 120 kph

Take Out a GPS with Your Car Hire

Make sure that you ask the company you hire the car from to supply you with a GPS, or if you have your own device then take it with you.  Using a GPS will give you that added peace of mind, because it will constantly remind you which lane you should be in and will give you plenty of advance warnings when it comes to where you need to turn and any upcoming junctions and hazards.  Bear in mind that a GPS is only ever as good as the maps that are installed onto it so ask the car hire company whether they have updated the device with a new Navteq DVD in the last six months. 

Watch Out for Minibus Taxis

The humble minibus taxi has a unique place in South African driving culture, so please be aware that the rules for them appear to be slightly different to a car driver.  As a car driver you are not allowed to turn left when faced with a red traffic light, although you will probably notice minibus taxis don’t follow this rule.  It’s just something to watch out for because as a general observation, taxi drivers do tend to operate to their own rules and regulations whilst on the road – above all though, don’t let them pressure you into a mistake if you have one driving behind you.

About the Author: Bob Simmons is an automotive blogger who has spent considerable time in South Africa on business.  When not travelling, he runs a number of websites designed to offer informative and independent information about GPS devices and products.  He has recently published information on the Ford Navigation DVD 2012 including tips on how to get the best from the Ford Navigation System. 

“Australia. Land of milk and honey... and kangaroos.”

“Is it far? Further than Cape Town?”

“Yep. This vehicle, Tin Can, had to come by ship. It took 2 months.”

“2 months! Auww! Does it drink South African diesel? 500 ppm or 50 ppm?”

“Yes. Give me the good stuff please. The 50 ppm, low sulphur.”

Garden Route to Eastern Cape 

This was more or less what conversation with more than one filling station attendant sounded like on the 1500 km winding route along the Garden Route and Wild Coast (Transkei) to  the remote, beautiful seaside village Coffee Bay in the Transkei, South Africa where this is being typed at backpackers camping ground called White Clay. It’s built on a great site overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Above: White Clay camping ground Coffee Bay.              Photo's by: Stan Rogers

Seriously, in the 10 days now on the road, we have had so many interested people come up and talk to us at the various camping spots once they see the AUS sticker in the back and how Tin Can is set up. From a guy at Storm River Mouth who flew Rooivalk helicopters at the Avalon International Airshow, which is held near where we live in OZ to 5 bikies riding BMW R1200’s into Coffee Bay. They have all been so friendly and interested in our trip – including the bikies who have insisted we stay at their pad near Durban when we get there. Needless to say, every other Defender owner passed on the road also waves the nonchalant one finger salute of the masochistic community of Land Rover owners the world over.

After leaving De Hoop National Park with its fantastic bird life, we spent a morning at a country agricultural show at Swellendam where we spoke to some solar system expert guys who put us on where to find a new 230v inverter when we got to George. The agricultural show was very similar to one in OZ- with plenty of tractors and horse dressage etc., but interestingly different with them Afrikaans accents. We also bought a heap of Stan’s favourite snack at the show – Biltong. Nothing better with a beer at sundown!

Above: The 1802 NGK church in Swellendam.

A night was spent in a seafront but rather average caravan park in Mossel Bay followed by a short trip into the quite impressive, large rural town of George the next day to find the inverter. Our GPS couldn’t find the address at first (due, it turned out, to the fact that street names had changed) but after some phone calls the guys at Specialised Solar Systems guided us there and were very helpful.

Next night took us to Wilderness National Park where our Wildcard got us in to a lovely campsite along the Touws River.

Above: Camping in style at East London!

The afternoon was spent walking 6 kms through yellowwood and stinkwood forests to a water fall where we swam. We then followed Wilderness with a stop in the Tsitsikama National Park at Storms River Mouth – which has to be one of the world’s best settings and then two days in the Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth. The route to Addo started off uneventfully with a drive through the large motor manufacturing city of Uitenhage (which felt a lot like Geelong where we live in OZ whit its Ford plant)! Interestingly, all the Volkswagen Polos and Golfs and some of the Land Rovers that end up in Australia come from Uitenhage. But then it went pear shaped due entirely to the fault of our GPS and it’s “Tracks 4 Africa” not realising that when Stan typed in Addo National Park Offices we really wanted to go to Addo National Park Rest Camp. Turned out that the two were 75kms apart resulting in much swearing and a long drive in 40C heat to get to the rest camp just as the gates were closing!

That night the change came to blow away the heat followed by torrential rain, which tested our Hannibal, rooftop tent. The next day we relaxed around the rest camp a bit, but the following morning we got up at 5am to pack up to leave and do a 3 hour game drive through the park on the way out. We managed to see the famed elephants of Addo which once were only 11 after instructions to “exterminate all elephants” went out in 1911, but are now 500 after the National Park was proclaimed in 1931.

Above: Addo elephants

SANPARKS has been doing enormous conservation and fencing works over the past decade or two and the wildlife species are again quite diverse. The national park is now South Africa’s 3^rd biggest. Many animals had to be brought in from other SA Parks to build up the decimated gene pool again. 

Above: Burchell's zebras

Conserving black rhino is an ongoing battle due to poaching. Addo rhino’s have radio trackers in their horns to deter poachers. Never mind the rest of Africa, with 400 rhinos killed by poachers in 2011 in SA parks alone (and 50 killed so far in 2012) out of a population of 4,000 or so, one can see where the lucrative  We also saw kudu, Burchell’s zebra, Cape Buffalo and red hartebeest as well as a shy little jackal. Addo is not a patch on the Kruger Park, but still a beautiful place.

Marianne and I were keen to get to see Coffee Bay again- where we had spent a week on honeymoon 38 years ago! The road past East London and  through the Eastern Cape up into the Transkei (Wild Coast) winds through rolling hills and is generally excellent until one crosses the Kei river into the Transkei. Then it becomes something of a nightmare of mini busses and crawling “bakkies”.

Above: The road through the Transkei

The population of the old Bantustan state set up by the Apartheid government has exploded past anything Marianne and I remember or imagined. God knows how many millions live in the tiny houses dotting the hills. 

After the turn off from the N2 to Coffee Bay the road deteriorates to a sea axle breaking potholes past much, much denser population than we remember. We also got held up for half an hour by a demonstration against “police brutality” passing through a village- and we were tired when we finally rolled into Coffee Bay.

Above: Xhosa huts

Still, Coffee Bay looks as lovely as ever and tomorrow will be spent relaxing on the beach , exploring the many paths along the cliffs as well as searching for the reputed plentiful crayfish said to be sold by the locals. When we leave, the owners of White Clay have already told us about a very interesting 4 hour 4X4 track going to Port St Johns which we intend to take rather than going back to the N2.

Want to follow in Tin Can's tracks? Hire a car in Garden Route and travel all the way to Coffee Bay in the Eastern Cape.

 I told my husband yesterday that after having been chased by Elephant in Botswana, fallen down on gravel, and been through mud, sand, rain and heat I can say with confidence that it is these short, ‘easy’ distances that end up being the hardest!

The 200 km joyride to Livingstone took us 6 hours and from the moment we set foot on Zambian soil, things started to fall apart, literary.

The first hiccup in Zambia

Upon crossing the Zambezi river at 11:00, after spending almost 2 hours on the border,  we could see the first thunderstorm approaching. We had no alternative but to go forward, driving straight into it. It hit us hard and within seconds we were soaked, even our raincoats couldn’t keep the water out. Let me add that it hurts quite a bit to be hit with falling rain!

Above: The storm finally blew over.

We took shelter as soon as possible and waited it out. The storm blew over and within half an hour the sun was out. A welcome sight until the bike broke a mere 10 km later and we baked next to the Zambian road until our Big Boy was well again. By now it was 15h00.

Above: Our baby had quite a traumatic ride to the Vic falls.

A rough day already, but far from over!

Before we reached Livingstone, Zambia we had to drive through another thunderstorm – which, luckily, blew over just as quickly as the first but forced us to stop for a while.

On the road again, by 16h00 the bike gave us more grief and I sat around in the Zambian heat, watching the sun soak up the fresh rain from the potholes, while Guillaume created a makeshift XXX for the bike after it broke.

Above: Waiting it out and trying again.

We drove through a swarm of stinging sects, hitting us like tiny bullets, before we finally made it to Livingstone, Zambia at around 17h30;  tired, dirty and dreading the tuna and potato chips we had to eat yet again and the hard mattresses we have to sleep on.

Above: The majestic Victoria Falls.

Despite the long day this was one of our best days to date and we loved every moment of it! That is why I created a couple of tips on:

How to rough it in order to stay in good spirits

1.       Leave all your nonsense behind

There is not enough room for being full of crap, let it go and you will travel so much lighter and happier.

2.       Be flexible

Things hardly ever go as planned… the only constant in your travel plans should be to be the willingness to change it.

3.       Be practical

If you use common sense and keep your expectations realistic you can’t not have fun!

4.       Lower your standards

No, you don’t have to let go of them completely but being less fussy about things which aren’t necessities or important will get you far. 

5.       Get the creative juices flowing

Make a plan, and then another plan expanding on that plan. The more creative you are the better off you are and the easier things are.

6.       Make friends, everywhere

You will learn and see more from chatting with others than any book or travel guide can teach you. Get info, share stories, learn and love… that is what traveling is all about and the friends you make along the way will help you get achieve this.

7.       Get enough sleep

A tired camper is not a happy camper and you tend to be able to handle much more hardship when you’re rested than when you are not. We are all still children at hart – difficult when tired.

8.       Keep a clear sense of judgement

We get into many situations which can get us into a lot of trouble or sometimes be fatal, being sensible and making good judgments are vital.

9.       Keep smiling

There are so many situations which cause discomfort, anger or just get you down but all of them have a funny side to them. If you have a sense of humour you will see that and have a ball of a time, almost all the time.

10.   Have fun

You are doing this just for you, because you wanted to! No matter how horrible the moment, enjoy it because it will pass and soon you will be back in your mundane routine missing those horrible moments!

Want to apply this fool-proof guide but don't have a bike? Why not hire a 4x4 in Zambia and have the adventure you've been dreaming about! 

  

When arriving at a well known airport such as Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport or even Walvis Bay Airport, car rental or hiring a 4x4 might be the best option.The type of vehicle would, however, depend on whether you’re planning to go on a safari holiday or a relaxing beach holiday along the Western coast of Africa.

Road from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay.                                                     Photo:pegash

We at Drive South Africa have put together travel distance information from Walvis Bay Airport to various other destinations you might want to visit or are travelling from:
• Walvis Bay Airport in Namibia to Harare in Zimbabwe - 1813 km
• Walvis Bay Airport to Swakopmund - 30.6 km
• Walvis Bay to Windhoek - 310,3 km
• Walvis Bay to Cape Town  - 1647 km
• Walvis Bay to Johannesburg - 1671
• Walvis bay to Upington -  1149,5km
• Walvis Bay to Henties Bay - 95km

You also might want to check out our South Africa Distance chart for more travel information on other destination within South Africa.

You also can find cheap flight thanks to our partner.

Cheréne Pienaar gets to know April's Sales Consultant of the Month Eljean Davids at Drive South Africa. 

Like a fresh breeze

As the latest addition to the Drive South Africa sales team, Eljean Davids is a fresh breeze into the telephone lines leading to 38 Hout Street, Cape Town, where Drive South Africa operates from.

Eljean Davids

Even though this young and trendy girl loves the vibey city, she hails from a much more relaxed and down-to-earth place. The Boland district’s Winelands is not only where Eljean grew up, this postcard region is also her favourite part of South Africa.

“I know I’m a bit biased, but nothing beats visiting a small town like Wellington where you are surrounded by the friendliest people and the Boland’s magical mountains.”

'I love making it happen'

Nothing relaxes this country gal like cooking up a storm, which her beloved husband Lesley happily devours every night in their Bellville home. Going to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town or visiting family with hubby is what Eljean loves to do over the weekends and holidays. Although these are her break-away things to do, Eljean Davids is just one of those people that love her job.

To be part of a client’s dream holiday by making it all happen from start to finish is what Eljean adores about being a sales consultant. “I try to give the kind of service I would like to get. Bad client service is just the pits.”

March 2012 is definitely not the last time this young and focused woman will be the Sales Consultant of the Month. Her recipe for success is unfailable; “Hard work, friendliness, commitment, quick response to clients' e-mails and a love for what you do is how I would define success.”

Make hers a Jaguar

“Working for Drive South Africa, what is her dream car?” I hear you ask.

"Call me crazy but I’m not a Porcshe, Ferrari, or Mercedes kind of person. I just love the shape of the Jaguar. That’s why it was my wedding car.” Eljean chuckles and excuses herself to tend to a client’s needs as swiftly and stylishly as her favourite car. 

Speak to Eljean or one of our other friendly car rental consultants to meet all your South Africa car rental needs the quick and easy way.

When steam is bubbling from the bonnet and your head is pounding, you feel out of control and jittery, no matter how major or minor the accident. Before you become panic-stricken, it is important to take a deep breath and relax.

Accident in rental car when in South Africa: You need an action plan

Since how you react in the aftermath of a collision can save your life, you should take the following essential steps right after the accident with your rental car to take control of the situation. Also, there are various steps to take before you make a claim on your car insurance policy. 

1. Call the police as soon as possible after a rental car accident

The police should be called no matter how small the accident, especially if repairs are going to be needed. The police report will also help the insurance companies determine who is responsible for paying and make the whole process a lot easier.

A full report must be made of the whole rental car accident to the nearest police station within 24 hours and case number obtained.

2. Get these items out of you glove compartment and boot

Take note that the following items have to be in your rental car before you leave the depot to take on the long road.

• Warning triangles or emergency flares (if you are passing the border) should be kept in the trunk. According to Arrive Alive, a reflective emergency warning triangle sign for motorists is now a compulsory article in cars.
• Pen and paper to take notes of the auto rental in the accident.
• A disposable camera if your phone can't take pictures to take photos of the damage.
• A card with information containing all medical conditions such as allergies, and serious injuries you have so that medical personnel can keep this in mind.

3. Check for injuries and call the ambulance when in doubt

Make sure nobody, including you, is hurt. Check all the passengers in your vehicle for any injuries, scratches, bruises or disorientation.

4. Move vehicle out of the way if car rental accident is minor

Leaving cars parked in the middle of the road or busy intersection is a great hazard to other road users. If a car cannot be moved, drivers and passengers should remain in the cars with seat-belts fastened for everyone's safety until help arrives after the car rental accident.

5. Turn on your rental car's hazard lights and use cones, warning triangles or flares for safety 

Make sure to turn on hazard lights and set out cones, flares or warning triangles if possible.

6. Notify your insurance agent within 24 hours

Remember to make a note of the particulars of any other parties involved in the accident. If immediate repairs are necessary, please get authorisation from your rental supplier beforehand. An accident and theft report must be completed within 24 hours of either incident occurring. These are obtainable from any rental branch.

7. Document the damage of the accident in a rental car

Take photos and document the damage of both the vehicles. Do not sign any document unless it's for the police or your insurance agent. Make notes about every aspect of the accident, including specific damages to all the vehicles. Look for possible witnesses of the accident. They might serve as crucial role players in the end.

8. The moment when help arrives…

State only the facts, and limit your discussion of the accident to the police and your insurance agent. Do not accuse anyone (even if it’s not your fault)

9. Think before you tow your rental

If your vehicle requires towing, you will have to pay for it. Note, however, that this needs to be done by a registered supplier. Find a list of all emergency contacts in the glove box of your car rental.

10. And remember...

There are insurance claims and insurance notifications. The latter is when you do notify your insurance company about the accident but do not claim repairs on your car. Depending on how high your insurance excess is, you might save a lot of money and no-claim years if you pay for the repairs. Example: replacing something at a local garage instead of claiming for it on insurance might save you a lot of money. But please do notify your insurance company about the accident anyway!

Factors that cancel out waivers when in an accident with your rental car

• Gross negligence. If you are reckless on the road and do not consider fellow road users, you instantly lose your insurance rights.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol.
• Unauthorised persons driving the vehicle.
• Unauthorised cross border rentals. Make sure that you have the authority to take your rental car across the border.
• Not adhering to traffic, road and driving regulations.
• Unsuitable driving or road conditions.
• Not reporting the collision to the rental supplier and the nearest police station.
• Failure to get authorisation to extend the pre-booked rental period.
• Failure in reporting the loss or theft within 3 hours in the event of theft unless exceptional circumstances apply.
• Failure to produce the vehicle keys in case of theft unless exceptional circumstances apply.
• Not reporting the exact details of the last known location of the vehicle prior to theft.

Stay road-savvy and keep the above-mentioned points in mind in the unfortunate event of a rental car accident. 

Sources:

Edmunds

Wikihow

Arrive Alive

Statefarm

• 2 bucket seats in cabin
• Kitchen utensils;
• 220V air-conditioning in living unit
• Roof ventilator
• Lockable safe
• 80 litre built-in fridge/freezer
• Chemical cassette toilet with separate wash basin
• Hand-held shower
• Microwave

Hire a camper and take that camping trip of a lifetime to Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Drive South Africa will make it all happen!

Soweto tour by bike

The absolute highlight of the week was a 4-hour bicycle tour through the huge township of Soweto (population 5M) with Lebo’s Backpackers and Bicycle Tours. This cost was USD$60 each and was well worth the money! The guide “Philli” was great. We drank local millet beer in a shebeen, had a local lunch of “pap” and calf’s cheeks and saw where the 1976 school uprisings started which spelled the beginning of the end of Apartheid.

Nelson Mandela’s old house was nearby as is the house Desmond Tutu lives at times. Soweto surprised us with its general progression and neatness. Certainly a step up from the shantytowns of Kayelitsha near Cape Town -to which Stan and Hugo delivered some furniture in the week before for the local painter Eric. There people certainly survive on subsistence wages and have very little.

Intricite but smooth process

Finally and only 3 weeks late the Mediterranean Shipping Company managed to get Tin Can (our trusty 4x4) to Cape Town on 21^st February! General congestion in the ports of Durban and Port Elizabeth were blamed, but who knows the reasons? Things go according to Africa time now.

The process of getting her through the port and Customs went smoothly enough – although the whole process took 4 hours with  knows how many documents to be stamped and bills paid to Transnet, MSC Shipping, SA Customs, Port of Cape Town and Sam the depot foreman before Stan was able to kiss her “hello”! At USD$1,300 for the lot, the whole thing cost somewhat more than we were expecting, but seeing as Tin Can came out without a scratch and started first time, we paid uncomplainingly. However, the charges to off load were higher than to load the vehicle in OZ, which seemed surprising.

At least now final packing of the last minute supplies accumulated in Cape Town over the past 3 weeks has occurred, we have said a fond farewell to Marianne’s sister and brother in law who have been so kind putting us up for longer than expected and hit the road.

First stop has been two nights at the quite remote De Hoop Nature Reserve near Swellendam. The camping here is lovely – with a good site near the vlei (salt water lagoon) and plenty of bontebok, mountain zebra and baboons wandering through the campsite. Masses of bird life with beautiful little Tarentaal (quail) and guinea fowl scuttling around the campsite taking bread out of your hand.  The reserve holds 3,000 different species of birds and 30,000 live on the vlei. A bird watchers paradise! The afternoon was spent watching little honey eaters dozens of different birds come down to drink at the dripping tap on our campsite. The re- acquaintance with African wild life begins...

De Hoop also has the world’s second largest sand dune and miles of beaches and during the winter months people come to watch southern right whales cruise up the coast as well as schools of great white sharks from the top of the dune. No whales now in February but tomorrow once we have broken camp we intent to go check out the massive dunes and try some sand surfing!

Still, as to be expected at the start of any expedition, gaps in planning and execution have occurred! Started off with general uncertainty yesterday about the closing time of the gate at De Hoop leading to us arriving at the gate at 6.30pm after a late start from Cape Town only to find that closing time was 6.00pm! 

Back we go along 65km of rough gravel road back to the town of Swellendam (the 3^rd oldest town in South Africa dating back to 1745 and with beautiful old buildings and churches)- where we ended up in a B&B as it was now 9.00pm and nobody felt like finding a campsite. Back 65 kms to De Hoop in the morning and Tin Can has now done nearly 200kms of dirt road already and like any true Landrover Defender is dusty as both inside and out!

Second disaster was Stan spilling a jug of water into our 2400 watt 12/240 volt inverter, which runs both the jug and more importantly, powers various phone and battery chargers to keep communications going. The inverter didn’t like it at all and basically exploded with smoke pouring out and plenty of sparks! Most of the afternoon was spent pulling it apart, but she’s cactus! A new one at probable great expense will have to found? Damn…

Stan Rogers

Marianne Rogers

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The most exciting part was when we came across a rather crazy dog on the highway, perhaps infected with rabies, which decided it was a good idea to take on the bike as we were driving by.  Had a bit of a fright there but the bike proved to be the faster wild thing on the road and luckily the scary canine didn’t get hold of our ankles!

Above: Having lunch next to the road between Kongola and Divundi. On the menu, Romany Creams.

The best 4x4 by far!

In Divundu we shopped around for camping, which made up for dull drive here.  Again we put our Big Boy to the test and send it through some rough, wet and sandy roads. We are taking this bike where no 150cc has ever been before and regardless of the lack of power, speed and comfort we love our trusty steed more and more with each “punishment” it takes.

Our Big Boy has become our best friend and despite the fact that it can’t do what most bikes and 4x4’s can do, it hasn’t let us down yet. I think we have a relationship built on mutual respect.

The sandy-adventures paid off when we found a cheap camping spot with great facilities which is south from Divundu on the way to the border with Botswana.

Change of plan

Almost immediately after we left home we changed the planned route and as you can see we have taken the long way around.  Still, nothing about this trip has ever been set in stone and we see it as a new path of discovery rather than a detour.

We came here with hopes of reentering Botswana and seeing the top of the delta, however we might change our plans yet again. For the past four days we’ve had light, and at times pouring, rain with no sunshine which means no dry clothes. It’s getting to the point where we, the tent and our smelly, wet clothes needs some TLC so we might spend a couple of days here before heading back towards Livingstone.

The bike can also use the rest after all the sand and mud we’ve driven through!

Above: We set up camp next to the Okavango River and are quite comfortable. Maybe we will stay longer than two nights - that would be a record!

Despite the fact that I am eager to get to Zambia and then move into Tanzania, but we have to take our time and have a lot of ‘admin’ to take care of. So, here we are; wet clothes, smelly tent, a couple of kilo’s extra due to a diet of Romany Creams, chips and bread, with a slow bike and a couple of insect bites – but it all make this an even more exhilarating adventure and we really have no complaints.

After 2000 km under our belt and a collection of astonished faces, we are looking at the sun set under the clouds over the Okavango River with hippos grunting close by, and we are thinking; “man we really don’t miss our office jobs!”

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Going to Zimbabwe was a very difficult and personal journey for me.  A big part of our decision to take this expedition was fuelled by a house robbery we survived just over a year ago. Sadly, in our case, our attackers were Zimbabwean and I still carry the emotional scars from that incident.

Getting into the country took a while but we weren’t hassled too much but the drive between the two border crossings was hard; these people are suffering and making no attempt to hide it. They sell their worthless Billion Dollar notes as souvenirs to those crossing the bridge to see the falls in order to survive.

Sadly we couldn’t get further than Victoria Falls before we saw the first policemen searching for reasons to take your money.

Sorrow and compasssion

Being in Zimbabwe caved open two completely opposite emotions in my heart. I was filled with sorrow and compassion for these people who by the hands of those who are supposed to take care of them and their country are suffering so much. But at the same time I was filled with all the anger I felt after having a gun put in my face in my own home. Anger at those who have to resort to this behavior and furious at those who are abusing their power, attempting (or so it felt to me) to put me through further unnecessary threat.

The country finds itself in situation more complex than what I will ever understand and possibly the same contradictions as the emotions I carried around whilst I was there.  The people are friendly to the extreme but at the same time you hear stories of the almost violent behavior travelers have experienced.

Hello and goodbye

We didn’t spend a lot of time in Zimbabwe and avoided running into any officials. It was a flash visit, in and out before anyone would really notice and just long enough for me to remember and again forget about my own personal struggle with safety.

In the end I can only wish that this country will eventually rise again and as a traveler that I will be able to return and explore all the beauty which you read about and which I saw in the friendliness of some of its citizens.

Want to have your own little journey? Hire a car in South Africa and discover desolate regions and unknown forests. 

The specifications of the Discoverer 4 inlude:

• 2 bucket seats in cabin
• Kitchen utensils;
• 220V air-conditioning in living unit
• Roof ventilator
• Lockable safe
• 80 litre built-in fridge/freezer
• Chemical cassette toilet with separate wash basin
• Hand-held shower
• Microwave

Campers van hire via Drive South Africa guarantees a smooth holiday with the family.