FROM THE RIVER TO THE DESERT

I had been dreaming of this trip for more thant a year: A three-week-long Namibian Desert Safari.

On our itinerary were world-renowned attractions such as Ai-Ais, Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, the Fish River Canyon, the ghost town of Kolmanskop, the mysterious German castle of Duwisib, Sossusvlei, the Trans Kalahari Route and more...

Our safari team, headed by Jannie Rykaart of Protea Safari Tours, consisted of myself, four vehicles from Johannesburg and one from East London.

I felt like a bit of a show-off, since I had a newly-launched Mitsubishi Triton 2.4-litre double cab, behind which I towed a Conqueror Comfort.

By the end of this trip, I would have a few thousand kilometres with this combination under my belt, and I can tell you it’s a fantastic way to experience Namibia.

LAKE GRAPPA

The official starting point for our safari was Norotshama River Resort on the banks of the mighty Orange River in Namibia. But I was coming from Johannesburg, and driving over 1 200 km in one go to get to my first destination was madness, so I decided to head out a few days before the pack and stop over at Lake Grappa just outside Kakamas.