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Finally we were able to find Internet access! wohooo! Our journey started in Johannesburg where we stayed one night at the Drifters Inn. A nice Lodge, an oasis in the middle of Joburg. Lush trees and green outdoors area. A good and safe place to stay, with nice facilities. Our rental car, which is f***ing awesome by the way, all guys are cheking the car out before us, hahaha! Pickup at the airport and then we drove to get our camping equipment from Bushlore. We actually managed to drive the wrong way, but picked it up fast and got directions to the place headed. Camping is no joke guys, especially in the African wilderness :) we have fivestar equipment, even an axe (for protection, we said) and portable shower. dont even think about asking how it works, cause we dont use it, haha! in other words we smell quite lovely! from joburg we got on to the highway N1 to Pretoria, then N11 to Martins Drift where the border to Botswana is. This took us 5hrs. Silje has gotten a new nickname on this trip, its Silje "baann gass" Tynes. You figure it out :) Our first night camping was in the pitch dark as we arrived quite late at the border. Some nice gemntleman put up our tent and we felt quite annoyed because Kine had a practice training at Bushlore and was quite skilled.... But the african man did not take no for an answer, he thought we were two helpless white girls....not sure what we were doing...anyways, we made our first camp meal, (the african man even offered us food...hello we can cook or what..), boerwors with chutney (african sausage) yammy yammy! Beer was cold and we happy! whilst eating, techno music was playing at the border. (camp site is at border). it was funny at first, but when they were still playing when we got up in the morning it was more like a nightmare....the reception lady said it was a party for people in transit. Big trucks hanging out waiting to pass in the morning. We took it nice and easy in the morning, packing our gear and enjoying coffees in our five star deluxe camping chairs, whilst the overland truck (where the african gentleman belonged to), drove out from the site in a hurry. I might add, the african man was quite doubtful about our driving goals... wel he got surprised when we drove past their overland truck, waving and smiling. Kine wanted to give him the finger but Silje drove to fast for him to see it :) Dont think they used to independent women, haha! Nothing much to see from Martins Drift to Nata, only made a quick stop in francistown for fuel. From Nata and onwards to Kasane (top of Botswana, border to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia), the roads are terrible, potholes everywhere and Silje was driving like a drunk person...honest she wasnt! This rtoad on the other hand brings much viewing of wild animals. We saw Several Elephants, Impalas (antilope) and baboons. Silje thought every baboon she saw was a lion. wishful thinking i call it :) the journey took us, from Martins Drift to Kasane, 9hrs. We camped at Thebe Lodge in Kasane and booked our transfer over to Zimbabwe. We our not allowed to bring our rental in there.
09th of March. Transfer to Zimbabwe. Bordercontrol is no problem, pay and go! Transfer took us to Drifters Inn Lodge in Victoria Falls, where the fat dog welcomed us! we had a nice shower and a chat with the managers Leanne and Russel. Such lovely people! We found out that we had bit of a problem....Zimbabwe equals CASH. theres a new meaning to CASH IS KING! seriously, you would think it was possible to pay somewhere with a creditcard, but NO! so what to do when you only have limited cash on you...well you travel into Zambia to withdraw money....paying transfer and visa fee...OMG. One Drifters guide was on leave, and he showed us the centre of Victoria Falls. The carving of the big tree that Livingston passed on his route in 1925. The Falls are actually right in town and theres a park fee of 20usd to enter. The currency in Zimbabwe is anything except their own. Mainly they want us dollars! one night at a restaurant we paid in Botswana Pula (yes scandos its called Pula :) ) we received our change in us dollars and south african rand. funny games! Drifters use a company called Wild Horizons to book their adventure activities in Vic Falls. This is Mecca for adrenalin junkies! everything is done here! we decided to spot hippoes on the mighty zambezi river on the sunset boat cruise. How romantic :) the captain locked Silje in the toilet cause he was tired of her phototaking of bushland....no just kidding, but he did lock her in :) 8 traditional dancers welcomed us and set the mood for this mighty river.
10th of march. Our adventure day. first we went on a helicopter ride over the falls. im lost for words. AMAZING! it is rain season now so it is so powerful. the damp from the falls creates rainclouds that can be seen from far away. then we went into the park, where we are standing by the falls. wow over and over again :) no wonder why Vic Falls are one of the seven wonders! after we were lured into the market to buy som crafts. we made a striking deal, also because we needed our cash elsewhere. A trip to the pharmacy was also made, to get some antibiotics over the counter. Kine had a throat infection. In the afternoon we went elephant back riding. Its an elephant sanctuary, where they have taken in orphans and trained them. Such lovely and smart beasts. Kine rode on Jake, and Silje on Janet. Wait to se the pics :) we had one hour in the park and when returning we got to feed them! on our way back we had dinner at hte talk of town! "Chicken Inn". It was on everyones mouth, the first take away joint in town. Pizza, ice cream and fried chicken. Mind you this town is tiny... In zimbabwe everything can be traded. or given away. they want your smelly old shoes, your dirty and stinky t shirt. they want it cause they need it. we got told that one week earlier the was no stuff in the stores, but because they "changed" their currency into dollars, theres new cash flow. poor people. we could feel their hardship on our bodies. but unfortunately we could do little due to our own cashflow. Zimbabwe people are the most nice and welcoming people we have met so far on the journey!
i want to quote our friend Russel from Drifters. "Living in Africa is like living with a spouse who beats you. You love it so much you go back for more beating." it is hard living, even for white men.
11th of March. We booked our transfer back to Kasane (Botswana) from our "friend) the taxi driver, Vusa. He gave us a very good deal. when arriving at the border, we asked who was picking us up from the other side taking us to Thebe where our car is. (It is difficult to cross borders due to car and insurance taxes.) well they didnt know...we got really mad and we refused to give our money to them, until they organised something. we ended up hitchiking with a man who was going past Thebe. thank god for nice people! when arriving at Thebe, Silje got an amazing deal with Drifters, a game drive (safari) into Chobe only paying the park fee. we had an amazing time! we saw so many elephants we couldnt count...yes eally! crocs, impalas, kudu, warthogs, giraffes, thousands of pretty birds and butterflies, buffaloes, and hippoes. even one on land, thats very uncommon. this game drive was joined in with a Drifters Group that was doing the Cape to Vic Falls overland tour, much recommended! on our way back we went to a five star lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge. Amazing view to the riverside, we even saw a hippo whilst eating a snack. amazing country this is :)
12th of March. Drove from kasane and down to Gweta. Again we saw wild elephants. we found out that Botswana only have about 2 mill people living here, included the hottentotts. we see more donkeys and elephants along the roads than humans. unbelivable you say, no its true! From Kasane to Gweta it took us 5.5hrs. Silje is getting used to the tarred roads here :) bad luck when i start driving... Just before Gweta we camped at Planet Baobab. A picturesque little place, with traditional mud houses and huge baobab trees. we met the most talkative security guard there, his name was BabaJan. He told us it is only his nickname, but everyone knows it whereever he goes. very interesting character! BabaJan menas baboon in south african. he kept us entertained the whole evening. he told us he was gonna safeguard our pretty car and keep it safe. he was gonna protect us too, but not if a lion would appear. Funny enough he was a guard scared of all the scary animals in the bush. we felt safe! he sat next to our car the whole night, and we gave him a bag of chips to keep him companied. yes we heard that trough our tent walls...hihihi
the drive from gweta to Maun takes about two hrs. we are here now just about to find the drifters camop site. wish us luck!
to be continued, dont know hen cause internet is not so common :)
xoxo Silje and Kine
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Even Jeg er ganske s sikker p at jeg s tydelig sa, DU M HA CASH I ZIMBABWE!!! Ha ha ha... SiljePilje... Ha det fett videre...