Hilux 4x4 Forum

warthog

On the way to Chipata - Mama Rula's is just outside, Julius on the fly caught this two youngsters having an absolute ball on a bicycle obviously not either's... (considering his father was probably doing at least 120, the pic's are not bad...) just check the unbridled joy, especially on the guy at t...

warthog

We made good time on the road, and Dewald sourced Mama Rulas, a campsite just outside Chipata en route to South Luangwa. In between refuelling in Chipata on petrol/diesel/beer we all arrived in staggered fashion. Nice place. Lekker grass. Clean bathrooms with plenty hot water (except the last shower...

warthog

After a lengthy spell not seeing any of the by now familiar charcoal stops, we decided on the radio that we seriously needed charcoal, so the very next place I spotted a lonely bag, I chucked out brakes, reversed some 150 meters, the rest leaving me behind with a mere l polite "Is jy ok?" ...

warthog

We met up with the others somewhere on the road to South Luangwa National Park. The initial plans was to stop en route, but in Lusaka we decided to push, see how far we can get, and then look for a place to camp. So gesê, so gedaan. We encountered our first of plenty flats, when Marnus had to stop… ...

warthog

We left early.... refuelling just before entering Lusaka. 20180627_070553.jpg Wednesday was a big day for the Brands. Hannes met a young girl through his practise. She saw the pic’s on his walls of Africa from previous trips and started talking. Her name is Nicole Lindgren. Canadian. Turned out, she...

warthog

Tuesday arrived too quickly. Marnus and Lizette celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary, hopefully with some hot potato salad... We left around 8. Destination: Lusaka. We stopped in Livingstone to draw money and get some kwacha’s. The road was, well like roads in Africa. Some roads are very good, ...

warthog

The scenery on the river and sunset was magic.

We went back to camp, and had a memorable evening around the fire, with lots and lots of stories (Chrisna wie gate toestop…)

warthog

Camp Nkwazi’s campsites were really excellent - spacious with freshly cut grass with neatly trimmed edges, spanking clean bathrooms, plenty hot water. We split 4-3 over two stands, about 50 m apart. Some drove to Vic Falls for the afternoon. IMG_5150.jpg IMG_3308.jpg IMG_5140.jpg The rest just loung...

warthog

Then on the other side of the river… Immigration, Customs, Third Party, Road toll, Community fees… and every place is situated as far as possible from each other to make it as confusing as possible… just like at Kariba on the Serengeti trip… Did I mention I hate border crossings? IMG_3557.jpg We wer...

warthog

Monday arrived. Dewald planned for us to have basically the whole morning to get through the border. We left Big 5 around 8, stopped at the Engen outside Kasane, chucked everything chock-and-block with fuel, and drove the couple hundred metres to the Border. (Petrol in Bots is like R11/l, and 2 km a...

warthog

The setting, the atmosphere, the ambiance, the company, His Presence... just beyond... 20180624_174402.jpg Now, just to explain, we were seven rigs/families in the group. Marnus, Ferdi and Annica, and Liza are the food-fundi’s. Fred and me will braai EVERY day (we’re constantly looking for a recipe ...

warthog

Sunday to Kasane was just as uneventful, though the road was bit worse and more potholed than I remember from two years ago. 700+km driving anywhere is far and takes time, but it didn’t feel like that, somehow those long straights in Botswana calms the soul, just makes your breathing kinda slow down...

warthog

Everybody met up at the Engen on the N1, and after some fuel, air, coffee and loo-breaks we set off. 20180623_141222.jpg 8929e079-a06b-43d7-8f9a-ee545689f608.jpg We left quite late, as the first stopover was to be in Palapye, just across the Botswana border. The trip was rather uneventful, the borde...

warthog

Finally, Saturday, June 23 arrived. IMG-20180623-WA0002.jpg In contrast to previous years, we left quite late, around 11h00 after meeting at Jan’s place. This is what it looked like from Berin’s perspective. DJI_0042.jpg DJI_0044.jpg Ferdi pulled away first, and immediately kept right on the road, m...

warthog

This trip would prove to be one of the more challenging trips we’ve had as far as tyres were concerned. On the previous 4 trips, I remember 4 or 5 punctures in total, on this trip alone we had nine flat tyres. Five tyres written off… As far as I am aware, both rentals were returned with everything s...

warthog

The Canadians arrived during the week of 18 June. IMG-20180616-WA0014.jpg IMG-20180617-WA0017.jpg Hannes and Louize visited us to pack and kit their caravan, and Ferdi and Annica did the same at his mother’s place in Pretoria. After some serious last minute buying and packing, the young Canadians, a...

warthog

Thank you. Ok, so here we go again… and again, what an absolute blessing to have been able to do this once more, and to write this again…. Chrisna's words just keeps mulling around in my head... when the people at her work asked her before the trip where she was going for three weeks in Africa, her ...

warthog

Howzit... I have not been active here in the recent past. (Been a "roofkyker", but have not posted much....) So we've been to Zambia for three weeks, and I'm being bugged (specially by Swambo) for a trip report (although she did accompany me...). And now I wonder, can I gooi the trip repor...

warthog

Brian, make sure you vehicles' registration plate lights are working. No problem if you don't have lights, but if they're there, they must work - else $15.

warthog

Hallo Pieter.

Daai inprop opsie redelik algemene ding in Noord Amerika. Ons vriende in Kanada het dit ook gehad in vorige plek waar hulle gebly het.

Flippin nice kar....

warthog

Oegh Fanus, vat my saam asb... my kwyl loop uit...

warthog

Thanks to all for the kind comments... Tertius, almost none of the photo's are mine (I just pen the trip), most are Hannes', but all of the photographers read this, so I believe they will appreciate the comment. Ian, we were there from 26 June to 21 July... more or less. Definitely dry season... Reg...

warthog

And that.... is that. An (unexpectedly) very awesome experience. Thanks to the "collaborators"... for pictures, stories, memories, fellowship, kuier, memories, repairs, help, memories, wine, food, helping to write this, memories, friendship, family, memories, laughter, fun... did I mention...

warthog

Early the next morning we left for South-Africa, taking the same route as Dewald through Mozambique. We remembered his last words to us “ just trust your GPS”. Thankfully we did as there were times when we were not so sure if were going to Maputo or Pretoria. The boys were most impressed when the GP...

warthog

We then drove to the spectacular, red sandstone Chilojo Cliffs. With picnic and camping spots it is a definite must see … and stay. 9.jpeg 10.jpeg Lots of different spoor in the dry riverbed - I can just imagine the animal life that you will see if you can just sit there and observe. 11.jpeg 12.jpeg...

warthog

Louize takes it to the end with Hannes' pic's... And then there were two vehicles left… one with a battered Canadian flag flying and no running water but a working fridge and one with no fridge or way to keep anything cold but with running water. I think the “one with the hat” left us there that mor...

warthog

We then decided that Jan, Philip and Marnus would return, and I would stay behind one extra day to assist with the repair. Marnus told us that Cheredzi, a nearby town is quite big, and should sort us out. We found a Toyota dealership in Cheridzi, and the following night Hannes and the Cruiser is bac...

warthog

We were already entering Gona, when Louise said on the radio that “The Cruiser has just burnt out, and that their holiday is over”. We turned back to assist. We then learned that Hannes had a small incident, which damaged his radiotor. And now, 2-3 hours later, the Cruiser burnt out (according to Lo...

warthog

We slept another night at Frog and Fern, and left the next morning before dawn for Gonarezhou. Initially only the Canadians booked Gonarezhou and we would have returned from Chimanimani through Beit Bridge, since the SA schools already started. That night was quite a special night…Hannes (the oldest...

warthog

After Tony’s we left for the Frog and Fern cottages in Chimanimani Mountains, referred to us by the owner of Inn on the Vumba. We arrived at dusk at the beautiful stone cottages, where Jane already lit the braaivleis fire. The road from Mutare to Chimanimai was one mountain pass after the other, bea...

warthog

After breakfast we left for Mutare/Vumba. The roads twisted through the highlands, and we saw beautiful scenery, and bought 5kg tomatoes for 1USD along the road. The Highland roads 7 (Small).jpg 9 (Small).jpg Arriving in Mutare there was some shopping to be done, but the rest went through to Inn on ...

warthog

At Chinoyi we greeted the group with sadness, which were leaving for SA. The road to Chinoyi. 1 (Small).jpg What was remaining of the group was myself, Dewald and family, Jan and Alta, the Brands from Canada, the Ollies from Canada, Cousin Philip and wife, and Marnus and wife, 6 vehicles to continue...

warthog

And then suddenly… it’s over. We left the next morning at six. Us, and the Du Toit gang were to start the return trip to SA, while the rest were to carry on east. As everybody left, I noticed Jannie still standing at the Pajero, with Jannes scratching around. Turned out his trailer’s lights were pla...

warthog

Yes Chris, that was my point exactly...

warthog

The Du Toit gang again performed their very impressive Bush-Chips meal... 20160712_194604 (Small).jpg 20160712_194447 (Small).jpg Sun-downers... 20160712_173036 (Small).jpg Awesome sunsets... again... IMG_2502 (Small).jpg IMG_2603 (Small).jpg IMG_2763 (Small).jpg And suddenly, we were leaving the ne...

warthog

We found this pool overgrown with water salad.

It is an invader plant, but perfect photo opportunity...

Yawn....

Say what?

"Life is great, na-ah na-ah na-na-na..."

warthog

We went canoeing on the Zambezi... again... me and Hannes... thankfully Jannie went with this time... IMG_1685 (Small).jpg Those "manne" are suddenly a lot closer when you're in their territory... IMG_1636 (Small).jpg IMG_1641 (Small).jpg Some went on an early morning walk with a warden/gu...

warthog

Some more... IMG_1731 (Small).jpg The monkeys took a liking to Louize's fizzers... IMG_1249 (Small).jpg There was a spotting of a very rare "witkwas jakkals"...(side-striped jackal) IMG_1259 (Small).jpg Some bee-eaters... IMG_1263 (Small).jpg Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I ju...

warthog

IMG_1268 (Small).jpg After the second boom gate the road did get better - when we left five days later, the grading of the section between the tar road and the second boom was almost done... lekker, man, lekker... IMG_2462 (Small).jpg IMG_4629 (Small).jpg Mana Pools is, well, Mana Pools... there is...

warthog

We unpacked the boat, and packed everything back into our vehicles... feels like the story of my trips... (after the Botswana trip someone in my office asked me what do we do the whole day when we're not driving somewhere, my answer... : "Ek pak.... ek pak in, ek pak reg, ek pak uit, ek pak ter...

warthog

Sunrise the next morning.... IMG_2528 (Small).jpg brought some time for reflection... IMG_2526 (Small).jpg And then it was back to shore. I think, as magic as Kariba was, there were quite a few of us who were very happy and excited to lay our eyes on our trusty steeds on shore... IMG_8711 (Small).jp...

warthog

So here we go again... The evening after the swim in Kariba Capt Alex moored on a little peninsula on an island, not far from Kariba Harbour, as we had to be back fairly early the next day - Jan and Dewald still had to re-weld Hannes’ Cruiser, there were some shopping and sight-seeing to do… IMG_244...

warthog

Hennie (Alias Dowe Koos)

As ek iets geleer het, is dit juis om uit te klim saam met die rower. Sal nie weer in kar sit en vir hom wag nie- loop saam met hom...

Koste? Sal moet gaan check. Swaer Dewald het ons meeste laas jaar al laat betaal, so dan is die pyn minder...

warthog

Tersia has one of these little red Canon/Nikon cameras, and that thing is glued to her hand the entire trip... I think she even goes to the toilet with it... and she irritates the heeby-jeebies out of everyone with that thing... (at a petrol station in once Bots she thought that it was stolen... to ...

warthog

We got back from (non)-fishing and game viewing to an absolute stellar 5-star spread… IMG_2324 (Small).jpg The food was just amazing... IMG_2342 (Small).jpg I think when Kariba came onto the radar as something to do, there were few of us who did not contemplate the possibility of swimming in Lake Ka...

warthog

I think all of us on the boat thought this tree stump was a croc, so I took a picture... only to realise when we got back... IMG_1000 (Small).jpg And the sunset... oh man... the sunset... take your pick... because I can't... IMG_2320 (Small).jpg IMG_2335 (Small).jpg IMG_5315 (Small).jpg IMG_2313 (Sm...

warthog

The food- and eating arrangements on the cruise led to much discussion beforehand, and eventually it was decided, at some extra cost, to have our food and meals catered on the boat. This, together with the decision to take the shortcut out of Matusadona, was the best decisions of the trip (of which ...

warthog

Next morning we slept in a bit in, and left quite late for a change… Kariba being only 15km away… and after some late shopping in Kariba for a few things (mostly of the liquid variety), we arrived at the dock to the first sight of our abode for the next two days. IMG_7899 (Small).jpg IMG_7942 (Small...

warthog

Am I boring you?

warthog

We reached camp some 15km short of Kariba… place called Nauz… It is right on the shore of lake Kariba, and you are reminded of this right as you drive in and often in camp... IMG_0896 (Small).jpg To camp on green grass after 2 weeks of dust, was nice... (Some of the ladies wil probably say "oh ...

warthog

I remembered somethings... The drive via Karoi to Kariba, was uneventful, apart from the now customary roadblocks. Just before the turnoff to Kariba, I was pulled over at a roadblock. The robber asked for my driver’s license and said he was going to check around. I saw him bend down behind Forest, a...

warthog

The rest of the road was really lekker. We all knew that the worst was over, and that we've made it, with caravans... all in one piece. IMG_2022 (Small).jpg IMG_2039 (Small).jpg IMG_5244 (Small).jpg We stopped at the Chiroti Urban shop on the way... IMG_5250 (Small).jpg for some cold refreshments......

warthog

The road was…. awesome. Same as we came in. Went through that same wide dry river bed, only this time it was going down, not up- and before daybreak. IMG_1979 (Small).jpg Then we turned left on the “shortcut”… it started okay, but then we heard Dewald, Jannes and Jan ahead talking on the radio about...

warthog

Chris, ek gebruik niks...(behalwe rooiwyn en Jack Daniels of Baines...) Dis meer as genoeg effort om tussen gewone lewe die storie te skryf, meer as 10 000 foto's deur te gaan, die beteres uit te haal, te re-folder, re-size, in plek te kry, te post, ens ens... Sover ek weet is almal gemaklik hiermee...

warthog

Dowe Koos, hulle sê dapper en stupid is twee kante van die dieselfde munt, hang net af watter kant val bo, en daai was 'n baie stupid ding om te doen... die rower en sy trawante het net vir my gelag, en ek dink dis wat my nog meer in die rooi gedruk het... Maar ons gaan nie langer vir hulle aandag g...

warthog

Chris, maybe this is now the right time to answer that… I wanted to keep this to the end (maybe I’m worried all will stop reading if I say this now) but now that you mentioned it… The police and officials are what they are. From the young punk guarding the gate on the Zim side at Pandamatenga who le...

warthog

Some just simply sat around... Safari.jpg Tashinga is one of the most beautiful places I've been to...ja-ja, I know, I've said it before... in this trip report, but really... View2.jpg View.jpg The sunsets were out of this world... Sunset 3.jpg Sunset1.jpg Sunset2.jpg Sunset5.jpg Even after dark.......

warthog

Some time was spent catching up on washing... Wastyd.jpg Jan tried to sort out his (non-existing) problem with his solar panel not charging... Jan.jpg The youngsters tried to rid themselves of excess energy with beach touch rugby... Beach rugby.jpg Some just sat around, drank wine and tried to take ...

warthog

As you might have gathered by now, this is not nearly the trip that Serengeti was, much less drama, but no less fun... Tashinga Camp in Matusadona National park is a truly awesome place, again, a term I use too often, but it really is... It's far, the road is really difficult, and I don't think ther...

warthog

It's coming Andy, it's coming...

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