|
Updated Information
Witt & Jen
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
lots! km |
Meals
Airplane Food |
Weather |
|
Moshi, Tanzania |
04 June, 2004 |
Hotel Buffalo |
XX°XX.XXX’S
XX°XX.XXX’E |
Odometer: 25150km |
Sunny, 75(F) degrees in
Jo'burg |
|
We left Vanessa and Gordon’s house at 10am for
the airport, picked up our airline tickets, and waited for our plane to
depart just before 3pm. The flights from Jo’burg to Dar Es Salaam and then
to Moshi were uneventful, and we landed at Kilimanjaro International
Airport at about 930pm. Air Tanzania offers a free shuttle to Moshi which
we boarded. The shuttle driver dropped us at the Hotel Buffalo at random,
and fortunately it turned out to be decent and cheap at $8/night. |
|
Updated Information
Graham & Connie |
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
357km |
Meals
Chicken on the braai |
Weather |
|
Fish River Canyon, Namibia |
04 June 2004 |
Hobas Camp Fish River Canyon
Park |
27°37.170’S
17°42.853’E |
Odometer: 27057km |
Cool 75(F), degrees |
|
We arrived at Fish River Canyon just after
lunch. After checking into the camp site, we headed to the canyon. The
Grand Canyon this isn’t, but it is still very impressive. The views are
spectacular. We drove down the 4x4 trail that goes along the canyon rim
and saw a few klipspringers. The trail could be navigated in any
self-respecting Ford Escort, but we appreciated the 4x4 designation for
keeping a lot of people out. Just before sunset we went to the Westernmost
viewpoint and watched the sun set while enjoying cheese and drinking beer
and wine. Just as we were leaving we stopped to talk to a Canadian lady
and her South African companion about our trip. They highly recommended a
farm in South Africa to camp at called Klein Pella.
|
|
|
|
Updated Information
Witt & Jen
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals
Indian food at a local restaurant |
Weather |
|
Moshi, Tanzaia |
05 June, 2004 |
Hotel Buffalo |
XX°XX.XXX’S
XX°XX.XXX’E |
Odometer: 25150km |
Partly cloudy, mildly humid
85(F)
degrees |
|
Jen & I spent the day sending emails and
relaxing. In the afternoon the clouds cleared and we headed to a rooftop
bar to enjoy spectacular views of Kilimanjaro’s snowcapped summit. I
picked up a copy of South Africa’s (or “SA”) answer to “Outside” magazine
at the airport and spent time on the plane reading about all the great
stuff there is to do in Southern Africa. I’d like to do a multi-day
rafting trip, sea kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking – all of which
means that we’ll be here in Africa a little longer than we thought. |
|
Moshi town |
Mt Kilimanjaro from Moshi |
|
Updated Information
Graham & Connie |
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
396km |
Meals
Pork Chops on the braai |
Weather |
|
Klein Pella, South Africa |
05 June 2004 |
Klein Pella Farm |
29°00.303’S
19°00.672’E |
Odometer: 27453km |
Cool 75(F), degrees |
|
The day of reckoning!! We left Fish River
Canyon early and headed for the border at Onseepkans. We crossed into
South Africa mid-afternoon, and there was much celebrating. For Krissy and
Slade this was the last country on their journey. For Vicky it was the
last country in Africa, and for Connie and Graham it was the end of the
new countries on their journey. We took some pictures at the South African
border post and then headed for Pofadder. Unfortunately, being Sunday no
banks were open and there was no ATM available in town. Though we had no
local currency, we decided to head for Klein Pella anyway. The farm at
Klein Pella is the second largest date farm in the world and the largest
in the Southern hemisphere. They were kind enough to let us camp without
paying, with the promise that we would transfer money to their account as
soon as we reached a bank. The campsite was excellent, with a great view
of the Orange River valley. We bought some dates which were excellent, and
only available from the farm in South Africa. Their entire crop is for
export only.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Updated Information
Witt & Jen
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals |
Weather |
|
Moshi, Tanzaia |
06 June, 2004 |
Springlands Hotel |
XX°XX.XXX’S
XX°XX.XXX’E |
Odometer: 25150km |
Partly cloudy, mildly humid
85(F)
degrees |
|
We spent today in Moshi. We met Alan, Nick,
and Eric at the Springlands Hotel this morning and spent the day catching
up with them on what we’ve all been doing for the past 5 months. We also
met and spoke with August, who will be our guide for the Kilimanjaro
climb. He told us what to expect on the climb and answered all of our
questions. We slept that night with pleasant expectations of our upcoming
climb. |
|
Updated Information
Graham & Connie |
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
551km |
Meals
Biltong, cheese, chicken |
Weather |
|
Kgalgadi Transfrontier
Park, South Africa |
06 June 2004 |
Twee Rivieren Camp |
26°28.479’S
20°36.721’E |
Odometer:
28005km |
Cool 70(F), degrees |
|
First thing in the morning we took a tour of
the farm at Klein Pella. We drove around and looked at the 13,000 date
palms and the vineyards as well. The farm goes to the banks of the Orange
River and is very neat and tidy. We then hit the road for a long day of
driving, ending up at the Kgalgadi Transfrontier Park, or Gemsbok Park as
it used to be called. Connie and Graham had been to the Botswana side in
1998, but this was their first visit to the SA side. Krissy, Slade and
Vicky had planned on staying in the park for a few days, but the entrance
fee was so high that they decided to stay only one night like Connie and
Graham. The Twee Rivieren camp is just inside the gate and we stayed
there, assured by fellow campers that we would hear lions roaring at about
midnight. Unfortunately they were either quiet or too far off to hear. |
|
13000 Date Palms |
|
Page 1a - Tanzania
|
