Tuli Trip 7 – 10 August 2003

Friends invited us on a trip to the Delta during August. A trip I was day dreaming about. Then the shock – we’re not going any more! They pulled out and as I didn’t want to go alone it was tata to the trip. By accident I stumbled over an article in our local newspaper which advertised a trip to the Tuli block. As I was still sulking about the cancelled trip I thought this would be a good second prize.

So, first thing Monday morning I booked my place for the trip (with a bit of pleeding as they were already full) Susan said she’ll join me if we leave the kids at home. No problem – grandma was once again handed the task of baby sitting. Thanks mom.

During July we had a get-to-know-each-other-braai which turned out to be a positive affair as Susan had reservations about travelling in a large group.A week before the trip I thought it appropriate to get some Pula as needed for the border crossing. As I opened my passport my heart missed a few beats. Both our passports expired in April! ##^^&%@@. The feeling is hard to describe. First the disbelieve. After checking the passports many times, the dates were still the same. Then the blame shifting, panic and slowly the realisation of the facts. First thing Friday morning we’re of to Heidelberg to apply for emergency passports which we collect on Tuesday . What a relieve.

Thursday 7 August

Depart from RV Centre in Vereeniging at 11:00.

As we hit the R59 to Alberton it became clear that it’s going to be a race to the border post. We had to “gooi” the gears to keep up with our tour leader, Dirk Human. He said he was doing 120 km/h with his Land Cruiser 4.5L. Two of us in Hilux’s were doing about 135km/h to keep up. The others further down the qeue had to drive 140+ in order not to stay behind (Dirk got a strafdop for this inappropriate behaviour).

Susan took the wheel for the first leg through Johannesburg & Pretoria doing the high speed chase thing. I was sweating prefusely as I was thrown around in my beloved vehicle by my beloved wife who did her best to keep up with the pack. Spirits were high and we made good progress. We made a quick pitstop at Kranskop to check the temperature warning light on the Defender 2.8. I was actually amazed that he could keep up with the speed we were doing. It took its price on the fuel consumption though. As we pulled out of Kranskop our tour leader promptly pulled of the road. He forgot his kids. Ouch, another strafdop!

Groblersbrug was reached at 16:45 and all were through by 17:30. We promptly had a “sondonner dopstop” to celebrate Botswana’s sand beneath our feet. From here it was a short distance to Mafuta Base Camp just pass Sherwood. Here I saw the advantage of a rooftop tent as I was on my second “knerts” while the others were still pitching tents after dark. We had a lovely view of the Limpopo river. We had a feast around the campfire with nice guitar music and lots of bantering.

Total distance travelled: 553km

Friday: 8 Augustus

Wonderful sunrise shared with a wonderful partner. It was good to awake to the sound of the bush with your loved one close by. Real good stuff.

Me sipping on a “bokhoring” filled with schnapps.

After breakfast we filled all our tanks at Sherwood and hit the tar road through Mogapi, Sefophe to Bobonong.

Me sipping on a “bokhoring” filled with schnapps.

We had to attend to the needs of “Adoonsie”, the Land Cruiser of our guide, Lourens.

“Kobus maak of hy ‘n kluit stoot!”

At Bobonong we left the tar road behind for an entertaining drive down the Motloutse river.

At one of the shallow waterholes Kobus decided to entertain us with a good spray in his Landy. He never reached dry land and was promptly recovered by an eager Jeep Sherokee owner, James. We decided that it was a good time to stop for lunch and to assess the problem with the Landrover. It turned out that work was done by some garage before the trip and they never fastened the air intake fittings. As Kobus went through the water it got sucked into the engine. That put an end to the Landys trip.

It was an unfortunate incident and could have happened to anyone. Hannes and Sanet with their Land Cruiser V8 became the good Samaritans when they volenteered to tow the Landy back to Sherwood (some 220 km’s). The rest of the group travelled slowly downriver while playing through obstacles.

Watch out Mr. Holgate!

We travelled a bit slow and as we weren’t gonna make our planned overnight stop, it was decided to drive until 17:00 and camp wherever we were. Cool, here, there, it doesn’t really matter.

Before the trip I bought a solar shower for this evenings doo. In the morning I fastened the bag on top of my rooftop tent with the intention to warm the water. On the move – so to say. Bummer, it was overcast during the day with the result having cold water. We decided to rather donate the cold shower water to our stranded Landrover friend (victim?) Marthinus as he had nothing with him. His partner, Kobus and Hannes weren’t back from their drive back to Sherwood. Susan and I decided to abort the shower idea and attend to the “ bolle en knolle” with boiled water and a cloth.

We again had a marvelous evening with a deliscious supper at an early 10:30. Kobus , Hannes and Sanet only reached camp at about midnight. They were bushed. As they had the GPS coordinates of our planned stopover, they thought it would be easier to take a gravel road and get as close as possible to our position , get an opening to the river and voila, join us. Murphy told them to drive around for four hours without getting an opening to the river, go all the way back to the place were we will exit the following day and drive all the way upstream until they reach us. Apart from all their drama Kobus forgot his tent in the Landrover, back at Sherwood. He applied a bit of survival skills by digging a trench, fill it with coals and cover it again with sand. He slept on top like a baby.

Total distance travelled: 260km (190km on tar, 70km in riverbed)

Saturday 9 Augustus

Breakfast as usual.

I must say that Lourens do food good if you take that we were in the middle of nowhere. Well done boet. While the others were breaking camp we took a stroll chatting to all and admiring some camping gear as well as the scenery.

On the road again.

All of us together

Just before we exit the riverbed the river made an interesting split. On the left were some koppies where we stopped to admire the area. Truly beautiful.

We also had a look at some bushman paintings. I’m not so sure if it’s authentic but what the hell, it’s painted by someone so then it’s authentic!

On the opposite side of the river are two koppies called tietkoppies due to their resemblance to a pair of breasts – nooit! From here we took the left fork in the river and got out at Mothabaneng. It was a short dusty drive before we entered the Tuli Game Reserve. You drive through an unattended gate without paying anything on entering the park.

It wasn’t long before we saw our first herd of elephant. The first of plenty. Something noticable is the lack of large mopanie shrubs. There are apparently 8000 ellies in the park and the area is totally overgrazed. A majestic baobab stood on top of a nearby hill. We had a lunch break without lunch at Solomon Walls. As there was nothing to eat it turned into a “bokdrol spoeg kompetisie”. When it was my turn I totally made an arse off myself as my false teeth nearly went further than the drol. This happened twice! M**r I was embarissed. To top it all Susan got it on video. Ag well, at least I gave the others some entertainment as they were rolling in the sand with laughter. Solomon Walls are quite amazing as it’s bisected by the Motloutse river. It’s a nice picnic spot – if you have food that is!

From here we travelled individually back to Mafuta via Baines Drift and Zanzibar on a good gravel road. There was one incident that could have turned nasty. Hardus was travelling in his Hilux at about 100km/h. He went into a slight corner when his rear tyre burst. He left the road, went up an embankment, spun around facing in the opposite direction. Zain was not far behind him and as he came around the corner there was Hardus and Corne ashwhite, staring at them. I think they last had such a rush of blood while having there first nookie! Hardus said he thought he was going to roll the bakkie but luck was on his side. It just shows us how easily things can go wrong.

Adoonsie also had a flat but I had a feeling that it was the J&T’s on the way back that made it’s driver careless. Only joking nê James? As the sun was setting we got back to camp. All dusty and by now the “bolle en knolle” started to rebelate as the sweat and dust had formed a good grinding paste. So, first off to a lovely hot shower while the others were setting up camp. This was our last evening in Botswana and a good one it was. Oh ja, we had lunch at 18:00 and supper at 23:00. Not bad for people that normally hit the sack at ninish. I must say that without the kids, things were a lot easier.

Total distance travelled: 180km (30km in riverbed)

Sunday – 10 Augustus

A sad day. To leave the bush already was a crime. But alas the kids longed to see us (and so did we). We had breakfast and said our goodbuys. At 10:00 we hit the road back to Vereeniging. This time via Ellisras and Nylstroom.

Total distance travelled: 520 km

Summary

A big thanks to the whole group. You were wonderful companions. I had the time of my life and will always cherrish these moments we shared.

If I do a trip which includes meals again, and my kids are with, I will definetaly take food for them. Just in case.

Although the road between Nylstroom and Vaalwater is bumpy, I prefer this road to the Potties one. It’s also 30 km’s shorter.

Average fuel consumtion on the Hilux KZ-TE was 7.3 km/l or 13.7 l/100 km.

Positives

There were no “p*s potte” on the tour. The group had a great vibe.

As I previously had to crawl in and out of the canopy I installed a drawer system. Works like a charm.

Nothing beats a rooftop tent for this type of holiday.

Radio communication is a good toy to have.

Negatives

The solar shower will only work under ideal conditions.

The speed we travelled on day one was a bit much. It’s better to start early and take it slow.

I thought that the night in the open would deliver some wild animals. Not so.

Cheers,

Kobus