Africa Archives - Page 4 of 12

25083 -Biking from Sehithwa to Maun in Botswana

Posted on April 4, 2016

Wed 30 March 2016

After not a very good sleep I woke to find no promised breakfast, a total absence of vehicles or any sign of life in the courtyard. So at 7.45 I departed from Monlek Lodge with not very warm feelings towards it’s owner, especially since my 15 Pula change never appeared after paying last night 🙁

The local shop was pretty devoid of edibles so I made do with a bottle of milkshake and a couple of my chocolate bars. A chappie in a pick up gestured to his mouth as I was leaving the village but I couldn’t be bothered returning. Cycling was hard especially with the quite strong headwind and that my legs hadn’t recovered from yesterday’s mega ride.

Scott with Sarah - riding fixies from Paris to Cape Town — Scott with Sarah – riding fixies from Paris to Cape Town

A pleasant relief was bumping into Scott & Sarah who are biking from Paris to Cape Town. They, obviously, were enjoying the tailwind! I was totally gobsmacked that both of them were riding fixed wheel!!!! Carrying all their camping kit and days of rations, especially since they had come through the very mountainous Ethiopia. Incredible, they do, unsurprisingly, take week long breaks throughout their journey. Their website is at no fixed destination a pun on riding fixies 🙂 They said during their stay in Maun they had met several other long distance bikers.

I pedalled on….

Lots of signs of budding entrepreneurs with their roadside tables selling cold drinks etc from their ice boxes. Just love to see this sort of thing wondering which of them will become the next Tesco or Walmart! Also the ingenious way of marking where the footpath is to their house with a collection of old objects on a stick!

Eventually I made it to Senthanga Lodge having biked past it and overshot by 4 miles and having to retrace my steps 🙁 First time it’s ever happened to must remember to never use Apple/Google maps they are way to unreliable. OSM is so much better 🙂

Strava says I did 67.6mi &110ft of climbing at an average speed of only 9.7mph – time for a rest!

Day 25082 Ghanzi to Sehithwa

Posted on April 1, 2016January 7, 2017

Ridden 29 Mar 2016

After yesterdays rest day were the checkout supervisor at Choppies kindly sorted out my Orange SIM card for me, although I felt a bit bad about giving Orange 400 Pula so I could buy 2 gigs of data. The retail shop wages are 4.32 an hour so it’s nearly the equivalent of 100 hours work!

At 8.15 I was part of the queue at Barclays to try and get my card back, the place opened at 8.30 but not much action happened – I went to every till/information window where I was promised the card back in an hour or two! Eventually I located the manager and shamed him into opening up the ATM quicker. So at 8.54 I eventually was on my way.

Today was either going to be very short, camping at El Fari after only 70km or going the whole way to a guest house at 200+Km I was making good progress so opted for the latter.

I made good time even having a race with a donkey at one point. However, I had left to late so by the time I arrived in Sehithwa it was pitch black with no street lighting. the 24hr Shell garage didn’t have much idea except pointing back to the few houses I past. Eventually at a junction a shop had lights on, to my surprise when I asked them about the lodge they said the owner was right behind me 🙂

So of we went me frantically pedalling to keep up with his truck! Monlek Lodge was OK but some confusion over a meal eventually a young lad bought over a tray of stuff which certainly helped to fill the empty space created by 121 miles of biking. A bit of a modern record distance for me 🙂

Strava says I did 121.1mi Distance in 9:21:35 Moving Time 140ft of climbing. Although it omits the 900 feet or so of descent.

The pics are here

Day 25080 Tsootsha to Ghanzi

Posted on March 28, 2016

Easter Sunday 27 Mar 2016

After a mega sleep of over 9 hours I went outside to find my biking shorts & top were as wet as I left them after washing last night YUK. I had an equally mega breakfast cooked by Rianne. I cleaned the bike of its creepie crawlies and then we went around to her sons general store where a cash machine lurked in one corner 🙂 after he refilled it I was able to pay my dues and be on my way to my first town in Botswana.

Didn’t see any big animals but a lot of vultures which apparently are in rapid decline here as in India. One bird Cuba has in abundance! Followed by watching a dung beetle at work – fascinating to see it rolling a ball as big as itself down the road and into the verge.

Had to love the Nando sign saying “Are we there yet” 200 miles to the left and 300 miles to the right. Kids you are in for a long wait..Although the junction would be an ideal spot for a filling station.

Finally making it wrecked to The Kalahari Arms hotel, chosen by Sally since the phone internet still wasn’t working correctly. Decent size pool and a circular chalet with AC 🙂 Excellent with a Spar etc across the road..

Strava says 72.5 miles and a mere 149 feet of climbing 🙂 The pics are here

Day 25079 Zelda Game& Guest Farm to Tsootsha

Posted on March 28, 2016

Sat 26 Mar 2016

For the first time ever, I had to be woken up for my breakfast! So I finally didn’t get away until 8.45. I arrived at the East Gate rest camp/shops on the border in 1 hour. Crossing the borders was straightforward apart from unnecessary complications with money changing etc. For future reference the simplest procedure is:
1. Change all your Namibian cash at East Gate into Botswana Pula. (No cash machines on other side for 150 miles or so)
2. Turn right just after the garage in Botswana then first left. At the dress shop get a SIM card for 10 Pula (The money changer is next door if she is around 🙁 )
3. Return to garage and top up your SIM – they accept credit cards.

Then your are in a fenceless world were cows, donkeys & horses wander on the road (apparently elephants etc etc as well 🙂 plus butterflies and all kinds of insects abound.

The road was quiet apart from trucks taking more fencing materials into Namibia Interestingly I saw my first speed camera being used, with great effect, in Africa. You then drop down onto the Botswana plain which amazingly is at 1100 metres above sea level – they don’t have to worry about rising sea levels here 🙂

Eventually Tsootsha came into view. Just as I was giving up hope I saw the gates for Jungle Light Rest Camp. The gates looked locked and banging on them didn’t seem to raise anyones attention, slight panic began to set in. I walked around the perimeter and eventually discovered the owner who was delighted I wanted the glamping option with dinner etc. She insisted that her son’s shop had a cash machine which I could use in the morning.

So a good ending. Strava says I did 77 miles the photos are here