COAST
OCEAN 2
OCEAN LAND LAND 2
Inner Glow Colour: 107042 - Multiply/45/3
Outer Glow Colour: 4EB2C3 - Normal/100/6
AFRICA OVERLAND
21
W
as it the knowledge that a or went into the desert to sandboard. That
Swiss doctor was occupying 5 REASONS TO OVERLAND evening we shared beers and many laughs as
the seat next to mine in the 1 Overlanding safaris provide diversity we swapped stories and played pool until the
overland truck that gave me the and excitement and will leave you wee hours.
confi dence to hurl myself down with long-lasting memories without A few days later our close-knit group
the sharp scree slope of shale with reckless leaving you penniless. was unfortunately divided by an incident in
abandon? Or was it that I couldn’t contain my 2 It’s a great way to explore a country, Etosha National Park. The ‘haves’ were the
excitement at the surreal surroundings? or a number of different nations, six of us who turned our backs on hygiene
A few minutes earlier, our driver had without the hassle of planning and and a pre-dinner shower to remain at the
pressed Pause on the enthralling moving researching it yourself. fl ood-lit waterhole. The ‘have-nots’ were those
picture show outside our windows by pulling 3 It’s an amazing way to meet like- who opted for the shower but missed seeing
over and offering us a short break. Some minded people. four black rhino, fourteen elephant, seven
people simply stumbled out, dazed by the 4 It’s cheaper than doing it yourself. hyena and one very special leopard. Although
open vastness that is southern Namibia. A 5 You’ll be in a top-notch vehicle everyone on the trip would eventually see
few of us who obviously had some energy to with a professional crew. elephant and rhino, those who missed the
burn thought we’d quickly hoof it up one of leopard would go home one feline short of
the nearby hills for an even better perspective. having seen the Big Five.
When we reached the top and turned, our My leaders, Amy and After memorable stops in the Okavango
massive overland truck was but a brilliant blue
Mark, were brilliant.
Delta and Chobe National Park, our trip
dot in a sweeping sea of brown. Amazing.
‘Boot skiing’ down the slope in Birkenstock
Their advice and professionalism
wrapped up in Victoria Falls. While I was
incredibly impressed by the natural bounties
sandals was rather an effi cient and exciting,
put me at ease. They are so
of southern Africa, I have to say that I was
if painful, method of retracing our steps back
to our seats before departure. As we rolled
passionate about Africa and this
equally enthused by my group’s dynamics. For
anyone who’s cringed while watching reality
northwards, the doctor tended to a rather large
rubbed off on all of us. I
TV, you know that squeezing 20 or so strangers
gash across my heel – the joys of adventure!
loved every minute of it!
together into close proximity for extended
That evening I explored the rim of the periods of time can prove disastrous. While
captivating Fish River Canyon with the rest of
RACHEL WYNN, AUSTRALIA
I’m sure some of our success had to do with
my companions. Although it was less than a common interests and the inspiring natural
week into our trip, we were starting to gel as glowing red in the early morning light, the surroundings, I think much of it derived from
a group. It was defi nitely a mixed crowd: four group was deathly silent – we were tired and our tour leader’s ability to bring the best out
late-middle-aged but bubbly Austrian ladies we were in awe. After our tour leader spotted of each person, and to know when to give
who loved to play cards; several European plumes of sand streaming off the crests, we everyone a healthy slice of freedom.
Namibia’s
couples in their early twenties, half a dozen were soon to be disappointed as well: he
British university students; a Swiss school cancelled our extended trek into the desert
teacher in her thirties; and six men aged from due to the high winds.
CHECK OUT OUR AFRICA BROCHURE ONLINE AT WWW.KUMUKA.COM
18 to 27, myself being the oldest. However, fi ve of us decided to climb the
Several of us slept outside that night snaking ridge of the mighty Dune 45 anyway.
beneath a sky littered with stars. I quietly Buffeted by the wind, we trudged up to the
BOOK IT!
navigated through the numerous celestial top of the crest and waited for the sun to rise.
bodies like the Coal Sack, Southern Cross, The red quartz mist caressed the dune, danced Africa is calling – join a group
Scorpio and Mars; the short astronomy course around our legs and fl ew into the blue sky of like-minded, adventurous
I took at the planetarium in Cape Town proved behind us. Turning our backs to the rising spirits and see the best
have & have-nots
infi nitely useful. The southern sky just seems sun, we were enchanted to see our shadows the continent has to offer.
to have so many more stories to tell than its cast onto the plumes of migrating particles. While the wildlife and
northern counterpart. Though we had grit in our teeth, and our landscapes will
A day later and we were again giving our nether regions, for the rest of the day, none of blow you away,
AFR
canvas shelters the night off. We were woken us regretted our decision to experience that it’s the warmth FRO
I
M
C
J
A
by our driver well before dawn, to make slice of the Namib Desert that morning. of the local
our way to the dunes of Sossusvlei. As we By the time we reached Swakopmund our people
approached the parabolic 300m-high dunes, group was a well-oiled camping machine. that will make
£
US
T
Within minutes of arrival, our tents were up, you want to
3
6
PE
R
TOP 5 HIGHLIGHTS
food preparation was underway, a campfi re come back
D
AY
was lit and drinks were out. After dinner, we’d again and again.
SOUTHERN STAR TOUR even team up to tackle the dishes. Although
1 SOSSUSVLEI Skirt along the red we were supposed to rotate chores, the group
THE SOUTHERN STAR CAPE TOWN – VICTORIA FALLS 21 DAYS
crests of the world’s largest dunes. camaraderie was such that most people would
£605, €850, AU$1545, NZ$1785, US$1180, CAD$1275, ZAR10,285 * PLUS US$290 LOCAL PAYMENT
2 SWAKOPMUND Throw yourself help out even if it was their night off.
SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE
from a plane, sandboard down Swakopmund, Namibia’s adventure
This classic tour takes you from the continent’s most attractive city to its most
mountains of gold or quad bike capital, gave us the opportunity to split up and
spectacular attraction. Along the way you’ll experience some of southern Africa’s best
through a sea of sand. do our own thing. The fi rst evening saw most
wildlife parks, South Africa’s winelands and Namibia’s adrenalin adventure capital.
3 ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK people head into the Namib to quad bike. I
Experience some of Africa’s most used the opportunity to hitchhike out of town
SOUTH WEST AFRICAN HIGHLIGHTS CAPE TOWN – WINDHOEK 8 DAYS
spectacular wildlife in a dramatic to explore the dunes on foot. Walking alone
£225, €315, AU$575, NZ$665, US$440, CAD$475, ZAR3825 * PLUS US$110 LOCAL PAYMENT
setting of salt pans. on the crests was an incredible experience.
SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA
4 OKAVANGO DELTA Journey in this Besides the sheer beauty of it all, the sound
watery world of wildlife in a mokoro of the shifting sand caused by the vibrations
CAPE TO THE EQUATOR CAPE TOWN – NAIROBI 49 DAYS
and camp in the back of beyond. of my footsteps was nothing short of
£1545, €2165, AU$3940, NZ$4560, US$3015, CAD$3245, ZAR26,265 + US$750 LOCAL PAYMENT
5 VICTORIA FALLS It’s not a World extraordinary. I can only liken it to the distant
SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, MOZAMBIQUE, MALAWI, TANZANIA, KENYA
Wonder for nothing. It takes just sound of old WWII bombers.
seconds to get bathed in its mist, The next day the Austrian ladies explored
BEST OF AFRICA NAIROBI – CAPE TOWN 63 DAYS
but a lifetime to forget the town, while fi ve others and I threw ourselves
£1855, €2600, AU$4730, NZ$5475, US$3620, CAD$3900, ZAR31,535 + US$780 LOCAL PAYMENT
feeling. from a perfectly good airplane. The remainder
KENYA, UGANDA, TANZANIA, MALAWI, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA
of our group either lounged on the beach
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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2007 Venture Venture SUMMER / AUTUMN 2007
P20-21 AFRICA.indd 23 17/8/07 07:39:12
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