Dec 2019 – Feb 2021

Let’s bring Sauna into Africa

South Africa to Germany – at least a try. Read more

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Trip start
December 18, 2019
Let’s bring Sauna into Africa
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- Saturday, December 14, 2019
- ☁️ 5 °C
- Altitude: 80 m
- Germany Braunschweig 52.27329, 10.5190752°16’24” N 10°31’9” E
Leaving Brauni
December 14, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Wanted to ship my tiny little Land Cruiser 120 already in November to have it at hand when flying to South Africa in mid December with Franziska. Plans never work out as expected. I will be dropping the car in Bremerhaven on Decenmber 16th, flying to Durban with Franzi on 17th and the car will arrive in Cape Town on January 11th. The time until arrival of the car we will be filling with hiking, road tripping, wedding-partying and crazy going, yeeehaaaaw =)Read more
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- Monday, December 16, 2019
- ☁️ 8 °C
- Altitude: 67 m
- Germany Münster 51.960665, 7.62613551°57’38” N 7°37’34” E
Farewell
December 16, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Kurz und knackig: 14th dinner at mom's, 15th at dad's. 16th in the morning last fitments around Münster with directly following car dispatching in the harbour of Bremerhaven where I visit Kono at AWI, share a quick beer with him and finally go back by train to world town of Kattenvenne for a chill out evening at Sven and Lydia's with cats, whisky and a gigantic lasagne. What a rush, what a pleasure!Read more
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- Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 11:30 AM
- ⛅ 9 °C
- Altitude: 105 m
- Germany Flughafen Frankfurt am Main 50.037933, 8.56215250°2’17” N 8°33’44” E
Joining Franziska
December 17, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
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- Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 10:00 PM
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- United Arab Emirates Dubai International Airport 25.253175, 55.36567325°15’11” N 55°21’56” E
Dubai airport
December 17, 2019 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Use your brain and imagine what someone would write here.
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- Day 1
- Wednesday, December 18, 2019
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 84 m
- South Africa uMgeni -29.805442, 31.01619529°48’20” S 31°0’58” E
Arriving and recuperating
December 18, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Acclimatizing in Smith's Cottage, Durban, during the first three days after picking up our rented Polo Vivo directly from the airport. All the thanks for total stresslessness go to Franzi who organized everything important beforehand while I was deeply distracted with preparations around my vehicle back in Germany!Read more
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- Day 2
- Thursday, December 19, 2019
- Altitude: 48 m
- South Africa North Beach -29.851386, 31.03891129°51’5” S 31°2’20” E
Durban impressions
December 19, 2019 in South Africa
Wandering around Durban's beach promenade, we notice a lot of run-down ex-surfer boys asking for money. The shopping malls seem to be overcrowded with local people, which for us Europeans is a bit overwhelming on our first days on the African continent 😅. But the following day we already jump into the local culture on Victoria Market. Our evenings fade out with red wine in our cosy cottage where we recover from the coastal thick and humid air. At least there is some refreshing wind!Read more
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- Day 4–10
- December 21, 2019 - December 27, 2019
- 6 nights
- ☁️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 1,719 m
- South Africa Ndlovini -29.681187, 29.41009529°40’52” S 29°24’36” E
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In search of the Giant Cup
Dec 21–27, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Our first action item leads us deep into the Drakensberg mountains where we escape civilization from December 21st to 25th and stroll around deserted paths, basically following the Giant Cup Trail. Forming a wall of inaccessibility, the border to Lesotho as a monumental ridge with constantly over 3000 m of elevation becomes our best friend. The trail takes us from Sani Lodge over Garden Castle to Bushman's Nek. We die in 35+ °C with stiff air but the second day brings misty in-cloud-walking with cooling moisture. Warm and cosy days follow, with regular thunderstorms in the afternoon where we catch up with another couple – the only other hikers on the whole track. The trail is well cared of and each stage awaits us with lovely, clean shelter huts, mostly equipped with simple, stacked beds and lousy mattresses. We battle snakes, lizards, scorpions, elands, baboons, lammergeier, barn owls, sunbirds and even fancily striped mice. Nobody stands our Knoblauchfahne.Read more
Michi, der At the foot of Garden Castle you see a handful of free-standing oaks. This is where the Winterhoek huts are waiting for us =)
1/19/20Reply
Michi, der Activate the standard map with relief for better impression of the topography.
1/19/20Reply
Michi, der At Swiman Hut we are surprised by a South African family coming here for a 5-day stay over Christmas. They are super-friendly and enrich our simple pasta dinner with ciders and precious other deliciousnesses =)
2/16/25Reply
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- Day 6
- Monday, December 23, 2019 at 2:00 PM
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 1,822 m
- South Africa Magdalena -29.75451, 29.2125229°45’16” S 29°12’45” E
Of scorpions, snakes and Schleiereulchen
December 23, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
While watching a beautiful snake from a safe, elevated distance we are in turn being watched by a white bird of prey: the common barn owl (Tyto alba), also inhabiting European realms.
Later I will contact the African Snakebite Institute on identification of this snake and it turns out to be a Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus). Mostly it comes plain blackish but in the region of KwaZulu-Natal it indeed comes fully banded with thick orange stripes. They can spit venom directly into your eyes, give birth to live young and fake death in the same way you would do it. Awesomeness to the max!
Check this out: https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/snake… and this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RinkhalsRead more
TravelerEin tolles Land und schöne Fotos
7/24/24ReplyTranslate
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- Day 11
- Saturday, December 28, 2019
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 1,184 m
- South Africa Auckland Forest Reserve -32.6013, 26.94079932°36’5” S 26°56’27” E
South via Queenstown and Hogsback
December 28, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
The following two days of our road trip lead us along scenic mountains, a night in Queenstown with great food and through a surreal bathtub at the edge of a cliff in Hogsback.
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- Day 12
- Sunday, December 29, 2019
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 210 m
- South Africa Addo Elephant National Park -33.483429, 25.7505833°29’0” S 25°45’2” E
Addo Elephant National Park
December 29, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Couldn't find Timon.
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- Day 13
- Monday, December 30, 2019 at 3:00 PM
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- South Africa Grootrivier -33.981777, 23.57048833°58’54” S 23°34’14” E
Apocalyptic snail attac
December 30, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
In Afrikaans there is nothing like "Schön mal den Rüssel reinhalten und dinieren".
See translation
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- Day 14
- Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at 10:00 AM
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 275 m
- South Africa Kwaairivier -33.820551, 23.18161233°49’14” S 23°10’54” E
Not planning anything is the best plan
December 31, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Wonderful remote camping spot at Outeniqua Trout Lodge, suddenly appearing out of nowhere after a lot of rain and muddy gravel roads. Treating our Polo like a full-grown overlanding vehicle is the only way to progress here ;-)Read more
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- Day 15
- Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at 9:00 AM
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- South Africa Valsrivier -34.136456, 21.71697434°8’11” S 21°43’1” E
"Rivers" without rivers
January 1, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Six years of serious drought render place names like "... river camp" pretty funny ...
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- Day 15
- Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at 12:00 PM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- South Africa Breë -34.396374, 20.85082134°23’47” S 20°51’3” E
Witsand
January 1, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Dunes are supposed to be very delicate. Don't you dare touch them!
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- Day 15–16
- January 1, 2020 at 7:00 PM - January 2, 2020
- 1 night
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 85 m
- South Africa Buffeljagsrivier -34.018431, 20.53757534°1’6” S 20°32’15” E
Rushing through dryland to find a camp
Jan 1–2, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
After letting ourselves go too much in Witsand, it's getting late. My plan to cross the Breede River to the west unfortunately falls through as the ferry at Malagas Pont doesn't seem to be running today 😅. Unfortunately, there's no cosy camp in this completely deserted area and we're a bit stressed as we head north to pitch our tent somewhere before sunset. Once again, Franziska has the route under control and guides us to Buffeljagsdam, where we make it in time for a glass of red wine and some stargazing 😊.

The following day, we climb up the pass towards Barrydale and then turn west to pick up a truckload of dried fruit in Montagu before descending the escarpment again in direction to Franschhoek. Oooh, those dried mangoes!Read more
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- Day 18
- Saturday, January 4, 2020
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 741 m
- South Africa Dutoitskop -33.897483, 19.15232933°53’51” S 19°9’8” E
Franschhoek
January 4, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Around Ina's and Werner's wedding party!
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- Day 20
- Monday, January 6, 2020
- ☁️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 500 m
- South Africa Prince Alfred Hamlet -33.297148, 19.29411933°17’50” S 19°17’39” E
Guardians of the fynbos
January 6, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
"Fynbos (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈfəinbɔs], lit. 'fine bush') is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces [..] Fynbos is known for its exceptional degree of biodiversity and endemism, consisting of about 80% species of the Cape floral kingdom, where nearly 6,000 of them are endemic." (Wikipedia)

On our attempt to privately explore the hilly area, two monstrous dogs appear out of nowhere and won't go off our side.Read more
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- Day 21
- Tuesday, January 7, 2020
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- South Africa Saldanha Bay -33.21201, 18.13492433°12’43” S 18°8’6” E
West Coast National Park
January 7, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
When coming here we yet didn't know that birdwatching would become our main travel passions in future ...
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- Day 23
- Thursday, January 9, 2020
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 344 m
- South Africa Signal Hill -33.917658, 18.40237633°55’4” S 18°24’9” E
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Found penguins
January 9, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Hopping around Cape Town, dancing with penguins and waiting for my car to arrive on container ship Santa Clara from far away Germany :D
Michi, der The container ship with my Toyota not far from its destination port :D
2/16/25Reply
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- Day 25
- Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 11:30 AM
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 33 m
- South Africa Cape Town International Airport -33.971463, 18.60208533°58’17” S 18°36’8” E
Swapping lovely Franzi for Wurstdaniel
January 11, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
We did around 3.330 km in our rented VW Polo Vivo! Now it's time for a new chapter ...
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- Day 26
- Sunday, January 12, 2020
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 38 m
- South Africa Cape Point Lighthouse -34.35673, 18.4967334°21’24” S 18°29’48” E
Because we can
January 12, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
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- Day 27
- Monday, January 13, 2020 at 2:00 PM
- ⛅ 34 °C
- Altitude: 271 m
- South Africa Franschhoek -33.925956, 19.11945233°55’33” S 19°7’10” E
Addicted to wine
January 13, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C
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- Day 28
- Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 2:00 PM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- South Africa Paardeneiland -33.91902, 18.4621333°55’8” S 18°27’44” E
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Unpacking the treasure from Germany ...
January 14, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Sitting, waiting (and sleeping) inside SACD's huge cargo hall while my car is beeing administratively processed by local customs. The container arrived in 11th but my carnet de passages arrived just yesterday via UPS courier with a huge delay, because, after the German customs completed their paperwork, they sent it back to my German home address instead directly to Kaapstad. In between came Christmas and "stuff" ...
So, today, just now, after validating the vehicle identification number on my carnet the container is again closed for several hours and I am dropped at home (what I call The Buddha Garden by now). In the afternoon I get picked up again for the final arrangements and car release. While on the way back to the customs I get a call that unfortunately it'll not work out any more today because container unloading was scheduled too spontaneously (due to carnet delay) and has to be postponed for tomorrow. Damn! Haha! "Pläne und so ..."Read more
Michi, der Tyre deflation in order to fit the fully packed J12 with its 2.26 m into a 20" container of 2.30 m inner height :D
1/19/20Reply
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- Day 29
- Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 11:49 AM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- South Africa Paardeneiland -33.918445, 18.46342233°55’6” S 18°27’48” E
Finally!
January 15, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Awesome 🥳🥰
1/19/20Reply
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- Day 31
- Friday, January 17, 2020 at 11:32 AM
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- South Africa Soutrivier -33.915719, 18.4659733°54’57” S 18°27’57” E
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Nope.
January 17, 2020 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
:-( :-( :-(
Left the car yesterday for window tinting and diesel injector checking. Both is quite affordable here and the latter even conducted through a Bosch Diesel Service with superb staff! Today in the morning they wanted to start the car and ... nothing. Apparently the aluminium "ignition lock cylinder barrel rod" just cracked, leaving the ignition dead! Wtf? No tests. No anything. Dead car. The point of fracture looks very uneven so it could have been a manufacturing fault. I read about this possible failure a few times before but never thought that my holy car could once be affected by it ;-)
We are approaching the weekend where everything stands still here in SA. They do their best to find a spare part but I somehow have to keep Daniel in good mood because we wanted to be on the road by this weekend already! After the repair still comes the testing. I already cancelled the installation of an additional long range fuel tank. Right now the weather gets bad with winds up to 30 knots and fortunately some light rain.Read more
Michi, der Strolling around in despair through Paarden Island at least discloses well-sorted marine shops, car garages, camping equipment and electronic hardware stores with super-helpful people, many smiles and hidden gems like this one :)
1/19/20Reply
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