West Coast - October 2018

We decided to join Francois Rosouw on the 4x4sport (Radio Sonder Grense) West Coast Tour. We have done this tour at least twice before and decided to join again. To extend the holiday a bit we first stopped at the Karoo National Park. The campimg grounds there have always been lovely and this time the large tortoises were around every day we were there. As usual we traveled around and enjoyed the scenery and the animal sightings. We also did the 4x4 trail and enjoyed that. The animals are very wary though and tend to run the moment that they see a vehicle.

The one set of pictures taken at the Karoo National Park is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0oBOjSSyHo&feature=youtu.be

 

The other set is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHlu2IVwaXI&feature=youtu.be

 

On the day we were to join the group we left for Langebaan in the hope that there would still be some flowers. Fortunately it was a lovely sunny day and there were still some flowers to be seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QEPiqcRf9o&feature=youtu.be

 

After traveling around Langebaan we set off for Paternoster where we met up with Francois' group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNWLmYI9_0s&feature=youtu.be

 

Part 1 - We met the tour at Paternoster and spent the night at the hotel there. The next day we set off for Tietiesbaai and travelled up the coast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4c3hgMW_Ak&feature=youtu.be

 

Part 2 - Muisbosskerm - Lamberts Bay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk9LTj0Nk6Q&feature=youtu.be

 

Part 3 - The Dunes - Lamberts Bay. This will probably mainly interest people who were there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMhlm1rb960&feature=youtu.be

 

Part 4 - Posing at the Lambers Bay Hotel before imbibing a bit later up the coast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3O6lp9KxHA&feature=youtu.be

 

Part 5 - Sea views and some flowers. Including an unfortunate whale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY26siARW2k&feature=youtu.be

 

Part 6 - Namaqua National Park and Spoeg Rivier Cave.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8SNrsZJWmE&feature=youtu.be

 

Part 7 - Noup, more dunes and some scenery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58PRQZE4lD0&feature=youtu.be

 

After the tour ended we set off for Augrabies Falls where we camped for two nights . The plan was to do the long 4x4 route which I had seen before and it required two vehicles according to the regulations. I spoke to the lady at reception and asked whether we could do the trail alone and she said NO! Resultant from this short conversation I approached three different vehicle owners at the campsite and asked whether they might like to accompany us on the trail. The first did not have a 4x4 and the second had never been offroad before but happily the third couple I approached said they would love to do the trail with us. I lent them our hand held radio the next day and we had a great time. There were two places late on the trail where I could imagine someone struggling on the short climbs as they were quite steep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGQqNZR1n68&feature=youtu.be