Driving long distance.... any advice?

[pinball wizard]

Why ?

Horrible little place.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Well i have never been to Botswana and i have never been to Namibia either so was trying to keep unknown places to a minimum hahah. What would you suggest? going via the BOtswana route would mean changing the route say from durban - jhb to Bots.... people suggested there is more to see by going via the bloem, upington route.

No man, go to the unknown places...

If you've got the time, and you've never been to Botswana, then go...

Extend your road trip beyond 4 days then, make it 7... take the time.. spend 2 weeks in Namibia, then 7 days back through a different route to DBN...

 

[ngoni615]

No man, go to the unknown places...

If you've got the time, and you've never been to Botswana, then go...

Extend your road trip beyond 4 days then, make it 7... take the time.. spend 2 weeks in Namibia, then 7 days back through a different route to DBN...

Awesome. I have been planning on taking a month off work to travel. I am also open to readjusting my budget for fuel and other costs so i can see places. As i mentioned this road trip is something i have been working on and planning on for a very long time. So if it means extending the days on the road i am open to it. I am a bit worried about the heat though especially around the desert? won't that hurt the car? i would not want to be stranded around the desert areas though. Does the extreme heat that side affect the car in any way though?

 

[pinball wizard]

I am a bit worried about the heat though especially around the desert? won't that hurt the car? i would not want to be stranded around the desert areas though. Does the extreme heat that side affect the car in any way though?

Only if your car is already ****ed.

 

[Geoff.D]

Awesome. I have been planning on taking a month off work to travel. I am also open to readjusting my budget for fuel and other costs so i can see places. As i mentioned this road trip is something i have been working on and planning on for a very long time. So if it means extending the days on the road i am open to it. I am a bit worried about the heat though especially around the desert? won't that hurt the car? i would not want to be stranded around the desert areas though. Does the extreme heat that side affect the car in any way though?

The extreme heat is gonna get to you before it gets to the car.
Make sure you have lots of water available mostly for you.
And as suggested go the Upington route and return through Botswana.

 

[HunterNW]

Well i have never been to Botswana and i have never been to Namibia either so was trying to keep unknown places to a minimum hahah. What would you suggest? going via the BOtswana route would mean changing the route say from durban - jhb to Bots.... people suggested there is more to see by going via the bloem, upington route.

Going through Bots, what will be the route ?

 

[Geoff.D]

The extreme heat is gonna get to you before it gets to the car.
Make sure you have lots of water available mostly for you.
And as suggested go the Upington route and return through Botswana.

And take your Star link terminal with you!

 

[ToxicBunny]

Awesome. I have been planning on taking a month off work to travel. I am also open to readjusting my budget for fuel and other costs so i can see places. As i mentioned this road trip is something i have been working on and planning on for a very long time. So if it means extending the days on the road i am open to it. I am a bit worried about the heat though especially around the desert? won't that hurt the car? i would not want to be stranded around the desert areas though. Does the extreme heat that side affect the car in any way though?

The heat won't bother your car dude, it will bother you way before the car so long as your car is in good knick.

Just my personal observation from this thread, and this is constructive criticism with a massive dollop of jealousy attached to it . Take way more time planning this than you have so far before actually embarking on this. You need to plan this properly to get the most from it, so that you can report back here on the trip and make us all hate you in the best possible way of course.

You have decided on your destination, so that is sorted it seems... now spend a few weeks plotting out your route, and change it 3 or 4 times to see what you can cover with the different options then replot it again.. THEN start planning the dates and times. Then do your budget, then start booking everything.

 

[minkukel]

Going through Bots, what will be the route ?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Hmmmm that route through Bots seems all wrong to me, kills the Nam road trip part in my mind...

But then again, I'm looking at it as if I still had my old 4x4... I'd want to stop at places like Luderitz and go through Sperrgebiet etc... hmmm definitely needs more though @ngoni615

 

[HunterNW]

View attachment 1067003

Aah ok.... In at Skilpadsnek border gate ?
Let's see if i get a lashing for this:
Unless you go to the parks or up to the swamps for tiger fishing, there's fokol to see in Bots. Donkeys.... more donkeys ...fokol for a long time and more donkeys.

 

[pinball wizard]

Hmmmm that route through Bots seems all wrong to me, kills the Nam road trip part in my mind...

Doesn't the bloke have to drive back home? Surely he can go one way and come back another?

 

[HunterNW]

Horrible little place.

WHo gave you blueballs / crabs at that little town ?

 

[pinball wizard]

WHo gave you blueballs / crabs at that little town ?

Boksburg ->Lime Acres -> Aggeneys -> Boksburg in a single day. Normally I like that sort of thing, but it was a trip to forget. The things we do when we're young dumb and full of ...

 

[ToxicBunny]

Doesn't the bloke have to drive back home? Surely he can go one way and come back another?

yeah this is true... and I even stated as much in an earlier post ...

 

[ngoni615]

Seems i will need to take more time to plan this. Not rush it... but i got a lot of useful info especially from those guys who have driven long distances and those that have been to both Namibia and Botswana. I will need to revise my budget mostly and check places i can sleepover and for how long. Then plan for the worst-case scenario and who to call when something goes wrong. After seeing people that have been there, i am super jealous and feel like going now lol but then I needed to be careful. Appreciate all the input gents. So for now,, i will try and work with a month. Luckily, i have a cousin who stays in Swakopmund so i know once i get there, i will have a place to stay for a week or more. Hence money saved. So working with a month, i will have says 10 days to drive and come back then 20 days to do other activities.

 

[Toxxyc]

I've done some distance drives in my time, like 1,500km+ in a 24-hour stretch. It can be done. Cruise control helps, as does coffee stops, snacks and good music (variety). Kurt Darren gets old after the first 1,000km.

 

[Craig_]

I've done some distance drives in my time, like 1,500km+ in a 24-hour stretch. It can be done. Cruise control helps, as does coffee stops, snacks and good music (variety). Kurt Darren is just sad.

FTFY

 

[ngoni615]

I've done some distance drives in my time, like 1,500km+ in a 24-hour stretch. It can be done. Cruise control helps, as does coffee stops, snacks and good music (variety). Kurt Darren gets old after the first 1,000km.

damn..... I only did Durban to Jozi. thats the longest i have ever done. I really wanna do this one so badly man.

 

[pinball wizard]

Boksburg ->Lime Acres -> Aggeneys -> Boksburg in a single day. Normally I like that sort of thing, but it was a trip to forget. The things we do when we're young dumb and full of ...

Turns out that was around 2100km of driving. Holy crap.