Driving long distance.... any advice?

[ToxicBunny]

Would probably do a JHB to DBN trip next month, although thats not really a long distance trip it will have to do. The best part is thats a cheap trip esp drving a diesel

See JHB to DBN is a small trip and a holiday...

DBN to JHB ain't a holiday type trip, its a work trip Nobody got time for a holiday in JHB (cesspool that it is *runs*)

 

[Geoff.D]

That's why I put spotlights on the Beetle during the time I was at home, before driving back. Driving the 110km from Matjiesfontein to Sutherland in the middle of the night can be a daunting experience, especially with all the small animals jumping from the side in front of the car. Then you need to have proper headlights.

On the tarred road?
I would have thought you would take the dirt road from Laingsburg to Sutherland through the mountains at night in a snow storm in winter in your stride as a local.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Decide on when/where you want to stop and sleep over, then go to Safari now or Lekkeslaap and see what's available in that area. Decide on Self catering/hotel/B&B etc. I like self catering, then buy at the local butcher, have a braai, plenty of whizza and a good nights rest.

Don't discount Airbnb either, but the above suggestion is precisely how I would approach it...

Find a nice area to stay over. Find the right accommodation and then make an evening of it with a man-braai and some dops. Preferrably stay in a place with great scenery so you can park outside and just chill and enjoy the view.

 

[minkukel]

If I had the time and money:

 

[Geoff.D]

All this talk about beetles and long trips reminds me how capable those cars were. The float and sail over mud. A cement bag in the boot and you have a vehicle that can just about go anywhere even if you cant see where you are going.

 

[HunterNW]

Don't discount Airbnb either, but the above suggestion is precisely how I would approach it...

Find a nice area to stay over. Find the right accommodation and then make an evening of it with a man-braai and some dops. Preferrably stay in a place with great scenery so you can park outside and just chill and enjoy the view.

Never tried Airbnb. Are there self catering places or just B&B's ?

 

[minkukel]

Weren't those globes 6v ? Remember my mother's beatle.. like 2 parrafin lamps infront.

6v with a generator if I remember correctly.

 

[HunterNW]

If I had the time and money:
View attachment 1066943

My idea for October.

 

[Geoff.D]

If I had the time and money:
View attachment 1066943

No man, vryburg, kuruman, hotazel Kathu can't be left out on such a trip!

 

[Geoff.D]

6v with a generator if I remember correctly.

Ja originals had 6v battery under the back seat. Mine darem was a newer model with a 12v system. The thing was to protect the batteries from short circuits with insulation over the terminals.

 

[minkukel]

No man, vryburb, kutuman, hotazel Kathy can't be left out on such a trip!

I would play it like this: plan for 2 weeks on the road to leave time for detours, staying longer at a nice spot etc.

 

[geezer]

On the tarred road?
I would have thought you would take the dirt road from Laingsburg to Sutherland through the mountains at night in a snow storm in winter in your stride as a local.

Luckily the road was at that time recently tarred because of the SAAO out on the road to Fraserburg. It was safer to drive from Matjiesfontein to Sutherland over the Verlatenkloof pass.

 

[pinball wizard]

If I had the time and money:
View attachment 1066943

Aggeneys. PTSD. I gotta go call my shrink.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Never tried Airbnb. Are there self catering places or just B&B's ?

Mostly self-catering from my experience actually...

 

[minkukel]

Aggeneys. PTSD. I gotta go call my shrink.

Why ?

 

[Geoff.D]

My idea for October.
View attachment 1066953

So close to Morty and you don't go and visit?

 

[HunterNW]

So close to Morty and you don't go and visit?

I said to Oom Moose he must go and sit on Namibia side of the Orange river and we can prost over the river.
SO and her kids must get passports .... Then i'll do a Namib trip.

 

[absynth]

Road trip we did in about 2005 over 2 and a half weeks.
Edit: Forgot we also went to the Drakensberg.

 

[Geoff.D]

Back to OP. If you have no time constraints then stay off the highways, amble along and take a divert every time you see something interesting. Stay over as much as you want, especially after crossing the borders. Why not consider the trans Botswana route as part of your trip?

 

[ngoni615]

Hack to OP. If you have no time constraints then stay ooff the highways, amble along and take a divert every time you see something interesting. Stay over as much as you want, especially after crossing the borders. Why not consider the trans Botswana route as part of your ttip.?

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.