Getting Lost Again

The Big One – Plan A in 2007, which was the original plan!

Oh how plans change!

Our original plan to go on a long overland trip, started all the way back in 2007, our plan at the time was to sell the flat and do the trip. Back then we had planned on doing the classic Eastern route of Africa. Had we done the trip we would have been back by now and probably settled back into working life. But life has ways of changing plans that we cannot really explain.

Below is a an extract from the web page we wrote back then, that outlines what our plan was. This is only really for historical purposes and provides an insight to our thoughts at the time. Please forgive us if the style or layout of writing is poor. We have removed the graphics also.

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On the way to Cape Town these are the countries we plan to cross:

Obviously our route is flexible and plans might, or should I say, they probably will, change depending on situations and advice as we travel.

UK – Here we plan to stop off at family to say our goodbyes, etc. Firstly at Wendy’s parents in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. Secondly onto Dan’s Mother’s in Pentre, Wales. Catching a ferry across to Jersey, Channel Islands to see Dan’s Grandmother.

FRANCE – Here we plan to stop in Saint Jean D’Aulps to visit Dan’s sister Anna.

ITALY – Here we plan to stop at Lake Como (not sure the weather will be nice for lake side exploring and watersports at this time of the year though). Lake Garda, Pisa and finally Ancona for our ferry crossing to Greece.

GREECE – We arrive at Igoumenitsa on the ferry and from here we will go to Ionnina to see the Zagoria Villages, Papingo rock pools etc. Then onto Meteora to see the rock monastaries. We then move onto Mount Olympus to contemplate climbing it or just relaxing at a nearby camp. From Mount Olympus we move onto Thessaloniki for more sites such as Vergina and Pella. From Thessaloniki we go to Chalkidiki – Kalamitsi for a few days relaxing on greek beaches. After a few days on the beach it will be time to move onto Kavala for more beach and sun. Hopefully relaxed from the travel done so far and raring to move on we will go into the Dadia Forest Reserve for some local wildlife and birdlife spotting. From there we will go onto Soufli to see the silk museum and cross into Turkey.

TURKEY – We will enter Turkey via Ipsala and go straight onto Istanbul. Here we will visit the many souqs etc. From Istanbul we will go to Canakkale to see Troy and the Gallipoli battle heads. Our next stop is Selcuk for the Ephesus and Hierapolis Ruins. Onto Fethiye and Oludeniz for more beach bumming and watersports for Dan. A visit to the butterfly valley at Faralaya. A look at the ‘sleeping man’ mountain and monument tombs at Kas. We will then visit the famous beach ree house camp at Mount Olympos, maybe climb it? Moving onto Antalya to see the Laleici quarter with spectacular views of the Bey Mountains. Also to see Antalya’s many tombs and monuments. From Antalya to Goreme to see the famous ‘fairy towers’ and rock churches. Also for a wonder in the underground city. We plan to visit the Black Sea stoping along the way at Amasya. A town in a ravine bisected by a river and has beautiful architecture and rock hewn tombs.A stop at Giresun, a place well known for its cherries, hazelnuts and fine cuisine. Onto Kahta to see the fallen heads of Nemrutdagi. We cross the border at Akcakale into Syria.

SYRIA – First stop in Syria is Aleppo for more souqs, ruins, food and a visit to Apamea, the sandstone city and mosaic museum. After Aleppo we head towards Hama. Hear we shall see the majestic water wheels groaning their sad song thorugh the town. Homs is our next stop. This will be a base to go and visit Crac des Chevaliers, the magical castle. It’s onto Palmyra next to visit some more clasiscal ruins. From Palmyra we travel to Damascus. That biblical town to see the old city and it’s souqs, carpet shops and coffee shops. All the time trying to avoid the lure of the barterers. Maybe visit a hammam and see a few mosques. We cross the border into Jordan at Nasib.

JORDAN – Straight onto Amman for day trips to Pella, Bethany Beyond Jordan and many more biblical sights. After Amman we head for Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve. Here we can experence extreme nature with gorge rock slides/canyons and a good float in the Dead Sea. It’s onto the Dana Nature Reserve after Wadi Mujib. Here again we can experience local wildlife and birdlife. A little relax. From there we head for Madi Musa to see the breathtaking site of Petra, the red rock monuments. Madi Musa to Wadi Rum for more breathtaking desert sceneray and first experience of desert driving etc. At Aqaba we will catch a ferry to Egypt. The only crossing into Egypt from Jordan.

EGYPT – Egypt’s first stop will be Dahab. Here we will have a well earned rest and beach ‘holiday’. We will hopefully take in some snorkelling and watersports (for Dan of course). A trip to the well known Ras Mohammed National Park for their reefs and marine life. Dahab onto St Katherine’s Monestary. Maybe a climb of Mt Sinai? Then it’s Wadi Feiran to see the biblical and historical point at which Moses struck the rock to create water for his poeple. A visit to Hammam Fara’un to sip into their hot springs and visit their beaches. Then it’s time to do a bit of ship spotting in Suez. Suez to Alexandria. Here we can see the Roman Museum and the Roman Amphitheatre. A taste of Egyptian cities before heading off to Cairo. In Cairo we will do stocking up and visit the pyramids, Giza, take a felucca ride. Do neccessary paperwork suh as visas etc. Take Cassie to Cairo Zoo and Al-Azhar Park. We will hopefully be able to go out along to the famous Siwa Oasis, temperature permitting. For a bit of desert driving and bush camping. From here we will head back to the Nile stopping at Bahariyya Oasis. See a few more ruins, temples and tombs. A bit more desert driving and bush camping. We hit th Nile again and the town of Minya. A quick stop before carrying on down the Nile. Minya to Luxor and expecting our first convoy. In Luxor we will see the temples, Valley of the Kings and so forth. We will then head off to Aswan in another convoy to relax a little before the hard going in Sudan. Do some shopping and see a few more sights. Here we will catch the ferry to Sudan.

SUDAN – Arriving in Wadi Halfa we may need to wait for the car to pull into port. This may mean a nights stop or more depending on the relaxed scheduling we may find here. We will continue to travel down along the Nile to reach Khartoum. This will mean a few bush camps and perhaps a stop at Dongola as it has been praised as a friendly and relaxed stopover. Khartoum. Here we will hopefully see some whirling dervishes. See the point where the two Niles meet, go to some more souqs and experience the great Sudanese hospitality. From here we will head towards the border crossing at Gallabat for Ethiopia. Stopping along the way at Wad Medani and Gedaref.

ETHIOPIA – From entering the border at Metema, we will travel onto Gonder.It will then be gonder to Lalibela where we will see the rock hewn churches and the Simien Mountains. A turn back in the direction we came from and head off to Bahar Dar to see Lake Tana and the Blue Nile Falls. From here we will travel down to Addis Ababa to sample its many charms and catch up on some shopping and car maintenance. It’s Addis to Awasa through the Rift Valley. Stopping to see the magnificent Rift Valley Lakes. Then its down to the border crossing at Moyale to enter Kenya.

KENYA – As we enter Kenya we will head for Marsabit and Marsabit National Park.Then we will head off in the complete wrong direction and go to Loyangalani, a small village on Lake Turkana. Just to see the ‘Jade Sea’. From here we will head down down the Rift Valley to Maralal.From Maralal to the Samburu National Park. A good spot of viewing will hopefully be put in.We will then travel a little further down to Mount Kenya National Park.It’s off to Nairobi and to find the famous Jungle Junction for a quick rest and meet up with other overlanders. Now it’s time for the big game viewing as we head off towards the Masai Mara Nature Reserve. It’s then over to cross the border into Tanzania at Sirare.

TANZANIA – Our first stop in Tanzania is Musoma on Lake Victoria.We move onto the Serengeti National Park for a few days game viewing. It’s onto another park at Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here we’ll see the impressive Ngorongor Crater and it’s own eco system and wildlife.We leave the animals behind for now and move onto Dodoma. This will be a stop over for onward travel. Dar Es Salaam, the next stop on our itinerary. A chance for stocking up, checking the car and getting visas etc. We’ll avoid the city centre and stay at Dar’s fantastic beaches. Onto the beaches! It’s off to Zanzibar for some beach combing and relaxation.Back to the mainland and onto Iringa. Another stop over for onward travel. It’s then Mbeya, our last stop before heading over the border ar Kiyela into Malawi.

MALAWI – Here we plan to follow Lake Malawi to the border crossing into Zambia. First stop is Karonga. Onto the clear waters and amazing beaches of Chitimba. Possible a swim, but making sure we are aware of the risks of bilhazhia in the lake.We move onto Chintheche for more peace and quite along the lake shores. From tranquility we move onto Senga Bay. A hotspot for lake side water activities. A good chance for Dan to brush off the dusty windsurfing skills. It’s across to Cape Maclear and Lake Malawi National Park. More beaches and swimming. Over to the capital Lilongwe for markets, shopping and stocking up. Onto the border crossing at Mchinji for Zambia.

ZAMBIA – Straight into South Luangwa National Park. A recommended park for excellent game viewing. A drive down some unpredictable roads to Petauke. A stop over for onward travel. Time to hit the city Lusake for more markets. Then down to Choma. A good place to stop over on the way to Livingstone and the great Vistoria Falls. It’s Livingstone now and a chance to see the great Victoria Falls. A chance for Dan to perhaps take the white river rafting challenge? Onto Katima Mlilo for the ferry across to Namibia.

NAMIBIA – We start out at Divundu to see Popa Falls and Mahango Game reserve.Onto Tsumeb to see their renowned arts and crafts and go to their craft market. We move onto Otjiwarongo. Here they lay claim to dinasour footprints and magical mountains. It’s the capital next, Windhoek. Catch up on laundrey and all things mundane. Moving onto Buitepos for our border crossing into Botswana.

BOTSWANA – We cross the border and head for Ghanzi. It’s in the middle of the Kalahari and is a Bushman town. Next we head towards Maun. Here we will take a trip to the Okovango Delta. Onto Gweta and a visit to Ntewtwe Pan, a salt pan. From here we will travel to Francistown. A stopover for stocking up before we head off into Zim ands it’s empty shops and fuel tanks. Its across the border into Zimbabwe at Ramokgwebana.

ZIMBABWE – First stop is Bulawayo. Many of Wendy’s family used to live here and were farmers here, so will be a chance for her to see where they used to live. Next it’s Gweru. A visit to the Antelope Park where they have an extensive Lion breeding programme. We head onto Lake Chivero, Harares main water source and a man made lake. A chill here and some more watersports opportunities for Dan. We have decided to miss Harare and move onto Mutoko. Just a stopver before crossing the border at Nyamapanda into Mozambique.

MOZAMBIQUE – From the Zimbabwian border we’ll head for Chimoio. Here there is fantastic country side and mountains. We travel onto Vilanculos on the coast for the start of our beach bumming. Here we will experience tropical beaches and excellent swimming and surfing for Dan. Who knows, Wendy might give it a try…Onto the famous beach bumming beaches of Tofo. Excellent surfing. More sun, sea and sand. The flavour of our journey down Mozambique. It’s Xai Xai now. A town situated on the Limpopo River, wher it meets the sea. More beautiful beaches. What a hard life. The capital is our next stop, Maputo. Here we can catch up on laundrey see the beautiful acacia lined street and colonial houses. Do some more shopping etc. A short stay as we cross the border next at Kosi Bay into South Africa. Wendy heads home.

SOUTH AFRICA – Part 1

We shall head for the St Lucia Wetlands and see the mangroves, reefs, swamps and sand forests. It’s along the coast to Durban. Wendy’s birth place. Perhaps a stop to visit Wendy’s Dad’s Brother and the rest of the family. It’s been many years since the last visit. Not to mention a visit to the flea market and beaches. Onto Waterfall, where Wendy lived before they moved to England. I want to show Cassie and Dan where I grew up. From here we will travel to the majestical Drakensberg. The scenic mountaon range and it’s fantastic hikes. A few days here to unwind from all the beach combing. We will start in the north and come down to Sani Pass.

LESOTHO – We plan to spend a night at the top of Sani Pass. Just for the views into Lesotho and South Africa. It’s also a hard days drive through the pass. Here we will go to Upper Rafolatsane. The first town from the bottom of Sani Pass.Onto Sehonghong. We are not doing the tourist trail and are just coming into Lesotho for a feel of it. Then its Tsoelike. Another small village and stop over point. Then out of Lesotho back into South Africa at Qacha’s Nek.

SOUTH AFRICA Part 2

Back into South Africa and straight onto Kokstad. Wendy had family that used to own a farm in this region. From Kokstad onto the coast again and Port Shepstone and surrounding towns of Margate, Shelly Beach etc. The Wild Coast as it’s called. It’s a choice of where to stay in these coastal towns. The holiday spot of Wendy’s childhood. Onto Port St Johns. The hippie town of the war times. Where poeple moved to avoid being drafted. Apparently not much has changed. Next stop is the highly recommended Cintsa. Apparently S.A’s best beach spot. Time to head away from the beaches and towards a town called Hogsback. This is where J R Tolken apparently got his inspiration to write Lord of the Rings. Back towards the coast again but first stoping at Grahamstown. A historical town. Back on the coast at Jeffreys Bay. South Africa’s best surfing beach. A chance for more surfing and beach bumming. We start the famous Cape Garden Route now wih our first stop at Storms River. It’s the adventure sports capital with blackwater tubing and bunjee jumping. Watch this space…. Next it’s Knysna and it’s beautiful scenery. Off to Outshoorn and it’s famous ostrich farms. Everything here is ostrich from the food to the sports. Maybe one of us will dare to ride one. Down to Swellendam, South Africa’s 3rd oldest inhabited city. The start of the wine tasting. Whale watching in Hermanus and a visit to seal island. We will then base ourselves in the town of Stellenbosch. The centre of the wine country in the Cape. Hopefully family and friends will meet us here for Christmas and the chance to explore the Cape. Below are the places we will explore from our base in Stellenbosch: Cape Town itself – a trip up Table Mountain, the famous V&A Waterfront, Clifton Beach and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Point – The southern tip of Africa, Franshoek – A beautiful wine town, Paarl – Another wine town set in a valley, Saldanha Bay – Wonderful natural harbour and the heart of ghouno shipping, Citrusdal – Beautiful orange groves, hot mineral springs with healing powers (apparently) and the Cederberg Mountains, Hout Bay – for the breath taking Chapmans Peak drive, Constantia – More wonderful wines. It’s then the decision of wether we drive up the West Coast home…

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