After wading through several 100 gigs of video I finally managed to wrangle it down to 10 mins! The video is a compilation of footage shot on a recent trip across South Africa and Southern Mozambique, starting in Cape Town and ending at the end of the Inhaca peninsula of southern Mozambique. Hope you enjoy the ride!
Category Archives: South Africa
South Africa’s hidden kitespots
A round up of the best spots we found along the way as we drove from Cape Town to Mozambique through the garden route and along the Wild Coast. South Africa certainly didn’t disappoint with an abundance of incredible locations that offered perfect flat water lagoons and long breaking waves set against a variety of the most stunning natural backdrops South Africa has to offer.
4×4 Kosi Bay to Inhaca to Komatipoort
We though South Africa was wild! Crossing the border at Kosi Bay nothing could have prepared us for the roads ahead! Because there were no roads! Just criss-cross sand tracks going in all directions, thankfully the 4×4 fitted with Garmin Tracks for Africa saw us through!
After crossing into Mozambique we headed straight for Ponto Do Oro a relatively developed picturesque town only accessible by 4×4. Although terribly unprepared for the lack of facilities and food on offer we landed on our feet thanks to the kind owners of Durban Curries, Peter and Sharon. Thanks to them we were well looked after and advised for the journey ahead.
From there we headed to the end of the Inhaca peninsula, if ever the trip was an adventure this was it, 3 hours drive through an elephant reserve to come out the other side feeling like you had reached then end of the world. Looking out across the waters to the island of Inhaca and the open ocean beyond you could be persuaded the world was flat.
Again finding ourselves slightly ill prepared without much in the way of supplies or place to stay we came good again on the kindness of strangers.
South Africa by 4×4 Part 5 – Traansval
After 4 and a half weeks on road culminating in an escape from Mozambique via 50 kms of a flowing mud river pretending to be a road, we were well and truly ready for some R n’ R. Thankfully my pals parents place was not far from the Mozambique border and equally close to the Krugar Park and Gods Window.
South Africa by 4×4 Part 4 – Wild Coast
Leaving the modern world behind we crossed the border into the Wild Coast. With mixed opinions from various sources as to the conditions of roads and general security of the area there was a certain apprehension and uncertainty as to what were getting ourselves into. This was the point where the journey really became adventure.
Scattered dwellings and wild cattle roaming dirt roads were the staple in this vast expanse of never ending lush green rolling landscape. For as far as you could see at times it seemed as if the ground had been scrunched up into giant folds.
Despite warnings and cautions the roads were no trouble for our 4×4 and we found the people welcoming and friendly although we were cautioned not to get stuck alone at night. With no guide or experience of the area we would have been at a loss had it not been for the Slingsby Wild Coast map which gave detailed information as to the quality and condition of the routes through the region. It saw us safely out of a local protest which closed off several roads and bridges.
South Africa by 4×4 Part 3 – Garden Route
It certainly lived up to it’s name, miles and miles of lush green landscapes, lakes and lagoons covering the stretch of coast land from Cape Town to The Wild Coast. All in all we spent about a week and a half in this area but could easily have spent the entire trip there. Everywhere we went was stunning, peaceful and safe, which after Cape Town was a welcomed change.
South Africa by 4×4 Part 2 – Langebaan
The first stop outside of Cape Town, a spot famed for great kite surfing conditions and Aaron Hadlow’s off season training location, Langebaan lagoon. We weren’t disappointed for wind that was for sure, two days out of two! Day 1 gusty, around 30-35 knots and day 2 around 15 knots. A place to be careful with slightly offshore winds onto the lagoon, it’s a long way to be blown to the other side and an even longer walk back! All in all a great spot in stunning surrounds.
We found a few nice looking camp sites and settled on Leentjiesklip Caravan Park. The site backs on to the lagoon affording most of the sites stunning water front views. However, we found it largely unprotected from the elements, not such a problem if you’re a wind junkie!
South Africa by 4×4 Part 1 – Cape Town
First major travel destination of the year, South Africa! The plan; take 5 weeks to drive from Cape Town to Mozambique following the coast as close as roads would allow! For this the 4×4 is the only way!
The photos of Cape Town are a bit sparse, unfortunately the 4×4’s rear cab was broken into while we were there, a bit of downer to start the trip on! Thus the few days we had in Cape Town were mostly spent driving around trying to replace stolen items and filling out forms at police stations. However, we did get to climb Lions Head for “sundowners” and some spectacular views!