Modderfontein to Palapya

Drive: 590km’s
Left: 4:08am
Arrived: 2.45pm
Boarder Crossing: 2 hrs

We left Modderfontein early to avoid the morning commuter traffic and headed north on the N1 towards Polokwane. There were a surprising number of cars on the roads but no holdups and we were north of Hammanskraal before the sun started lightening the morning sky. Sustained by dates and dried peaches we followed the road to Mokopane, through the small town and on to the Martin’s Drift border. The road was in good repair and very quiet. Frequent stops along the way for Hatchiko to explore the smells brought us to the border by 10am. The only interest anybody took of the dog was to greet her and enquire if we had the correct papers for her. They were not examined until the last gate into Botswana. The processing of our passports was quick and friendly, with no registration of our electrical equipment my SA customs as expected. On the Botswana side they looked at the value of our iPhones and enquired if we were planning to trade! When we ensured them that we were in transit to Namibia they signed and stamped the Botswana Unified Revenue Service Customs Declaration documents. The long queue to pay our road permit and insurance (P280.00) was made enjoyable by chatting to the friendly truck drivers.

Once into Botswana the goat, donkey, and cattle lined road to Palapye deteriorated with some astonishingly large potholes. We were welcomed by three ground hornbills also browsing the side of the road and an unidentified vulture high in a tree. The abundant pied crow population pays tribute to the road kills littering the verges.

Once in the small town we purchased lunch and basic groceries with a Visa card with no complications. Wandering into Camp Itumela with the help of the GPS was interesting. The entrance road is hidden behind, and adjacent to, a coal depot and railway station!

Three dogs welcomed Hatchiko and we had set up camp in no time. Priority was making and enjoying lunch under the shade of a Mopane tree; the first real food in 11 hrs.

The quaint camp with outside showers and toilets is under renovation and obviously sees high traffic numbers. As the sun set the vehicles continued to arrive packing in closely as local music and the sound of goat bells completed the ambiance.

Two local beers (P42.00 R100) and a burger and chips, shared, at the bar was delicious. We came back to the van for a few games of Turbo Rummycub and coffee before an early night.