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Adventure Big Five ABF2202 (the other way around!)

Sunday, August 28, 2022 | Domenico Schiano Moriello | Africa

Arrival in Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

The previous tour is over, but the motorcycles have "somehow" to go back to Cape Town, so why not with another tour? A very well mixed group with partecipants from Switzerland, Germany Austria, Italy and USA has arrived in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and we are all eager to explore southern Africa! Follow us during the next two weeks!

Sunrise in our beautiful hotel in Victoria Falls
After the first meeting and briefing we went to see this world wonder, the Victoria Falls!
One of the most spectacular waterfalls in the World!
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Warren

Victoria Falls to Kasane (Botswana)

Today we left Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe and headed (by bus) to Kasane in Botswana, where the motorcycles were waiting for us! And then, after the motorcycle handover and some paperwork, we were ready to jump on a comfortable raft for another highlight of this tour, the boat safari on the Chobe river, where we felt like being on National Gepgraphic! Impressive the amount of animals we could see!

 

At the border between Zimbabwe and Botswana
Our motorcycles!
It was hot, but swimming wouldn't have been a good idea!
Enjoying the Cruise-Safari?
Sunset on the Chobe river
Dusk from our beautiful lodge

Kasane to Nata

Time to jump on our motorcycles and start our engines!!! Today we took it quite easy from Kasane to Nata, a long straight road where we had to watch for elephants crossing... and some potholes, and after reaching our lodge everybody was eager to try some offroad in the Nata Bird Sanctuary, and that's where we went for a loop before sunset!

Warning, elephants crossing!
A stop along the road to stretch our legs...
In the Nata Bird Sanctuary
The place where I almost lost my motorcycle key!!!
Stefano, Daniel, Warren and Thomas
Dan and Tom
Not a bad place for dinner!!!

Nata to Maun

Another long and straight stretch of road between Nata and Maun! After avoiding many potholes, we reached Gweta where we stopped for quite a long break at the Planet Baobab lodge, surrounded by many huge baobab trees. There we had time for a coffee, a light lunch and some pictures! After that, not many potholes anymore, but (much better!) animals crossing! Giraffes and Elephants were greeting us along the way, until we finally reached Maun, where we are going to spend the next two nights. Tonight we have to go to bed early, because tomorrow the alarms rings at 5:30 am! Stay tuned!

Morning briefing
First stop at the Baobab Planet lodge
Stefano relaxing under a Baobab tree
Amparo, Warren, Daniel, Dan and Stefano
Group picture!
Daniel
Stefano
Thomas and Amparo

Jeep Safari in the Okavango Delta

Can we still call it a rest day if we had to leave at 6am for the jeep safari? We entered the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta and spent almost the whole day there looking for animals! Enjoy the pictures!

First stop for breakfast after the Sun came out
Stefano and Daniel, our youngsters!
on the jeep
Our lunch spot in the savannah
on the way back...

Maun to Ghanzi

Also this day started early, we had to be at the Maun airport at 7:30 to go on a helicopter scenic flight over the Okavango delta! That was simply amazing!!! Back on land after 45 minutes and then back to our lodge for breakfast (yes we didn't eat before flying... just in case!). After that, we were ready to leave and after around 280 kilometres we finally reached Ghanzi, today's destination. Tonight we have to go to bed early, because tomorrow will be a long day!!!

Dan, Thomas and Tom ready to board the helicopter
Stefano and Daniel
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One branch of the Okavango
On the road again...

Ghanzi to Windhoek (Namibia)

A long long stretch of road from Ghanzi to Windhoek, and we also had to cross the border between Botswana and Namibia, but everything was fine and we made it in time to relax a little bit on the rooftop bar of our hotel before having dinner... with a special surprise for Stefano, today is his birthday!!!

Goodbye Botswana!
We spent most of the day on the Trans Kalahari Highway, that connects the Atlantic and the Indian oceans
Arrived in Windhoek, this is a very modern city and the church is one of its oldest buildings
Sunset
The view from the rooftop bar
Tanti auguri Stefano!

Windhoek to Swakopmund

We made it to the Atlantic Ocean! After leaving Windhoek we headed to Okahandja where we stopped for a coffee break and to refill our motorcycles. Back on the Trans Kalahari highway, our next stop was in Usakos for lunch and then, before reaching Swakopmund, we went for a "side trip" of 60 unpaved kilometres to Spitzkoppe, an incredible rock formation and one of Namibia's most beautiful landmarks! What an amazing place!

First stop in Okahandja, here Tom and Dan
Local handicraft
Another break along the road
Finally lunch!
Ready for Spitzkoppe?
The famous rock arch of Spitzkoppe
Thomas and Hennie
Daniel and Amparo
Daniel didn't want to leave!
waiting for Daniel...
Thomas refilling his bike on the trailer!
Dinner was also good!

Swakopmund to Namib Naukluft

The temperature in this part of Namibia drops by the coast because of the cold air coming in from the Atlantic ocean, so we departed on a very chilly morning and headed to Walwis Bay, where we stopped for some pictures at the Flamingo Lagoon and then tried the brand new "Dunes Mall" for a coffee break and the to buy something (especially to drink!) before entering the Namib Desert. After that, we said goodbye to the paved road and we entered the desert again! Tonight we sleep in the Namib desert, what an incredible place!

By the coast in Swakopmund
Flamingos in Walvis Bay
First photo stop at Vogelfederberg, back in the desert!
Around the Gaub pass
Amparo
Daniel and Stefano
We crossed the tropic of Capricorn!
Arriving at our lodge

Jeep tour to Sossusvlei, the heart of the Namib desert

No morotcycles today, a big offroad car was waiting for us (very early departure!) and took us to visit Sossusvlei, one of Namibia's most visited attractions, famous for its large red sand dunes which are some of the tallest sand dunes in the world! After some hiking and a picnic between the dunes, we drove back to our beautiful lodge and had time to relax by the pool before admiring the amazing sunset!

First photo stop
A beautiful Oryx, symbol of the country
Warren at Deadvlei
Thomas
Water in Sossusvlei! Here Dan, Amparo and Tom
Daniel and Stefano
Daniel at Sesriem canyon
relaxing by the pool
Amazing sunset from our lodge!

Namib Naukluft to Mariental

Another long day was awaiting us! Leaving the Namib Naukluft, the road was unpaved (and sometimes though!) for more than 200 km, but the landscapes that we could admire especially around the Tsarishoogte pass made it worth the effort! We all made it to Maltahohe by lunch time, then back on asphalt we quickly reached our lodge but, if you are thinking that the riding "fun" for today was over, you are wrong because the driveway is a three kilometres sand (the red sand of the Kalahari) road!

Ride safe!
Warren, the unstoppable!
Did I mention the incredible landscapes?
Approaching the Tsarishoogte pass
Lunch break, very well deserved!
Thomas and Cruiser
Last photo stop
Not a bad sunset also here!!!

Mariental to Keetmanshoop

After riding in the Namib desert, we definitely needed an easier day! Today we started a little bit later and headed southwards (South Africa is not far anymore!) straight to Keetmanshoop on asphalt, we reached our lodge in time for lunch and then, after some relax, we went to see the Giants Playground, a very bizarre rock formation. Arrived there, we could also see two beautiful cheetas and we came just in time for their lunch!

The day started with a flat tire!
Road works slowed us down a little bit
What a beautiful animal is the cheetah
At the Giants Playground
Warren
Tom
Stefano climbing
Daniel
A beautiful quivertree
See you tomorrow!

Keetmanshoop to Fish River Canyon

A short but wonderful ride today! We left Keetmanshoop on a sunny morning (as usual here!) and after a few kilometres we left the asphalt again to reach one of the wonders of Namibia, the magnificent Fish River Canyon! But we had no hurry to get there, first a good coffee break near the Naute dam, then lunch at the beautiful Canyon Roadhouse and finally we entered the protected area. What an amazing sight! We spent more than one hour there, going from one viewpoint to another before finally reaching our cozy lodge located nearby. A beautiful day!!!

First photo stop at the Naute dam
Amparo and Thomas
Today's challenge was to cross the Naute river... under the Naute dam!
Coffe break or taking a nap???
Back on the road... or on the railway?
The flag of Namibia
Thomas, Tom and Daniel
At the Canyon Roadhouse
Lunch
Let's put some "petrol"!
Arrived at the Fish River Canyon!
Beautiful group!
Our beautiful lodge!

Fish River Canyon to Springbok (South Africa)

Time to leave Namibia and to add another country to our list, South Africa! We spent the whole morning still in Namibia, riding (on gravel, of course!) from our beautiful lodge first to Ai-Ais for a coffee break and then to Noordoever, just before the border, where we had a quick lunch. As soon as we entered South Africa, suddenly flowers started to appear all around us, this is the so called area of the "blooming desert", and the flowers mean that there was rain not long ago... let's hope for good weather in the next days!

 

Last ride through the incredible landscapes of Namibia
Arrived in Ai-Ais, all these backpacks belong to people who have hiked in the Fish River Canyon for around 5 days, the trail ends here!
coffee break
The hot spring of Ai-Ais
Warren
Orange River. Namibia on the left, South Africa on the right
Welcome to South Africa
Blooming wild flowers all around
Dan
Arrived in Springbok
This beautiful peacock welcomed us!

Springbok to Citrusdal

Flowers all around us, as I wrote yesterday, mean water... and that's what we got this morning! But fortunately it wasn't a heavy rain! We quickly reached Garies for a coffee break and then continued heading southwards to Vanrhynsdorp where we had a great lunch! After that, some of us went straight to Citrusdal and others reached the coast at Lambert's Bay, facing some gravel (and a little bit of mud!) before reaching the final destination. Cape Town, we are coming soon!!

Lunch break
On the road to Lambert's Bay
Fortunately not too much mud!
Rough sea!
Daniel, Warren and Stefano
Some more gravel and mud...
Last photo stop
Ready for dinner?

Citrusdal to Cape Town

We made it! Today we reached Cape Town after more than 4000 kilometres from the flat savannah of Botswana to the southernmost (almost!) city of the African continent! We left Citrusdal under a grey sky but fortunately it didn't rain today! After 20 kilometres of gravel on the Middelberg Pass, and another 90 kilometres through the hills and mountains of the region, we reached Ceres where we stopped for a good coffee break, and then back on the road to face the many curves of the Bain's Kloof pass! Another stop in Paarl and from there we could already see Table Mountain! Cape Town, we have arrived!!! What a beautiful tour it was, a lot of memories and experiences we'll never forget!!!

Thank you Amparo, Thomas, Warren, Tom, Dan, Stefano and Daniel! See you hopefully soon around the world!

ready to go under a cloudy sky, but fortunately it did not rain!
Today's challenge was the Middelberg Pass, 20 kilometres of gravel!
Back on asphalt!
The road of the Gydo pass
Pity that the mud will be washed away when we return the bikes!
Coffee break
At the Afrikaans Language monument in Paarl
Table Mountain in the background... Cape Town, we are almost there!
Last dinner!
tour completed!
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Add a comment Rate this post
Dan
Monday, August 29, 2022 at 09:42

Wieder Zuhause angekommen und was soll man dazu sagen, diese Reise war ein wahres Abenteuer. Sensationelle Landschaften und Eindrücke. Die Lodges und die Organisation war hervorragend!! Wir hatten alle sehr viel Spaß gemeinsam! Lieben Dank Domenico und Hennie, ich hoffe wir sehen uns wieder!
Tom
Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 13:21

Es war das schönste Abenteuer was wir erleben durften. Domenico und Henni waren ein super Team und wir haben uns jederzeit wohl und sicher gefühlt. Jederzeit würde ich eine weiter Tour mit diesen Jungs machen. Leider ging das ABF 22 viel zu schnell zu Ende. Vielen Dank für die perfekte Organisation und das tolle Erlebnis. Speziellen Dank noch mal an „Domingo Pavone“
Domenico Schiano Moriello
Sunday, August 28, 2022 at 05:58

Danke Tom! Ja, die Tour ging sehr schnell zu Ende, es passiert wenn man eine tolle Zeit hat! Hoffentlich sehen wir uns bald wieder!!! Gruesse von Domingo Pavone da Napoli!
Wolfgang
Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 10:28

Hello Domenico, what a great ride and beautiful pictures. Have fun, stay saftey. I'm happy to see and hear you in person in the next time. Best to you and your riders.
Domenico Schiano Moriello
Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 22:03

Hello Wolfgang! It's a long and wonderful tour, you should do it sometimes! Hope to see you soon!

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