Easter desert drive & experience

[Vaughn Ashford]

Hello all, especially the Cape guys looking to meet the JHB guys.

The planned excursion is to the Witsand area, N Cape, between Postmasburg and Groblershoop, approx 8 hours from JHB. This is a Kalahari red desert sand dunes driving experience, with a bit of rock driving thrown in, driving up the mountain. See www.witsandkalahari.co.za - also google Kalahari Mountain View 4x4 track. Track length approx 35 kms in total, over 3 days, excluding detours, site seeing, redoing various obstacles, etc.

The proposed schedule is as follows:
Apr 6 – meet at first fuel station/garage on entering Olifantshoek town (on N14 to Upington – approx 620 km from JHB) at 10h00. Fill fuel tanks, get fresh ice. Depart for Witsand 10h30 sharp. Travel approx 4km to Witsand turnoff, then approx 90 kms on good gravel roads to the site. Arrive site approx 12h30, sign in, etc. R 250/vehicle for the entire track. Light lunch, before heading out into the dunes. Night of April 6, we sleep (beds and camping) at the ‘Pienk Spookhuis’, or van Niekerk house (approx 5 km away), after approx 4 hours of sand driving.
Apr 7 – After a lazy morning, explore the immediate surrounds, take photos, and good breakfast, we meet at Pienk Spookhuis, depart approx 10h00, and continue the sand dune driving (plenty of opportunity to ‘play’), towards the nearby mountains, where we drive to the top of the mountain (approx 1 hour rocky trail), for fully self contained camping overnight, overlooking the red Kalahari. Spectacular sunset, sunrise, children can climb rocks, etc.
Apr 8 – After a not too early start, good breakfast, we drive back down the mountain towards the Pienk Spookhuis/van Niekerk house, doing other obstacles, tracks, etc. We stay the final night at Pienk Spookhuis/van Niekerk house, again. Visit Witsand Nature Reserve in the afternoon, see beautiful white sand vs red roaring sands, children can play in the dunes, etc, before returning to Pienk Spookhuis for final bos braai. Option is to stay at nearby Witsand Nature reserve chalets (6 sleeper) at R 420 per adult/night, R 210 per child/night.
Apr 9 – after a good breakfast, pack vehicles, depart for home. Option is to drive via Postmasburg, to visit Wonderwerk Caves on road back to Kuruman. Rock painting, engravings, 2 million year old stone tools, etc. More details to follow.

Accomodation:
1) Pienk Spookhuis (R 120 per person/night) has 3 bedrooms: 1 with double bed, space for double blow up mattress on the floor. Booked.
1 with single bed, space for double blow up mattress on the floor.
1 with 3 single beds, space for 3 x blow up mattress on the floor. Booked for a party of 6.
Bring own bedding, although they do offer. Also, kitchen, bathroom, gas stove, gas fridge, gas geyser, 12 v lighting system.
2) van Niekerk house (R 100 per person/night) has 3 bedrooms: 1 with double bed, space for double blow up mattress on the floor. Booked.
1 with 2 x ¾ beds, space for double blow up mattress on the floor. Booked.
1 with 2 single beds, space for 3 x blow up mattress on the floor.
Also, kitchen, bathroom, gas stove, fridge, etc. Donkey boiler heats water. Bring own bedding, although they do offer.
3) Camping at Pienk Spookhuis/van Niekerk house ( R 70 per person/night) – braai boma, ablutions (2 x shower, 2 x toilet, 2 x hand basins) right next to house. Donkey boiler heats water.
4) Camping on top of mountain – fully self contained camping!!! R 70 per person/night. Own tents, mattresses, bedding, chairs, food, water, refreshments, etc.
5) Ice available daily from owners of Pienk Spookhuis. More info to follow.
6) Rooi kameelhout for braai and boiler R 300/weekend.

Let me know regards accommodation requirements, so I can allocate rooms accordingly.

Kind regards
Vaughn - 082 8022 890 - vaughn.ashford@khs.co.za