("Coffee, Fast Food, Barbecue Restaurant"... on the R27 heading north towards Upington)

A late start due to the fatigue factor (it has been a busy week). The Karoo proves to be very interesting to us: the realization that it is all what we would call “ranch land” adds to the imagination. Giant vistas and distances. Small towns contain almost all the population – there are no visible signs of habitation in between except wire fences. Huge social weaver bird nests on the telephone poles.

(Wire fences and weaver birds -- along the R27, Northern Cape Province, RSA)

Hot sun but the air is refreshing. Some dust and dust devils outside of Boesmanland Service Station (and Takeaways). Can’t find food in Kenhardt (everything seems to be closed on Sundays in the old Boer Republics) so we press on to Upington.

We buy food for our stay in the Transfrontier Park at SPAR in Upington. Will chews me out for giving some rand to the street kids. Almost forget to refuel but after doubling back and filling up we set out for the Kalahari Trails Nature Reserve (and Lodge) http://www.kalahari-trails.co.za/

(Losing the light and underestimating the "drive time" -- the R360 north of Upington)

We arrive late (for dinner) and well after dark. Tried calling ahead to update the lodge as to our whereabouts but unfamiliarity with the operator assisted system here defeats us. We cannot seem to complete the call and connect. Professor Anne Rasa forgives us (Did we come to some bad end? Get lost?) and all is fine in the end.

(We are still pushing hard but must slow down now -- the R360 at sunset)

We are treated to a good meal and a beer or two. We sign up for the early morning tour with “Prof” who will introduce us to “the little Kalahari” and therefore provide us with some understanding of the desert we are visiting.

(A walk around the Lodge after dinner: the giant millipedes that awe)

Labels: Kalahari Trails Nature Reserve, Upington

¶ 11:28 AM