Zimbabwe Trip

Sep 21st - Johannesburg to Elephant Inn near Musina - 493 km
Sep 22nd - Musina to Norma Jeane's Lake View Resort near Great Zimbabwe - 344 km
Sep 23rd - Norma Jeane's Lake View Resort near Great Zimbabwe to Elephant Inn near Musina - 344 km
Sep 23rd - Elephant Inn near Musina to Johannesburg - 493 km


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Beitbridge Border crossing on Limpopo River

Elephant Inn near Musina

Norma Jeane's Lake View Resort at the Mutirikwi Lake

Entering Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe 

Great Zimbabwe

On the way back to SA from Great Zimbabwe still in Zimbabwe

On the way back to SA from Great Zimbabwe

On the way back to SA from Great Zimbabwe

Botswana Trip

Sep 9th - Joburg > Molokodi Backpackers - 358 km
Sep 10th - Molokodi Backpackers > Khama Rhino Sanctuary - 330 km
Sep 11th - Khama Rhino Sanctuary > Joburg - 597 km

 
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Pioneer Gate -  Skilpadshek (SA / Botswana border)

Sunset at Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Safari at Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Campsite at Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Testing the bike after the oil burning fix

The bike works perfectly ... after making 1200 km (Jouburg - Blyde River Canyon - Jouburg) in 3 days there no oil missing!
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No overland access to Europe from Egypt :(

It seems the last sensible access to Europe from Egypt is closed. Libya has suspended all overland tourist visas :(

The spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Magdi al-Arafi, was reported to have announced that the land border with Egypt will be closed for all foreigners, except Egyptian nationals. Foreign nationals who have entry visa to Libya must now travel to Libya by air [1]. http://www.temehu.com/news-Libya.htm

Puncture Repair Workshop

Participated in the Puncture Repair Workshop at Tours for Africa. Lots of useful information ... It's likely I'll go tubeless.

Stuff to get:

1. Tubeless conversion & Tyre repair kit
2. Central stand
3. More training from them ...

All stuff for puncture repairs.

A set of tools for me to get.

Tyre spoons to get no matter if I go tubeless.
They will be useful anyway.

Survival course

I've completed a Basic Survival Course at Boswa Survival. I have some idea now on how to set up a quick sleeping place in a hammock or how to start the fire with with a fire steel. Very interesting and I hope it will be helpful.

Yes! I've completed the course

Survival camp

My home for 3 days

Off-road riding course

Completed a Basic Off-Road Biking course with the South African Christian Motorcyclists Association. The South African Christian God saved me from falling into the mud ... it was raining during most of the course.

Buying the bike

I've bought a bike - Kawasaki KRL 650 2006 from Kawasaki dealer at Fourways, Sandton. I've chosen this bike for the low price, shared perception of reliability and the fact that it was produced with no major changes since 1987. There should be enough spare parts on the way if I need them.

Sadly it burns oil what I discovered after a few short trips. The bike is back at the dealer to get the rings replaced to stop the oil burning ... will see.

Trip route planning

So this is the plan for the trip home in July 2014.  The decisions involved in the route planning includes the goal of getting to Warsaw quickly and safely. For instance, as of today, the route via Syria is out of the question. I'll see how things develop.

Certainly the route planning is an ongoing activity and the maps will be changing until the departure day.

Part 1: Johannesburg to the border of Sudan and Egypt

 
See African Craze 1! on bigger map

Part 2: Egipt to Warsaw

  
See African Craze 2! on bigger map

Testing myself

I've done the very first long trip to Nordkapp and back to Warsaw in 2 weeks. Well ... it's hard on the butt but it's doable to sit on the bike for 2 weeks straight.