#Tankwa Tented Camp

[drivesouthafrica]

4x4 Self-Drive From Cape Town to Botswana

There are very few things that get me more fired up than planning a road trip to my favourite destinations and everyone I know will vouch for this. Taking on the big open road, whether it’s with family, friends, or my own, my singalong songs on the playlist, snacks packed and the sun just starting to light up the world.

Planning your trip

A self-drive from Cape Town to Botswana can easily cover 4000 kilometers so keep that in mind and plan your overnight and fuel stops accordingly. You also don’t want to arrive at a beautiful reserve and be rushed to leave the next day, so allow for at least two nights at most places. The length of your trip will be completely up to you but I’d recommend a good two weeks minimum and if you’re not from Cape Town you can set aside three days alone to see some beautiful sights, beaches, and wine farms.  

Choosing the perfect vehicle

You’ll need a vehicle that will be able to get you from Cape Town and it’s highways through to Botswana and it’s 4x4 territory.  4x4 vehicles can come fully equipped with tents and equipment and generally fit up to four people. This is great for the budget as you can have an amazing camping safari without spending too much of your budget on lodges. Keep in mind that not all Suppliers have branches in both countries, but Drive SA has that covered so do have a look. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to budget for one-way delivery charges on the vehicle and also remember that the equipped vehicles have slightly less luggage space than you may be used to.

My recommended Route

Cape Town to Clanwilliam, if you are travelling from around August to October you’ll find the landscapes filled with the most beautiful wildflowers. Alternatively, stay over at Tankwa Karoo National park and experience the sweet solitude of your surroundings.

Clanwilliam to Upington. Plan a day trip to the magnificent Augrabies falls and don’t forget to visit Die Pienk Padstal on your way for some memorabilia and delicious treats.  If the area has had some rains you’ll be blessed with the most awe-inspiring waterfalls.

Upington to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari Desert which is arguably one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in the world

Kgalagadi to Thakadu Bush Camp, Ghanzi for a cultural stopover before you head off to Northern Botswana

Ghanzi to Moremi game reserve which incorporates a large portion of the Okavango Delta

Moremi to Chobe National Park where you will spend your last few nights.

I always prefer and recommend to spend the last night in the town you’re flying out from

Highlights

Whichever route you decide on, make sure to include a trip to Augrabies falls, a safari in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Mokoro trip in the Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans and a Walking Safari in the Okavango Delta

Summary

It is a long drive, but worth doing if you have the time and do allow time for some stops along the way to experience the true culture of the different areas!

https://www.drivesouthafrica.com/blog/4x4-self-drive-from-cape-town-to-botswana/

[lovechasingdragonflies]

Desert cathedrals. Flat tyres and angels. - The unforgiving barren landscape of the #tankwakaroo is one of many faces. Here you can find miracles in the middle of nowhere. Here you can take photos in the middle of nowhere. Here you can get 2 flat tyres in the middle of nowhere. Here you can find mercy in the middle of nowhere... Here you discover gratitude. - - After stopping to take this photo in the middle of the desolate remnants of the #afrikaburn site, we arrived back at our car to find punctures in our left front and rear tyres. There is no mobile reception in the area and we were 2 hours hike away from the nearest help. The sun was setting and the wind was cold. We had no choice but to start walking... Most grateful to Morné, Hendrik and Deon for going above and beyond in order to assist us. Without them we might have still been hiking. Yes, kindness and humanity do still exist, even in a barren desert - and it was nice to be reminded of that... #tankwa #tankwatentedcamp #iamnikonsa #iamnikon #desert #desertlandscape #lensflare #desertcathedral #labyrinth #sunset #photography #fineartphotography #daleennelhall @love_chasing_dragonflies #punctured #southafrica (at Tankwa Tented Camp) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1L9ccgD3Mu/?igshid=1cdbpbjybr9sn

[pinkguacamole]

It’s Impossible to Write About Afrikaburn

But nothing is impossible…

I spent 11 days on the Tankwa Karoo of South Africa, a shale and sandy desert surrounded by flat-topped rocky mountains in the distance. I lived off of museli, peanut butter, apples, and water from a giant jug that tasted of plastic. I slept in a tiny tent, just large enough for my bag and me, and maybe visitors if they liked to be close and cuddly. I sang and I danced and I ran around free as could be. I took it fast and I took it slow and I breathed and I tried new things and I lived in color. I created. I got chapped lips, chaffed thighs, a fever from dehydration (yes, all my fault!), sore feet, broken sandals, and a perspective flipped upside down, then sideways, and maybe it will never be “right-side-up” again. 

I wanted to travel the world and explore events. Burning Man has always appealed to me. An event where a society is built and then burnt away, no trace left behind. A place of radical expression and radical self-reliance. In the desert. Why would anyone want to do that?

Even though I am from California, I was never able to attend Burning Man because my university classes began in August and I had to at least pretend I was a good student! So here I was, years later, leaving Madagascar, traveling through Southern Africa, and there was a regional Burning Man event: Afrikaburn. I had to give it a whirl. 

When I bought my ticket I decided to join a themed camp. I felt that it would be the best way to feel involved in the community. I would be a part of something. I would volunteer my time and be surrounded by artists and maybe some people who knew what they were doing. I joined the Flow Arts Commune. I did not know what Flow Arts was at the time, but I enjoyed each word individually: 

Flow- I was looking for flow. I wanted to relax and go with the flow. I wanted to be in flow. 

Arts- I wanted to immerse myself in art and creativity. I wanted to see colors flying in every direction. I wanted to be inspired. 

Commune- I wanted community. I wanted to be a part of something. 

I asked to join and the amazing organizer, Ryan, took me in and guided me along the way, telling me what I should prepare and do for the event. He was a life saver. I went up a few days early with Ryan and some of his friends so we could set up. This group: J, Ryan, and Monica, all South Africans, became my home at Afrikaburn. We were early to the event so we had a lot of time to bond and watch the city rise as more and more burners arrived each day in another  fiery Sunrise and Sunset. 

It turns out that Flow Arts are fire arts, poi arts (LED lights on the end of a string), and hula hooping arts. All crucial to an event like Afrikaburn. Flow Arts light up the night. 

I was a sham. I was not a Flow Artist. I never even made time to learn how to do any of it in my 11 days. But I got to meet fire dancers and bond with them and learn about their lives and I became somewhat of a groupie. On the vast Playa at night, sparkling party lights and dance floors and colors could be seen for miles. And you can always spot the fire dancers. I followed the fire dancers. They would hop from stage to stage, all night, until the break of dawn, preforming their art. It lit up my life. It made a cold desert night seem warmer. I was in a kaleidoscope of fire. 

All night the world was sparkling and we danced. (Like robots, because most of the music was Trance music). 

Despite the magnificent glow of fire and el-wired humans bobbing around with their own vivid radiance, bringing a dark desert to life each night in an Alice in Wonderland-scape of caterpillar smoke rings, dancing lights, and Cheshire Cat smiles, daytime was actually my favorite time of Afrikaburn. 

Every day was a new adventure. As someone put it, a “choose your own adventure” book. 

To set the scene, there were dusty art pieces, some a few stories high: a shell, a baobab tree, a branched platform, shark fins, a temple, boxes, cameras, and hearts- all made of wood and brought to life. Most pieces were so large you could walk up or in them and see the world below, from the eyes of the creation. And they were all burned in the end. 

There were “mutant” cars passing around. Funky, creative, clever. Whatever an imagination could bring to the table, it was there. I helped paint a light-up zebra car one day. It would “moo” whenever it passed its friends. There was a Spirit Train: a moving dance floor that would select a new home during the days and nights and showcase a plethora of D.J.s- most were pretty good. 

There were colorful bicycles. Kicking up dust as they sped along with their flowers and streamers bopping in the wind. 

There were themed camps of galactic colors. Some serving pancakes and others serving wine. Some with coloring books and some with instruments to play. There were swimming pools and orange juice and body artists.

All of this was lit up at night as well.  

And the people. The people were their full selves. It seemed that everyone was wearing whatever they would wear if they could wear anything. And sometimes that was nothing at all. There were fairy skirts and top hats and steampunk gowns. There were tutus and dinosaur suits and capes. It was self-expression to the max. And apparently self expression to many men is the uniform of colorful leggings, a cowboy hat, a bandanna (to keep dust from the face), high boots, and they would be either vested or bear-chested. I guess this is the “look of the year.” I met a guy at the beginning of the week who dressed like this, and I was always able to spot him, until the weekend rolled around and it was a sea of skinny men all dressed the same. Sigh, the one that got away.

Each day my outfits slowly melted into nothing. I started off my 11 days in the desert, dressed in my usual clothes. I am traveling, so I didn’t have any of my funky costumes anyways. As the days passed, I got more colorful. I wore a tutu and a bikini. And then I took off my shirt and let a man paint a butterfly on my chest. I spent the rest of that day and night walking around as the butterfly slowly began to fly away and there was nothing there keeping me from the rest of the world. It was liberating. 

The next day I just wore a piece of simple fabric. I went to one of the themed camps filled with nudists and it did not take long for the fabric to fall off and for my friends and me to start drawing designs on each other using body paint markers. 

One of the principles of a Burn is “gifting.” All participants should try to give something, in some way to contribute to the community. I collected a lot of sweet trinkets and yummy food from people I met along the way because of this. My gifts were the gifts of volunteering and singing. These are both things I use to identify myself. I am literally a professional volunteer (2 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer gave me all I need). I volunteered in “Off Center Camp,” so I could learn more about the ins and outs of the event. I stuffed bags, painted furniture, greeted new arrivals by making them roll in the dirt. Then I hugged them and welcomed them home. I also tried out Rangering: walking around for a shift, making sure everyone and everything was okay. It was mostly just a great time to chat with my ranger partner who was a 67 year old man who has been to Burning Man 8 times and rangers no less than 65 hours each event. 

Singing was not a hard gift to give. Everywhere I went I met people who wanted to sing with me, or would just sit back and let me go on my own. There was one theme camp with instruments. One day I went with a few friends. I started singing into the microphone some improvised “Afrikaburn Blues.” Throughout the afternoon musicians of all types stopped by to jam and we made improvisational blues for hours. It was amazing. And exhausting. I had to be really creative on the spot, but I channeled my inner Drunk Judy Garland and I think I gave a pretty entertaining show. People were recognizing me for days after this so I must have done something right. 

Each day was a journey. I went to get pancakes at one camp and left with a new friend instead. I met people from all over the world and we talked about life, politics, culture, art- anything. I only had to defend myself against Trump a handful of times. People were sympathetic. We talked about race relations and how most attendees of Afrikaburn are middle-class white South Africans. It was something that bothered us all, especially because the farms surrounding the event were communities of African farmers who would not afford and most likely not even understand an event like this. Ultimately no one had any solutions to this problem. There is a clear cultural divide. It parallels the divide in the States, but it is more prominent and talked about here. 

At the end of the event food and left over water from the giant jugs would be donated to local communities, but ultimately, what does that really do? I know my experience at Afrikaburn was not the “Africa” I was used to in Madagascar. But it was still African. White South Africans are just as African as White Americans are American. It is all occupied territory. And like always, I am conflicted as hell.  

One of my biggest challenges in life is to live in the moment and let go. I feel like I am always planning the next step. My goal at Afrikaburn was to forget that and live. I think by the end of the week I had it down. Through a smorgasbord of new experiences, I was getting better at not putting pressure on myself and just being. Just doing what I felt like doing. There was no wrong turn to take at Afrikaburn. Every environment was stimulating and inspiring in some way.

I spent most of the time hopping between groups of friends I had made. I liked meeting new people, but I always crave a deeper connection (I am alone a lot!) so when I met people I clicked really well with, I tried to keep them in my peripheral. It worked really well!. I had multiple homes at Afrikaburn. There was so much love. I tried to just be carefree and give all the love I had. And make people feel warm and comfortable around me. 

On one of the last nights, I was pooped and I ended up falling asleep early. I think it was my 9th night there and I was starting to get really reflective. It was the Saturday night where weekend partiers had come in and most people would stay up until noon the following day. I went to sleep early and woke up in time for the 5am burning of the Baobab Tree. The Baobab Tree or Tree of Life was a massive tree funded by the Swedish Government. An army of builders came months before the event to create it. The tree had been a wonderful place to hang out throughout the event, to watch the world, to watch the sunset or the sunrise. And it was now time to burn it all away. 

At 4:30 am I heard some of my other friends in camp getting up to head to the tree. It was dark and oddly enough I wanted to go alone. So I slipped away before anyone could see I was around. I crossed the desert and sat on the rocky terrain, surrounded by fellow burners -all strangers this time. I did not talk to anyone. I just watched the fire dancers and waited for the Swedes to take their torches to their masterpiece. 

Once the tree was aflame, the fire grew into an explosion and lit up the whole Playa. I looked around and could see the expressions on the faces of people near and far. It was hot and I felt my face melting but I couldn’t look away as the embers began to fall all around us. 

Eventually I turned around to walk away, hoping to cross back to my tent before the firelight dimmed so I would not have to use a flashlight. I turned around periodically to watch it glow. 

As my sore feet crossed the sandy earth, I had an epiphany. I realized I was completely satisfied with my Afrikaburn Experience. I had done all I wanted and hoped to do. My mind had been widened. I was so inspired. Even though I was surrounded by friends, I felt comfortable being alone (in general I do not like being alone). In fact, I realized what a gift it was that I have spent these last three and a half years traveling and living abroad relatively alone. I felt empowered. I felt like I could do anything. I was reinvigorated to write music and perform more. I was reinvigorated to travel alone in other African countries.

The event wound down over the course of the next few days. I saw the people I cared about and made sure to exchange information. There was no internet in the desert. I watched people dismantle their camps, and I felt a tinge of sadness. Something I’d become a part of was going away. It was over.

For my last night, I tied a string I’d been wearing on my wrist since Madagascar inside the Conch Shell. Hours later I watched the shell burn away with a piece of my past sizzling along with it. 

There was a rainbow the next morning and I left Afrikaburn with my South African friends. I was still high on life. A phoenix of sorts. I was half-dead but I’d never felt more alive.

[senorjonion]

I did a solo 4 day cycle trip around the Cederberg. During the day I had aimed to stay in the Kloof at the bottom of the mountain where the road rises out of the Tankwa. But when I got there I realised it's a picnic area, and there was so much litter around from the day's braaiing. Also a big group decided to camp out there too, bringing along a big tent with presumably a big screen inside - the rugby selfishly blaring out into the valley. Rugby commentary is quite dominating as a sound. It was already getting dark but I needed to get out of that disappointing shitshow. The moon and stars were already up so I gritted my teeth and cycled and pushed all the way to the top of the mountain - the night air was nice and cool. After an hour or so I found this sheltered overhang near the top. It could fit exactly one mattress. And was high enough that I could sit and make food and debrief myself on a really tough day of riding, and feel quite pleased with myself having selected this perfect spot. (at Cederberg)

[berndwenske]

An early morning surprise visit to the Africa Burn site.. at the TANKWA TENTED CAMP... South Africa

[drivesouthafrica]

4x4 Self-Drive From Cape Town to Botswana

There are very few things that get me more fired up than planning a road trip to my favourite destinations and everyone I know will vouch for this. Taking on the big open road, whether it’s with family, friends, or my own, my singalong songs on the playlist, snacks packed and the sun just starting to light up the world.

Planning your trip

A self-drive from Cape Town to Botswana can easily cover 4000 kilometers so keep that in mind and plan your overnight and fuel stops accordingly. You also don’t want to arrive at a beautiful reserve and be rushed to leave the next day, so allow for at least two nights at most places. The length of your trip will be completely up to you but I’d recommend a good two weeks minimum and if you’re not from Cape Town you can set aside three days alone to see some beautiful sights, beaches, and wine farms.  

Choosing the perfect vehicle

You’ll need a vehicle that will be able to get you from Cape Town and it’s highways through to Botswana and it’s 4x4 territory.  4x4 vehicles can come fully equipped with tents and equipment and generally fit up to four people. This is great for the budget as you can have an amazing camping safari without spending too much of your budget on lodges. Keep in mind that not all Suppliers have branches in both countries, but Drive SA has that covered so do have a look. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to budget for one-way delivery charges on the vehicle and also remember that the equipped vehicles have slightly less luggage space than you may be used to.

My recommended Route

Cape Town to Clanwilliam, if you are travelling from around August to October you’ll find the landscapes filled with the most beautiful wildflowers. Alternatively, stay over at Tankwa Karoo National park and experience the sweet solitude of your surroundings.

Clanwilliam to Upington. Plan a day trip to the magnificent Augrabies falls and don’t forget to visit Die Pienk Padstal on your way for some memorabilia and delicious treats.  If the area has had some rains you’ll be blessed with the most awe-inspiring waterfalls.

Upington to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari Desert which is arguably one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in the world

Kgalagadi to Thakadu Bush Camp, Ghanzi for a cultural stopover before you head off to Northern Botswana

Ghanzi to Moremi game reserve which incorporates a large portion of the Okavango Delta

Moremi to Chobe National Park where you will spend your last few nights.

I always prefer and recommend to spend the last night in the town you’re flying out from

Highlights

Whichever route you decide on, make sure to include a trip to Augrabies falls, a safari in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Mokoro trip in the Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans and a Walking Safari in the Okavango Delta

Summary

It is a long drive, but worth doing if you have the time and do allow time for some stops along the way to experience the true culture of the different areas!

https://www.drivesouthafrica.com/blog/4x4-self-drive-from-cape-town-to-botswana/

[drivesouthafrica]

Your guide to choosing a suitable vehicle to travel through South Africa

 What is great about traveling through SA in a car?

It’s hard to make the most of South Africa without having your own vehicle for at least part of your holiday. Public transport within cities is very limited and between them, almost non-existent. Uber operates in the major centres, and it’s very useful for short rides to restaurants and beaches, but most of South Africa’s highlights are outside urban areas – even the Cape of Good Hope is almost two-hours’ drive from Cape Town’s city centre. A car gives you the freedom to explore the many attractions outside the cities and to do so at your own pace.

A regular car will get you almost everywhere. The national highways are excellent and even the rural dirt roads are generally well maintained and suitable for sedans. There are some notable exceptions, but if you’re sticking to the towns, cities and major parks, then a car is all you need.

For long road trips, they’re also the most economical option for the distances you’ll be covering. Cape Town to Port Elizabeth is 900 km via Cape Agulhas and the Garden Route, and that’s without any sightseeing detours on the way. If you’re driving in summer, make sure you have air conditioning – it can get very hot throughout the country.

Self-drive is also the most affordable way to go on safari. Kruger National Park and most others are 100% accessible to normal cars. The only limitation with sedans is that they tend to be relatively low to the ground – not the ideal vantage point for game viewing. Most travelers opt for booking a vehicle with car hire South Africa.

South Africa drives on the left and the speed limit is 120 km/h on highways, and normally   60 km/h in town. Speed control cameras are commonly used. South Africans also have a tendency to call traffic lights ‘robots’ so keep that in mind if you’re ever asking for directions.

What is great about traveling through SA with a 4x4 vehicle?

Although a standard car will get you almost everywhere in South Africa, some of its wildest and most beautiful places can only be explored with a 4x4. If you love wide, open spaces, and especially if you like to have them all to yourself, then hiring a 4x4 is definitely for you.

The West Coast, Wild Coast and parts of the Karoo can all be reached by sedan, but all have wonderful, isolated areas that require four-wheel drive. In Namaqua National Park, the West Coast’s best beach camps are surrounded by thick sand, and the Wild Coast has notoriously bumpy roads, which can turn to mud after a little rain. Most of the interior is sedan-friendly, but there are some beautiful mountain passes in the Cederberg and Tankwa Karoo that should only be tackled with a 4x4.

In the northwest, the Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is high-clearance or 4x4 only. The roads are rocky, but camping under the stars along the Orange River is worth a few bumps. On the opposite side of the country, the sandy 4x4 tracks in the north of iSimangaliso Wetland Park lead to pristine beach campsites and miles of golden sand.

The Southern Drakensberg, near the towns of Rhodes and Lady Grey, has some of South Africa’s highest mountain passes. Most don’t truly require four-wheel drive, but the extra road clearance is essential if you want to travel deep into these spectacular mountains. Further east, Sani Pass into Lesotho, is one of South Africa’s great mountain drives. It doesn’t require off-road expertise unless there’s been snow or heavy rain, but it shouldn’t be attempted without a 4x4.

Finally, you won’t need a 4x4 to visit any of South Africa’s major wildlife parks, but the extra height is an advantage for spotting game. A 4x4 with a roof tent also allows the option to camp. South African campsites are generally excellent, and there are hundreds across the country. National park campsites are of the highest standard and it’s useful to have the choice if other accommodation is full.