Day 5 - 31 December

On the way to Windhoek last night, I got caught in a Cloudburst that was so severe the rain was pushed through the gap between the roof and the windshield causing me to have to pull off the road until the worst was over.
I was soaked through my clothes, my luggage got wet and I realised that I would need to fix this gap to prevent the same happening again.

I made my decision to spend Old Years Eve in Swakopmund, so after filling up in Windhoek I set off for the coast.
It was still raining and I thought that if I could ride past the rain, I would be able to stop somewhere dry and pitch my tent.
Not to be..........I could not outrun the rain and it was getting late. So stop in Okahandja and assessed the situation. Decided that I would continue until I found a suitable spot off the main road to stop.
This then was the first time that I "Bush camped", but because it was still raining I decided to sleep in the Buggy.

Let me say: even though small one can still sleep inside the Buggy. It was a bit cramped and I woke up a few times during the night to stretch a stiff muscle but eventually around 6h30am I woke up and started driving with the aim of reaching Swakopmund in time for Brunch.

Stopped in Karibib for a coffee and met a few traffic policemen who admired me for what I am undetaking and also complained about the South Africa visitors who disregard all road rules when coming to the Skeleton Coast for their holiday. (maybe a generalisation but South Africans are know to be a bit arrogant)

Dec 29 - Dec 30

Left Garies and headed north on the N7.
Just left and then the buggy started giving problems, technical terms for this fault is "flat spots".
There could be a lot of reasons for this so first thing that I did was to check to Fuel filter. A dirty fuel filter will clog up the little inlet into carburator and cause reduced fuel flow into carburator.
That is wher my limited auto mechanical knowledge stops, more than this and I would have to call upon the professionals.

In Springbok had a great Wimpy breakfast and Coffee and then went over to the Autocare offices.
Quickly had a old pro look at my buggy (who has more years on him than my buggy and myself combined).
Prognosis: Points were burnt out and needed to be exchanged.
R350 later and I was on my way.

Passed both RSA and Namibia customs control and was on my way - Grunau here I come.

Grunau is a one horse town and the horse must have died 40 years ago because there was nothing to see and do. Luckily they have satellite television or else I do not know what the inhabitants of Grunau would get up to at night.

Carried on to Keetmanshoop, after a quick stop at the ATM to get some Namibia Dollars, I headed to "Lafenis Camping" which now is under new management and is called "Maritz Lodge".
First duty after checking in was to jump in the pool to cool down and then pitch my tent.

Camped next to me were 2 couples from South Africa who are traveling through Namibia for their annual December holiday.
And they are from Port Owen, only 25 kilometetrs from wher my parent live.

On the way to Keetmanshoop my battery was not charging and early the next morning I had to visit a mechanic to have a look. Fault was a loose wire, causing the generator not to charge.
You read correctly: my buggy still has a generator that charges the battery.

Now sitting in Marienthal and have to decide on where to spend Old Years Eve: it's a coin-toss between Swakopmund and Tsumeb.
Tsumeb is on my way, Swakopmund would mean an additional 500 kms, but apparently is the place to be in Namibia on Old Years Eve.
I have until Windhoek to decide.......................

The Route

The overland route that I hope to follow is through:

Namibia
Zambia
Tanzania
Kenya
Ethiopia
Sudan
Egypt
(ferry over Mediterranean) Italy
Austria
before arriving in Germany.

Preparation

Preparing correctly for a trip of a lifetime takes careful thought because I do not want to end up in the middle of nowhere realising that instead of packing item A, I should have packed item B.
The wrong choice could mean the difference between life or death!

First Steps:
1. Beach Buggy
2. Vaccinations
3. Visas
4. Equipment
5. Sponsorship
6. a million other things that I will think of as the project develops.

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My vehicle of choice is a 1972 VW Beetle converted into a 2006 Beamish Beach Buggy. A Beach Buggy is also known as a Dune Buggy, which is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches.

Why a Beach Buggy?

It's all about having fun!
No one has ever travelled from Cape Town to Cairo in a Beach Buggy.
Beach Buggies allow for exploration of areas where an ordinary 4x4 vehicle just won't be able to drive through. A Beach Buggy has an air-cooled engine, they are simpler, lighter and easier to maintain as they don't have the 'wet' cooling system elements.
The Beetle engine is basic automotive engineering. Travelling through remote areas, there will always be someone close by who would be able to repair the engine if necessary.

Vaccinations required

Yellow Fever -  The yellow fever virus is mainly transmitted through the bite of the yellow fever mosquito. Yellow fever begins after an incubation period of three to six days. Most cases only cause a mild infection with fever, headache, chills, back pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
Hepatitus A and B - Hepatitis is an infection of the liver. Such infections are generally serious because of the central role the liver plays in the detoxification of the body’s waste products. Hepatitis A is acquired principally from contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B is acquired by contract with contaminated body fluids, especially blood.
Tetanus - a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. Infection generally occurs through wound contamination and often involves a cut or deep puncture wound.
Typhoid - a common worldwide illness, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Typhoid fever is characterized by a slowly progressive fever as high as 40 °C (104 °F), profuse sweating, gastroenteritis, and nonbloody diarrhea. Less commonly, a rash of flat, rose-colored spots may appear.
Polio - an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route, by ingesting contaminated food or water. Different types of paralysis may occur, depending on the nerves involved. Spinal polio is the most common form, characterized by asymmetric paralysis that most often involves the legs.
Meningitis - an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation's proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore the condition is classified as a medical emergency.
Diphtheria - an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin.
Pertussis - also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is known to last for a duration of approximately 6 weeks before subsiding. The classic symptoms of pertussis is a paroxysmal cough, inspiratory whoop, and post coughing vomiting.

Visas

Namibia
Not required by SA Passport holders, for a maximum period of 90 days.
Zambia
Not required by SA passport holders for less than 30 day stay.
Tanzania
Are required by SA Passport holders, $50 single entry valid for 30 days
Kenya
Not required by SA passport holders for less than 30 day stay.
Ethiopia
Are required by SA Passport holders,
Sudan
Are required by SA Passport holders, Visa cost R665.00 + banking fee of R57.00,takes 14 working days to process.
Egypt 
Are required by SA Passport holders, Free of charge, 5-7 working days to process
Libya
Are required by SA Passport holders, visa fee R430.00, takes +- 3 working days to process.
Tunisia
Are required by SA Passport holders, One week validity cost R85.00 anything more than one week is R300.00, takes 14-21 working days.

 Equipment

1 x Phillips screwdriver
2 x flat screwdrivers
1 x hammer
1 x set of sockets/wrenches
1 x spare wheel
1 x wheel spanner
1 x axe
2 x rolls of duct tape
a lot of positive thoughts

What more would I need?

The first few Days

I left Cape Town at 11am on the 27th of December.
Thank you to my family who came to wish me well on this journey.

The first night was spent with my parents in Britannia Bay, a small village on the West Coast.
Britannia Bay is a suburb of St Helena Bay, the main area of the fishing industry here in South Africa.

After a good lunch and repacking of the vehicle, I set off along the West Coast road, the R27 all the way to Elandsbaai from where I headed inland towards Clanwilliam and then followed the N7 in a northerly direction.

300 kms north of Cape Town, I arrived in Vanrhynsdorp where I visited the Western Cape Gateway, the tourism organisation for Cape Town and The Western Cape region. The staff gave me information on the points of interest in their area and then wished me luck on my journey northwards.

Last night I camped for the first time at the Garies Caravan Park, which has obviously seen better days. As it was out of season, I was the only person there and fell asleep with the sound of big trucks passing along the highway.

Now sitting in Springbok having a World famous Wimpy breakfast and Coffee.

Plan for today is to cross the border into Namibia, drive until it becomes to hotand then have a siesta on the side of the road.

In December 2010, Adriaan Rossouw will depart on an epic journey travelling from Cape Town to Berlin in a Beach Buggy. A Beach buggy is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches.

The aim of the journey is to strenghten brand awareness of the City of Cape Town and establish Cape Town as a destination of choice for the international market.

The solo journey will take him through South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, before arriving in Cairo.

Once he has reached Cairo, Adriaan will continue his journey to Berlin, Germany travelling via Libya, Tunisia, Italy and Austria hoping to arrive in time for the ITB in Berlin.
The ITB is the biggest tourism exposition in Europe and the aim is to showcase Cape Town as a destination of choice for visitors to the ITB.