This whole Botswana thing started happening when we walked into the House and Garden Show in Durban back in July, 2008. We had been camping in KZN at various KZN Parks and also Caravan Parks since 2002. So far we had never ventured further and were convinced KZN had all we were looking for when it came to camping holidays. We had built up a fairly comfortable selection of camping equipment over the years.
But something was missing.
When we walked onto the Afrispoor site and started talking to Afrispoor owner, Dave Coombes we knew what it was. A mobile home offering the comforts which we prefer to have when in the bush; but with the functionality of being set up and packed quickly.
The Afrispoor trailer was ordered and then the planning began.
I spent hours scanning the overland community websites. At first the plan was bold. We were going through Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia on trip #1. The research revealed that this would not be that easy. Botswana seemed very much the destination of choice for the Africa Overland beginner.
Veronica Roodt’s Shell Guide and maps were purchased. Plans were made, changed and changed again. We learned the hard way not to take for gospel everything everyone writes on the forum.
Our one big worry was would the batteries supplying power to our National Luna hold out; and if they failed in the bush what then? Some may scoff at our decision. We bought an Engel Generator which later came into use.
Perhaps some mistakes were made due to our inexperience with a trip of this magnitude. We realized we had to reduce the luxury kit we were used to carrying with us until now. Perhaps we did not reduce enough. The Botswana trip proved “less is more”.
Initially our daughter, Kylie, and her fiancé, Scott, were going to accompany us. On Friday 24th April, 2009 we were preparing to travel to Lotheni for the long weekend when we learned that Scott had been retrenched. We felt sick and wanted to cancel the Lotheni weekend. Scott insisted we go ahead and joined us. This was good practice for Botswana in that the trailer had to be hauled over some pretty rough berg roads and Lotheni does not have electricity. It was also cold at night.
During the weekend we discussed Botswana and Elaine and I decided that even though Scott and Kylie had to pull out which meant no back-up vehicle we would still go ahead with the Botswana trip.
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