Our first stop after leaving the start line in Cape Town(Only) 1000km down the road was at Quiver Tree Forest Rest Camp in Keetmanshoop! We arrived in the dark and were very happy to have a bed to rest our tired heads on in the very cool igloo type room we stayed in. We went to the Quiver Tree Forest the next morning which is a National Monument in Namibia. A very interesting and naturally beautiful site to see! We were also lucky enough to see a Cheetah on our way out which was a purr-fect way to start our long journey to Outja!

Tree

Novare Investments

Thank you Clause and Michael from Germany for their generous donation to Put Foot! We met them at Ndhovo River Lodge in Namibia while sitting on the deck looking out onto the beautiful Okavongo River! One of the greatest things about this rally has been meeting cool people along the way, from all over the world who love Africa as much as we do!

Ze Germans

A tired Kev and team pulled into Toshari Lodge at about 3 on the 21st. 1900 long, dusty km’s down, 7100 to go. We all pitched our tents on a thin strip of grass next to a walk way. 60 crews, not much space. The sundowners started early, apparently the drive was thirsty work for all the crews. We had a great dinner and then the party got started. At some point in the evening Shirley was elephantnapped. We managed to get her back after an intensive coordinated search. She was a bit shaken, but is happy to be reunited with the rest of the team. DJ Wags (not even joking) continued long into the evening as 200 people dressed as the animal kingdom got into gear!
At some point in the evening the smell of bacon filled the air, this wasn’t the start of our neighbours day, but the end of his evening! We got up at 5 the next morning, packed our tents and headed for Etosha.

Check Point 01

Check Point 01

Close Proximity Camping

Shirley

Forgive us for not posting more pictures on this…but we had a few drinks at the checkpoint party…and then a few more.

Not just for the sake of alliteration! Pete and Amanda’s mattress got a puncture in the night and brought to an abrupt end the string of four nights of camping in a tent. Camping has been fun and rekindled all the childhood memories but when you are on the move and constantly setting up and breaking down your home, the flame of fun is extinguished quite quickly. On the banks of the Kavango river at about 23:48 the mattress let out its last breath and Mand’s and Pete were forced to climb into Kevin and spend the remainder of the night. Needless to say Mike and I did the majority of the driving from Ndhovu River Lodge to Katima Mulilo the next day with Kev’s back seat now providing a place to rest weary heads. When we arrived  at the border town of Katima Mulilo there was no question that we would be staying in a hotel!

Check out Amanda in bed and then some other pictures from Ndhovu River Lodge:

Camping in a car

Beers, Hippos and happiness!

Sunrise

On the banks of the Kavango

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As you have probably noticed…we have been a little quiet on posting and updating you on our progress in the Put Foot Rally. This is due to a number of factors including limited internet connectivity and endless hours on the road but mostly due to the dangerous nature of what we are doing. We are really putting our bodies on the line in the name of charity and ask you to show your support by making some danger donations to Abraham Kriel. If we don’t make it out alive we need to at least know that it was worth it. To illustrate just how dangerous it has been check out some of the signs we have encountered.

Elephant…just in case the sign is not clear

Bat eared Fox or Wild dog…or both

Kudu (presumably this sign is referring to all antelope otherwise they don’t care for Impala much)

Cow – these are everywhere and probably warrant a sign

oh…we were obviously just kidding about it being dangerous…Namibia has been nothing but hospitable and we have never felt unsafe…and also expect a string of posts as we have just arrived at Protea Hotel Livingstone and have some rapido wifi! Oh…and this place is insane…a little Zambian Oasis!

Thank you once again to Novare for sponsoring our first stage through Namibia

Novare Investments

We stayed at Bush Baby Lodge last night…well camped. It was necessary to qualify the camping bit as it was freeezing and far from having the comfort that the word “lodge” conjures up. Another indication of our commitment to this cause – it is hardcore out here…no not really…we are just soft.

It was nonetheless beautiful and although we didn’t see any of the lodges namesake scurrying around the trees we were fortunate enough to see 4 rhino…one of which could not have been more than a month old – shampies!

Dusk

Just before Dusk

Somewhere between dusk and dark

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We woke up a little early…and tender this morning. Although there were drinks consumed, said tenderness was more from lack of sleep induced by bodies unconditioned to camping and loud unruly behavior. We left the first checkpoint party and campover by 6 am and were in Etosha National park early enough to catch some really cool sightings. Etosha is wide and open and very different to Kruger and some of the other parks in SA. It was super dusty but super cool – check out some of the images captured!

Elly the elephant

Shirly the elephant

More aminals…of the striped variety

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The Boys

Kevin – First on the starting line! Can you say eager!

And we are off!

This stage has very kindly been sponsored by:

Novare Investments