TRAVELBUCKET

Latest Posts

FLOWER SPOTTING IN NAMAQUALAND

Apart from September being tourism month in South Africa the West Coast is well known for its spring flowers, because in a blink of an eye it appears after some good rain. First you have to understand what Namaqualand is about. This is a very dry area with little rain throughout the year. Then when the warmer weather arrives, the vibrant flowers appear on the barren landscapes. You might feel that you do not need any tips on flower spotting, – how difficult can that be? – but there are some points that you need to consider in making your experience memorable. It is always difficult to predict when the flowers are going to bloom, as like many things in nature, they are weather dependent, but keep the following in mind to ease you into flower spotting: The flowers are dependent on the sun to show their faces. So, the… Read more >

5 “LEKKER” PICNIC SPOTS IN THE GARDEN ROUTE

Well let’s first start with the word lekker for those who are not familiar with the Afrikaans language. It can be translated as a lot of things such as great, tasty, nice , scenic, pretty – it all depends in what sentence it is used – but what I mean with lekker is more the use of pleasurable and relaxing with a scenic view. There is not one word in the English language that can describe it quite the same. SPOT #1 : EBB AND FLOW (NORTH) Situated on the northern banks of the Touw river it falls within the Garden Route National Park, but day visitors are welcomed. You will be rewarded with some shade under old wild fig trees, a demarcated fire pit, clean ablution facilities and a Knysna Loerie (Turaco) or two. Need to know: Report to reception and pay your day visitor fee. If you have a… Read more >

CROSSING THE BORDER (PART IV) – FOOD

This is always a tricky topic as it is mostly country-specific. Botswana with its in-country vet fences is a classic example which affect the movement of raw meat and pork. We never take all our food from home as this just adds weight to your vehicle which increases fuel consumption and with Shoprite branches in the major cities in Africa you will find most of the food stuff needs – some at a price, but you will find it. Weigh up the pro’s and cons and decide where you find your balance! Be realistic when planning your food. Everything is not always as fresh as back home or as readily available especially when planning some or other exotic dish for dinner. Remember that you are doing this trip to experience Africa. Sometimes you have to think out of the box to create a wholesome dish in the bush. Before you… Read more >

CROSSING THE BORDER (PART III) – ARRIVING AT THE BORDER

You have made it to the border post! Now you need to keep calm and work through the process. Remember each country has its own rules. Which border post? In all our years of travel we found that it is much easier to enter/exit at smaller border posts. At the bigger border posts, the officials are sometimes tired and irritated and will take their time to work through the processes. Our experience is at the smaller posts they are friendlier and welcome a chat while doing their work. When? Try to avoid peak times, if possible, like month end, late Friday afternoon or popular public holidays like Easter. Everybody is in a hurry and the queues are longer, the tempers flare quicker and willingness is shorter. Be positive! No matter how frustrated you get, try to smile and be friendly. They are only doing their job. A positive attitude goes… Read more >

CROSSING THE BORDER (PART II) – VEHICLE AND INSURANCE

This is probably the most stressful aspect of any border crossing, with the most variables per country, but if you stick to the following you should be more or less okay. If your vehicle is still under a finance agreement, you will need to acquire a letter of permission from the applicable financial institution. Each institution has its own requirements and procedures to follow as to how to obtain it. Allow enough time to obtain the required paperwork. If you are planning to take a trailer or caravan remember to do the same, if financed. Make sure your ID number matches that used on your vehicle documents. If your registration papers show your RSA ID number, then take it with you. Rather take too much proof than be in a predicament. Take a colour copy of your vehicle’s registration papers. This is very handy. It is a popular document and… Read more >

INCREDIBLE AFRICAN ANIMALS

AFRICAN WILD DOG The sound of an African wild dog will send shivers down your spine if you hear it for the first time. One of it’s most striking features is it’s very large round ears. The ears are not only perfect for hearing calls over large distances but are also important for heat loss to regulate their body’s temperature. They are very efficient and agile hunters capable of reaching speeds of up to 55km/h. So watch out for them! Like the African civet, each of these dogs has a unique coat but they also stand out because of their interesting toes. While all other canid species have five toes, the African wild dog only has four. Bucket list: Ticked 🙂 Status at the moment: Endangered (estimated 5 500 left on the content) ooOoo AFRICAN CIVET These beautiful creatures are nocturnal and you have an off chance that you will… Read more >

CROSSING THE BORDER (PART I) – PLANNING

African border posts have a notorious reputation, but it is not as bad as everyone thinks as long as you go prepared and have no illusions. Most border trouble comes down to inexperience or impatience – not only in Africa, but throughout the world. The key is to prepare well beforehand and remember, every successful border crossing pans out differently in each country. Regulations change all the time and is rapidly outdated. There are general tips that you can follow to ease your encounter at the border post, so consider some of the following tips: SO, THIS SAID, WHERE DO I START? Right at the beginning. Planning, planning, planning and some more planning! Start doing your homework well in advance, because it might take some time to get your ducks in a row and quacking. The number one place to start will be at your documents. Without a passport, the… Read more >