Apr 11 2010 Un safari en un Volkswagen Polo

• Natasha-032

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/natasa-032.jpg

  Northern Cape is one of the lesser known places in South Africa. To us it seemed a place touched by the magic of authentic

• natasa-130

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/natasa-130.jpg

  Northern Cape is one of the lesser known places in South Africa. To us it seemed a place touched by the magic of authentic

• Natasha-027

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/natasa-0271.jpg

  Northern Cape is one of the lesser known places in South Africa. To us it seemed a place touched by the magic of authentic

• Jasmine-100

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/natasa-100.jpg

  Northern Cape is one of the lesser known places in South Africa. To us it seemed a place touched by the magic of authentic

• Natasha-017

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/natasa-017.jpg

  Northern Cape is one of the lesser known places in South Africa. To us it seemed a place touched by the magic of authentic

• Natasha-077

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/natasa-0771.jpg

  Northern Cape is one of the lesser known places in South Africa. To us it seemed a place touched by the magic of authentic

There are more than nine hours drive from Cape Town and Upington, capital of the Northern Cape (860 km). Nine hours of desert landscape, that becomes saturated earth tones, gold and red, uploaded to a Volkswagen Polo we've rented for 26 day euros (everyone knows that a Pole is the perfect car to go for Safari; days after our undoubted success would verify).

We arrived at night, after endless and empty lines (can spend 60 minutes without bump into anyone), after taking a secondary road, the R-27, that leaves the sides of arid land stunning photos, spotted some trees and black stones. Upington is empty; and dark streets just teach life. Intuitively we got to the Orange River, where we know that most accommodations are (B&B, Guest House…). We decided to ask at a house called La Riviera. We are on a lady who christened the Nancy (is nailed to the wife of Ronald Reagan). Start a game of haggling on the price at which women, he sees the seven p.m. will not have another opportunity to rent the only two rooms in the house, just lowering the price in half, 25 euros per person and gives us three glasses of wine. (If we hold a bit we end up paying it). A success, the site has a garden that hangs over the edge of Orange and the views are amazing.

Por un estrecho cañón se despeña un torrente de agua. Los khoisanes las llaman Aukoerbis (noisy place)

The next morning, we go to our first date: Augrabies Falls (cataracts). Por un estrecho cañón se despeña un torrente de agua. Los khoisanes las llaman Aukoerbis (noisy place). The site is perfect for water lovers in its wildest. There are some huge waterfalls, but the whole is full of charm. We decided to spend the night in the park itself, rodeados de las decenas de monos que allí viven y emborrachándonos con el mal vino que compramos en el supermercado para intentar olvidar la pésima cena (about the food here and I've given up; already tell you another time). We slept with bags, under a sky lit. Renting a cottage with a double bed costs about one hundred euros. The good thing is that the next morning you're walking around the falls almost alone.

After our first stop, we start our real objective way: a safari. Vamos al Kgalagadi Park, north, glued to the borders of Namibia and Botswana (we are actually in the Kalahari but otherwise called here). We booked a room in any of the different types of possible accommodation (camping o lodge), something which will advise (particularly nice is the Kalahari Tent). There is only space in the first complex, glued to the entrance, el Two Rivers Rest Camp. It costs a hundred euros per night the house with four beds. We aim at offering a first trip by truck to park tourists with cameras. The truth is that suddenly jogs a wildebeest with us; luego and jackal; then a Gemsbock (I did not know what was a Gemsbock)... The truck is really a horror, but the pictures are what you have in your head since childhood.

Vamos al Kgalagadi Park, north, glued to the borders of Namibia and Botswana (we are actually in the Kalahari but otherwise called here)

The next day we decided to book a new hotel within the park, en Gossob (100 EUR, Also the house). 160 kilometers of winding road to a utility (six hours). All we saw is unforgettable for a guy who swallowed small whole saga of Tarzan: pure nature. Wild herds; Ostriches crossing in front of our car; antelopes, lots of beautiful birds of unknown to name or brand ... Of course, no cheetah or lion, which are the hardest gems park. At night, from our house taken by mosquitoes, hear the thunderous cries of hyenas. All within a desert landscape dotted savanna. Of course, when we saw that we were the only utilitarian walking the cobblestone roads understood that it was perhaps not the best choice; something that corroborated when two days later, Back to Upington, we were two flat tires. (About, treated in the two workshops that were dramatically: not charged, They helped us with everything and even offered accommodation. In Spain, three guiris come with a puncture to a workshop and leave with 2.300 euros less and the car painted pink).

Northern Cape is one of the lesser known places in South Africa. To us it seemed a place touched by the magic of authentic. How many places can you do a safari with a Volkswagen Polo?