Exploring Africa on motorbike

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Town that can be discovered only by airplane

I visited Nieuwoudtville (350 km north of Cape town) for the second time in my life. I flew there in an ultralight aircraft two month ago, now I drove there on my motorbike. I’ve stayed there for three days and now it almost feels like my home town. Thank you Kobus (pilot, engineer), Hester (business woman), Elsa (business woman), Jack (mechanic), Rickes (son), Marius (butcher), Ryan (soldier) and Adelle (ex student). I will never forget you and I’ll be back, like Arnold Schwarzenegger would say. ;)

Kobus Nel, pilot since 1973

Marius, famous butcher

Planing

Reuse

Rugby in Nieuwoudtville

Leaving

Ryan, Adelle & Marius

On the way from Nieuw. to N7

Friday, April 12, 2013

Entering Northern Cape

I took nice gravel kroad from Clanwilliam, direction of Calvinia, called R364. After around 100 km I turned left on R27 to Nieuwoudtville. Some fascinating views of landscapes on the way. Camera cannot tell much but anyway.

Clanwilliam

Western Cape R364

Goodbye Cape Town (2nd attempt)

In last five months I've got some good knowledge of Western Cape. The capital amazed me with it's natural beauty and I met some interesting and inspiring people around there. I would like to thank to all of them but it might turn boring. So thank you all of you out there, you know who you are. :)

I started driving my motorbike out of Cape Town two days ago. Direction north, first stop Clanwilliam. I hit the famous N7 highway but last 50 kms before CW I turned right at Citrusdale to gravel roads as N7 became a bit boring for my dual-purpose motorbike. I stayed the night at Lebanon Citrus Holiday Farm, some 18 kms out of Clanwilliam. Next morning I explored the surroundings, checked the river, which was pretty dry, the cottages, caravan park and orange tree plantation on the farm. I simply loved the place. Later in Clanwilliam I visited Rooibos tea factory as the place is home of famous Rooibos tea and visited coffee shop, nursery and guest house called Yellow Aloe where I checked their free Wifi internet and chilled with Windhoek lager.

Unfortunally already in the morning I've heard about double murder which happened during the night when I stayed on the farm. It happened in the village just next to the farm, practically 200 m away from where I slept. When I was leaving the farm, I was driving next to the village and I saw dead body still lying on the ground, covered with a blanket. Just one policeman was standing there, not really close. Sorry about telling you this story but it pretty shocked me. I feel sorry for those village people who are living in miserable conditions and they have not much in their lives beside alcohol. I've heard the cause of murders could originate from alcohol as one of the victims (older woman) was killed with a shovel and the other one (the killer) was killed later by unknown.

Anyway, stay well, enjoy the photos and keep in touch. ;

Cape Town

Lebanon Citrus, Clanwilliam

Lebanon Citrus to Clanwilliam

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Cape Town 14th International Jazz Festival

This year we had opportunity to see and enjoy the show of great performers: Jill Scott (USA), Gregory Porter (USA), Buena Vista Social Club (Cuba), Jack De Johnette (USA), Jimmy Dludlu (South Africa) and many others. Welcome to visit the festival next year.

Jill Scott

Jimmy Dludlu

Gregory Porter

Gregory Porter band

Gregory Porter audience

Jack De Johnette band

Buena Vista Social Club

Audience

Ceu from Brasil

Audience

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Western Cape story

Back to Africa. I flew from Venice, Italy through Doha, Qatar and landed in Cape Town, South Africa on November 8th,2012. My motorbike was waiting in Durbanville, 30 km north of Cape Town. Big thank you Antoinette and Ferdi Mouton for keeping my bike well and Prieur du Plessis for part of your parking space. :)

In last three months and half I did some nice trips around Cape Town and all over Western Cape area:

- North to Clanwilliam and Elands bay

- North west to Cederberg and Ceres

- South to Cape point and Cape of good hope

- South west to Hermanus and Franschhoek

- South west to Cape Agulhas and Cape Infanta

- West to Swellendam, Ladismith, Oudtshoorn and Mossel bay

This is of course just a part of the story. If you want more, check the rest of this blog and my facebook page Moto Africa. If it's still not enough, you simply email me and encourage me to write a book. :)