Location: South Africa

Summary:

Today is March 20th and I started the day at Elliot/Koa where I chatted with a group of 5 or 6 guys who had arrived in the dark with two four-wheel drives. They had been scaling mountain passes and having a blast. They were very interested in my car and amazed that I had driven it all the way from the Netherlands, which always feels great to share. My destination for the day was Køgstad, and the scenery along the way was absolutely mind-blowing — though I can only share a few pictures to give you a sense of it. When I arrived near Køgstad, I stopped at a lovely riverside coffee place that also sold plants. It had been in operation for about two years and the people were incredibly friendly, so it was a great spot for a coffee and a bite to eat. Across the street there was a lodge that didn't look very promising, but I decided to stay there anyway. The service was minimal, but it was situated by a small lake, and when it started raining, the sound of rain on the roof made it a really atmospheric place to be. It was also a place where I could have dinner, which is always a bonus because once I settle in somewhere, I prefer not to have to drive again. I didn't get to properly explore Køgstad that day — that was saved for the next morning. But this trip continues to be incredibly special. Every day brings something new and exciting, and I'm grateful to have you along for the ride.

Location: South Africa

Summary:

Today, March 19th, I left East London and headed inland rather than continuing along the coast. The reason for this change of plans was based on conversations I've had with locals about the dangers further down toward Durban, where travelers have been sidetracked off the road and robbed. Since that's already happened to me once, I decided to take a safer route and bypass those risky areas. My destination for the day was Khowa (also known as Elliott), which is getting closer to the Lesotho border. There wasn't much in the way of accommodation in town, so I ended up staying at a lodge just outside Khowa that was part of a farm. I noticed at least four donkeys on the property, and the owner is quite the multitasker—running both the restaurant and lodge while also operating a tire shop in town. Never a dull moment! The mountains in the area are absolutely mind-blowing. They appear to be covered in grass and are truly fascinating to look at. The scenery alone made the inland detour worthwhile. Later, a motorcyclist pulled in and set up camp. He turned out to be from Port Elizabeth, a major industrial city. He works for a company that manufactures axles for cars—they even export them. He's been doing that work for 21 years and has a wealth of knowledge about the industry. We had a great conversation that touched on the challenges of hiring in South Africa. He explained how at some point, the standards for certain school tests were lowered to help more people pass, but he acknowledged that this approach ultimately backfires when it comes to job readiness and qualifications. He was riding a BMW 1250 and was on a multi-day ride away from home, planning to visit several towns that were also on my route. He mentioned wanting to climb Sani Pass on Saturday, which happens to be on my schedule too. We had a really great time talking and I genuinely enjoyed his company. Looking forward to what tomorrow brings!

Location: South Africa

Summary:

Today on March 18th, I took one more stroll through Port Alfred before hitting the road. What a lovely town — great views, easy beach access, and I can totally see why the folks at the Panorama want to keep living there even after they stop running their bed and breakfast. From Port Alfred, I got back on Highway 72 and made my way to East London. The drive felt slow today, and once I arrived, finding accommodation was a real challenge. Every place I checked was fully booked — some I could see were full on Google Maps, and the ones I tried in person were no different. Eventually I found a spot called Clear Corner, still within town. I was almost ready to leave East London entirely, but staying here actually works out perfectly for my plans. I'm heading inland from here to avoid certain coastal roads and to take in some mountain scenery on my way to Lesotho. Tomorrow's destination is about 3 to 4 hours away, which is my comfortable driving pace and allows me to make stops along the way. Going inland means fewer services and places to stop, so I need to plan accordingly. Clear Corner turned out to be a nice house where I can park behind a fence, which is great for security. Since I arrived early, I had time to hit the grocery store, pick up some food, and warm it up at my self-catering accommodation. It's nice not having to eat out every meal. I even grabbed some breakfast supplies for tomorrow morning. The evening brought an unexpected twist — rain and stormy weather, which is apparently very unusual for this time of year around here. The scenery along today's drive was beautiful, with rolling green hills and lots of cows dotting the landscape. Near the coast, the ocean isn't always easy to access unless you walk along the beach, but the rivers flowing into the sea create stunning views as you cross the bridges. Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings as I head inland toward the mountains and eventually Lesotho.

Location: South Africa

Summary:

March 17th was a productive and eventful day. I started early, arriving at the car service place at quarter to 7. Adrian, one of the bosses, kindly gave me a ride into town where I could sit and have a coffee while they inspected the entire vehicle. By around 10:15, Adrian called to confirm everything checked out as expected — it was just a matter of changing filters and getting the necessary parts, with the work expected to be done within a few hours. While waiting, I decided to walk the 3 to 4 kilometers back toward the garage rather than wait for a pickup. Despite some morning rain, the weather turned pleasant. Along the way, I stumbled upon On Foot Roastery, a newer coffee roastery that also had a coffee bar on-site, which was a nice find. Adrian insisted I shouldn't walk and offered to pick me up, but I enjoyed the stroll. The car service wrapped up with all the details taken care of, the bill paid, and a thorough wash of the vehicle. I was able to leave close to 2 o'clock, giving me time to head further east. I drove all the way to Port Alfred, which turned out to be a really lovely town. I found an Airbnb called Pavilion, and it came with wonderful surprises. The hosts, Rob and Marianne, let me use their garage, which was tall enough for my 2.40-meter vehicle. They recommended Guido's restaurant on the beach, which was excellent. When I returned, we shared some wine and discovered fascinating connections. Marianne was born in Dordrecht in the Netherlands, which created an instant bond. They've been running their bed and breakfast for about 16 years, though they're winding down. Before Port Alfred, they had spent 15 years running an accommodation near Sesriem in Namibia — a place I had actually visited with Gert-Jong. Their property there was on 13,000 hectares with a 9-bedroom lodge and even their own airstrip. It was 90 km by road to Sesriem but only 40 km by air. They showed me documentation of the place, and we had a wonderful evening of conversation. They were also curious about my journey. Another great night — you just can't make this stuff up.

Location: South Africa

Summary:

Today, March 16th, a Monday, I made my way to a car service place in Jeffrey's Bay. It turned out to be their second week of operation as a new franchise. The two guys who started the business were both there, and even though they had a full schedule for Monday, they were able to fit me in on Tuesday. They have a 62-point inspection system and would go over everything and let me know what they find. This meant I needed to stay another night in Jeffrey's Bay, so I headed back to the Lazy Days guesthouse. This time somebody was home, and I could come back by 2 o'clock to check in — fantastic! It seemed like a great place with really nice people. I texted Michelle, whom I had run into the day before, and suggested dinner. She was a bit uncertain but ended up at the restaurant around 2:30 after a foggy walk on the beach where she could barely see and even panicked a bit. Plans changed, so I went early and we enjoyed some delicious snook salad and a fun conversation. She had to head back to work, so that was the end of our time together. Right after Michelle left, a Land Rover pulled up and I got to meet Diane and Ariane Marais from Cape Town. Their truck is decorated with African figures, and they're planning a 3-month road trip. They're heading in roughly the same direction as me but on a slower schedule. It's always wonderful meeting fellow travelers. The beachside restaurant had great service and great food — can't go wrong. Later, back at Lazy Days, I knocked on the door with a question and was invited up for drinks. The hosts, Ilse and Wilhelm, had people over and were curious about my travels (the orange truck probably helped spark interest). It turned into a wonderful evening complete with drinks and a braai — South African barbecued meat, absolutely delicious. Sharing time with Ilse, Wilhelm, and their kids was a real highlight. It felt like it was meant to be. I just had to make sure I got up early the next morning for the car service. Thanks to Ilse and Wilhelm for a great evening!

Location: South Africa

Summary:

Today was a Sunday in Jeffrey's Bay, and as is typical here, a lot of places were closed. I walked into town hoping to revisit the same restaurant I enjoyed the night before, but when I arrived I remembered it closes at 3 o'clock on Sundays. So I wandered through town looking for alternatives and ended up at an Indian restaurant. What made it fascinating was that it was only in its second week of being open. The owner is from India, and his family is still back home. His plan is to get the restaurant up and running, find enough staff to manage it, and then go back and forth between India and South Africa, stopping by once in a while. Whatever it takes, I suppose! While walking around town and looking at my phone, a local woman named Michelle started chatting with me. She lives in the neighborhood and turned out to be a really nice person. We ended up exchanging phone numbers, and she knew about my vehicle's website and the journey I'm on. I also started planning tomorrow's agenda — I need to arrange a car service. It's been about 10,000 kilometers since Oshakati, and it's important to keep up with maintenance. I'm going to try Car Service City, which has about 92 franchise locations throughout the country. They even have a relatively new location in Jeffrey's Bay. The rest of the day was spent making recordings and sending updates along, which takes more time than you'd think but is important to keep up with. The place where I'm staying is lovely — it used to be a hippie house. The owner wasn't around, but someone else is taking care of things. One great feature is direct beach access. You can't see the beach from the house, but you walk through a gate, over a dune, and there it is. I haven't been inclined to swim yet — I've been sort of upside down in the Atlantic Ocean before — but I did get my feet wet in the Indian Ocean today, so at least I felt the water. Many houses here have swimming pools, though they're usually very small. That's it for today — thank you for coming along!

Location: South Africa

Summary:

On March 14th, I started the morning reflecting on yesterday's 4x4 adventure on Bergplas Road. I met Paul and Tracy, a couple driving a Land Rover with a rooftop tent. They're avid campers from Port Elizabeth who own about 8 homes and plan to become full-time road campers within the next 2-3 years. It was a fun conversation about the nomadic lifestyle. I attempted to walk to a waterfall but decided against it when it turned out to be more walking than I wanted. The scenery along the Indian Ocean was absolutely beautiful though, with lots of people enjoying the trails and activities. From there, I took Highway 102 instead of the main N2 highway, opting for a more scenic and relaxed drive despite the road being of lesser quality. That hasn't stopped me before. My destination for the day was Jeffreys Bay, where I planned to get a vehicle service. The goal was to service the car approximately 10,000 kilometers after my last service in Oshakati, and I'm just about at that mark. I wanted to do it in South Africa, and Jeffreys Bay seemed as good a place as any. For accommodation, I first tried a place called Lazy Days but no one was home. I then found 9 on Ash Street, which worked out really well. I got a small room, the people were nice and friendly, and breakfast was included. They recommended Kitchen Windows Beach Restaurant, which was right on the beach. I had an early dinner there and it was really good, though also very busy. Jeffreys Bay seems like a really nice town. Since it's now Saturday, I'll likely need to wait until Monday or Tuesday to get the car serviced, so I'll be staying in town for a few nights.

Location: South Africa

Summary:

Today started with waking up at a peaceful campsite where I had slept in the car. It was a great spot with trees, hot water, and bathrooms — just no other campers around, which was perfectly fine by me. I got going around 8:30 and spent the next two to two and a half hours navigating a challenging 4WD route. I had to pay close attention to stay on the right path, and I definitely would not recommend it without four-wheel drive. Despite the difficulty, the views were absolutely stunning — rolling hills and beautiful scenery the whole way. At the end of the route, I rewarded myself with a stop at a charming little coffee shop. The owner is a 77-year-old retired pig farmer who quit the pig business because it kept him tied to home. His wife handles most of the cooking and baking, and it was a wonderful stop. From there, I continued on toward my destination for the day: Tsitsikamma National Park, specifically the Storms River rest camp. The scenery along the way remained breathtaking. When I arrived, I met Craig and Kylie Cowell, an Australian couple who had shipped their own car from Australia to Cape Town. They figured it was cheaper to ship their 10-year-old vehicle than to rent one for their three-month trip through South Africa. Craig has previous experience in Africa and even has a motorbike stored in Zambia. Great people and we had some wonderful conversations. I had an early dinner at the rest camp, which has a brand new restaurant that isn't yet operational, so they're serving food out of shipping containers in the meantime — and it works just fine. The Indian Ocean coastline there is wild and dramatic, but the bay area offers kayaking, canoeing, and plenty of hiking trails. I scored an A-frame cabin for the night, which was a nice upgrade from sleeping in the car, though a bit pricier with the park fees. They mentioned the Wild Card for national parks, which I don't have, but it makes more sense for people spending extended time in game parks. All in all, a very rewarding day.

Location: South Africa

Summary:

I started my day in Prince Albert with a delicious Eggs Benedict breakfast at a nearby hotel, where I met a delightful Dutch couple - Annemiek, who's been a KLM stewardess for 31 years, and her husband were on a multi-week South African adventure. The food here costs about two-thirds of what you'd pay in the US or Europe. I then took Highway 328 through Swartspass toward the coast, heading for Oudshoorn. The mountain pass was steep and challenging, with narrow sections where I had to wait for oncoming traffic. Halfway up, I discovered a small coffee shop run by Diedrich, who gave up 20 years of winemaking to rent this government space that had been empty for a decade. He loves the mountains and trails, though only 20% of passing travelers stop at his establishment. We had a great conversation about improving his business. In Oudshoorn, I visited the massive Ostrich Emporium, operated by OPSA (Ostrich Products South Africa). There I met Louisa, an environmental consultant full of enthusiasm, who was returning from a game reserve after conducting an impact statement. She has two daughters and lives on the coast. Instead of taking the easy coastal route, I headed east on Highway 9 looking for a more adventurous path. My Garmin led me to a small unpaved road that turned out to belong to Louvain Farms - a combination of three farms offering wedding venues, accommodation, and camping. I arrived at their office just before 5 PM to discover they administered a 4WD-only mountain road that closes at 3 PM. With no restaurant on-site but an excellent campsite available, I decided to stay the night. I had the entire campsite to myself - complete with bathrooms, hot water, beautiful trees, and birds. It was another perfect day of unexpected discoveries and wonderful encounters.

Location: South Africa

Summary:

Today was an incredible day in Cape Town - I stayed an extra day specifically to meet Seth from Canada and Ollie from the UK, two amazing adventurers I first encountered in Ivory Coast. These guys have just completed an absolutely mind-blowing journey, driving a 2001-2002 Reliant Robin (a quirky 3-wheeled English car they named Sheila) all the way from England to Cape Town in 131 days, setting a world record in the process. We originally met at the Mongol Rally in 2018, and they hatched this wild plan to drive across Africa. Their arrival in Cape Town was quite the celebration - about 30 people showed up at the Engen gas station to welcome them, all connected through social media. The car barely survived the journey, needing replacements for the engine, gearbox, axles, and brake hubs, but they made it! Their story has been covered by CNN, BBC, and South African newspapers. After saying goodbye to Seth and Ollie, I headed east through Paarl, crossing the spectacular Teutschkloof Pass at 820 meters elevation. The mountain scenery was breathtaking, though I noticed police directing traffic around an accident near the top. I stopped at the wonderful Omul Bakery again for their amazing baked goods, then continued on the N2 highway eastward. I ended up in Prince Albert, a charming desert town that completely surprised me with its tourism-focused charm. I found accommodation by simply knocking on doors and met Esme and 80-year-old John Klaassen, known locally as 'John the Donkey' for his tour guiding work. John shared fascinating stories about his 20 years as a peanut farmer near Lesotho and his work in Zambia. They recommended a restaurant where I enjoyed the most delicious curried lamb. Prince Albert is definitely worth a visit if you're ever in South Africa.