TO GO LIVE ON FRIDAY
Having spent our first day at Mmokolodi Primary School focusing on conservation, Right to Sight and a soccer match with Kingsley Holgate, his son Ross, his partner Sheelagh and members of the Botswana Land Rover Club, we headed out to an open field just outside the city as the sun set over the African Continent.
This was the beginning of the second leg of their Afrika Odyssey ( read about part one here ), an expedition to connect 22 game parks managed by the conservation NGO African Parks in partnership with the government of each country.
They would now be heading into West Africa to some very treacherous waters that include the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad and Benin.
It was billed as wild camping but as we were setting up camp a Toyota Hilux, rather out of place between more than 25 Land Rovers, arrived towing a portable toilet with two flushing porcelain thrones.
It was the beginning of an evening with some of the most magnificent hospitality, camaraderie, humour and building of friendships that Ive experienced in a long time.
It made no difference whether you were English, Afrikaans, Setswana, black or white, everyone had a passion for the Land Rover brand and more specifically the Defender.
The Holgates explore in a new Defender D300 130 and the rest of us hold onto our TDi 200s, 300s, TD5s and Pumas or, as most wives and partners call them, the money pit.
Kingsley and his crew held sway as they weaved a tapestry of trials, tribulations, AK47s in their faces, being taken prisoner and victories across the continent and indeed the world.
Members of the Botswana group regaled us of their travels to some of the magnificent parks in Botswana and of course all the issues, large and small, that Defender owners have to contend with. All of it with much mirth mind you.
Chairperson Sharpe Kamutati with his two sons dubbed Sharpe one and two, told us that owning a Defender is like having a sick family member, you dont just abandon them.
Sharpe one is on his way to flight school at Wonderboom, Pretoria and Sharpe two intends to study archeology when he matriculates this year. Its the same course my son started in February at Pretoria University so I gave him my number in the event he wants more information.
In true African style we tucked into meat fresh off the fire with our hands, poured drinks and swapped Land Rover stories until the early hours of the morning.
The next day was a mad dash along the Trans-Kalahari Highway towards the Namibian border, but not before Kingsley had taken out the big Scroll for Conservation and asked members of the club to write a message to add to the hundreds of pages already filled with messages from community leaders and beneficiaries, park rangers, conservation partners and government envoys.
I climbed in next to Kingsley who was riding shotgun with Sheelagh in the back taking care of biltong, drowors, and snack bars.
We covered a diverse range of topics that included politics, the state of various African countries, travel and accommodation advice, exploration, Landies and found out we had an almost obsessive interest in World War II.
The Trans-Kalahari Highway is a magnificent stretch of tar road that provides a direct route From Pretoria through Botswana, into Namibia passing through Windhoek and ending in Walvis Bay.
We needed to get as close to the border as possible before sunset so I pushed the Defender hard using the adaptive cruise control to stay under the radar from keen Botswana cops.
Cooldrink money will get you locked up there.
The average consumption stood at 13l/100km which is damn good considering how heavy the Defender was and the amount of wind resistance from the roof rack loaded with a tent, spare wheel and a pile of equipment needed when youre adventuring for thousands of kilometres into Africa.
About 50 kilometres from the Buitepos border crossing Ross pulled off a few 100 metres into the bush and found a clearing for us to eat, drink and continue our discussions before eventually retiring to bed.
Look, I know going to the head with a spade and a toilet roll and showering with a bucket isnt everyones idea of a memorable trip, but for me, sitting around a campfire with a cold drink, the smell of a braai and good company trumps 5-star accommodation and Michelin chef food every day.
You also get to appreciate a flushing toilet, being able to wash your hands under a tap, clean sheets, a long shower or soaking bath a lot more when you return.
Team Kingsley Holgate Land Rover Defender 130Another no-nonsense border crossing saw us on a three and a half hour drive to Hosea Kutako International Airport just outside Windhoek followed by a coffee and our final goodbyes to an amazing trio.
As far as my experiences go as a seasoned motoring journalist thats had the privileg
