Ray Chaplin solo walk from Cape Town to Beit Bridge Posted on 11 December 2009 Tags:Beit Bridge, Botswana, Gaborone, Hopetown, Paarl, South Africa, Wellington While the Karoo drought beat me back on the first attempt, lessons have been learnt and adjustments made to the approach and I am heading back out there to crack the solo crossing of our gorgeous country on foot. I have made changes to the route too, and am including some time in Botswana for added flavour and adventure and to add to the historical journey. Below is a rough overview of the route – which may change along the way if needed. Reasons for change include environmental and ‘political’, and will only be made in extreme circumstances where I am left with little choice… or my life is endangered beyond the standard ‘day to day’ challenges. STAGE ONE:80km :: Cape Point Lighthouse to Cape Town Stadium, following the PUFfeR route65km :: Cape Town Stadium to Paarl [including climbing Paarl Rock]12km :: Paarl to Wellington55km :: Wellington to Ceres [over Bain’s Kloof Pass & Michel’s Pass]195km :: Ceres to Sutherland [entering the Northern Cape]108km :: Sutherland to Fraserburg [incl. South African Astronomical Observatory]135km :: Fraserburg to Carnarvon [incl. Corbelled Houses]90 km :: Carnarvon to Vosburg [incl. Bushman paintings]62km :: Vosburg to Britstown77km :: Britstown to Strydenburg68km :: Strydenburg to Hopetown [incl. Old Wagon Bridge]80km :: Hopetown to Douglas [incl. site of first diamond discovery]110km :: Douglas to Kimberley [incl. Big Hole and all the other sites]Stage One distace = 1137km REST DAY STAGE TWO:75km :: Kimberley to Warrenton45km :: Warrenton to Hartswater45km :: Hartswater to Taung Skull site85km :: Taung Skull site to Vryburg160km :: Vryburg to Mafikeng [incl. Maritzani]25km :: Mafikeng to Ramatlabama Border Post [entry into Botswana]50km :: Ramatlabama to Lobatse70km :: Lobatse to Gaborone45km :: Gaborone to Mochudi170km :: Mochudi to Mahalapye [cross the Tropic of Capricorn]75km :: Mahalapye to Machaneng215km :: Machaneng to Pont Drift Border Post [entry back into South Africa]115km :: Pont Drift Border Post to Musina18km :: Musina to Beit Bridge [and success!]Stage Two distance = 1193km TOTAL distance :: 2330km Departure is set to be sometime between Christmas & New Years… I am busy looking at all the options, keeping the holidays & my dad’s birthday (26th) in mind. Related Posts Kaokoland: how to do the wildest 4×4 trip in Namibia 5 May 2016 From Cape Town to the legendary Van Zyl's Pass - here's how to do the... read more Into the Okavango: follow the team on the last days of their epic 4 month journey 15 September 2015 Into the Okavango is now in the last days of an incredible four-month, 2250km... read more Once Upon A Town… in Garies 19 June 2015 Follow internationally renowned street artist, Falko as he road-trips around SA, painting the dorpies as... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
Kaokoland: how to do the wildest 4×4 trip in Namibia 5 May 2016 From Cape Town to the legendary Van Zyl's Pass - here's how to do the... read more
Into the Okavango: follow the team on the last days of their epic 4 month journey 15 September 2015 Into the Okavango is now in the last days of an incredible four-month, 2250km... read more
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