After an overnight stay in an idyllic dune landscape on the banks of a river, we drove towards the Tankwa Karoo National Park on September 23rd, 2024. The sand and gravel track allowed us to make good progress and three hours later we were at the entrance to the park. Left and right we saw ostriches that feel at home in this dry and inhospitable area.

There was no overnight stay because all the camps were occupied (it is school holiday at the moment). And the ones that were still available didn’t even have a pit toilet. (You can easily imagine what the surrounding area looks like!) We left the park and drove via the Gannaga pass to an altitude of 1,200 meters to Middelpos. A lost town in which there is a simple gas station and a drankwinkel. We decided not to stop and continued on to Sutherland. There is the SALT (South African Large Telescope) nearby and we wanted to visit that. But that’s only on September 25th. possible. So, it was time to spend the night in Sutherland. We did that at the campsite there.

We were eating dinner when the dark clouds that promised rain, which the farmers here are eagerly waiting for, began to empty. We quickly packed everything up and then ate in Mahangu’s galley. The South Africans, who were standing behind the braai (Barbeque) were grilling their sausages and didn’t bother. The air was filled with the smell of burnt meat. But the South Africans’ laughter showed that this didn’t bother them. A braai is simply a must here – no matter whether it’s raining, storming or snowing…

 PS: If you want to know more about «braaien», watch and listen here.