Unveiling Our Off-Road Haven: Introducing the Isuzu NPS 300 4×4 Motor Home
Dreams Take Shape
The Isuzu NPS 300 4×4 Motor Home: As our travel aspirations grow grander, so do our plans. We are thrilled to unveil our newest addition – an off-road motor home based on the robust Isuzu NPS 300 4×4 light truck, featuring a caravan-type habitat on the rear. This purpose-built vehicle embodies our spirit of exploration and independence, allowing us to navigate challenging terrains while creating a comfortable haven on the road.
Looking Towards the Future
With the hope that our journey spans a year or more, the planning and research are ongoing. The overseas option remains at the core of our hearts, adaptable to modifications that may arise. In a world filled with uncertainties, our yearning to explore persists. So as we continue to refine our plans, Australia awaits, promising an adventure that will change and challenge us, showcasing its untamed beauty and diverse landscapes in our newly acquired off-road haven.
Where to next? A Glimpse into Future Travel Plans
In a world rife with turmoil and uncertainty, the allure of travel remains undiminished.
While global conflicts and geopolitical tensions have cast shadows over some dream destinations, the aftermath of a pandemic has also brought about unprecedented challenges. Prices for goods, services, and travel have skyrocketed, prompting a shift in our wanderlust-driven itineraries. Amid these circumstances, our gaze turns towards the vast landscapes of Australia – not our initial choice, not even our third, but a destination of immense potential and allure.
Australia, a land as vast as it is diverse, beckons with its unique allure. While it wasn’t our primary option, the thought of exploring its stunning landscapes, rich ecosystems, and vibrant culture has grown on us. This is a journey we were intending to undertake, perhaps in about five years, aligning with our stage in life. With its expansiveness and diverse ecosystems, Australia presents a challenge worth embracing. From the lush rainforests of Queensland to the rugged Outback, each corner has a story waiting to unfold.
Our travel philosophy does not align with the typical packaged tours and resort experiences. We revel in the freedom to chart our own course, to soak in the sights at our own pace. This penchant for independent exploration lends itself to intimate connections with the places we visit. It grants us the luxury of time – time to capture countless photographs, to observe wildlife in their natural habitat, and to truly immerse ourselves in the moment. As an example of that, while in Namibia’s Etosha National Park, Kylie’s fascination with a herd of elephants proved insatiable, she took a few hundred photos, and had to be goaded into moving on! This after a few weeks, where we had already take seen countless elephants, and taken hundreds of photos of them! 😉
Our travel aspirations are grander than ever. We are looking towards a period of travel that will span a year or more. The planning and research are ongoing, with Option 1 holding steadfast in our hearts. The prospect of modification doesn’t deter us; instead, it fuels our determination to bring our dream to fruition.
In a world where uncertainty prevails, our longing to travel remains.
While the globe grapples with conflicts, tensions, and post-pandemic repercussions, Australia emerges as a compelling destination. Its untamed beauty, diverse landscapes, and promise of unique experiences captivate our imagination. Our upcoming journey, although not the original plan, embodies our spirit of exploration and independence.
As we continue to refine our plans, our first option remains hopeful, promising an adventure that will change, and challenge us, and allow Australia to be done a little later!
Southern Africa – Day 51 – Cape Town To Sydney, Australia
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In for a long day, today! Two flights, first from Cape Town to Johannesburg (about 1.5hrs) then Johannesburg to Sydney, Australia (about 13hrs).
The Cape Town flight was delayed by about 2 hrs, which basically ate up our layover time in Jo’burg. Luckily there was a major thunderstorm, so all flights were delayed there as well. Still it was a mad rush to get to our flight, so we had to be bused direct to our next flight. No cover on the ground so everyone is wet from the storm.
In the end the Sydney flight was delayed again, so we had about 10 mins to sit around.
The flight home was the most uncomfortable flight David had ever had. There is next to no legroom, and the person in front of David decided to lay his seat back to the maximum position, even when the meals were served! David literally had his table against his face…. Not happy… but the guy in front didn’t care!
David was so crammed in, he didn’t get any sleep, at all, and by the time we got to Sydney he was exhausted!
We were a few hours late, into Sydney, but our Sydney pickup had seen the delay, and came back to get us. Very relieved, as I dont think David was in any mood for anything to go wrong 😉
Home!
Fifty One days away, and even though we could have easily stayed another fifty, it was good to be home!
Now, let’s have a look at the computer and plan how we can go back!
Zoom in to see where we went ….. and want to go back!
The first post for this trip is at http://aussiesoverlanding.com/?p=884
Southern Africa – Day 46 – Fish River Canyon, Namibia
We have an early morning today, so we can reach the canyon before the sun starts to heat up too much. It is about a 10km trip to the main view point of the canyon. Fish River Canyon is the second largest in the world next to the Grand Canyon in the USA. It is very impressive, the colours spectacular.
We stand around soaking up the sights and contemplate how long the canyon took to be created… originally it had glaciers! There are a few different view points, dotted along the rim and we drive along so we can get a different prospective. Some of the spots you need to walk to. On our last stop we checked with a guide parked next to us- it was a 500m walk, but be careful not to touch the cactus as they were poison… just another confirmation for David that every plant in Africa is deadly!
Its 10.40 and already 36 degrees, we get back to the campsite and make a beeline for the pool. We meet an Aussie and his Thai wife who have lived in London for the last 20 years. They are on a gap year, travelling the world, before relocating back to Australia. Before long a tour bus pulls in and the pool is inundated – you couldn’t get a foot in! A storm came thru with cold rain and wind – this was a surprise to everyone – it really cooled things down.
We had dinner at the restaurant – while there we met a South African couple who we discussed wages, house loans, schooling etc. They advised that most people carry guns – even when shopping. They live in a gated community – has 2 fences, security guards and cctv on all streets!
Brendan and I have a shot of Jägermeister- yuck – has a spicy liquorice taste… as the bar closes- more shots for David and Brendan.
We are happy to head off to bed, so the South African couple invite Brendan to party on into the night for New Year’s Eve.
Happy New Year, 2019!
Southern Africa – Day 45 – Klein-Aus Vista to Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Continuing our way south, today. On the way we kept an eye out for the wild horses, but alas- no luck in spotting them.
There wasn’t much on the way, until just out of Seehein, where the terrain changes- it is now lush and green, and grape vines cris-cross the valley. There is a large dam and we cross a reed lined water causeway. The green doesn’t last long though and soon we are back to desolate, dry, rocky landscape.
We spot a few lonesome ostrich and oryx wandering along in the hot sun.
We reached Hobas campsite and have our pick of sites, we end us choosing number 11, it is quite large and will have spots in a shaded area all day long, due to the large trees. While eating lunch, we see a few baboons venture in to the next campsite and head toward the bins to see what other campers have left, they are very noisy and quite big- I wouldn’t want to have to confront one.
It is really hot this afternoon so we decide to settle in by the pool and have a few drinks while cooling off in the water. The pool has about 1m of grass around the edge – the rest is dirt and dust- it looks out of place. while relaxing on the recliners in the shade after a refreshing dip, David notices a large whirly whirly- its dust spout reaches 100 meters into the air like a rainbow, it moves quickly towards us, but luckily dissipates before it gets too near.
Somehow, we have miscalculated with the meals and haven’t bought enough meat, tonight will be the last time I cook for a while- oh what a shame, eating at the restaurant tonight!
The campsite is full tonight, but is quiet.
Southern Africa – Day 44 – Klein-Aus Vista, Namibia
Due to the expected wind, today, we abandoned plans to go to the ghost town, Kolmanskop. Couldn’t bear another sand blown day! We thought about going to see if we could find the wild horses of Aus, at sunrise, but decided to have a much needed sleep-in instead.
So after a slow start, to the day, I decided to catch up on some laundry. Unfortunately, we set up the clothesline next to the wooden windbreak, which was very dirty from the dust. So I had to redo half the laundry again!
After lunch we went up to the bar, which is 2 km from the campsite, to use the wifi, and have some refreshments.
This turned out to be quite entertaining, as our Namibian bar tender, Eve, has never flown before, or had much concept of the distances to be traveled from Australia to Namibia. Eve thought there would be sign posts to help the pilots fly from country to country. It’s amazing how some of the things, and concepts, that we take for granted, are so alien to them even now.
Four and half hours of entertaining conversation, 7 stein glasses of Hanus Beer, 2 Rum & cokes, a coke and a Fanta. All for the grand total of $26. A good afternoon.
We then, decided, to try and find the wild horses. There is supposed to be a herd of, between 80 & 200, wild horses, that have been in the Aus area for a hundred years or so. Eve had mentioned that they can usually be seen, at sunset, near a waterhole at Garub, as it’s the only permanent water they can access in the region. We drove the 20 km’s or so, and cooked our dinner on a rise above the waterhole. We waited until nearly an hour after sunset, but unfortunately, they didn’t show. We had a lovely sunset, though!
