Despite the initial booking mix up, we were all unpacked in no time. The next couple of days were very adventurous. We spent a lot of time canoeing up and down the river (another big moment for me), walked among the vineyards, took a 4×4 ride up to the top of a hill and took in some of the most amazing and dramatic views, did a so called white water rafting experience with an adventure company called Felix Unite (which turned out to be just a bit of bouncing over some rocks. Well, Mick and I bounced over some rocks. The rest of our group did follow the instructions) and we drove through a village, Aussenkehr, made  entirely of straw, which Kyra now calls the pig village because of the second little pig in the fable, The Three Little Pigs, who used straw to build his house.

We saw New Year in with a shower of champagne and much merriment, despite a noisy crowd behind us who honestly thought the entire Namibia wanted to hear their dire choice of music… Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and the day eventually came for us to say our good byes. After many hugs and tears, we all departed. It was a 3 day drive back for Pete and I and by the end of the first day, approximately 650kms later, we pulled into the tiniest town called Groblershoop, where we overnighted at the Grapevine Guesthouse. The quaint guesthouse had an old farm house charm with a subtle modern touch. They served the largest T-bone steaks known to mankind, their service was warm and friendly and Pete and I will definitely return, should we be in that part of the world again. Our second night was spent in Virginia so that I could see my oldest son, which really was wonderful! Thank you to my sister-in-law and her family for having us. We finally pulled into our driveway on the third day at about 17H30. This holiday was truly memorable and it’s all thanks to Rob and Jane. Once again you made it possible for all of us to have the time of our lives! Thank you.

The following day the manager promised, in passing, throughout the day to come to us when he had a chance to sort out the mess. It finally dawned on me that there was nothing to be done and we arranged for my in-law’s to share a site with us. We were eventually told that the reserve doesn’t book campsites and works on a first come, first serve basis. Personally, I think a booking should take precedence and thereafter whatever is available should be on a first come, first serve basis.

Nevertheless, our stay turned out to be absolutely wonderful with the entire Bowen clan being reunited for the first time in 8 years! In the days that followed some of the group did a game drive and quad biking offered by Khamkirri, we all took a drive up to Augrabies Falls, Pete, the kids and I spent hours relaxing in the pool and the one day I got extremely adventurous and braved a swim with Pete in the Orange River. (I have a phobia for rivers, dams and dirty pools, etc).

Christmas was an exciting day for all. Kyra and Kayden had a very successful haul and even the rest of us were spoilt rotten!

Christmas night had me totally freaked out because of the nastiest looking spiders that I have ever seen! The infamous camel spider will have a post dedicated to it at a later date… Despite these frightful creatures lurking in the shadows, we all managed to have a lovely and festive evening, punctuated with fits of laughter as we ducked & dived to get out of the path of our unwanted guests. In hindsight, we may have been regarded as the over sized, unwanted guests lurking in their territory!

Getting back to our holiday. After a year of planning, debating and waiting; the day finally arrived for us to set off on our approximate 1200km trip. We headed to Khamkirri Private Game Reserve on the northern banks of the Orange River, near Kakamas, in the Green Kalahari. It is frustrating for the little ones in the car, so we break our trips down to approximately 600 kms a day. As a result, our first night we stopped over in Bloemfontein at my nephew’s place.

The following day, after another 600kms, we were very relieved when we finally turned into the private game reserve Pete and I had so thoroughly enjoyed a year earlier.

As with most big events, planning for our trip began many months in advance. Not so much planning on where to go or what route to take to get there but what to take with us.

Standard Camping Packing list.

Lauren has her usual list of camping items we always take but this holiday was going to be a reunion of the whole family, a helluva undertaking when you think that we have family members all over the world. London, Newcastle, Cape Town, Durban, East London and Windhoek. Co-ordinating all this so that we didn’t bring the same thing was solved by my brother, Mick.

A sample of our google checklist

Mick, very cleverly, introduced us to the Google Documents programs and there we set up a spreadsheet of who was bringing what. As my folks were travelling across the border, they were not allowed to bring meat products through, Mick and his wife Jo were travelling internationally so were limited by what they could carry and so on. We planned out meals, who would bring fresh meats, canned food, dried foods etc. All made very much easier when you can use a live document like a google spreadsheet which updates in real time whenever anyone adds to it.

Moving on, as the time drew nearer the last minute things started. Filling up gas bottles, airing out musty old tents and such like. Our neighbours must have thought us quite mad for having a six man tent pitched on our front lawn. Finally it was time for packing…

Now, over the years we have accumulated quite a bit of camping equipment, most of which is very functional stuff that provides us with a few little luxurious. A small electric pump that allows you to inflate mattresses with no effort is just one example. However, all of this needs to fit into our car or “Betty” as we affectionately call her. She is not the largest vehicle on earth and as such everything needs to be packed with the skill of a Tetris master. Our holiday falling over the christmas period didn’t help this cause either, as we had items wrapped in wrapping paper which could not get damaged.

See who needs a trailer!!!