In SA now @ the Upington Land Rover garage, no breakdown but just an aircon service for the Td5! It’s 45 degrees max. so some better cooling is most welcome. Just left Augrabies Falls and now on the way to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park. Freshing up my knowledge as the last visit to the National Parks dates back to 1999! Expect not much to be changed except the increase in wilderness and rest camps (and traffic). Back in the nineties (and the Kalahari Gemsbok years) the only 3 camps were Twee Rivieren, Nossob and Mata Mata. First night will be camping and from there on we will stay at several wilderness camps.
Just worked on the 130 Land Rover, needed a new tail pipe. As it’s minus zero I’ve been wearing 3 layers of clothes! No pictures of this maintenance job as it has been way too cold!
Land Rover spare parts are getting very cheap now with the Pound / Euro rate close to 1:1. Cheers Marco.
My favorite spare parst shop: Paddocks Shipping costs to The Netherlands 5 Pound per parcel up to 30kg’s. Due to the cheap rates I’ve been ordering complete doors in the past….
Kubu Island (Makgadikgadi Salt Pans) Botswana, it’s one of the most beautiful places in Botswana. This rocky outcrop int the middle of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans covered with surrealistic Baobab trees should be visited by everybody travelling 2 Botswana! If you are keen to read more about the Kalahari Desert and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans just read the book ‘Kalahari Life’s variety in dune and delta’ by Michael Main. Although the book is a little bit ‘old’ (first published back in 1987) it does supply you with very interesting info on the pans and the way the were created millions of years ago! e.g. the water now poring down the Victoria Falls once filled up the Kalahari! The salt pans being the last bit drying up.
Some Kubu Island pictures, first one 1995 my old Landy & with clients camping at the big Baobab, the second one 2007, my last visit to Kubu (so far).
Tongasabi Safaris visting Kubu Island: Botswana Adventure Trail
Just some good old Botswana Land Rover pictures! It’s my Series Land Rover on the Maun 2 Sepupa road, the wheel almost came off! Probably a loose wheel bearing causing the hub to over heat and break the axle shaft. But within 24 hours back on the road with 2nd hand replacement parts! As you can see on the first image I did cut off the 2nd door (1st door can be divided as standard on a Series Landy) to increase visibility for the 2nd row passengers.
The third image is another break down, all rear spring blades broken! It did happen in Chobe National Park, Botswana. As a bush repair I did use the ground anchor and some straps to secure the rear axle. This repair did last all the way from Chobe National Park to my base in Harare (Zimbabwe).
Some images of my ‘new’ 1965 Land Rover S2a SWB, just imported from the United Kingdom. The 9th Land Rover so far! Still 3 up and running, one Td5 in SA and one 130 in Holland.
