all this time there still seems to be
some resentment.
We spent a few days here taking a
bus tour around the city encompass-
ing the township of Soweto, Apart-
heid Museum and Constitution Hill,
which were well worth a visit regard-
less of what people say. We even
decided to jump off the bus in down-
town Joburg and have some lunch,
though later we met a local lady at
the laundromat that told us she never
goes downtown at all.
Stopping in Johannesburg also
gave me a chance to service the bike
and purchase a front tyre as I’d dis-
covered later in the trip quality tyres
would be hard to get in Africa.
It was time to leave, we were slowly
making our way in a westerly direc-
tion towards the Namibian border. A
three-day ride across to Upington.
Along the way we stopped at a
small town for some fuel and lunch,
the lady in the café said she was
open, but the menu was limited as
she was closing early for the day.
Apparently, a white farmer had killed
a black worker, the funeral was later
in the day. Trouble was expected in
town.
It was up to us if we wanted to stay,
we were hungry, we ordered, ate and
left promptly.
We wanted to stop at Augrabies
Falls, said to be one of the best in
South Africa. Little rain meant they
were a little disappointing. The
Orange Rover flows through the
area, explaining the acres of citrus
orchards and vineyards. Most of the
produce exported to America and
Europe.
As we rode along the landscape
changed dramatically. Red soil and
camel thorn bush as far as we could
see, like the Australian outback.
We could spot the odd Gazelle and
Springbok grazing on what grass as
available.
Stopping roadside for a break I
spoke to a young lady who said she
had to walk a few kilometres to col-
lect water as she didn’t have a bore.
Her access to water came from the
river or the village handpump. She
explained it cost $400 for a bore and
not many people could afford it.
TRAVERSE 98
We finally arrived in Upington the
last major town before the Namibian
border. South Africa had been great;
the weather and roads were fantastic
for motorcycle riding and the people
were friendly, although I did detect
plenty of animosity between the
racial groups. The country itself has
everything; a great tourism industry
and is very self-sufficient, most items
in the supermarkets were produced
locally.
After riding around South Africa
for a few months I felt we’d become
too comfortable, it was time to move
on to the next African country … SD
Shane Donkin, and wife Marina, are Mel-
bourne (Australia) based world travellers.
Together they've travelled outback
Australia and are now discovering the magic
of Africa. Some of their adventures can be
found at allwaystravel.blogspot