Words and Images by Mick McDonald

We dragged ourselves away from the stunning Dead Valley Resort, scoffed home-made apple pies at Solitaire, crossed the Tropic of Capricorn, and reached the wild Atlantic coast by mid-afternoon, allowing us time to explore the “big smoke” again after so many nights of utter isolation. 

Riding further north, we rode the many gravel roads that criss-cross Namibia, stopping enroute to offload some clothes and blankets to the wonderful Himba & Herero women who eke out an existence, selling handicrafts to passing tourists, in an incredibly harsh environment. We asked these women, last year, what they most needed and fulfilled our promise we made to them. 

A magnificent day was finished off at the incredible Vingerkilp, a landscape very reminiscent of Monument Valley in the US. We clambered up a sheer 200mt rock face, via a series of stairs, where we watched a magnificent sunset and had an amazing dinner at a restaurant stunningly located at the very top of the escarpment, we breathed in Africa and tried to take it all in, the three quarter moon illuminated the surrounding landscape that only added to the experience 

The world renown Etosha National Park was next on the ride with a day off to enjoy the quintessential African experience, a safari.  It didn’t disappoint as we saw elephant, black rhino, giraffe, endless antelope etc before celebrating a birthday with sundowners as we watched the African sun dip below the horizon, bringing to close another magnificent day in this alluring continent. 

We entered the former gun running corridor, during the Angolan war, known as the Caprivi Strip and enjoyed a breathtaking safari at Lianshulu Game Lodge located inside the Mudumu National Park, that had us watching the African sun dip below the horizon as a herd of elephant were perfectly silhouetted as they drank from the river, it was absolutely stunning and surely must be one of life’s great experiences. 

Crossing into Botswana we visited the legendary Chobe National Park where we enjoyed a sundowner’s cruise aboard our private boat. Being on a boat allowed us to get incredibly close to elephant, crocs, hippos and water buffalo.

Before we knew it, we had crossed into Zimbabwe and arrived at our final destination of Victoria Falls staying at one of the world’s most iconic hotels The Victoria Falls Hotel, walking its hallways is like walking through the storybook of history, a more fitting final destination would be hard to find.

While Charley & Ewen are filming the Long Way Up in South America we enjoyed the very best of Africa, an alluring continent that gets under your skin and the only guarantee is that you will want to come back again and again.

We will be at it again next year with Charley, fresh from his latest film so don’t miss your chance to be amongst the very first riders to hear about his latest documentary with his great mate Ewan McGregor

For more details our African Adventures please visit: http://www.compassexpeditions.com/tours-by-location/africa/

http://www.compassexpeditions.com/tours-by-location/africa/

and to be among the first to hear about the 2020 Charley Boorman African Adventure tours email info@compassexpeditions.com