So our Put Foot Rally 2013 was drawing to an end, but we had two nights before we were to meet up with the rest of the crews who had gone on to Malawi and were also by now, making their way south wards towards Palapye in the Southern part of Botswana and the venue for the final checkpoint party.
Once again the Mav’s had done the research and found us a place to stay for the night and we left Maun in the direction of Makgadigadi Adventure Camp “right near” Lethlekane. After a day of driving through donkey and goat territory we got to Lethlekane and phoned the manager of the camp as instructed – “no problem” he said, “we are only 168km from Lethlekane on a dirt road. The sun was about to set. And, of course, we were driving our beloved Lulu. This was not happening. We decided to look around town for some accommodation. Not a lot was happening. After getting the run around here and there – Amy and Guy came back and said they’d met the nicest man in Botswana. His motel was full, but he said we could camp at the bottom of the parking lot under a lapa. Happy just to have a safe place to put our heads down, tents went up, the girls cooked up another fantastic dinner and we headed over to the bar for a few cold beers.
Once again the Mav’s had done the research and found us a place to stay for the night and we left Maun in the direction of Makgadigadi Adventure Camp “right near” Lethlekane. After a day of driving through donkey and goat territory we got to Lethlekane and phoned the manager of the camp as instructed – “no problem” he said, “we are only 168km from Lethlekane on a dirt road. The sun was about to set. And, of course, we were driving our beloved Lulu. This was not happening. We decided to look around town for some accommodation. Not a lot was happening. After getting the run around here and there – Amy and Guy came back and said they’d met the nicest man in Botswana. His motel was full, but he said we could camp at the bottom of the parking lot under a lapa. Happy just to have a safe place to put our heads down, tents went up, the girls cooked up another fantastic dinner and we headed over to the bar for a few cold beers.
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The next morning we packed up camp in new record time and left the armpit of Botswana, Lethlekane, and drove with speed the short distance to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. The thought of camping in a reserve, especially set up for the protection of rhinos was, of course right up our ally.
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a fantastic place. There is a healthy population of white rhino in the reserve and several black rhino too. We settled in and relaxed for the afternoon and went for a late afternoon drive and sundowner. We hadn’t driven too far and came across a crash of white rhinos. This was brilliant. We are all extremely passionate about rhinos and about the terrible slaughter that they have found themselves caught up in. We left this group after some good viewing and moved on to a hide for a drink. On our way we saw another group of about 4 way in the distance but moving towards a large pan. We had a quick beer and drove around the pan hoping to catch up with this other group.
When we rounded the edge of the pan we were treated to a magnificent site – 4 rhinos jostling with each other and frolicking around the edge of the pan, kicking up a red cloud of dust just as the sun was setting over the Kalahari scrub. This was amazing. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to (nearly) end our trip around Southern Africa, raising awareness for these majestic creatures. Quite quietly we made our way back to camp – I think we all quietly new we’d just had the most memorable sighting of our trip.
After a very windy night in the Khama Rhino Sanctuary all that remained was for us to drive the short distance to Palapye and to meet up with the other teams again and for the long awaited Final Checkpoint Party!
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a fantastic place. There is a healthy population of white rhino in the reserve and several black rhino too. We settled in and relaxed for the afternoon and went for a late afternoon drive and sundowner. We hadn’t driven too far and came across a crash of white rhinos. This was brilliant. We are all extremely passionate about rhinos and about the terrible slaughter that they have found themselves caught up in. We left this group after some good viewing and moved on to a hide for a drink. On our way we saw another group of about 4 way in the distance but moving towards a large pan. We had a quick beer and drove around the pan hoping to catch up with this other group.
When we rounded the edge of the pan we were treated to a magnificent site – 4 rhinos jostling with each other and frolicking around the edge of the pan, kicking up a red cloud of dust just as the sun was setting over the Kalahari scrub. This was amazing. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to (nearly) end our trip around Southern Africa, raising awareness for these majestic creatures. Quite quietly we made our way back to camp – I think we all quietly new we’d just had the most memorable sighting of our trip.
After a very windy night in the Khama Rhino Sanctuary all that remained was for us to drive the short distance to Palapye and to meet up with the other teams again and for the long awaited Final Checkpoint Party!
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As the teams rolled in to iThumela Camp after miles and miles of driving and the most awesome times with friends – it was time to reunite with teams we hadn’t seen for the good part of a week. And ………….. time to blow a new A*$@ hole in Palapye!! Although we were now miles from the Mozambique coast and well within a land-locked country, the pirate party theme was a hit and there were beards, scars, eye-patches, pirate-hats, bushy eyebrows and hooks everywhere! After nearly three weeks on the road with stories to last a lifetime and friendships made to do the same, this party rocked hard!
Ask any Put-Footer about the experience they have just had and I bet most will find it hard to put it into words. So much has happened in the last few weeks. Getting to the start line. The sheer excitement of registration day and meeting fellow put-footers at camps bay ahead of the rally. The absolute buzz at the start; all of us thinking about the 18 days of unknown adventure that lay ahead. Driving though the streets of Cape Town at sunrise, hooting at everyone, people waving back at our ’73 wagon and giving the thumbs up – an emotional moment for the men in the D-Tours Combi. The long roads and interesting conversations. Driving into camps in between the checkpoints and bumping into fellow Put-Footers. The spirit of the rally was unmatchable and the camaraderie unbelievable.
The annual Put Foot Rally is unique and it brings together like-minded people. Adventurous philanthropists are given the opportunity to travel around Southern Africa, whilst raising money or awareness for causes close to their hearts. It’s an opportunity to get out to the places we always talk about –but seldom get to see. It’s about friendships. Sharing the experiences with good mates. But also about finding new friends – people from your own hometowns, meeting for the first time.
It’s about our Continent. It’s about our people. Africa is bedded deep within our souls. It is so much more than a place. It is a part of each of us and always will be. (Pete – we’re also talking about you too! We know you’re really an African trapped in a Kiwis body.)
I think I speak for all the men on the D-Tours team, when I say that I think it’s going to be hard not to relive those memories and think back to an epic journey of a lifetime when we hear those first few drumbeats of the song that became synonymous with Lulu driving into a campsite at sunset – Toto’s “Africa”.
The annual Put Foot Rally is unique and it brings together like-minded people. Adventurous philanthropists are given the opportunity to travel around Southern Africa, whilst raising money or awareness for causes close to their hearts. It’s an opportunity to get out to the places we always talk about –but seldom get to see. It’s about friendships. Sharing the experiences with good mates. But also about finding new friends – people from your own hometowns, meeting for the first time.
It’s about our Continent. It’s about our people. Africa is bedded deep within our souls. It is so much more than a place. It is a part of each of us and always will be. (Pete – we’re also talking about you too! We know you’re really an African trapped in a Kiwis body.)
I think I speak for all the men on the D-Tours team, when I say that I think it’s going to be hard not to relive those memories and think back to an epic journey of a lifetime when we hear those first few drumbeats of the song that became synonymous with Lulu driving into a campsite at sunset – Toto’s “Africa”.
"THE ROAD GOES ON FOREVER AND THE PARTY NEVER ENDS" - Robert Earl Keen.
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