Nikki In Africa... South Africa: 2010

I can hardly believe that it's March already! The past two months has flown past so so quickly... it's kinda scary when I realize that my first uni assignments are due this week and exams are practically around the corner!

My new job (the one I started in January) is going really well - I'm learning lots and lots everyday, and working very hard :-) You can read about my adventures on my other blog...

Other than that there is nothing really new or interesting in my life, basically just work, study, eat and sleep. My roommate is getting married at the beginning of April, so she has moved out and took her TV with her - I am all alone in a quiet appartment now :-( LOL! They did however give me a whole bag full of books to make up for taking the TV, so I am keeping myself entertained with reading instead of movies... but it's just not quite the same is it?

Till next time!

I decided I wanted a New Years with a difference and so was born the 'great adventure'! I had read in a magazine earlier the year about kayaking on the Orange River and had wanted to go ever since then, but never had the time or anyone that would go with me, until I randomly mentioned it to my roommate and she said "OK, lets do it!" Wooohooo!

We called the number in the magazine early the next morning and was told that the next trip was over New Years - in 2 weeks- and yes they still had 2 places open!

It was so exciting planning for the trip. Everything we took had to firstly fit into the kayak, but more importantly had to be waterproof and any trash we made we had to take with us. So planning what we were going to eat was fairly important.

The article suggested that we portion the food into ziploc baggies and label them for each day. So we did just that! We didnt have a little gas cooker to take with us, so we planned to cook supper over a fire each night (vacuum packed steaks, vacuum packed veggies in foil and some breadrolls to make grilled garlic rolls!), breakfast just required boiling water (oatso easy and coffee) and lunch was bread/ crackers, cheese and biltong. For snacks we had energy bars, wine gums, crisps and of course more biltong!

The prepacked ziploc baggies

The starting point was in Hopetown, about 120km south of Kimberley - pretty much in the middle of SA. The drive down was about 8hours. And we were booked into a nice guesthouse called 'Frieda's B&B'.

The trip was 4 days, 3 nights on the river - from Dec 31st - Jan 3rd.

Welcome to Hopetown!

Crossing the Orange River

Me and the magazine that inspired the whole trip

Liz and I on the river

Each day we rowed about 15km, just a few hours, and very much within our means fitness wise! I loved the quietness, the beautiful scenery - we even saw a few fish eagles! Gorgeous.

All the kayaks - we were 16 on the trip

Night 1 - Old Years Eve: Making a fire to cook supper.

It POURED with rain the first night - we were standing with tarps over the fire to keep it dry, but we were soaked! After the food was cooked we retired to our tiny tent to eat and with the howling wind shaking the tent we went to bed at about 8pm :-) Happy New Year!

Day 2: Packing the Kayak (aka: trying to get everything to fit again)

A rapid. They look a lot more impressive from inside the kayak!

Hell's Gate. A waterfall/ rapid that we couldnt shoot.

Portaging around Hell's Gate

Everyone said that 'You havnt really kayaked until you've tipped', so I guess I can say "We HAVE kayaked!" Shortly after this portage Liz and I hit a rock and tipped over. It was kinda scary getting the splash cover off and getting out the kayak. Liz headed straight to shore and left me to rescue the kayak and paddles. Swimming across a strong current with a dead weight with another rapid looming was not the easiest but I made it to the eddy and dragged my weary body onto the rocks. Then the tiring job of pumping the water out of the kayak started. Liz and I both had huge bruises on our thighs were the kayak had hit us when we bailed - so we can say with pride "Been there, have the bruises!"