Leg 88, Pomfret, South Africa via Namibia to Hondeklip Bay, South Africa
DAY11_18.PLN (11.9 KB)
Up early, long flight with too many great sights. Western Africa continues to deliver.
11-18 Pomfret FAPQ 3:44 AM
11-18 Tshabong Airport FBTF 4:07 AM
11-18 Black Rock FABP 4:21 AM
11-18 Kathu FAHZ 4:29 AM
11-18 Sishen FASS 4:43 AM
11-18 Tommy’s Field FATF 4:57 AM
11-18 Groblershoop Airport FAGU 5:19 AM
11-18 Groblershoop Airport FAGZ 5:28 AM
11-18 Groblershoop Airport FAGB 5:32 AM
11-18 Groblershoop Airport FAGP 5:38 AM
11-18 Uppington Intl FAUP 5:58 AM
11-18 Kakamas FAOO 6:19 AM
11-18 Augrabies FALG 6:29 AM
11-18 Kakamas FAOP 7:02 AM
11-18 Rietfontein FYKS 7:23 AM
11-18 Aroab B FYAB 7:34 AM
11-18 Keetmanshoop FYKT 8:16 AM
11-18 Bethanien FYBC 8:45 AM
11-18 Aus Airport FYAS 9:10 AM
11-18 Luderitz FYLZ 9:43 AM
11-18 Oranjemund FYOG 10:39 AM
11-18 Alexander bay FAAB 10:43 AM
11-18 Baken Mine FYPK 10:55 AM
11-18 Oranjemund FYPU 11:14 AM
11-18 Aussenkehr FYAK 11:18 AM
11-18 Port Nolloth FYND 11:31 AM
11-18 Haklesdoorn FYWA 11:47 AM
11-18 Nababiep FASV O’Okiep copper mine 12:11 PM
11-18 Springbok FAUC 12:18 PM
11-18 Buffels River FATO 12:27 PM
11-18 Kleinsee FAKZ 12:37 PM
11-18 Koingnaas FATY 12:54 PM
11-18 Hondeklip Bay FAGE 12:59 PM Barely visible
Flight time 9:15 32 stops
First a couple iron mines, Kathu Mine
No good height data so it’s just the shadows on the aerial images providing ‘depth’
Tshipi Borwa Mine, next to the many iron ore mines, this one mines maganese
Sishen iron ire mine, huge. Sishen represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in South Africa
Exiting the iron ore belt towards Groblershoop
The desert landscape is still as varied and colorful as anywhere along the Western coast
Uppington, founded 1873 on the banks of the Orange river
Kakamas, orginally known as Bassonsdrif, founded 1898 for the easy location to cross the river
A lot of farms along the Orange river
Augrabies Falls National Park
Awesome falls there, maybe one day in game as well
Another farm tucked away along the Orange river
Riemvasmaak where you can enjoy the hot springs
One of those termite mound micro ecosystems along the way
There are more than 1,000 different species of termites in Africa.
Near Aroab, now flying over Namibia
On the way to Keepmanshoop
The height data is lacking hence the odd look. It’s just shadows on the source data
Different patterns, colors, transitions, this landscape never gets boring
RIngs like a tree
Almost at Keetmanhoop
Nothing there, continue on to Bethanien
Time to descent a bit, leaving the plateau behind on the way to the coast
Gurib river, so dry near the coast
Bethanien is one of the oldest settlements in Namibia, not much to see on Google though. Thus onwards to Aus following route B4, parallel to the railroad
Still a couple plateau pieces left sticking out
Aus, midway between the mountains and the Atlantic ocean
Ground view in Aus, the railway line and airport
Continuing on to Luderitz
My crew can barely hold their excitement on this colorful tour
Approaching Luderitz, Atlantic ocean in sight
Luderitz. The town is on the coast
In Luderitz you can visit the left over ghost town Kolmanskop
Onwards to Alexander Bay
I don’t think I want to meet the dinosaur that made these hoof prints
Oranjemund DIamond mine. There are a lot of diamond mines along the coast
Oranjemund mine also has (one of) the largest mining vehicle graveyards
Pretty cool mining rig on the lower left, I’ve never seen that before
Alexander Bay, to stick to the theme of decay
Alexander Bay, South Africa is just across from Oranjemund, Namibia, separated by the Orange river
Auchas diamond mine along the Orange river
Crossings the mountains leading to Aussenkehr Nature Reserve
Aussenkehr
There is a Quiver tree forest here. I have never heard of these trees before
On the way to Kotzenshoop
Crossing the Orange river again on the way to Haklesdoorn
Okiep Copper mine in Nababeep. It used to be the richest copper mine in the 1870s
Springbok
Buffulsbank mine producing Tungsten
Between Kleinsee and Koingnaas, almost dark
Last stop today is in Hondeklip (meaning dog stone, named after a rock on the beach)
The wreck of the Aristea rests here
