Cape Town to Victoria Falls.

We made it to Cape Town completely exhausted. I slept like a baby that night and it was another early start the following morning.

The plan was to make it into Botswana and spend a night there beofre crossing into Zimbabwe.

Setting off from Melville, J'burg.





Stopped for lunch at an Irish pub in Thabazimbi.













Some shots from my helmet camera as we left our lunch stop. We had realised we wouldn't make it into Botswana that day so we were heading for Lephalale, a small town close to the border.




Checking we all had enough fuel to make it to Lephalale which was about 100km away.



We made it to Lephalale, fuelled up and asked some locals about accommodation options. First place we went to look at was a bit dodgy so we went on to the next suggestion.

We struck it lucky with this place. Lovely, lovely place and a massive discount to boot.










The next morning we set off early once again. We had two border posts to get through and we needed to be in Bulawayo before night nightfall.
So a quick breakfast later, we set off for Groblers Bridge border post.









We didn't anticipate the three and a half hour wait at the border. We'd hope we'd be through within an hour. The customs officials on th Botswana side were so rude and unhelpful and were ever so slow. There was a long queue of traders crossing back into Botswana from SA who had to declare every single item they had and so we too were held up. Most annoying. No amount of bribery and flattery worked.
So we had to simply sit around and wait our turn.


Boredom at the border.







Then at last we were free to enter Botswana.



Bye bye border

Smashing photos Mel! You look amazing, you world hopper you

So do you own that beamer now then? Or was it just on loan? And did you have to apply for a million visas? Can't wait to catch up with ya


By the way, I'm heading over Castleford way tomorrow, don't suppose you'd be about?

Great pics Mel and glad you had a lovely time

[Bluepete]

Mel, you are a very, very lucky lady!

That pic of you in front of the border crossing sign says it all. Huge smile, looking good.

More pics please.

Pete

[hindle8907]

kool pics looks amazing

[Geodude]

Originally Posted by melody

What a great place to ride, i'll have to do somthing like that one day. Whats the sign mean, No ferrero roche?

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

Smashing photos Mel! You look amazing, you world hopper you

So do you own that beamer now then? Or was it just on loan? And did you have to apply for a million visas? Can't wait to catch up with ya


By the way, I'm heading over Castleford way tomorrow, don't suppose you'd be about?

Thanks Maria.

I didn't need any visas, but these are easily obtainable at the border if needed.

Looking forward to catching up with you too.

Originally Posted by Geodude

What a great place to ride, i'll have to do somthing like that one day. Whats the sign mean, No ferrero roche?

LOL. Not sure but I think it means 'no street hawkers'

Originally Posted by hindle8907

kool pics looks amazing

Thanks. It is an amazing place to ride through.

Originally Posted by Bluepete

Mel, you are a very, very lucky lady!

That pic of you in front of the border crossing sign says it all. Huge smile, looking good.

More pics please.

Pete

Thanks Pete.

More pictures coming up.

Originally Posted by Speedy Claire

Great pics Mel and glad you had a lovely time

Thanks Claire. I did have a really lovely time.

We entered Botswana about 12.30, had a quick bite and made our way to Francistown in order to get to Plumtree border post. We used the main road that runs between Gaborone and Francistown, all completely tarred.

Fuel stop. Bruce was the only one that had managed to get some Pulas so we were all able to fill up our tanks.





I set up my helmet camera here as there wouldn't be time to stop for photos.



Veterinary services control point. We passed through quite a few of these.





Approaching Francistown at about 15.10 hrs. We still had another 100km to get to the border. The sun sets by 18.00 and we certainly didn't fancy riding in the dark.














Police road block just outside Francistown.





Then mad dash to the border.






We made it to the border at 16.30.



The customs officials in Zimbabwe were fantastic. We were all done and dusted within the hour and were free to enter Zimbabwe, land of my birth. It was 17.30 and Bulawayo was 120km away. We still needed to find accommodation. Or we could all just turn up at my mum's house and give her a most delightful shock.

[Richie]

Good grief girl, you've been busy yet again.
:0) Very cool trip.

looks brill melody, can't wait for the rest.