Randburg residents Simon Fourie and his son, Donovan, teamed up again for their annual Bike SA Namib Desert Run recently.
“This is the 36th year we’ve set out on the Desert Run,” said Fourie senior, who is the award-winning editor of Bike SA based in Blairgowrie. “It’s not just a rally, it’s a fun filled annual holiday for my son and I, along with fellow adventure riders and their families in some of southern Africa’s most beautiful places.”
Dusty gravel roads, parched red sands and rum-soaked raisins were the order of the day as the adventure commenced.
Motorcyclists, 4×4 enthusiasts and motocross riders congregated at the Red Sands Lodge in Kuruman, in Northern Cape, for the journey.
From Kuruman, the group travelled along the dry river beds of the Molopo River which borders Botswana. Breath taking scenery awaited around every curve of the dusty gravel road. More raisins were dished out, this time by the medic, Quintin Van Rooyen, of all people.
The group then made its way across the Namibian border at the Rietfontein Border Post and passed the Hakskeen Pan on the way. About 20km of the flat salt pan area is being prepared for the land speed record attempt which is planned for 2016 by the Bloodhound Project. The project revolves around building a pencil-shaped supersonic vehicle which will travel at more than 1600kms per hour.
Shortly after leaving the border post, Simon attempted his own personal land speed record on the dirt roads, reaching a staggering 241kms/h on his KTM 1190 Adventure motorcycle.
The trip continued up to Gochas via dirt roads. “We counted 63 dips and inclines on one road,” said an excited first time ‘desert runner’, Tiaan De Jager, who navigated through the entire tour in a small (but strong) white Suzuki Jimny. The group had an overnight stay at Auob Lodge before departing for Windhoek the following day.
From Windhoek, the real excitement settled in as the group travelled further down the escarpment and deeper into the Namib Desert, vegetation growing less and less the further they went. Swakopmund was the final destination on the itinerary, with Walvis Bay also being visited after a long day of riding and playing on Dunes 2 and 7 in the desert. Travellers slowly but surely started travelling back to South Africa thereafter.
“This wasn’t our biggest Desert Run to date,” reckoned Donovan. “ I would also like to add that there were no serious injuries this year, which was a definite bonus!”
Details: Bike SA 011 782 5521
