Day 4: Verneukpan to Augrabies

We awoke with red crusts around our eyes and mouths. It felt like we had been living outside for a week or more. No longer did we have to wonder how their entire campsite gained its red coating. The wind was still there but fortunately a lot less strong. It was cold. We boiled water in the bathroom for tea and rusks. A few drops fell but we left before it started raining.

Heading north towards Kenhardt, we again had to pass through a couple of farm gates before reaching the R27. Just outside the town we hit the rain and decided to stop at a coffee shop. We had strong black coffee and some sweet breads offered by the proprietor, who’s appetite for chatting with us seemed to match our desire for the nice hot food and drink and escaping the freezing cold outside.

From Kenhardt we continued north to Keimoes where we turned left on the N14 towards Kakemas. There we refuelled at the Engen (Hugo hopes to earn some ebucks) and then checked out the campsite at Die Mas (van Kakemas). It was still cold and some of us wanted a warm night’s rest. We asked to see one of their chalets and at R370 per person we almost accepted it. That however gave us the idea to just search for a cheaper guesthouse.

After a quick online search, we found Kleinbegin Augrabies. They offered a room for three at R645 so we booked and took off to Augrabies.

The Kleinbegin Augrabies is a newly built guesthouse with 5 rooms next to each other, each fully equipped with private bathroom. There’s even free firewood and braai stands. After taking proper showers without having to walk over sand again we felt ready for the next leg of our trip.

For dinner we braai’d chicken and braaibroodjies and opened a Werda beetroot salad.

Salmon, the owner told us that with a 4×4 like ours we should go to Riemvasmaak. Despite us being at Augrabies before we’ve never heard of Riemvasmaak. Hugo thus did some research on the 4x4community.co.za website and a route was devised. Riemvasmaak is a remote town across the Orange River just 15km as the crow flies, but 45km by road via Blouputs.