This and that

Another day and then we say goodbye to the southernmost countries; South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Three relatively prosperous nations. Occasionally we forget that we are in Africa. We are happy to share a few impressions of the trip.

supermarkets
The supermarkets are well stocked. Unilever has conquered a considerable market here. Freshly baked bread and reliable meat every day. In Namibia a parking guard would like to have our old bread. He eats the cuts leaning against a lamppost. That makes a deep impression on us. Then we make people more happy with food and drink. The former German colony has the least prosperity of the three southern African countries.

Eat in remote areas
"What are you already eating?" Asks a dear friend. On the breakfast table there is bread with savory spreads (Onno) and jam (Ingrid). Onno makes tea and coffee from the Italian percolator. With the espresso we enjoy a block of dark chocolate, stored in the fridge. On the driving days we have planned to turn the seats off and have a relaxing lunch. The temperature makes this plan impossible. Sitting outside with 40 degrees, with hardly any shade, is anything but relaxed. We get no further than to eat a spread sandwich out of hand. Because we drive through remote areas for several days, canned vegetables are practical for dinner. And onions. They survive bouncing in the warm kitchen drawer, peppers not. Fresh farm sausage can always be found in the fridge. Onno turns the contents into hamburgers, Italian ragout or just baked sausage.

Fuel
Bad diesel can turn the engine into a nail machine, as happened to us in the winter of Siberia. The standardized gas stations, such as Shell and Engen, deliver high-quality diesel. If present. Because 'sold out' is sold without blinking. Then wait for the tanker. "Always refuel if possible"; this motorcycle takes the traveler far. The diesel improver stays in the supply box until Zambia. The built-in water filter on the fuel line could only spit out one drop during service.

Drinking water
In contrast to diesel, good drinking water is much harder to find. We fill the water tanks at lodges, which are built on top of a natural spring. In Botswana, drinking tap water is not recommended anywhere. This brings smart entrepreneurs to a new business model. Sell ​​purified water. After an investment in proper purification, they earn money like water. Provided the marketing is good. In Francistown we find such a new company, Perfectwater, after many questions. Hidden in a corner of a business park. We spontaneously offer to put the location of the company on the iOverlander app. The friendly manager insists on giving the water for free.

Maintenance
During our travels we demand a lot from the G. In return we take good care of him. Such as the best available fuel. And an 10.000 km service at an official Mercedes Benz dealer. We can now assess the service of dealers on different continents. Observing the cultural differences in the countries through the car industry. The common denominator is that the dealer's employees see the G for the first time. The customer is not allowed anywhere in the garage, but Onno ultimately succeeds everywhere. He is the only one with the specific knowledge of this exotic car.
To reassure us, the workplace chef in Francistown has business knowledge. Although they do not sell G, they do maintain the old military SUVs from Mercedes. All service parts are even in stock, with the exception of the air filter. It is in our supply box, supplied by our dealer in The Hague (thanks to Flint). The day before the turn the air filter light came on. The timing couldn't be better. The fine sand of 8.000 km of off-road driving has fully nestled itself in the filter, causing the engine to have insufficient air. Turning off the permanent warning light on the dashboard is the biggest challenge on this turn. Sticking black tape on it, as is sometimes done in the end, is not our preference. The chef and Onno struggle through the diagnosis computer a number of times. On Saturday morning for the last time. Successfully, everything is fine. The G can hit the road again. We are full of praise for this dealer, who sells the new cars for Western prices.

Dry, dry and even more dry
Throughout southern Africa, the weather, or actually the drought, is the talk of the day. "Dryest since 80 year, never been so dry 5 year in succession." Physically noticeable due to the migration of the elephants from West to East. In Namibia, the rangers report that the elephants have left for Botswana. In Botswana the manager of the Lodge says that the large mammals have traveled to Zimbabwe. Water sources in the national parks are in better order there. The woman claims that another dry year will follow. You can see that from the absence of pregnancies at the Wildlife. Interesting fact, but I have not been able to objectify it.

Flight plan ready
We have never felt unsafe among people in the three countries. Except that one time; stranded with bad luck on the N7 in South Africa. The South Africans are concerned about safety during our travel route. "Isn't that plan dangerous?" They often ask us. In this African-speaking country, many whites are working on Plan B to leave the country. In case the situation for uncoloured people further deteriorates. In Botswana people live comfortably together. Only after an hour of shopping in a mall, without Onno, I notice it. All along I have been the only white head among dark people. The skin color does not matter. Possibly explained by prosperity? The Botswanese have the highest Gross National Product per inhabitant of all countries where we pass. The white workplace chief of Mercedes-Benz has already exchanged South Africa for Botswana. To the quality of life. It is hard to imagine seeing a future in your home country.

Tiny House
For this trip we put our household in a car. About eight square meters in which our lives take place. Even a resident of a country in a mobile Tiny House. We have to manage in all kinds of circumstances. That makes the experiences more intense. Thanks to all the encounters with people, our journey gets more depth. We fully enjoy.

An exciting final day in Botswana
I don't see it coming. That is not strange, he walks past my back. One elephant of 6.000 kilo that hardly makes any noise while walking, that is remarkable. Similar to the footsteps of a person, as if he is wearing slippers. We are at the first rank at the water source of our last campsite in Botswana: Elephant Sands. Elephants come to drink from here. On a trot, as soon as the animals smell the water on the wide approach route.
This elephant takes a shortcut across the campsite. He walks through my chair and the brick BBQ, about half a meter away from me. An impressive large and dark colossus right next to me. The skin folds visible from close by, are wave swinging back and forth. No idea if he is scared of me, I am of him. I shoot out of my seat like a javelin. The elephant looks back; what's happening over there? His mate behind him, does not trust my promotion and moves to the other side of the BBQ. The camping guests, who are watching us at a distance with bated breath, raise their thumbs. That ends well. An incredible experience. The footprints in the sand next to my chair prove that it really took place.

That evening another surprise awaits us. The leaders of two herds argue about the drinking turn. The loser rushes to the campsite, stops a stone's throw from the G with us next to it. For a moment it looks like he has forgotten his opponent. The big beast looks straight at us. His white slaughtering teeth protruding, the big ears flapping. In a hurry we both look for cover behind a nearby open door of the G. Then the elephant drips off, back to the water. Relieved, we toast with white wine and end our last evening in Botswana with dignity. Off to Zimbabwe!