We all have these photos … throwback photos!

It’s described as ‘nostalgia-inducing pictures … from a different era of your life”.

Every Thursday we will throw a few photos of ‘way back when’ on our blog. Why on a Thursday? Because it’s just a day away from the weekend … and we love weekends!

You are welcome to join in or just enjoy the photos (#TB Thursday).

May/June 2016 – West Coast and Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfronteir Park, South Africa

This was the last day we would see the ocean, because we were now on our way to the Orange River.

After a few days of misty and windy conditions we woke up to a bright and sunny day in Hondeklip Bay.

Early morning view from our cottage

For the first time in a week we drove on a tarred road again (and a brand new one it turned out). That still didn’t mean we had any traffic – it was basically just the two of us on the long straight road.

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere

Kleinzee:

It was quite strange to drive into Kleinzee, a small town on the West Coast. In earlier years it was a closed company town and no one was allowed in the town without a valid permit as it was known for its diamond mining operations. But the company, De Beers, closed down in the early 2000s and now anyone can come and go. The security gates were still there before we entered the town, but with no security guards.

Security gates at Kleinzee

McDougall’s Bay:

Our next stop was at McDougall’s Bay. Here is a collection of seaside cottages, houses and a campsite. Berto has fond memories of McDougall’s Bay. When he was a little boy, their family liked to come here during the December summer holidays.

Berto on the same beach he enjoyed when he was just a little boy

Alexander Bay:

The last town we approached, before entering the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfronteir Park, was Alexander Bay. This town is located in the extreme north-west of South Africa, on the border of Namibia and where I grew up. I was only a few months old when my parents moved here and I left Alexander Bay with Berto a year after we got married. So, it was my hometown for a whopping 25 years.

On the way to my old hometown

I remembered this road so well

Like Kleinzee, Alexander Bay was also a closed diamond mining town. I previously worked for the mining company Alexkor, as editor of the local newspaper and as a tour guide in the diamond mine until 1997. Mining activities were drastically reduced in the early 2000s and the town is now open to visitors.

Welcoming sign

As we drove through the town, we relived many moments. I went to primary school here, got my first job here, we got married here and made lifelong friends … Alexander Bay will always have a special place in my heart. We visited friends who still live here. It was nice to have a cup of coffee and chat before we moved on.

However, there was one place I wanted to see before we left Alexander Bay – the last house where I stayed with my parents before Berto and I got married. Of course, it no longer looked the same as when I lived there. My late father was very proud of the garden and had the most beautiful roses. I cherish the fond memories I have of Alexander Bay.

Our last home in Alexander Bay

On the way to the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfronteir Park we drove past one of the most famous trees in this area, the quiver tree. They are reminiscent of a wilder Africa, where only the toughest survive.

Quiver Tree

Just before entering the park, we stopped under a tree (not a quiver tree). The road was badly corrugated and we just had to catch our breath for a moment.

Take a break from the worst road so far on our road trip

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfronteir Park:

This park was formed in 2003 by combining the Namibian Ai-Ais Hot Springs Wildlife Park and the South African Richtersveld National Park. We entered the park at Sendelingsdrift and drove just 15km (9 miles) to our first campsite, Potjiespram.

Our view of the Orange River at Potjiespram

It was a day full of emotions. We visited places that are very near and dear to our hearts. The only thing left for us to do was to make a fire.

A fire in our beloved Richtersveld

We ended our first night in the park on a high note. While we were sitting by the fire, a genet (“muskeljaatkat”) appeared from the bushes and ate a piece of meat that had fallen on the ground earlier. They are highly agile and have quick reflexes, but we managed to take a few photos before he/she disappeared back into the bushes. Berto whispered several times: “This is amazing”. To this day, when someone uses the word “amazing”, we laugh and think of that night in the Richtersveld Park.

The “amazing” genet

We apologise for a very long TB Thursday post. It was an incredibly fun trip down memory lane! In next week’s TB Thursday we show you more of this lovely park.