Verenas + Jans Weltreise » in English

Etosha National park, Namibia

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:46:23 +0000

We spent some time in Walvis Bay, a town on the west coast of Namibia, before I dropped of Marco at the bus station in Swakopmund 30 km north of Walvis Bay. He had to catch his plane to Cape Town to meet his mother to do Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the Garden Route together before he flew to visit the Gorillas in Ruanda and some other places in East Africa.
A few days later, Bigfoot was repaired again and I drove to Windhoek to catch my uncle at the airport. We wanted to discover the north and northwestern parts of Namibia.
First we headed to Etosha National park in the north.
Etosha, meaning ‘place of dry water’, is centered underneath a huge, flat calcrete salt pan of about 5,000 square kms in extent in far north Namibia. The variety of mammals is amazing and the big advantage is that the park can be discovered by self driving even without a 4WD. Etosha is one of Africa’s major wildlife sanctuaries, being a game reserve since 1907 and covering an area of more than 22 750 sq km. 3 camps are located in the park. Okaukuejo in the west, near the Andersson Gate, Halali in the middle and Namutoni an old Fort in the eastern part. All three camps provide a waterhole which is illuminated at night. But we had rain season, so all the animals were wide spread all over the park and everything was bushy and green, making the safari more difficult. Once we got stuck in a muddy area, but Jan got out of the car and engaged the four-wheel drive. It was kind of a natural fango package between hartebeests and springboks
But we were lucky to see a lot especially a leopard coming along the road, passing the car in a few meters distance. All images are in “See Us!”

Southwest Namibia

admin — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:29:35 +0000

After we have spent a long time in different parts of South Africa we rushed along the northern roads to Namibia. Namibia is situated in the south western Africa, very dry, with a beautiful landscape. With more as double the size of Germany but having only a population of 2.1 million people Namibia is the least densely populated country in the world after Mongolia. 2.5 inhabitants per square kilometre.

As a former German colony in 1884 and known as “German South-West Africa”, a lot of the street names in Namibia are in German and many people spoke German to us so that it felt sometimes like to be home. However the weather reminded us that we were in a subtropical country, but there are huge differences in climate between the northern and southern parts of the country.
We crossed the border in the south (where only 7% of the population lives) and drove through a remote part of the Namibian land with mountains, dry valleys and gravel roads with thousands of kilometers of fence. Some lodges or farming houses had a 31 km entrance way from the gate to the farm

We went to Fishriver Canyon which is the biggest canyon in Africa and one of the most spectacular canyons in the world. It is a stunning view from the edge even with the knowledge that the Grand Canyon in the U.S. is almost three times deeper. The activities here were limited due to the rain season. The 90 km walk was closed, so was the 4×4-track along the canyon. We had to drive back to Seeheim to get to Lüderitz at the coast. We met Sebastian Süß there. He and his friends established the “Goals connect e.V.”. They bought a preowned 4×4 in England and drove all the way from Germany to Cape Town. On their way they visited a lot of development aid institutions, played soccer with the kids and at the end they donated their car to another institution for kids in Namibia. Here is a post in the (German) Namibian newspaper about their Tour and the car delivery –> to the article
In Lüderitz we visited the old ghost town called Kolmanns Kuppe (Kolmanskop) where the abandoned diamond mine is situated and lots of German miners settled in this area, to collect diamonds just from the sand in the beginning of the 20th century. In these times you could even pay with diamonds in Lüderitzbucht. A 1-carat diamond was worth 3, 50 Mark there and already 28 Mark in Europe. They say that Kolmanns Kuppe was the richest town in Africa during its time of prosperity, but after the last diamonds were found, the diamond-field slowly exhausted and was ultimately abandoned in 1954 when everybody left the town. The southern area around Lüderitz is still “Sperrgebiet” (prohibited area) – most unfortunate for us, because another track through deep sand with Bigfoot was not accessible.
From there we started a long way to Sussusvlei in the Namib Desert, which is considered to be the oldest desert in the world. The temperature rises to 40 °C in the hottest hours of the day and after 10:00 a.m. it was not fun anymore to climb the sand dunes in the valley. We spent almost two days on the campground in the park and took awesome pictures during sunset and sunrise.
On our way out of the desert we had bad luck with the car again: At first the mirror fell off, then the brakes on the back were leaking, after that the handbrake died on us, a few minutes later we realized that the shocks were not working proper anymore and eventually the spare tank which we had fixed with soap before was also leaking again. Instead of camping in the wild we rushed to Walvis Bay to find an accommodation and a cheap work shop.

Verena goes Mozambique

admin — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:02:53 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

When Jan asked Verena about her favorite spot to visit him in Africa, we had two possibilities: To go to rainy Rwanda, climb through the bushes and the trees and crawl after gorillas in a malaria-contaminated jungle OR go to Mozambique lay on the beach, swim through the waves of the Indian Ocean, grill some fresh fish from the sea and get drunk with our friends from South Africa.
Verena obviously went for Mozam
When she arrived at Beira Airport about 750 kms away from the beautiful beaches where our friends were staying, her bag was missing! The bag got lost at the airport in London, never arrived in Johannesburg and Virgin Atlantic had no idea where it was. There was nothing we could do about it, but of course Verena was pissed. We arrived pretty late on the evening of the 27th of December after a horrible long ride through half of Mozam. Our friends were mad with joy when Bigfoot turned into the campsite. We got a lot of hugs, a welcome drink, another welcome drink, a beer, another welcome drink and so on…
Verena got many clothes from our friends and we spent a wonderful week at the beach, Jan went diving, we played lots of games and relaxed at the beach. We wanted to leave on the 3rd of January but Marco did not arrive. Eventually he came in the evening of the 3rd and we could start to Kruger National park in the morning of the 4th. At our gallery (See Us!) you get an idea how beautiful the Mozam beach is and how crazy our friends from SA are – enjoy!

Malawi with “Wisdom, Bratwurst, Miiiriiiaaam & Greed”

admin — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:50:43 +0000

I dropped Marco in Katete at the “Tikondane Project”, stayed with him for one day and then we got separated. I went back to Chipata, because the diff.-oil was still leaking. But the guys at the workshop repaired the leak again without any charge.
I crossed the border to Malawi which was astonishingly easy and took just 15 minutes. The capital, Lilongwe, is just a 45 minutes drive from the border and the travel-bible Lonely Planet said that I had to go to Mabuya Camp Backpackers I met a group of four travelers there; they had finished their study period abroad and traveled through Africa, just as I did in Australia after high school. We said that we might meet again in Cape Mclear, a beautiful spot at Lake Malawi and so we did. We spend some funny two days with drinking games, riddles and other funny jokes there, before I drove them back to Salima, because they wanted to go up to Tansania and I had to be in Mozam to pick up Verena in Beira on the 26th. We got caught by the police and got a ticket for “overloading the vehicle” and had to pay 15 US$, which we negotiated down to 8 Us$.
Thanks guys for a very good time at the lake. I hope, Verena and I will see “Wisdom” in January and the rest during the Orange Queensday on the 30th of April in Amsterdam?

PS: You guys forgot the Lonely Planet “East Africa” in my car; where should I send it to?

Okavango Delta & Moremi Wildlife Reserve

admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:17:22 +0000

After I picked up Marco at Maun International Airport we prepared ourselves for the trip to Moremi and to Chobe National Park. We found out that the park permit was given by government at the Wildlife Reserve and all the campsites in the park were privately owned. Not enough we realized that the park permit for two persons including vehicle was more than 30 Euro per day. The campsite-fee even more! So we decided to get the park permit but camp in the bush. Unfortunately we got detected by a guide. He was not amused but we could leave the park without paying any fine. So we started at 7 am from the north gate in Moremi to the Mababe Gate at Chobe Park. We followed the navigation system but after a while we found ourselves in front of a huge flooded area. We discussed to check how deep the water really was so we drove into the water. Although we could not see any ground or the track we kept on following the way or the direction we thought the way must be, but after 250 meters we entered a deep section. The tires were already completely under water and we were afraid to drown the car. So Jan had this brilliant idea to leave the track and make a move through the under-water-bush around the deep section. Marco agreed but we both did not feel very comfortable with it. We left the track and the water was not as deep as on the way but suddenly the wheels were spinning and every try to get out of the mud brought the car deeper in the mud-hole. We panicked a little because we were in the middle of nowhere in a flooded area with two hippos splashing in the water 200 meters away from our stranded Bigfoot. Jan suggested trying if the winch might be long enough to reach a tree about 15 meters away, so that we pull the car out of the hole to get back on the way. Marco was not happy that someone had to get out of the vehicle into the water but he also saw that there were not many other possibilities. So Jan put on his long pants, pulled the socks over it and jumped out. The water reached to his bum but he bit on the bullet, grabbed the hook and told Marco to pull the winch out with the remote control but the winch did not move a single inch!
Now we were in serious trouble. We got stuck far out in the Delta, where nobody would come along and no way out. We already calculated what we should take with us in case we had to leave the car and try to find the way back to the next lodge crossing herds of elephants, prides of lions and some buffalos. How long can the navigation system survive without charging? Which way to get to the next lodge? How to behave in case of meeting elephants? Jan caught at his last chance; he took the hammer and knocked the hammer against the starter of the winch – and surprise – the winch began to work. So Marco and Jan started to take the steel rope around the tree and together with the winch, Marco could drive the car out of the hole. He changed the gear transmission ratio and got the car back on the place where we assumed the track. This was a lesson for us. We breathed a sigh of relief and drove straight out of the water to the next lodge to ask for the way to Chobe National park. They told us that last year the flood way so high that they had to build a lot of new roads which were not covered by any navigation system. Finally after a 10-hour drive we reached the gate of Chobe National park.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Central Kalahari – the middle of nowhere

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:13:36 +0000

The road sign says “Central Kalarahi 200 m”. The GPS says “Off road”. I engage the 4WD of my Bakkie, take a deep breath and turn left into the middle of nowhere. I passed the last patrol station 250 km ago and the next one is in Maun – 500 km ahead.
It took me 6,5 hours for the last 150 km. I have not seen a single person or another car on the whole way. I am absorbed in thoughts about the range, the car, the GPS and the sandy track. Every 5 minutes I check the level gauge and the motor temperature. I double check the direction with the sunset.
Now I am camping (illegally) at a waterhole in the middle of the Central Kalarahi. A giraffe drinks water from the waterhole and I can hear the lions roaring far away. There is a noise in the bush behind me, but I cannot find out what it is. Maybe another python, like the one I saw yesterday?
I turn around and I can feel that my back is not amused about this 9 hour drive over bumpy tracks.
Anyway I need to get some sleep, it’s already past nine and I will start tomorrow at 5am latest…

Expedition Southern Africa

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:37:08 +0000

Take a cheap flight to Johannesburg, buy a 4×4 and start driving up to Kenya – that was the plan. So I arrived in Jo’burg. Remember Marnus and Hon? The couple Verena and I met at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world – Ko Phi Phi (Island). They are living in Pretoria and offered that I stay a few days, until I had my 4×4, but during the preparation for the trip, it turned out that I underestimated the work, the knowledge, the details and last but not least the South African bureaucracy.
The vehicle: Only a Four Wheel Drive would bring me through the rough dirt roads, also a long range tank, diff-locks, only a Toyota-vehicle, other cars break down easily and I won’t get spare parts all over Africa. The 4×4 should not be too old, but also not too expensive. It wasn’t easy at all. Finally after almost two weeks I found a 19 year old Toyota Hilux at a dealership in Johannesburg. Marnus’ and Hon’s best friends are Chris and Alex. Chris is so to speak crazy about 4x4s. He helped me a lot with all his knowledge about cars tents and bush camping. He recommended a workshop where I spend all day to finish the technical service.
Next big mission: How to register a car on a foreigner’s name? I got documents and documents. My passport, 2 photos, a proof of temporary residency with Marnus and Hon, confirmed by the police station, an electricity and water bill for their house, a bank confirmation about my financial independence and a (fake) return ticket. It is unbelievable but after spending about 8 hours in different queues in Pretoria and in Jo’burg, I am still waiting for my registration. The papers are now on their way to Capetown to get a registration there; in the meantime I am back at the workshop, because the rear differential and the alternator of my Hilux decided to die on me.
Only because of the excellent service of Alex from DriveAfrica (www.driveafrica.co.za) I could get a registration with my name – now I am “living” in Cape Town, but who cares
Next step is a “Carnet de Passage” a document which is required in some African countries, if you want to travel through them.
After all Chris sent me a list of the most important stuff you should take with you. Have a look at this list.In a nutshell you can say that I was a bit hasty to think all those challenges would be met in one or two weeks.
But luckily I was staying at Hon and Marnus even more luckily that they have friends like Chris and Alex. All of them helped me a lot with all their knowledge about the local stores, dealerships, workshops, etc., they took me to all parties, drinking events and barbeques. Now I can tell that South Africans are as hard drinking as Germans are. Next competition will be the Oktoberfest
I am staying here now for three weeks and they make me feel like I could stay another six. Either they are very good actors or we really got along very well
Hopefully the vehicle will be repaired by tomorrow and I can start my trip to Kruger National park.

Cairo, Luxor, Egypt

admin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:13:41 +0000

During my flight research I found out that a lot of flights from Frankfurt to Johannesburg have a stopover in Cairo, Egypt. One of them was landing in Cairo at 9 a.m. but leaving late at 10 p.m. First I had the idea about hopping out of the aircraft in the morning, running up the Pyramids of Giza, coming back to the airport in the evening and fly to Johannesburg. Well, as my Mom heard this, she wanted to come with me. “You have to see the Pyramids once in your lifetime!” We made a whole week out of this one day: five days in Cairo and another two in Luxor…

End of September is a really good time for a holiday in Egypt: It’s still pretty hot, so no peak-season in the Nile-delta and the return-flights were only about 300-400 Euro.
Cairo (القاهرة) is the largest city in entire Africa and the Arab World. The population is about 7 million people in the city and more than 17 million in the urban region of Cairo.
We chose a hotel right in the heart of the city in the neighborhood of Zamalek. From here we discovered the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx which is 60 feet high and more than 220 feet long. We went to the Egyptian Museum with 136.000 exhibits from all over Egypt. We visited the Citadelle, a minimum of 3 mosques and the bazaar (suq) “Khan El-Khalili”. Khan el-Khalili is an ancient huge bazaar, but some of the shops have also their own little factories or workshops.
After a while we got used to the taxi drivers who always try to rip you off. Usually you pay 1 EP (Egyptian Pound) for one minute. This is about 1,40 Euro per 10 minutes. The easiest way is: ask if the driver knows the destination, sit in the back, get the ride, get out of the car, give the driver the “correct” amount of money through the window without talking about the price and disappear
After a few days we got enough of Cairo and I tried to book a flight to Luxor. The price showed by internet offers was affordable, but no way that you could book via internet less than 3 days in advance. So we walked slightly annoyed into a EgyptAir office and SURPRISE, the flight was 60 Euro cheaper!
After we got our tickets we found out that the temperature there was at about 100°F. so we were asked to be careful and stay in the shadow during midday.
In my opinion Luxor is even more amazing than Cairo. To see what people build 3.000 years ago is unbelievable and stunning. The Karnak Temple, the Valley of Kings and the Temple of Hatsepsuth (something like that) are musts on a daytrip. We stayed in the Sofitel Karnak Luxor Hotel Ressort, the best buy in town. The hotel complex is located 3 km from the Karnak Temple, has Nile-view and a huge pool. Taxi to town and back is about 25 EP (3 €) A day trip to the sights is about 100 EP.
We flew back two days later and relaxed the last day, we made some shopping for the kids and after I dropped of my “mummy” at Cairo Airport, I am looking forward to explore the real Africa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo

We are selling our Ford E-150 Cargo Van

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:39:12 +0000

We are done with our trip around North America.
We are selling our always good running

*** 2003 FORD E-SERIES CARGO VAN E150 – for $4,890 ***

Equipped with 4.2 Liter V-6 Engine, 4-Speed Automatic Transmission
EXTRAS:
A/C, Dual Frontal Airbags, ABS Brakes, Passenger Side Sliding Cargo Door, Rear 50/50 Cargo Doors,
Vinyl Interior Seating, AM/FM Stereo Audio incl. CD-Player, Tilt Steering Wheel,
Power Windows, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Rear Cargo Partition Automatic Overdrive Transmission.
Has 231,000 Miles on it. Runs great, Drives Great. No problems. Two brand new tires, new breaks.
There is a storage shelves and a cupboard available. We bought this car three months ago from a dealer in California and travelled through the U.S. with it.
Well maintained, no rust, and great car to drive.
Clean/Clear MI title.

$4,890 Cash only

call Verena or Jan 626-617-5110 or Email: e-mail@jan-peterson.de

click here for more images [click on the image to enlarge it]

[click on the image to enlarge it]

Chicago

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:52:20 +0000

It’s always easier to stay overnight offside the road in the van, if you are away from the big cities. You just drive to a rest area at the highway or to a national forest, park your van, climb in the back and you just sleep. With our queen size mattress and a cozy blanket we always sleep until 9 or 10 a.m. But to stay in a city is different: lots of “no camping” “no overnight parking” or “loading zone” signs. So we asked again some couchsurfers very short-dated. But Will (Phil ) answered immediately. Although he had another request, he offered us a place to stay. He was one of the really friendly hosts. He helped us to find a free parking lot in Chicago and we went out for dinner after we watched the world cup game Mexico vs Argentina. The next day he had to get up pretty early for work but during his lunch break he guided us through half of Chicago. We went up the Hancock Tower to get a stunning view over Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyscrapers.
We needed some maps for our way from Chicago to New York, so Will went to the AAA to get them. But the lady behind the counter could not find his name in the member-database. But she found a Phil. “I can be Phil – for five minutes!” Will said with a big smile on his face and got the maps for us. Will went back to work and we made the rest of downtown. This night we wanted to check out one of the local delicacies: Chicago Pizza – a pizza with a thick dough – very tasty. But how to get there? The bus was just gone and in this neighborhood taxis were very rare. We started to walk until Jan slapt himself on his forehead. “We are so stupid – we have the van!!” he laughed. After two days in the middle of Chicago we totally forgot the van.
The next day we had to leave, because Verenas sister will arrive at JFK airport and before she takes all the money to a five star hotel, we’ll pick her up
Some pics of Chicago are in “See Us!”