Namibia via Cape Town: by bike, by ship!

Club members took their bikes to Cape Town by train last year to ride the glorius Cape roads and some members are also doing so during September this year.

The club has conducted various types of trips for its members covering the whole country – even to other countries – Mozambique, Botswana…..

Now your club has another ‘trip with a difference’!!

….that will have you “at sea”

….a trip to Namibia – on board a ship!

The RMS St. Helena – the last working mail ship in the world.

http://www.rms-st-helena.com/the-coastal

A 12 day trip from Pretoria to Cape Town and Namibia by bike and ship from 28th December 2009 to 8th January 2010.

Once in Cape Town we will load our bikes onto the RMS St. Helena and spend three nights on board. We will see in the new year at sea with a New Years Eve party to remember and then disembark at Walvis Bay.

Time will be spent in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Windhoek while riding through Namibia.

February 2010 will be the last time that the RMS St. Helena will be stopping in Walvis Bay so this trip is a 'last chance' opportunity.

The provisional itinerary is as follows:
Day 1, 28 December 2009 Pretoria – Britstown
Day 2, 29 December 2009 Britstown – Cape Town
Day 3, 30 December 2009 Board RMS St Helena
Day 4-6 31 Dec – 2 Jan 2010 At sea – literally!
Day 6 2 Jan 2010 Walvis Bay (sleep in Swakopmund)
Day 7 3 January At leisure in Swakopmund
Day 8 4 January Swakopmunt – Windhoek
Day 9 5 January At leisure in Windhoek
Day 10 6 January Windhoek – Keetmanshoop
Day 11 7 January Keetmanshoop – Upington
Day 12 8 January Upington - Pretoria

If you are interested please contact Dave Swart for more information regarding costs etc – gonedown@telkomsa.net or on 083 419 7533.

NB: Please note that time is of the essence and space on board ship is booked out on a first come first served basis – they will not provisionally reserve cabins for us.
There will be no backup vehicle accompanying us on this trip. There is a BMW dealer and club in Namibia should we need their assistance.

4 confirmations so far.

4 people, 4 bikes....and lots of interest that will hopefully materialise into confirmed bookings.

6 people, 5 bikes confirmed as of today.

Dave,

What sort of costs are involved for the ship ?

http://www.rms-st-helena.com/the-coastal
(NB: Fares are in pounds...!)
Prices quoted are per person, full board, exclusive of drinks and other personal expenditure. (e.g. Bike shipment)

"Fares in South African Rand or Namibian dollars can be obtained from either our Cape Town or Walvis Bay Offices or from our London office.
These are of course subject to current exchange rate values. "

Richard H wrote:http://www.rms-st-helena.com/the-coastal
(NB: Fares are in pounds...!)
Prices quoted are per person, full board, exclusive of drinks and other personal expenditure. (e.g. Bike shipment)

"Fares in South African Rand or Namibian dollars can be obtained from either our Cape Town or Walvis Bay Offices or from our London office.
These are of course subject to current exchange rate values. "

If anyone wants prices please contact me. I have their Rand schedules and have worked out approximate costs for the rest of the trip including the accommodation in Namibia, petrol, meals etc.

Will then give a good idea of the total cost. On ship costs are greatly influenced by the type of accommodation you choose and whether you wish to share cabins etc.

We are now standing at 7 bikes and 8 people confirmed.

Deposits for the ship accommodation cost needs to be paid by 16 September 2009.

I will then check how many people have booked and use that number to arrange our accommodation in Namibia.

Anyone joining after 16th September is welcome to do so but will obviously depend on ship accommodation that is available. Late joiners may also not be able to get accommodation where we are staying in Namibia and would have to look for alternative accommodation.

Latest is 10 bikes and 13 people confirmed.

I have already confirmed the Swakopmund accommodation for 8 people in self catering chalets as a lot of places are already fully booked for that period.

I am busy trying to get accommodation for the other 5 who booked but did not advise me that they had booked.

Currently waiting for confirmation for Windhoek as well.

Thank-you Dave for all your arrangements.
What a pleasure to travel with you guys !
So organised !

DaveS wrote:Latest is 10 bikes and 13 people confirmed.

I have already confirmed the Swakopmund accommodation for 8 people in self catering chalets as a lot of places are already fully booked for that period.

I am busy trying to get accommodation for the other 5 who booked but did not advise me that they had booked.

Currently waiting for confirmation for Windhoek as well.

Confirmation received for the remaining 5 at Swakopmund.

11 bikes, 14 people.

Does anyone know who can print t-shirts for us. I have a design in mind and have approached someone who said they would help but am now not getting any responses to my mails and I do not want to leave it too late.

Dave, I'll send you an e-mail with all the contacts I have for this kind of thing...

Got it thanks.

Hello Dave,

Ek het nounet vir jou email ook gestuur.

As daar nog 'n gaatjie oop is op die skip sal ek graag wil saamkom?

Dankie,

Jurgens

So far we are 12 bikes and 17 people confirmed on this trip.

.....not long to go now....

Guys and Girls, you must enjoy. We will think of you. A short note and small photo now and then will be appreciated.

While looking for things on our list, I found this at Trappers Trading.
A very useful , very compact Daypack. Have scanned a 50c next to it sothat you can see the actual size.

It only weighs 68g and has a capacity of 20L

Deon
Jy moes die gele gevat het om mooi by jou fiets te pas.
Ons is baie jaloers...

Julle moet dit VREESLIK geniet en dink aan ons wat tuis moet bly.

Trudie,
(Ek beplan vooruit - Die nuwe fiets is rooi !)

Ek sal my BES probeer om dit te geniet !
Dit sal moeilik wees, maar ek dink ons sal dit regkry.
Jammer dat julle nie saamkom nie.
Dit sou lekker gewees het om VET PRET en NET PRET saam met ons te toer.
Ons sal baie fotos neem om julle in te lig ( en jaloers to maak !)

Dankie vir die goeie wense.

deonp wrote:While looking for things on our list, I found this at Trappers Trading.
A very useful , very compact Daypack. Have scanned a 50c next to it sothat you can see the actual size.

It only weighs 68g and has a capacity of 20L

The Camelback 'mule' has a 10lt capacity - 3lt for water and 7lt space for other odds and ends.

Update:

13 Bikes - 18 people.

Packed and ready to roll - 9 bikes leaving from Gauteng - the others are in various places on the way down to Cape Town.

Hope you all have a Merry Xmas and a great 2010 - we'll be 'rolling around' and 'out at sea' come New Year's Eve.

Hope you all going on this trip have a great time. Ride safely and bring back lots of pictures.

Thanks - will do!

Ahoy GS! Have fun!!