Barefoot through the Kgalagadi

Once you’ve felt the Kgalagadi’s red sand between your toes, a longing stirs in you that doesn’t let go. You simply know you must return to this part of the world.

This would be the case for my husband, Joop, and me too. And so, in September, we had the chance to return, three years after our last visit.

We met our friends Johan and Lynette Morkel at a petrol station in Vryburg. Their son Lewellyn and his best friend, Willie, were joining us on the trip, and we were all equally excited about what lay ahead. Our plan was to tour for 10 days, and one of the highlights of our tour was to be the Polentswa 4x4 route.

Before our departure, we made padkos and a flask of coffee while also testing the two-way radios. We’d learnt by now how important communication is on such a tour.

Joop hadn’t been to Van Zylsrus since his army days, so we decided to drive through this interesting town on the banks of the dry Kuruman River on our way to the Kgalagadi. The