DAY 49
May 20th
| FROM |
JOHANNESBURG |
| TO |
PRETORIA |
The Xtractor expedition made its final stop in Pretoria today as we pulled our tractors up to the Italian Embassy.
DAY 47-48
May 18th
- May 19th
| FROM |
SEBOKENG |
| TO |
JOHANNESBURG |
After more than a month of traversing the country and exploring its many natural wonders, the Xtractor expedition finally made it
DAY 46
May 17th
| FROM |
BOTHAVILLE |
| TO |
SEBOKENG |
Today we had the privilege of working with Amref once again.
DAY 42-45
May 13th
- May 16th
| FROM |
EPHRAIM MOGALE |
| TO |
BALFOUR-VILLIERS-VILJOENSKROON-BOTHAVILLE |
We couldn’t trek around South Africa without dedicating a significant portion of our trip to NAMPO
DAY 40 - 41
May 11th
- May 12th
| FROM |
POLOKWANE-EPHRAIM MOGALE |
| TO |
POLOKWANE-EPHRAIM MOGALE |
11 May we reach Ephraim Mogale, near Polokwane.
DAY 39
May 10th
| FROM |
LETABA (KRUGER PARK) |
| TO |
TZANEEN |
Making our way out of Kruger, today we ended up in a tropical paradise: Tzaneen.
DAY 36 - 38
May 7th
- May 9th
| FROM |
KOMATIPOORT |
| TO |
SATARA-LETABA (KRUGER NAT. PARK) |
While this country may be renowned for its diamonds, Kruger National Park is South Africa’s true shining jewel.
DAY 35
May 6th
| FROM |
KOMATIPOORT |
| TO |
KOMATIPOORT |
Today our tractors explored Hlane National Park in north-eastern Swaziland, where you can glimpse herds of Africa’s most iconic animals.
DAY 34
May 5th
| FROM |
NTSHONGWE |
| TO |
HLANE NAT. PARK (Swaziland) |
We had to turn our backs to the ocean today, but as we entered the Kingdom of Swaziland, we realized it was well worth it.
DAY 31-33
May 2nd
- May 4th
| FROM |
SAINT LUCIA |
| TO |
NTSHONGWE |
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is the third largest protected area in all of South Africa
DAY 30
May 1st
| FROM |
DALTON |
| TO |
SAINT LUCIA |
Once again, the names say it all around here. Some are unmistakable, like the Valley of a Thousand Hills
DAY 29
April 30th
| FROM |
PIETERMARITZBURG |
| TO |
DALTON |
Rolled into Pietermaritzburg today, a place which you could argue changed the course of world history
DAY 27 - 28
April 28th
- April 29th
| FROM |
UNDERBERG |
| TO |
STEPMORE -PIETERMARITZBURG |
We emerged on the other side of the pass to make it back to South Africa. The natural beauty here is simply stunning.
DAY 26
April 27th
| FROM |
MOKHOTLONG |
| TO |
UNDERBERG |
The Drakensberg is Southern Africa’s main mountain range, running along the border between South Africa and Lesotho.
DAY 25
April 26th
Most people don’t associate Africa with skiing, but there are actually two resorts in Southern Africa—we saw one today in Lesotho.
DAY 24
April 25th
| FROM |
BETHLEHEM |
| TO |
BUTHA-BUTHE-OXBOW (Lesotho) |
Our expedition took us to the northern part of Lesotho today. What a unique place: completely encircled by South Africa
DAY 22 - 23
April 23rd
- April 24th
| FROM |
KROONSTAD |
| TO |
BETHLEHEM |
It’s hard to feel small when you’re riding a huge tractor, but the beautiful landscape of Golden Gate Highlands National Park puts everything into perspective.
DAY 20 - 21
April 21st
- April 22nd
| FROM |
BOTHAVILLE |
| TO |
KROONSTAD |
When you explore Bothaville and its surroundings, it immediately becomes clear why NAMPO is held here every year.
DAY 19
April 20th
| FROM |
KIMBERLEY |
| TO |
HOOPSTAD-BOTHAVILLE |
We continued eastward today, passing the Bloemhof dam at the confluence of the Vaal and Vet rivers.
DAY 18
April 19th
| FROM |
KIMBERLEY |
| TO |
KIMBERLEY |
We made it to Kimberley, the capital of the Northern Cape. This place has been defined by its diamond mining past
DAY 16 - 17
April 17th
- April 18th
| FROM |
LOCH MAREE |
| TO |
HOTAZEL-KIMBERLEY |
There is evidence to suggest that the Kalahari was once the home to ancient lakes, receiving much more precipitation than it does today.
DAY 14 - 15
April 15th
- April 16th
| FROM |
KAKAMAS |
| TO |
LOCH MAREE |
The Xtractor expedition plunged deep into the Kalahari Desert today as we headed north against a backdrop of endless dunes and featureless landscapes.
DAY 13
April 14th
Just northwest of Kakamas, roaring out of the granite, the Orange River tumbles into an 18-km ravine.
DAY 12
April 13th
When a Griqua uprising erupted in the Northern Cape in the 1860s, special magistrate Maximillian Jackson was sent to quell the disturbance.
DAY 11
April 12th
| FROM |
VICTORIA WEST |
| TO |
PRIESKA |
Next stop: Prieska, on the southern bank of the Orange River. Running about 1,300 miles, the Orange is one of the longest rivers in Africa
DAY 10
April 11th
| FROM |
GRAAFF |
| TO |
REINET-VICTORIA WEST |
The plains of Camdeboo have long captured the imagination of those lucky enough to have seen them: today we began to understand why.
DAY 9
April 10th
| FROM |
CRADOCK |
| TO |
GRAAFF REINET |
How to describe the Karoo? Start with its name, which derives from the Khoisan word meaning “land of thirst”
DAY 8
April 9th
We set our sights on Cradock today as the Xtractor expedition made its way out of Addo Elephant National Park.
DAY 7
April 8th
| FROM |
ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK |
| TO |
ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK |
Great elephant herds once roamed the southern part of South Africa, but the arrival of Europeans took its toll on these majestic creatures.
DAY 6
April 7th
| FROM |
HUMANSDORP |
| TO |
ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK |
When traveling along the South African coast, you can’t help but retrace (on land) the path of the Portuguese explorers of yore.
DAY 5
April 6th
| FROM |
KURLAND |
| TO |
HUMANSDORP |
We made a pit stop in Kurland today as we continued along the Garden Route.
DAY 4
April 5th
| FROM |
OUDTSHOORN |
| TO |
KURLAND |
Today was probably the best day so far—for our tractors at least! That’s because we took Prince Alfred’s Pass,
DAY 3
April 4th
| FROM |
MONTAGU |
| TO |
OUDTSHOORN |
Traveled down Route 62 today, and it did not disappoint. It’s hard to keep your eyes on the road when all around you there are mountains, vineyards and quaint colonial towns.
DAY 2
April 3rd
| FROM |
DURBANVILLE |
| TO |
MONTAGU |
Today marked the official start of the Xtractor expedition! The day started with a press conference to commemorate our departure.
DAY 1
April 2nd
| FROM |
CAPE TOWN |
| TO |
DURBANVILLE |
The Xtractor expedition left Cape Town today! The Cape has captivated visitors ever since Vasco De Gama first alighted there in 1497
