LIVE DIARY

DAY 49

May 20th
FROM JOHANNESBURG
TO PRETORIA
DIFFICULTY
WEATHER
The Xtractor expedition made its final stop in Pretoria today as we pulled our tractors up to the Italian Embassy.

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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
CONTINUE TO READ

DAY 46

May 17th
FROM BOTHAVILLE
TO SEBOKENG
Today we had the privilege of working with Amref once again.
CONTINUE TO READ

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
CONTINUE TO READ

DAY 40 - 41

May 11th - May 12th
FROM POLOKWANE-EPHRAIM MOGALE
TO POLOKWANE-EPHRAIM MOGALE
11 May we reach Ephraim Mogale, near Polokwane.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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
CONTINUE TO READ

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
CONTINUE TO READ

DAY 29

April 30th
FROM PIETERMARITZBURG
TO DALTON
Rolled into Pietermaritzburg today, a place which you could argue changed the course of world history
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

DAY 25

April 26th
FROM OXBOW
TO MOKHOTLONG
Most people don’t associate Africa with skiing, but there are actually two resorts in Southern Africa—we saw one today in Lesotho.
CONTINUE TO READ

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
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

DAY 13

April 14th
FROM KAKAMAS
TO KAKAMAS
Just northwest of Kakamas, roaring out of the granite, the Orange River tumbles into an 18-km ravine.
CONTINUE TO READ

DAY 12

April 13th
FROM PRIESKA
TO KAKAMAS
When a Griqua uprising erupted in the Northern Cape in the 1860s, special magistrate Maximillian Jackson was sent to quell the disturbance.
CONTINUE TO READ

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
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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”
CONTINUE TO READ

DAY 8

April 9th
FROM ADDO
TO CRADOCK
We set our sights on Cradock today as the Xtractor expedition made its way out of Addo Elephant National Park.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

DAY 5

April 6th
FROM KURLAND
TO HUMANSDORP
We made a pit stop in Kurland today as we continued along the Garden Route.
CONTINUE TO READ

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,
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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.
CONTINUE TO READ

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
CONTINUE TO READ