My journey to the Mother City
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday July 11, 2014 12:26
The 1, 464 kilometres road trip from Gaborone to the sea point took us approximately19 hours. It was my first trip to the Mother City and I did not have a passport. I did the unthinkable by applying for a passport on our planned departure day, Wednesday. I had to part with P520 to be issued with the passport on the same day.
We left Gaborone around 19:45 hours and planned to exit the country through the Pioneer border gate. While seated on the bus, I scanned around the bus to see if I recognised anyone, but unfortunately I was amongst strangers.
21:25 hours: We arrive at the border gate. The service on both the Botswana and South Africa sides is excellent. Everyone is excited and not even the freezing temperature dampen the mood. But as the bus cruises into South Africa, I fight to stay awake and enjoy the view in this unknown territory. By the time we pass through Kimberly, I am too exhausted to keep my eyes open.
05:45 hours: We refuel at Mirage filling station in Victoria East. I am freezing cold and the first word that comes out of my mouth was to ask for two cups of cappuccino. The lady behind the counter stares at me when I greet her in Setswana. My mind quickly raises and reminds me that this is Mzanzi; the only language that is understood by the cashier is Afrikaans and English, so I switch to Botswana’s language of business.
As I sit waiting for the journey to resume, I wonder to myself how many kilometres are left to travel before we reach our destination. I do not ask because CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Staff Writer
I
recently had the pleasure of traveling to Cape Town with the Botswana Ryushin-Kan team.When I received the invitation to travel to the South African coastal city of Cape Town with the team to the Africa Karate Championships, I was very excited.
The 1, 464 kilometres road trip from Gaborone to the sea point took us approximately19 hours. It was my first trip to the Mother City and I did not have a passport. I did the unthinkable by applying for a passport on our planned departure day, Wednesday. I had to part with P520 to be issued with the passport on the same day.
We left Gaborone around 19:45 hours and planned to exit the country through the Pioneer border gate. While seated on the bus, I scanned around the bus to see if I recognised anyone, but unfortunately I was amongst strangers.
21:25 hours: We arrive at the border gate. The service on both the Botswana and South Africa sides is excellent. Everyone is excited and not even the freezing temperature dampen the mood. But as the bus cruises into South Africa, I fight to stay awake and enjoy the view in this unknown territory. By the time we pass through Kimberly, I am too exhausted to keep my eyes open.
05:45 hours: We refuel at Mirage filling station in Victoria East. I am freezing cold and the first word that comes out of my mouth was to ask for two cups of cappuccino. The lady behind the counter stares at me when I greet her in Setswana. My mind quickly raises and reminds me that this is Mzanzi; the only language that is understood by the cashier is Afrikaans and English, so I switch to Botswana’s language of business.
As I sit waiting for the journey to resume, I wonder to myself how many kilometres are left to travel before we reach our destination. I do not ask because I have not really bothered from the start of the trip to engage my fellow travellers.
08:00 hours: We arrive at Three Sisters junction. I am trying to figure out the meaning behind the name of the area.
08:50 hours: Another stop, this time at Beaufort West.
11:00 hours: We are in Leinburg and fatigue has set in. Most of the people on the bus are sleeping. We are left with more than 300 kilometres to arrive. The weather is perfect in this small Karoo town. The N1 highway has beautiful views, meandering through rivers and mountains. It is an area of magnificent landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and an abundance of trees and indigenous flora.
13:28 hours: We pass under the Huguenot tunnel. This magnificent piece of engineering is a toll tunnel near Cape Town. It extends the N1 highway through the Du Toitskloof Mountains that separates Paarl from Worcester.
14:10 hours: We finally arrive in Cape Town. But the excitement is short lived as we spend a couple of hours searching for accommodation.
19:00 hours: We finally get settled at Sun 1 hotel in Parow.
A trip to Cape Town would never complete without a visit to the beach and Table Mountain. But bad weather denies us the opportunity to go up Table Mountain. We do, however, manage a place by the seafront, as we tour the Water front beach, with its spectacular view.
Nightlife in the Mother City is worth a scribe’s time and effort. I visited two clubs and have never seen the dance floor that packed.
Earlier on, I met a Mosotho man who informed me that he has been to Botswana many times. My new friend, David took me to one nightclub- I cannot remember its name, We stayed there until 4am. They say all good things come to an end, and even though my trip to Cape Town ended, it will forever remain in my heart.I have not really bothered from the start of the trip to engage my fellow travellers.
08:00 hours: We arrive at Three Sisters junction. I am trying to figure out the meaning behind the name of the area.
08:50 hours: Another stop, this time at Beaufort West.
11:00 hours: We are in Leinburg and fatigue has set in. Most of the people on the bus are sleeping. We are left with more than 300 kilometres to arrive. The weather is perfect in this small Karoo town. The N1 highway has beautiful views, meandering through rivers and mountains. It is an area of magnificent landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and an abundance of trees and indigenous flora.
13:28 hours: We pass under the Huguenot tunnel. This magnificent piece of engineering is a toll tunnel near Cape Town. It extends the N1 highway through the Du Toitskloof Mountains that separates Paarl from Worcester.
14:10 hours: We finally arrive in Cape Town. But the excitement is short lived as we spend a couple of hours searching for accommodation.
19:00 hours: We finally get settled at Sun 1 hotel in Parow.
A trip to Cape Town would never complete without a visit to the beach and Table Mountain. But bad weather denies us the opportunity to go up Table Mountain. We do, however, manage a place by the seafront, as we tour the Water front beach, with its spectacular view.
Nightlife in the Mother City is worth a scribe’s time and effort. I visited two clubs and have never seen the dance floor that packed.
Earlier on, I met a Mosotho man who informed me that he has been to Botswana many times. My new friend, David took me to one nightclub- I cannot remember its name, We stayed there until 4am. They say all good things come to an end, and even though my trip to Cape Town ended, it will forever remain in my heart.