Senegal, Saint Louis, Zebra lodge to Luc Rose to Dakar.

01-08-2011 Senegal

 Friday 29 July we got Bamba, who was our man from the SA Embassy recommended by Ascha to help us cross.

We stayed in our cars, after making sure it is Bamba by phoning him on his phone, while he stands next to us. You can easily end up with the wrong Bamba. Everybody is so keen to help you that they all assure you they are Bamba.  Everybody is so keen to help you, at a price.

Bamba was quick on the Mauritanian side. He booked us a place on the ferry and with our exit documents in hand; he easily got us on the ferry.

Senegal was not so easy, we got a comfortable parking, the 6 of us sitting in our vehicles. the engines running for the aircon. we have never seen so many flies. we prepared for mosquetos, but FLIES. Stephanus was so disguisted with al the flies, Mariana reminded him, he can do nothing about it. 

  Soon it was clear they will not accept our “Carte Brune” which is an insurance that covers EUCOWAS countries, Senegal is part of this. What is new in AFRICA? We all paid another 19,500 oogy {39$} and got our yellow card.

After 4 hours we were ready to move on to Senegal.  3 Km from the border, we were stopped. Papers and car inspection, must say the Police man was very nice. After realising we were from SA. They al first think we are Americans, I feel sorry for the Americans. They must have a tough time in Africa.

Zebra Lodge camping site

Zebra Lodge at Saint Louis was our next destination. The road was a tar road, but lots of potholes. We moved on slowly. Just before dark we reached Zebra Lodge. Right on the beach there was the beautiful Camp site.

Coen and Shanhaz decided to stay in a bungalow. Hans, Elisme, Stephanus and Mariana put up camp under the Hugh trees. We went for a long walk on the beach while Coen and Shanhaz went to sleep.

On the beach there were millions of different size crabs small to big running around. They were all digging little holes to hide. The sand made the most interesting patterns, with their diggings.

Dinner was Elisme’s turn. Hans made a fire under the trees, our first. Can you believe that? We had chicken Tachines and lovely Mango for dessert. I must tell you about the beautiful Mangos in Senegal. Al you see is buckets full of Mangos. They are so tasty; Hans said we must go on a Mango diet. We all agree that’s easy, with lovely Mango’s like these, no problem.

The Pienk Salt Lake

Saturday morning we al moved on, Coen and Shanhaz were heading for Dakar. The rest of us for Saint Louis. Hans and Stephanus must, once again try to extends, our vehicle permit of 48 hours.

Gustavo Effeil designed roatating bridge that connect the island of Saint Louis to main land

Saint Louis has a magnificent Gustavo Eiffel designed rotating bridge, which connects the island to main land Saint Louis. The island has the same name; the French invested a lot in this town.

Hans got the office where he must extend the vehicle permit Mariana and Elisme went to see the town. Sandals were on the shopping list today. After 2 and half months, the “Crocks’” are looking tired now. No chair to sit and try on the sandals, but that’s no problem with so many hands helping to fit the sandals. Soon we were of, Mariana with 2 pairs of sandals, Hans and Elisme each with a new pair.   2 pairs genuine leather sandals for R261, sounds like a bargain?

Hans and Stephanus came back just to say the offices are closed until 12 O’clock. We enjoyed a delicious Mango juice at a picturesque Restaurant on the beach. While waiting for 12 o’clock. The owner understood a little English. She helped us to sort out our new sim cards. With a new number and airtime, we set off to the office again. The girls went for a walk in town again.  They went browsing at very nice material shop, got a piece of material for R21 to make a table cloth. With that in hand they left for the hotel to wait for the boys. They made fringes for the table cloth to keeping them busy.

3 o’clock Hans sms Stephanus to bring him 30 000 Oogy {60$} for the extension.

We headed for Luc Rose, where the Paris to Dakar rally uses to finish in the past. GPS set on OFF ROAD Luc Rose, we were off. Leaving the tare road, we were still confident was on our way, dirt road was quite a nice one. T junction and then a 2 track farm road? Hans was having his doubt, asked everybody, “ROAD TO LUC ROSE?” now we were between the cattle, lost of cattle paths but no road.  Eventually we got to the tar road again.

Camping site at Lac Rose

Now to find the hotel, Piet our guardian Angel said there are 2 hotels only. The 2 could be 2,  Hans being {Livingstone jnr.} kept going until he finally got a guy who could speak English and took us to the “Right Hotel, with a camping site”  LE CALAD DU LAC ROSE was a real Oases in the desert. Sparkling clean blue swimming pool, paved paths with scrubs in between.  Ablution facilities Spotless. We decided to stay over until Monday.

Enjoying the pool

Piet and Gerhard our new SA friends, came to visit us. They invited the SA Crue working for SAL to join them. Piet with SA steaks, biltong and Boerewors arrived at LE CALAD Soon we were all enjoying the refreshments and the company.

Piet is the SAL engineer working in Dakar and Gerhard Director of DP World. Gerhard invited us to come and stay with him. We learn so many lessons in Africa. The kindness of stranger’s

 The boats taking out salt 

Piet explained to the boys, how to drive on the beach to Dakar.

After a very pleasant, now new life time friends, they return to Dakar. We promise to meet them tomorrow. We will take up Gerhards invitation.

Monday morning Hans and Elisme had their coffee in the swimming pool again. The heat is nearly unbearable. Stephanus and  Mariana were doing the necessary, tasks. Mariana decided, “Time for tender loving care”. Pedicure and Manicure were on the list.

Hotel with a view over the pienk salt lake

Heaps of salt

Girls caring the salt out of the lake

12 o’clock we left to have an ice cold drink at the hotel on the PIENK LAKE. This is a salt lake with world known salt. 

Stephanus was leading the way today. He was driving the dunes with Piet and Gerhard yesterday.

Stephanus digging the sand away from the tyres

Soon we were on the beach. Hans suggested that we have our lunch on the beach while waiting for low tide. Just then Stephanus was stuck in the thick sand. Time for LUNCH.

Stephanus and Hans were digging the sand away from the Cruisers tires. Mariana and Elisme were making Bully beef French loaf sandwiches.

Stephanus manoeuvred the Cruiser out of the sand. Then we were on our way to Dakar.

20 minutes on the beach road and we will be in Dakar. When we reach the Mosque with the green towers, we must go of the beach to the road. Piet will fetch us.

Piet met up with us, we followed him to Gerhard’s house. We are so privileged, with the 2 boys. They are really looking after us, what is amazing they only met us on Sunday and yet they are treating us like ‘KINGS” nothing is too much for them.

Dinner with Gerhard and Piet, his famous "bosduif" drink

Monday evening we had a lovely “braai”. The girls made a potato oven dish and salad. We laid the table with candle lights. Gerhard and Piet were surprised. Everybody enjoyed the lovely meal, with Gerhard’s soothing music. We ended the evening with Port and then said our goodnights.

Hans standing in the door of "no Return"

Canons on the island

Tuesday morning Piet fetched us to explore Dakar. He took us to the ferry which took us to Gore Island. He was an excellent tour Gide. Show us the “DOOR OF ON RETURN” and the canons where the moving “the guns of never on” was made. Having an Ice cold beer we were just in time for the 12 o’clock ferry to take us back to Dakar.

The ice cream parlour was our next welcome stop. With a variety of 20 different ice creams it was difficult to make a choice. Luckily they gave us plastic spoons to taste each other’s ice cream. Tiramisu, vanilla, Cream caramel, granadilla yogurt and guava. May be granadilla yogurt won.

Dakars famous statue, bigger then statue of Liberty

Piet, Hans and Mariana infront of statue

The famous statue of Dakar which is higher than the statue of Liberty.  A lift is going up the statue, and then the hat has got windows in from where you can see the city. There is a lot of controversy about this statue. I must say it is something to see.

The light house has a 360 degree few over Dakar. From here you can see, the Peninsula where Gerhard is staying. This is a very nice part of Dakar.

Hans, Elisme, Stephanus and Mariana at the most Western part of Africa

Club med hotel is situated on the most Western point of Africa. After seeing the most Western point of Europe it’s an amazing to know here we are now on the most Western point of Africa. Coming from SA where we have the most Southern point of Africa.

Club med is a beautiful hotel which they are upgrading now. They are spending millions to improve the excising hotel.

Totally exhausted we headed home, just to fall in to the swimming pool. I don’t know what the temperature was, but it felt like 60 degrees.

Piet and Gerhard invited the SA Pilots who came in the morning from New York for a “braai” and the rest of the SA her in Dakar. Coen and Shanhaz were invited with their host, Albert who is working at the SA Embassy. Andre is working Anglo American mines. They are all very interesting people.

Pilot Dawie and Jaco with the rest enjoying their dinner

Elisme pilot Raymond, Stephanus, Mariana and the rest at the table

Jaco the 3 pilot bought tender and juice steaks for Piet. He was making a nice garlic sauce. Piet insisted on making a coleslaw salad. He brought “mieliemeel” for “PAP” the first time we had “pap” since we left SA. Elisme made ratatouille and Mariana a butternut and bacon. The girls laid a table for 13 guests, with an overlay from Morocco and the typical African Mine worker Statues. Finishing of the atmosphere candles and music. We all say grace and {Thanks to Wimcar and Milly} “shake the love around” so nice to say a prayer with friends in this Moslem country.

Ramadan has started and everybody thinks it will affect us. They say the people are quite crumpey, for not having anything to eat or drink after sun rise to sunset.

The “ERFGELDVRETERS” will remember a very warm and special evening with NEW friends.

Tomorrow we are leaving Dakar for Casamance, Ferry at barra and what next we will see.

For now our deepest thanks to Gerhard for sharing his “LITTLE PALACE” with us. His kind heart and warm hospitality will always be remembered. Anton you will not believe this, but Gerhard is Christoffs uncle.  Gerhard is Christoffs mother’s brother. And they say “ITS A SMALL WORLD”

Piet for taking care of us, with all the nice meat and things from SA. As they say you really have a “BIG HEART” you are an example for us.

You just never stopped giving, your valuable time and every possible thing you thought we will still need on our journey.

We say goodbye to the 2 Boys from Dakar. Tonight we will take them for Dinner. Words can’t always say what is in our hearts. There for a “BIG HUG’ from the ‘ERFGELDVRETERS”

 Remember The Belfast Royal hotel and Guest house and Vermonts doors are waiting for you our Guardian Angels for Dakar...