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We bought a Land Rover Defender... Let the troubles begin!!! For years, we dreamed of sailing across the Indian Ocean to reach Africa. And last year, that dream became reality. Now after sailing the entire coastline of South Africa and before departing for the Caribbean, we want to experience and explore Africa further. There is so much more to Africa than just wild seas and marina docks. It is such a unique and untamed place, filled with stories waiting to be discovered. And What better way to do it than the African way, Overlanding. Whilst our boat stays tucked safely away for winter, we're heading out on a new kind of adventure: a wild, off-grid safari across the southern countries of Africa. There’s a twist. We’ve got under 2 weeks before we need to leave the country of South Africa, and a mountain of things to sort before we can begin to live out of this car. So, it's all systems go
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There are places that feel like they belong to another world and hidden between the towering tableland mountians and the blue of the Atlantic Ocean, this place feels like one of those. Just beyond the bustle of Cape Town, the seaside harbour town of Hout Bay is where mountain meets sea and it’s here, nestled in the marina, that Nandji is berthed, preparing for the next chapter of our journey. But Even though the big blue is calling, Africa, we are not done with you yet. We continually are told by the locals - "South Africa is not for Pussies!" and we couldn't agree more! Welcome to Hout bay and the windy city of Capetown. We have preached it enough in our videos to underdstand that South Africa is raw, rugged, beautiful and WILD! and Arriving into Hout bay and the city of Capetown is no exception! The huge mountains that surround the bay, the tales told from our friendly welcoming guide of the "rough areas" and witnessing stabbings, muggings etc.. then the natural landscape towering above the beautiful beach, the low pressure systems that blow in with torrential rain and gusts of 50 knots. Everything about this place is WILD! Just the way we like it. Another day in South Africa.... After rounding the most southern tip of Africa with the spinnaker flying, Nandji 2 then motored her way into the breathtaking False bay in the early morning light — Arriving into the small town of Simons town, The false bay yacht club itself is an awesome club and is the first marina I can remember where the water is that clear you can see the sea floor under your keel. However, Currently for international cruisers there is only limited space and therefore we had to give up our berth after a week. But for that week, we made the most of exploring this unique corner of Capetown and wow — what a place. The abundance of wild life this close to the city was amazing. From the thousands of seals in the bay, to the penguin colony at boulders beach, the abundance of shark cage diving vessels suggesting what else lies beneath the surface and then lets not forget the baboons patrolling the streets. Simons town was a great example of why we love South Africa, wild and totally unforgettable But, as all good things must come to an end, it was time to give up our berth and head back to sea — continuing our journey along the South African coastline, and inching closer to the iconic city of Cape Town and rounding the infamous Cape of Storms!! After months of calling the breathtaking town of Knysna home, we finally exited through the legendary and notoriously treacherous — Knysna Heads. We hoisted our sails and set out to sea on a passage that would take us around the wild most southern tip of Africa, where two mighty oceans collide. Instead of the roaring seas and furious weather this area is known for, we were met with an eerie calm. Thick fog wrapped around us like a ghostly veil, and the ocean lay calm beneath our hull. We then rounded the infamous Cape Aghalus with our asymmetrical spinnaker flying high! I am sure That’s not something many sailors would have in their log books. This moment marked a massive milestone for our circumnavigation: we’ve officially crossed into our third ocean — the Atlantic — leaving behind and saying goodbye to the wild energy of the Indian Ocean. We made landfall in False Bay under the most magical conditions, and now, a whole new adventure awaits — new places, new faces, and the city of Capetown to explore Sure enough, we didn’t have to go far to run into a baboon. We were told after the fact, that most afternoons the baboons hike down the mountain into town looking for a quick and easy feed. Now, Baboons are proper scary, they are as big as Great Dane, smart and have zero fear. Use the codeword: sailingnandji at the checkout, put the blades in your cart and get 100 for free! 👉https://hensonshaving.com/sailingnandji Departing through the Knysna heads and then sailing around the MOST SOUTHERN TIP OF AFRICA! Farewell Indian Ocean and hello to the Atlantic… After more than eight years of sailing around the world, this was a first. We sailed into a town… and stayed anchored for months on end. That town? Was Knysna It is a hidden gem carved into South Africa’s wild and rugged Garden Route. It was always on our radar as a must see destination, but we never expected it to steal our hearts as much as it has. The stunning landscape combined with a picturesque safe all weather lagoon and a tight-knit community full of character and whilst the scenery is breathtaking, it has been the people who have made it unforgettable. We laughed, played, sailed and connected and felt something rare when travelling: the feeling of home. But as sailors, the ocean is calling and as the temperature begins to drop and the seasons change, it is time The journey continues… Not only do we round the most southern point of Africa, but we bid our farewells to the Indian Ocean and reach the Atlantic ocean. After a solid week of Nandji 2 living on the hardstand and dealing with the endless list of jobs and unexpected curveballs that always seem to show up… launch day is upon us. Nandji 2’s butt is looking sexy and ready to return to her natural habitat. After sailing over 10,000 nautical miles in the last year, she was starting to look a little sad. But now, after a week of elbow grease and dedication later, she’s shining once again and back to looking like a million bucks. Living on a boat is an emotional rollercoaster. Why is it every time we haul out things don't go as planned... www.sailingnandji.com We have had an amazing last 15 months, sailing over 10,000 nautical miles, crossing the vast Indian Ocean, exploring some seriously remote places, traversing the Mozambique Channel and flying down the wild coast of south Africa. Through every storm and every swell, our beloved Tayana, Nandji 2, has been our steadfast and sturdy home. But life on a boat comes with one constant: maintenance. So we’ve hauled her out here in the breathtaking town of Knysna to tackle some much-needed out-of-water projects and get her ready for our next big challenge: sailing around the most southern tip of Africa, the infamous Cape of Storms and then into the mighty Atlantic Ocean. We chose to do the haul-out here with our good mate Dave, partly to delay our farewell of this incredible place. Knysna has truly captured our hearts, and saying goodbye won’t be easy. But the sea is calling, and before we set sail once again… it’s time to get to work. |
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