299km to Mahikeng
Monday morning and I am planning my departure from Pretoria, my route is south but a name caught my eye to the west and it is almost on the border with Botswana, who could resist? Memories from my boyhood were conjured up, days in the boy scouts, adventure stories in 'Boys Own Paper' published weekly at the time and, playing with friends in the gardens of Mafeking House near where I lived. Yes, another piece of South African history would come to life as I decided to visit Mafikeng as it is now called but more of that later. With the help of Katerina, the proprietor of the Dinkwe I booked accommodation there and she explained that the only route was to head along the M4 toll road. These roads are generally wide two lane affairs with hard shoulders each side, they afford smooth travel but little adventure. In the course of the discussion she pointed out that I should try to visit the Pilanesberg Game Reserve to the north of my route. The description of the intrigued me but, ...