Preparations

Our months of preparation culminated in a final kit inspection (by Kevin) on the Wednesday night in Cape Town.

Kit List

Aluminium pots – shared
Cookers – shared
Coffee pot – shared
Aluminium teapot – shared
Cutlery
Bowl
Water bottle
Water purifying tablets
Whisky
Wine
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
Backpack
head torch
Go Pro

Sun hat
Beanie
Sunglasses
Swimming costume
Pillow
Underwear
5 pairs of socks
Bed socks
Fleece
PJ bottoms
Long sleeve t shirt
T shirts – for walking
Shorts – for walking
Hiking shoes
Slippers
Jen’s teddy bear
Towel

Toiletries
Sun cream
Ear plugs
Power pack
Go Pro

After 24 hours mentally and physically preparing ourselves (in a 5 star hotel, on the golf course, at a Braai & in the vineyards of Cape Town’s Constantia) for what was to come, the rigorousness of this inspection was especially surprising.

“You don’t need that…. That’s too heavy… What on earth are you going to do with this… You’ve not got space for any food! Please give me a chance. WHY WON’T YOU LISTEN TO ME!“

Jen’s alcohol gel and facial ‘mister’ were hurled off the balcony, Martin’s blister plasters, wet wipes and whistle met a similar end. The one saving grace was that Kevin did not feel like he knew Gavin well enough to carry out a similar exercise on HIS backpack….. otherwise we would really have been in trouble when it turned out, mid-hike, that alcohol gel, plasters, wet wipes and a whistle are actually Fish River ESSENTIALS.

At last Kevin was satisfied. The bags were strapped up with ample space left for our food rations to be added on arrival in Namibia. The inaugural expedition from Walker’s Tours was ready for the off and we were all feeling great!