Drifting in the Dunes - Cape Town

The most memorable accident Theunis can remember was when a vehicle sped up a small dune far too fast and then flew through the air, landed on its nose and flipped over onto the roof. 'But luckily no-one was hurt because the steel canopy took the force,' he smiles. The only thing damaged was the Colman cooler box.'

We round a corner and suddenly the vegetation comes to an abrupt halt. Stretching out before us is a vast sand desert, dotted by a few bizarre shaped rocks and isolated patches of grass. Although the crowd with us seem like a group of hardened 4x4 macho men, there are obviously some novices among them as within five minutes, a car is already stuck in the sand. While we wait for the vehicle to be towed to freedom, someone whips out a waxed board and we all take turns surfing down the long steep slope.

Further on, a shiny Defender turns too sharply on a curve and there's a pop as its tyre comes off the rim. 'Jislaaik, this is a hassle, but I suppose it's all part of the offroad experience,' says the driver, as he inflates the airbag and begins to loosen the wheel nuts.

It's a hot day and I'm soon caked in sweat and sand as we continue up and down some seriously steep dunes. With wheels spinning and a brisk breeze blowing, the fine sand gets everywhere, coating cameras and clothes and cars.

All too soon, our adventure nears its end. Looking down from the top of a dune with not a modern construction in sight is a tonic for the soul. This is just three hours away from the city sounds and stress yet it's a world apart. It could easily be Namibia. Maybe even the moon.

Copyright © 2002 Jeremy Jowell. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of the author is prohibited.