15-Nov-2014 -- This is the second out of 8 reports, describing confluence visits in South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho. The story continues from 26°S 29°E.
On our way from Jo’burg to Kruger National Park, this confluence point was relatively near our route. We left N2 at Wonderfontain reaching the Confluence after another 26 km on asphalt and the last kilometre on an uncovered track. The confluence point is located 350 m from the village Nazareh, which is undoubtedly the most convenient starting point for a confluence visit.
But when we reached the little village Nazareh which consisted of 20 houses including a nice mission house of the Evangelical Reformed Church that had been visited and photographed by previous visitors, we realized that something was wrong. The Mission house was
missing its roof and a huge tree had been fallen over. The locals informed us that just on the previous day a tornado had destroyed two houses – which makes up 10%! A visit of the building was very sad. All the furniture had already been removed due to the missing roof. This is particularly sad, if you see how beautiful the Mission Station had been during the visits in 2002 and 2005.
The confluence visit was a minor thing – compared to the huge destruction that had been taking place the other day. A friendly farmer let us pass through his property and helped us to overcome a fence. We found the Confluence 2 m next to a track in a recently ploughed field with young sprouts of some not yet identifiable crops.
We continued our drive towards Kruger National Park. When nightfall caught us in the town White Rivier, we stayed there for our first night in South Africa.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to a road: 1000 m
- Distance to a track: 350 m
- Distance of car parking: 350 m
- Time to reach the CP from the road: 5 minutes
- Time at the CP: 4:31 PM
- Measured height: 1622 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 1 m
- Position accuracy: 4 m
- Topography: flat
- Vegetation: Some very young sprouting crops. A line of various trees in 300 m distance.
- Weather: light rain, 14° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Tornado Confluence
More pictures about our trip can be found here. The story continues at 25°S 31°E.