#1: [23-Dec-01]

29-Jul-2006 -- This Confluence was visited by Brian and Renate Roberts on 29 July 2006. We had earlier in the day visited 22S 15E from where we continued on the B2 highway towards Usakos and Karibib.

By this time it was clear that our Land Rover had a clutch problem as it became increasingly difficult to change gears. 22S 16E is situated on a farm about 18 km from Karibib and we had obtained the permission of the owner to visit his farm prior to our visit. The farm is called "Okatjimukuju" which we were told means "the place of the fig trees" in the Herero language. Apparently, there had been a fig orchard on this farm in previous years.

We reached the turn-off to the farm by late afternoon and after entering the large gates managed to reach the farm house with the last bit of clutch function. Just before reaching the house we crossed a cement causeway over a river bed lined on both sides by big trees. Outside the farm house was a windmill and a fenced-off cattle pen, known as a cattle "kraal" in this part of the world. The Confluence was situated within this cattle enclosure, and we just managed to take our photographs as the winter sun was setting. Nearby was a beautiful old marble horse stable, still in good condition and built of marble blocks mined on the farm.

We realized we would not be able to travel further due to the clutch problem. The farm owner was not at home that weekend, so we spoke to his manager who was very helpful and gave us permission to overnight. We parked the Land Rover in the driveway and spent the night in our roof-top tent. The following morning we managed to return home after filling the clutch master cylinder with brake fluid and using it as little as possible. It was the end of our "5-confluence weekend", but we would try again...