11-Aug-2004 -- We (Jeanne Le Roux and Alnica Visser, or Jennix combined) were tasked to investigate the Degree Confluence Project as part of our planned trip to the Kgalagadi Nature Reserve in the Northern Cape. Our research showed that the confluence 27S 22E had not been visited and we discussed this with our parents and decided that we will make an attempt to visit this Confluence.

So, early on 11 August 2004, we left Johannesburg en route to Kgalagadi Nature Reserve with the first stop-over being planned for Van Zylsrus, which is approximately 15 km NNE of 27S 22E. We arrived at Van Zylsrus at approximately 15:30, and after some enquiries were made as on whose farm the Confluence could possibly fall, we immediately set off for a farm close to the Confluence. We arrived on the farm of Mr and Mrs J Noëth and explained the whole project to them. They were immediately interested and offered to assist us in finding the Confluence. We established with the help of our GPS receivers that the Confluence was approximately 7 km in a NW direction from the farmhouse.

Our initial thoughts were that the Confluence could possibly be right on the NW boundary of the Noëth's farm. On the back of their bakkie with their son Jaco driving, and us shouting instructions of left, right, or straight, we set off in search of the Confluence. When the farm roads stopped, we continued in a more or less straight line, still shouting instructions of left, right, or straight, through the veld to the Confluence, dodging bushes, trees and holes along the way. When we arrived at the farm's boundary fence and still some 3 km from the Confluence, the farmer and his son decided to flatten the boundary fence and we continued on the neighbour's farm to the Confluence. After about a total of an hour's drive through the veld, we arrived at another fence, still approximately 300 m from the Confluence.

It was getting late and the sun was setting in the west and we hurriedly walked the remaining 300 m through the thick Kalahari sand to the Confluence, constantly checking our GPS receivers and directions. At the Confluence it was a couple of steps this way or that way until we hit those magic numbers, 27°00.000'S 22°00.000'E. We arrived just before sunset and quickly took the necessary pictures:

Picture #1 was taken from approximately 50 m south of the Confluence towards the Confluence and shows the general area of the Confluence. The area is sandy (red Kalahari sand) with grass, bushes and the occasional Acacia Tree.

Picture #2 is the area north and picture #3 south of the Confluence. As the sun was quite low, it was not possible to take a photo to the west.

Picture #4 and picture #5 are of the 2 GPS receivers used and show 27°00.000'S 22° 00.000'E and 27°00.000'S 22°00.001'E, respectively. Apologies for the flash reflection on #4, as it was getting dark when we took the photos.

Picture #6 shows us and from right to left is Jeanne Le Roux, Alnica Visser, Nico Visser and Jaco Noëth (farmer's son).

We would like to thank the Noëths for their wonderful hospitality and assistance. Without their assistance, the visit would not have been successful.