#2: [12-Aug-06]

17-Jul-2005 -- A group of 4x4 enthusiasts from South Africa taking part in the first semi-final of the Overland Challenge, visited this Confluence on 17 July 2005. The Overland Challenge is a competition to test the skills and knowledge of participants in overlanding, with the emphasis on environmental conservation. More detail can be obtained from its website.

The complete group consisted of the following persons: Jerry Bezuidenhout, Roland Jones, Daniell & Johann du Plessis, Dana, Marlene, Quentin & Jacques du Plessis, Japie & Annie Mare, Dawid Pretorius, Emile Barnard, Bertie & Marius Kruger, Jaco Silver, Johan Sevenster, Corne Vermaak, Lasea de Beer, Bruce & Paddy Nicholson, Keith Aikman, Marius Grassman, Kallie & Wilma Calitz.

The visit to the Confluence was planned in detail beforehand. Although the track leading to it does not appear on any map, aerial photographs of the area showed a dirt road that went right to it. In the end the Confluence was situated about 20 metres from the dirt road. We could not believe that the Confluence had not been visited before.

The Confluence is situated within the Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana, which also features the famous baobabs painted by Thomas Baines in 1862, now known as Baines' Boababs. The park is very popular for overlanders visiting Botswana. It is also the only place where springbok and impala naturally occur together.

The area of the Confluence consists of typical mopani scrub and is not too difficult to get to. The photo of the group of people are those that actually visited the Confluence.