Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours on the migration routes of the African Elephant.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

Voetspore tours around the South African Coast and visits all the Light Towers along their way.

The episode is a summary of Johan and Stephan travelling the route in advance planning for the episodes to come.

The new series starts in the Kalahari. In the Dawid Kruiper Municipality they visit the towns of Rietfontein, Groot Mier and Philandersbron. After a visit to Hakskeenpan, they go hunting at Loch Broom and then observe the effect of the Kalahari pipeline on the region. The episode is concluded with a visit to old friends at Riemvasmaak.

The team departs from the Catholic Mission at Pella. Then they travel downstream with the Orange River to the community of Goodhouse. Thereafter it is a visit to the Richtersveld where Karel du Toit shows them the unique flora of the rock desert. This is a journey, on the beaten track, in the Northern Cape.

Dudley Wessels guides the team from Naries to Kookfontein and Leliefontein in Namaqualand. In winter this is a floral paradise. The team also visit Skilpad in the Namakwa National Park and camped on the beach near Koringkorrel Bay on the West Coast. The week is concluded with a dinner at the Muisbosskerm near Lamberts Bay, with Valiant Swart as a guest artist.

The journey starts amongst the rooibos tea plantations of the Gifberg. From there they travel to the Cederberg and Papkuilsfontein in the Hantam region. After a visit to Niewoudtville they visit Hammelhoek for an evening with Die Kaalkop Waarheid. They visit the Tankwa Karoo National Park, one of South Africa’s arid Parks. The week concludes at Sutherland with a visit to the impressive SALT.

The team leaves Matjiesfontein for Bosch Luys Kloof to look down into the Gamkaskloof and The Hell. Seweweerkspoort takes them through the Swartberge to Amalienstein and Zoar, and then to Hoeko, birthplace of CJ Langenhoven. In Ladysmith, they visit two cheese factories and the wine cellar, Makadas and the Otto Hager church. Then they travel to the Hessequa with the Tradouw Pass, Riverdale, Hebertdale and Buysplaas. The week is concluded at Vleesbaai.

The team explore the ox-wagon routes as they venture into the interior. First the world heritage Attekwas Pass. Then the seven passes in the Outeniqua, all the way to de Vlucht where they meet Katot Meyer. As they pass Avontuur they penetrate deeper into the interior en route to Baviaanskloof with a visit to Makadaat, and then Geelhoutbos in the Nature Reserve.

The Wild Coast of the Transkei is one of South Africa’s most beautiful yet unspoilt regions. The team travels north from the Kei River mouth with John Costello and visits Hole-in-the-Wall, Coffee Bay, Port St. Johns and Mkambati where a hospital for lepers once stood.

The Southern Drakensberg is the only place in South Africa with a ski resort. The team use Rhodes as a base to go skiing at Tiffendel, travel the dramatic mountain passes of the region, visit Tina Head and conclude the week at Kolstad where the descendants of Adam Kok III live in Griekwaland East.

The interior of KZN is known for its many battlefields. The team starts with a visit to the Anglo-Boer War battlefield at Spioenkop. From the two battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu War at Isandlwana and Rourke’s Drift. The tragic history of Piet Retief’s murder at Dingaan’s Kraal and the subsequent Blood River concludes the episode.

The team visit Maputaland in northern Kwa Zulu Natal. After game viewing at Mpeti, they travel with Jan Staal du Toit by 4x4 and motorbike on the back roads around Swaziland, in the direction of Amersfoort. At Country Trax, they learn the finer skills of motorbike rides and then continue their journey to Songimvelo, south of Barberton. Are the oldest rocks in the world are to be found.

In the eastern part of South Africa, many jewels are hidden in the mountains. The Voetspore Team visits Mariepskop. Thereafter Lekgalameetse. In the Wolkberg many beautiful waterfalls are to be seen waterfalls ware to be seen. The team travels to the Blouberg where thousands of Cape vultures make their nests on the cliffs. At Buysdorp in the Soutpansberg, the team visit the descendants of Coenraad Buys, known to be the “first Transvaaler”.

The Ivory Route was developed by Fixon Hlongwane two decades ago to unlock the tourism potential of the Limpopo Province. The team start their visit at Makuya and then travel to Awelani, both part of the Route. Thereafter it is a real “Bosveld” experience with Dirk Uys before the team travels to the Masebe Reserve. The week concludes with more “Bosveld” tales at Ellisras, now known as Lephalale.

After three months on the road, the team returns to the Kalahari. It starts with a visit to Madikwe and van Zylsrus before the last leg takes them to Askham. It is time to reflect on a journey that took Voetspore right around, South Africa.

The journey begins in the northeastern corner of South Africa at the confluence of the Limpopo and Levuvhu rivers. After a visit to the Kruger National Park, the team heads for Makuya to do the Levuvhu 4x4 route. They then visit the Ivory Route camps at Baleni and Letaba Ranch.

Leydsdorp is a fascinating town that experienced a gold rush more than 130 years ago. After a visit to the ghost town, the team is entertained by the Vorsters of Letsitele – mega farmers of the Lowveld. Then a visit to an old favourite – the Wolkberge. The week is concluded with a visit to the Klaserie Nature Reserve.

This week starts on the escarpment at Mariepskop, continues for a few days in the beautiful Blyde River Canyon, visit the Echo Caves and then concludes with trout fishing at Dullstroom. It is winter and bitterly cold.

A week in the Waterberg – at first the Lapalala Wilderness, then following the journey of Eugene Marais in the Limpopo province and concludes with a 4x4 route in the sometimes-underestimated Marakele National Park.

At Witkoppen in the southeastern Free State, the team is introduced to the nutritional wonders of venison. They then head off to the Drakensberg and go hiking with one of the best mountain guides to the second-highest waterfall in the world. The journey through the Brandwaterkom is concluded on a beautiful farm with more than 200 horses and an excellent 4x4 trail.

At Garingboom the team experience a working Karoo farm. At Bethulie they see some of the devastation caused by The Anglo-Boer War at the Concentration Camp cemetery. At Pou Pan, they help with the ringing of an African black eagle chic and conclude the week on the farm of Afrikaans author, Etienne le Roux, near Koffiefontein.

Orania on the banks of the Gariep is seen by many as a social experiment. The team investigates. After a visit to the battlefield of Magersfontein, they visit the jewel in the crown of the northern Cape – the Mokala National Park. The week is concluded at the roaring sands of Witsand.

The journey takes the team through the Karoo, from Witsand, past Griekwastad to the confluence of the Vaal and Orange rivers. After a visit to Karreekloof they go and watch a movie at the Apollo Theatre in Victoria West and conclude the week at the challenging 4x4 route at Badshoek near Beaufort West.

This week the team visits a castle outside Loxton, camp on Verneukpan, spend a day in one of the fascinating corbel houses of the Northern Cape at Stuurmansfontein, and visit the Windmill Museum at Loeriesfontein and then settles at the biggest quiver tree forest in the world at Gannabos.

The focus falls on the Cederberg. At first the unique vineyards of Dwarsrivier. Then a challenging hike to the breathtaking Maltese Cross. The team visit the capital of the region – Clanwilliam, before settling at Marcuskraal where they do the 4x4 route and enjoy a house concert.

The Baths near Citrusdal is a popular hot spring. This is where the team starts the eleventh week. From there they tackle the Klein Tafelberg 4x4 route, visit an abalone factory on the West Coast, set up camp at Tieties Bay, visit the port of Laaiplek and conclude the week at Allesverloren near Riebeek West.

Kalmoesfontein is a unique wine farm on the slopes of the Perdeberg. This is where then penultimate week begins. From there they drive past Ceres up the Matroosberg to build a snowman. They go on a tractor excursion near Montagu and visit several artists at the hamlet McGregor.

The team takes the Gantouw Pass to cross the Hottentot Holland Mountain range to Grabouw and visits the Moravian Mission at Genadendal. They attend a bread baking course at Baardeskeersbos. From there the team travels to Waenhuiskrans and concludes Voetspore in South Africa (2) at the southernmost point on the African continent – Cape Agulhas.

The second series in South America picks up where the previous one left off – in Uruguay. The team then travels north through Argentina, encountering dramatic new landscapes along the way. It's a long and treacherous journey that brings them to Tupiza, where they delve into the exploits of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The pursuit of their trail leads the team to San Vincente, the site where the notorious outlaws met their demise in a dramatic gunfight.

The team spends a few days on the Salar de Uyuni in the southwestern corner of Bolivia. These are the largest salt flats on Earth, visible from outer space. From the salt flats, the team travels to Potosi, where millions of lives were sacrificed in the quest for silver mining. Afterwards, they visit the beautiful city of Sucre. The week concludes at La Higuera, a small town in the Andes where guerrilla fighter Che Guevara was executed.

After a long journey through the Andes, the team reaches the highest city in the world – La Paz. The city is explored using a network of cable cars, revealing its beautiful landscape and impressive architecture. La Paz hosts one of the biggest street markets twice a week, covering approximately 200 street blocks. The city is also the home of the Fighting Cholitas – Bolivia’s version of Lucha Libre, performed by women. The team further explores the archaeological site of Tiwanaku and visits Lake Titicaca.

The team descends into the Amazon Basin from 4,000 meters above sea level via the Road of Death – the perilous Yungas Road. In Rurrenabaque, they explore the Amazon with a boat trip on the Beni River. The team then returns to La Paz and continues to Copacabana on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable water mass in the world.

The Rainbow Mountain at Vinicunca, the historical city of Cusco, and Machu Picchu provide one highlight after another. Here, in the Land of the Inca, the team explores small towns, breathtaking landscapes, beautiful cities, and an archaeological site shrouded in mystery.

Two days of hard driving with one mountain pass after the other brings the team to Nazca near the Pacific Ocean. This is where the Nazca Lines are found. Massive figures were drawn in the desert 2,000 years ago and were only properly observed with the arrival of aviation at the beginning of the previous century. The week concludes with a visit to a wine farm at Ica and an evening in the sand dunes of the northern Atacama Desert.

After a visit to the capital city of Lima in Peru, the team travels to the interior to explore the spectacular Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra. The two mountain ranges are separated by the Cañón del Pato, featuring more than 50 tunnels carved through the rocky slopes. The route sees the team returning to the Pan-American Highway, passing Puerto Malabrigo, all the way to Máncora on the border with Ecuador

After crossing the border, the team visits the banana-growing region of Machala. Further into the interior, the town of Zaruma offers the highest-yielding gold mines in the world. At Guayaquil, the team has the Cruisers serviced. Then, it is a visit to Isla de la Plata, the poor man’s Galapagos. The week concludes with a search for the real Panama straw hat – manufactured in Montecristi, Ecuador.

This episode starts at Chimborazo, the mountain on earth closest to the stars. The team visits the unique artists of the Ecuadorian Andes before exploring the beautiful city of Quito. The week is concluded with a visit to Mitad del Mundo, a monument at the equator, just north of the capital.

The team discovers that the real equator is a few hundred meters north of the line drawn at Mitad del Mundo. They proceed to the Mindo Valley, a prime bird-watching destination in the world. They visit the two market towns of Otavalo and Ibarra and conclude their time in Ecuador with a visit to Reserva Ecologica el Angel, where strange flora thrives at 4,000 meters above sea level, near the equator.

The visit to Colombia starts with dance lessons in Cali - the salsa capital of the world. The city, with its famous Cali Cats, is explored before the team visits the sugar estate where Jorge Isaacs authored his famous novel “Maria”. In Buga, the team visits the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles. Just before the team was to arrive at their campsite for the evening, one of the Cruisers was involved in a serious accident – this is the first road accident for Voetspore in 23 years. Stefan and Norbert escape with minor injuries, but the Cruiser is seriously damaged.

With one vehicle short, the team travels to Bogota to fetch a new vehicle provided by Toyota Colombia. In the capital, the team attends the Independence Parade as well as a massive agricultural expo. Then it is off to Armenia to enjoy some of the best coffee and cacao that Colombia has to offer.

Medellin was known as the drug cartel capital of the world. Recently, the city underwent a metamorphosis and today boasts to be one of the safest cities around. It is a beautiful city. The team meets a South African who teaches the Colombians how to enjoy boerewors and biltong and pays a visit to Westfalia's Avo farms. Then it is time to pack up and return to South Africa.

The team travels to Colombia to continue and complete the South American adventure of the past three years. The journey starts in Bogota, where a new vehicle is prepared after the disastrous accident at the end of the previous series. While the team waits for the documentation to be finalized, they visit the historic town of Villa de Leyva and relive the history of the South American continent. Eventuall,y they are cleared to leave Colombia and proceed to the border with Venezuela.

The border crossing to Venezuela is complicated as the team is interrogated regarding the purpose of their visit. This country is in the grip of serious economic challenges while a dictatorship rules Venezuela with an armed fist. However, the team gets the opportunity to engage with the friendly people of this beautiful country. The journey concludes at the City of Bolivar on the banks of the massive Orinoco River.

Guyana is a strange country. Although it is on the South American continent, it is much more a part of the Caribbean. The people speak English with a Caribbean accent, the national sport is cricket, and most are descendants of the black people who came to this part of the world as slaves from Africa. It is a country experiencing unprecedented economic growth and has some of the friendliest and most laid-back people in the world.

This country, with a little more than half a million people, is somewhat of an island on the continent – the people are all descendants of the cane cutters who came from Africa and India, and as this used to be a Dutch colony, they all speak Dutch. This is fascinating for the Afrikaans-speaking Voetspore crew. Most people live in the capital, Paramaribo, and this is where the team witnesses the extreme tolerance between different religious groups as Jews, Muslims, Hindu and Christian not only respects each other’s believes and traditions, they also embrace it.

It is a long, treacherous journey to reach Boa Vista in Brazil. Here the team regroups after the first month on the road to do some general maintenance. Then they travel south, crossing the Equator, and experience the rainforest in all its glory. Near the town of Presidente Figueiredo, the team visits spectacular waterfalls in the forest before proceeding to the capital of the Amazon – Manaus.

The team embarks on a riverboat with the three Land Cruisers. It is a five-day voyage, downstream, from Manaus to Belem. After a hectic first five weeks of the journey, this offers the team an opportunity to observe the Amazon rainforest and river in all its glory while relaxing on the San Marino II and interacting with fellow passengers. This also allows for detailed planning for the rest of the expedition.

This is an area adjacent to the Amazon rainforest. Parque Nacional dos Lençois Maranhenses offers some of the most dramatic landscapes on the continent, with dunes and lakes giving the impression of bed sheets when observed from above. A journey along this coastline of Brazil takes the team to beautiful hamlets like Atins and Barra Grande, as well as some of the most spectacular beaches, such as Jericoacoara. Getting there is quite an adventure, with numerous river crossings.

This week starts at Morro Branco and Canoa Quebrada, the latter providing the backdrop for many a movie. This is a spectacular coastline. At Galhinos and Galos, the team is spoiled with excellent cuisine from the ocean while a local guide entertains them with a fiddle. The week also presents the opportunity to drive on the beach for hundreds of kilometres, all the way to the city of Natal.

Leaving Natal, the first stop is at Pirangi to see the world’s biggest cashew tree. Along the coast, the city of João Pessoa offers a brief look into Brazil’s past, as does the hamlet of Olinda. After visiting Porto de Galinhas, on the way to Salvador, team leader Johan falls ill what is presumably a case of dengue fever. In Salvador, the erstwhile capital of Brazil, Johan gets treatment at a local clinic.

With Johan still recuperating from his illness, the team is happy to welcome Streicher for a few weeks. Streicher has done 10 Voetspore expeditions, but his current occupation prevents him from spending more than two weeks with the team. They travel to the interior to Lençois and Mucugê near the Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina. After visiting the caves at Gruta da Mangabeira, they travel a long way south to Rio de Janeiro.

A whole week in one of the prime holiday destinations in the world! It is a relaxing week at the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, the Selarón Stairs, the Carioca Aqueduct, a soccer match at Maracanã and a cable car ride to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain. The week is concluded at Paraty, one of Brazil’s famous holiday destinations with its beautiful beaches and spectacular islands along the coast.

After saying goodbye to Streicher at the Sao Paulo airport, the team first visits the popular city of Curitiba and then go back to the coast. First, it is to the spectacular Florianopolis at the foot of the 50-kilometer-long Santa Catarina Island, and then to a small coastal village where there is a fascinating practice of dolphins assisting fishermen to catch fish. The week concludes at Porto Alegre – a city that suffered from severe flooding in the months before the visit.

After more than 45,000 km during three expeditions of three months each over the past three years, the team arrives at La Chacra Holandesa of Jan and Marieke Kuper in Uruguay. This is where the journey started three years ago. It is only fitting that it ends here as well. The last week is spent cleaning, packing and preparing the vehicles to be shipped back to South Africa. It also allows reflecting on an exceptional journey where all independent countries of the South American continent were visited. It is a relief to conclude the expedition, but also a sad day to say goodbye to a continent and its people that the Voetspore Team got to know and love.