This lighthouse was planned to be a brief stop on the way to Hondeklipbaai on12 May. On the N7 there is
a large green sign indicating the Groenriviermond turnoff. This gravel road
soon reaches a T junction signposted Garies and Springbok to the right. We
turned left and then the adventure started….Lost in Namaqualand !! Would we still reach Hondeklipbaai tonight, as planned? (One should turn
toward Garies and then left to GRM.) Arriving at Kotzesrus, we found a back
road to GRM, via private farms.
As we neared the coast weather worsened, but after the long drive, the first view of the GRM LH was welcomed. It is some way beyond the river mouth itself.
By now it was spitting with rain with a cold wind blowing, so we didn’t stay long.
The plan was to drive
through a portion of the Namaqua National Park. This turned out to be a 3 hour
drive on a badly corrugated sand road, with thick sand in places. This road is strictly
only for 4 X 4’s and tyre deflation is necessary. The entrance gate is about 5
km back from the river mouth.
A point of interest en route
is the Spoeg River caves. Sheep bones dated at 2000 years ago were excavated
from the cave floor. This provides evidence that the Khoekhoen herders were inhabiting
the area even then.
A further 17 km allowed us to access the Hondeklipbaai “main“ road.
Drafted : 11 June 2016
