Our adventure started in Koingnaas, where we fuelled up before heading towards the controlled mining area.
Although it wasn’t in bloom, we were lucky to see the Vaalvygie — an endemic plant found only in this part of the World.
The strange and fascinating Medusa’s Head plant caught our attention, while the bright yellow lichen added a splash of colour to this harsh landscape.
We even tasted the Lidtjiesbos, a salty coastal plant that’s often used in salads.
The real adventure was along the coastline where we discovered three shipwrecks — silent reminders of how unforgiving these waters can be.
The dune challenge certainly tested the drivers and  4X4s!
On the beach, we found an incredible collection of shells and learned more about the Khoi-Khoi people who once lived in this region, and why some shells have smooth edges while others don’t.
An old, abandoned farmhouse’s (dating back nearly 100 years) walls may be crumbling, but they tell us that a family once lived here, long before the mining industry changed this landscape. It now houses a pair of breeding owls.
This is a harsh place, but its beauty is everywhere — in the plants, the dunes, the sea, the history and the people who came before us.
It wasn’t just another 4 X 4 trip.
It was an adventure, a journey through history…
and another collection of memories made Beyond the Tracks.