S1 - Ep 232 - Nababeep - The Largest Copper Mining Town in Namaqualand!

[@Afriqueleblanq]

Hope you got to Nigramoep, the most interesting gravel mountain pass up to the blue mine. That is where Dowe Jan lived with her brother and parents. We visited there for maybe ten days? Google calendar doesn't work where Namaqua vetstert sheep live. Hardy animals and they do not drink water. Oh, they aren't there any more as someone bought their arid farm decades ago. But it was a piece of heaven.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Nope, never heard of the place before. 🤷🏼‍♂️ We saw some other fantastic places though. 🤩🚗

[@franspistorius1886]

Those vetstert sheep bring back memories, always added 10% of volume to my droëwors to make not so galserig.

[@garydurandt4260]

Hi guys, once again thanks for this. Bit of back round as I used to work on the mine from 1996-2000. Nababeep was the administrative section of the entire O'okiep Copper mines. There was no longer any mining taking place at Nababeep except for the smelter which was located next to the smokestack. There were originally around 25 or so smaller mines, which sent their ore to the smelter at Nababeep. When I was there only Carolusberg and Nigramoep were still being mined and the ore trucked overland to Nababeep. I am glad to hear that the mine has re-opened. BTW at around the 6 minute mark the road you turned right in was WHITE street and the first house on the right was 116. I know that because that was the house I an my family lived in. Boy things have changed these last 20 years or so. However good to see the old place again, many happy memories.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It must've been great to see your old house again and the town you know so well. It looks like a well-organised place and we found it very interesting to take a drive through. Thanks for the info you provide to colour in the picture for us, you're very kind to share that and your memories. 😊🚗

[@vanzylkoegelenberg9199]

Witstraat 123 hier

[@garydurandt5737]

@@vanzylkoegelenberg9199 Is jy nog daar?

[@vanzylkoegelenberg9199]

@@garydurandt5737 nee, 1983 daar weg

[@stefanopaione3502]

Happy new year 👍

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you! 🤩 Happy 2023 to you and your loved ones too! 🍾🥂

[@annawitter5161]

Daai klippe hang aan n draad! I would be scared to stay there. Nababeeppoort is so beautiful! I think that Rhinoceros place is he most plausible origin, as there did used to be rhinos out there. Love lokomotief Clara! Oh I have such trouble with reception right now....Blast!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm so glad you agree with me about those HUGE boulders! 😨 I wish there were still rhinos roaming freely in the area, I could imagine encountering them on Nababeeppoort actually. 🦏 I thought you may love Clara, we did too! 😍🚂

[@jacobaras2589]

It is beautiful snd and I like it 😢 8:19

[@boerplaas388]

HAPPY NEW YEAR. Hier van die plaas af in Arizona 🎉. Ons wens julle n baie PROSPEROUS YEAR for 2023 ❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you! 🤩 We wish you happy (international) travels in 2023! 🍾🇿🇦

[@doneB830]

You guys, after you have finished South Africa, it’s Namibia, Botswana , Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Africa and the worlds small towns. It will be such a cool story in itself and fingers crossed for you I will love it.

[@DustBugsTravel]

😁 That sounds amazing! We know there are some stunningly beautiful places in those countries you mentioned. For now, we have five provinces in 🇿🇦 which we still have to go and check out. We've got a fair bit of travelling to do in 2023, it seems! 🤩🚗

[@lizafick4472]

Ek het groot geword in Carolusberg,sal dit graag wil Sien,asb. Liza

[@DustBugsTravel]

We visited quite a few more towns on this trip, so keep watching to see if we made it to Carolusberg! 😁🚗

[@peimckenzie]

@@DustBugsTravel thanku for what I brought to us about okiep I was brought up there in the sixties and nababeep it brought tears to my eyes Thank u so much

[@mariusroos4146]

You guys rock so early in 2023. Happy New Year. Thanks for the excellent videos during 2022. Thanks for this one. Very nice and well done

[@DustBugsTravel]

Happy New Year to you too! May it be the best one ever. 🍾🥂 Glad you enjoyed our travels in 2022 and our visit to Nababeep, it certainly was a very interesting one. 🚗🚂

[@alfredkloppers4246]

Was so +-6 jaar terug daar op n Sondag jy kon die mense in die kerk ver hoor sing pragtige gemeenskap en daar het ek die eerste keer n afrikaanse naam "bord" gesien vir n speed hump en dit was wipstop

[@DustBugsTravel]

I must agree, we also got a very positive vibe from the community and everyone we chatted to. We were there on a Thursday, but would've loved to hear the congregation sing. I always love it when one can hear churchsong from the outside when passing by. What a cool Afrikaans name for a speed bump! 😁🚗 We didn't see any of those signs. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@kalaharisurfer9605]

I used to live in Nababeep, but that was 35 years ago. So much of the town has changed yet so much as stayed the same. Awesome videos.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We loved our visit to Nababeep. It must've been interesting to see the town again after such a long time. We found the copper mining history so interesting and had a wonderful time driving through the streets of your old hometown. Thank you for watching, we're so glad that you enjoy our videos. 😁🚗

[@johncross2787]

I'm about to leave for the UK and your clips will be really appreciated.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Have a fantastic time and we will keep the videos coming, don't you worry about that! 🚗🤩 Safe travels! ✈️🇬🇧

[@johncross2787]

@@DustBugsTravel I'm gonna miss those Tankwa "big sky" moments.

[@juliecoetzee1816]

What an absolute GEM of a channel I just stumbled across. My mom was from the farming area near Jacobsdal and Modderrivier. I hope to find some clips of those areas here. I remember as a child, sitting in front of the Koffiefontein fountain fountain in absolute awe when we went to visit friends there. I don't know if it still does, but back then the pot actually "poured" into the cup. I have not been back there for 30 years. Maybe it's time to take my own family and show them my roots.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! Welcome to our channel, it's fantastic to have you on board! 😁 We visited the southern Free State a few trips ago and you can check out our visit to Koffiefontein in Episode 216. We didn't quite make it to Jacobsdal that time, but we'll return to the Free State this year to explore more towns. Modderrivier isn't a name we've heard before, but I note a fair bit of war history here from a quick Google search. We always find that interesting. We'll certainly look at including those two places on future trips. Oh, and the Koffiefontein pot doesn't pour anymore, but it and the cup-and-saucer are still there. It was a super interesting visit to this town. We look forward to you coming to many more places with us. And I hope you get to hit the road real soon yourself! 🤩🚗

[@juliecoetzee1816]

@@DustBugsTravel If my memory serves me correctly, Modderrivier is about 40 kilometers outside of Kimberley and is up the road from the Magersfontein Battlefield. In the Cemetery in Jacobsdal there is a memorial to all the soldiers who died. It is an area very rich in war history indeed, and of course in Kimberley, the diamond mining history is also absolutely fascinating.

[@magdelenelouw558]

We. Lift there I. Was 6 years. Old. And went. Too. School. And. All most. Drain. In. The. Pool

[@Scoops-g7j]

Yet again memories were made in Nababeep ..sad how that recreation club has been dismantled spent many sporty moments there...thanks for sharing 😳 😊😅😮

[@mrstukutela5126]

The building that is now the museum is where we lived in the early 1960's. It looks quite different now.

[@jdekong3945]

Happy new year to you both, only just foundyour channel & I am blown away by the quality and content, thanks so much for your great work

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! 😊 Welcome to our channel, we are super happy to have you join us on the road! May you and your loved ones have an absolutely fantastic 2023 and we hope to see you in many more wild and wonderful places this year! 🤩🚗

[@seugnetgrobler2243]

I grew up in Nababeep. You should have filmed during spring time! Much prettier then

[@seymourcpt]

Been to Springbok Kommagas and Nababeep more then 20 years ago....

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's such a fascinating area. All three must look quite different, compared to when you saw it last. Thank you for coming back to these three towns with us! 😁🚗

[@seymourcpt]

@@DustBugsTravel Thank YOU for bringing us along..Can't wait for the next one.Happy New Year!

[@yersiniapestis7383]

Man, what a fool I've been! This city boy spent all his years growing up in Jo'burg and never venturing more than just the big urban cities. Never even knew S.A. had so much to offer. I now live outside S.A. and wish I had explored all these places in your channel when I was young. I need to come back home and make up for lost time. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I have lot of videos to watch and catch up. Thanks and subscribed. P.S. My Afrikaans is nou baaie vrot from lack of use.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Welcome to our channel! 🤩 It's true, South Africa has so much to offer and we've hardly begun to scratch the surface. Until you're able to come back and hit the road yourself, you're very welcome to travel vicariously through us, we're totally happy to have you on board! 🚗🇿🇦 Your Afrikaans sounds just fine to me! 😁

[@funkdunk]

Happy New Year to the both of you, wishing you a prosperous and successful 2023 for this channel. I am as pleased as you are to see that the mine is open again and that the town seems to be undergoing a rejuvenation. Jakkalswater looked awesome especially with against the magnificent background. A real oasis.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! 😊 It was a good visit to Nababeep, another name we've ever only heard, but never thought we'd actually get to see. As always, we chatted to quite a few locals and they, for the most part, are also pleased and relieved that the economy of the town is looking up again and that more townsfolk are employed. We were happy to have sacrificed the Glory Hole, etc at the mine for such rewards. 😁 Jakkalswater is a place I could spend a few days and do absolutely nothing, except perhaps glance at those huge boulders every so often to make sure they're still lodged firmly in place. 😨 Sonia and I wish you and your loved ones many blessings and much joy in 2023. 🍾🥂 And of course we can't wait to see you on the road again on our way to the next few towns! 😉🚗

[@doraduplessis2727]

I never knew anything about mines in that part of the country, so thank you again for taking us on your yourney. Hope you will bring many more travelling stories to us in 2023.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Neither did we, so everything was a major surprise and so incredibly interesting! We certainly plan to take you to more fantastic places this year, I hope you're ready to come along! 😁🚗

[@munesumangava9751]

Wow!!!! What a stunner that hill/rock outcrop is👌

[@rockydempers3932]

Baie dankie Weereens vir n awesome kanaal. Ons het in Langstraat no 7 gebly in Nababeep...ek weet nie of die straat nog bestaan nie 🙈. Was baie jare laas daar. My pa ht daar by die smeltery gewerk en buite Nababeep was daar ook n paar huise vir die myn mense...mt die naam Tungsten...ek glo nie meer daai plekkie bestaan nie(Tungsten ht winkels gehad nie) , my ouers moes inry Nababeep toe...ons ht ook in Tungsten gebly. Dankie dat ek op my Oudag....n Trip down memory lane kon vat deur jul channel. Het ook in Vioolsdrif saam mt my ouers gebly . 👍Stay blessed.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for sharing your personal memories of Nababeep with us! I found Long Street on the map, so it most definitely still exists. We passed it, but didn't drive down it. I couldn't find anything about a South African town or settlement called Tungsten, only ones in other countries, so not sure about that one. 🤷🏼‍♂️ It sounds like it could've been an interesting place to visit. You're always very welcome to travel with us through our videos and we look forward to perhaps showing you another place or two with a memory or two which might make you smile. 😊🚗

[@mrstukutela5126]

The building that houses the museum used to be our home when I went to school in Nababeep. It used to be known as "Die Kliphuis". My Mom and stepfather used to manage the nearby general dealer store known as Bennett and Webster.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for this interesting info! 😊 You have such close ties with Nababeep. It was fantastic visiting this town for the first time! 😁🚗

[@susannaemmerich1166]

Leave your message "nababeep".🙃👍🙏

[@mariusbeets]

The hospital I was born in 16:29

[@rorysullivan4913]

Love these visits to the small towns. So sad about buildings etc being vandalised though.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Luckily we didn't see many of them in Nababeep or in the greater Namaqualand region for that matter. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed the drive through this and the other towns we've visited. We stopped by a few more on this trip, so you can look forward to those too in the next week or two. 😁🚗

[@annegoldie2983]

A bit more - my grandmother was the midwife who delivered me. She ws also first cousin to General Jannie Smuts!

[@DustBugsTravel]

How interesting and special to be delivered by your own grandmother! Thank you for sharing your close ties with Nababeep with us, we appreciate that so much. 👌🏻🚗

[@mrstukutela5126]

I am pleased to hear that the is functional again. It used to be very busy when we lived there in the early 1960's.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We were pleased too and some of the locals we chatted to, were also relieved to be employed by the mine again. I'm sure the town was in desperate need of this economic stimulation. Not seeing the tourist attractions was a small price to pay to see the mine in full operation once again! 👌🏻🤩

[@debbieoneill4680]

This used to be a lovely town tennis court swimming pool blue waters where we used to swim great times as a kid green sports veld something to feel proud of now the clubs burned down the tar is gone from the roads and everything delapitaded I feel sad.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I must admit we were also rather sad when we saw the tennis courts and especially the swimming pool almost totally destroyed and no longer in use. We could imagine that must've been quite a pretty place with all the palm trees around it. 🌴

[@celestinogle2632]

What a video😊 awesome!!!

[@gregpackham3100]

I learnt to swim in the town pool.

[@mariusbeets]

This is the time of year you should have gone now with the flowers blooming

[@DustBugsTravel]

Nope, there's never a wrong time of year for us. 😁 We love bare and barren just as much as fields of colour. We do plan on seeing wildfowers again this year, but a little closer to home though.

[@annegoldie2983]

I don't know where my head was yesterday, but is was Nababeep where I was born!

[@DustBugsTravel]

You must've been so excited to see your birthtown again, this time through our eyes! 🤩🚗

[@mzansistreets8027]

Am really enjoying the narration. Awesome. I love you guys

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much, I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed our visit to Nababeep. It was such an interesting town to explore. We loved having you along for the ride! 😁🚗

[@mrstukutela5126]

Pleased that the MINE is functional ....

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed! So were we, it was fantastic to see! 😊🚗

[@verybiased907]

Spent many a school holiday in Nababeep, Okiep and Carolusberg as well as Springbok. Love seeing your videos. Have a wonderful 2023!

[@DustBugsTravel]

You must know the area very well. 😍 It was our first visit to all of these places and we had such a wonderful time. The natural surroundings are very beautiful with its stark and rugged landscapes, we just loved it! We're so happy to hear that you enjoy watching our videos, thank you! 😁🚗

[@kalaharisurfer9605]

I love Nababeep and i know where it is.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad we could take you back to this amazing place! 😁🚗

[@desh7120]

Oh my word! Look at you two - you’ve already hit and exceeded 9k Subs 🥳👏🏻😁 That’s a wonderful achievement and what a way to have stepped into 2023! Well done and keep doing what you’re doing so passionately 🎉

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much for celebrating 9k with us, what a fantastic New Year's gift! 🎉🎊 We appreciate you watching our videos so much, it means a lot to the both of us. We'll see you on the road again tomorrow! 😁🚗

[@kristalove]

A goat conference 😂😂😂😂😂❤️

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed! 🐏 Venue: Nababeeppoort. 😍

[@1812nico]

Hi you two! Thank you for this trip. The surrounding area is beautiful under the blue sky with the klipkoppies and the sheep on the gravel road. The town neat and very quiet - what day is it? It is a pity that you couldn't see the museum, but perhaps the Nababeeps mean to say that they are no more living in a museum these days. The historical locomotive is worth the effort anyway. Keep going, I can't wait. And keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

We visited the town on a Thursday and we arrived late morning, I'd say. Most of these smaller towns are fairly quiet and I think the heat makes them even quieter in summer. 🥵 If those items on display outside the museum are any indication of what's inside, it must be very cool to see that too. We just loved the locomotive and carriage, that was super cool! 😎🚂 Glad you enjoyed the natural surroundings here, we so love the stark, rugged beauty of this area. ⛰️😍 We shall see you very soon!

[@vkaitakirwa]

We end 2022 in a dry dusty desert town. Thanks dust bugs. We love you and wish you an even better 2023. We will journey with you wherever you take us in this beautiful land.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! 😊 We appreciate you having travelled with us to so many fantastic places and we look forward to more of those this year! 🇿🇦🚗 May you and your loved ones experience only good health, love and joy in this new year. 🎊🎉

[@Neil1952100]

Hi. We are delighted that the copper mine has been re-opened. Thanks for all your videos and thanks for the excellent news regarding the copper mine. Happy New Year to you.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Hi there! It was good to hear that the townsfolk could once again have access to more employment opportunities with the mine reopening, so we echo your sentiment. Thank you for the good wishes. 😊 Have a blessed and joyful 2023! 🍾🥂

[@frederikbrits9559]

People normally uses the "N and R" route, mostly there is more scenery and surprises on the provincial secondary roads....

[@DustBugsTravel]

We agree. 👌 We're not great fans of the N roads and avoid them wherever we can, as you should know by now! 😁 We're OK with the R roads if need be, but we prefer gravel and backroads and will always take them whenever we can and whenever our vehicle can handle it. For us, they're the most rewarding and satisfying of them all. 🚗

[@shadleydaniels7964]

Brilliant show

[@DustBugsTravel]

Appreciate that. 🤩🚗

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys another gem town seems to be going up the goats crossing the road reminds me of the island of Crete also the terain as you enter town I noticed the little datsun bakie love them I also recognised the derative concrete fencing with the wheels it was one of the ways to judge if you were in an afrikaans suburb back in the 70s for me hopefully the mine company will develop the sports area again another Catholic Church sacred heart hopefully the town has a great future thanks for taking me along gravel roads great stuff cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

I love how you always seem to notice those Datsun bakkies! 😁 And your comment about the precast fencing with the wheels was quite interesting and such a throwback to the Great Trek! We seemed to see a few more Catholic Churches in the areas we travelled through on this trip, more than we ever saw on any of our previous travels. ⛪ Thank you for coming along with us, we always appreciate that! 🚗

[@flodillon991]

A operating copper ore mine great. Lovely camping site. Thank you.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was indeed great to see that the mine was operational once again! Thank you for visiting Nababeep with us! 😁🚗

[@patshes1951]

Nice little town.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It is indeed! 😊🚗

[@CheGypsyWay]

🎉Happy New Year DustBugs🎊..Cheers🥂🍻 to a fantastic year and many more awesome adventures 🚗✨💖

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! 🎊🎉 May you, your human loved ones and of course your four-legged loved ones have so much fun and many happy times together in 2023! 🍾🥂 While of course travelling along with us wherever we may take you. We look forward to it! 🤩🚗

[@CheGypsyWay]

@@DustBugsTravel 🥰 Thank you so much. I'll definitely be traveling along with you through 2023, can't wait to see all the new interesting places you still to visit.. happy dusty travels, take care 🚗✨💖

[@annegoldie2983]

God bless you two for showing me my birthtown - thank you sooooooo much.

[@DustBugsTravel]

You're so welcome, glad we could take you on a trip down memory lane! 😊

[@deonzar]

Ok thanx for showing us Nababeep, lets see where we are going next.

[@DustBugsTravel]

😁 Thanks for checking out Nababeep! We'll pick you up on Tuesday, we're sure you'd want to come along to the next place. 🤩🚗

[@AndrewJohnClive]

Thanks guys! Fantastic as ever!❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, much appreciated! 🤩🚗 Always happy to hear you enjoy.

[@janet6644]

happy new year 🥂🥂

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! 😊 We hope 2023 is an awesome year for you and your loved ones too! 🍾🥂

[@janet6644]

@@DustBugsTravel Thank you 🤗