Cat n Mouse Van Life: 3

Cost: R440.00 per person per night (R395.00 pensioners discount) April 2025

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

Ablutions – private, clean, hot water showers and wash-up area.

Large, grassed, demarcated camp sites each have water and electricity (blue caravan plug connection)

Brazier braai, wood for sale, restaurant and bar on the premises.

https://www.upington.com/augrabies-falls-lodge-camp/

3km from the main gate to Augrabies Falls the camp was perfectly situated for our needs. Some noise from the road penetrated the high walls but was joyous rather than intrusive. A securety guard at the gate ensured we were safe, although it must be said, the tranquil setting ensured we relaxed immediately on arrival.

The camp is quite full during the evenings but empties out in the early morning. As the main form of camping is roof-top tents, visitors pack up their mobile worlds to venture out, enjoying the many wonders in the area: wine tasting, fishing, the falls, the Quiver Tree route, and of course Namibia which is so close you can feel it calling.

Comfortable evenings in close but spacious camps that provide an illusion of privacy with carefully placed ablution blocks, cleaver use of perimeter walls and the trunks of huge trees offering shade during the hottest parts of the afternoon.

Highly recommended.

Pomona

Muldersdrift

Brandvlei

Holfontein

Ventersdorp

Coligny

Biesiesvlei

Sannieshof

Delareyville

Broederspunt

Vryburg

Kagung

Kuruman

Kathyu

Olifantshoek

Upington

Keimoes

Kakamas

Augrabies

Cost: Timeshare – The Holiday Club Not Pet Friendly – Chicko was spoiled at Luna Pet Boutique Hotel & Spa https://www.dikhololo.co.za/gallery#…

Dikololo Game Reserve – Brits

Brunch was Fillet Carpet Bagger – 200g fillet topped with ham, mussels and cheese and a traditional Bobotie served with yellow rice.

A small sprig of lemon geranium is now rooting in my kitchen window sill.

Near Bronkhorstspruit on the Zusterstroom Road

Cost – Camp: R600 per stand per night

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

Electricity and water at each stand

Good cell phone coverage. Swimming pool, table tennis table, lapa, honesty shop for wood and ice, river views.

Home

Driving home from Dullstroom I Googled “pet friendly camping near me” – Wilge River Bush Camp came up in the results and a mail to Briony confirmed that they had a vacancy for the few days over the 31st December into the New Year. Despite the high cost, we decided to escape the city for one last time in 2024 and start the New Year on a high note!

We quickly packed the Tripper, still splattered with a light coating of mud from the previous trip, and headed out to Bronkhorstspruit. The dam is full! So good to see the world green and wet, mielies dark green and growing skyward.

We were surprised when we arrived to recognise the resort from our stay in July 2022 – we had not recognised the name but confirmed the earlier stay by referencing the Blog – https://khululekile.com/2022/07/18/wilge-river-resort/.

Under new management, we anticipated some changes and were pleased to have been given a quiet site at the end of the line of camps. Children’s laughter the only indication that there were others enjoying the resort.

Beautiful Mountain View’s wreathed in cloud and intriguing bush views made special by the male paradise flycatcher, in full breeding plumage, flitting in and out of view. Constant bird calls added to the lazy days despite the drizzle and light rain. Our magical Tripper provided dry, cozy cover and was just perfect!

Ablution blocks are scattered around the property and offer a clean ‘barrack style’ or quaint older cubicles, filled with charm and small challenges – doors don’t quite close, shower heads don’t match or floors a little dirty. The number of mosquitoes amazing! There was however, plenty of hot water and toilet paper replaced daily. Stands were regularly serviced: dustbins kept clean and fire ashes removed.

The swimming pool was a delight and it was possible to wallow in the warm water despite the inclement weather.

A wish list for the new owners:

Walking paths through the riverine bush allowing enjoyment of this spectacular asset.

Access to the waterfall who’s inviting sound came and went during our stay as the wind direction changed

A cleared, signposted, river entrance

Spring cleaned ablutions!

We certainly had the chilled few days we needed and returned to Joburg with batteries fully charged.

De Wagensdrift Cullinan

Camp with private ablutions, hot water showers and scullery

Small fridge, microwave and two plate gas stove supplied

Electric appliances under 1200w may be used

Good WiFi and cell phone coverage

R490 per night. Wood available at R25.00 per bag

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

https://www.facebook.com/DikgomoCottages

Dikgomo is targeted at Pet Friendly clients but you would be welcome without a pet. Each of the three campsites currently available are fenced off so that your pooch can run free. Two sites have small cottages on them. Olive tree Camp has a safari style tent on it with beds for three, bedding, cutlery and crockery supplied.

The camp sites are a little small to accommodate a camping trailer but it does provide a chance to practice your reversing skills.

If you want a quick get away with your pet, 90 mins from Gauteng just pack your clothes, food, firefighters and costume and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the bush. You are able to walk freely on the 24ha farm but need to be mindful of other visitors and their pets also enjoying the environment.

The camp and all facilities are clean, neat and well appointed. A shared swimming pool or a private IBC are available for you and your pet to cool down in.

A morning outing to Cullinan was most enjoyable. A treat to see the town coming alive. Albert, a really truly blacksmith has his forge in the craft market gardens.

Vaal Marina near Meyerton

Camp with shared ablutions, hot water showers and free toilet paper

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

No electricity.

Good WiFi and cell phone coverage. Low water dam for swimming and boating – weather dependant

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063480675862

If you are privileged enough to own a Roadtripper Trailer you were invited to join the first gathering of like-minded souls at Chris and Sanet’s piece of heaven alongside the Vaal Dam.

Roadtripper Trailers arrived at staggered intervals on Friday and Saturday. Each owner chose a site and proudly set up camp. Lots of laughter and fun followed the ‘wow, what a great idea’ as each Tripper was inspected and commented on. Individual ideas and requirements, likes and preferences made each Trailer as individual as the owners.

Chris, Sanet, their son and daughter in law can be justifiably proud of their incredible achievement. The care and attention to comfort and safety detail in each Roadtripper was much in evidence.

Food, drink, laughter and conversation through the day and into the night made for a very enjoyable weekend where dogs and children alike enjoyed and summer weather and the water.

Hoping that the wind that blew us home brings much needed rain to the dam catchment area.

Thank you Roadtripper Trailers. Wishing each owner many more miles of safe travels!

A ‘Thank you’ from John & Jen Crookshank

Thank you so much Chris & Sanet- It was lovely to be able to bring Donut 🍩 to the get-together today and bring the grandchildren who will probably be using her in the future. We loved being out with you all and feel a little envious that we just can’t cope anymore.

Hope you all have a fantastic evening and rest of the weekend. Greetings to you all, Love from John and Jen (and Donut 🍩)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553704302603

While the rest of South Africa were huddled away in their homes or stranded in the snow on Van Reenens Pass we travelled north to a stunning dam campsite for a very special 40th Birthday celebration.

About 28km’s outside Hoedspruit, on the Gernsey road, we met up with an exuberant bunch at the Klaserie Dam Camp Site who were pretending that the light rain, biting wind and challenging camping conditions were nothing to be concerned about. The friendly management had offered us the use of a small but welcome hall to serve food and get out of the intermittent rain showers.

Camping with family necessitated extra tents, stretchers and blankets! We soon set up camp and joined the party. The afternoon was enjoyed along with cricket, great food and warm company and Old Brown Sherry to help keep the cold at bay.

Although the Dam Campground has seen better days, a lot of work – mostly carried out by volunteers and donations from residents and businesses from the surrounding area – are underway: ablution upgrades, chalets have been tiled and are clean and comfortable, electricity and water are supplied at each demarcated campsite. The scullery only has cold water and badly needs attention but will soon be tackled and upgraded.

Thank you Gareth Orin Snoor!

Sunset views, lion, spotted hyena and jackal calls dance through the night. Fun and laughter with family and friends, good food and magic sunsets. Majestic Mariepskop peeking out of the clouds.

Water is always a perfect inducement to sit and while the days away. Enjoying the change of light, birds moving in and out of view to their own rhythms. Carp surfacing; creating spreading ripples that move across the water to meet others lazily spreading towards you on the bank. The changing light…

https://kyleu.co.za/

Arriving before the sun went down was a treat as Summer rolls in. The spacious camp site allowed us to manoeuvre ourselves into the perfect position – close to the ablutions, near the fire area, sunset, moon set and shade for the increasingly hot days. The milky way overhead to add delight to the dark nights as the Cheshire-cat Moon smiled down on us. 

A black backed jackal visited us in the growing dark and peacefully lay just a small way into the bush, visiting again a few times during our stay. Delightful bird calls from the chinspot batis called ‘three blind mice’ into the perfect day as the sun rose. 

Green shoots on the sweet-thorn trees around camp dazzling in their promise of lazy days to come.

Waking up to enjoy the ‘spoor’ close to camp – Zebs, giraffe, mongoose, impala, and spotted hyena! How very special to experience the wildlife in such close proximity. 

The call of jackal and hyena add a very ‘African’ note to the end of the day. 

Zebra grazing close to the camp brought special delight as we cheered the Bokke to victory. The different speeds of the internet feeds around us making the victory echo and echo and echo again. 

A very Happy Birthday break

Home

Camping site: R150 per adult per night. Fully grassed. Electricity and water points available (bring extension leads). Hot water, clean ablutions. Pet Friendly (by prior arrangement) – no extra cost

Cell phone coverage iffy – a blessing. We were the only ones in camp. How lucky can we be?

Sitting in our tripper with a gentle rain falling outside we are still rooting for the fire that has battled the wind blown rain to survive for the last two hours. Thunder circles around us booming through the mountain valleys as we read our books and reminisce about the time spent in such an amazing place. The morning revealed that 64mm had fallen!

Our kind hostess, Alison, had offered us the rondavel for our stay due to the rainy forecast ahead. It contained a double bed, small kitchenette, double bunk beds and a couch in front of a log fire but we had opted to face the weather in our special Tripper and were not at all sorry.

Terraced grass campsites, newly mown had welcomed us to Highland Nook. Clean bathrooms, toilets and scullery. A spacious ‘Flintstone Shower’ with high pressure hot water a delight after our morning walks. Waking up to the morning, sitting quietly in camp listening to the bird chorus and watching the ever changing clouds in the valley an extra special privilege.

Many intriguing trail options to places such as the high beacons, numerous waterfalls, dams and Bushman Paintings are on offer and we enjoyed meandering around the farm looking for them. Although we did not find the paintings the magnificent sandstone outcrops and indigenous plants were a delight. Knowing that the trail you followed had probably been used by generations of Bushmen a thrill.

Days spent in awe, admiring the ever changing vista of the Drakensburg mountains. The freedom to explore the undulating hills which brought back vivid memories of walking in the ‘berg with my Father many years ago.

The weather changed from steamy hot to chilly and wet repeatedly during our stay. The similarity to the Scottish Highlands striking.

Silence broken only by the wind in the trees and birdsong from early morning to the late sunsets. Peace and tranquility guaranteed.

Refreshed and so very grateful we can highly recommend this paradise.