Cat n Mouse Van Life: 3

Near Mookgepong (Naboomspruit) on the R101

Cost – Camp: R140.00 per person per night

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

Electricity and water at each stand. Ablutions clean and spacious – the hot water donkey is stoked twice a day by Emily, who keeps the camp spotless. Large groups can be accommodated.

Good cell phone coverage. Swimming in the many streams and pools a must. Bring good hiking boots – the walks are Amazing!

https://www.serendipitytrails.info/

Events developed by chance in the most beneficial way possible and we found ourselves back on the road again. Just two hours from home and we were in camp as the sun was setting.

There are three river camps at Serendipity. With only one other guest there during our stay, camp was calm and very quiet. The sound of water flowing across the rocks accompanied us through the peaceful days and warm nights; a welcome change from cold Jo’burg.

Budding dombaya and fresh ziziphus leaves signal season’s change. Butterflies and birds delight ear and eye.

The highlight of the weekend was definitely the challenging hike. The clearly marked trails have been laid out to reward the effort of each ascent and decent. Exploring the views and feeding our souls with stunning sites and sounds. Our pup walked from stream to stream, lying in the clear pools to cool off.

Waking up to the musical call of the Burchels coucal added an air of magic to our stay which we extended for an extra night, courtesy of our friendly host, because it was just too good to leave.

You know when you stand in a supermarket queue

And your glazed eyes scan over the goods on display?

Travel ‘must haves’, or sudocu, a gardening guide

or the latest Sex Scandal – just not!

Panoramic views of the home that you covert –

I have it. It’s mine and I love it!

A Secure estate – tic

The children fill days with their laughter

No ‘lock up’ just ‘GO’ – A definite tic

The peace and the food for the soul in abundance

From sunshines that rise to light up my life

To sunsets that guide me to close down each day with

A smile, and a Laugh and a Hug

Near Bronkhorstspruit on the Zusterstroom Road

Cost – Camp: R150.00 per person per night

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

Electricity and water at each stand

Good cell phone coverage. Swimming pool, pool table, lapa, river views

www.wilgerivierresort.co.za

An impulsive “let’s go camping” lead to a flurry of packing and planning and Friday afternoon saw our Itchy Feet on the road again!

The easy drive to Bronkhorstspruit and beyond led us, past the golden fields of late winter, to the secret valley of the Wilge River. Our hosts, Joan and Piet were unavailable due to Swine flu but we quickly made ourselves at home and had a fire burning in no time in the kuier boma that protected us from a slightly chilly wind.

Peace settled over us as the super moon crossed the sky and a clear view of the stars brought the amazing photos from the James Webb telescope to mind.

The Tripper was a snug cocoon and we had a more than comfortable night waking in the late morning to a chilled camp – it was time to explore (I probably should have changed out of my pj’s first – pulling blackjacks off my clothes lay ahead)

The facilities are astounding – the bricked driveway alone must have taken years to lay down. Braais – brick, skottle, barrel, pillared, private and group braais. Chairs and tables scatted along the river admiring the view. An adult pool and a children’s paddling pool. An obstacle course winding through the flood plain. A ‘snoep winkle’. The under cover lapa with tables and chairs set out for group visits. A pool table; cues qued up along the wall waiting silently for hands to warm them. The bar, with a full drinks fridge behind it still holding the feel of many evenings when laughter must have filled the space

How much pleasure and enjoyment the years past must have experienced to require such well used and extensive facilities.

We idly wondered if we would have had this magical place to ourselves if it was not for the high petrol price, the impact of COVID on the tourism sector or winter – but we luxuriated in our solitude with the deserted resort at our backs as we watched the kingfishers darting from perch to perch and little greebs; counting the seconds till they bobbed to the surface again.

Sauntering walks to explore the river and to enjoy the babble of the water under the bridge, magnificent food, warm fires and bed – we felt like millionaires

In September 2021 we had (another) hair-brained scheme and decided to sell our beloved Jurgens Classique caravan. She had given us many Amazing adventures and was too good to just rot in a permanent caravan site.

On a whim we registered her on We-Buy-Cars and within a week she had been driven away and we were, once again, homeless.

Neighbours piled in to help while the August Winds gusted around us and in short order we had a tent erected with a snug bed inside and shade netting offering some protection from the wind and the disbelieving glances from passers buy.

The caravan had driven away with our stove, fridge/freezer, all our storage and cupboards, microwave, bathroom and heater – all of which had been inside the caravan and had departed with it.

We started trawling Facebook Marketplace for cupboards and chests of drawers while weekends were spent putting in flooring, paving and building a bed, headboard and bedside tables.

While swiping through the many offerings, I found an old toolbox for sale. It was nearly Clive’s birthday and seemed just the type of present he needed in our topsy turvy world

The tool box was built in 1965 by Mr JJ Snyman and was being sold, reluctantly, by his grandson Erik Kleynhans to help finance the purchase of his car. It has provided many hours of pleasure as Clive slowly sorted through the assortment of tools. Buffing them to a shine to reveal hidden treasures.

Total refurbishment awaits as Clive strips it down to the original wood but already it stores my footstool, winter blankets and fibre waiting for the spinning wheel

Today a final treasure was revealed.

When the barman is slurring his words at Midday

And goat droppings litter the floor

A kitten so tiny it would fit in your hand

Swats and hisses the Pomeranian pest.

A toilet so dirty the light does not work

Masking the filth on the floor

A rooster struts proudly along the wood bench

While a goat looks in from the wall.

A million wood plaques attached to the roof

The sun shining in at the door

Blou Bulle achievements and flags from the past

Slow service allows you to blend.

Three things on the menu – Dad would have approved

Farmers and Children and more

We gobbled our beers and Mixed Grill with the rest

Amazed we’d had fun after all

Nottingham Road. Natal Midlands

Cost – Camp with shared ablutions: R150.00 per person per night

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

Electricity supply sporadically scattered throughout the camp site – remember your extension.

Clean, recently revamped ablution facilities, hot water, braai area/fire pit.

Wood available on request

Sporadic WiFi due to load shedding. Good cell phone coverage. Dam to swim, boat and fish in, natural forest walks and children’s playground.

Large groups welcome

https://www.glensheiling.co.za/

We began our Adventure Trip with a months stay at Glenshieling in May 2017. It has been great to return. The entire area filled with vivid memories. Benjie, the camp Labrador, who was a pup in 2017 has emphasised the passing of time in a way no other could. His grizzled jowls telling many a story of chasing things through the forest, getting bitten by a snake and other mishaps through the years. He stood stoically as our grumbling Chicko renewed their acquaintance.

The owner, Julie, welcomed us with a smile and an unflappable manner. Our early arrival on Friday in the green and peaceful park did not prepare us for the sound of children’s laughter that was to surround us all weekend.

Trips to Piggly Wiggly, the Bierfassl Restaurant, Shuttleworth Weavers and many other small stalls yielded a treasure trove of delights for all the senses. (The fact that restaurants have two menus – one for normal trade and one for ‘load shedding’ is a sad indictment to our struggling economy)

The highlight of our day was a visit to Chulamoya Chimes where we purchased the Elven Whispers – beautifully tuned chimes that we hope will add a touch of magic to our home. It is worth packing a picnic basket with locally purchased trout pate, cheeses and wines to enjoy in their garden surrounded by pockets of sound to delight the ear and the soul.

The forest walk was wet underfoot with lush delights around every bend.

Remember to attempt the pont during the day! It is worth the challenge to float serenely over the crystal clear waters of the dam.

Between BelaBela and Thabazimbi 2.5 hrs from OR Tambo – very good tar roads all the way

Cost – Camp with private ablutions: R350.00 for the camp site per night (two people)

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

Electricity with generator backup. Basic wash-up facilities, hot water, ablutions, braai area.

Brazier supplied for an evening fire. Wood R15.00 per bag

Sporadic WiFi. Good cell phone coverage. Small swimming pool and children’s playground

Only 8 stands available

Facebook – Eagles Nest Bushcamp

Relaxing in the bush. Recharging our batteries. Taking time to absorb the many things around us – birds, trees and butterflies. Kudu, blesbok and porcupine. Squirrels chittering from the trees; their tails waving up and down with every call. Vervet monkeys peering warily through the bush. The boiling heat tempered by a gentle breeze that makes the trees sway too and fro.

Tersia met us on arrival and delivered the wood we had requested. Her friendly smile immediately set the scene for our weekend. Relaxed, welcoming and available should we require anything. Her dogs rushed to greet Chicko who just looked on bemused as more and more friends arrived to swap sniffs.

The camp site was flat! The ablutions are spotless and spacious – the water hot and plentiful. A well designed braai area, with a gentle electric light in the right position for you to see at night while you braai. A brush, scraper, water point with hose reel and more than adequate electricity supply are at each stand. The limited number of stands ensures that you are not disturbed by your neighbours.

The farm is a working farm. The bray of a Jenny Donkey cut through the afternoon at irregular intervals. The sheep fed around our campsite during the day and the game was very relaxed offering superb sightings. Breathless admiration for a mature kudu bull (the photo credit goes to Eagles Nest)

Gentle walks around the internal roads were curbed due to Chicko’s sore foot but she accompanied us to the pool for a swim and a laze in the afternoon as soon as the sun had lost its fierce heat.

Our Tripper was magnificent! We set up under two large fruited bushwillows. The dappled sunlight moved around camp but the interior of the Tripper remained welcoming – an afternoon nap a must!

Mokopane Limpopo

Cost- Private Camp: R175.00 per person per night

Pet Friendly (no extra cost)

‘Wild Camping’ sites: No electricity. Basic wash-up facilities, hot water, ablutions, braai area, covered lapa supplied. No shop on the premises. Totally self catering~remember to bring sufficient fire wood.

Sporadic WiFi and cell phone coverage

Note: high clearance vehicles only. 4×4 recommended to prevent damage to the roads

Peter and Honest welcomed us and offered assistance with setting up camp. Our Tripper ensured that setting up without their help was effortless and provided a perfect home away from home during our visit.

We consider ourselves so very lucky to have spent a week at Waterburg Wilderness. Our souls are refreshed and the memories will linger long after we have left –

Game sightings include giraffe, nyala, impala, zebra, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, klipspringer, kudu and baboon!

Lazy days in camp were brightened by visits from both nyala and curious giraffe.

Slow drives over pebbled roads revealed spectacular conglomerate rock formations, incredible views and wilderness as far as the eye could see. Plentiful water to splash in and dams to swim in made the hot weather welcome. Visiting geologists have postulated that the conglomerate is the result of glacial action over 11 million years ago and the black stripes imbedded in the rock layer pre-date oxygen in the atmosphere.

Although there were other visitors in camp the private placement of the sites makes it certain that only the sounds of passing vehicles break the silence of the bush.

Most afternoons brought chilly winds and rumbling thunder. Very little rain fell but the temperature changes were remarkable.

When the cloud cover cleared the stars were revealed in all their wonder. Getting up before the sun brought its own rewards.

We hope that our travels will bring us back again in the near future

https://campskeurklip.business.site

Pet friendly wild camp. No electricity or cell signal. Comfortable ablutions and drinking water. Wood available for purchase. R150.00 pppn

A howling wind and spotted drizzle welcomed us to Camp Skeurklip. The wind stayed to play throughout our visit – either as a light breeze or trying hard to blow us off our feet during our exploratory ambles. The voices in the wind making us turn this way and that; trying to hear them more clearly and laughing with them as we chased our tumbling hats across the grassland.

The awe inspiring kraans that changed with the daylight predominates the small camp. Stunning ablutions require vigilance at the donkey if you want a hot shower. More than adequate supplies of wood, toilet paper, hand cleaner and cream available.

In the main camp area there are two stone shelters (one with a roof) that keep you comfortable and sheltered without blocking the amazing views. The roofless shelter shielding you at night for unparalleled star gazing. Twisted ‘OuHoud’ trees line each camp site and blow backwards and forwards as the gusts change direction.

Long twilight evenings as the fire burns up are filled with the quiet satisfaction of time well spent. Darkness slowly creeps into the camp and the stars are clearly visible in the inky black night. Not a light to be seen in any direction. The milky way, that I have not seen so clearly for many years delighted us before the full moon rose in the sky and later peaked in through the Tripper window.

As you walk around the surrounding area you are lead to explore the gorges and winding water courses and to investigate the thousands of aardvark diggings, some of which shelter delicate ferns hiding from the wind. Varied wildflowers dance happily as you amble by.

Our tripper was amazing and handled the challenging 5km’s to the camp at a slow careful pace