Omdat ons by die see woon vermy ons gewoonlik die malligheid van ‘n Desember vakansie by die see en kies eerder koers binneland toe.  Karoo toe.  En waar meer kry jy Karoo as in die Baviaanskloof? 

Hier is dit boeklees-tyd, koffie-tyd, gesels-tyd en vriende maak-tyd weg van tegnologie en die gewoel van die stad.  Die staanplekke is met groot sorg uitgelê sodat elkeen ‘n koelte kolletjie het, wat belangrik is in die somer, maar tog nie so ingedruk dat jy oor mekaar kamp nie.  Dit is nogal iets wat vir ons baie punte tel.

Hier is oorgenoeg om te doen, as jy iets wil doen!   Jy word  begroet met ‘n blouste blou plaasdam swembad met ‘n groen grassie wat sorgvuldig elke dag nat gemaak word en waar die kinders bal skop en speel terwyl die grootmense in en rondom die dam kuier.   Wat is nou lekkerder as dit? 

As jy die oggend energiek voel kan jy met die paadjie stap tot bo op die kop en die wêreld bespied tot daar ver.  Begin maar vroeg, want hier word dit warm in die somer.  

Indien jy  wil weet in die buitewêreld aangaan kan jy data koop en op die regte kolletjie opvangs kry.  Omdat die kloof afgeleë is, is tegnologiese konneksies  uitdagend hierso, so hou moed.  Die klein winkeltjie het die mees basiese goed en ietsie koud, maar bring maar jou luukses saam vanaf die huis.   In die droogte tyd is die kampplek en winkeltjie vir die mense ‘n lewensaar so ondersteun hulle.

Jy kan ook jou fiets pak om die paaie in die kloof verder te verken.   Ons gesin het egter heelwat tyd spandeer om die kleiner voël lewe dop te hou en te identifiseer terwyl ons agter die koelte aan geskuif het. 

Die weer verander vinnig hier. Ons het in die hitte van die somer gekamp, maar een middag het die weer vinnig ‘n ander neiging getoon toe ‘n ysige wind instoot en ons moes skuiling gaan soek in die lapa teen bakke vol reën. Wees maar voorbereid vir alles!

Uitspan is ook ‘n lekker oornag stop vir ‘n eerste of laaste aand wanneer jy ver reis, want dit is aan die westelike ingang van die Baviaanskloof geleë.  Daar is ook chalets indien jy wil vroeg roer omdat die pad nog lank is. 

Akkommodasie:  kamp, boskamp en chalets

Waar:  westelike ingang na die Baviaanskloof  (  Longitude: 23.7008   Latitude: -33.51585)

Naaste dorp:  Willowmore (45 km)

Kontak:  Nico & Alta Smith  (044 923 1511)

oooOooo

*Artikel soos verskyn in Kamp is Lekker se aanlyn tydskrif vir Oktober 2020*

Kamp is Lekker>

The post UITSPAN TYD BY UITSPAN appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

Instead, I am taking you to a big tree in the forest aptly named “Big Tree”.  I left the home base a bit earlier to give myself time to stop in the heart of the Tsitsikamma.  The big trees of our native forests are not as big as the massive Red Woods that you find in the United States, but they stand tall to reach the rays of sunlight.  

 The Outeniqua Yellowwood tree is South Africa’s national tree which makes this particular big tree even more special.  Its age is estimated at 1 000 years.  Getting to the Big Tree is easy.  Driving in an easterly direction you will see the sign on your left-hand side just before the Total garage at Stormsrivier.  There is a big safe parking lot where you can leave your car and take a walk. After paying your entrance fee (R21) it is an easy 10-minute walk into the forest along a boardwalk to the tree. 

Walking along you will feel, see and smell the forest.  Some trees along the route are identified and marked for easy identification.  Also be on the lookout for some mushrooms that will bloom in the foliage.    Remember that you are in a national park and no picking and removing of any plant material is allowed.  At the end of the walkway this queen will show herself.  Thankfully she was spared the woodcutter’s axes during the turn of the century.

This tree stands 36,6 m tall and has a trunk circumference of 9 m and will take about 12 people to form a circle around her base.  From the tree there are two additional trails covering 2,6 km and 4,2 km for those who would like to get in touch with the forest a little bit more. 

– – – – – – – – – – –

The post THE QUEEN OF THE YELLOWWOODS appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

As the interest in motor sport runs deep in our veins we have visited a couple of motor museums in Europe in the past.  This is no Porsche Museum or Alfa Romeo museum that spread over several floors and hosts any model that  you can think of and more.  This is rather an intimate display of loved Volkswagen products on the premises of the factory located at 130 Algoa Road in Uitenhage.

In  the “Meet the Beetles” area you will meet Herbie from the movies who needs no introduction.  Delilah which is in pristine condition with no plastic surgery done and less than 1 000 km on the clock.  Delilah starts her history on 2 February 1972 at a price of R1 848.  It appears she was part of a divorce settlement agreement however her first owner did not have a driver’s license so she was put in storage for 24 years until her owner passed away.  Since she was put on the auction block in Petrusville (yes, I had to go and Google to find Petrusville) Delilah found her way to Uitenhage and are well looked after currently.

Then there is Matti, which is the youngest ever Beetle in South Africa.  He was the very last Beetle that rolled off the production line on 18 January 1979.  Being last on the production line Matti was fitted with all sorts of special accessories.  This is just three of the personalities in “Meet the Beetles” range.   Jeroen, fitted with sand tracks and jerry cans, also has an interesting story to tell from travels across the Sahara.

The rally Polo in the prominent green and blue colours also caught the eye.  The South African Rally Championship scene was dominated by Volkswagen from 2005 starting with a winning streak  by the legendary Jan Habig with navigator Douglas Judd and ended in 2010 with Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson as navigator.  These are but a few impressive Volkswagen accomplishments. 

But this is South Africa and there are many, many more interesting stories to be told out there.  Beetles, Golfs and nowadays Polos tend to have interesting lives and legends to tell, especially if they had a student life once upon a time.  We would like to hear your interesting stories so drop us a comment at the bottom of the post.

For the younger and inquisitive ones there is an interactive area where they can learn about pistons and crankshafts and try their skill on a rally car or observe a science experiment.  I will say it is good value for money if you keep in mind that the entrance fee is only R5 for kids. 

HOURS:

Weekday 08:30 to 16:00 and every first Saturday of the month from 10:00 to 13:00.

ENTRANCE FEE: 

R10 per adult and scholars and pensioners R5. Remember to prebook your factory tour.

The post A CAR FOR THE NATION appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

Check your tyres before you drive off. It sounds a bit foolish, but this can safe you some embarrassment if you just walk around your vehicle once to check if all your tyres are still okay and inflated to the correct pressure.  Now you are ready to hit the road and enjoy the rest of your trip.   

Tyre compressors and gauges at garages, especially in remote locations, are not always correct.  Be aware of that.  We have a habit of using our own tyre pressure gauge that we carry in our cubbyhole.   Part of our standard equipment includes a tyre repair kit and the knowledge of how to use when necessary.

When visiting a sandy location remember that it is way easier to drive early morning when the sand is still cold and hard.  When the sand warms up later in the day it gets more difficult to drive and accompanying that fact it also increases your fuel consumption.  This is especially an important fact if you have to budget, and carry your own fuel in remote locations.   When sand is thick and slow deflate your tyres.  It makes a huge difference on your driving ability.  It will also let you look like a pro.

Africa is a dusty continent.  Drive with your headlights on even during daytime.  Doing this you might get stopped by the local police who will tell you that it is illegal to have them on during time.  (At this point smile and be nice and say okay sorry and switch it off).   Switch them off while standing there, but as soon as you pull away put them back on.  This makes your visibility in dusty conditions better to other hectic drivers.  This saved us a couple of times on our expeditions in the past!

Gravel roads are in abundance wherever you travel in Africa. There are two things that you should remember when overtaking a vehicle.    Due to dust you are not always visible to the driver in front of you (remember the tip on the headlights) and move as far right as you possibly can when overtaking.  Drivers are not always in control of their vehicles …  Many a time we were taken by surprise on their moves on the road. 

Look ahead of you when you are driving and keep your eyes on the road surface.  If you see that the road widens at the edges, be sure that you will soon hit a pothole if you are not observant.  Changes in the colour of the tar road – becoming more red/white – is a sure sign that there is a pothole ahead. 

A night drive can sometimes be challenging as you have to keep a look out for all the of the above as well as stray animals wandering onto the road, because of no fences on the farms.  

The long and the short of this is keep your eyes open and be wide awake.  We know that African roads are not always on par with rest of the world, but this is part of the charm of the African continent.  Everything does not always work as they should.  Keep you cool and enjoy the ride!

Also read our post Going solo off the beaten track for more practical advice.

The post TIPS ON HOW TO NEGOTIATE AFRICAN ROADS appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

On 15 March 2019 the catchment area of the Baviaanskloof had a down pour of about 75 mm in a time span of 40 minutes which caused huge damage to roads and alike.  Once through Raaskrans and crossing the first “drif” we noticed that big amounts of water rushed through the kloof.  Debris was hanging from trees to indicate the water’s reach.  This was the trend for the next two days – short and easy water crossing, longer water crossings, washed away water crossings and then there is the (in)famous water crossing at Smitskraal.  This is where we also encountered two bikers that was soaking wet, but with big smiles on their faces.  They just enjoyed the ride!

The 197 km long kloof is adorned with interesting names such as Vensterklip, where a skirmish between English and Boer took place, Doodsklip, Queen Victoria’s bust, Studtis and Babes se winkel.  If you get to know the history of the kloof you will also learn that JG Strijdom was born in the kloof and a book by PH Nortjè is based on the kloof.  Other points of interest are the Campbell monument which was erected to commemorate the floods of 1916 where several people succumbed to flood water rushing through the area.  The little DR Church with its red roof was also relocated to Zaaimansvlakte after it has been washed away in the 1916 floods.  So, there are a lot of sadness and interesting stories in the kloof if you look closer.  Take your time when you pass through the kloof. You will encounter different types of traffic from bicycles to donkey carts and beyond.  

If you are not comfortable with no cell phone reception and be disconnected from the outside world, this is not the place for you.   In the kloof people are friendly and always have time for a bit of chatter.  Be courteous and enquire about their wellbeing as well.  Sometimes you, as the visitor, is the only contact they might have with the outside world for some weeks.  Life is slow here.  Enjoy the ride.  At the moment you will definitely need a 4×4 to traverse the kloof as no road repairs were done to date.  It might also be a good idea to make sure your spare tyre is in good condition.  Despite driving careful we got a cut on the outside wall of one of our tyres, luckily no big damage, but come prepared. 

Lastly, remember this is also a popular ride for motorbike enthusiasts.  Be aware of them and especially around corners stick to your side and on steep inclines give them right of way – they will appreciate it!  If an accident happen here it takes hours to get help to this remote part of the world. 

A good place to stop and stock up while you enjoy a coffee moment is at Tolbos Deli and Bistro (http://www.tolbos.co.za)  where you can buy anything from wine, jams and rusk that will make your trip more enjoyable.  Also chat with the friendly owner, Hetsie, who is always on the ready the help with some advice.

Some need to knows:

Driving conditions are slow

Watch out for wildlife – kudu and baboon are abundant

This is a water scarce area – keep water sources pristine

Watch out for motorcycles

There are camping (our favourite is Doringkloof) and various guesthouse options available in the kloof

There is no cell phone reception

Nights can get chilly, pack something warm even though it is summer

The post ….. AND WE ARE OFF TO THE BAVIAANSKLOOF MEGA RESERVE appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

Nestled in the heart of the Gamtoos Valley, 12km outside the town of Hankey in South Africa, lies the perfect spot to spend the weekend. John and Catherina Wait have outdone their selves with providing an enjoyable camping spot for the whole family at inniKloof. Whether you are looking for a place before you enter Baviaanskloof or have just exited Baviaanskloof or even just a nice breakaway weekend, this is the place to be.

inniKloof offers a main campsite with grass and multiple electricity points. The ablution facilities are neat and clean with an attached scullery. A big undercover platform is available with a built-in braai for those who do not wish to make use of the big round braais in the middle of the campsite. Might I add that these big braai pits becomes the centre of attention when a big group descends on inniKloof.

A new addition to the campsite is “Boskrapper” which offers two stands in “Bosloerie” and “Bosmusikant”.  These stands are under big yellowwood trees and are a bit more private.  These stands can only take tents and no electricity is available.  Each site has it’s own pool and the ablutions has a gas geyser and solar lighting.

With awards such as “Best Value for Money” and “Best Establishment in the Gamtoos Valley” it isn’t difficult to see why inniKloof became so popular under bigger groups as well as the small family.

Not only do they offer a big open area with shaded camping spots and ample space for kids to ride their bicycles and enjoy a game of cricket. inniKloof also now has three bush camping spots along the river. These camping spots share an ablutions. Two of the three camping spots have their own swimming rock pool and none of them has electricity. You will be away from the hustle and bustle of the big campsite, but you will have to follow a path of about 30m from your car to your camp.

Apart from the big rock swimming pool at the main camp, filled with canoes and tubes, inniKloof also offers 2 short hikes. Draaikloof is about 2.2km and Die Nek is about 2.5km. These hikes are available for overnight visitors. Day visitors can make a reservation and pay a day visitors fee to do the hikes.

Not only does inniKloof offer camping opportunities, but four pristine cottages awaits those that would rather opt for the self-catering option. Bedding is supplied and each cottage sleeps either 6 or 8 people. The cottages provides you with a kitchen, multiple rooms and a lounge as well as a bathroom with a shower and hot water.

The venue can be reached by a normal sedan car. Driving along the entrance path lined with Yellowwoods alongside the river, you immediately feel that this is a special place. A place that will steal your heart in a second. As you lose cellphone reception, you realize that this is the perfect place to get away from the city.

For bird watchers this is truly paradise, rare species such as the African Finfoot often makes it’s appearance at the waterhole. Knysna Loeries dance in the trees around the campsite and birdsong wakes you in the morning. For those who would like to relax in a different way, there is a golf course just outside of Hankey. For the food lovers, there are farmstalls all around the area in the likes of Padlangs and Tolbos close to Patensie. A visit to the Mooihoek strawberry farm to buy some good quality frozen berries is a must!

For the more adventurous, why not hike up to Bergvenster to appreciate the views over this beautiful valley. Then visit some historical sites like the Old Mill Ruins, The Miller’s Grave, Phillips’ Tunnel, Phillips’ Grave and the slave tree.

The Gamtoos Valley truly offers something for everyone. So why not make inniKloof your basecamp and explore the area.

Contact John or Catherina at 042 284 0940 or 042 284 0697 to make your booking.

oOo

*This post was reviewed on 15/12/2020

A few notes:

• Hankey has a Spar for refreshments
• inniKloof has no cellphone reception
• You need to check-in at the Reception past the campsite upon arrival
• Bring your camera with, there are plenty of birds and photo opportunities
• It is only about 2.5km gravel road

The post LET’S GO CAMPING INNIKLOOF appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

It is not as big as Kruger and as crowded as Kruger, but still give you a wildlife experience like none other.  Here you can not only see the Big Five but also, hyena, warthogs, various buck species, zebra, smaller creatures and birds (more than 417 species have been listed).  Remember that you will see lots and lots of elephants – it is after all Addo Elephant Park – and do not forget the smaller creatures and birds.

The park is within easy reach for a day drive from Port Elizabeth.  Pack a picnic basket and leave early as the gates open at 06:00 during summer and closes at 18:00, but check before you go as times change according to season.   If you do not want to do a self-drive there is also a hop-on facility at reception where an experience guide will share his knowledge with you.  They also offer horse back rides in certain sections of the park.

At the main gate near reception there is an interpretative centre where kids (and adults) can explore all kinds of interesting facts on wild animals.

For me elephants are quite amusing and I can sit and watch them for hours, especially the smaller ones that do not yet have such good control over their trunks and it more or less flip-flop all over the place.   The teenagers on the other hand are very daring and will chase anything that have an element of possible fun.

Most important of all is to respect speed limits and park rules.  Rules are there for everyone, and to the benefit of everyone, to have enjoyable experience.   If you need some tips head over to the post:  At the waterhole.

http://travelbucket.co.za/at-the-waterhole/?hilite=%27waterhole%27  

There is also more than just game viewing to the park.  Along the Woody Cape area you will find the longest untouched sand dunes in the Southern hemisphere and of course whales along the coast.

Bonus tip:  Remember during SANPARKS week in September entry to the park is free

The post ADDO ELEPHANT PARK appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.