South Africa

Robertson - Gariep Dam - Pretoria - Mupangubwe

It was with mixed feelings that we left Robertson on the 13 October 2014.  Glad to finally be on our way after 6 months of planning, but sad to say goodbye to Robertson Backpackers & our beloved Staffie - Floyd.  It was 8 am when we left & by the time we climbed over the Hex River Pass, the scenery had changed from the lush green of the Breede Valley to Karoo desert scrub – the vineyards were replaced by rocks and bushes.  I have travelled the N1 quite a few times, and I always seem to forget how long it is.  After Beaufort West, the “Stop & Go’s “start.  Annoying for some, but a great opportunity for us smokers.  People don’t realize that we smoke because we have to.  It is not like braaing.  Tell a South African he can’t braai on the side of the road & he will be fine – a smoker won’t.   At these breaks, Mzungu seemed to attract attention.  One bloke, translocating with his dog from De Doorns to De Aar, wanted to know where we were heading.   Uganda, we told him.  With a look of disbelief, he jumped back into his bakkie & waited for the lights to turn green.  

Sunrise from our campsite

Our first over night stop was Gariep Dam, where we spent our first 3 nights fine tuning our camping skills.  Gariep Dam is the Free States version of Still Baai or Laangebaan, with yachts lying idle in the water & boere-boroque I-have- a-million-in-the-bank houses fighting for the best view of the dam. When we arrived, there were only 3 other campers, but with 107 campsites we all had plenty of space.  The next morning, they all left and we had the whole place to ourselves.  That was until Lennie, Boetie & Sissie arrived in there Red Chinese No-Name car & set up camp right in front of us spoiling our view. During sundowners, we were forced to watch a game of badminton – not quite Olympic standards, but more amusing than expected.

Gariep is a great half- way stop between Robertson & Pretoria, our next destination, but the main reason was to sort out the packing of Mzungu.  Here are a couple of tips we learnt in the art of packing.

·         just because there is space, doesn’t mean that you need to fill it.

·         Just because you have something, doesn’t mean you need to take it

·         Do a trial run, because there will always be something, you forgot to pack, and  something you packed that you don’ t need

·         Pack your clothes & then take out half & leave it behind – you will not need it

·         When in doubt, leave it out.

Gariep Dam Campsite – Forever Resorts

Cost  -  R 90-00 pp  |   No. of days Stayed  -  3  |  Wi-Fi  -  Yes   |  Electricity Point  -  Yes

Reason for staying: Half way stop & to sort out our camping gear.

Attraction: Gariep Dam

Rating:  8/10

Comments:  Clean, friendly, well organized shady grassed sites overlooking the yacht harbor in a sheltered basin.  Only one big ablution block, quite a walk away from the water front sites. 

View from our campsite - Gariep dam

Tshipshe Camp site – Foreveresorts

Cost  -  R 195-00 pp  |   No. of days Stayed  -  1  |  Wi-Fi  -  Dubious   |  Electricity Point  -  Yes

Reason for staying: Close to Beit Bridge Border

Attraction: Hot springs

Rating:  5/10

Comments:  Expensive & unfriendly.  The staff make you feel like you are taking away their lunch hour.  There is, of course, the hot springs. The most alluring thing here after Wi-Fi, but were here for neither.  We are here to go through the dreaded Beit Bridge border Post.  After using there Wi-Fi & spending an hour trying to get onto Facebook, Beit Bridge seemed a cinch.

There were about 15 campers in 6 sites.  We all had to use one ablution block, even though there are about 9, the others were locked, so we all had to crowd around Block 6.  Half the sites around block 6 had water sprinklers on, so they couldn’t be used.  Would have given them a 2, if I wasn’t feeling so tired & had a good night’s sleep.