Gecko Road Trip 2024 – Camdeboo

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Following our trip to Karoo National Park, we went to Camdeboo near Graaff-Reinet. This was our third visit to the park, although the weather was less favorable than during our previous stays. While caravanning in a small caravan offers more comfort than camping in a tent, it’s still not ideal when the weather prevents you from enjoying the outdoors. The only disadvantage of the Gecko is the limited space available indoors. However, we set up our indoor table, brought the kettle and other essentials inside, and managed to enjoy our breakfast without getting wet!

We did two game drives on our full day in the park. The first we accessed from the campsite but were prevented from accessing the whole park because of an inaccessible road. Later in the day, we traveled 5 kilometers through the town and onto the R63 to reach the game reserve’s entrance gate.

Our heroes contemplating whether to forge the raging river! Discretion is the better part of valour!

Despite our best efforts, we saw very little. It seems the creatures were hiding in their burrows, dens, and nests! Below are the photos of what we saw on both drives.

The Vervet Monkeys were amusing and certainly found us just as interesting as we found them.

These mischievous cousins were all over the place.

We were lucky enough to spot Black Wildebeest also known as White-tailed Gnu. They were quite a distance away so photographs are not that clear.

Even the birds were scarce but we enjoyed those that braved the cold and wet. Spotted Thick-knee are very photogenic. Ostriches seem to like any weather.

We departed from the park at 5 o’clock. Earl and I had enjoyed meals at Pioneers restaurant during previous visits to Graaff-Reinet, so we opted to dine there for supper. To our surprise, it was now under new management and renamed Frontier. Despite the alterations, the cuisine remained outstanding. Even though it was early on a Sunday evening, the place was bustling, and we were fortunate to secure a table. Cath and Alec savored tasty lamb shanks, Earl chose the Springbok shank, and I indulged in a delightful traditional Bobotie.

We left Camdeboo this morning and arrived at Mountain Zebra at 11:15 am. The weather was cold and overcast but it did not rain so setting up camp went smoothly. More about our visit here next time.

Gecko Road Trip October 2024 Day 3,4 and 5 Karoo National Park

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Wednesday 16 October 2024 to Friday, 18 October 2024

We spent three lovely days exploring the Karoo National Pak. On Wednesday, the weather started off cool but warmed up beautifully as the day progressed. Thursday, was very hot and we did not spend much time out. Today, Friday, started off quite cool but by the afternoon it was hot again.

On Tuesday we took the Klipspringer and Potlekkertjie Loop. We didn’t spot any klipspringers but we did encounter Grey Rhebok on the Potlekkertjie loop.
We stopped at the Doornhoek Picnic site for breakfast and a loo break.

Once again we were intrigued by the wonderland of ancient rock formations dating back to the Permian Period. Millions of years ago dinosaurs roamed these plains.

Below is a list of the creatures we encountered: the first group consists of mammals, and the second group comprises birds.

‘Mom who are those strange looking primates:” “Distant cousins, dear – pay them no attention – they’re the nasty side of the fmily’

We heard and saw a number of birds but of course, most of them did not stop to pose for their portraits. Thanks to those who indulged the Paparazzi. The Verreaux’s eagles were the highlight of the day. I spotted them when I stopped to look at pale-winged starlings. We got out at the viewpoint but could not see them from there so went back to just before that and got some reasonable shots.

Over the next two days, we saw much of the same, and I will let the photos below tell the story.

On Thursday, we popped in at Bulkraal Picnic Site near the gate and were impressed with the facilities. On Wednesday and Friday, we had our breakfast at Doornhoek Picnic Site, which is on the Potlettertjie Loop.

There is always some bird activity at picnic sites and Bulkraal did not disappoint.

Baboons are always so amusing and this morning as we were coming around the bend of we encountered a troop using the wall as a lookout. They were not impressed with us and one clung to the grooves in the wall hoping we would not spot him.

The birds were particularly active today but not all would pose for the Paparazzi. We had a stunning sighting of two secretary birds. One was in a tree and another flew in to say hi to him and then they scurried away at great speed making photography extremely difficult. The photos are simply too bad to be published! Below are the more obliging of the feathered friends.

Very common and very pretty – Cape Sparrow

These female ostriches camouflage so well. We wonder if they’re sitting on eggs?

The mammals also gave us some lovely Kodak Moments.

Mountain zebras are particularly photogenic

A Grey Rhebok surprised us on the road and leaped off into the bush but we still managed to get some shots of him.

This afternoon, we packed as much as we could for our departure tomorrow. In the evening, we dined at the camp’s restaurant. Earl, Cathy, and Alec savored the oxtail potjie, while I indulged in the venison potjie—sorry, Bambi!

And it looks like this will be my last post on WordPress as I have run out of free space. I will have to think about what I am going to do – give up blogging or set up a paid space.

Gecko Roadtrip October 2024 – Day 2 Oudtschoorn to Karoo National Park

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We awoke to clear blue skies this morning, but it was still fairly chilly. I dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. We were all up by 7:30 and went to the Kleinplaas restaurant for breakfast. You could choose from a full buffet of cereals, yogurt, fruit, eggs, bacon, etc., or have a plated health breakfast of cereal, yogurt, fruit, or bacon and eggs. Earl and I had bacon and eggs while Cathy and Alec settled for the health.

At around 09:00 we left to make the two and a half hour drive to Karoo National Park. Once again we enjoyed another beautiful mountain pass. Swartberg Pass starts from the quaint village of De Rust. What an amazing feat of human engineerng this pass is. Imagine the Voortrekkers of old having to make their way across these majestic mountains in their ox wagons. What amazingly brave and tough people these men and women were.

Day 2 Journey – Oudtschoorn to Karoo National Park near Beaufort West

The road has dramatic twists and bends and the scenery is magnifcent. The sheer rock faces in hues of grey and red are interspersed with lush green pockets of vegetation that miraculously sprout from the dry, stony earth. Once over the pass the landscape becomes typically semi-desert with scattered trees and scrub and the lovely low flat topped mountains and koppies.

Although the skies were clear and blue there was a nip in the air and the wind was blowing. When we entered the park the gate guard told us that it was summer last week but now winter had returned!

I love the colour of the Karoo and the park displays the tapestry of ochres, rusty reds and deep orange in its rocks and soil. The vegetation is a show of different shades of mauves, pinks, browns, greens and yellows.

After checking in we found two lovely sites next each other and soon set up camp. The fascilities are stunning. Everything is neat and well maintained. There is a camp kitchen and a laundry and the ablution block is spotlessly clean.

We spent the afternoon in camp and enjoyed the birds and animals that don’t mind sharing their habitat with humans.

I strongly disapprove of feeding the wildlife but I am sure there are people wno do otherwise why would a beautiful kudu female feel so comfortable among us? She visited us today and it was extremely tempting to offer her a carrot or some cabbage but I would not allow The Earl to give in to his emotions. You can see from the photographs how tame this creature is. She visits the campsite often but is truly wild and goes to join her kudu friends once she’s greeted everyone in camp.

Gecko Road Trip October 2024 – Day 1 Struisbaai to Oudtschoorn

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Monday 14 October 2024

For those reading my blog for the first time, let me explain the title of this post. The Gecko Caravan is a rare species. There are just over two hundred of them in Southern Africa and most of us are on a WhatsApp group where we share news. tips about camping and adaptations to our vans, etc. Each Gecko is numbered according to when it was manufactured so if you see a Gecko Off-road Caravan with the number 81, you will know it was the 81st one built. That just happens to be the number of the one we are the proud owners of. Our travelling companions are Alec and Cathy who own Gecko 109. They live in Napier, 50 km from Struisbaai. If you don’t already know, Struisbaai is a small fishing village near Cape Agulhas, the southern tip of Africa.

We met our friends at the silo towers, Bredasdorp at 09:00 and set off for the first leg of our journey. We will spend one night at Kleinplaas Campsite, Oudtschoorn, then four nights at Karoo National Park, two nights at Camdeboo, and finally four nights at Mountain Zebra National Park.

The weather today was cool and overcast and we had a few splashes of rain too. It might have been overly optimistic to dress in jeans and a short-sleeved T-shirt but my fleece gave me enough warmth while in the car!

Our journey graced us with stunning vistas. Route 62 boasts breathtaking landscapes, grand mountains, and imposing cliffs that stand over pristine streams. The delightful natural flora is a sight to cherish.

Following our traverse of the Tradouw Pass, we stopped for breakfast at The Country Pumpkin in Barrydale. We highly recommend this restaurant not only for its ambiance and quaint decor but for the excellent food served. You can also purchase delicious confectionery, home-bottled preserves, and souvenirs from their shop.

We arrived at our first overnight stop, Kleinplaas Campsite in Oudtshoorn at 13:00. The sites are spacious, grassed, and shady. The ablutions are well-maintained, clean, and neat.

After setting up we relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. The birds were active and I managed to get a few photographs.

We ordered pizzas from Debonair’s which were delivered to the campsite and then turned in early as it was a tad chlly sitting outdoors this evening.

Tomorrow we head for Karoo National Park. Watch this space.

Share Your World Monday 2 September 2024

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from pensitivity101

1. What was the last photograph you took?
I take lots of photographs. The last ones I took were of my friend’s birthday tea which I don’t want to post here. Instead, I am posting one of the Oriental cats, Mike and Alan who live next door but visit us daily.

2. When was your last field trip?
As a teacher, I regularly took my learners on field trips. The last one would have been in November 2014. It was a visit to Rondevlei and this is what I wrote about it at the time.

The Rondevlei Nature Reserve is located in Grassy Park, Zeekoevlei and Lavenderhill, suburbs of Cape Town. The bird sanctuary covers approximately 290 hectares of mostly permanent wetland and consists of a single large brackish lagoon which attracts many water birds.

Once again Ann and Andrea were there to present a puppet show and teach the children about the importance of wetlands. After this, there was a nature walk, a climb up a tall tower giving us a bird’s eye view of the vlei and a visit to one or two of the hides.

The children had an amazing time and surprised their teachers and guides with their informed answers to questions and interest in their environment.

3. What is your favourite pastime as an adult?

As a retired adult, my time is my own and I am free to enjoy a variety of activities. The best part is that nothing is done in a rush so even preparing meals and keeping the house tidy is a pleasure.

I read a lot, keep a diary, learn Italian and blog. I also enjoy knitting although I don’t do it very often. I usually take a daily walk and take different routes depending on the weather.

My hobby is birdwatching so the thing I most like to do is watch the birds in my garden. I also watch birds wherever I happen to find myself,

4. Do people ask you for advice?

Yes, but my advice is not always well-received. I always say, “If I was in your shoes this is what I would do,” But I am not in their shoes so they need to make choices for themselves and figure out their own solutions in the end.

I rather like Aunt Acid’s advice on the secret of the art of living.

Share Your World Monday 5 August 2024

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from pensitivity101

Here are this week’s questions:
1. Do you like decorating or would you prefer to have someone come in and do it for you if you could afford it?
The home we live in now and the one in which we raised our kids went through several re-decorations. We went for practicality not shenfu! It would be amazing to have someone else come in and do a makeover like you see on TV!

2. Do you prefer papered or painted walls in your home?
I prefer painted walls. We used to have papered walls a long time ago but it was a relief to have it all removed and the walls painted white.
I would actually love to have a red or purple wall or two. My husband won’t hear of it!

3. Where do you go when you want to be alone or have some quality Me Time?
I have alone time on my daily walk. Because we are retired my hubby and I spend most of our time together. I don’t feel the need to escape for Me Time.

4. If you buy a treat for yourself (say a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine) do you like to share?
Yes – it’s more fun to share the pleasures of life!

Gratitude:

I am grateful for a relaxed lifestyle and good health to enjoy it.

Western Province Deep Sea Angling Association Prize Giving

Share Your World Monday 22 July 2024

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from sensitivity101

1. When you retire (or when you retired) do you have a picture of a small cottage with a white picket fence outside in a quiet village or something similar?
I did not picture any such thing. Hubby retired nine months before I did at the age of 70. I had just turned 62 when I left my teaching post at the end of the school year. We still had a houseful of family and pets and were very busy with our clubs and social life. The plan was to stay where we were until we died. Never ever did I plan to move permanently to our holiday home in Struisbaai! But the idea of it became more and more attractive as the post-retirement months flew by. After six months we decided that living in that quiet and sleepy village was exactly what we wanted to do. If we didn’t like it we could always move back. We bought a caravan to spend more time in the bush and although we’re unsure if it was the best decision we made we have not regretted it. Nine years of Struisbaai, caravanning, and other travel have been blissful. We are still able to visit our family and friends frequently and when that changes we will deal with whatever becomes necessary.

2. What do you associate with school dinners (apart from school of course) ?
In South Africa, we did not have school dinners. Every child had a lunchbox filled with whatever Mom decided to put in it. A lot of swapping went on. I was a picky eater. Sandwiches were dried out and inedible when break time came around. I preferred carrot sticks and polony. My mother gave us a cooked breakfast before school and I often did not eat my school lunch. School was over by 2:15 and I would have ‘lunch’ then.

3. Can you play a musical instrument?
I took piano lessons for about a year when I was seven. At college, I learned to play a few tunes on the recorder. I can’t do either now.
My daughter learned piano and guitar. She is pretty good on a keyboard now.

4. What made you smile today?

When an American patron offered to take a photo of my hubby and me having lunch with my brother and sister-in-law, I handed her a ‘real’ camera and not a phone and she didn’t know how to use it.

However, once I showed her, she took a pretty good photo.

Gratitude

I am grateful for my siblings

Share Your World – Monday 15 July 2o24

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Here are my answers to this week’s challenge from Di

1. Do you have a bestie (ie. best friend)
I have four best friends each of whom has had a special effect on my life. I am still in close contact with each of them, although we don’t live in the same town anymore.

My BFF and I have been friends since we were seven years old. We are now seventy-one! We are true soulmates and can almost read each other’s minds. Often she comes to mind and then the phone rings and it’s her and vice versa. We just seem to know when the one needs the other.

The next best friend I met was when I was twenty-one. We are ‘buddies’ and have shared many life experiences together. She is the one I’ll call to meet for shopping and coffee excursions!

Then I have a best friend who is nine years younger than me. We became very close when we taught at the same school and then became close neighbours. She was also my ‘running mate’ and we would run together for many years. My house was her house and her house was my house.

I am very close to my fourth best friend who I met when I was 35 and she was 49. She was my mentor and made a huge impact on my teaching career. She also introduced me to birdwatching.

2. Do you have a lot of friends?
I don’t think I have a lot but I love the ones I do have. I have a group of friends who I’ve been friends with since my college days and when we lived in Cape Town we met once a month for breakfast. It was a great way to keep in touch and I still go to those breakfasts if I’m in town.

I also have friends who live abroad that I keep up with.

Here in our retirement town, we have made some very good friends and we socialise regularly with them.

3. Has a friend ever let you down to the extent that the friendship has died?
There is one person who turned out not to be quite as honest as I thought he was. His actions caused me to find out his true nature and that made it impossible to continue being his friend.

I tend to live and let live and consider myself tolerant. We all make mistakes and that’s fine, but when a relationship makes you feel uncomfortable it’s best to let it go. Both parties should just move on.

4. Are you more likely to confide in a friend rather than family?
It depends on what I need to confide. Generally, my life is an open book. I don’t have many secrets. I would probably tell my BFF before letting my family into what’s troubling me. My family is, however, very supportive so it wouldn’t be long before I let them know what was troubling me.