Gecko | Adventuring into Retirement

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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.

Thanks to Colin’s wonderful initiative and organisation we are once again having a Gecko Caravan gathering in the Western Cape. This time the venue is in the beautiful Garden Route National Park – Wilderness Section. Twenty-two Geckos will be invading Ebb and Flow Rest Camp for four nights. Some of us, however, have chosen to come for a little longer.

For those who are reading my blog for the first time or have come across it by accident let me explain about Gecko. A small family business in Haenetzburg, Limpopo has been building Gecko Off-Road Caravans for some years now. Each caravan is numbered in the order in which it came off the production line. So in our case, we are Gecko 81 having been the 81st Gecko built. Most Gecko owners belong to a WhatsApp group where ideas and experiences are exchanged. Because we are all proud Gecko owners we get excited when we meet a fellow owner and all over the country Gecko rallies are sometimes arranged. This will be the third one that we have attended and because it is being held in a summer month on the very popular garden route it is being very well attended with some folk coming from other provinces to join us.

Together with Cath and Alec, owners of Gecko 109, we decided to come a day early. We then contacted new Gecko Owners who recently bought number 12, and also live in Struisbaai, to join us. At the last minute they agreed and we set off together this morning at quarter to eight. BUT – disaster struck and just outside Struisbaai, Chris and Rita lost a wheel from their caravan! We were just about to pull off to wait for them when we noticed them not following when a car flashed lights at us and pulled over. We stopped behind her and she informed us of the disaster. Chris had been unable to ring us as Vodocom was down. But then it came back into function and we rang to see if we should turn back. Chris said that help was on the way and we should just go ahead. Thanks to Agri Bredasdorp they were able to get the problem solved at the roadside. We had just set up at Ebb and Flow when they arrived with no damage done to their caravan.

Ons is so bly dat julle veilig deurgekom het, Chris en Rita. Dit gaan ‘n baie lekker paar dae wees!

The weather today was overcast but very warm and there was no wind. Our three caravans are parked together under large shady trees. There are about eight of us already set up and ready to greet the rest of our fellow Gecko friends tomorrow.

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