During our holiday in August…in South Africa……we were very lucky to find accommodation at a place next to the Swadini Forever Resort (previously Aventura). I grew up in the Eastern Transvaal….now Mpumalanga…which means…”place of the rising sun” (which is the East…of course)…We drove through Lydenburg, spent time on the farm where I grew up…Krugerspost, between Lydenburg and - click link = Pilgrims Rest, the historical town, and then ventured off to the Echo Caves, but first stopped at Ohrigstad to fill-up the car. We first thought to stay at the Echo Caves Motel, but changed our minds and headed for Blyde……thought that we will just pop-in and have a place to stay! But, we….didn’t know about the long weekend…Thursday was Women’s day…and the Friday was a public holiday…! Anyway…..got at Blyde River Forever Resort…”sorry…we are fully booked!” Oh my….ok, it is 7pm, (not late, hey!) …..there are loads of B&B places which we saw on different roads, very close, so…let’s go!
Just as we took a turn-off, stopped to look at an entrance of a B&B…Andre stopped next to us…he was our angel!…”Hello…are you lost?”…he asked very friendly and with him was his partner….”No…, but we’re looking for a place to stay”, we replied…”Come with us…you can stay in Marius’s lodge!”…We didn’t wait for a second invitation…tired of being all day on the road basically from Groblersdal…we followed him…for only just about 80 m! What we got, was a fantastic lodge, place for about 10 people to stay…we could pick and choose where to sleep, like Goldilocks!! haha..I tried different beds…playing Goldilocks…! It was fun…2 bathrooms, showers …huge kitchen…(if you keep coming back to my blog later, you will see all of this)…fantastic…and ….”because you don’t have any cleaning services for the weekend, you can pay R30 per person less…,” he continued through all the non-stop talking! I wanted to say: “Shut up! you’re talking too much,” because Andre was talking non-stop about all the places we can visit and the more he talked, the more excited he got!! He also told us about - click here: - Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre, but our time was limited and you have to book to go there. Our boat trip was already booked for the same time we could go to Moholoholo, so sadly, we couldn’t go there, as we were heading for Pilgrims Rest and Sabie the following day…If my memory hasn’t gone lost…”moholoholo” means something like…”falling rock”…(rolling rock…can’t remember…)
Whoops! Just found this link! This is where we stayed…!!Link….: Lodge
You will see the name of Marius at the bottom of this page if you click on the link… The lodge we stayed in, looked like the one at the bottom of the page…and our rooms looked a lot more luxurious than that pic with the bed…maybe that is a store-room-bed….:))
It was really fantastic…loads to do and see….even a waterfall about 30 min’s walk from the road….stunning! …..these pictures here…let me explain…this place is the “other side” (the back) of the famous “Three Rondavels“…or like most people in SA…know…..Bourke’s Luck…this is (click this link)… Blyde River-country! The Blyde River is in the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest in the world….and the greenest canyon in the world…..click on the key words at the end of the post…”Blyde River Canyon” or the others…and you will find more on my blog about this Canyon. You can even do a search in the box top corner, left. I also have a link on the site saying…”the greenest…” follow that link to read more…Ok, the boat…on the photos you can see the dam, or part of it! We went for a trip on the dam…first we thought it’s going to be just us! Then more and more people arrived…it was really interesting…a guide gave us lots of interesting information, there is a waterfall, a Tufa, (read on the link more about a Tufa waterfall)….and it is about 43m…the third longest Tufa waterfall in the world…for South Africans knowing about the waterfall at the Strydom Tunnel:….that is also a Tufa!! I didn’t know it…never too late to learn something, hey! We spent an hour on the boat for R70 and I really think it was worth going…the guide also took us to the Hippo’s! He showed us some crocks….and a bonsai tree on a rock…I’ve got a picture of it…will post it shortly…You can also see the wall of the dam. The guide also said that he was going to appear on the nature program, (click) 50/50 at one point to tell people about the Tufa waterfall.
On THIS LINK you can watch a movie about our holiday trip in this area with more photos to enjoy.
God created the world just like a knife and left it up to us to take it by the handle or the blade--C J Langenhoven
Seek in the past everything that is good and clean and build thereon your future...Paul Kruger
Vriende moet soos boeke wees, min, maar goed uitgesoek --Langenhoven
Goeie boeke en musiek verryk jou siel --Langenhoven
Let those love now who never loved before. Let those who always loved now love the more. --Thomas Parnell
Dam fine pictures !!!: ))
Thanks Tony!
Dear Nikita,
I was interested to read on this blog that you made mention of Krugers Post farm. You also mentioned that you grew up there. I know that there are two parts of Krugers Post, and I grew up on the farm where the road sepperates the old House (now stable) from the gamefarm. My Grandmother owned “De Nek” where many years ago there used to be a restaurant. This Same Grandmother’s Grandfather was The one and only Abel Erasmus, whom is mentioned in quite a few history articles for this region.
Kind regards
Hendrik
Hi Hendrik…VERY interesting!! We could be family!! because…I know my mum has told us that Abel Erasmus fits in “somewhere” in our family-history! I will have to ask her again …where/how…Are you talking about the “Oom Ben” Restaurant? that’s a restaurant that sat on the “nek” just before “Verraaiersnek”… I don’t know about the “two parts” of Krugerspost… I know only the “one”…part…there’s a little station…a sideline…years ago it was called “Schalksrus”…named after my great grandad…Schalk Willem Burger…acting Pres in Kruger’s time..when he was in Switzerland…so tell me which part do you know…I don’t know the “old house” you’re referring…more details will help… our farm’s turn-off was about 30m before that station….the farm’s name isn’t on a sign-board… pity..but you have to drive about 2km on a dusty road before you come to the farm where I grew up…the graveyard is still ours…as my dad and great (great) grandad are burried there… I was there again in July/Aug with this trip… would like to hear more from you…hope you come back…
Hi Nikita,
Oom Ben was a great uncle, and Oom Faan de Clerque was an uncle to my gran. The house we lived in was the house that has the windpump and small round dam right next to the road. The cemetary I know of is located inside the game camp that we owned. My Grand parents on my mums side Rugger and Donna Williams are both Buried there. Our Neighbour was Frans van der Merwe, whom still lives there, they have the peach tree patch down towards te river. The house I was reffering to, was the house that the current owbers live in now. Many years ago, when Paul Kruger actually colleccted from there, the house was where the stables are now. The house has a lovely big barn, as well as 109 year old tree that my Aunty Dora’s mum planted (I’ve heard many stories about kids having to pick up the acorn’s… My Eldest Brother (Francois Potgieter) has land up in Krans Kloof not too far away, towards Lydenburg. He lives in lydenbrugh though running his Massey Ferguson and BP garrage.
I think I know the turnoff that you are talking about, as it is the edge of the small camp the catle used to overnight before going back into the larger fields. (This particular gravil road I have been on and was quite like “sink plaat” as many of them are…
Speak Soon
Regards
Hendrik
Hi Hendrik! wow…you won’t believe me! I know Francios Potgieter… he lived next door on the farm! I saw his sons the other day with our trip…! I know him well…and … I know you! I know your grandparents! Auntie Donna! lovely people..if the email you left me is the correct email, I will drop you a line soon…
What a small world hey!
Speak soon.
[...] see more pictures of that area. I focused on this movie mostly on nature images …do enjoy! On THIS LINK you can see more pictures and links to sites to book a holiday! and on THIS LINK you can see [...]