Tag Archives: picnic spots

48 hours in Golden Gate

A public holiday long weekend in South Africa was just the excuse we needed to head back into one of our favourite South African wild places, Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

Glen Reenen Rest Camp, where cottage 25 was our abode for the two nights we spent in Golden Gate on this trip, was a festival of autumn colours. Two horses also made themselves right at home among the accommodation units, and provided loads of entertainment to us all, most especially involving Joubert either photographing them or inviting them over.

Autumn in the glen

Peek-a-boo

Beautiful horse in a beautiful place

Autumn in the glen

Glen Reenen at night (April 2015)

Autumn in the glen

Glen Reenen Rest Camp

Autumn in the glen

Joubert de Wet, Horse Whisperer

Of course we were not going to spend our time in camp only, as beautiful a place as Glen Reenen is, and we made sure we took in as much of Golden Gate’s spectacular scenery as we could fit into two days.

Sunrise over Golden Gate

Protea Corner view point

Eland from the top of Protea Corner

Freshwater crab in mountain stream

Walking in Golden Gate

Moss

In a place this beautiful, the plentiful animal and birdlife certainly is a special bonus!

Ground woodpecker

Female Red-winged starling

Grey-winged francolin

Black-backed jackal

Red hartebeest

Blesbuck

Speckled mousebird

Weaver

Red-eyed bulbul

Cape Grassbird

Black-backed jackal

Sunrise zebras

Sunrise zebra

Plains zebra

Grey rhebuck in flight

Grey rhebuck

Blesbuck

Springbok

Black wildebeest

Eland

Almost exactly two days after we arrived, we set off back home to Pretoria, convinced yet again that Golden Gate is a very special place. If you’d like to learn more about Golden Gate Highlands National Park, have a read through the special blogpost we did on the Park’s fiftieth birthday.

Our new favourite route to Golden Gate, via Sasolburg, Heilbron, Petrus Steyn and Bethlehem, a distance of about 400km from Pretoria (map drawn with Google Maps)

Loskop Dam Nature Reserve

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In the 1930’s a wall of 45m high and 506m in length was built across a gorge cut by the Olifants River, giving rise to the Loskop Dam, intended to provide reliable irrigation for farming activities through a series of canals over 480km in length that was eventually completed in the late 1940’s. As was government policy at the time, only married white men were employed on the project initially, but due to a lack of labour stalling the progress unmarried white men were also later taken on. After the wall was raised to its present height of 54m by 1980, the dam now covers an area of 2,400ha at full capacity and stretches for up to 27km upstream.

The reserve around the dam, originally proclaimed in the 1950’s, has since considerably increased in size, covering 22,850ha at present. Thanks to the exceptionally varied geology and hilly topography (ranging between 990 and 1,450m above sea level), and due to the fact that the reserve is located at the transition between the highveld grassland and lower lying bushveld biomes, a total of 1016 plant species have already been identified within its borders, unfortunately including a couple of species of exotic intruders which the reserve staff are continuously trying to eradicate. No less than 65 rare and threatened plant species occur here, including the only viable population of the Middelburg Cycad (Encephalartos middelburgensis). This amazing diversity of habitats and fodder supports almost 70 mammalian species (including leopard, brown hyena, white rhinoceros, hippopotamus, buffalo, giraffe, plains zebra, warthog, sable antelope, tsessebe, eland, kudu, nyala, bushbuck, reedbuck and oribi). Unfortunately chemical pollution entering the dam from upstream has had a devastating effect on the population of nile crocodiles, one of 42 reptile species that have been recorded at Loskop. The 367 bird species that call Loskop home include a successfully reintroduced population of red-billed oxpeckers, and other rare species like the ground hornbill, bald ibis and blue crane. The inventory of species found in this scenic reserve also includes 19 kinds of amphibians, 42 fish species (three of which introduced aliens) and 49 spider genera.

Loskop Dam Nature Reserve is managed by the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency, ably assisted by a volunteer organisation, the Friends of Loskop, who are very involved in the day-to-day running of the reserve, assisting with environmental education for visiting school groups, and projects involving the study, breeding and protection of endangered species that occur naturally within the reserve, such as the ground hornbill, black-footed cat and white rhino.

We spent a morning exploring the reserve roads on the North-Western shore of the Dam, and found adequate facilities for day visitors in the form of two photographic hides and a well-kept picnic site with neat ablutions. We did not have any exceptional wildlife encounters (perhaps the overcast, drizzly weather and thick vegetation at the end of the rainy season was to blame), but the inspiring scenery more than made up for that. The limited road network is rough gravel, with some erosion damage and loose rocks in places, but most of the routes (with the exception of the Langeberg loop) can be carefully negotiated in a normal sedan. The direct distance between the gate and picnic site is approximately 18km, and you’ll need at least three to four hours to explore this section of the reserve in your own vehicle.

Heavy skies over the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve

Warthog

Tranquility in Loskop Dam Nature Reserve

Little Egret on the hunt

The picnic site in Loskop Dam Nature Reserve

Loskop scenery

Waterbuck

Loskop scenery

Impala

Giraffe dwarfed

Salt-lick hide

Banded mongooses in the road

Loskop scenery

Hidden kudu

Vervet monkey

The very popular Forever Resort Loskop Dam offers accommodation, a huge camping area, shop, restaurant, several hot and cold swimming pools, sporting facilities, designated areas for fishing from the shoreline, boat launching facilities, and guided boat trips on the dam. Due to the risk of encountering hippos and crocodiles in the water, swimming and water-skiing is not permitted. Forever Resorts Loskop Dam hosts several fishing competitions every year, and in April annually the very popular 50km Loskop Ultra-Marathon, 21km Loskop Wild Challenge and Loskop Rhino Family Fun Run.

Comfortable log cabin accommodation at Forever Resorts Loskop Dam

The guest house at Forever Resorts Loskop Dam

Forever Resort’s Loskop Dam camping area

Loskop scenery

Entrance to Forever Resorts Loskop Dam

Loskop scenery

The resort’s beautifully kept gardens are a joy to explore, with beautiful flowers, interesting plants and fascinating wildlife within easy reach.

Strelitzia bloom

Shrub engulfed by spider webs

One of the responsible spiders

Frangipani blooms

Walking trail through the woodland at Forever Loskop

Fragile beauty in the gardens at Forever Resorts Loskop Dam

Red Toad

Yellow-billed hornbill

Black-collared barbet

Black-headed oriole

White-breasted cormorants in flight

Tricking ant-lions

African hoopoe

Julia Skimmer Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonflies

Dragonfly

The wild figs scattered around the grounds are hives of activity, day or night.

Wild figs

Egyptian Fruit-bat visiting the wild figs

Humans are not the only primates that find the resort at Loskop a choice destination, and guests would be well advised to ensure they keep the windows and doors of their tents or accommodation closed when not in attendance.

Vervet on euphorbia

Dominant male vervet monkey showing off his weaponry

Baboon making a run for it

The cute and tiny lesser bushbaby

Forever Resort Loskop Dam lies on the North-Eastern shoreline of the dam, approximately 190km from Pretoria, easily accessible along the N11-route between the towns of Middelburg and Groblersdal. This was our base for the three nights we spent enjoying the reserve over Easter 2015, and from where we experienced the most glorious sunsets! The Loskop area holds many special memories for the de Wet family; and thanks to the long weekend we spent there together we’ve accumulated so many more!

Easter Sunday Sunset over Loskop Dam

The route from Pretoria to Loskop Dam (using Google Maps)

Easter Sunsets at Loskop

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Just below the tennis courts at the Forever Resort at Loskop Dam, on a piece of land jutting into the watery expanse, there’s a big old thorn tree standing next to the water. The tree’s extended root system, exposed by the action of countless waves, is the perfect perch from which to enjoy the most spectacular sunsets over the dam and the hills that surround it. Though cloud cover on the distant horizon obscured the setting sun on Good Friday, we got enough of a taste to be sure that this was the spot we’d want to spend every evening this Easter…

Good Friday Sunset

Saturday evening had an altogether different feel to it though. Very welcome rain had been falling almost the entire day, and dark, broody storm clouds and a constant drizzle were our companions that evening.

And then came Sunday’s sunset! On our tree-root front-row seats we were bathed in the glorious golden glow of a perfect bushveld sunset.

Easter Sunday Sunset over Loskop Dam

Easter Sunday Sunset over Loskop Dam Nature Reserve

Easter Sunday Sunset over Loskop Dam

As a Christian family celebrating the cornerstone of our faith, we felt profoundly blessed for being together in that spot at that point in time. Life doesn’t get any better than this.

Blur

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Our long weekend of family fun on the shores of Loskop Dam flew past in the blink of an eye…

Blur

We’ve just returned from spending the Easter long weekend at the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, and we’ll be telling you all about our time there in the weeks to come.

“Blur” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge.

Summer at Golden Gate

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Our New Year’s visit to Golden Gate Highlands National Park marked the final stop on our three-week long bush holidays. For this final leg, we were joined by Marilize’s parents and my sister and brother-in law at Glen Reenen Rest Camp.

Glen Reenen, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, December 2014

This Park may have been proclaimed originally to safeguard the awesome mountain scenery, but the hills and valleys are also home to a pleasing variety of birds and animals. We found most of the game concentrated towards the east of the Park, around the Basotho Cultural Village.

Glen Reenen

Clean and crisp mountain water

Red hartebeest

Re hartebeest dwarfed by Golden Gate’s scenery b

Eland herd

Springbok

Black wildebeest

Springbok

Golden Gate scenery

Blesbuck

Black-backed jackal

Golden Gate scenery

Cape Bunting

Cape weaver (female)

Golden Gate scenery

Baboon acrobats

Golden Gate’s magnificent scenery and hidden jewels are best enjoyed along the many walking trails traversing the area. Have a look at the posts we dedicated to the Brandwag, Echo Ravine and Mushroom Rocks walks, three shorter hikes that are ideal introductions to this mountain ecosystem.

Which way to go?

A trail with a view

Looking back out of the gorge

Looking up

Floral splendour at Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park was another highlight of the trip and a perfect setting to conclude a wonderful holiday. Quality time spent with dear family saw us home in good spirits and strength for the year that lay in wait. And just to be sure the Park is still as beautiful as we remember it, we’ll return soon enough. We simply can’t stay away from a place this magical.

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Golden Gate 31122014

Golden Gate 01012015

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Rapid in Little Caledon

We didn’t think three weeks in the bush would fly past as quickly as it did. We started of with two nights at Chelmsford Nature Reserve, then three nights at Ithala Game Reserve, three nights at uMkhuze Game Reserve, three nights at Lake Saint Lucia, five nights in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, one night at Midmar Dam, and finally four nights at Golden Gate Highlands National Park. By the time we reached home back in Pretoria again, we had covered a distance of 4022km between and in some of our favourite South African wild places. An epic December bush holiday indeed.

Our route between 13 December 2014 and 3 January 2015 (map drawn from Google Maps)

Summer at Midmar

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We headed for Midmar Dam Nature Reserve in the Natal Midlands following our amazing time at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in December. The serenity of the large expanse of water in front of us sure was a dramatic change in pace from the five days of searching for the “Big-5” that came before.

Midlands greenery

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Midmar Dam scenery

Midmar Dam Nature Reserve scenery

Midmar Dam scenery

Early fisherman

Serene sunrise

Midmar

Midmar, December 2014

Natal spurfowl

Speckled mousebird

Cape sparrows pair

We had only one afternoon, one night and one morning to spend at Midmar before heading further inland to celebrate New Year’s at Golden Gate Highlands National Park, but thoroughly enjoyed ourselves walking around the beautifully kept grounds.

Summer at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi

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Over the last couple of weeks we’ve shared with you several exciting sightings we enjoyed at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, during our December holidays in the bush. Time to wrap up that part of our trip now.

We left the cheese farm near Mtubatuba very early in the morning of the 24th of December, and made it to the Memorial Gate just in time for it opening at 05:00AM (it’s a drive of about 75km only). We used Memorial Gate so that we could explore the Hluhluwe-section of the reserve on our way south to Mpila Camp, where we could check in 14:00 in the afternoon.

Buffaloes on the way to Maphumulo Picnic Site

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Red Duiker in Hilltop Camp

Nyala at the Hluhluwe River bridge

Single-striped Grass Mouse at Centenary Centre

Elephant browsing at Imfolozi

Mpila is a favourite camp of ours. It is unfenced, except for a single strand of electric wire strung high enough to only keep out elephants and giraffes. Other wildlife, including large predators, regularly roam among the accommodation units. Visitors should keep a special eye open for raids by vervet monkeys during the day, and for hyenas at night while preparing their evening meals on the barbeque fires.

These impalas considered Mpila a good place to raise their lambs

Hyenas come into camp every night. This one we saw at Masinda Lodge, a short distance from Mpila, one morning

Mpila, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, December 2014

That afternoon, we went for a quick drive and had some fun with a cute white rhino calf. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is renowned as a rhinoceros haven, and we pray that the hard work and dedication of the rangers protecting them against a terrible onslaught from armed poachers will not be in vain.

Black rhinos

I’m coming for you!

When we made our December 2014 plans a year before, we specifically wanted to spend Christmas at Mpila. A special day at a special place. We set out for a quick drive on a glorious morning, then went back to camp to prepare and enjoy Christmas lunch. In the afternoon the Park was inundated by a quick cloud burst, luckily the gravel roads are in good condition and we could continue to explore the Park soon after.

Chistmas sunrise over Hluhluwe-Imfolozi

Beautiful Sontuli Picnic Spot on the banks of the Black Umfolozi

Heavy clouds threatening to dampen Christmas

Heavy rain falling over HIP on Christmas Day

Three-Banded Plover at uBhejane Hide

Yellow-billed kite

Elephant and dung beetle

Spotted hyena

Boxing Day brought us our memorable encounter with lions in trees, but Hluhluwe-Imfolozi has much more to offer and our sightings this day was particularly varied. Our day ended with our best ever sighting of a wild African Rock Python, almost as long as the road was wide!

Elephants crossing the White Mfolozi

Not scared of heights!

Wild lilies in bloom

Warthog piglet

Master of all he surveys

Our best ever sighting of a wild python!

Every day at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi brings something special and exciting, and the 27th of December was no different. Our day started with a thrilling wild dog pack on the hunt, but that wasn’t where it ended!

Wild Dog alpha pair

Browsing elephant

Another sighting of this self-confident bull

Warthog family spa treatment

Warthogs

Mocking Cliff-chat (female)

Young buffalo bull

Muddy buffalo cow

Bad tempered buffalo bull

White Stork

Warthog piglets

Steppe Buzzard

Our last full day at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park seemed to belong to the elephants, with a number of really close-up encounters, but we also had a good laugh at a hyena that bit off more than she could chew.

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The day of the elephants

The story of the (over) ambitious hyena

Buffalo mud-wallow

The day of the elephants

White-fronted bee-eater

All too soon our five night stay at Mpila came to an end. We had collected so many memories, and can’t wait to return. Driving to Nyalazi Gate we tried to postpone our departure as long as we could, even spending half-an-hour looking for a distant pride of lions reported by fellow spotters in the kznsightings group (a group set up so that visitors to the game reserves in Kwazulu-Natal can share what they find while exploring with other visitors).

Zebra in Imfolozi’s misty hills

Spotted hyena sniffing the breeze

Can you spot the lions? 😀

We found the lions and then departed for Midmar in the KZN Midlands.

Rule of thirds

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Joubert and his grandpa heading for the swimming pool at Glen Reenen, in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Rule of thirds

“Rule of thirds” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge.

“Basically, the Rule of Thirds asks you to imagine a tic-tac-toe grid over the thing you’re photographing, and suggests that you put your subject at one of the four spots where the lines intersect“

Depth

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The Bourke’s Luck Potholes, at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde Rivers, form the head of the Blyde River Canyon, the third biggest canyon on earth.

Bourke’s Luck Potholes

“Depth” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge

The magic of Nsumo Pan

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uMkhuze Game Reserve, in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, has a lot to offer any nature lover, no matter where their interests lie. One of the reserve’s biggest drawcards is the Nsumo Pan, a large body of water fed by the Mkuzi River. Nsumo is home to breeding pink-backed and great white pelicans, hippos and crocodiles, among the huge variety of birds and animals that live along its reed and fever-tree lined shores. The reserve authorities have made it really easy to enjoy Nsumo’s magic: a tar road skirts a part of its northern banks, there are two bird-viewing platforms at the water’s edge and a beautiful picnic site with clean ablutions and braai (barbeque) facilities.