Mpumalanga

Kruger Park Lodge

Hazyview

This is an RCI Resort with well-manicured golf-course, antelope browsing and cavorting on the grass, geese and other feathered and non-feathered birds aplenty, some monkeys also showed us a few tricks.

This picture is hazy because I took it through the windscreen. I was afraid they would run away if I got out the car.  They were grazing right at our back door. The front door opened up onto a verandah with a view of the golf course and our 'braai' (barbecue) area.

 

We saw a number of waterfalls; Bridal Veil Falls, Sabie Falls, Graskop Falls,( we missed out on Mac Mac, they were double the price of most of the others),  Berlin Falls, etc., on our trips through Sabie, Graskop, Pilgrim's Rest, Ohrigstad, Nelspruit, White River, Barberton, and surrounding villages.

 

I was pleasantly surprised with Hazyview.  Yes the view is hazy.  This is a large town with a huge shopping centre with all the things you need, Woolworths, Pick and Pay and all the other shops you normally get in a large shopping centre in South Africa.  We live in a beautiful country and this part of the country is particularly beautiful.

Attractions

We passed Pine and Eucalyptus Forests, lush vegetation, Bananas, Mangoes, Coffee Plantations, Litchi, Pawpaw, and other tropical fruit plantations and citrus orchards on our way. 

The Kruger Gate of the  Kruger National Park is but a short distance away from Hazyview.

Gods Window, Bourke's Potholes, Blyde River Canyon, Echo Caves, Sudwala Caves, Silk Farm, Robber's Pass, Jock of the Bushveld, Dinosaur Park and a few pubs along the way.

 

 Beautiful Scenery.

Where?

Hazyview
Mpumalanga, South Africa

Links to other blogs - Events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

My stay in the Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Meerkat murdered Oct 2012
Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina Nov 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
My furry friends at the Inn March 2013
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camera with a Canon 300mm Lens

My New Accommodation website

Accommodation in South Africa
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Luggage must travel

Cameras and Photographic Equipment

I use Canon

Most of my photographs, no all of my photographs are taken with Canon cameras and mostly with Canon Lenses.  I also have some Sigma lenses for my Canon Camera.

Canon 400D

Canon Lenses

Canon 70-300mm Lens

My tripod is a Manfrotto

Books about Canon 400D SLR photography

   

Find Cameras and Equipment

Cameras and Equipment

What else?

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The latest and best selection of eBooks

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Luggage must travel

Hartbeesport Dam

Hartbeespoort Dam Marina

Early morning at the Hartbeespoort Yacht club.  Morning after the night before.

The dam is hugged by 'koppies' (hillocks).  This morning there was no wind. The dam was tranquil, the surface reflecting sunrise mauves and pinks.  Boats bobbed conversationally.

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

My New Accommodation website

Accommodation in South Africa
Subscribe to the Newsletter to get Special Offers, Vouchers, enter Competitions, and to get the best deals on Accommodation

What's News? Competitions, Prizes, Special Offers and other News.
What's on in the location you are looking for?

If you have Accommodation, Venues, or Events you want to advertise

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Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camera with a Canon 300mm Lens
See more about my Photographic Equipment

Other blog posts Since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm Sep 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Meerkat mudered Oct 2012
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina Nov 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
My furry friends at the Inn March 2013
Trip to Mpumalanga March 2013
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons - April 2013

Animals at the Inn

My furry friends

The oldest inmate is Scooby Doo, called Scooby for short, a ridgeback that has been with the family for about 9 years?

We had a suricat, which is the emblem of Travellers Inn, but Travis was killed last year.

Shortly after a Pikanese puppy came into our lives called Elmo. The funny thing about this dog is that we all have a different name for him.  The staff call him Omo, Paul calls him Parra, I sometimes call him Brakkebol, and so on.

Debbie and Lienkie adopted a stray cat that turned out to be pregnant. 

She had a litter of four kittens, and before we could spay her, had another litter of 6 kittens. 

They kept one of the first litter, but we got homes for the whole second litter. She looks a lot like her mother.

 

Between all of this they found a cat in the storeroom that had a broken leg.

They took it to the vet who had to amputate the leg, so now it is called Tripod or Driewiel.

Our Bar lady Erica and her worsie Zoe.

I also do some housesitting now and again.  They have 3 kats and 2 dogs, but that would be overdoing it.

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camera with a Canon 300mm Lens

New Accommodation website

Check out my new website for Accommodation in South Africa

Olifantsnek Dam

Olifantsnek Dam and Surrounds

The dam is in the background, with sunflowers yellow in the foreground.

What a ride.  I'll pass thank you very please.

Olifantsnek dam is not too far from Buffelspoort Dam where you can take part in motorised sports.  Here only kitesurfing, sailing, and wind-driven sports are permitted. 

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camera with a Canon 300mm Lens

Links to blogs - Events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
PilanesbergAug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff in storage
Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow

Pilanesberg Game Reserve

A day at Pilanesberg Game Reserve

Hippo family, sunning their hides.

There was a lot of birdlife. I saw terapins swimming, and a baby crocodile in the reeds.

Elephants, giraffe, zebra, and the normal plethora of antelope, bushpigs, and the like scedaddled around.

There were much less animals to see than I remembered when I lived here in the mid 1980's, but it might be because of the good rainfall the past few months and the waterholes being full, as well as the bush being lush. Pilanesberg is quite a large reserve.

Where?

Pilanesberg near Rustenburg and right next to Sun City
North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens
See more on Camera Equipment I use

Links to other events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
 - my furry friends at the Inn
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff in storage
Mpumalanga Trip Feb 2013

My New Accommodation website

Accommodation in South Africa
Subscribe to the Newsletter to get Special Offers, Vouchers, enter Competitions, and to get the best deals on Accommodation

If you have Accommodation, Venues, or Events you want to advertise

Add FREE accommodation directory Listing
Add FREE venue directory listing
Add FREE event listing
Advertise on our site
See our other Services

Add FREE accommodation directory Listing
Add FREE venue directory listing
Add FREE event listing

Looking for accommodation or a venue in other provinces of South Africa?
Use the Quick-reference Site links map to find what you are searching for quickly.

Have a look at the Map of South Africa What's News? Competitions, Prizes, Special Offers and other News.
What's on in the location you are looking for?
What's the weather like in the place you want to visit?

 

Need anything else?

Rotating links

Notebook

Consoles

Apple Shops

Cameras and Equipment

Bestselling Books

'Hottest' Music

Movies DVDs

Games

Blu-Ray

The latest and best selection of eBooks

Toys

Afrikaanse Musiek Treffers

Baby Offers

Spoil your Pets

Luggage must travel

Buffelspoort Dam

Fun on Buffelspoort Dam

A day in the sun, braaiing, riding inner tyre tubes and other fandangles, with a few drinkies to round off the day. F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!

Here speedboats and other motorised watersports are allowed. 

Not so at Olifantsnek dam, this is much more sedate and only sailing and so on is permitted.

Utopia

Utopia Holiday Resort

My family came here when I was still at school.  It brought back many happy memories.  I also met one of my boyfriends here, an artist, that later became an architect. I even competed for 'Miss Utopia'.

It is no longer open to day visitors, but you can buy timeshare, or buy a plot with or without a house on it.  It is situated in the Magalsburg mountain range.  The landscape is beautiful here.

The houses are mostly a-frame thatched buildings.  It has a paddling pool and a swimming pool fr adults, pub, restaurant, the river runs through the property, and there are many walks in the viscinity.

Canon amera

I used a Canon 400D camera with a Canon 300mm lens

Where

North West Province of South Africa

List of blog posts for events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
PilanesbergAug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow

Photography Course in October 2012

Have my Photographic Skills Improved?

I'm not sure my Photographic skills have improved at all, but at least I have an idea.  Practicing time has been at a premium, so have reverted to automatic setting as I take too long when I'm in a hurry to get the settings right.  No time for experimentation.

Practicals

We did a fashion shoot with a model at some ruins just outside Rustenburg.
We did a nighttime shoot at Sun City.
We did a wildlife shoot at Getlane Game Reserve on the outskirts of Rustenburg.

 Fashion Shoot

Sun City

(not so great 'cause it is one of 3; the underexposed shot for a combined pic)

Getlane Game Reserve

the beautiful bushveld landscape

Canon Camera

I used  a Canon 400D with a Canon lens 300mm

See more about the Photographic equipment I use

Where?

North West Province  of South Africa

 

Links to the other blog posts - since I left Cape Town in April last year

Utopia Jan 2013

Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm August 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and organise storage for Hugh
Mpumalanga Feb 2013 Kruger Park Lodge

My new website

Find places to visit, things to see and do, Specials on Accommodation and much more.

Margaret Roberts Herb Farm

Margaret Roberts Herb Farm

The dining room looks like a hospital ward/hall, but the food was tasty and out of the ordinary.  There were herbs and flowers in the salad and it looked really colorful and festive.  I enjoyed the lavendar and pear cheesecake, the coffee was also definitely drinkable.

I thought there would be a greater variety herbs in the garden, fresh herbs for sale, or at least more herby plants to buy in the nursery.

However, there are great soaps, ointments, oils, lotions and potions to pick and choose in the shop.

For kids there is a fairy garden and fairy shop, not my cuppa tea.

I don't seem to have photos of this excursion, disappeared.

Its near Hartbeespoort (Dam) in North West Province of South Africa

Dikhololo Game Farm

Dikhololo near Brits in the Northwest Province of South Africa

We went for a visit to this Game Park where you can get out of your car and be close to the animals.  It is a real treat.  We saw giraffe, kudu, zebra, blouwildebeest, impala, and many other antelope, and even more when we went on a game drive the one evening.

Up close

There are these huge rocks all over the place.

 

 

 

A pair of Giraffe

 

Wildebeest

Zebra

Dikhololo have conference Facilities, Pool tables, Swimming pool, Restaurant, Pub, Hot pool (not sure its a spring, but it may be), etc.  We had a huge thatched-roofed house to ourselves with a braai area outside.  Really fantastic place if you're into photography, walking, biking, game watching, bird watching, and so  on.  We had a great time.

 

You have to travel on dirt roads to get there, but it is passable. It is not too far from Brits, on the Rustenburg side, in the North West Province of South Africa

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens

Links to other blogs - Events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Meerkat mudered
My furry friends at the Inn
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow

My New Accommodation website

Accommodation in South Africa
Subscribe to the Newsletter to get Special Offers, Vouchers, enter Competitions, and to get the best deals on Accommodation

If you have Accommodation, Venues, or Events you want to advertise

Add FREE accommodation directory Listing
Add FREE venue directory listing
Add FREE event listing

Advertise on our site
See our other Services. 

Looking for accommodation or a venue in other provinces of South Africa?
Use the Quick-reference Site links map to find what you are searching for quickly.
Have a look at the Map of South Africa

What's News? Competitions, Prizes, Special Offers and other News.
What's on in the location you are looking for?
What's the weather like in the place you want to visit?

Need anything else?

Notebook

Consoles

Apple Shops

Cameras and Equipment

Bestselling Books

'Hottest' Music

Movies DVDs

Games

Blu-Ray

The latest and best selection of eBooks

Toys

Afrikaanse Musiek Treffers

Baby Offers

Spoil your Pets

Luggage must travel

 

Overberg Splendour

My visit in the Overberg

Thanks to Gill and Rob Gimberg for putting me up when I left Hugh, or is it putting up with me?

I loved the early mornings watching the sun come up in all its splendour, sitting in the kitchen sipping coffee, stroking Tigger (one of the 3 cats, the one that resides in the kitchen).

The other cats are Cricket, and Mischief.

When I arrived there everything was bleak and grey.  In January the fire had wiped out all their plants.  They were immensely fortunate that the house didn't burn down too.  Their neighbor's did.

A few rainy days later, the veld started sprouting new green leaves, and was well on its way to recovery when I left.  It was great having to start a new garden from scratch. We put up a fence to keep the 'bokkies' out.  Not sure it would keep the porcupines and hares out though.

Anyway Gill says they are eating potatoes, tomatoes and all kinds of leafy things out of the veggie garden.

I take my hat off to this couple as they are living completely off the grid.  Rainwater gets collected for all necessities, and so is a scarce commodity, especially if it doesn't rain that well. Sun- and wind-power is used to generate electricity.

The toilet is an organic one, - not a long drop thanks goodness.

Compost gets made from all the vegetable cuttings.

This is... you guessed it, Mischief

 Tigger

Cricket, the hunter

Sunset.

 

 

See more pics here of my stay at Overberg

 

The Overberg, what a wonderful place to stay, with Greyton and Caledon close by.

 

Where?

Western Cape Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens

Links to blogs of events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012



Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
PilanesbergAug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012

Living in Rustenburg

Staying at the Travellers Inn in Rustenburg

I am staying with family who are looking after me very well. I am very grateful for their help and support the past few months. I don't know what I would have done without them.

Gone back to work? Yuck!!! Yoikes!!!

I would rather try and work for myself.

The Travellers Inn is situated in the central CBD of Rustenburg, in the North West Province of South Africa.

It is a lovely place with an established garden, huge trees, a haven, and very affordable at that.

The rooms are spacious and well appointed with bar-fridge, tv, fan, desk and chair, en-suite bathrooms, bed(s) and all the normal accoutrements. The family rooms have a double sleeper-couch, and the VIP rooms have lock-up garages.

Various accommodation options: Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, Self Catering, Camping (2-man tents only) and Backpackers dormitory.

This is the pool and 'lapa' (Backpackers).

Great swimming pool to cool off in the hot summer days, the most interesting pub I've ever seen, pool table, dart-board, and intimate conference facilities (max 20 people).

See more on my Accommodation in Africa South website i.e. what a marketing page would look like e.g. Travellers Inn.

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens

Links to blogs of events since I left Cape Town on 1 April  2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
 - my furry friends in Rustenburg
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - To paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff in storage
Hazyview Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons
Cameras and Photographic Equipment I use

I broke my arm in August

My hands chopped off?

I am now a bionic woman with a plate in my arm. It hurts when its cold.

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens

How did it happen?

We went running to support Pick and Pay cancer walk.  We were late and I was running, looked back to my friend behind me, and tripped over a speedbump.  I fell skew and my arm went 'ding'.  I knew immediately it was broken and badly. On the x-rays it showed it had splintered off lengthwise close to the wrist. 

According to the doctors it couldn't be fixed with plaster of paris only, it needed an operation.  I sat around from Saturday morning till Tuesday before they operated. I don't have medical aid.  I have a hospital plan (Insurance) and they don't man the telephones on weekends so I couldn't find out that I'm not covered for operations where I am in and out of hospital in less than 3 days.  They catch you on the swings and on the roundabouts. I had to cough up the money before they operated.

So by Tuesday I was steaming as you can imagine. I arrived at hospital and even though I had organised with the doctor and the nursing staff, they did not have me on the operating list because the doctor hadn't confirmed.

I threw my toys. They organised.

More than R50,000  and a number of physio sessions later I am still in pain with most things I do.

The following things are painful to do even now more than 6 months later;

• Tie shoelaces,
• Wash hair
• Knitting (impossible)
• Sewing (with difficulty)
• Pick up anything heavier than a mug
• Anything needing dexterity or a bit of precision
• and so on...

Thanks goodness, typing is getting there.... and I can use my hand and arm, even if not with the full range of motion and power I used to have.  Something is better than nothing. I have great sympathy for anyone who has gone through something similar, be it arm, leg or other body parts.  We take so much for granted.

Do you know what its like for an independent DIY-er to have to ask others to do things for you? F-ing frustrating if you'll excuse my french.

What have I kept myself busy with?

So what have I kept myself busy with the past few months since October, when my arm was remotely usable again?
.  I have created a website for travellers, tourists, people who love to explore, who  have adventure in their blood, who want new experiences, new tastes, see and do new things.  The website will have places to stay and visit, things to do and see, i.e. accommodation, venues, an events calendar, and advertise adventure sports.

At this stage I am building up a portfolio of accommodation and venues. A directory listing is FREE.
Add FREE accommodation Directory Listing
Add FREE Venue Directory Listing
Add FREE Events Calendar Listing

Look for Accommodation in Southern Africa or Find Venues in South Africa for special occasions like Weddings, Conferences, Conventions, Shows and much more.
Look at cities, towns, and settlements for places to stay in any of the provinces of South Africa, or use the QUICKSEARCH facility to find what you are searching for quickly.
Want to know what the weather is like in the places you would like to visit?
Find out What's on in South Africa, in your neck of the woods, or elsewhere in the country on the Events Calendar.

....Besides this

List of Links to Events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
PilanesbergAug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - Painted my flat and put Hugh's stuff in storage
Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow