(video will be added to this blog when internet gets faster.....)
We left the Transkei and headed on the N2 northwards. We reached Mthatha, and stopped for some lunch at Steers. We thought we’d better make some phone calls to see if there was any space in some nice campsite. Luckily the first place we phoned could help us out – and we’re SO glad they could, because it turned out to be one of the best campsites we’ve stayed in so far! - Leasure View Caravan Park, near Port Edward. It felt like we were camping in Kirstenbosch Gardens.
George, the owner was so welcoming and helpful and really made us feel comfortable. We decided to stay 2 nights for sure! He was so hospitable that he even offered us his bakkie the next day so we could go for a drive around town, to the shops and beach. I was blown away, who does that? What a great place.
Xan had been asking for days if we could braai, so after a nice big shop at the South Coast Mall, we were stocked up on groceries and enjoyed a braai…. With perfect timing too, because as we finished cooking, we enjoyed sitting and eating inside the truck as we watched and heard a Huge thunder storm outside…… nice!
Xan made a friend too, Xander. The only problem was the language barrier when they swapped bikes, and Xan didn’t understand what Xander was telling him about the brakes….. Xan’s bike has back-peddle brakes, but Xanders had normal brakes…… after a small accident they decided that their own bikes were best for them. Sweet how the kids are making friends so easily at each campsite. Xan is definitely the friendliest kid on the block, waving to everyone as we arrive and then riding around to say hi to everyone while we set up camp.
Our last morning in Port Edward was very eventful, we decided to pack up and spend a bit of time at the beach before heading a further 100km north to another campsite which had space for us. The beach was great of course, but leaving the beach parking lot was another story (after a lot of rain the previous night I might remind you….)
We’re now about 90km south of Durban, at a place called Bazley Beach, Mac Nicol’s Campsite. It’s a 4 star campsite, and feels kind of like a hotel/resort but without the huge building. There are two swimming pools, a river, a beach, a mini supermarket that sells just about everything you can think of, a takeaway shop, a bottle store, games rooms, play grounds, and even a set daily program full of activities eg. Pony rides for kids, afternoon tea and scones by the pool, treasure hunts for the kids etc etc. Apart from the sites being very close together, eliminating any view of the surrounding natural beauty, this place is quite nice. Quite a contrast to our Christmas week last year, camping on a remote stretch of stunning Lake Malawi, this year we arrived to a complementary tray of freshly brewed Tea, while they asked if they could set up our camp for us……. What?! Of course we didn’t need that, but we watched as other campers arrived and had the staff put up their tents for them!
Everyone seems to be in the festive Chrismas spirit. There’s a kids Chrismas party tonight, with a nativity play put on by the kids who have been around and practicing hard. There’s also a carols by candlelight, but we’ve just had some heavy rain so not sure if that’s still going to happen……
Nearly every caravan has a Chrismas tree, and quite a few even have flashing lights all around their tents. We can even see some reindeer etc, flashing from outside our window. Very festive, and busy. Bit too much for our liking, but we’ve got another 2 nights here, leaving on the 26th, so we’re making the most of the place.
Today we took a ride on the back of the Campsite Truck, through some sugarcane fields, to a nearby beach. Alex has a great surf. Xan impressed us with some proper bodyboarding – seriously, these kids of ours are such waterbabies.
We’re hoping we can get to that beach again tomorrow, if the Truck is going there again (it’s a private beach that needs an entry permit etc.), but with it being Christmas Day we’ll just see what the day holds…. The resort daily program might be full of surprises!!!
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