From the moment that arriving guests at Karongwe River Camp walk from the car park, down a paved pathway between stone pillars, they know that they have arrived somewhere special. Shrouded in cool welcoming shade, the open reception area and the attendant staff wait to greet with smiles wider than the Makhutsi River that runs along the front of the camp. But that was yet to be revealed to us…
Non-alcoholic arrival drinks. Aptly named a “Bob Marley”, due to the colours, these were most welcome as my wife and I had just driven 5 hours from Johannesburg. We were able to enjoy these while the ubiquitous paperwork was filled out.
One day I am going to surprise myself (and the staff) by actually READING every word in the indemnity form that all guests sign…but very few, if any, ever read!
As it was almost lunchtime, our first port-of-call was to the beautifully appointed dining area. Heavy wooden tables and chairs form the decor of this purpose-built space. It also contains a tea and coffee station as well as a filtered water cooler. Seeing that it was rather warm and the room had AC, we decided to enjoy our lunch indoors. This was the last meal we were to eat here as we had dinner in the Boma area and our breakfast was enjoyed on the large deck where meals can be eaten al fresco.
Would you believe that ALL of these dishes are from ONE meal, lunch! Carnivores and vegetarians are catered for, with the latter having a choice of dishes other than just a salad. Fish, beef kebabs, salads, dessert and a delicious cheese platter offered more choices than we were prepared for. However, we tried valiantly to do justice to what the kitchen had prepared. (BTW, all this food was for 4 guests)
WARNING! The biscuits in the lower-left corner are addictive and several mysteriously ended up in my camera bag, only to be discovered later and enjoyed with a cup of tea while I was working in our chalet before going on the afternoon game drive…
The Makhutsi River flows, when the rains come, along the front of the camp. There are several intimate seating areas within this large public space and guests can sit and enjoy the views (and the animals) in relative seclusion and privacy.
If the public area at the main building was not enough, this outdoor lounge at the pool is where guest can escape to should they wish to swim and relax outdoors.
The pool was sparkling clean and the brightest blue, but although my wife used it, I did not have time as I had nooks and crannies to discover and photograph. (the trials and tribulations of a working travel writer)
This I was NOT expecting as it does not feature on the Karongwe Portfolio website. A bird hide alongside a large dam that had both a pod of hippos as well as a croc or two currently in residence.
A few days before our arrival, a guest had spent 3 hours ensconced here and was eventually rewarded with the sighting of not 1 but 2 leopards! So, well worth the patience and an extended visit.
Time to go to our accommodation…Each of the chalets has a deck that has a table and chairs where guests can enjoy a view of the passing wildlife. As a photographer, I have to admit that my haste to ‘get-that-shot’ had me walking face-first into a closed sliding door. It was so clean that I did not notice it! But the smudge that my forehead and nose left behind was a reminder for me to check the position of the door for the rest of our stay. Not the fault of the camp, but merely my haste to get a picture and not checking.
My wife and I are still trying to figure out the size of this enormous bed. My wife’s first reaction when she saw it? “We could get at least another two cats onto this one”! (We share our bed at home with two cats presently). The bed was comfortable and inviting, with firm pillows and luxury linen.
The bed was surrounded by a voluminous mosquito net that we ‘fought’ to get in and out of as the overlap on the entrance/exits was extensive…but in a good way as it certainly kept those annoying insects at bay. There is something very special sleeping ensconced in a net like this.
The camp is situated in a low-risk malaria area and although medication might not be required, a good spray with a repellant before venturing out after dark is recommended.
We were only staying for one night, so neither of us got to soak in this inviting slipper bathtub. I did sit in it to check the eye line for the view through the large picture window and it was so spectacular that I almost stayed, fully clothed, in the tub.
Double sinks mean no waiting for morning ablutions and behind the door at the far end of the room is the toilet.
A first…double shower heads so that, if required, visitors can shower side by side in this spacious enclosure. Again, my own stupidity had me showering in tepid water. When I got out and asked my wife, who had already showered, if she had had hot water, she replied in the affirmative. It turned out that I had set the tap incorrectly and thus deprived myself of a hot shower. As I was already dry and virtually ready for bed, I did not get back into the shower, but merely stood in the bedroom shaking my head at my ineptitude to get the temperature right (As an aside, we have a similar tap in our shower at home, so I should have known better)
A portion of the table decoration at our evening meal that was enjoyed outdoors in the Boma area. We shared a table with a British couple who had been on our game drive vehicle during the afternoon drive. And as it was only the four of us in camp, we decided to all sit together. The meal was typical braai (barbeque) fare with 3 types of meat, pap, gravy and a salad on offer. There was, of course, a traditional malva pudding for dessert.
Food glorious food…or should I say MORE food. My breakfast of champions before we left this wonderful camp and its staff and headed up the road to our next destination. With thanks to all who made our stay a memorable one!
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