Aside from bags full of camera gear, I will be taking this with me to review for one of my clients. This is the Yoobao EN300WLPD 80000mAh PD Quick Charging Power Station 300W, which I will be putting through its paces to see if it is a worthwhile addition to my luggage going forward. I am often in the bush where there are no lights after dark, I am hoping that this will replace my head torch and allow me to light a tent for a few hours before going to sleep.
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We have overnighted here previously just after my birthday in June 2021. And will be doing so again on this trip. The Dive Inn Guest House is just off the main road as you exit Pongola. From the road, the high perimeter wall and the imposing security gate give prospective guests no inkling of what lies in store for them. When the gate slid open…SURPRISE…this is what awaited us.
An intimate reception area is situated between the dining room and an indoor seating area. This was a warm and welcoming space where we were greeted like long lost friends once again.
Most of the indoor areas were not being used to their full capacity due to the COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, but as you can see, it is an area that invites interaction between guests who are either arriving or departing.
This was the room that we stayed in on our stay here in 2021. A very comfortable bed and a shower with the BEST water pressure of the trip and water that was instantaneously hot were just some of the highlights.
The pool and outdoor entertainment area at night…
Click on the logo to visit their website.Â
This is the headline destination of our KZN road Trip, Thonga Beach Lodge.
The wall hanging in reception set the tone for our 2021 visit. Encompassing some of the attributes of the area and locally made, it was a joy to behold.
I must go down to the sea again. This is my wife’s happy place. And we look forward to being back here once again. It will be good to once again inhale the salt air that rolls in off the waves and to feel the crunch of the sand between my toes. This area is away from guests and, on our previous visit, it allowed me quiet contemplative time.
Looking back from the edge of the water. The lodge is so well camouflaged that it almost vanishes into the tree-line.
It should be compulsory for every guest to get up early and witness a sunrise over the water. It puts into perspective the beauty of our planet despite the ravages of the pandemic that currently assails the human inhabitants.
I left only footprints on the beach.
As did several turtles seeing that it was breeding season while we were at the Lodge. Although we did not find any on the beach, we did spot one or two when we were out trying our hand at snorkelling.
February is turtle hatching time and we hope to get to see some of those on this trip.
Click on the logo to visit their website.
We are hoping that Chinderera Eco Lodge becomes our next coastal hideaway. Powered by solar and only accommodating 6 guests, this sounds like the ideal place for us to end off our road trip.
To get away totally and re-charge our batteries fully before returning to the rat race that is Johannesburg.
Unlike The Dive Inn and Thonga Beach Lodge that we have visited before, this will be our first trip to Chinderera Eco Lodge, hence me having to rely on Google images for this post.
Breakfast is served? We await this experience with eager anticipation, seeing that the online reviews all give it a 10/10. The food at the lodge is African-fusion and I hope that includes plantain and goat meat.
Click on the logo to visit their website.
This was from our visit back in 2021. Once again we will be staying at the LA Guest House in Piet Retief (Mkondo) on our return journey at the end of this road trip.
Seeing that my wife and I are used to our king-size bed at home, this looked a little small for the two of us. But we did not stress too much…
I ended up sleeping here (after losing a round of rock, paper, scissors). It was extremely comfortable and we did not fight about who got the duvet. The only issue was that I could not see the TV from the bed, but as I was editing images at the desk, that was not a problem. Ensconced in a cupboard there was a microwave as well as a small bar fridge aside from the usual coffee/tea station.
Breakfast of champions? The traditional morning meal before packing up and heading for home. There were cereals, yoghurt and fruit on offer as well, but we decided to ‘test’ the hot breakfast and it passed with flying colours.
To find out what they offer, click on the logo above.
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