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The only non-Sun Destinations destination on my recent road trip was this guesthouse in Lydenburg that has become the traditional start of any Lowveld trip I undertake. My first visit was in 2020, and this was the 7th time being hosted by owner Francis and husband Barney.

The building, which was built by the Voortrekkers 150 years ago as the first parsonage of the Dutch Reformed Church, is one of the four oldest historic buildings in the town.

 

 

 

Wenakker, which now houses a residential facility for intellectually disabled adults, was originally the Loreto Convent, built in 1893 by The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose members were/are commonly known as Sisters of Loreto.

It can be found in Lydenburg, within walking distance of De Ark.

FYI: In 1893, the trip from Johannesburg to Lydenburg took 6 weeks by ox-cart. Today, if you don’t vanish into the potholes and the inclement weather does not slow you down, it can be completed in under 4 hours.

 

 

 

This is Lexi, who decided to be my assistant for the morning as I caught up on work before heading off to tackle the pothole-filled road to Orighstad and then on to Hoedspruit.

 

 

 

And if you are very lucky, Ian Roberts will regale you with tales from his past.

On this particular trip, we discovered that we were both in college in Port Elizabeth at the same time. I was failing electrical engineering, and he was studying photography! Small world?

 

 

 

Raise a glass. Inside the Fickle Fox, the recently renovated on-site pub. A meeting place for guests to mingle and chat.

 

 

 

The Tudor room is where I stayed on this trip. A first time in this accommodation, and I had a choice as it is an interleading room that can be used by either a family or couples who are travelling together.

The arrangement that I have with Francis is that I never say in the same room twice. Except for perhaps one visit, this has worked out AND there are still a couple of rooms that I have not visited yet…

Equipped with tea, coffee, and a kettle, visitors can fix a hot beverage whenever they feel like one.

The bathroom has a shower, but no bath. Not an issue for me. However, if you want a bath, then enquire when you book, as some of the bathrooms do have them. The one room I stayed in even had an outdoor shower!

 

 

 

This is the ‘other’ section of the room, which can be accessed by a lockable interleading door. It is the mirror image of the room that I decided to stay in.

 

 

 

There have been renovations outside in the garden with a wall being removed to open up the space and give visitors access to this gazebo from both sides.

The table in the foreground, which used to be in the passage near the pub, has now found a new home here.

 

 

 

 

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This clothing brand has finally opened a store in Hoedspruit! It has been a long time coming, and having visited the store, I believe that it was worth the wait.

 

 

 

A large, clean space with loads of products of all sizes on display.

 

 

 

Perhaps not colours for all those headed for the bush, but I have a suspicion that I DO know who the inspiration behind this colourful range is.

 

 

 

I was most chuffed to see a large image that I took at Safari Guide of the Year hanging on the wall… thanks Howard.

 

 

 

And then it was time to get down to the real reason for me being in the area…

 

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This is an overview of my visit to some of the camps in the Sun Destinations portfolio.

In-depth posts of each camp and their amenities will follow…

 

 

 

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My thanks to Dave, Nikki, and guide Christelle played host during my stay.

 

 

 

I have never been greeted at a lodge in this manner before. It made me feel very special, and it was a great start to my return visit.

 

 

 

This area has been renovated, and I noticed that the other guests who were in camp made good use of it.

It gives visitors a different perspective out over the public space and to the river beyond.

 

 

 

My luxurious accommodation with the iconic Safari accessory…a mosquito net waiting to be lowered when the sun vanishes.

The room was well-appointed and included a tea and coffee station.

This particular chalet, No5, had an indoor and outdoor shower but no bath. On my previous visit, I stayed in No. 2, which had an indoor and outdoor shower as well as a bath.

But seeing that I prefer to use an outdoor shower, the lack of a bath did not affect me. (As an aside, I was offered a chalet with a bath, but I chose this one as it had a better view.

 

 

 

It is said that an army marches on its stomach. That is also true of those on safari! The open plan Nyala kitchen produced superb food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…

 

 

 

Just one of a herd of about 200+ buffalo that came to drink from a pool in the riverbed.

Buffalo look beligerant, even when they are just going about their daily task of eating and drinking. Long considered one of the most dangerous animals in South Africa, they do live up to their reputation.

 

 

 

The leopard is still, for me, the one animal I look forward to seeing. On this road trip, this was the only one I got to see. However, it was a relaxed and great sighting

 

 

 

And this is a leopard tortoise. Not nearly as dangerous as the leopard, it can, however, move faster than most people realize.

It is just as difficult to spot as its namesake with teeth and claws.

 

 

 

An African sunset to round off a perfect stay.

Great food, luxury accommodation, and professional attention to detail make Nyala memorable.

 

 

 

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Chacma was between two large groups that filled the camp, however, I was the only guest in the camp at the time and therefore had the full attention of all the staff!

Luan, Alex, Nichole, Edward and Trent, thank you for making my stay awesome.

 

 

 

This is my 4th visit to the intimate, luxury camp situated at the foot of a koppie that is home to a family of Klipspringers. Although I did not see them on this visit, the staff did inform me that they were well and had a youngster.

At Chacma, a welcome drink is exactly that…welcoming.

The drink and damp cloth were most welcome after my journey. This has become the regular way of greeting guests as they arrive in camp and just adds a touch of luxury for arriving visitors.

 

 

 

A seating area that overlooks the waterhole in front of the camp. The soft furnishings blend in with the surroundings and add a touch of chic to the public spaces.

 

 

 

The most recently renovated area in the camp. However, if you were a first-time visitor, that fact would not be apparent, yet return guests, like me, will be enthralled by its WOW factor.

The area under canvas on the far side of the pool has an outdoor boma area as well. (More of this upgrade in a later post)

 

 

 

A view from the dining area across the pool to the new addition.

All these areas have an uninhibited view of the waterhole, which is very busy more often than not.

 

 

 

The family room was to be my accommodation for the duration of my stay.

 

 

 

A stunning bedroom that is built into the base of the koppie.

The luxury accommodation even included a compact kitchen, just in case… Not that guests would require that, as the camp kitchen provides breakfast, lunch, high tea, and a plated dinner!

 

 

 

The stunning web of a Golden Orb spider. The female hangs quietly in the centre, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting prey ensnared in its strands.

 

 

 

I have NEVER been stared at by a lioness like this before.

 

 

 

While the male could not have been less interested…

 

 

 

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With thanks to Sonja, James, Polite and Life for a stay that was 2 years in the making.

 

 

 

A poolside welcome drink awaited as I signed the relevant indemnity document.

 

 

 

The pool was a brilliant blue, and it looked inviting. The guests that did make use of it, found that once past the initial cold, it was the best place to be given the heat (above 30C and humidity that was touching 70%)

 

 

 

This is a tented camp, although the word tented should be removed.

Tented, if you are my age, brings back memories of those smelly canvas monstrosities that you had to crawl in and out of. They did not have an en-suite bathroom, and they certainly were not luxurious.

 

 

 

At Sausage Tree, the only connection to a tent is the fact that their accommodation has canvas sides and zips.

There was an en suite bathroom that had a bath as well as an outdoor shower. A well-appointed bedroom with a comfortable bed and welcoming linen.

 

 

 

This hippo was part of a pod that was fighting the current in the fast-flowing Olifants River.

 

 

 

Bullseye.

The rear view of a female Waterbuck.

This circle, which looks like she has been sitting on a freshly painted toilet seat, is a follow-me device that enables members of the herd to follow each other through the tall grass.

 

 

 

Have you heard the expression “When the lion lies down with the lamb”? It usually pops up on Christmas cards and suggests that at that festive time, we should all get along.

This is a bushveld version of that adage… “When a lion lies down with a kudu”, it usually does not end well for the latter. In this case, the kudu was a meal for the local pride, that is, about 14 strong.

 

 

 

Time for a dust bath for this elephant on the banks of the Olifants River.

The word Olifant is Afrikaans for elephant…

 

 

 

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Pecu, Rose, Judith, Joyce, Anthony, Lybon and Rewald, thanks for making my final days in Balule memorable.

 

 

 

On my last visit, I noticed major changes in and around this luxurious camp

This time round, the changes were more subtle, yet returning guests would notice the differences.

 

 

 

There are pockets of seating spaces scattered around the public spaces that allow guests the opportunity to mingle, or not.

 

 

 

This is the most recent addition to the luxury that guests to this camp have come to expect.

On a previous visit, the owner had created the space but had not settled on the decor and the design. Now complete, it is a bastion of safari-chic and another space where visitors can relax and perhaps get to find out about each other.

 

 

 

These huge beanbags are placed here overnight, and during the day are placed next to the pool.

 

 

 

The pool has been moved to the far end of the deck, offering those who wish to use it the privacy they might require.

Covered seating adds to the feeling of almost being onboard a cruise ship, while looking out over the busy and a busy waterhole that elephants seem to enjoy.

 

 

 

My accommodation was at the far end of the property.

All the accommodation has been renovated, giving those who visit a luxury space to lay their head at night.

 

 

 

The bed looks out over the enfolding foliage that is alive with birdsong.

I have to pay Rewalt a compliment on the lighting. Using low-voltage spotlights just above the bed is pure genius. Most bedrooms have bedside lamps that are useless for reading and are purely decorative. These are both practical and functional.

 

 

 

Welcoming Impala-lilies instead of towel animals await the new arrivals.

 

 

 

One of the most iconic sights in the bush. An African Fish Eagle.

 

 

 

Queen of all she surveys.

 

 

 

A sliver of moon to light our way back to the camp after an exciting afternoon drive.

 

 

 

One final sunset to end this Sun Destinations road trip… a final night in the bush before heading back home on the N1, as I could not face the pothole dodging again.

 

 

 

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Travel is the proud winner of this prestigious award from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife. The award is in the category Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa.

 

 

See who the guests have been since the inception of this YouTube channel. Click on the logo above.

 

 

 

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Visit the Off the Shelf YouTube channel for interesting and up-to-date interviews and book reviews.

 

 

 

“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?”

Edgar Bergen