Roxanne Reid's Blog, page 23

20 things you may not know about the Richtersveld

By Roxanne Reid
When we went to the Richtersveld for the first time in 2004, we wanted to soak up information from anyone and everyone. It seemed a daunting undertaking. And although it certainly isn’t a journey to be undertaken lightly, given that it’s so remote and rough, these 20 things you may not know about the Richtersveld might help you set in motion plans for your own visit. 1. The /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park covers more than 6000 square kilometres, 27% of it in the far...

Highlights of Etosha and Okonjima, Namibia

By Roxanne Reid
Etosha National Park in Namibia has long been one of my favourite southern African game reserves. This year we expanded our repertoire of places to stay while visiting the park. We also visited the Okonjima nature reserve and AfriCat rehabilitation centre near Otjiwarongo – a top notch wildlife experience. Here are some highlights of Etosha and Okonjima. Olifantsrus campsite, western Etosha Olifantsrus in the western part of Etosha, an area that’s only recently been...

Highlights of Damaraland and Kaokoveld, Namibia

Desert Rhino Camp guide Bons Roman with a welwitschia By Roxanne Reid
Once you head for Damaraland and Kaokoveld (now renamed Kunene) in Namibia's northwest, the landscape becomes increasingly stark, yet it’s surprisingly full of life. This contradiction has been captured in the name Open Africahas given to this place of amazing geological formations, harsh landscapes and free-ranging animals: the Arid Eden Route. Here are some highlights of Damaraland and Kaokoveld from our recent road trip.
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Fun at the old Canyon Roadhouse, Namibia

By Roxanne Reid
Fun, funky even wacky, these are words you might use to describe the Canyon Roadhouse not far from the Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia. Staid, dull and prim are definitely not. In fact, if you don’t have a sense of humour or a fondness for grinning like a basketful of baboons, don’t even bother to visit; the place will be wasted on you. Turn off the gravel road to the Canyon Roadhouse; take a room or pitch a tent in the campsite nearby Cars, trucks and plan...

Desert highlights of southern Namibia

Little Kulala, Sossusvlei By Roxanne Reid
When you go travelling in Namibia, that vast underpopulated land mass in southern Africa, nature, diversity and people are bound to be part of your story. Here are some desert highlights from our recent eight-week Cape to Kongola road trip. This post focuses on the desert landscape from the Fish River Canyon to Swakopmund. Canyon Roadhouse
The Gondwana Collection’sCanyon Roadhouseis a welcome stop on the way to the Fish River Canyon in southe...

Camping in an ancient caravan at Kruger

‘He says he’ll never divorce me,’ said Katrina Bosman of her husband Jan, ‘but he might murder me!’ They’d been married for 60 years and were now both in their eighties. But they weren’t letting that get in the way of a full life. We met them when they were camping in an ancient caravan at Kruger National Park’s Pretoriuskop camp. When I saw their old Gypsy caravan, its fibreglass shell shining silver in the sunlight, I could suddenly smell the gas cooker turning out breakfast eggs at Mal...

5 favourite campsites in South African parks

South Africans are supremely lucky to have so many game reserves, national parks and nature reserves across the country. As regular readers will know, these are my preferred places to get away from the city, recharge my batteries and get my fill of nature and wildlife. Here are my 5 favourite campsites in South African parks for atmosphere, setting and rustic simplicity. I’m presenting them in alphabetical order, because it’s impossible to rank them fairly.

1. Bontle, Marakele National Par...

Sugarlands cottage, Curry’s Post, KZN

We were thrilled one summery day in September to find that our little self-catering cottage on a sheep farm at about 10km from Howick looked out over a small dam. Imagine our wonder when the dam had disappeared the following morning! A little mystery to add to our visit top Sugarlands cottage, Curry’s Post, KZN.

Of course, the dam was still there; it was just covered by mist that had rolled in overnight. ‘Two out of every ten days here are misty,’ said Kate Holmes, the friendly woman w...

The hunting hornbills of Kruger National Park

By Roxanne Reid
A big thrill when you’re exploring the savanna and open grasslands of the north and north-east of southern Africa is to come upon a small family of Southern ground hornbills. It’s special because they’re classed as ‘vulnerable’ in the Red Data Book of endangered and threatened species, but also because they’re so entertaining. Case in point: the hunting hornbills of Kruger National Park. You’ll see these large, turkey-sized birds with the eyelashes of a supermodel either in...

Satara: Big Five country in the Kruger Park

Any regular Krugerite can tell you that the area around Satara camp is Big Five country in the Kruger Park. And sure enough, on a recent five-day stay we’d ticked them all – more than once. We’d also had a small leguaan living in a tree next to our campsite and African scops owls calling every night. These sights and sounds are just as special to us as seeing the Big Five. This young rock monitor (leguaan) was only about 12 inches long African scops owl snoozing in a tree at the...