Royal Natal National Park - Golden Gate



The beautiful Brandwag Peak lt up at night



Bergwoning Adventure Farm - Clarens



Thuys & Zieta who own the Bergwoning Adventure farm 15kms from Clarens and only 5km from the SE Gate of the Royal Natal National Park.. Zieta is also an accomplished artist whose works are on display and available for purchase at the "Koffie Pot" and restaurant on site. All of the normal adventure activities are available at Bergwoning.



Arrival at Bergwoning in Clarens



At the time of taking this pic some 20 minutes after arrival we had seen herds of sheep, horses and springbok in the camp. Got the whole camp to ourselves.



Veal on a spit ?



A cow calf plonks itself down in our camp and adopts the CHANA as a mother figure



I'll have none of that



Mother ignoring the "NO COWS ALLOWED" sign I put on the braai, promptly walks straight through our camp to intervene (and tramples my TV cable)



Intervention



Mother explaining in no uncertain terms that there will be no adoption



HLALANATHI - THE A TEAM




The team at HLALANATHI DRAKENSBERG RESORT
From left Karla (Reception) Heather (The Guvner) and Rene (Housekeeping)
To book at this highly recommended resort phone Karla on 036 438 6308

 

On a Drive



On a drive through the hills with the Amphitheatre clearly visible in the background



Hlalalnathi - This setting takes some beating




I have no idea what the word Hlalalnathi means in Zulu, but the word PARADISE springs to mind

 

The Casscades & Mc Kinnleys Pool



A short 8 minute drive from Hlalanthi takes one to the gates of The Royal Natal National park where we went on a hike to the Casscades. I took this pic of Bernie and Christel after appologising to the sole German couple who were enjoying the solitude... when suddenly



The Dutch Invasion




Suddenly the site was invaded by a group of 40 plus cheese eating, folk singing Dutch tourists
"Mein Gott" said the Germans, "#*^#@^ it" said us and we all beat a hasty retreat.

 

Hlalanathi - Went from this ....



The weather closed in and the camp was hit with a spectacular thunder shower which lasted all of 20 minutes



To This



After the thunder storm the camp was hit with a sudden hail storm which lasted all of 4 minutes. The biggest hail stones we have ever seen. The size of golf balls but fortunately no damage



And this ..... Ice from heaven



Collected enough of the best ice in the world to last us a week or 3 bottles of J&B, which ever comes first.



And finally this



All in under 1 hour. This can only happen in the Berg...magnificent.
We just can't get enough of the tremendous views from our patio. We literally have to drag ourselves away to do hikes.



Scoot! said the Coot



An Egyptian Goose with a brood of newly born hatchlings got too close to a Coot with a brood of her own and was duly attacked.
Pic Taken on the beautiful Golf course at Hlalanathi



Off to greener pastures



C'mon kids its a lot more peaceful at the North end



Guests for dinner



Great shot of two weaver birds who joined us at our dinner table and happily ate crumbs while we dined.



I'll never eat mushrooms again



While out on a walk we spotted this lone mushroom flourishing in a pile of cow dung.
Granted the presentation is brilliant but i'm sure it tastes crap.
Could it be a "shitaki mushroom?



Quaint



Bernie spotted this unfinished? Partly finished? Long finished? hut near Bergville.
And there I thought one started ones paint job on the outside.