Marakele

After Pilanesberg we went on to Marakele. The tented camp that we stayed in Marakele was about 17 km away from the main gate. The lady from the reception would show the way, but in her 4-wheel drive she drove quite a bit faster than our truck could handle. What happened to us passengers could not be qualified as a massage anymore, not even an African one. We were being hurled around the truck like crazy. Herman was sitting in the back chuckling away and I was laughing so hard that I cried. This tour also revealed more of the beauty parlor qualities of South Africa. A was sitting next to an open window and the sand blown up by the car of the lady leading the way sandblasted my face so thoroughly that it cannot be matched by any exfoliating spa-treatment currently available. Later we found out that a dirt road treatment at a lower speed kind of resembled a spray-tan treatment, especially in those areas where the soil is red. In addition to that the wind from the open window would do wonders for my hairdo.

Arriving at the camp made up for everything (I think even for the people that did not enjoy the beauty treatment as much as I did). Our accommodation was located in the most beautiful place ever, next to a river in the middle of Marakele National Park and the tents were even more luxurious than I could have imagined for a perfect camping trip. The permanent tents were placed on wooden porches and included a kitchen (with fridge, stove, cabinets and even tiled walls), shower, toilet and of course comfortable beds. Unfortunately, not everybody from our group could join the game drive for that afternoon, but after seeing the place we stayed at I did not mind just sitting there enjoying the scenery and reading a book.

The camp in Marakele did not come with a restaurant, so we had to cook ourselves on site. Together with Marleen, Willem and I joined Thor and Louis to help prepare dinner. It was at least or good intention to help, but there was not much we could do and probably the guys would have been just as well off alone. But at the very least we were present, provided beer and metal support, and I looked pretty, which I am sure contributed a little bit to the great dinner we had. And by protecting the flames from the gas stove from the wind, I have definitely been detrimental in making sure dinner was warm. We were warned beforehand that all food had to be kept from the callousness monkeys in the park and should therefore be guarded at all times. The kitchen was for instance monkey proof. Luckily these monkeys did not disturb us too much while we were enjoying the meal.

Since it is in the middle of nowhere, light pollution is not an issue the night sky that evening was wonderful. After dinner, Willem and I therefore went back to our own tent and sat in the very comfortable chairs on our dark porch to watch the stars. It was amazing!