Wow the thread "December Planne" has got my feet itching to just pack and go :) but unfortunately we have to wait until January, very early January. 

We off 2 Jan to Dube to camp with our grandchildren for 4 nights then back home to pack the for what has become our annual loooong trip. Leave towards the end Jan and take at least two or three weeks to get down to Hartenbos where we meet up with family for a month mid Feb to mid Mar. Then I have four months to get up to Eiland for two months then a month or two to get home at the end of Sept or Oct.

Booked sites are :

• Dube - Jan
• Hartenbos - Feb Mar
• Eiland - Jul & Aug

The rest I‘m still planning, just need to decide on which routes to take and where to stopover along the way. 

Had a look at some options, we have been to most these places before so now looking for some new stop-overs. Our start point is Pta, some places I‘m keen to include are:

Route down Option 1

• Kroonstad
• Waschbank River Lodge (below the Gariep Dam wall) - never camped here.
• Karoo National Park 
• Kleinplasie - Oudtshoorn
• Hartenbos

Route down Option 2

• Kroonstad (maybe skip this stop)
• Reynecke Park or River of Joy
• Nqweba - Graaf Reinet
• Hartenbos

Route down Option 3  travelled this route up from Swellendam in 2022

• Kroonstad
• Reynecke Park or River of Joy
• Riverside Country Club (Modderivier)
• Kambro (Britstown)
• Klipwerf (Calvina)
• Groenrivier (Nieuwoudtville)
• Kardoesie (N7)
• Leentjiesklip (Langebaan)
• Van Zyls Rus (Kuilsrivier)
• Skurwekop (Robertson) have never camped here.
• Hartenbos

Route up to Eiland Option 1

• Forever Plett
• Jeffreys Bay
• Willows - PE
• Addo
• Medilino Port Alfred - never been here
• Yellow Sands
• Cefani River Mouth - never camped here
• Morgans Bay Caravan Park - never camped here
• Mountain Zebra
• Reynecke Park
• Dinokeng 
• Klein Kariba
• Eiland

Route up to Eiland Option 2

• Leentjiesklip - Langebaan
• Kliphoek - Velddrif
• Citrus Creek - Citrusdal
• Rondeberg -  never been here
• Verbe Caravan Park Kamieskroon -  never camped here
• Namastad Lodge - Springbok
• Oranjerus - Upington
• Twee Rivieren - Kgalagadi - been to Kgalagadi but never camped there
• Still need to decide on stops and route from here to Eiland

Of course all of this is planning  and the routes may change and I need to check the distances don‘t want to do more than 400 to 450km between stop-overs if I can help it (will add additional stops to ensure this). From Hartenbos we may have our cousins in convoy for part of the trip back up to Eiland as they are joining us there as well and & they may have some stop-overs they want to include or even a different route - we still need to discus with them when we get to Hartenbos.

If anyone has alternative stop-overs we could or should consider on any of these routes I would like to hear about them, or any alternative routes :) As we have time on our hands some of the stop-overs will be be more than one night stopovers but be longer stays especially the route back

Always great to plan!

Some alternatives;

Aldam South of Ventersburg, you can visit the rustic Willem Pretorius park next door.

Rooidam South of Britstown.

Springbok CP way superior to Namastad.

After KTP, Rooisand South of Kuruman.

RichardJ wrote:

Always great to plan!

Some alternatives;

Aldam South of Ventersburg, you can visit the rustic Willem Pretorius park next door.

Rooidam South of Britstown.

Springbok CP way superior to Namastad.

After KTP, Rooisand South of Kuruman.

Thanks Richard will add those to the list 

Brian, rather consider Kroon lodge at Kamieskroon, than Verbe.

Grompie wrote:

Brian, rather consider Kroon lodge at Kamieskroon, than Verbe.

Wessel, thanks will look at Kroon Lodge and add it to my list 

Brian, ek hoop jy het movers op jou woonwa. Waschbank het lieflike ablusie, maar ek het die staanplekke se uitleg as swak ervaar. Dis groot, maar toegang vanaf die enkele dienspad  is skuins ongemaklik.

Onthou, die grondpad soheentoe maak 'n skerp regs draai. Direk daarna is die elektriese hek. Ek het dit nie geweet nie, iemand het uitgekom, die hek was oop, en dan sien mens dit nie. Die hek het amper toegemaak op my woonwa. 

Grompie wrote:

Brian, ek hoop jy het movers op jou woonwa. Waschbank het lieflike ablusie, maar ek het die staanplekke se uitleg as swak ervaar. Dis groot, maar toegang vanaf die enkele dienspad  is skuins ongemaklik.

Onthou, die grondpad soheentoe maak 'n skerp regs draai. Direk daarna is die elektriese hek. Ek het dit nie geweet nie, iemand het uitgekom, die hek was oop, en dan sien mens dit nie. Die hek het amper toegemaak op my woonwa. 

Yes we have movers on the van. We went and had a look at the campsite last year while we were at Forever Gariep.  Access road was in good condition and I will get onto the sites quite easily. Gate was open when we went in and out. Did not notice that it was an automatic gate. Will bear that in mind if we go there and will confirm with them before arrival.

BrianB wrote:

Took a drive to Waschbank Lodge today.

There is a 2,5 km sand road leading up to the resort, however although slightly corrugated it is definitely safe enough with a road caravan. In fact we passed one that was coming out as we approached the resort. I would have no problem pulling my van along this road at a slow pace.

 

 

 

Aldam !!! Rather stay away .

Willie, hoekom wegbly van Alam? Ek het afgelope Augustus weer daar oorgeslaap met woonwa. So maak ons nog elkekeer die afgelope 4jaar op/af Kaap toe.

Ablusies is effe opgradeer, maar kort nog 'n bankie vir skoene aantrek

BrianB wrote:

Yes we have movers on the van. We went and had a look at the campsite last year while we were at Forever Gariep.  Access road was in good condition and I will get onto the sites quite easily. Gate was open when we went in and out. Did not notice that it was an automatic gate. Will bear that in mind if we go there and will confirm with them before arrival.

[quote]1012,250213911[/quote] here is the thread with my report back on Waschbank including pictures of the road and entrance gate.  

Wessel sorry here is the thread with the pictures

https://www.caravanparks.com/35.Caravan-Camping-Forums-On-the-Road-Again-Kroonstad-Gariep-Karoo-National-Park-Oudtshoorn-Hartenbos.htm?forumaction=1&loadcategory=1012&loadpost=250213866&highlight=waschbank&pg=2&sortby=latest#ForumsAnchor

Wessel  sien jy vra waarom nie Aldam .Ek woon nie vêr van Aldam.en ons het baie daar gaan kamp .Dit was toe Aventura, toe word dit verkoop aan privaat mense .Dit is waar die moeilikheid begin het, geen reēls ,dagbesoekers het die plek ondraaglik gemaak .Hier is vriende van ons se kinders wat hierdie jaar Paasnaweek weer probeer het, net 2 dae toe pak hulle op en kom huistoe .Nee jy was gelukkig  ,dit is ook seker in die week kan dalk beter wees ,ek sal wegbly .Ek het my kop 2 keer gestamp daar, nooit weer .Gaan oornag liewer in Kroonstad by die APK Kerkterein dit is veilig en skoon .

Willie, dit was nog altyd buite seisoen en in die week wat ons by Aldam oorgeslaap het.

Afgelope September oorkant die pad by Bundu River Lodge oorgestaan, oppad huistoe. Ek kan nie werklik seg waarom nie, maar dan eerder maar by Aldam.   

Willie54 wrote:

Wessel  sien jy vra waarom nie Aldam .Ek woon nie vêr van Aldam.en ons het baie daar gaan kamp .Dit was toe Aventura, toe word dit verkoop aan privaat mense .Dit is waar die moeilikheid begin het, geen reēls ,dagbesoekers het die plek ondraaglik gemaak .Hier is vriende van ons se kinders wat hierdie jaar Paasnaweek weer probeer het, net 2 dae toe pak hulle op en kom huistoe .Nee jy was gelukkig  ,dit is ook seker in die week kan dalk beter wees ,ek sal wegbly .Ek het my kop 2 keer gestamp daar, nooit weer .Gaan oornag liewer in Kroonstad by die APK Kerkterein dit is veilig en skoon .

Agree wit AP Kerk, for the last few years we usually overnight there on the way to and back from the Cape.

Brain julle gaan n hond uit n bos kamp

Bostoe wrote:

Brain julle gaan n hond uit n bos kamp

Shaun, ons kan nie wag nie. 

Next month in a years time this type of planning will be part of our lives as well.