Go! Drive & Camp – September 2019

R36

R36

R71

R71

R528

R528

R71

MagoebaskloofMountainLodge

Haenertsburg

Tzaneen

to Phalaborwa

to Modjadjiskloof

to Polokwane

to Hoedspruit

http://www.weg.co.za go! Drive & Camp^ September 2019 |^57

T

he Magoebaskloof is a

spectacular series of gorges

on the northeastern tip of

the Drakensberg. This region

in Limpopo was named after chief

Mamphoku Makgoba who was beheaded

124 years ago by Swazi warriors and,

according to some German tourists, the

region looks exactly like the Black Forest

between the Rhine River and the Feldberg

in the Baden-Württemberg state. That is,

of course, if you ignore the banana trees...

At the top of the Magoebaskloof Pass,

between Tzaneen and Haenertsburg, lies

the Magoebaskloof Mountain Lodge, which

is practically surrounded by the broad

tar road that winds over mountains and

gorges. Motorists and motorcyclists like to

speed their way through the twisties, and

if you’re coming up from Pretoria, you’ll

have to hustle to get your caravan accross

the oncoming traffic lane before you can

stop in front of the lodge’s entrance gate.

A gate guard will direct you to a parking

spot next to reception. After completing

all the paperwork, you’ll get a key for

your own bathroom. Right next to the

reception building is a shop where you can

buy items such as bread, milk, wood and

sweets – for meat, vegetables and other

groceries you’ll need to drive to Tzaneen.

You tow your caravan on a narrow brick

path between a number of rondavels.

If you tow a huge caravan or drive a

motorhome, you’ll need to do some careful

planning so as not to hit a palm tree or

damage a rondavel’s thatched roof. You’re

in the clear once you see the campsite’s

swimming pool.

HERE YOU’LL FIND three spacious stands,

each with a paved, level surface. Next to it

is a patch of clean, swept earth where you

can pitch a tent.

Each of the stands have a built-up brick

braai with a tiled work surface next to it.

There is also a weather-proof power socket

(the three-point type) plus a tap and a

rubbish bin. Remember to bring your own

braai grid and a stand to raise it above the

coals. There are no lights at the stands and

the closest sink is at the ablution block.

Right next to the stands are two

unheated swimming pools – a small

one for toddlers and a larger one with

a slide. Beyond the paving are palm trees,

lawns with picnic tables and sunbeds.

The pool area is surrounded by a low

brick wall with gates that can be locked

so your little rascal can’t go swimming

without supervision.

Next to the pools is a communal braai

area with two fireplaces, a brick bench,

a sink and a worktop.

THE ABLUTION FACILITIES are next to

the pools, in a double-storey lapa. The

lower half has a single toilet and the

door is lockable from the inside. Anyone

If you tow a huge caravan or

drive a motorhome, you’ll need

to do some careful planning so

as not to hit a palm tree