Go! Drive & Camp – September 2019

(Chris Devlin) #1

REEL & WHEEL


76 | September 2019 go! Drive & Camp


CampsitesinGautengaren’toverlyplentiful.


Fortunately, there is Klipdraai, where you


can also hook a catfish or carp.


FISHING RESORT


KLIPDRAAI CARAVAN PARK


CHOOSE YOUR SPOT
Much of the Klipdraai Caravan Park lies
on the Klip River in Meyerton. On the
way here, you’ll briefly drive through
the Rothdene neighbourhood, and mere
moments later you’ll find yourself in front
of the resort. The town’s road stops at
Klipdraai’s gate, and this is where you leave
the town behind.
Below the high-voltage pylons in front
of you lies a patch of grass where several


antelope graze. Expect to see springbok,
blesbok and nyalas at the very least.
If you want to camp close to the heated
pool, aim for the first stands, but if you
desire more shade, carry on past them.
The farthest stands are on the banks of the
river (which forms a horseshoe around the
resort) – here you can fish right out of your
camping chair.
Most of the sites are unmarked, but
the resort staff have begun applying
numbers. The electrical sockets are of the
usual three-prong type. If you camp some
distance away from a plug point, you’re
going to need an extension cord. A braai
area is also being built for each site.
But no matter where you camp, you’re
always close to a bathroom, because the
10 ablution blocks are dotted around
the campsite. The largest one is near the
heated pool and the second biggest is at
the farthest point of the resort.
Instead of the usual sign showing
the men’s and women’s sides, two large
concrete figures stand here: to the left is

an replica of the David statue that looks as
if he’s checking out the Eve’s side, where
there’s a sculpture of a woman with her
hands behind her head.
At Klipdraai, all the action happens in
the middle of the resort, almost like in the
arena of a circus or an old-fashioned town
square. On a leafy patch of grass, about the
size of a rugby field, you can choose which
way you and your offspring want to get rid
of pent-up energy. There is a huge timber
jungle gym, an airplane-shaped trellis, a big
sandpit (around 21 x 6 m) and, on the side,
two trampolines.
Next to it is a mini-golf course (R20
per game), a games room with two pool
and two foosball tables (R200 deposit
for the cues and R2 per game), a giant
garden chess set, a volleyball court with
a sandy surface plus an unheated pool and
a splashpool for the little ones.
The shop is next to the games room and
here you can buy basic groceries (such as
milk) and all kinds of sweets. A bag of sickle
wood costs R28 and charcoal is R38.

Meyerton

Vanderbijlpark

Vereeniging
ThreeRivers

GAUTENG

GAUTENG

FREESTATE

toAlberton

N1

R57 R59

toJohannesburg R59

Klipdraai
CaravanPark

Vaal River

Only a stone’s


throw from the


big smoke...

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