July (^2019) caravansa.co.za| 31
TRAVEL
The Whittle family are part of the
original settlers that arrived in this area
back in 1820.
They are also related to Frank Whittle
the inventor of the jet engine!
Walking around the garden with
Hildelene, she pointed to a lovely small
cottage adjacent to the main home and
explained: “A large part of Jock of the
Bushveld was written in that cottage.”
She went on to tell me that Sir Percy
and his wife Elizabeth Lillian Fitzpatrick
are buried at The Lookout just off the
R335, the selfsame road I had followed
the day before from Kirkwood.
With Hildelene and Ronnie’s
directions I found the graves which have
a fantastic view over the Sundays River.
Sadly, the graveyard with its small
botanical garden has been neglected.
A pity for a man that meant so much
to this area.
Many moons ago, funnily enough,
camping and following a pretty tough
4x4 track I had stayed down at Slagboom
with Boetie and Boy Whittle. It turned
out that Boetie is Hildelene’s brother.
From the moment you drive down
the driveway of this stately homestead
you know you’re in for a great camping
experience.
There are eight dedicated caravan
stands with electric points close at hand
(normal three-pin plugs, not the blue
ones). Each of the caravan sites has a
braai and a rubbish bin. There are a
further seven sites set aside for tents.
There are separate men’s and ladies’
ablution blocks. Near the ladies’ ablution
block is a small building with a scullery
and laundry facility, including two large
industrial washing machines.
I really enjoyed wandering around the
farm. Every evening the cattle would
meander through the park on their way
to the nearby kraal.
Hildelene’s father Thurston has an
impressive garage filled with tractors,
old welding sets, an old car from the
50s (it looked like a Wolsley), and more
tools and bits and pieces than I have
seen in a long time.
Just behind the workshop was the old
cottage used by Percy Fitzpatrick while
writing his famous novel.
I wandered around the garden with
its huge trees and quirky signage and
found the wooden deck overlooking
a small dam. I’d found my spot, so I
fetched one of my new coffee brews,
compliments of Eastern Cape Caravans,
and watched the sun set over the dam.
WhErEistAyEd
AddoRestCamp
t: 042 233 8600
E: [email protected]
W:www.sanparks.org/parks/addo/
HomesteadB&B
ronnieBeyl: 0734227737
hildeleneBeyl: 0833113221
t: 042 233 0354
E: [email protected]
W: http://www.homesteadbnb.co.za
It’s no wonder that many people
who book into the Homestead for a
night find it so peaceful they stay for a
couple of days.
Addo is a mere 12 kilometres away.
Letting my mind drift while watching
the sun set, I thought of how for first-
time visitors, Addo Elephant National
Park might seem like “impenetrable
thorny thickets”.
This is my third visit to this area, but
the thicket is starting to open up paths
for me. And the more paths that open up
the more fascinated I am.
Take a look at my pictures, visit the
Addo website, and I can guarantee that
you’ll soon be packing your bags to visit
the only game reserve that contains
the Big Seven: lion, leopard, buffalo,
elephant, rhino, the Southern Right
whale and the Great White shark.
singke
(singke)
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