CANCELLED - 2020 Northern KZN Camping Trip

[KurtG]

Emile
Quack
Ryno

You all have WhatsApps

[Quack]

I don’t understand cryptic, please refer post #12 for terms and conditions!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RynoB]

Still checking my schedule

[KurtG]

Still checking my schedule

Just so that you know, we are paying the deposit on Saturday.

[BushWacker]

Please put me down
R550 paid ... for 1

The Right Honourable BushWacker Esq. RN.

[Mad Manny]

The Chairman/Treasurer has paid the deposit to the venue.
So, no additions, no cancellations, no refunds from this moment forward.

[Wave]

Good morning all,

The wonderful Kurt has asked me to give some tips & hints for the trip, he is relying on the fact that just because I have been there before I might know/remember something.

Utshwayelo is a lovely campsite, the last 5km of sand road is pretty easy, just go carefully as there are potholes that sneak up on you and many of the locals and kids walk up and down the road. You drive all the way to the end of the road until you reach the sign that says "4x4 Only" directly before that sign you turn right into the entrance of the campsite. Most seem to miss this.

All the people are very friendly. There is a honesty bar and a nice pool area with communal braai facilities if you want to braai with a few other people, with tables and benches it's a nice spot to cook up a feast in a group, there is nice shade around the pool area for those afternoons the kids swim and you relax and have a drink, they are very relaxed and the rules are a guideline. The campsites are big, you can get at least 2 families per campsite, some of them 3. Most campsites are placed under big trees for shade with a circular reed wall dividing each campsite giving you some privacy. There are a couple of campsites that are shade lacking, so take a gazebo with, the northern KZN sun gets hot! Although the shade is necessary, using solar panels is a tad difficult, so you end you moving panels a few times.

There is water tap at each campsite, but it's recommended to take your own drinking water, we usually buy from Manguzi, the local town, there is everything you need there from the local Spar and very well stocked Total garage.

220v - power at this campsite is intermittent, generally they turn the generator on from 6am - 10am, then again from 6pm - 10pm, this is just a guideline, they turn on the power when they feel like it around these times, power is also limited, so there is no use of A/C, microwaves and hair dryers as this trips the power for the entire campsite, and even during "power times" the power still goes on and off a few times, so best to have a reliable power source for yourself. We found that having solar to top up your batteries is nice, but not necessary if you are power wise when the 220v is off.

All campsites are sandy, typical seaside camping. Ablutions are well kept, although some are rustic, they are kept clean and and the gas geysers always deliver hot water, but on those hot days a cold shower is actually very enjoyable. Last time we camped there are 2 newer ablutions near the bottom, they are family orientated, with lots of space and toilet, basin shower all in one.

For the day trips to the different beaches, it's all really soft sand 2 track, would be recommended that at least 1 vehicle have Tracks4africa maps, as sometimes Google Maps knows better, other times T4A knows better, so we always used both map sets to find the remote beaches. They say 2x4 can do it, but some sections must be really difficult with only power to 2 wheels. There are also some nice obstacles on some of the roads. You need to obtain permits to visit the beaches, these are limited and will be an extra cost, per person/per vehicle, but you will see some of the most beautiful beaches SA has to offer. Take your picnic and beachwear, spend the better part of the day driving to, swimming, snorkeling and driving back from the beach and plan to have afternoons/evenings at camp. Permits need to be obtained from the permit office the day prior to visiting the chosen beach, the campsite management will help you with directions. For access to Kosi mouth the campsite will give everyone 1 permit each that lasts the entire stay, so you can 4x4 down to Kosi mouth/beach as many times as you want and go play in the dunes, swimming, snorkeling etc, Kosi mouth has the best snorkeling I have ever seen, take rock shoes as there are stone fish. Watch the tides as you may be caught the wrong side of the river mouth at high tide. You need to walk across the wide river mouth to access the beach (for fishing) and the snorkeling, so be prepared to carry all your stuff across, we got a small blow up boat, packed it and dragged that across the water.

If you are heading over the border you will need;
Passport for each person
Letter from your insurance company for the vehicle
eNatis papers (or copy if the vehicle is financed)
A letter from the bank allowing you to go over
ZA sticker
Fire extinguisher
Yellow reflective top
You can buy 3rd party insurance (R150) at the border once you've crossed over.
You can then choose to go to Ponta on the new tar road, drive straight as you cross the border and follow the road signs, very quick and easy, or you can take the old 2 track soft sand road, turn right as soon as you find a 2 track after crossing the border.

I think that's about all, if you have any questions I will gladly answer, we have been that side of the world a good few times and really enjoy it.

[KurtG]

Thanks Ge’off

[BushWacker]

... if you go ‘off-road’ as I once did (arriving from S) can be tricky
... multitude of criss-crossing car-tracks so making a complicated network of ‘routes’!
... as the locals often put branches etc across the main tracks etc because they want you to hire them as guides or ? ‘skillies’ ...

[Paul#25]

Thanks Geoff. Pity you won't be there with us to act as guide and interpreter.

[BushWacker]

Thanks Geoff. Pity you won't be there with us to act as guide and interpreter.

Arriving from Joburg etc and getting to lagoon mouth, border post, Tembe etc is quite straight forward
... all signposted and normal well used roads etc.
GPS will also make things a lot easier!

The minor coastal road/s providing access to
the fishing camps to the south have thick sand
in places ... probably need to deflate.

[Mad Manny]

Arriving from Joburg etc and getting to lagoon mouth, border post, Tembe etc is quite straight forward
... all signposted and normal well used roads etc.
GPS will also make things a lot easier!

The minor coastal road/s providing access to
the fishing camps to the south have thick sand
in places ... probably need to deflate.

Good etc, but.... etc.
Then just deflate etc..
...also... things like... etc.

Then... there... that... then etc. And

Other

Considerations, thoughts etc...

[BushWacker]

Good etc, but.... etc.
Then just deflate etc..
...also... things like... etc.

Then... there... that... then etc. And

Other

Considerations, thoughts etc...

... verbal Picasso ... etc ...

[Paul#25]

[/quote]

... verbal Picasso ... etc ...
[/quote]

More like verbal diarrhea......

[Wave]

Thanks Geoff. Pity you won't be there with us to act as guide and interpreter.

Stupid government school holidays...