Other travels that we have been on (4)

Pilanesberg and Marakele

We really enjoy camping at Pilanesberg. (Cannot stay in chalets there as they are totally overpriced !)

We started going to Pilanesberg in the late 80's and on times there were only a handful of caravans there. However, not its a very popular weekend getaway and is often crowded. But, if you cam at Manyane, and go around to the "back" you can sill get a site in the caravan section which is normally quiet.

I hate noise and unruly, people at camping parks/sites.

On one trip to Pilanesberg, a crowd arrived in the large Jurgens Exclusive caravans, all towing with huge SUV and bakkies. They were a family of 4 caravans. Father, sons and daughters and their respective families. They wanted sites together (at Pilanesberg you cannot book sites, its first come first served).

So they proceeded to pull the gum pole marking the sites out of the ground. They moved their caravans into the center where you are not supposed to camp and totally disregarded everyone else, as well as the camp rules and property. You could just tell what kind of people these were (only care for and about themselves and don't give a continental about anyone else) and we know then that they were going to be unruly, drunk and disorderly. Well. the entire weekend, it dd not stop. Noise - drinking and loud people.

It was a ling weekend as well. On the 2nd night I could not take it any longer and shouted at then to keep quiet and behave. Well, the father of the group staggered over. he could hardly stand up and wanted to start a fight, because did I know how much they had paid to stay there and that entitled them to do as they pleased. Well, guess what, I had paid the same !!

Anyway, his daughter came across and she had also had enough and told him that he was misbehaving, loud, rude and that he should keep quiet and he was keeping her baby from sleeping. 

He quietened down.

But we had a similar issue at an Eco Game Lodge that we booked at. These people came in with their music blaring and were just rude and loud. When I asked that they turn the music down, their swearing started and it was unpleasant. When I complained to management, she said, why don't you just join them. Needless to day we will never recommend that Eco park to anyone and will never go back there.

Anyway, onto Pilanesberg :

Camping at Pilanesburg. We have found that it you go around to the extreme outside of the camping ground, its normally quieter. Also the sites look out onto the bush, rather than onto a neighbor or road.
Above is the dome tent without the extension.

Our Jurgens caravan with the rally awning erected. The red vehicle is my Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x4 2.8 diesel.

Looking from the ablutions towards our campsite.

Fish eagle drinking at a dam in Pilanesburg.

We found this heard of elephants at makwe dam.

These giraffe were also at Mankwe dam.

And Marakele :

We had quiet a nice site at Marakele. It was not on the outside, but was shady and just a few meters away from the side of the campsite.

The nice think about Makakele is that the campsite is not fenced. So, if you are lucky you will get the Rhino walking past your caravan. We only did see them at the waterhole this time.

The bird life at Marakele is amazing. We had numerous birds coming up onto the groundsheet of our caravan.

It was very dry where we were at Marakele. But we had some good sightings.

Marakele claims to have elephants and we have seen their dung around. However, on the numerous occasions that we have been to Marakele we have never seen any elephant. Perhaps on the next visit!