Camp next to the lions
The Konka adventure farm between Magaliesburg and Rustenburg is a popular destination for things like sports events and camps, team-building sessions, school camps, and weddings. The past 10 years clients like the South African Rugby Union, BMW, Anglo Platinum, and Clover SA have made themselves at home here. Now the people of Konka have decided to expand further, and the next step is a caravan park where you can unhitch your wagon next to the Magaliesberg and the Hex River. Sure, you don’t camp next to the river, but it runs through the farm and you still have a nice view of the mountain. You can choose if you want one of the nine stands with a private bathroom or one of the seven with shared ablution facilities. To get to the caravan park you drive through the main gate, past the lion camp on your right, and then you turn right at the first road. The campsite’s stands are laid out in two rows on both sides of the road. The luxury stands – those with private bathrooms – lie to the right and the ordinary stands to the left. Your stand is about as big as half a tennis court and you’re partly on grass and partly on a paved slab. There’s enough space for your caravan with a full tent and your car. In terms of neatness, there’s nothing to complain about but there aren’t many shade trees to talk about either. Remember your heat reflective sheet and gazebo. You do camp next to the lion camp, and when you hear them roar at night you’ll think that you’re in the Kgalagadi. For braaiing you have one of those ploughshare jobs with an adjustable grid. This is cleaned daily by the resort staff. The staff are friendly and helpful and check in often to see if everything is in order or if you need help with anything. You also have an electrical outlet, garbage bin and tap at your stand.
Bath time!
The luxury stands’ ablution facilities are on a level above you and you climb a set of steps to get there. Inside the building is a toilet (with toilet tissue), bath, shower with a curtain, and a basin (no plug) with a makeup mirror. There’s also a table with a larger mirror and two power sockets for hair dryers. The scullery for dirty dishes is at the bar, the Konka Saloon, about 100 m from the farthest stand. There are also four deep steel double sinks in a row, but you need to bring your own plug. The ordinary stands’ ablution facilities are also here and there are separate facilities for men and women. There are two showers, two basins – these are actually in the shower section – and one toilet. It can get quite busy if the campsite is full. The ordinary stands also each have their own steel braai, garbage bin, power point, and tap.
Just relax man!
Konka’s large recreation area is below the caravan park and consists of two pools (one for the kids), a communal braai, jungle gym, putt-putt course, and trampoline where the youngsters can get rid of their excess energy. You can also organise game drives, abseiling, wall climbing or zipline excursions with the resort management. If you want to explore the area yourself, you can tackle the hiking trail that starts immediately outside the entrance to the resort. It’s 6 km long and you may cycle it with your mountain bike. Below the recreation area lies a big cricket field, and against the border, on the campsite side, is the Konka Saloon. Here you can get something to eat or enjoy a beer while watching the Boks play on the big screen. Be warned: Konka is popular and is often overrun by school groups, sports teams, and big companies’ team-building excursions. Inquire in advance how busy it’s going to be when you plan on visiting. Perhaps also find out if the Konka Saloon will be hosting a 21st or someone’s stag party when you plan on being there. The bar is uncomfortably close to the stands, and at half past two in the morning even Stairway to Heaven can sound like nails on a chalkboard.
The past 10 years clients like the South African Rugby Union, BMW, Anglo Platinum, and Clover SA have made themselves at home here.