Mountain Zebra earns its stripes

National park near Cradock a real treat

IT IS only about 130km from Komani, but we had not been to the Mountain Zebra National Park near Cradock for many years, until we went last week… and what a pleasure it turned out to be.

Passing through Cradock (smaller than Komani) we did not see one pothole and no litter in the streets.

We popped into a supermarket, where we were most impressed by the cleanliness, as well as friendliness of staff and excellent quality of merchandise, and left wondering why, if they can do it, Komani apparently can not.

Then it was just a few kilometres out to the park. From the main gate, where we were welcomed by a smiling, jovial and friendly official, we could not have wished for better service.

The people in the office and the little shop (where one can get all the basics) were all friendly and helpful.

Our chalet consisted of two carpeted bedrooms and a bathroom with lashings of hot water.

The beds were clean, comfortable and equipped with crisp white sheets and cuddly duvets. There were extra blankets in the cupboard and hot water bottles, which I’m sure will be necessary in the winter chill.

The kitchen had all the basics, the living area had a fireplace in front of which we socialised in the evenings and each chalet has an outdoor area equipped with a braai and furniture.

The chalets are built in such a way that one is not even aware of neighbours and so unobtrusively coloured that they are quite difficult to see looking down from the mountain drives.

We remarked that we had never seen better gravel roads and the whole park is meticulously maintained.

There are a few tarred roads and some small, steep stretches where vehicles would struggle in wet weather are also paved.

There are several fenced picnic sites where one can stretch one’s legs, have a cup of coffee or visit the spotlessly clean facilities and some of them even have swimming pools which I’m sure are popular in the summer.

The scenery is absolutely spectacular.

We spoke to a couple who had visited all South Africa’s game parks and they said there was no better.

From the high points the panoramic outlook included Hangklip towards the east and as far as Compassberg (near Nieu Bethesda) to the west.

There are only four lions and we did not see them or the chee- tahs, but other people did.

However, there was never a dull moment as there was always something to see. Mountain zebras abound, having been brought back from near-extinction by this park (which had only 17 in 1937) and are darker, the stripes run all the way down to the hooves and they have bigger ears than the Burchell’s zebra we are more accustomed to.

In addition to gemsbok, eland, kudu, red hartebees, springbok and all the rest, some of the more unusual animals we saw were two aardwolf (also known as

seldom seen during the day, and a black stork, uncommon in these parts.

There were many birds, especially near the water holes and we particularly liked the fact that instead of farm troughs for animals to drink from, they had been made to look like natural pools.

We will certainly be back before too long.