Worth the wait

After finding out about Bendito Ranch on a camping page on Facebook, Johnny and Judy Rademan from Sasolburg finally managed to book a spot for a recent long weekend.

It took us nearly two years to book a spot over a weekend at the evidently very popular Bendito Ranch, which is about 25 km outside Mokopane. So we made the most of it by taking along our cousins Mercia and Pieter Jacobson and their two daughters, aged 16 and 10. We hitched our Jurgens Safari Xplorer to our Ford Ranger 2.2 double cab 4x2 and headed to Limpopo from Sasolburg via the R59, N1, and R101. The journey took us about four and a half hours.

Describe Bendito Ranch to those who have not had the pleasure.

This is a proper bush camp so don’t expect any running water or electricity supply. There are storage drums at the stands that the staff fills with enough water for your stay. There’s also ample wood provided.

What do the facilities look like?

Not really grassy, but there’s firm soil at the stands and plenty of shade trees. The ablution facilities are rustic but private, with a long-drop toilet setup and the shower water provided by a bucket. You heat your own water. It’s all perched on a

concrete stand with simple shade netting for privacy.

What other kind of accommodation is available?

We didn’t really venture that way, but there are furnished rooms available in the self-catering farmhouse. There are three bush campsites, all located far enough from each other so you feel secluded. Each site is big enough for about three off-road trailers or caravans.

What activities are there?

There’s 24 km of trails on the ranch for hikers and mountain bikers. You can also ride your own horse if you’ve brought one along – and there are fully equipped stables to house the animal comfortably. Birdwatchers will have fish eagles to look out for. You can also go on a game drive with your own vehicle. There are 25 species to tick off your list, including Cape buffalo, zebra, kudu, giraffe, leopard, impala and brown hyena. Hunting is also available on request.

Any advice for first-timers?

Definitely take enough food and drinking water with you and fill up in Mokopane, especially if you’re going to do game drives, explore the region, and stay for an extended period. It costs R250 per stand per night and R60 p.p.p.n. Also be sure to book well in advance.

BACK TO BASICS. The facilities may be bare-bones but they’re also neat and tidy. Showering requires a bit of planning but it works well and it does make you appreciate the luxuries of home.

BOMBS AWAY. The long-drop is light years removed from those filthy planks of old that covered a smelly hole in the ground. These toilets are neat and hygienic. The shower cubicle has a broad shelf on which to pack your toiletries.