WEEKEND BREAK
Dinokeng Camp & Leisure awaits you and your tent pegs just outside Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, in the popular Dinokeng Reserve.
Some campsites are so popular these days that you have to book months in advance – even for just a regular weekend. Dinokeng Camp & Leisure, the latest campsite in the northwest of the Big 5 Dinokeng Reserve, is one such a place. Early in December last year when the first campers were on their way, the owners, Devan and Carla van der Merwe, were still busy getting everything ready. By the time the Christmas campers arrived, the campsite was ready, the new unheated pool was filled, and there was a lawn for the sunbathers. When you book, Carla will send you a stand number and gate code. On arrival, drive straight to your stand, park your caravan and start unpacking. Carla says they don’t have a reception yet because they are so new – so she does a lateafternoon visit to the campground to welcome everyone and complete the paperwork.
THE CAMP’S 20 stands lie side by side in a U-shape and you therefore only have neighbours on either side. Depending on where you position your front door, you either have a view of the veld or look out onto the campsite. Low cresent-shaped concrete walls between the stands not only serve as boundary lines, but also house the water supply, far away from where tent pegs can punch holes in them. Just be careful not to drive over these walls when you’re parking your caravan as the concrete is not strong enough to withstand your vehicle’s weight. The stands are large – 17 x 24 steps – and there is plenty of space between you and your neighbours. Devan says the stands are big enough to have up to three caravans per stand when your friends come camping. The corner stands (10 and 11) at the farthest point of the camp have the most privacy with a wide view of the veld, while sites 1 and 20 are at the entrance and are far busier with all the campers driving in and out of the camp. The short wild grass on the stands is scanty, but each stand also has a 10 x 10 paved surface for your caravan or tent. You can leave your drill at home, because the slab’s bricks are loose enough for you to easily hammer your tent pegs in between bricks. There’s not a lot of shade. About three-quarters of the stands have a tree somewhere on it, but it’s not necessarily at the paving, which means your caravan sits in the sun. There are, however, a lot of trees that make enough shade so people can sit under them. Only stand 13 has trees that are large and close enough to the paving to provide shade for your tent up until lunchtime. Each stand’s braai (with a grid) can be moved around. And when you’re done braaiing, you can lower the braai’s dish in its frame to just above the ground and light a fire to socialise around. The stands each have a bin, tap and power point (regular socket). Part of the camp’s neat feel is thanks to the bins hidden in built-in cubicles between the stands. The power point and tap sit on the outside of the cubicle
Depending on where you position your front door, you either have a view of the veld or look out onto the campsite
and a 20 m extension cord will be more than long enough to get the power to your caravan. THE BATHROOMS AT Dinokeng Camp & Leisure outdo those of many other camps. The spaciousness and meticulous attention to detail with a combination of spartan and modern has you wanting to spend time in there. In the men’s facilities, the general area has more than enough room for
everyone to move easily. When you walk in, there are five basins on a wood-finished surface on the one side. One of them is nice and low for youngsters. The modern ceramic basins are a lovely contrast to the copper garden taps. Liquid hand-washing soap and paper towels are provided. There are no hooks on the walls, but the space between the basins is big enough for your toiletry bag. A wide mirror is fixed to the wall above the basins. You can plug your razor (or hair dryer) into the wall socket next to the mirror. A rechargeable LED automatically turns on when loadshedding kicks in. The shower and dressing sections of the five shower cubicles are separated by a wall, and a shower curtain keeps most of the water inside the shower section. As with the basins, there are also copper taps and the water pipes run against the wall. Inside the shower is a soap dish, while the dressing area has three hooks and a wooden bench. There are three flushing toilets. The shower walls and floors are tiled and the rest of the walls are unplastered facebrick. The bin, bucket, mop and broom are within easy reach so you can quickly clean your muddy footprints. Though staff regularly check to make sure all is neat and tidy.
Once you’re done swimming, walk down to the thatched lapa, where there is a big-screen TV with DStv
On the women’s side, the layout is basically the same as for the men, with a few obvious differences. The general area is twice the width of the men’s, there are six toilets, and there is a bathtub instead of a fifth shower. Something you don’t see often is a nappy changing station in the centre of the room with a work surface on which you can lie your baby down to pamper it with powder and cream after bath time. The wheelchair-friendly bathroom is on the side of the building, and around the corner on the other side is the dishwashing area with four stainless steel sinks (two single and two double) and a double sink for washing clothes. The drain for cassette toilets is next to that. THE CAMP’S ACTIVITIES are just enough to satisfy those who like to move around, without compromising the tranquil atmosphere. The cold-water pool is a short distance from the campsite, close to sites 1 and 20. Around the pool is paving and then grass. There are a few trees under which you can sit and two steel canopies with benches. Next to the pool are two trampolines and a volleyball court. Once you’re done swimming, walk down to the thatched lapa, where there is a big-screen TV with DStv. The camp doesn’t have a shop, but you can find wood, briquettes, firelighters, water and ice to buy at the lapa. It works on an honesty system: you simply write down what you take in a book and pay Carla when you leave. Next to the lapa is a boma where a big fire is made at night and you can socialise with friends and fellow campers while braaiing. Remember to pack your fishing tackle. Devan says there are some pretty big carp and catfish in the dam. Next to the dam is a bird shelter that was still under construction during our visit. The Safari Mall is the closest place if you’ve forgotten something at home. It has a grocery store, butchery, bottle store and restaurant. Between all these shops you’ll be able to buy everything from a screwdriver to a delicious breakfast. The butchery’s pepper droëwors (R265/kg) is a winner. You can also fill up your vehicle with fuel here. If you get bored after a day or two of sitting around, there’s a host of nearby activities to keep you busy. Take a trip in a hot-air balloon early in the morning with Big Sky Ballooning ( dinokengreserve.co.za), go on a game drive (get your permit and map at the Tau gate and drive it yourself), go and see monkeys and exotic birds at the Mystic Monkeys & Feathers wildlife park ( mysticmonkeys.co.za) or have something to eat and drink and at one of several restaurants at the lodges. Many of the lodges also offer guided game drives on their own gameviewing vehicles.