WEEKEND BREAK
There could hardly be a better place than the Bushveld to relax, recharge, and reconnect with Mother Nature.
Adecent weekend camp is exactly what you need this time of year to survive the long haul to the December holidays – a weekend where you can relax in peace and quiet in nature to recharge your batteries. You don’t ask for much. Just spectacular sunsets, silence, a crackling campfire, wildlife nearby, and the people you love most with you. You’ll find the location for just such a weekend at the foot of the Waterberg, just over 100 km outside Pretoria. Not only does Buyskop Lodge, 4 km outside BelaBela on the Modimolle road, meet all these requirements, there is also a rich history to discover, and, what’s more, there’s a spa where you can pamper yourself. AT FIRST GLANCE, it may not look as though Buyskop and the Union Buildings in Pretoria have much in common. Not that you want to think much about the Union Buildings these days, because that’s where our president gets behind the podium to reprimand us for not listening and then closes provincial borders or takes away our booze. Or that’s how it sometimes feels. Apologies... But yes, there is indeed a link between the Union Buildings and this lodge outside Bela-Bela, because it was here that the sandstone was mined for the construction of this imposing landmark more than a century ago. The rock formation here has also long been considered the halfway mark between Pretoria and the then Pietersburg (Polokwane), and in the area are historical graves dating back to the days of the Great Trek. So, you are camping in an environment brimming with history, and if you bring your bicycle or hiking boots, you can explore this world and learn a bit more about it. We’re not saying you’ll be on an educational tour. Quite the contrary. Rest and peace are two very important words here, and there is more than enough – and little enough – to do to achieve exactly that. If you want a special treat, make a booking at Buyskop’s own pamper spot, the Baobab spa. Here you can have anything from a massage session to
a manicure, and there are various beauty products for sale. The spa is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 08:00 to 17:00. Buyskop is not a family resort and does not pretend to be one either. There is no stage with entertainment or water slides, playrooms, and trampolines, or even a camp shop. There is, however, lots to do in the area, especially if the kids or grandkids are camping with you. Forever Warmbaths with its large water park is less than 5 km from here, and you can plan day trips to places where you can see crocodiles, lions and even elephants – all withing a 50 km radius. That way, you’re back at the campsite to sit next to your fire with a cold refreshment in hand and watch the setting sun paint the sky pink. THERE IS A LARGE campsite at the foot of the hill among the trees. The 10 stands are not demarcated, but they are numbered. The trees also help to give you a pretty good idea of where your stand ends and your neighbour’s starts. You can fit up to 10 people on a stand, so by all means, invite your brother-in-law and his family to join you. If you’ve been here before and have a favourite, you may book your specific stand in advance, otherwise just drive
around on arrival before you choose where you want to pitch camp. (That is, of course, when the campsite isn’t too full.) The stands are spacious and flat. When camping with a tent, however, look carefully where you pitch, as the ground doesn’t look that even on some of the stands. So, just look for a flat spot where you can set up your camp. Each stand gets its own tap with borehole water, power point (ordinary socket, bring along an extension cord of at least 10 m), and rubbish bin. You have two choices when the time comes to braai. At each stand there is a concrete braai pit with a grid, and then you also get a standing steel braai with a grid that’s height-adjustable. So, you can braai on the campfire or, if Mom complains that the sausage dripping on the coals is making too much smoke, on the side on the steel braai. There is grass and heaps of shade, though some of the trees are deciduous. It’s nice to know, though, that you mercifully don’t have to look too far for shade in the summer months. The grass struggles a bit on the patches that get shade all year round. Neither you nor the children need to worry about data, because there’s free WiFi in the campsite. All the details are shared with you when you check in. THE POOLS ARE NEXT to the campsite – these you share with the chalet occupants. There are two pools, both with cold water. The big one is a good 10 x 4 steps, and even though the smaller one may look like a kiddies’ pool, it is definitely too deep for the little ones. Always keep a watchful eye if they can’t swim well yet. Around the pool are wooden benches and tables, and thatched roofs for shade. Nearby is the playground for children – here they can frolic on the swings and just enjoy themselves. You camp in a private game reserve with water holes near the campsite, which means animals including giraffes, impalas, kudus, zebras, red hartebeest, and impalas regularly wander through the campsite. Keep your camera ready while you relax in your camping chair. Bring your binoculars, too, as there are a lot of birds to see. THE ABLUTION BLOCK is at the back of the campsite, close to stand 1. It is a beautiful modern thatched-roof building with separate facilities for men and women that are kept neat and clean throughout your stay. In the men’s facilities, plastered and painted from floor to ceiling, two deep basins are mounted in a granite top with a large mirror. The resort also provides hand soap and cream, something we all need these days because we need to sanitise our hands everywhere. Next to the basin is a table with two chairs where you can put your things or sit and wait for one of the three showers to become available while you stare at the wire art on the wall. The showers are large with a spacious wet corner and dressing area. There is a soap dish, and the large
shower head ensures you get properly wet. There are hooks for your clothes on the door and a bench for when you put on your socks and shoes. There are also three toilets, each with plenty loo paper, a toilet brush, and a rubbish bin. The women’s facilities are basically a mirror image of the men’s, except that the table and chairs are prettier and look more like a dressing table with a mirror. They use septic tanks here, and you are warned about what not to flush down the toilet. Bags are provided for sanitary items. In the middle of the ablution block are two identical family bathrooms that also serve as facilities for guests in wheelchairs. They have a basin, wheelchair-friendly shower, bath, plus a toilet and basin with a mirror. There is a need for a bench here, and you will just have to perch on the edge of the bath as you dress the children. At the back of the block are the two sinks for washing dishes and a table.