Deep in the Little Karoo

The African Game Lodge is known for its luxury chalets and tented accommodation, but now its first off-road campsite has just been completed. The lodge is 30 km outside Montagu, with the dirt road turning off just 3 km outside the town. The campsite is 2,5 km past the lodge’s main buildings, and here you are truly deep in the bush, with no cellphone signal or WiFi – though you can drive back to the lodge for the latter. The single stand has enough room for two to three off-road campers – obviously meant for friends camping together. A bathroom was built on the one end of a concrete floor, and the section in front of the building has a roof over. Next to that is paving for a caravan. (Because the wind sometimes gets hectic, you don’t want to pitch a tent here.) The dishwashing sink is to the left of the bathroom door, and inside the bathroom is a basin, bath, and toilet. The shower is on the outside behind the building and is partitioned off with a reed fence. Enjoy your shower under the stars! The lodge is off the grid and completely self-sufficient. A gas geyser provides hot water, and all the lights are powered by solar panels and batteries. You do have to bring your own drinking water, because the borehole water is brackish. There’s a fire pit next to the concrete slab, and next to that is a braai area with a grid. The 4 500 ha farm boasts various game species: from eland, kudu and gemsbok, to blue and black wildebeest, brown hyenas, leopards, and caracals. You’re not permitted to go game viewing in your own vehicle, but game drives at R300 pp are offered (half price for children). This includes a look at some San rock art and lasts about two and a half hours. For an extra R250, you can enjoy a breakfast in the veld or, when the sun goes down, cheese and wine (children also pay half price for this). If you bring your mountain bike or like to hike, you have two routes of 5,7 km or 10,3 km for the bikes, and four hiking trails that vary between 4,6 km and 10,3 km. There’s a restaurant here, and because of the wildlife, pets aren’t allowed. Price R500 pn per off-road trailer (sleeps 6-8 people). GPS S33.723471 E20.352019 Contact 023 614 3176 africangamelodge.co.za info@africangamelodge.co.za