Craven Suid Afrika 2022 TR

[craven morehead]

Quick stop to pick a friend up for another lunch outing. A few kms out of Ixopo and just the one house at the end of a very isolated road.
I actually overshot the very concealed turn off and believe me I saw some local country I'd never seen before by the time I'd turned around and headed back, my friend (lady) had come up onto the main dirt road for want of a better term on her motorbike looking for me. So back down to the house to get ready to head out.

As two ladies live here, there is plenty of security as well as about 8 dogs.



Extra Security, such is life here.







Joseph the gardener at work.



Josephs accommodation. Now while it doesn't look like much, it has electricity & running water as well a TV the girls bought him. Now while that doesn't sound like much, his previous lodgings had none of the above, so he is quite happy.



The ubiquitous long drop toilet. I'd be checking for Mambas

 

[craven morehead]

We headed just outside of Ixopo for lunch at Kings Grant Country Retreat: Weddings | Kings Grant Country Retreat | Ixopo | Kwazulu-Natal

The owners of this place are local farmers, and they also happen to be the landlord of my friend's house in previous post.





A conference for some of the Clover Dairy Farmers.



Looking back up to where we had lunch on the balcony or deck.



Lunch service was slow. They apologised and said they were busy with the Clover turn out. Anyway, I wasn't in a rush. 2 x lunches & 2 x cokes AUD$26.50



Some of the accommodation options of which there are quite a few:





The Church onsite.



Heading back up to the X-Trail.



Definitely a very nice setting.

 

[craven morehead]

Next day, a continuation of the never-ending lunches caper a trip across to Albert Falls on the other side of Pietermaritzburg.

Now the trip took about 2.25 hours as the robots/traffic lights were out through half of PMB due to load shedding. This definitely slows things down. However, they do have a reasonably well adhered to system of giving way and taking turns in an orderly fashion that I soon cottoned on.



My new personalised plates in bright Red!



Basically, that's a toy by Central Qld standards and these guys have got nothing compared to what I see on a weekly basis. All of the coal hauling semi-trailers I saw seemed undersized and I think inefficient but, in all honesty, I don't think their roads could handle the extra weight in most places.



So, we finally arrive at the Amble Inn very close by to the Albert Falls Dam.









I'm meeting some other friends here for middagete (lunch). I've always enjoyed the tranquil and rustic setting here for whatever reason.
New owners this time around and they have really tidied the place up. Nothing fancy but it's clean and tidy and the beer is Cold!

 

[craven morehead]

A few more pics of the Pub & Grub: We always sit outside on the deck.



Just in case you didn't know, this is very reassuring









Catching up with my friends after 3 years.



Basic Cabin accommodation option overlooking the river.





We spent 2.5 hours there and the F&B for 5 of us was AUD$80 including my mate drinking Brandy. My shout once again with AUD v ZAR

 

[kpc]

The cost of living is so much lower in Sth Africa cf Aus. Would love to revisit when Qf releases J awards on QF63/64 again. What's the Covid situation like now?

 

[craven morehead]

The cost of living is so much lower in Sth Africa cf Aus. Would love to revisit when Qf releases J awards on QF63/64 again. What's the Covid situation like now?

I didn't notice anything. It was almost as if Covid did not exist. I certainly got amongst it and came home with no problems whatsoever.

 

[kpc]

I didn't notice anything. It was almost as if Covid did not exist. I certainly got amongst it and came home with no problems whatsoever.

Good to hear you got home well. We both caught Covid at the tail end of our Iceland trip in late Sept so feel a bit nervous going OS again.

 

[craven morehead]

Good to hear you got home well. We both caught Covid at the tail end of our Iceland trip in late Sept so feel a bit nervous going OS again.

Be positive mate not Covid positive of course! Keep wearing a mask if it makes you feel better and adhere to the hygiene standards that we have now become used to if not already practiced prior to the flu.

 

[craven morehead]

After lunch it was time to duck around and see my friend's house which was still under construction the last time I visited.

The house is just around the road from the Albert Falls Dam & Game Reserve: Albert Falls Dam & Game Reserve - Msinsi Resorts - Albert Falls, KwaZulu-Natal - ConnectingKZN.co.za

Unusual style with only 2 bedrooms upstairs at each end of the house with both having huge verandahs. Downstairs is very open plan.

There is a workshop/office next to the house with a fully self-contained unit and also a Granny Flat down the back. On a very decent sized block.













A beautiful Macaw.



A pair of Marmoset monkeys about 7-8 years old. They are truly tiny.





I am now an honourary member of the Family business



A great afternoon was had catching up.

 

[craven morehead]

So today everyone is either working or busy so I'm just going to cruise around and fill the day in.

First of all, I'll head into Ixopo and fuel up.

Coming into town from the main road.















Heading up towards the Engen Service Station.

 

[craven morehead]

So, a first for me today. I managed to greet the petrol attendant, ask he was going and request the tank to be filled, all in Zulu. Small steps but not going to be real handy back home I know just a challenge for me.







Leaving the garage.





Turning back on to the main street.











I'll head out of town next. I actually bought some hot pies to take to my mates work for smoko.

 

[craven morehead]

Not much touristy stuff going on currently, so, hopefully not too boring.

Heading East out of town to drop in for smoko at my mate's work ~ 25kms away at a mechanical repair workshop just outside the town of Highflats. Forgot to take photos over that way it has been a bit awkward taking photos and driving as you can't always stop to do so







After visiting Highflats, I came back to the Ixopo crossroads and turned towards Kokstad for something to do.
















There's no hiding anything over here. Everything is in your face!

 

[JohnM]

Sigh... Mate, you are making me miss South Africa more with each post...

 

[Matt_01]

Don’t you hate that when you’ve got cough all over the place and realise you haven’t taken a photo for AFF

When taking photos of hotel rooms for my last TR the Girls seemed to be taken back when I asked them could I go and take a couple of pics prior to the bag explosion

 

[craven morehead]

Sigh... Mate, you are making me miss South Africa more with each post...

Bugger! I guess you best start planning

 

[craven morehead]

After taking the Kokstad turn off I preceded to just drive and have a look around just to fill in some time:

I ended up in the town of Umzimkhulu and did a quick lap and just took some random & quick snaps. It was a fairly rough place, so my mate who worked for Eskom informed me later I basically did a lap of the place and headed back towards Ixopo.



















Heading out of town and back towards Ixopo.



The plan on the way back was to try and find the Korongo Valley Guest Farm and drop in for a beer at the onsite pub.

 

[craven morehead]

My friends had suggested another country pub / accommodation venue worth a visit. So, I was hoping to drop in for a visit and 2 quick beers on the way home It was certainly not, easy to find. The Korongo Valley Guest Farm: Korongo Valley - Guest House and Bed&Breakfast



I'm already 500m off the main road by the time I see this sign.



About 800m in from the 1km Sign.



Approaching the "Crane & Assegai" Country pub. For those that may not know, an Assegai is a traditional Zulu throwing spear that was basically reengineered by Shaka of the Zulu to have a shorter handle and longer tip and was used as a stabbing spear.





The pub deck.



Looking out from the pub deck.



Some of the accommodation options. There were also caravan and camping sites available.

The Crane Cottage.



Log Cabins.



The Backpacker Lodge.




After all that, I arrived here about 14.30 and the bloody pub didn't open till 17.00 maybe next time

The entire place once again, is in a beautiful & tranquil setting.

 

[RB]

My friends had suggested another country pub / accommodation venue worth a visit. So, I was hoping to drop in for a visit and 2 quick beers on the way home It was certainly not, easy to find. The Korongo Valley Guest Farm: Korongo Valley - Guest House and Bed&Breakfast

View attachment 309359

I'm already 500m off the main road by the time I see this sign.

View attachment 309361

About 800m in from the 1km Sign.

View attachment 309362

Approaching the "Crane & Assegai" Country pub. For those that may not know, an Assegai is a traditional Zulu throwing spear that was basically reengineered by Shaka of the Zulu to have a shorter handle and longer tip and was used as a stabbing spear.

View attachment 309365

View attachment 309366

The pub deck.

View attachment 309364

Looking out from the pub deck.

View attachment 309363

Some of the accommodation options. There were also caravan and camping sites available.

The Crane Cottage.

View attachment 309367

Log Cabins.

View attachment 309368

The Backpacker Lodge.

View attachment 309369


After all that, I arrived here about 14.30 and the bloody pub didn't open till 17.00 maybe next time

The entire place once again, is in a beautiful & tranquil setting.

Hope you found a roadie

 

[craven morehead]

Tonight, it's Braai and Beers out the back of here.



Great friends, lovely to catch up again and enjoy the odd beer.



Getting the coals up to temp.



Tough crowd



Mad Natal Sharks supporters. Rugby Union



Making a start on dinner.



Good times! My friend Angie pictured here will making her first visit to Australia next May. I'm looking forward to reciprocating the hospitality.



The Crew.



Time to try the finished product. Once again, simple, tasty and good food enjoyed with friends. Life is great!

 

[craven morehead]

Hope you found a roadie

I made a beeline back to the bar at my friends' cabin park and made up for it it was touch and go