Timbawati
From Pretoria we still have a long way to go today, all the way to the border of the Kruger Park. The landscape has yet to become what te brochures promised. Apart from a coalmine here and there, there's not very much to see, so there's plenty of time for a nap. On our lunchbreak in Dullstroom, a town named after a Dutchman who did many good things in the area, there are many different pancakes on the menu and they all sound delicious. Mine's with Lamsbredie (a stew of lam) and Trudy's pancake is filled with Bobotie. Both dishes are so good you'd consider ordering seconds...
At about half past three we pull over near the Strydomtunnel where we have a beautiful view over the Olifants (river) and a nice waterfall. There are also some souvenir stalls, but we're not really "souvenirshopping people" and we indulge in the fantastic landscape.
Then it's in one go to the Timbawati Safari Lodge, and the sun is already setting when we arrive. There's a refreshing welcome drink and after that we get the key to our home for the next four nights. It's not really a room, it's a small round house with the roof made of reed, called a rondavel.
After a short stroll to the fence of the Kruger park, there's a braai (a South African BBQ) with very good food. There are no electric lights, just a campfire and lanterns which enhance the atmosphere. After dinner local schoolchildren perform some dances that all look alike to me, but that's o.k., it's the thought that counts.
