PLAY HOOKEY AT PILANSBERG

After the hustle and bustle of the "BIG SMOKE" you might just want to get away to the tranquility of the bush. About a two hour drive north of Johannesburg via Rustenburg, you will come across the Pilansberg National Park. In the future the Pilansberg will link up with Madikwe, through the Heritage Park Corridor. This will result in a conservation area of more than 250 000 ha. All the hides and picnic areas have toilets. There are two rest camps, 7 commercial lodges, 8 large dams, 6 picnic spots, 8 hides and 204 km of game viewing roads.

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Andrew had hired a Mercedes from TRAVELSTART and we skirted around the eastern boundary of the Park until we came to Bakgatla Camp where we had timeshare accomodation. After the customary evening braai we were soon in bed resting for an early start the next day by entering the Park through the Bakgatla Gate.

Game was plentiful and there was a fine sprinkling of  different species. Basically the main road through the Park runs straight down the centre of the Park to the Pilansberg Centre. This is an interesting place that once was a Magistrates Court for the area, built in 1936. Refreshments are sold there and there are some outlets for African curios. It is a good place to stop off for a nourishing English Breakfast. Herds of wildebeeste congregate there as there is a salt lick in front of the restaurant. From there one can wander down to the Bakubung Gate which leads into the Sun City resort, if you are inclined towards bling! There are a number of side routes in the Park that are interesting. There is also a sprinkling of lakes and rivers which are the best places to see game. There are numerous picnic stops en route so it is wise to pack a basket.


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The entire Park is situated within the crater of an ancient alkaline volcano, one of 3 in the world. As a result the terrain is fairly mountainous and interesting with the highest peak towering 700m above the valleys. I have never seen them but there are 4 prides of lions in the Pilansberg, located around Mankwe Dam. Rhino (black and white), hippo, crocodiles, antelope, giraffe, wart hog. zebras and elephants are plentiful, as well as numerous birds. Good to see Tsessebe. Be very wary of elephants for they are bigger than you are. Avoid them especially when they are in musth. Such a male will be full of musth swagger and there will be fluid excretion from the temporal gland as well as penile fluid excrettions.


On one of the days we left the Pilansberg all together through the Bakubung Gate and drove on the R27 to Groot Marico via Swartruggens.

Groot Marico is of course Herman Charles Bosman territory and is one of the most unique places in South Africa. We listened to recitations of Oom Schalk Lourens stories and booked in for lunch at a working farm where we learned all about the making of Mampoer which is an extremely strong peach liqueur reaching 90% proof. If one holds a burning match above a glass of Mampoer, it will burn with a blue flame. Although it is a bit far, the expedition is more than worthwhile. In Bosman's words:-

There is no other place I know

that is so heavy with atmosphere,

so strangely and darkly impregnated with that stuff of life

that bears the authentic stamp of South-Africa.