Leisure View Caravan Park, Port Edward – Mkhambathi Nature Reserve
Stunning weather
We said our Good byes to George Morbin and headed for the Bridge at Wild Coast Casino. Took a quick photo of the Red Desert and headed off.
The goal for today was to get to Port St Johns. Let’s hold thumbs that we make it. We knew that the trip was going to be hectic but who knows. Things do work out for the best. We went through about 5 stop go traffic control posts. At these points we waited about 20 minutes each time. The problem with these is that it put some serious time constraints onto our trip. But anyhow… let see what happens, Arrived in Bizana and filled up with petrol as I was not sure what was ahead of me. Turned left and headed for Flagstaff and Holy Cross. I am hoping to get the photos of the lighthouse at Mkhambathi and then head to Port St Johns. The road…. Well that is something that needs to be discussed over a few glasses of wine. The sand road was hectic…. But driveable as long as you could stop in time for the holes . water run offs, corregation., goats. Kids. Cows. People and anything else that makes a road crazy.
We headed for Mkambathi iin hope of capturing the light house. Rather excited about this reserve as I have heard so much about it and not sure what to expect.
Arrived there at Mkhambathis after 2.5 hours of dirt road from Flagstaff. The last 5 km were fantastic as there was road works and they were laying down some crushed stone. At last at Mkhambathi to find out that they do not allow camping. We are too late to turn back to go to Port St Johns, So I had to beg for assistance. If they did not allow us to stay then we would head for the plantation and sleep in the car. There was no way that I was heading back up that sand road.
So after a fair amount of begging, saying that I was happy to sleep on the floor in their office, to sleep in their car park, they offered us a rondaval.
Now this rondaval was something that no-one would ever accept, but I was desperate. They told me they were full. But there was this rondaval. But there were a few issues…. No hot water, no electricity, no bed, and a window missing. I think they gave us this in hoping that we would turn away, little did they realise that I would take anything. So mom and I arrived at this hut…. Wow what a sight but the wind was so strong that it was bringing heavy swells and lots of moisture with it,
We pitched our tent in the hut just to get out of the wind and moisture. Not a very good night but we were safe and off the road
I park my van in front of the window to try to reduce the wind, but the wind did subside and all was good.
The scenery here was amazing. Wish I could stay longer. I now understand why this place has such a huge calling card. One day I will return.
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