Dear Leony,
Here is some feedback about our trip:
Despite having to wait 2 hours for us (the passport control wasn't very smooth...), the reception by the KIA staff was very warm. The Landcruiser was in very good condition. Everything was on board, albeit in minimal quantities.
Pilanesberg is a nice NP, the Mayane campsite is the best of the two, especially if you have a spot on the right-hand side.
The surprise was Doorndraai Dam: beautiful nature, very peaceful. We could easily have stayed an extra day here.
Blyde River is good for walks, with a number of well-marked hikes departing from the campsite. The (paid) Belvedere Day Hike (departing from the Potholes) was a bit of a disappointment for us.
Kruger is ideal for spotting the Big Five. The larger camps (Satana and Skukuza) are busy and not as pleasant. Balule and Melelane are much quieter and have nicer pitches.
We smoothly crossed the border with Swaziland.
Mlilwane is a very nice place, the horse riding was very wise.
Cross the border back without any problems.
Umkhuze Game Reserve is a good place to spot a lot of wildlife in a short time. As of October, they are even importing 9 lions. A recommendation is the Fig Tree Hike, a 2-hour walk led by an armed ranger. We received an enormous amount of information.
Cape Vidal, with its lovely beaches and dunes, was beautiful. The campsite at Cape Vidal is currently strongly not recommended! Not because of its location or layout, but due to the presence of Samango monkeys (not to be confused with common monkeys). These are bold animals that are not afraid of people. You cannot leave the camper open during the day. Management is aware of the problems but is not taking any initiative.
As a result, we stayed there one day less and checked into the Dolphin Holiday Resort one day earlier.
Ballito is a tranquil coastal town near Durban Airport, ideal for ending your journey.
A must-visit here is the restaurant Mo-Zam-Bik, just 10 metres from the campsite!
Everything went very smoothly then.
The GPS coordinates were very useful, the directions were clear.
Thank you for the work carried out.
Kind regards,
Philippe and Kathleen
Belgium
