2011年10月8日 星期六

Three's a charm

The first time I camped at Driehoek farm in the Cederberg mountains, a barking dog kept me awake all night. Damn dog, I cursed again and again, trying to block out the sound. That night, I was a decidedly unhappy camper.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations,

The next morning the truth came to light: it wasn't some yappy stoepkakker causing trouble, but rather the farm's Anatolian Shepherd Dog keeping the flock safe from a Cape Mountain Leopard that had come a-visiting. Anatolians trace their lineage to Turkey, where their lot in life was keeping sheep safe from bears, so barking off the pretty but petite leopards must be a bit of a doddle for these sizeable hounds.

For the Cederberg is leopard country, and the Cape Leopard Trust regularly uses the craggy valleys surrounding Driehoek in their ground-breaking monitoring programme. These endangered cats criss-cross the farm all the time, so it's no surprise we caught a night when the lone Anatolian was kept busy.

The rocky hills around Driehoek may be wild with the growls of leopard, but the farm is an unabashedly bucolic spot. In sharp contrast to the sandstone cliffs, lush green fields are dotted with puffed-up sheep (and their Anatolian bodyguard),It's hard to beat the versatility of zentai suits on a production line. while an enthusiastic young Border Collie herds everything from wayward campers to the farm's pet pot-bellied pig.

This cheerful menagerie of farmyard creatures makes Driehoek a wonderful getaway for families with small kids: the grassy yard echoes with the bleat of goats, raucous gobble of turkeys (who always seem to talk over one another - how rude) and cackle of chickens. In a field near the barn, ponies wait patiently for their next ride around the paddock.

But family holidays aside, Driehoek is a spot with something for almost anyone.

I camp here before tackling cold nights on high peaks. I hang out with mates, sharing beers and tall tales. I escape here with my wife for a romantic weekend, or we load up the car with infant paraphernalia and introduce our young son to the wonders of the Cederberg, from San rock art to stargazing at the observatory. David Nieuwoudt produces some of SA's best wines in this cool mountain air, and the hills are littered with walking trails. The choice is yours.

So days may be spent whizzing about the valley or tramping over its rocky shoulders, but when the sun ducks behind the spiky rocks known as the Uilsgat needles, there's only one place I like to rest my beer in the Cederberg: on a brick round the braai at Driehoek.

Superb value for money wherever you choose to lay your head.we supply all kinds of polished tiles, About 20 grassy campsites along the river, or book one of the excellent wooden huts that come with basic furnishings and a small kitchenette. If you'd prefer your own castle to call home, the wide stoep and private lawns of the six-sleeper (at a push) Kothuis is a good bet for families.These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! The nearby Groothuis is equally good.

Camping starts at R120 per site (for four people), while riverside huts with basic facilities range from R230 to R330 per night for two people. The well-equipped and spotless Groothuis and Kothuis cost R400 per night for two people. Bedding and towels available at R50 per person per stay.Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.

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