Willem Pretorius, Mokala and Bloemhof Dam - March 2014

We decided that the 79 needed to be tested before we went on a big trip.

The Mokala National Park was on our list of places to visit and I suggested perhaps Willem Pretorius could be nice on the way. Mokala is often fully booked but we managed to get a few nights at the camp site and the same at Willem Pretorius.

On arrival at Willem Pretorius we set up camp where there were clean showers with lovely hot water and the camp site had electricity. The place is unfortunately in a desperate state of disrepair and abandonment. I reckon if it was mine I could make it profitable practically overnight. The game drive is included in the camp fee. We drove along the route twice and for me it was the best game drive area of all the places visited in that the viewpoints were lovely and there were lots of animals visible - although quite far away sometimes.

Had I not entered Mokala in the GPS before leaving I have a suspicion we would still be looking for the reserve. The entrance gates are different to what we are used to at other National Parks as each gate only has a guard and he contacts the single reception office inside the park by radio when they confirm your booking and open the gates remotely. (The gate guard can not operate the gates.) The camp sites each have a private bathroom, toilet and kitchen.

While at Willem Pretorius we were told that Bloemhof Dam was the best place so we decided to go and see for ourselves. Sandstone Estate was the name of the reserve on the dam. The game viewing was as good as Mokala and we saw quite a few different animals. We were told to camp where we liked and there was lots of ongoing construction. We found a nice spot quite near the single ablution block. We went to bed and around 10pm people arrived and made a lot of noise - this happened later too and we decided that it was time to leave the next day after a game drive to see what we could find.

I think that Willem Pretorius is a forgotten gem.

Map showing the three reserves.

The Sand River.

Moonlight over the Allemanskraal Dam at Willem Pretorius.

Shy Buffalo.

Steenbokkies.

Secretary Bird.

Zebras.

Sable Antelope with two babies.

Devil's claw.

Tsessebe.

Warthogs sparring.

Waterbuck.

Gemsbok sparring.

A Red Hartebeest looking at us.

Wildebeest running with a baby in the herd.

A Black Backed Jackal resting in the shade.

A black springbok in the herd.

Interesting stones.

The lovely Sable Antelope we saw on the way out.