Autumn road trip to four Nat Parks - in rain or shine

[FinMari]

Hello all!
This tale is about trip to Mokala NP, Karoo NP, Addo Elephant NP and Mountain Zebra NP in late March and early April 2025

In March 2020 we had plans for big trip for my 50th birthday and our 20 wedding anniversary. Then We stayed at home like so many others. Now 5 years later I started to plan a trip for us for our Silver Anniversary and my 55th. Some of you know already the story. Over 25 years ago, I thought we would get married maybe in Sept 2000. But SO told me, he wants to have bride in her twenties not some over thirty years lady OK, our wedding was six days before I turned to be in my thirties. Since the best wedding anniversary and my birthday gifts have been trips

When I wrote some time ago to chit-chat forum, I had prelimenary plans about visiting the first time Mokala I got PM suggesting to stay at Haak en Steek. That was really great suggestion

When the dates (= SO's holidays) for the trip were confirmed I booked Haak en Steek. Then I noticed, it has two ensuite bedrooms in same price. Even better, we could share it with some friends. I had two amazing ladies in my mind - of course I asked SO's opinion. After some messages, the Mokala WhatsApp group was created. Lovely chirinda and PNF will join us . I might say three organising ladies planned a lot and SO was the quiet member of the group

On March 20th, 2025 our BA flight from London to O.R.Tambo left about one hour late but luckily left at 10 p.m. Fire brigade was called shortly after 11 p.m. to Electricity Substation in Hayes. At 02:30 a.m. LHR was closed for a day. I don't know how long it took to get all flights back to normal. When I opened my phone, there were so many messages hoping we would be in SA not stucked at LHR.

We planned together to stay one night between, because after 10 a.m. landing it would be too long drive to Mokala. Happily we two slept again over eight hours onboard. Immigration and luggage was easy. We were on the road just after noon with Vodacom SIM on our tablet, driving the rental car. We made some shopping on the way and met lovely ladies. PNF had made us so yummy Green Thai Curry with rice. A lot of nice chattering with beautiful sunset

Of course my lanterns travelled with me

Saturday March 22nd, 2025

We all four woke up early enough to enjoy beautiful morning colours

It was misty morning

One duck in the dam

Some birds flying

We all were silent just admiring beauty of nature
The sunrise

While driving to Mokala the road sides were full of Cosmos flowers and huge Sunflower fields. Lovely ladies drove first with PNF's car and we followed

One have to remember when visiting Mokala NP, there is no fuel station at the park. The closest fuel station is at Modderrivier about 50km from reception. Our rental car had quite small tank, luckily we could do some drives with PNF's car.

From N12 is 21km gravel road to the gate. I have read horrible stories about the road condition, but it was actually quite nice. Chirinda asked my opinion about the road and I gave 8/10. That road passes some private game farms. We had to stop for Golden Wildebeest with Blesboks

And for example Golden Tsessebe

At the gate paper works were done quick with super good service by Salomon
Still 6km more to Mosu Lodge, where the reception is. Lodge might give wrong impression about the place. Nothing too posh. Lovely rest camp with amazing staff like Elsa at the reception. We were there at 1445.

Shop is really basic and for example no wine or other alcoholic drinks. So remember to bring enough with you. There were four packets or frozen mince

On the way to Haak en Steek Cottage which used to be weekend cottage for a family before the park was proclaimed in June 2007, we saw two roans First for me and SO

I paid R1786 for a night for this lovely cottage. There is also a camping area with ablutions on the same spot, but it's only for one group. So no others will camp there, if you have booked the cottage. Outside

The bedrooms - one with double bed and other with two single beds both ensuite

The view from the first bedroom was direct to private waterhole, no fence between

Couch and towels for windscreen wipers. Reception warned about naughtu Hornbills

Very good kitchen. You should remember, not plugs - charge batteries in your car or have extra ones. By the way Vodacom reception was excellent

At our own WH itchy blue wildebeest

I made Feta salad for our lunch. Chirinda had bought us super yummy olive rolls. Some wine and iced rooibos with food

We made an evening drive - the Malopi loop. No other vehicles aroung. At Rooikol waterhole three buffalos

Some running warthogs and Red Hartebeest

A bit more in the next post

[FinMari]

When we returned Tsessebes were waiting us at our own waterhole. I could say we saw so many Tsessebes at Mokala

There were quite a lot Prayer Mantis. Chirinda was so excellent surviver to get them out of the unit

I made us fruit salad for the next morning. I and PNF ate some of it. chirinda and SO ate rest of the feta salad. Then it was time to fall in sleep happily. It was so nice to sleep curtains open

T.B.C.

[chirinda]

[umtali1]

On board this bus, that’s a cert
What a way to celebrate 2 milestones in your lives

We loved Mokala. I look forward to reading your account of 2025.

[colbol]

4 park itinerary

Haak n steek cottage

Golden WB and Tsessebe

And a Roan what a great start to your celebration holiday

Thanks FinMari

[RichardJ]

Great to see another visit

Did we nearly cross paths again?



(We left MZNP on 2 April )

[kids@camping]

FinMari, I'm definitely on this bus with my

Visiting 2 of the 7 parks that we will be visiting the first time later this year...

So glad your flight was not affected with the closing of the airport
Sleeping with curtains open

[Crested Val]

I have just got on the bus!!!

How lucky you were to leave Heathrow before the problems.

So wonderful that you could share part of the trip with the lovely Chirinda and PNF.

Lovely sunset and sunrise photos.

Some great wildlife photos.

How helpful you are to advise on matters like petrol and food, and to show photos of the accommodation. Super helpful to those who are planning a trip.

So glad that you were able to finally do your postponed trip from 2020.

Looking forward to the next episodes.

[Grantmissy]

FinMari thank you for sharing your Autumn road trip to four South African National Parks with us Great start to your travel tale, I enjoy both the narrative and photos

[Hugh]

Mari I am on the bus and so far enjoying the trippie very much

[FinMari]

We shared amazing time at Mokala

On board this bus, that’s a cert
What a way to celebrate 2 milestones in your lives

We loved Mokala. I look forward to reading your account of 2025.

I'm happy to have you onboard
Let's see if anything has changed at Mokala

4 park itinerary

Haak n steek cottage

Golden WB and Tsessebe

And a Roan what a great start to your celebration holiday

Thanks FinMari

I waited a lot from Mokala and already the first day delivered so much
Combining these four amazing parks made amazing experiences

[FinMari]

Great to see another visit

Did we nearly cross paths again?



(We left MZNP on 2 April )

Oh no
I really would like to meet you again and we were on same park one night
Maybe some day

FinMari, I'm definitely on this bus with my

Visiting 2 of the 7 parks that we will be visiting the first time later this year...

So glad your flight was not affected with the closing of the airport
Sleeping with curtains open

I hope I could give some ideas what to expect later this year
There's nothing better than sleeping curtains open and just listen bush sounds

[FinMari]

I have just got on the bus!!!

How lucky you were to leave Heathrow before the problems.

So wonderful that you could share part of the trip with the lovely Chirinda and PNF.

Lovely sunset and sunrise photos.

Some great wildlife photos.

How helpful you are to advise on matters like petrol and food, and to show photos of the accommodation. Super helpful to those who are planning a trip.

So glad that you were able to finally do your postponed trip from 2020.

Looking forward to the next episodes.

With our luck, it was amazing we managed to miss the chaos at LHR
Being in the bush is even better with friends
I hope my photos of units and shops might help someone. I have myself got so much from these forums

FinMari thank you for sharing your Autumn road trip to four South African National Parks with us Great start to your travel tale, I enjoy both the narrative and photos

I'm happy to have you onboard
I hope you will enjoy also later episodes

Mari I am on the bus and so far enjoying the trippie very much

Elizabeth, great to have you on the bus.
I hope enough Padkos with you

[FinMari]

Sunday March 23rd, 2025
Haak en Steek cottage, Mokala NP

I woke up at 0614. Wake up call was at 0615 I just love mornings when I wake up beform the alarm
Outside was 20c, inside 25,5c. Sunrise behind camping area and ablution

Blue wildebeest was visiting our waterhole. At Haak en Steek there were usually BWBs around. We heared so often friendly mmmuuu sounds from the bushes around

I took shower, which was so great - enough hot water and excellent water pressure
Meanwhile chirinda saved one more praying mantis away from the unit to the nature

Our morning drive was Malopi loop. The most common animals for us at Mokala were Red Hartebeest and Tsessebe. Specially if they were in the bush or during dawn / dusk it was sometimes difficult to recognize first which one

Also some dung beetles. For some reason I & SO call them DDR. When we were kids in Finland, there were some toys made in West Germany and then some almost well copied onces made in Eastern Germany with some hickups

Gemsbok

Breakfast was frui salad made from naartjies from PNF's garden, spanspek and grapes with yogurt. Juice. Coffee for two - PNF & SO - and tea for me & chirinda. Yummy rusks made by chirinda

Golden Tail Woodpecker permormed us during the breakfast

The next drive was to Stofdam Bird Hide. This time we saw some other vehicles, but not so many. Even it was Sunday, it was so relaxing

There's quite long corridor to the hide. By the way there is clean good toilet at the hide's parking area

Three of the group were first timers (not last timers) at Mokala. PNF had visited some times earlier. She told us, she had never seen so much water at hide

There were terrapins

Guinea fowls

Egyptian Goose family

Cape Wagtail

Beautiful butterfly

While back on the road, we met buffalo aftr mud bathing

At one open field we saw a lot of different animals together like Elands and Gemsboks

and zebras, which are here lighter specially at their buns. Some almost white

Yellow tail mongooses had staring competition

Baby Tsessebe

Rest of the day in the next episode
By the way this post is my 10 000th post in the forums

[FinMari]

Sunday March 23rd, 2025
Haak en Steek cottage, Mokala NP part 2

Springbok

At Tsessebe loop we saw about 20 Elands and bit later more than 50 buffalos. But they are were in distance in tall grass. Back at the cottage were after 1 p.m. There were updating diaries and sighting books. At 1355 stoep was 29,9c. Time to enjoy lunch. Olive panninis, chicken nuggets, tomatoes, cucumber and iced rooibos tea. A lot of chattering. Some took afternoon snooze. At our own waterhole visited for example warthogs with piglets and Blue Wildebeest

1545 back to drive - again Malopi loop. Some thunder in distance

At Rooikol waterhole mom and baby Roan ran away

Also some giraffes. In front of Haak en Steek is area where larger groups might spend evening together watching life at waterhole

Buffalos arrived to drink - these photos are taken from our bedroom slice door opened

Golden Tail Woodpecker returned

Sunset was amazing

Warthogs returned

Heavy rain in distance

Sky - photo taken by my phone

Dinner was mine Korean style mince patties with braai tomatoes. I have made those patties at home and sent pics. They were ordered to one evening

Dinner was enjoyed with amazing red wine from Portugal - part of PNF's history
Stories of our histories. I really enjoyed the evening But at 10 everyone was sleeping well

T.B.C.