Well, back again. The mobile thing didn’t really work – I could post text, but my mobile browsers couldn’t cope with the WordPress way of inserting pictures. Ah well, worth a try – just a deficiency of Windows Mobile?
On our trip down to Kwazulu Natal for a few days we stayed at the accommodation available at the Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve. It’s nothing fancy, but it is spacious, neat, filled with everything we needed for a comfortable self catering stay and (importantly) affordable. Total cost for the chalets works out to about R130 per person per night. It would make a really good base camp for exploring the area.
The setting is marvellous, and there is game wandering near the chalets. My family went on an early morning walk and chanced across a herd of zebra nearby – very tame, they were.
Later, while they went on another walk, I sat overlooking the falls and soaking in the vibrant, verdant scenery all about. The Midlands are spectacular at this time. I’m not usually a huge fan of New Age music, but Enya’s “Day without rain” fitted the bill rather nicely – even if it was a little ironic, considering the weather!
There is something about just being, surrounded by beauty that is also just…being. It’s an elusive glimpse of something deeper, an echo of His Song and something to counter the ceaseless striving we seem to fall into by default. I can’t decide if it’s the space to think that I appreciate or the thought that it’s a learning we should take to heart; either way, it feels like time well spent.
There are many places like this in the country and it’s a good way to be able to experience something a little different. Do you have any suggestions for something a little out of the way?
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And very close to Umgeni Valley Ranch – is the Karkloof Falls – a great place for apicnic – and can you believe it – even less “commercial” than UVR. Both are great for a quite getaway. No accomodation at the Karkloof Falls – but a great place for a picnic and a bit of rambling. Great cycad colony for the botanists too.
BTW: Between the entrance to Umgeni Valley Ranch and Howick town – there is a turn off towards the Umgeni River to a small guesthouse/restaurant. Can’t remember the name unfortunately – but excellent views of the Howick Falls – and wonderful homemade scones etc. at reasonable prices. A great tea/lunch spot.
I’ll check it out next time we’re down. I’m keen to collect people’s good out of the way places, because the fact that they’re out of the way means that being told about them is the only effective way to find them…