Get Cosy At Onverwags

Visit a campsite where the Bushveld enchants, neighbours become friends and children run and play till late.

Helenus Kruger

Few people may be able to point out the D1121 gravel road north of Brits on a map, but name some of the resorts lined up like sardines along this road and any camper worth his salt will know exactly which road you’re talking about. Onverwags Caravan Park is one of these resorts.

Upon arrival you call Miemie Botha, who is at the helm of Onverwags with her husband, Frik, to obtain the gate code.

At another gate a kilometer farther on, Frik awaits to take you to your stand.

You realize early on that Onverwags’s campsite is a social kind of place. Your fellow campers are not shy to come say hello and soon you meet everyone around you and start chatting. The braai fires get lit early, the kids ride up and down on their bikes and you can tell from a distance that the crowd at the indoor heated pool is enjoying themselves.

Despite the hustle and bustle in the campsite, Onverwags also has a quieter side. The game camp that borders the campsite, is a place where you can just relax with the Bushveld silence around you. You can walk through this camp or hop on your bicycle and go looking for wildlife. The giraffes are quite tame, but you have to mind yourself and move stealthily to sneak upon the impala before they dart away.

ONVERWAGS HAS 42 sites, allocated in advance. The stands vary in size and you can ask for a specific one when booking.

The largest stands are close to 280 m² while the smallest ones are still a fair 120 m². All the stands have electricity, but bring a long extension cord, because some power points are a short distance away. Remember your blue plug! Garbage bins and taps are shared and you can choose whether you want a large drum braai or a small kettle braai – both come with grids.

The stands are divided into three groups, each with its own ablution facilities. To your right, closest to the gate, are 34 stands in four rows. There are plenty of trees and grass here, but some trees are too small accommodate a caravan underneath them.

Stands 21-28 are smaller than the others and lie back to back, so you have neighbours all around you. The largest stands are in the row next to the camp where a few nyalas graze (29-32) and in the row along the border fence (34-29) from where you have a view of the game camp. Sites 10-17 are smaller and are located closest to the heated pool.

This part of the camp has two ablution buildings: one near the entrance named Eland, and another one a little farther into the camp called Kudu.