So off we went to the Cradle resort, situated in the Area known as the Cradle of Mankind, (Origionality wasn't their strong point) about an hours drive from Randburg. I'd not done any research on the area or even so much as asked for clues about it through charades, so it was all terribly exciting! That whole, "I've no idea where we're going or what to expect, eeeek!" kind of feeling!
ROAD TRIP! (Short but it counts!!)
Traveling the long and windy roads to the Reserve, you notice everything is very beige and brown and crisp due to it being winter, but the weather was surprisingly warm and the car trip wasn't uncomfortable at all! I can just imagine how it could have gone... 5 people in a car when it overheats and strange, and best left unmentioned, odours start to permiate your senses! Thank you gods of weather for your kindness!
From tar roads to lumpy-bumpy sand and dust roads! Once inside the resort you drive for Kilometers yet to get to the chalets themselves. It's an up, down, up-down-down-up, ditch, ouch-my bum sort of ride!!
I think it would be nice for spotting animals but most seemed to be having an afternoon siesta when we drove down. Does a dust devil count?
There we are! hidden amongst all the twigs and grasses! Rattly branches and a forest-like feel made it seem like a scene from 'The Blair Witch project!' (Only the home vids we made were far more entertaining...)
This is the reception hut. Isn't it teeny? Very small and snug, though I don't recommend it if you're too much bigger then Jo height!
As everyone got their resevations sorted I made friends with the local wild life.
There was a lot of plant life and even a stream to explore. Alas, unlike weird Uncle Freddy, it didn't have any crabs! We walked all about it though spying on the various things it did have. Rocks.
A lot of rocks.
But there were a few odd creatures about as well! ^_^
This is the outside of one of the chalets. They're all connected by bridges that have that classic smell of pitch and tar to them. You had to keep all the windows and doors locked because the monkeys, who were not very photogenic, would come in and make off with your biscuits! Our neighbours discovered this the hard way.
This is the inside! Small hey? Like a hobbit hole! the bathroom is behind that bulging lump of wall and privacy is well near not an option. Half the lights were on strike but luckily at least one worked! They do provide you with most everything you'd need for a self catering place though. Mind there was a spider on the curtain and I sure as heck don't remember ordering that!
I think this is either the electricity shed or a prop from Stephen king's 'Tommyknockers'! Open the door and find people in pickling juice having their brains sucked dry!!! Damn, the door is locked! Ah well, it's not that high up on my 'to do' list anyway!
So of course we all ended up taking tons of pics of the braai! That came out really well! (The pics and the food!). It was warm and snuggly as the night air became more and more chill! And SO QUIET!!
It was a nice little place to stay, and for a Couple (It gets a bit cramped when the numbers start leaping past 2), it would be a great get away from the worries and strife of modern civilization. (But with a fridge and cell phone signal because there have to be limits, you understand.) You couldn't stay a week, you'd get bored and turn cannibal, but for a weekend away it was, all in all, pretty dang nifty!!
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