Crikey, what a beauty!

In the October issue I shared my story of camping at the Gooderson Natal Spa on the Bivane River, near Paulpietersburg. I was now heading to another campsite, the Bivane Dam on that self-same river. If able to fly like a Martial eagle or an African eagle found in this area, it would have been a mere 15-odd kilometre journey. A fact I should know by now is: how two places in close proximity to each other can be so different, so much so that they almost feel like they are in different countries.

Bivane Dam, all 700 hectares of water, is enclosed on either side by steep mountain slopes and gathers its life-giving water from a catchment area of 1 600 square kilometres. But these figures cannot give you any idea of the peace, tranquillity, and beauty that awaits visitors to this magic spot. I’m positive Steve Irwin, the late Aussie conservationist, would have shouted out, “Crikey what a beauty!” the moment he saw this place for the first time. It’s so darn beautiful and remote that first sight of the large expanse of water enclosed by the steep-sided mountains takes your breath away.

The 12-kilometre gravel road from the tar R69 to the Bivane entrance gate can be corrugated. I was driving Towing Destinations’ big, luxury Wonder caravan