Every now and then, you visit a place that talks to you. Be it the tranquility and surroundings or the vibe and the experience, you’re bound to have experienced a few places that are more special than others. They hold a special place in your heart and you are always happy to return there.
While walking across South Africa early in 2010, I visited many places that talked to me. Towns and farms alike appealed to me. Be it the people, the place or the experiences I had, I will always hold some dearer than others.
And then, there is that one that stands out above all the others. A place your heart longs to visit again, you remember intimately and picture it regularly”¦ in vibant colour and vivid detail. This is the one place that you return to in your mind when the going gets tough. I found such a place during my walk!
As I approached Thabazimbi I was running out of places to stay. But the folk I stayed with in Thaba put me in touch with a farmer near Hoopdal [about 40km north] for the next night, and he put me in touch with Phillip from Morong Safaris. While I was hot, tired and in no mood for socializing when I arrived at the gate, I was instantly re-energized when I walk through the entrance and made my way along the sand road towards the houses and lodge.
Unsure of details, I headed for the main house where I was instantly welcomed as a friend and part of the Morong family. From there I was whisked to the lodge and treated like one of the other paying guests who were staying there. Gorgeous thatched chalets, lush green grass and a sparkling swimming pool were some of my first sights of the lodge”¦ but not before I’d passed no less than 13 giraffe and 7 or 8 zebra. What a way to blow my mind!
I headed up the stairs from the chalets to the lodge on the hilltop to meet the other guests and check-out the view”¦ and that is when I lost my heart to Morong. No words or photograph can do this farm justice, as it is THAT beautiful! I recall phoning my mother that evening and she struggled to get anything out of me except how amazing this farm was. There she was, concerned about my health and wellbeing, and all I could talk about were the views, the terrain, the people and the animals.
Phillip very easily persuaded me to stay another day, giving me a full day off and the ability to enjoy my time on his farm. There’s something different about Phillip, and I noticed it when were driving to a different part of the farm on that day off. He suddenly stopped the Land Cruiser, climbed out and picked up a small object on the road. Extending his hand out to us sitting on the back, Phillip revealed a tiny tortoise”¦ so small that nobody else had even noticed it. But Phillip did! He continued to share everything he knew about the tortoise, after which he gently placed on the side of the road”¦ the side it had been heading towards before we rudely interrupted his morning stroll.
The more time I spent on the farm the more I fell in love with it”¦ and tried to think of ways to extend my stay indefinitely. But, sadly I had to leave, and continued my journey to the other end of South Africa”¦ but vowed that I will return “˜home’ one day”¦ soon.
Well, I am sitting now on the very deck where I first looked out across the plains of Morong and feel totally peaceful. Every last bit of stress has left my body, every negative thought has disappeared and I am completely content. This definitely is “˜that special place’.
I write this aimed mainly at those who every year pack their bags, cars or trailers and head to the same place they went the previous year. The same week, same campsite, same route to & from, and same experiences. Yes, it is nice to return to the comfort zone and see those great folk you met last time again, but by traveling to a variety of places and experiencing more, you may just find that that wasn’t your ideal place”¦
So, go exploring and don’t necessarily stick to the major attractions. Escape the masses and try something new”¦ you may be surprised.
Other special places for me include:
- Cape Agulhas
- Kleinmond
- The stretch from Wolseley to Worcester
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- Antalya, Turkey
- Zurich, Switzerland
About Morong Safaris:
The farm, a little over 5000 hectares, was founded in 2002 by Gurli & Vagn Clausen and is situated in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, about half way between Thabazimbi and Lephalale. Manager Phillip Ellis and his wife Landé run the farm and lodge, which caters for all types of Africa safari”¦ from photographic and game viewing to hunting.
For more information about Morong Safaris, visit http://www.morongsafaris-eng.s-1.dk/ for their English website
Read more about Ray’s travels on www.raychaplin.com
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