Sanparks (South African National Parks) continues to impress us, both with accommodation, facilities and the upkeep of our precious National Parks. Mountain Zebra is about 12 kms from Cradock on the way to Graaff Rienet and a solid 9 hours drive from Johannesburg with a short breakfast stop on the way in Bloemfontein. Arrival at the park was, as usual, efficiently handled by the staff at the gate and again at reception in the main camp. We had booked the Guest House which turned out to be the Doornhoek Farmhouse, a gracious Victorian "mansion" overlooking the dam and about 3 kms outside the main camp. We felt like the only people in the world in this picturesque setting.
We got a bit of a reality check when we walked around to the back of the house. We had to remember we were in a place where game, including lions, roam freely and there are no fences around the house, unlike the main camp which is totally fenced. Not for the faint hearted!
 |
| Another spectacular African sunset |
 |
| The sky just before a huge thunderstorm |
 |
| Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk |
 |
| Springbok |
 |
| Black Wildebeest with its whitish tail and mane. A protected species |
 |
| Gemsbok |
 |
| Red Hartebeest |
 |
| A fleeting glimpse of an Aardwolf - a very rare sighting |
 |
| Steppe Buzzard |
 |
| Cape Long Claw |