Late Winter Albert Falls

Amazingly Sharon and I had never stayed at Albert Falls Nature Reserve, so when some good specials came up we grabbed a few friends and headed for the dam. Nick and Tarryn opted to camp while Sharon and I decided to stay in a rondavel after our chilly weekend at Lake Eland.

After driving through some heavy rain Sharon and I arrived at the gate just after 5pm on Friday. The office was closed so we signed in at the gate and headed for our chalet which was 5kms from the gate. On route we saw some nice game including zebra, impala, and nyala. There were also signs saying that there were white rhino in the reserve, although we didn’t spot any over the weekend.

The rondavels were not located on the water’s edge as expected, but were instead situated in the bush on top of a hill overlooking the dam. The views were spectacular, especially with the game grazing around us.

I’ve stayed in many rondavels in my life and these were definitely the best layed out. Instead of being one large room, they had divided the rondavel into 3 rooms – a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. The small kitchen contained a stove, microwave and fridge as well as all the necessary cutlery and crockery. The bathroom consisted of a large shower, toilet and sink. And the bedroom had 2 large beds (pushed together to form a double bed), a cupboard, table and chairs, and an arm chair. The rondavels also each had an outside braai area with a table and chairs. And there was also a communal area with a lapa, two pools, and a jungle gym. I was hugely impressed!

After unpacking our bags we headed down to the campsite which was located 2kms away on the waters edge. Nick and Tazz had already setup camp and had a fire on the go. We had a chilled braai while the kids played around the campsite. And then we headed back to our chalet for bed.

The next morning we had a quick breakfast before heading for the Albert Falls Miniature Railway which was located less than 5kms from the gate. I must admit that I wasn’t expecting a lot, but was pleasantly surprised. The owner spent 6 months converting his smallholding into a full on railway world. There’s a small station (containing a bar) as well as multiple trains, and tracks around the property with bridges, tunnels, dams, lights and more. It is IMPRESSIVE to say the least. And even more amazingly we were only charged R15 per adult, and the kids rode for free!

We spent the morning riding the train (and enjoying the odd beer in between) before heading to the Amble Inn Pub and Grill for lunch. Again I was impressed, with it’s views over the Umgeni River, children’s play area, fishing, animals and more. I ordered a snack basket, which was okay, while the others all are burgers, which were fantastic.

After lunch we headed back to Albert Falls where Sharon and Emma relaxed in our chalet until the early afternoon. Not being one to take an afternoon nap, I grabbed my fishing gear and headed down to a small bay on the dam. I inflated my float tube and spent the next hour or two kicking around the dam targeting bass. As expected, fishing was slow with the bass holding deep due to the cold water. That said I did managed to produce one small fish which made it all worth it. It was also incredible fishing with giraffe and impala drinking just meters away.

Back at our chalet I loaded Emma into the hiking pack and walked through the bush to the campsite. Emma impressed me with her spotting eyes, seeing animals I’d missed. Unfortunately her yelling of, “buck daddy!” meant that they didn’t hang around for too long. None the less we both enjoyed the fresh air and the walk.

At the campsite we once again enjoyed a quiet braai while the kids played in the open space. With both of the little ones passed out, and with most of the beer consumed, we headed back to our chalet.

The next morning we packed up the car, enjoying the ease of not having to drop a tent, before heading down to Nick and Tazz’s campsite. We spent the morning playing with the girls, going for walks, and swimming in the dam. At around lunch time, with Emma exhausted and asleep in her car seat, we decided to drive home. All in all an awesome weekend and a venue worthy of another visit.