I last visited Kameel, a tiny hamlet in South Africa’s North West Province, in February 2020 as part of my (never finished) #10SouthAfricanTowns project. At the time, I was certain I’d be back in Kameel before 2020 was over; it’s a perfect stopover point on the way to the Northern Cape, which I planned to explore later that year. But then covid happened, of course. So I didn’t make it back to Kameel until last week – more than four years later – when I finally did that Northern Cape road trip to celebrate my 50th birthday.
I look back very fondly on my 2020 Kameel trip and I was ecstatic to go back, even for one (very chilly) evening. Patrick and Hercules, who run the Kameel Rust & Vrede B&B and Campground, are the loveliest of people, as are Sandra (Patrick’s sister) and her husband Hennie, who also live in town. I got to introduce them all to Thorsten and we caught up over delicious stuffed chicken breasts, courtesy of Chef Hercules. Sleeping in the Campovan was so much fun.
Despite growing up in America, land of the RV, I don’t think I’d ever slept in anything resembling a Campovan before. I was delighted by how retro and perfectly restored Ou Lady was (I’m guessing it was built in the 1960s or 70s), and it had everything we needed for a comfortable overnight stay: a bed, sitting area, outdoor seating with a view of the sunset, small kitchen, and nicely designed outdoor bathroom.
Kameel is about 4.5 hours west of Joburg and (as previously mentioned) is a perfect stopover point on the way to the Northern Cape, including Augrabies Falls (where we were going), Namibia, and southwestern Botswana. Kameel Rust & Vrede has a variety of accommodation options and campsites available; the Campovans cost between R750 and R900 ($40-$50) per night for two people. Patrick and Hercules also serve breakfast and dinner for an additional charge. Browse all the accommodation and rates here.
Until next time, Kameel. Next Up: Augrabies Falls National Park.
How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?
I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.
I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.
Given this week’s political nuclear bomb blast, it feels like a weird time to publish a light-hearted post about my recent (pre-election) jaunt through the United States. But I’m hoping you’ve have had enough of the U.S. election horror show – I know I have – and are ready (at least temporarily) for some wholesome American travel adventures. If so, please read on about my four-day visit to Maine, the northeastern-most state in the lower 48, with my sister, Susanna.
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It makes me smile, when I see it.