It is an interesting name for a town, Weenen. The town, set on the banks of the Bushmans River, means 'place of weeping', originating as far back as 1838 when it was laid out in a Voortrekker grid pattern similar to many old villages in South Africa today that also benefit by the canal network that takes the river from property to property. Weenen, taken from the Dutch, is called so because ... cont.
From Durban:
Bypass the towns of Pietermaritzburg, Howick and Mooi River
Approximately 10 minutes after the Mooi River Toll look out for the Estcourt South turnoff
Take this glide off and turn right
You will cross the freeway over a bridge
The road will take you past the Estcourt bacon factory and over the Bushman's River
Drive through the centre of Estcourt
You will pass the old station on your left, the Nestle factory and a bunch of shops such as Ackermans and Jet. ABSA and the post office will also be on your left
Keep going straight and you will soon find yourself leaving town on the Colenso Road
Cross an insignificant little stream, go through the last set of robots and at the crest of the hill 200 metres or so on is the Weenen turnoff (R74). Someone removed the oncoming sign so you have to twist your neck at 180 degrees to see it
The turnoff is not far out of town at all so don't go to Frere or Colenso
Make your last cellphone call, as you will have no coverage until you reach Weenen
From here on signage is good. You will have approx 20min travelling time to go
Look out for rhino as you travel slowly through the Game Reserve. At the T. junction turn right unless you want to sightsee in Colenso
Check behind the cannas for fine-hungry traffic officers as you enter the little hamlet of Weenen
At the Engen Garage turn left. The Zingela meeting place is the third house to your left (approximately 400m down the road) and is signposted 'Zingela, Mark & Linda Calverley'
From Johannesburg / Harrismith:
When descending Van Reenens Pass on the N3 look out for the R103 that leads to Ladysmith at the base of the pass just before the Tugela Toll Plaza. You will go though a minor toll gate and then travel on a single lane tar road past Besters en route toward Ladysmith
Bypass Ladysmith by turning right just before the town entrance and follow the signs indicating Colenso
Colenso is apprpx a 20 minute drive away. With Colenso on your left, the R103 will cross the mighty Tugela
Take the R74 glide off to your left soon thereafter signposted Weenen, Muden, Greytown
The glide off is before you go under the bridge spanning the R103
The paint on the signs is quite faded so be careful not to overshoot it otherwise you will end up back on the N3.
Turn left at the top of the off ramp. Weenen is approx a 20 minute drive away
Drive past the initial dwellings and farms until you see the Engen Garage. Turn left immediately after it. We will meet you at the Weenen house .. it is the third house to your left (approximately 400 meters down the road) and is signposted Zingela, Mark & Linda Calverley'
Tips for Self Drivers:
It is essential for those who are self driving to check with the camp on current road and river crossing conditions. Cell phone reception is sporadic en-route. You really don't want to spend the first half of your holiday camping in a hole in the Bloukrans or against a boulder on the stony hill.
Dundee, Estcourt, Isandlwana, Ladysmith, Newcastle, Vryheid, Winterton, Greytown, Rorkes Drift, Babanango, Paulpietersburg, Ulundi, Spioenkop, Biggarsberg, Elandslaagte, Nambiti Private Game Reserve, Utrecht
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