WHAT THEY SAY

André Steyn en gesin

André Steyn en familie

Pine Pienaar en gesin en die Du Toit-gesin

Goeiedag aan die Du Preez's van Springbokpan Gasteplaas!

Ons is veilig terug by ons huise na ons onvergeetlike, heerlike besoek aan Mabuasehube en Kgalagadi-parke. Ons het Saterdagaand 27 September 2008 by julle oornag.

Baie dankie eerstens vir die gasvryheid daar by julle.  Julle het waarlik 'n oase geskep daar op Springbokpan waar stadsjapies soos ons, vir oulaas kon (diep!) asem skep en in luuksheid kon skoon kom en rustig kon kuier rondom die vuur voor die onbekende wat voorgelê het, aangepak was.

Tweedens, baie dankie Fernando, vir jou raad en inligting rakende die tyd spandeer op die pad na Mabuasehube-hek.  Ons het toe wel 6 en 'n half uur gery tot by die hek en as ons wel deurgery het, sou ons baie laat daardie aand daar aangekom het, en in die donker sou dit nog langer geneem het.

Derdens 'n baie groot dankie, Fernando, vir jou bereidwilligheid en hulp en baie belangrike stukkie inligting oor die Park-personeel se Maandagoggende-rit na en van Tsabong via radio-verbinding.  Ons kon toe binne 'n paar uur reel dat 'n nuwe battery (wat 'n absolute noodsaaklikheid was aangesien die ou een nie eers wou laai nie) vir ons voertuig vanaf Tsabong saamgebring word en kon ons toe ons vakansie verder geniet.  Sonder hierdie belangrike 'tip' sou ons baie meer gesukkel het - veral omdat die volgende 2 dae vakansiedae was!  Dankie ook vir jou bereidwilligheid en aanbod om 'n battery saam met jou volgende gaste/besoekers te wou/kon saam-stuur.  Sulke hulpvaardigheid sien mens nie sommer deesdae nie - hoop dat jy nog baie geseen sal word oor hierdie baie mooi eienskap! 

Springbokpan se goeie reputasie loop hom vooruit en ons het dit nou self ervaar.

Hoop dat julle nog lank en baie suksesvol in die bedryf sal wees!

Bos-groete

Pine Pienaar en gesin en die Du Toit-gesin

Cynthia Jansen van Vuuren, Luderitz, Namibia

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to say thank you very much for your hospitality, advice and encouragement when I undertook my Botswana adventure.  The road was as bad as you described but I arrived at Mabua without a problem.  I followed the tracks made by the car that had traveled that way before me and averaged 45km/h.  I pulled into the gate at Mabua at 11 o’clock.  Spot on time.  The game warden on duty could not believe that I had driven through the sand alone and in “that car”.  He shook my hand in congratulations as though I had just climbed mount Everest.

The group I joined couldn’t believe it either and I picked up distinctly negative vibes from most of the men.  I know what they were thinking.  This stupid woman in her “wannabe” 4x4 is going to be nothing but trouble and we will have to rescue her on every bend.  Well, I showed them!  They had the cheek to ask me at the start of the wilderness trail if I wouldn’t turn back before it was too late, then stuck me at the back of the three car convoy so I wouldn’t get in their way.  I surprised them by sticking to the tail of the car in front of me all the way to the overnight stop.  Once I got the hang of it, I really enjoyed throwing my car around the bends.

The next day the trail was more difficult and I got stuck on the first long, sandy uphill but I quickly learnt from my mistakes.  I needed to let more air out of my tyres and approach with more speed to keep the revs up.  After that I sailed over the dunes.  The guy who was with me was hanging onto his seat with white knuckles but I enjoyed every minute of it.  Rather like a very bumpy roller coaster ride.  My car behaved very well considering that she’s too low and scraped along the middel mannetjie most of the time.  When I pulled into Nossop I had earned the respect of the guys and I now have 7 new friends. They have invited me to join them on their next trip to Okavango.  I’m so happy to have found company and won’t have to tour on my own in future.

I hope to pass your way again one day.

Cynthia Jansen van Vuuren

Luderitz, Namibia

Schalk de Swardt 

Al die Vriende van Springbokpan,

Ek het saam met Gert Fourie laas naweek daar by julle oorgebly. Dit was 'n onvergeetlike ondervinding, en 'n voorrreg om daar te kon wees. Baie dankie vir julle gasvryheid wat so oorvloedig aan ons bedeel is.Julle het dit baie spesiaal gemaak, en 'n mens wens om dit weer te kan doen, wie weet, eendag kry ons dit dalk reg.

Alles van die beste, en laat dit met julle goed gaan.

Groete

Schalk de Swardt 

Where the sky is the limit . . .