Good times, cold drinks, and dusty dancing
A later-than-planned departure and a few wrong turns couldn’t dampen the spirit of a proper boys-and-bakkies weekend, especially when there’s the promise of good company, great scenery, and a campsite built around a rock big enough to hide a small herd of Nguni cattle. This wasn’t just another weekend away. For Henry Jonker and his two sons, Jean and Lian, it was a reminder that sometimes, the best memories are made with dust on your boots, laughter in your lungs, and the distant beat of sokkie music floating on the evening breeze.
It was just after 15:00 on a Friday afternoon when I steered the nose of the trusty 80 Series Land Cruiser out through our gates. I’d hoped to leave a bit earlier, but – as is often the case – the kids’ schedules had other ideas. Still, spirits were high, and within minutes, the padkos I’d lovingly prepared had vanished into the bellies of my two sons.
Lourens and Jacques, along with their families, had left a bit later from Franschhoek and Wellington. So, with no reason to rush, us three blokes got properly stuck into a propper our catch-up session. In fact, we were so deep in conversation that we completely missed the left turn to Markuskraal, our intended exit.
When Lourens called to ask where we were (he was just 5km from Boegoeberg), the three of us stared at each other, mouths agape. We’d overshot the mark by a solid 25km and needed to turn around. A short while later – although it felt like a lifetime – we met up with Lourens and Uncle Sybrie (the farm’s owner) by the side of the road.
After a hearty handshake, we followed Uncle Sybrie to their newly opened campsite, Boogklip, which officially opened to the public in January 2025.
The campsite is built around a massive rock formation. Over the years, the wind and sand have sculpted a natural tunnel through the rock, big enough to stroll through comfortably. Uncle Sybrie cleverly incorporated this unique feature into the camp’s design, allowing you to set up on either side of the formation.
A rustic bathroom with a donkie shower and toilet has been built on one side, and since the campsite is exclusively booked for one group at a time, you won’t want for anything more. Up to four families can camp comfortably here in rooftop or ground tents along the rock’s base, and the site is protected from the wind by a waist-high stone wall, a small but thoughtful touch.
We were only three families (Jacques and crew arrived about an hour after us), so the kids pitched their own tents while Lourens and I opted to sleep next to our vehicles under the open sky, stars and all.
The next morning, the kids led us on a trail they’d discovered the night before, winding up to a lookout point atop one of the rocks. The Sandveld stretched out endlessly in every direction. On a clear, still day, Uncle Sybrie claims you can even spot the sea near Elands Bay. I wouldn’t know… my eyesight is getting so bad I’d probably stumble straight off a boulder if I didn’t watch my step!
By early afternoon, as the heat began to settle in like a lazy cat, we packed up and headed for the main camp. There, a giant swimming pool awaited – an instant hit with the kids. To the one side of the pool is a dam, surrounded by campsites tucked along its shore. When Paul and I visited 14 years ago, there wasn’t a stitch of shade to be found. These days, almost all of the stands are shaded, either partially or completely.
The dam was virtually bone-dry during our visit, but I can only imagine how magical it must look after a proper rainy season.
Later, under the big oak trees near the lapa, we lit a fire and took to the water once more, this time to show the kids a few “high-risk” swimming pool moves from our youth. Time melted away, and before we knew it, the scorching heat had lifted and golden hour had arrived. We wandered off to admire the sunset before returning to camp for a final bit of magic.
Back at camp, the kids played until they kicked up clouds of dust. Rialé and Loumari took young Lian under their wing to teach him how to sokkie. Jean, ever the pragmatist, declared that he already knew how to dance and had no need to show the girls just yet. One day, the penny will drop… but for now, it’s all about rugby and friends!
As the fire crackled and a cold drink appeared in hand, we watched the sun dip below the Sandveld horizon. Life doesn’t get better than this.
To my two boys, Jean and Lian: What a weekend! As for dancing and girls… if you can dance, sokkies and school socials become a party. And the best way to learn? From your friends. So, if a young lady asks you for a dance, get up, be a sport, and bust out something silly. It might just make her night. #GoodTimes
Follow Henry Jonker’s travel blog on www.jonkeradventures.com or find him on social media: @jonkeradventures
