Hook, Line & Sinker!

Bass Lake Lodge

- Richard van Ryneveld

I was extremely lucky to get a last minute stand at Bass Lake Lodge outside Pretoria. It was a long weekend and this is an extremely popular venue, less than 30 minutes’ drive from Pretoria. It is pretty much booked out every weekend and holiday of the year.

My well-grassed 12 x 12m stand, with its own power point and portable braai, was directly opposite one of the two ablution blocks. In fact, all 34 stands are relatively close to the bathrooms and toilets. And I have to say that these facilities are the best I have experienced so far on my travels. I will get back to the five-star bathrooms later, but first let’s look at the layout of the camp.

As you enter the camp, the large reception area, shop, and entertainment area are on your left. The entertainment area has a pool table, table tennis, air hockey, and a large screen TV for those important rugby games. Just outside the reception area and shop are the trampolines, jungle gym, and two swimming pools – one being a kids’ pool. After being welcomed by Angelique van Reenen, the extremely friendly young camp manageress, I popped into the adjoining shop for a look around before she showed me to my stand. Here I met another friendly Bass Lake staff member, Allan Mbando. The shop stocks things like wood, charcoal, firelighters, and the basics that one so often forgets at home. They also have ice, cool drinks, an ice cream machine, and Allan makes the best milkshakes in Gauteng.