My adventures down the Garden Route - South Africa
My short escape from Cape Town took me to my homeland, the Garden Route. Quickly after an early breakfast, I left Cape Town and also headed off to Oudtshoorn and also the Little Karoo. I stopped en path for a fast beverage as well as a snack at a crazy little area called Ronnies Sex Store, a prominent little dining establishment- cum- bar with great personality, excellent food and inviting atmosphere. Philippines Virtual assistants
On arrival in Oudtshoorn some 5 1/2 hrs (430km) later on I checked out the lovely Thorntree Lodge 12km outside Oudtshoorn on the road to the Cango Caves. Louis, the lodge owner, greeted me with a cozy welcome and then inspected me into my cosy luxury home in the rose yard. I took a while to refurbish and then headed out for some journey. The Cango Caves was a more 17km from Oudtshoorn and I chose to sign up with a 90 minute guided journey excursion taking me through the depths of these world-renowned caves. Dripstone caves, huge halls and towering formations of stalagmites and stalactites amazed me. The scenic tour took us through tightening moist chambers where the air was heavy as well as our nerves began spinning. The passage way compelled us to a crawl as we made our means via "the passage of love". We ended up on our stomachs creeping head first through "the evil ones postbox" just 45 cm in elevation only to pop out into large chamber, which ultimately lead us out into the welcoming sunlight. With cave gunk throughout me, I returned to the lodge for a fast shower and after that pre dinner beverages in the cosy fire lit bar and a superb supper in the lodges' restaurant The complying with day after morning meal I tried my hand at riding an ostrich. The Cango Ostrich Farm just in the future from Thorntree Lodge is an excellent place to experience ostrich riding and also to learn all about the ostrich farming industry, that made Oudtshoorn well-known. My trip was enjoyable to claim the least as well as fulfilling the household special, a very friendly women ostrich by the name of Betsie, was a pleasure! It was one more stunning warm day in the Little Karoo. The perfect day for a scenic drive. From the ostrich farm I directed and also over the Swartberg Pass taking pleasure in wonderful sights of the little Karoo and also continuouslied the quaint little community of Royal prince Albert and after that on via the spectacular chasm of Meiringspoort. At a waterfall, I enjoyed a yummy barbecue lunch kindly packed for me by Thorntree Lodge. Towering cliffs with fascinating sandstone rock developments surrounded me. A 25 km tarred roadway winds along the flooring of the chasm, crossing the Groot River 25 times. Each going across, or drift, has its own name and tale and also this is shown on a plaque at the Waterfall details website. After hanging out checking out the location, I proceeded through De Rust and also went back to Thorntree for the night. Dinner was taken pleasure in at an incredibly popular little dining establishment in town called Jemimas. Philippines Virtual Assistants After loading my gear and saying my farewells to all at Thorntree, I avoided to the Cango Wild animals Ranch, a wild animals sanctuary as well as endangered varieties breeding center-- a remarkable stop recommended for all. They offer a really informative directed scenic tour of the cattle ranch (45 min to 1 hour) where one can see and also discover crocodiles, alligators, tigers, jaguars, lions and also cheetahs. The Cheetah study sanctuary offers a cheetah encounter program, which enables one to touch the cheetahs. It's a humbling experience with these amazing pets. After my encounter with the cheetahs, I took a glance at their serpent farm before going out of Oudtshoorn towards the Yard Route. |
I TRAVERSED THE ATTRACTIVE OUTENIQUA MOUNTAINS INTO GEORGE AFTER THAT ALONG THE COASTLINE PAST THE WILD LAKES AS WELL AS ON TO THE ENCHANTING LITTLE COMMUNITY OF KNYSNA (APPROX 125KM AS WELL AS 1H40 MINUTES DRIVE). I DROVE DOWN TO THE PROMINENT LITTLE QUAYS WATERSIDE TO DISCOVER SOME LUNCH AS WELL AS DROPPED IN AT 30 LEVELS SOUTH FOR A DELICIOUS FISH AND SHELLFISH MEAL. AFTER A STROLL AROUND THE WATERFRONT I MADE MY MEANS TO AN ADDITIONAL STUNNING LODGE LOCATED RIGHT UP ON THE HILL LOOKING OVER THE KNYSNA LAGOON ACROSS TO BELVIDERE ESTATE AND THE OUTENIQUE MOUNTAINS DISTANT. ELEPHANT CONCEAL LODGE IS A FAVOURITE OF MINE, ITS CHARMING LUXURY COLLECTIONS ALL INCREASING AMAZING VIEWS. THE UTERMARK HOUSEHOLD WELCOMED ME IN AND ALSO MADE ME FEEL AT HOME. RYAN, HIS SIBLING CRAIG AS WELL AS FRIEND MARK TOOK ME OUT DINING AT A GREAT ITALIAN DINING ESTABLISHMENT CALLED MOTHER PERSELLO'S AND THEN WE CONTINUED TO LOOK INTO KNYSNA'S NIGHTLIFE. KNYSNA IS ABUNDANT IN OUTSTANDING RESTAURANTS YET NOT SO EXCELLENT WHEN IT PERTAINS TO NIGHTLIFE - PUBS WITH REAL-TIME MUSIC AND ALSO HOME ENTERTAINMENT. IT OCCURRED TO BE A GREAT EVENING OF THE WEEK AS WELL AS WE DISCOVERED SOME HOME ENTERTAINMENT AT HARRY B'S WITH SOME RESIDENTS PLAYING GREAT DANCING MUSIC. MUCH ENJOYABLE WAS HAD!
THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS OFF TO FIND KNYSNA! I SIGNED UP WITH A 4-HOUR ECO-EXPERIENCE TO FEATHERBED NATURE GET, A SOUTH AFRICAN HERITAGE SITE. THIS CONSISTED OF A RETURN FERRY TRIP THROUGHOUT THE KNYSNA LAGOON, A NATURE DRIVE AS WELL AS GUIDED WALK THROUGH THE RESERVE FINISHING WITH A SCRUMPTIOUS BUFFET LUNCH AT THE FOOD FOREST RESTAURANT. YOUR LOCAL OVERVIEW ABOARD WILL SHARE FASCINATING TALES ABOUT THE LAGOON, THE VERY EARLY SHIPPING SECTOR AS WELL AS OYSTER CULTIVATION. FEATHERBED NATURE GET IS RESIDENCE OF A REPRODUCING PROGRAM OF THE UNUSUAL BLUE DUIKER - AMONG THE SMALLEST ANTELOPE TYPES WORLDWIDE - THE GORGEOUS KNYSNA LOERIE AND ALSO THE JEOPARDIZED KNYSNA SEA HORSE. VISITORS HAVE THE UNUSUAL CHANCE TO SEE THESE ANIMALS ON THE BOOK. THE FERRYBOAT RETURNED HOUSE IN THE VERY EARLY AFTERNOON. Business and marketing EXTRA ENJOYABLE AS WELL AS EXPERIENCE WAS TO BE HAD TODAY! THE GARDEN PATH IS RENOWNED FOR ITS ATTRACTIVE NATIVE FORESTS AND ALSO MAGNIFICENT COASTAL FYNBOS GREENERY. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO GET OUT AND ALSO APPRECIATE IT! MY MID-DAY WAS INVESTED QUAD CYCLING VIA THE FEATHERBED NATURE RESERVE-- A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADRENALIN RUSH COMBINED WITH SOME INCREDIBLE SIGHTS. I THOROUGHLY APPRECIATED IT! BACK AT THE LODGE, I GOT READY FOR ONE MORE NIGHT OUT WITH THE UTERMARK SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS. SUPPER WAS DELIGHTED IN AT A TOP CLASS DINING ESTABLISHMENT ON THESENS ISLAND CALLED SIROCCO. GREAT FOOD, EXCELLENT VIEWS AND GREAT SERVICE WAS ENJOYED BY ALL! SNUG AND COZY IN MY COSY BED, I LAY AWAKE INTENDING MY DAY. AFTER MY CHOICE OF A HEALTHY AND BALANCED MORNING MEAL OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE MUESLI AROUND, TOPPED WITH YUMMY GREEK YOGHURT AS WELL AS SPRINKLED WITH HONEY, I AVOIDED TO ROBBERG NATURE RESERVE NEAR PLETTENBERG BAY TO APPRECIATE A 2 HR WALKING. THE ROBBERG PENINSULA IS COVERED IN ABUNDANT FYNBOS PLANT LIFE AND INCREASES STUNNING VIEWS OUT TO SEA AND ALSO ACROSS THE ROBBEN BEACH TO PLETTENBERG BAY 8KM AWAY. THE BIRD LIFE IS GREAT AND ALSO ONE OBTAINS A CHANCE TO DETECT A BIG SEAL COLONY.
THERE IS SUCH A MYRIAD OF THINGS TO DO IN THIS AREA THAT I BATTLED FOR SELECTION. AFTER MY WALK, I SETTLED FOR LUNCH AT A PREFERRED DINING ESTABLISHMENT IGNORING THE BITOU RIVER VALLEY. EMILY MOON IS LOVELY LODGE WITH 8 DIFFERENT PERSONAL SUITES ENHANCED IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN STYLE. THE VERY SAME DESIGN FLOWS THROUGH TO THEIR WONDERFUL DINING ESTABLISHMENT WITH CUISINE TO DIE FOR! AFTER A RELAXING SUPERB LUNCH OUT ON THE DECK, I CONTINUED TO THE ELEPHANT REFUGE OUT AT THE CRAGS WHERE I DELIGHTED IN SOME COMMUNICATION WITH A FAMILY OF 6 WELL TOOK CARE OF AFRICAN ELEPHANTS. A GUIDED PROGRAM TOOK ME ON A 1 HOUR "TRUNK IN HAND" WALK WITH THE ELLIES ADHERED TO BY AN ELEPHANT BACK RIDE OF ABOUT 15 MINUTES CONSTANTLY COME WITH BY SKILLED TRAINERS AS WELL AS A CERTIFIED GUIDE THAT CONSTANTLY SHARED INTERESTING TRUTHS, THEIR PASSION FOR THE ELLIES APPARENT-- AN EXPERIENCE I WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OF ANY KIND OF AGE! MONKEYLAND AND BIRDS OF EDEN ARE IDEAL NEXT DOOR TO THE ELEPHANT SHELTER AS WELL AS ARE LIKEWISE WELL WORTH A VISIT. MONKEYLAND IS THE GLOBES INITIALLY TOTALLY FREE WANDERING MULTI-SPECIE PRIMATE SANCTUARY. IT IS A CONFINED INDIGENOUS WOODLAND LOCATION CONCERNING 26 RUGBY FIELDS IN SIZE AS WELL AS HAS VARIOUS PRIMATE SPECIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. GONE ALONG WITH BY A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL RANGER, I JOINED AN INSIGHTFUL 1-HOUR DIRECTED SCENIC TOUR THROUGH THE SANCTUARY. |