Paarl to Hluhluwe

Well I tried to do a post a few days ago and lost the whole lot so here goes again.

We left Paarl and passed the Victor Verster Prison where Nelson Mandela spent his 27th  and final year in prison, then we drove through Franschoek as it was too early we drove straight through the town and made our way up the Franschoek Pass, there was a bit of snow on the high peaks, so I was excited that our trip to the Drakensberg would be great.

We stopped for lunch at the famous Country Pumpkin in Barrydale and then drove past Ronnies sex shop, on to Oudshoorn. Then on to the Oude Muel guest house, well I admit I made a mistake , I had another place on my mind we turned in and realized oops, lucky it was on the same road just a few Kilometers away.

The next morning we visited the Cango Caves, Even the driver went alond as he has never driven the southern part of SA.  Then we went to Cango wild life ranch, nobody went in with the Cheetah.
Then a casual drive on to Knysna, where that evening I introduced them to a Shooter called the "Town ship toilet" they had about 4 rounds, then 12 went to have dinner at JJ's and some ate at Oldies.

The next morning we went on to Monkeyland where they walked around a primate enclosure for around 2hrs and all enjoyed to see the primates, we then went on to see the Storms river mouth at the Tsitsikamma national park and did the walk to the suspension bridge, while they were walking there I got to see a Cape clawless otter which I got some photos of hahahah. then we stopped passed J-bay and on to Port Elizabeth.

Well as most trips would fly on to Durban, not this one we drive through, so we left for Addo Elephant park for a 4 hr bus safari only finding 1 elephant and tons of Zebra, but at least we found one right at the very end. Then we left and headed to East London for the overnight, Tracey and the kids jouined us for dinner and the group got to meet them, and the kids got to see me which make the trip shorter.

We left East London Early the next day as we had a long drive to the Drakensberg, Driving through the former Transkei, passing nelson Mandelas home and up to the berg.

The next morning we drove to the town of Underberg where we met the 4x4's to take the group up the Sani Pass 2856m +- 9500ft, sadly there was very little snow but there was enough to throw a snow ball or 2 around, then on to a little village and see how the Basuto people live. Lunch at the highest pub in Africa and back down the switch backs.

We left the hotel in the morning on to Durban where the temp reached 30 dg C about 90 f from 5 deg c very welcome , We stopped at Ushaka marine for lunch and leg stretch then we drove on to the Hotel Protea Hluhluwe ( wow what an improvement to the rooms well done)

 

 

Aussie group week one

Well the week has flown passed and many great things have happened so far
Cape town had a big cold front hit bringing with it some large swell of over 20ft and snow deposits on the mountains, the group however managed to get to Robben Island in some massive swell with a full boat of 300 people.

Cape Point on Thursday was a good clear day, and we got to see Whales, Bontebok, Red Hearabeast, Baboons and even the Cape Mountain Zebra

Due to having bad weather on the Wednesday morning, Cold and rain, I decided to do a walking city tour on the Friday, morning before we left for Stellenbosch, we got to the St Georges Cathedral and the doors were open to go in so we made the visit, and to top it all of Arch Bishop Tutu was present and some of the guests got a photo with him.

We have been in Paarl for the past two nights witch is part of the Stellenbosch wine route just out side Cape Town with the snow on the mountains it is very cold but we have had some good wine tastings.

This morning we are on our way to Oudtshoorn to see the Ostriches and the Cango Caves
I will re post again soon