Montagu

Our arrival in Montagu yesterday afternoon was typical for a Sunday in any small town.  Everything was closed.  We did get a map from the info center and found our way to the De Bos Guest Farm.  Our double en suite (which was about the same as we’d been paying for a shared bath) was … Continue reading →

Cango Ostrich

After a filling ostrich egg breakfast (one ostrich egg is equal to 24 chicken eggs, but 36-eggs-worth of cholesterol, while the meat is very healthy and low in fat), we head north to the Swartberg Pass, just as beautiful as had been described in the guide books.  On the way we did a different ostrich … Continue reading →

Outshoorn

Waking early, the farm and surrounding hillside was peaceful and quiet.  There was a slight chill in the air, which disappeared with the rising sun, but which also created a smoky mist in the valleys toward the coast.  We made rooibos tea and had a steamy shower before getting an early start.  Poking around the … Continue reading →

Cape Agulhas

The drive to Cape Agulhas from Hermanus was filled with Merino sheep (imported here 200 years ago), cows, goats, farms, rolling green hills and villages like Napier and Bredasdorp.  Arriving to Cape Agulhas the road curved down again by the sea.  The water here seemed even more aqua blue, and very rough.  this is a … Continue reading →

Hermanus

We set off in the morning with the Kiwi girls, Leanne and sisters Nicola and Lee-Anne.  After a single wrong turn getting out of Cape Town, and a few minutes for Donny to get used to left-hand-drive and the other side of the road, it was smooth sailing to Hermanus.  We stopped for rooibos tea … Continue reading →

CatchUp

We spent a ton of time and Rand catching up the blog these few days.  Readers may be overwhelmed!  Evenings were for saying goodbye to members of our group.  From Esther (the Canadian girl who seemed like an old friend from the beginning), we inherited a TON of stuff so she was able to get … Continue reading →

Trawal to Cape Town

The scenery was beautiful as we came out of the mountains.  Rolling green hills, pastures and fields seemed to go on forever.  There were yellow wildflowers, grazing sheep and cows, and the odd small farm.  Brian gave up the valuables he’d been guarding for us, and we prepared for our arrival in Cape Town.  Some … Continue reading →

Highlander’s Birdfield Wine

More crazy weather at Highlander’s Camp.  The rain is coming down in buckets, and the wind is howling.  We stay inside all day reading and playing games: table tennis, Scrabble, darts with one dart, massage, etc.  All our tents are inside the garage on the cement.  Only Rowan and Lee-Anne have bravely set up theirs … Continue reading →

Cederberg

We spent two nights in the Cederberg Mountain area at Highlanders Camp.  On the drive there we stopped in the town of Springbok.  The town was bustling on a Saturday morning.  The people looked faded, tough and weathered.  Springbok rose up from the copper mining industry of Namaqualand. The first copper mine was established in … Continue reading →

Orange River

We crossed the border back into South Africa at Vioolsdrift.  Our camp is near the border, and you can pretty much swim the Orange River between Namibia and South Africa from our camp.  I can get air time for my South African SIM card now.  We’re back in contact.  That being said, it’s been wonderful … Continue reading →

Namibia Nomad

We are leaving for a 21-day trek overland through Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and back to Cape Town.  We ran around yesterday getting last minute supplies (sleeping bag and roll mat, cutlery, plate and mug, etc.)  We had pretty much everything else we need.  We also had to pass by the local Amex office to purchse … Continue reading →

Hoerikwaggo

The original inhabitants of the Cape – the Khoekhoen and San tribes – called Table Mountain Hoerikwaggo – “sea mountain,” and we had a beautiful hike to the top.  The cloud that often surrounds it, otherwise known as the tablecloth, was nowhere to be seen as we started our trek.  The route we took was through … Continue reading →

Cape of Good Hope

This entry will be a brief introduction, as I’m running out of time (and we’re getting REALLY hungry).  We had a great visit to the Cape Peninsula (Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point) today.  Stops included the vineyards of Constantia, Hout’s Bay for a boat ride to see Seal Island (seals were stinky but … Continue reading →

Robben Island

Robben Island was a short boat ride away from the Cape Town Waterfront, but a world away in atmosphere.  Since Mandela’s release in 1991 (from a prison he’d been transferred to) the island has come to symbolize “the triumph of the human spirit, of freedom, and of democracy over oppression. ” (Quote from UNESCO World Heritage site) The tour was rather … Continue reading →

Cape Town Waterfront

Our first full day in Capetown was spent at the Waterfront. We walked down from our hostel (the Ashanti Lodge), and it took about an hour.   It’s been cool in the evening and pretty warm during the day.  The cold is really only an issue at night. The hostel doesn’t have heat, but the blankets … Continue reading →