06 Nov Oudtshoorn to Capetown

 


It was a long drive today and we have finally arrived in beautiful Capetown. To me my favorite beautiful city
in the world. It has changed quite a bit since I have been here last. More sophisticated and more glossy.
Table Mountain was - as expected - covered in clouds. But we will cross our fingers. The cable car does
not operate when the top is covered in clouds, so we will have to use the first opportunity to get up there, which means we will have to change our itinerary a bit. But it is well worth it, believe me!
I just came back from the Waterfront - there is so much to see ...
On our way to C'town  we stopped at this wine estate for lunch and it felt like being in the Provence.
Totally my taste! Food was very mediterraean and the wines they offered were fantastic.
So we had a good time there and it was hard to leave :)
Check the pics below !!! 

Prost!

I am not sure... am I really in Africa?

Wine grows everywhere ...

Cute little doggie called Cecil

Oudtshoorn

On our way to Oudtshoorn ....Ostrich Capital of the World ... we first explored the different chambers of
the Cango Cave System. They used to hold gospel concerts in this cave, which must have been a phenomenal accoustic. Not any more, as too much damage happened.

So, I got everyone hyped up about the Ostrich ride and we have already decided who is going to ride one.
You have to weigh under 80 kg. So definitely Stan, we decided. However, because it was 46 degrees Celsius inn Oudtshoorn (semi desert), it was not  possible to ride one - simply too hot because ostriches are not able to sweat. So we weren't allowed.
However, we had a tour around the farm and this was pretty interesting...
Check our pics out below ;0)

Today we are heading to Capetown, our last highlight of this trip,where we will spend 4 nights.
Let's cross our fingers for good weather, as we want to be able to go on the Table Mountain, which is only
possible when the weather is good and no clouds over the mountain.... Yippeeh, Capetown - we are ready!!!
.

 

Pretty in white (Ostrich feathers)....ShihMama

Stan - always hungry :)

Female and male in love (beak of male turns red)

 s

Ostrich close up

Me, standing on Ostrich eggs...no they do not break :0)

04 Nov Knysna - Featherbed Excursion

Great day today where we went by ferry through the Knysna Lagoon and then carried on by 4x4 vehicles  to move up the Outeniqua forest and hike down the 2.2 km trail with spectacular views and unique Flora and Fauna - some sections with steep and rough terrain, so not all of us could do the hike but most of us did and we all had fun climbing down. Afternoon we spent at the pool and some of us explored the little city of Knysna.

"The Knysna Lagoon is more accurately an estuary where the waters of five different rivers flowing out of the Outeniqua Forest merge together and meet the ocean at the landmark sandstone cliffs which are known as the Knysna Heads. The privately owned Featherbed Nature Reserve occupies 150 hectares on the Western Head of the Knysna Heads"

Jessie can't get lost with her bright orange hat

King Ping

Lots of cool villas, some belong apparently to the russian mafia ?

Sandy made it - easy for her !!!

Our lovely guide Sean Bartnick, who bends over backwards to please us ;
Well done, Sean. We love you!!!

Natural stone art

Catch of the day today are....
... Peter and Ken Wong -
two of three lovely brothers 
 (Paul, the third one is yet to be introduced)
Both were born in HongKong and went to school
in Macao. In Canada they have been working as engineers.
Peter is from Nova Scotia and Ken lives in Ontario.
Peter is a Tai Chi Master and he makes me want to learn this sport. I am so happy to travel with you, Ken and Peter!

03 November Port Elizabeth to Knysna via Tsitsikamma Park
(Tsitsikamma means Sparkling Waters)

After a sensational breakfast (again) we left for a quick tour through Port Elizabeth - Nelson Mandela's birth place and then we headed straight to Tsitsikamma Storms' River  National Park where we did a 2 hours hike including crossing the Suspension Bridge. 

 Now we are in beautiful Knysna on the Gardenroute.

Along the coast we came through Plettenberg Bay
with its many million dollar homes....
We will spend another night in Knysna and do the Featherbed excursion tomorrow which will be a lot of fun!!! 

OK, King Ping is thinking about looking for a winter retiring domicile here in SA. I think he fell in love  with the country. And we haven't even touched Capetown yet. Interesting ?! 
I guess we end up with more lovers.
It's past 1 am.... time to sleep :)

* special note: 
On our way to Knysna we passed a small seaside village called George. While visiting SA we are also confronted with a lot of poverty. I would like to take the opportunity to mention my good friend Ms CATHERINE ROBAR from Nova Scotia, who has founded a charity called THEMBALETHU DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 
to help fight the poverty. She has done truly remarkable work for the small community called Thembalethu. She currently works for the UN in Lesotho, where she resides with her husband Gingizwe. 
Please visit her website: 
http://www.freewebs.com/thembaproject/

Tsitsikamma Rain Forest

Suspension Bridge

Peter and Ken

Oysters as much as you want....

Food is just incredible... everywhere

(Hotel) room with a viewhttp://www.freewebs.com/thembaproject/

Tina, Mandela and Kitty

addo

Nov 02 Durban to Port Elizabeth

Wake up call at 4 am - this was cruel - but we had our flight leaving from Durban at 06h am.
Time to say good by to our lovely driver Sam who had to bring the bus back to Jo'burg. Off we went on our Kulula Flight (on time!).
After arriving in Port Elizabeth we met our new driver Leslie and headed straight to our next destination - the famous Addo Elephant Park where we were
supposed to meet hundreds of elephants on our last :( game drive on this trip but in fact we did not see a single one.... but other animals though.

Good bye Sam - drive safe

HOWEVER after leaving the park again inthe afternoon we lucked out and saw a herd of Elephants
in all sizes including babies  - check the video out below!!!

For all Soccer lovers - the FIFA stadium in Durban

Lots of Elephants

From the plane - approaching Port Elizabeth

Kudu


Today's VIPs are
Danny Chow and  and his cute wife Kitty...

...came from China to Canada in the eighties and opened up a Chinese Restaurant in Windsor, famous all over Nova Scotia for its  Chicken Wings.
Did you know that Chicken Wings were introduced to North America from China? I sure did not know this. They love Canada, in particular Nova Scotia
and are very grateful for the laid back life style they can enjoy there.
Kitty and Danny we are looking forward to spend the next few days in beautiful South Africa together with you.

hluhluwe durban

Zulu spear making

Sanibona Nijani? 

How are we today? Still in KwaZulu Natal we have arrived
in Durban at Elangeni Hotel. Food again was amazing!
Oysters and Seafood as much as you want...
Only downside is that we have to leave this great place again tomorrow morning early. Durban is a 4 million city, situated along a very long wide beach  - the Golden Mile and our hotel is right on the beach. Main population here is of Indian descent.
This morning we have visited a Zulu Village where people still live the traditional Zulu way.Today's pictures are mainly from this village. Tomorrow mornings flight is at 6 am .... therefore only a short update....

Zulu women

Oops... Zulu Beauty

Zulu shield making

Baboon spider

 Castle Beer - not to be missed and so cheap!!!