As our time in South Africa was coming to an end, we chose to spend the last week doing a road trip through what is called the Garden Route along the south coast.
To give you some idea of the route we took on our road trip.As it is now approaching what is regarded as winter down here, we pretty much had most areas to ourselves. Fortunately the weather was very kind to us. The shoreline near Pringle Bay was beautifully rugged and empty.We stopped in at Stony Point Penguin Colony in Betty’s Bay to check out the second largest Cape Penguin colony on the mainland. These fellows are simply too cute.Though you had to be careful as they have complete run of the place and indeed showed up around nearly every corner.While shopping for groceries we came out on our first day to find a flat tire on our rental car. It wasn’t the most positive way to start, however it ended up being a great experience. As it was a weekend, trying to find a tire shop to fix it was not going well until we stopped into a gas station to ask. Well, the attendants were awesome! They had the tire out of the trunk and fixed right there on the tarmac in less than 15 minutes. A wonderful group to bump into.Stopping at Hawston Beach for a lunchtime picnic we found a gorgeous beach with one lonely lifeguard watching out over the empty beach.Of course this area is rife with wineries. We enjoyed exploring the options. The tasting here are done with an outstanding amount of style. None of this standing around a counter. And if you wanted to pair some tasty morsels with your wines, that was an occasional option as well.The week before we started our road trip there had been a massive amount of rain in the region. The big plus of this was the waterfalls all through the mountains and hills were in full flow.Of course we had to stop at Cape Agulhas. The lighthouse is the second oldest operating lighthouse in South Africa and is just down the road from the actual point of Cape Algulhas. This is special as it is the southern most point on the continent of Africa and marks the border between the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans.The B&B we stayed in at Cape Algulhas was across the road from the shoreline which provided a wonderful way to greet the sun in the morning.The furthest east we got was to Mossel Bay. We found these cute little fellows everywhere in the area. They are Rock Hyrax or Rock Dassi. Incredibly cute but apparently quite mean. We chose not to test that warning.For me, the coolest place to visit in Mossel Bay was a cave referred to as the Point of Human Origin. You are only supposed to go in them with a guide and it is worth it.Inside the cave we were shown artifacts, some of which date back over 160,000 years. These are some of the oldest artifacts ever found of what we would call Homo Sapiens. Contemplate that for a while. Those are the remains of tools in the walls of the cave. Simply amazing.Our guide was also good enough to take some touristy shots for us at the mouth of the cave. Part of the tunnel which leads to the caves. A community project of tiles depicting the evolution of our world.Our next stop was to head north to Oudtshoorn. To get there we passed through the breathtaking Robinson Pass.We found an absolute charm of a B&B in Oudtshoon. The yard of De Oude Yotclub had been flooded in the heavy rains but the staff had reclaimed it beautifully.The reason we decided to take this route for our return leg was in order to visit Cango Caves.The interior of these caves are spectacular. They used to hold concerts in the main cavern but sadly people were stealing the stalactites so now you only get in by guided tour.They work hard to balance preserving the caves with educating people to the beauties of our world.The roads on the Garden route are superb. It makes exploring the region a joy.There were plenty of spots to stop on the inland route to enjoy the sights. This was on a short side trip through Tradouwpas.Tradouwpas is just south of the town of Barrydale. The winding road is a must if you are ever in this area. It is just off the scenic Route 62.While in Barrydale we checked out the Joseph Barry Distillery. I am not usually a brandy drinker, but this stuff was golden. Fortunately we walked there from our hotel as their idea of samplers is very generous.We wrapped up our 1600km road trip by swinging through Paarl on our way back to Cape Town. You had no trouble understanding why so much wine comes from the region. There were vineyards everywhere.
The trip was an excellent way to finish our time in South Africa. Honestly, the only negative thing I can say about visiting South Africa is it is a long way from everywhere. Otherwise I’d be back every year for a visit. If you have ever considered going, do it. You will not regret your decision.
The depth of beauty that you bring to life is captured elegantly with your photos. You bring a sense of awe and wonderment with your dialogue. Both positive and negative views are felt to be complimentary to the indigenous people’s and their land. You bring forth both excitement and calmness to us the readers. To see the world through your lenses and to hear your voice when I read your words is extraordinary. Thank you
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