World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
Pages:
About | Countries | Tours | Trips | Bucket List – Done | Bucket List – To Do | Airport Lounges | Flight History
Travel Categories:
Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27
Saturday 22 April 2006
Highlights: Visiting Robben Island, our guides personal stories and insight, tasty Springbok
Today marked the 2nd last day in South Africa and the first since the tour ended. I ended up going to Robben Island during the day with my new friend from Belgium Inge. The ride over was very rough and takes about 35 minutes. On the island we saw the sites of the former leper colony, the army outpost (during World War 2) and finally the normal and political prisons.
Friday 21 April 2006
Highlights: Crime in Cape Town, Final dinner, the amazing Karoo Lamb
We finished the tour with some wine tasting, I got extras from my table but the other group’ seemed very happy with the offerings 🙂 After the tour had officially ended we arranged for one final dinner together and I had the Karoo lamb which was sensational.
Unfortunately Roger was robbed at knife point near his new accommodation, not a good way to end the tour 😦 Luckily Roger escaped without any harm to himself.
Thursday 20 April 2006
Highlights: Hout Bay, African Penguins, Table Top Mountain
On our last full day together we headed off to Hout Bay and ended up walking up to a lighthouse that was so high it didn’t really save many ships (I think 20 odd crashed nearby). Jacko & Marjia both run down to the beach again and I’m informed that the ocean is extremely cold. We also went and visited the Penguins (African). The Penguins have really grown in number of the years and these ones pick one mate and stay loyal for life (so they better hope a shark doesn’t strike).
Wednesday 19 April 2006
Highlights: Sand Dune fun, Cape Point (meeting point for Indian & Atlantic Oceans)
We started the day with lots of fun on the sand dunes in De Hoop Nature Reserve. This only proved that some of us are still big kids. I even run down the dunes at one point and just managed not to fall down head first.
We continued on the Whale Route and came across some beautiful coastline. Eventually we came to Cape Point the exact point that the Indian & Atlantic Oceans meet and the southernmost point of this country. I can tell you that the water is very cold around this area despite the good weather.
On the way into Cape Town we also come across a shanty town like Joh-burg however this one had electricity running into it legally so it appears things are better here.
Tuesday 18 April 2006
Highlights: Exploring Knysna Bay by boat
So people had to recover from their drinking sessions last night, we finished off last night designing our tour shirts, which we picked up later in the day (very good if I do say so myself). We again visited the town of Knysna but this time we went out in a boat to the head of the bay. Unfortunately we couldn’t go out to sea as it was too rough however that meant we got some good action even instead the bay.
No insurance company will insure boats entering this bay (about 8 wrecks from memory). After this we headed off to De Hoop Nature Reserve. Having the need for fire I don’t think the staff of the reserve will be happy with our solution for a lack of fire wood however it kept us all warm 🙂
Monday 17 April 2006
Highlights: I did a crazy Bungee Jump!!!
Well today I proved I could jump to my death by leaping (or falling) from a bridge 216 metres of the ground. On a very wet day we headed out for a chance to jump. Chickening out we all thought it was too wet how the brave German Joern decided to go for it. While we eat lunch he went across to the bridge with 20 other people. Eventually shame got the best of me and I said ‘I’m doing this’ a little louder than I intended.
Sunday 16 April 2006
Highlights: Graaff-Reinet Town Visit, the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains
Today we set off for Knysna. Our first stopped off at Graaff-Reinet to see a local Africana Museum. Inge & Marjia both commented on how ugly the women appeared to be in the photos.
Graaff-Reinet is one of the oldest town in South Africa and the local church dominates the area (like most South African towns actually).
From here we went to through the Outeniqua Mountains which as usual are magnificent.
Saturday 15 April 2006
Highlights: Two hour hike in Karoo
At our Karoo farm stay they have lots of the wildlife roaming around with very few fences. We then we went on a brief 2 hour hike around the Karoo farm. The landscape is stunning; it’s hard to believe that it has snowed in this area.
We enjoyed probably our best weather but with no pool we just let the sun do its thing. Some in our group decided to go on an extra hike; I started but after 30 minutes found myself back on the grassed area in front of the main house.
I should mention I won at Trivial Pursuit, however the South African version helped me a great deal i.e. lots of cricket questions 🙂
BTW apparently Karoo lamb doesn’t need herbs as that is all they eat here so they are naturally herbed!
Friday 14 April 2006.
Highlights: Helen Martins Owl House
We had a very long drive to Karoo today but that meant a chance to see the amazing landscape.
Most notable event today was visiting the “Owl House”. Helen Martins created these figures in her house after living a very lonely life, kind of creepy really. Outside the house some local Africans danced in traditional dress for tour it’s and Jan almost bought a wire copy of the Drifters truck.
We got into Karoo late in the day; it is a semi desert area.
Thursday 13 April 2006
Highlights: Bushman paintings
Walking most of the way to our truck (the 4X4 picked us up near the end) was probably a good way to recover from the hike from yesterday. The major thing today was seeing Bushman paintings at Ladyband and putting some of our group in jail at the same time!!
Niels who was a little sunburned from yesterday’s walk proved he is very tough by getting into the very cold swimming pool, we all watched from a distance in awe. I also don’t believe I’ll stay in a better room during my entire trip (this was not a Drifter’s property).
