South Africa Escapade 2002


Jan & Yew Meng South Africa Escapade
22^nd to 30^th December ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002
▼click link to access page ▼ Traveling Route Map Day 1 Stellenbosch Gordon's Bay Day 2 Stellenbosch Cape Town V&A Waterfront Topless Bus Day 3 Robben Island Green Market Square Table Mountain Camps Bay Day 4 Hermanus Fernkloof Natures Reserve Day 5 Boetliekop Game Reserve Kynsna Day 6 Kynsna Tsitsikamma Boulkran Bridge Day 7 Plattenberg Bay Storms River (Tsitsikamma) Oudtshoorn Route 62 Mama Africa Day 8 Cape Peninsula Drive Cape Point Day 9 On the way home Useful Links ___________ Tourist Information Cape Town Tourism Cape Town & Western Cape Garden Route Accommodation South Africa Self Tour ___________ Town Information Stellenbosch Gordon's Bay Hermanus Kynsna Plattenberg Bay Oudtshoorn ___________ Places of Interest Table Mountain Robben Island Cape Point Botlierskop Game Reserve Ocean Safari Cape Peninsula National Park Two Ocean Aquarium South Africa National Park Fernkloof Nature Reserve Storms River (Tsitsikamma) Guest House we stayed in ____________ Knorhoek (Stellenbosch) Bergzicht (Cape Town) Baleia de Hermanus (Hermanus) Black Waters River Lodge (Kynsna) Recommended Vineyards ____________ Knorhoek Spier Estate Neethlingshof Simonsig Kanonkop ___________ Recommended Restaurant Eating out at South Africa Fishmonger@Stellenbosch Bientang's Cave Restaurant Ocean Basket Dros Mama Africa Five Flies ___________ @ e-mail us	Day 7 Ocean Safari @ Plettenberg Bay By 7am, we were at Plettenberg Bay for our ocean safari trip. It was a gentle morning and the beach was quiet except for a group of us, who is hoping to catch glimpses of whales, sharks, dolphins and seals. We managed to visit the seal colony at Robberg Island and ragged-tooth sharks at the Storms River mouth. Last minute shopping at Knysna and off we went, heading back to Cape Town via Route 62. Passing by George, we drove along N12 to Oudtshoorn. Oudtshoorn & Route 62 Oudtshoorn is in the center of Little Karoo and is well known for its ostrich farming. The whole journey to Cape Town was superbly scenic, surrounded by Outeniqua Mountains, Little Karoo. Route 62 is also the longest wine route in the world. The road traveled was one long straight road…one could even drive hands-free!! We reached Montagu and saw the signage which says ‘’Avalon Springs’. We detoured to check it out since this is the popular Montagu Springs resort (called the Avalon Springs) which surrounds the town’s famous 43 degree Celsius, mineral springs and alleged to have healing properties. The resort is very exclusive and we made a mental note to stay here if we ever visit again. By the time we arrived at Cape Town, it was already 8pm. Dinner was at an African restaurant called Mama Afrika. There was a long queue before we finally got a table. The wait was entertaining though with the local live band drumming some African sound. We had our first taste of the game here, i.e. crocodile meat. It taste real good too, if you could liken it to eating a muscular chicken or at least that’s how it was to us.	▼click to enlarge image ▼ Seal Colony Stopping by the Seals colony at Robberg Island during our Ocean Safari Tour. Storms River mouth Traveled as far as Storm River during the tour. This is a famous area for Nature lovers. Ragged-tooth shark can been seen at the shallow and crystal clear water. Outeniqua mountains The journey to Oudtshoorn, going thru the breathtaking mountain pass. Ostrich Farm at Oudtshoorn Arriving at Oudtshoorn, the capital of Ostrich farming. Ostrich Farm Safari Ostrich race during the tour. Route 62 About 500 km back to Cape Town. R 62 is a long straight road back home. Long straight road at R62 Excellent road condition together with beautiful views. Won't get bore traveling on the long journey. The mountain pass One of the many Mountain pass along Route 62. A long way to Montagu via R62 Almost reaching the next town. Have to make sure that the fuel tank is full all the time. Crocodile meal Having a taste of the exotic meat for appetizer at Mama Africa. Mama Africa Back to normal meat. Not too adventurous to taste the rest. Day 8 ►

Jan & Yew Meng South Africa Escapade

22^nd to 30^th December ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002

▼click link to access page ▼

Traveling Route Map

Day 1
Stellenbosch
Gordon's Bay

Day 2
Stellenbosch
Cape Town

V&A Waterfront

Topless Bus

Day 3
Robben Island
Green Market Square
Table Mountain
Camps Bay

Day 4
Hermanus
Fernkloof Natures Reserve

Day 5

Boetliekop Game Reserve

Kynsna

Day 6

Kynsna

Tsitsikamma

Boulkran Bridge

Day 7

Plattenberg Bay

Storms River

(Tsitsikamma)

Oudtshoorn

Route 62

Mama Africa

Day 8

Cape Peninsula Drive

Cape Point

Day 9

On the way home

Useful Links

___________

Tourist Information

Cape Town Tourism

Cape Town & Western Cape

Garden Route Accommodation

South Africa Self Tour

___________

Town Information

___________

Places of Interest

Table Mountain

Robben Island

Cape Point

Botlierskop Game Reserve

Ocean Safari

Cape Peninsula National Park

Two Ocean Aquarium

South Africa National Park

Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Storms River (Tsitsikamma)

Guest House we stayed in

____________

Knorhoek (Stellenbosch)

Bergzicht (Cape Town)

Baleia de Hermanus (Hermanus)

Black Waters River Lodge (Kynsna)

Recommended Vineyards

____________

___________

Recommended Restaurant

Eating out at South Africa

Fishmonger@Stellenbosch

Bientang's Cave Restaurant

___________

Day 7

Ocean Safari @ Plettenberg Bay

By 7am, we were at Plettenberg Bay for our ocean safari trip. It was a gentle morning and the beach was quiet except for a group of us, who is hoping to catch glimpses of whales, sharks, dolphins and seals. We managed to visit the seal colony at Robberg Island and ragged-tooth sharks at the Storms River mouth.

Last minute shopping at Knysna and off we went, heading back to Cape Town via Route 62. Passing by George, we drove along N12 to Oudtshoorn.

Oudtshoorn & Route 62

Oudtshoorn is in the center of Little Karoo and is well known for its ostrich farming. The whole journey to Cape Town was superbly scenic, surrounded by Outeniqua Mountains, Little Karoo. Route 62 is also the longest wine route in the world. The road traveled was one long straight road…one could even drive hands-free!! We reached Montagu and saw the signage which says ‘’Avalon Springs’. We detoured to check it out since this is the popular Montagu Springs resort (called the Avalon Springs) which surrounds the town’s famous 43 degree Celsius, mineral springs and alleged to have healing properties. The resort is very exclusive and we made a mental note to stay here if we ever visit again.

By the time we arrived at Cape Town, it was already 8pm. Dinner was at an African restaurant called Mama Afrika. There was a long queue before we finally got a table. The wait was entertaining though with the local live band drumming some African sound. We had our first taste of the game here, i.e. crocodile meat. It taste real good too, if you could liken it to eating a muscular chicken or at least that’s how it was to us.

▼click to enlarge image ▼

Seal Colony
Stopping by the Seals colony at Robberg Island during our Ocean Safari Tour.

Storms River mouth

Traveled as far as Storm River during the tour. This is a famous area for Nature lovers. Ragged-tooth shark can been seen at the shallow and crystal clear water.