Mar 29, 2013 - Oudtshoorn

Yesterday we travelled over the Outeniqua Pass to the Cango Caves, these are one of the 7 wonders of Africa.They were quite spectacular. We then went to the Ostrich farm which was quite interesting even got to sit on an ostrich put definitely did not want to ride one! Even thou they demonstrated how they raced them. Today after a long drive we arrived in Capetown, Table mountain was clear but it was blowing a 40km/hr gale so the cablecar was shutdown. We went out to a nice thai restaurant in Seapoint tonight. We now have three days to...

Dec 24, 2011 - Cango Caves

Traveling crosscountry by car gave me a chance to see the varying landscape of South Africa. Like America, all different types of ecosystems are represented. I started out in the tropical area around St Lucia, hit an Alpine-type region in Drakensberg, saw the sea coast and then even encountered a very arid region known as the Little Karoo. The Little Karoo is the region around Oudtshoorn and is so named because it's similar to, but smaller in scope, than it's much larger cousin to the north---the Great Karoo. Both of these regions are...

Nov 28, 2010 - Going along the Garden Route......

Next stop on the Garden Route...Oudtshoorn (after three nights there, we are still not pronouncing it correctly in Africaans). It is the ostrich capital of the world. When the feathers were at a premium, many made their millions and then built 'feather palaces' -large mansions. On the drive there, we went up and up and round and round, through the mountain passes that are geological and engineering masterpieces...we were awestruck by the scenery and glad we were not driving, so we could just gawk out the window. We landed at the hostel...

Nov 16, 2010 - Knysna to Oudtshoorn

We arrived in Oudtshoorn early in the afternoon. The drive today took us from Knysna to Oudtshoorn. I'm going to back track a bit because this is one of the few times that I have some time to do some writing. It's 5 PM now and we meet again at 6 for dinner. The guesthouse in Knysna was very nice -- in fact each of the places we have stayed has been nice. Each one a bit different -- some with more "stars" than others but all staffed with efficient, smiling folks. The people in the hospitality industry take their jobs to heart and will do...

Jul 1, 2010 - Into the wild

I awoke at 8:00am to a ghostly mist in front of my face. My breath was materializing right before my thanks to the temperature in the tent. I had to piss like a race horse but my survival instinct kept me from venturing outside the warm cocoon of blankets and sweats. Finally, around 9:15am, the sun came high enough in the sky to warm things up and I was finally free from my icy prison. Already dressed, Romi and I literally rolled out of bed and went to breakfast. No sooner had I digested the hearty homemade omelet than the fun began. First...

Jun 30, 2010 - Up close and purrsonal

People often ask me, “Kelly, what’s it like to be in a cage with an adult cheetah?” I tell them honestly, “I cannot answer that. I have only experienced that situation with 2 adult cheetahs.” The unfamiliar sound of my alarm was met with some serious anger and disorientation as it went off at 7am this morning. After a couple snoozes, I managed to reach a conscious enough state to remember why this rude awakening was at hand. It was the beginning of our 3 day wild life adventure – and I was excited. The six hour drive to the Cango Wildlife...

Jan 7, 2009 - Ostrich Rodeo in Oudtshoorn

Our time in South Africa is running out. We have a return ticket to Athens in two weeks, but we’ve decided that we haven’t had our fill of this amazing country yet. We’ve also had to rethink our original travel plans. We initially planned to return to Athens, and then fly from Athens to anywhere in South America where we would spend the last two months of our trip. We found that it was cheaper to fly return to Athens, then one way to South America then it was to fly one way from Athens to South Africa, and then one way again from South...

Dec 22, 2008 - Great and Little Karoo, Graaff-Reinet, Oudtshoorn

The overnight stay in Kroonstad had been entirely forgettable and we were on our way early for another long day on the road. First along the N1 passing Bloemfontein (SA’s legal capital: that was the prize the Orange Free State obtained for joining the South African Union in 1910, just as Transvaal, now Gauteng, got Pretoria proclaimed as the seat of government), before veering South off the N1 onto the N9 to Graaff-Reinet, where we expect to arrive by the end of the afternoon. Coming over the crest of the hill an oncoming car flashes its...

Sep 7, 2008 - Oudtshoorn

Hello all, Ok...first I have to say that we have all fingers, toes, arms, legs, head, and body in tack...now I will tell you what we have done over the past 2 days... We started off on a drive along the coast set out for a place called Oudtshoorn. Along the way we saw...wild Baboons!!!! That's right there are just hanging out along the road side. They can get quite agressive so we didn't venture out of the vehicle. Our guide thought we were nuts for how crazy we got when we saw them. Then...we went to an Ostrich farm. They are farmed just...

Jul 22, 2008 - Best day so far!!!!

Ahhhhh where to begin!! Ok I'll begin with the brecko at 7.30am! We had Ostrich bacon and scrambled Ostrich eggs. Spot the theme here!!! Anyway the plan for today was to get driven to Cango Caves, then droppped off at a Tea Room/garden thing, and then cycle 12k back stopping off at the Ostrich Farm and the Cango Wildlife Ranch. Cango Caves where really cool. We opted for the normal tour rather than the 'Adventure' tour (which involves squeezing through a 27cm hole. I think I'd still be there now if we'd tried that one!!!! Anyway see the...

Jul 21, 2008 - Moved up the coast to Oudtshoorn

We left Mossel Bay this afternoon. Just before we left a nice couple staying at the lodge was giving us horror stories about Thailand and stuff which was nice. They did give me a Peter Kay book which took my mind off of Thailand though!! We travelled up to a place called George which is a 45 minute drive up the coast from Mossel Bay and then we had to catch a connecting shuttle bus from here for an hours drive inland to Oudtshoorn. It was all going swimmingly until the trailer on the back of the Bus blew a tire. So we should pull over...

Jun 13, 2008 - Oudtshoorn

Up..got the rental car, an Opel Corsa Lite(GM) & headed out for Hermanus where we lucked into 3 whales!! It's just the beginning of migration/calving season but a local fellow said these were the first sighted...very close to shore, so we didn't see Table Mtn. or Robben's Is. in the Cape but were very fortunate here! As we walked back to the car what should cross our path and begin to munch on the garden greenery but a Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis) or Dassie as they call them in S. Afr. (a Rabbit as locals call them), the small S.Afr...