As fitting for someone that has no place to sleep but his car, I offered my services to the 2 Canadians whom had some time left in South Africa after debrief to see some of South Africa. And thus we started what was the road trip.
We started in Witrivier, were I got Danica and Sabra late on 1 December, and we had a look at some sort of planning that was done on where they want to go ect. Problem nr 1 was that we did not have a place to sleep on 2de, but since we were planning to go to the Kruger Park the next day we decided to sleep over at Skukuza in the park and see a bit more of it. So we set out very early the next morning to the park were we got entry and booked our nights stay at the gate. We went in with no real plan but to drive around and be in time to book in at Skukuza. Leaving the gate our first animal we saw was a wild dog that was walking in the road, we took some picture and moved on, only to find out that wild dogs is one of the rarest animals that you can see in the Kruger.
We saw a lot of different kind of antelope that day, and we saw a lot of elephants and buffalo. We did see some hippo and a lot of warthogs that runs around with their tails in the air that gave Danica a few laughs. We also saw a croc sunning itself and a lot of these strange black birds with red that when we booked in saw a poster that said if spotted they need to be reported since they are almost extinct, but we saw them on 3 different occasions. The sad thing is that we saw no cats and other cool animals that day. The next morning we got up early to see if we can spot some cats before we needed to leave. On the way out we saw that some leopards have been spotted in 2 places some distance away that morning, we headed there to see if we can still see some, but when we got close to the first spot we were informed that they and their kill were already gone. We drove past the first spot hoping to be lucky and then did not really know what to do, we thought to turn around and drive back and take 1 side road on the way to the gate, but while we were still undecided we drove past a side road on our right and I was reminded of a random word that Charne sent me a few days earlier that read “when in doubt turn right” so we went right and saw on the map that if we kept turning right we will end up close to the gate also.
So we kept turning right, on the second right we saw some hyenas for the first time, on road 3 we actually saw a leopard sitting next to the road at 10am and then it got up and walked off giving us a perfect view. 5 minutes later we got to see 2 white rhino, and later had 4 buffalo just standing in the road. We saw so much other animals that we did not see the previous day that morning, but unfortunately we did not get to see any lions. We left the Kruger about lunch time and headed to God's window and the Pinnacles near Graskop and saw the views and waterfall there. Then we drove past Pelgrim's Rest and over the Robbers pass and the views were great. We made our way to Christene in Grobelaarsdal where we were greeted warmly.
The next morning we went to a farm that has white and yellow lions, cheetahs, Bengal tigers and a few more animal, we went for a tour and then got to play with 5 11month old lion cubs and a 3 month old tiger cub, it was quite the experience.
From there we hit the road to Fouriesburg via Kwazulu Natal since I saw that if we go via that route we would pass through all 9 providence of South Africa. We got to Fouriesburg quite late but got into Meiringskloof for the night. The next day we went into Lesotho to see if we can get an extension of Sabra's tourist visa, but that did not work, the quick visit to Lesotho was interesting thought. After that we went to Clarence were we spent some time walking around and looking at the stores. Back at the camp site we went hiking up one one the trails to see if we can see a good sunset, but the trail ended a bit fast so we set of over the mountain with no trail to see if we can get a good view, which we did get in the end. Respect for Danica who went without shoes and had to walk barefoot while we went bundu bashing. We wanted to look at some stars but it was to cold, that evening we had our first real team talk and realised that this road trip was just a small journey and that we are team.
The next day saw us moving back up north via Golden Gate to go to Pretoria to go visit Robynne for her bday. That evening we got to see Despicable Me 2 (minions FTW). The next day we went for a nice chill (except when Sabra chased the guinea fowl around) picnic at the botanical gardens meeting up with some more of the Northbound team of the year, Dedre, Ruan and Rayno. We wanted to go bowling that afternoon, but the bowling was closed so we ended up watching Thor 2 in the movies, it was good. That evening we went to stay with my sister in Alberton and had a laugh at Danica who was eating skilpaadjies (sheep liver in fat) without knowing it and liking it and having some more even after we told her what it is. The next morning we set of for the long road to Prieska from there, we had a stop in Stilfontein to see Maryke (also one of the North bounders) and at Kimberly where we went in to see the
Big Hole, it is a big hole, but quite impressive when you think it was dug without machinery over a 40 year period. That evening we slept in a camp site in Prieska through a thunder storm, it was fun. The next morning we were suppose to just drive to Van Wyksvlei the next town over and from there to Tiaan's farm (yes, Tiaan another Northbounder), but due to the rains the road was flooded and my city golf was not going to make it so we had to take a 300km detour that in the end took us through Putsonderwater, at least we can say we went there. We ended in Brandvlei where Tiaan came to pick us up in the bakkie. We spent the day there and ate so much and the late afternoon there was more rain and a beautiful double rainbow, the next morning we went to check on some bushman painting on the farm and after brunch we wet of for Paarl were we spend the night at my aunts. Where having 2 visitors from Canada caused some uncomforted due to language and a lot of joy for me.
The next morning it was off to Cape Town with a quick stop at Fairview farm to taste some cheese, we had a chill day going to Hout Bay and Camps bay for ice cream on the beach. On the way to the backpacker we stopped at Cavendish square and got a bit distracted by a few things. That evening we stayed at a backpacker and had some bible study and some team time. Then next day we went to boulders beach to look at some penguins, Cape point for the view, Blouberg for the classic Table Mountain view (I was just sad the wreck was gone) and a quick tour of the V&A Water front. We stopped for a visit at Rayno and Michelle (friends of mine) to pick up my storage keys and then went up Table mountain to look at the sunset with the cable car due to the sunset special.
The next day was a bit plan less and we went to do exchange some stuff in my storage and then went for milkshakes and then for some sushi where I got to hang out with some of my old co-workers, we chilled a bit in Greenpoint park and stayed that evening in a house of friends of mine that were away for the weekend. The next day was Saturday so we had to go to the Old Biscuit Mill and from there we went to Gabrielskloof wine farm for their summer market and then on to Stilbaai where we met up with Gethe and family that hosted us in Witrivier our start point.
I had a chill morning and breakfast with the family and then a big house cleaning while the 2 Canadians had a late sleep and appeared for the first time that morning once all the cleaning was done (makes you think???). Then we went to Vleesbaai to go visit Lize-Mari (yes you guessed it, another Northbounder) it was fun and relaxing and her father is really funny.
The next day it was back on the road for our last big stretch, from Stilbaai we went and had a stop of at Oudtshoorn to ride some ostriches, and then on too Knysna where we had a look around and finished in J-bay where Sabra had a place waiting for her in the Hub and where Danica and me crashed for the night. We had some ostrich steak that evening, but Danica had some trouble with that. The next morning it was the way to the airport to drop Danica of, but not before we stopped to get some supplies, biltong, a box of Tempos and fizzers and some South African stamps. Danica got booked in at the airport with no trouble and then it was time for goodbyes.
So the road trip ended, after 16 days, 5620 km, all 9 provinces of South Africa and Lesotho...
F