After being one month in the Netherlands, we took the 7th of April a plane from Amsterdam to Cape Town for the second part of our travel. It was quite hard to say goodbye, since we really enjoyed this month back home. It was so special to spend time with friends and family, so see everyone again after being away for four months. And now we had to say 'goodbye' again, and this time we don't know really for how long. Well, we'll be back in October for the wedding of Wout & Daphne, that's for sure! :-) Our friends even arranged a surprise dinner for us, which was absolutely great!
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| Surprise dinner in Tilburg! |
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| Goodbye at Schiphol Airport |
We flew with Qatar, which proved to be an excellent choice! Their service, the food, the leg space, everything was super! And they were one of the cheapest options for us, since we booked a one-way ticket. We had a stopover in Doha, and after 17 hours of traveling we arrived in Cape Town.
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| Our plane |
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| In the plane to Doha |
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| Arriving in Cape Town |
We started our trip in a lovely Airbnb in Cape Town. We stayed in the area called Green Point, right in the middle of the city. We really loved it here and was a great start of our new adventure.
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| Our Airbnb room in Cape Town |
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| Entrance of our Airbnb |
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| Exploring Cape Town (still little bit tired from the flight) |
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| On our way to V&A Waterfront |
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| Sun is setting |
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| V&A Waterfront |
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| Having a drink at the Waterfront |
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| Waterfront |
The second day in Cape Town we first visited the Bo-Kaap area, which is well known for the nicely painted houses. Free slaves started to settle in this neighborhood in the 1930s. We had lunch in Batavia, a lovely cafe in this area.
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| Bo-Kaap |
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| Nice houses at Bo-Kaap |
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| Bo-Kaap with Table Mountain in the back |
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| Nice view! |
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| Typical houses |
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| Having lunch |
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| Batavia cafe |
Afterwards, we walked to the Company's Gardens: a great place to relax. In the afternoon we also went to the Sea Point Promenade for a walk along the coastline, and we enjoyed a nice coffee in one of the trendy cafe's of Cape Town.
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| Beautiful maintained buildings |
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| Company's Gardens |
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| Children playing in the natural pool |
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| Enjoying a walk at the Sea Point Promenade |
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| Having a coffee |
In the night, we visited Evelyn of the organization
Divine Caring Hands. She is a very powerful lady and it was very inspiring to talk to her about her drive, passion and willingness to help women to improve their lives.
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| Visiting Evelyne of Divine Caring Hands |
The next day we took the cable car up to Table Mountain. We were very lucky, because it was a beautiful day with clear views. Our expectations were not so high, since we expected many tourists, but it was really nice up the mountain. The views were amazing! We walked around and enjoyed the scenery.
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| At the cable car station |
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| Taking the cable car |
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| Beautiful views |
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| Overlooking the mountain |
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| Great place to enjoy the view ;-) |
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| The weather was great! |
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| Very nice! |
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| At the other side of Table Mountain |
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| Just enjoying the silence and view |
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| Amazing views over Cape Town |
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| Cable car coming up |
In January 2008, I was in South Africa as well, to join a summer school about human rights law at Potchefstroom University. It was a collaboration with Tilburg University. I met Muller Lourens there and over the years we kept in touch via Facebook. I wrote him a message when we arrived in Cape Town and on Sunday afternoon we met. It was great to see each other again! He and his lovely wife Hanre picked us up from the cable car station and we spend a lovely afternoon together. We first went to a beach (Sandy Bay), then he took us to Hout Bay Harbour for fish and chips, after which we went to Groot Constantia for wine tasting. After we tried five different types of wine, we drove to the Rhodes memorial and to Lion's Head for beautiful views over Cape Town.
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| View on Table Mountain from the other side |
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| Sandy Beach |
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| The water was so cold!! |
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| Hout Bay Harbour |
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| Fish and chips at Hout Bay |
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| Groot Constantia Winery |
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| Beautiful architecture ;-) |
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| Nice atmosphere! |
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| Wynverkope & proe |
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| Wine tasting |
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| Rhodes Memorial |
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| Group picture :-) |
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| Cape Town by night |
Monday morning the 11th of April we were very excited, because it was time to collect our 4x4! At 9am we were picked up by our Airbnb by the rental company. We could not wait to start our road trip in Africa! :-) The map below shows the road we have travelled the past 10 days.
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| Our route the past 10 days |
After the paperwork and instructions were done, we were on the road again! We decided to drive to Hout Bay and take the Chapman's Peak Drive to Noordhoek. It was an absolutely amazing road and a great start of our road trip. According to the lonely planet it is "one of the most spectecular stretches of coastal highway in the world." We couldn't agree more!
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| Collecting our Nissan 4x4 |
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| We're on the road!! |
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| Hout Bay |
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| Chapman's Peak Drive |
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| Noordhoek |
Afterwards, we headed to Cape of Good Hope at the Southern Peninsula. We made a short stop at Boulders, where we saw African penguins paddling along the beach.
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| African penguins |
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| Penguins coming out of the water |
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| So funny animals! |
After this stop we drove to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, a beautiful place. Of course we also made a picture at the Kaap.
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| Beautiful views |
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| Rough nature |
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| Kaap die Goeie Hoop |
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| One of the bays at Cape of Good Hope |
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| On our way out of Cape Town |
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| View on Table Mountain from our camp site |
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| First night camping |
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| Good morning! |
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| On the road! |
The next day we drove to Stellenbosch, an elegant and historical town with a very nice atmosphere. We had lunch in one of the nice coffee shops and made a short walk in the town.
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| Cool cafe's everywhere |
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| Church in Stellenbosch |
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| It's an elegant town |
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| Nice buildings |
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| Just loved the atmosphere |
From Stellenbosch, we took Route 44: a scenic coastal drive from Strand to Hermanus. We really enjoyed the drive and decided to camp in a place called Onrus.
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| So much fun driving this road |
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| Beautiful! |
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| Amazing beach |
When we were putting up the tent at the camp site in Onrus, a red car with four people passed by. When they turned around, I saw that it was a friend from Israel. I walked to the car and I asked him: "Tomer, is it you?" I couldn't believe it. I knew that he was traveling with his wife Kiki in Africa, but I had no idea he was in South Africa, let alone in this tiny village Onrus, and at the same camp site!!! I really couldn't believe it. It was great to see them both, as well as Arik and Gabrielle. We made a camp fire and had a great time.
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| We couldn't believe it: such a miracle! |
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| Calling our friend Ophir |
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| Having a good time at the fire |
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| Morning coffee with Tomtom at the camp site |
The next day we had a lazy morning, we relaxed, had a coffee and then continued driving on scenic Route 44 to Hermanus. Via Stanford and Bredasdorp we drove to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans collide. Tomtom, Kiki, Arik and Gabri came to the same camp site and we cooked dinner together. We really enjoyed spending time together!
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| Amazing road: Route 44 |
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| So much freedom with the 4x4 |
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| Picnic along the road |
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| I love to drive this car |
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| Sun is setting |
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| Monument at Cape Agulhas |
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| Mees suidelike punt van die vasteland van afrika |
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| Southernmost tip of the African continent |
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| Cooking dinner together |
The next day we drove to Bontebok National Park for a small game drive, where we saw the first animals! We saw the bontebok (of course!) :), cape mountain zebra's and grey rhebuck. It was great fun to drive around. In the afternoon we drove to Wilderness, where our Israeli friends already found a very nice camp site. In the night, we went out for dinner.
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| Driving around in the National Park |
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| Making a short hike |
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| Watching birds |
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| There they are! |
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| Bontebok |
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| On safari :-) |
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| Another bontebok |
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| Watching the bontebok (see previous pic) |
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| Entrance of Bontebok National Park |
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| Going out for dinner |
The next day we had a very lazy morning, and we made a breakfast picnic with the six of us. It was amazing!
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| Tomtom and Kiki making breakfast |
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| Arik making the eggs |
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| Such a nice picnic spot |
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| Tadaa!! :-) |
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| Before - after |
After this amazing breakfast we needed to burn a few calories and we made a hike in Garden Route National Park. We bought a permit to hike to Half Collared Kingfisher Trail, a beautiful hike to a waterfall. Halfway, we had to cross the river with a small pontoon. In the night, we went with the six of us to the market in Wilderness, where we had a beer and dinner together. We decided to stay at the same camp site in Wilderness for two nights, because it was such a great spot.
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| Start of the trail |
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| Nice hike |
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| Crossing the river |
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| Nice valley |
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| Large part of the hike was a boardwalk |
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| Cool rocks |
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| End of the trail |
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| Waterfall |
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| In the car with the six of us to the night market |
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| Sunrise at the lake of our camp site |
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| Our camp at Wilderness |
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| Knysna |
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| Knysna |
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| Having a picnic before our hike |
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| No comment ;-) |
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| Beautiful forest |
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| Stepping stones |
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| Enjoying our time together |
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| Olifant-wandelpad |
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| Big tree |
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| The tree is 600+ years old |
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| the tree is 46 meters high |
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| Driving the Prince Alfred's Pass |
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| Going up the mountain to the Spitskop peak |
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| Beautiful views, and again so lucky with the weather! |
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| Amazing! |
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| So much freedom! |
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| Going down the 4x4 track again |
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| He's so happy :-) |
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| Amazing track |
After the lookout point, we drove to Plattenberg Bay, where Tomtom, Kiki, Arik and Gabri found an amazing camp site with beautiful views. We decided to make a braai (barbecue) together and we had another great night!
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| Plattenberg Bay |
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| Us being happy :-) |
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| Making a barbecue on the camp site |
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| Braai |
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| Kiki making mashed potatoes |
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| Erik en tomtom preparing the meat |
The next day we drove to Nature's Valley. Unfortunately, the weather was not so good. It was cloudy, foggy and rainy. We had a quick picnic next to a lake and then we drove to Wild Spirit Backpackers, which was an amazing place . The atmosphere, the people (mostly hippies), the camp site, the tree house, the view from the restaurant, the fire places, everything was just so cool.
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| Driving at Nature's Valley |
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| Quick picnic before it starts to rain again |
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| Short walk on the beach |
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| The water was freezing cold |
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| Coastline at Nature's Valley |
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| Bush camp at Wild Spirit Backpackers |
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| Our car with the roof top tent at the left |
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| Just love this place |
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| Bar / reception at Wild Spirit Backpackers |
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| The atmosphere was amazing |
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| They also served dinner during the night |
The next day the weather was much better and we rented two mountainbikes for the day. We cycled to Nature's Valley, bought some food for our picnic and continued cycling in the Tsitsikamma National Park to the Bloukrans Pass. This road is closed for traffic, but was very nice to cycle. We stopped at a spot where we could see the Bloukrans Bridge, and watched people from a big distance who were bungee jumping from this bridge. It seemed quite scary, but we both got very excited! Then we drove back to another bridge in the valley and had our picnic, before we headed back to our backpackers. We cycled in total 50 km, and this included climbing three peaks. We were both quite tired when we arrived back at our camp site, but felt really satisfied. It was a nice workout!
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| Going down to Nature's Valley |
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| Checking out the beach |
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| What we spotted on the way |
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| Climbed the first peak! |
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| Beautiful views! |
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| Climbing the second peak |
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| Lowest point: the bridge in the Bloukrans Pass |
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| Climbing further up |
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| The Bloukrans bridge |
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| Back at the bridge |
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| Enjoying our picnic |
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| And back at the first peak |
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| Baboons on the road |
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| Almost back at the backpackers: final peak |
The next day, the 19th of April, we drove after our breakfast to the Bloukrans Bridge for the bungee jump! We both decided that we would like to do it. It is the highest bungee from a bridge in the world (216 meters). Of course it was very exciting, but at the same time so much fun to do it! Tomtom, Kiki, Arik and Gabri were watching us (and made amazing pictures), which made it extra fun!
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| Bloukrans Bridge |
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| Getting ready |
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| Instructions |
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| Walking underneath the bridge |
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| View down from the bridge |
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| More instructions |
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| Getting very excited! |
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| Getting ready |
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| High five! |
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| Getting to the edge... |
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| ...three - two - one ... |
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| ...and jump! |
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| And there I go! |
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| Such a great experience! |
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| And now it's time for Erik to jump! |
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| Getting ready... |
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| ...three - two - one... |
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| ...and go! |
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| Superman! |
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| So much fun! |
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| Scary but a great experience |
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| So much adrenaline! |
After this crazy and exciting morning we drove to Storms River Mouth, where we had lunch in a restaurant with an amazing view. Then we made a short hike to a 77m-long suspension bridge, after which we drove to Jeffrey's Bay. On the way we stopped to watch the nice sunset along the road.
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| Storms River National Park |
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| Having lunch |
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| Storms River NP |
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| Nice coastal line |
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| The suspension bridge |
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| A bit wobbly but nice! |
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| Still full of adrenaline |
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| Nice views |
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| Beautiful sunset |
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| Watching the sunset |
The next morning we left Jeffrey's Bay early morning. After some shopping in the supermarket we drove to Port Elizabeth, where we stopped on the beach for a morning coffee with a scone. :-) Afterwards, we continued our drive all the way to Hogsback, a beautiful drive into the mountains.
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| Morning coffee in Port Elizabeth beach |
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| Coffee and scones: yammie! |
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| On our way to Hogsback |
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| So much fun to drive in the mountains |
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| Beautiful roads |
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| Road close to Hogsback |
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| Village close to Hogsback |
In Hogsback, we stayed in a backpackers called 'Away with the Fairies', a beautiful place in the mountains that feels magical. In the morning, we made breakfast and ate it from the view point, what an amazing scenery! Another great thing about this place is that they have a bath outside, where you can enjoy the sunset as well as the moon rise. The water is made warm with a fire: how romantic! :-p Erik was making a big fire for the water to be hot, and I enjoyed the views in the bath.
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| Having breakfast |
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| Simple, but so delicious! |
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| Amazing view |
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| The bath |
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| Sun was setting |
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| Making a fire to heat up the water |
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| Fire is going well ;-) |
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| Oh yeah, time for a bath! |
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| How cool is this? :-) |
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| The moon gave so much light! |
With this amazing/relaxing experience we finalize this blog post. I hope it gives you an idea of how much we enjoy ourselves. ;-) We really like our 4x4, the car is amazing and camping here is much more luxurious compared to our roadtrip in Australia with the roof top tent (we sleep like roses) and a fridge!
Our plan is to travel up north to the border of Namibia in the upcoming days. Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to our Israeli friends tomorrow, since they head back to Cape Town for the African Burn. However, we really had a great time with the six of us and I am sure that we'll miss you guys!
We'll keep you updated.
Big hugs and kisses,
Erik & Annemarie
Lieve Annemarie en Erik,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWauw, wat hebben jullie alweer VEEL meegemaakt! Geweldig! Geniet samen volop!
Veel liefs, Lotte