From Capetown to Sanbona…
Its Monday, and frankly after some wonderful wine last night from the region, ok, a little more than ‘some’ (more like lots) this morning came very quickly. Packed and ready to roll, Newton picks us up right on schedule and we leave Capetown behind us quickly, passing through Paarl and headed into the heart of wine country and perhaps the most majestic mountains I have ever seen. Newton explains the flora in more detail than I will ever comprehend, but we certainly saw Eucalyptus trees similar to those I see in CA. They are from Australia, he explains. And beautiful fynbos, roses, vineyards and even a few palm trees. We pass through the towns of Robertson, certainly built around the wine industry, Worcester, home of the largest brandy distillery in the world. We did not stop, after last night we did not need a tasting, and it was not even 10 am! Scott was a little disappointed perhaps, but he recovered quickly. I learn that we are in an area famous too for rasing race horses and we pass a casino! Turns out that there is a casino in Capetown too, perhaps I will get to check it out when we get back there?
Our 4-wheel drive continued through the kloof (pass) between two mountain ranges and I saw for myself the geology Newton has worked so hard to describe up to this point. The rock (sandstone) is striated like our mountains at home, sort of…these run vertical, or in circles! It seems that when the mountains formed they push the rock from below the ocean floor with such force that the striations take unusual shapes and directions. Its stunning. I am sure my pictures cannot do it justice. We stop for Roibus tea at the Avalon Hotel (and timeshares, I did not take a tour J) and I enjoy the mountains close up, and dip my toes in the natural hot springs. The town, Montague, is stunning, famous for 365 days of sunshine each year. The buildings are all white washed stucco, with beautiful, manicured gardens. It is the home of Montague Dried Fruit (Droevrugca – pronounced dru-a- fructa) where we indulge just a little with a small bag of apricots that called my name. Scott is reminding me of the high sugar content in dried fruit, keeping my from indulging too much! Soon the land turns drier and the fynbos turns to more succulents. We see the occasional ostrich in the fields, but it is certainly less fertile and soon we are turning off the road and heading to our gamepark, Sanbona. (see http://sanbona.com/ for a better vision of it than I can every provide). I am getting very excited to be here, after more than 3 hours driving but it turns out we have a 7 km drive just to arrive at the gate and 19 km to the door of our Khanni Lodge, my home for the next two nights. We see no game along the way, but the wide open spaces must rival Montana’s big sky country.
Tanya and Joann meet us when we drive up, one with cool washcloths, the other with cool drinks. There are only 4 rooms in Khanni Lodge and one other couple visiting from Capetown have arrived just before us, Irene and Herman, who turn out to be delightful. The table for lunch in set outside, next to the pool. Scott has the springbok, Mike and I have the chicken. The food is delicious and beautifully presented. The rooms are spacious and inviting, I am in the lap of luxury for the next two nights. I have a very large room with a sitting area, a patio with an outdoor shower, a huge tub, walk in closet, fireplace…but no connectivity to post this blog all afternoon. L
The ranger, Natasha, is picking us up at 4 for our game drive, but we have time to relax, unpack, sit outside and enjoy the breezes, and book our massages for tomorrow. Then it is time to go explore for Big Game. The reserve is over 130,000 acres, so we will have to go exploring indeed. The lions are wearing radio collars which makes them easier to find we are told, but they are very far away and we are not likely to see them today, perhaps tomorrow instead. We bump along in our land rover, the wind whipping at us in the open vehicle and the scenery is magnificent. Soon we see Springbok and after much searching, down near the water a small herd of Zebra. After what feels like driving in a lot of circles, since the roads are all dirt paths and unmarked we see FOUR elephants in the trees, eating away. Three are young and rather playful, Mom just chows down. Turns out that elephants eat 20 hours a day. I sometimes wish, learning that, that I was an elephant, but only if I get to eat like they feed me here. We come back from our ride freezing, to be handed hot towels, and hot cocoa, then head to our rooms where they have cranked up the heat in our absence and run hot bubble baths. I sink in gratefully for all of 15 minutes before I must rush to dinner. It is almost 8 pm already. Dinner is Karoo Lamb, lamb that eats the herbs and vegetation here in Little Karoo and gains an outstanding flavor from it. Yum. Good conversation, lots of exchanges around technology, first Scotts IPhone, then my Flip Video and Kindle…the South Africa’s have not seen these and they are hooked.
Hopefully, we will share video’s later today.
This morning I will try to post pictures from the Cape Peninsula. It takes forever to upload photos, so they will lag a day or two…sorry for any confusion that creates.
Today I am posting photos of Table Mountain and the boys, Scott, Mike and Kevin with a gorgeous view over the water (Mom, that’s the Jewish neighborhood below, looking a bit like Miami Beach, don’t you think?), the Ostrich that tried to eat me, the baboons and penguins are in these photos and some shots from the Cape National Park of the coast.
There is even one from right under the lighthouse of Scott, Mike and I being buffeted by strong winds.
Its Monday, and frankly after some wonderful wine last night from the region, ok, a little more than ‘some’ (more like lots) this morning came very quickly. Packed and ready to roll, Newton picks us up right on schedule and we leave Capetown behind us quickly, passing through Paarl and headed into the heart of wine country and perhaps the most majestic mountains I have ever seen. Newton explains the flora in more detail than I will ever comprehend, but we certainly saw Eucalyptus trees similar to those I see in CA. They are from Australia, he explains. And beautiful fynbos, roses, vineyards and even a few palm trees. We pass through the towns of Robertson, certainly built around the wine industry, Worcester, home of the largest brandy distillery in the world. We did not stop, after last night we did not need a tasting, and it was not even 10 am! Scott was a little disappointed perhaps, but he recovered quickly. I learn that we are in an area famous too for rasing race horses and we pass a casino! Turns out that there is a casino in Capetown too, perhaps I will get to check it out when we get back there?
Our 4-wheel drive continued through the kloof (pass) between two mountain ranges and I saw for myself the geology Newton has worked so hard to describe up to this point. The rock (sandstone) is striated like our mountains at home, sort of…these run vertical, or in circles! It seems that when the mountains formed they push the rock from below the ocean floor with such force that the striations take unusual shapes and directions. Its stunning. I am sure my pictures cannot do it justice. We stop for Roibus tea at the Avalon Hotel (and timeshares, I did not take a tour J) and I enjoy the mountains close up, and dip my toes in the natural hot springs. The town, Montague, is stunning, famous for 365 days of sunshine each year. The buildings are all white washed stucco, with beautiful, manicured gardens. It is the home of Montague Dried Fruit (Droevrugca – pronounced dru-a- fructa) where we indulge just a little with a small bag of apricots that called my name. Scott is reminding me of the high sugar content in dried fruit, keeping my from indulging too much! Soon the land turns drier and the fynbos turns to more succulents. We see the occasional ostrich in the fields, but it is certainly less fertile and soon we are turning off the road and heading to our gamepark, Sanbona. (see http://sanbona.com/ for a better vision of it than I can every provide). I am getting very excited to be here, after more than 3 hours driving but it turns out we have a 7 km drive just to arrive at the gate and 19 km to the door of our Khanni Lodge, my home for the next two nights. We see no game along the way, but the wide open spaces must rival Montana’s big sky country.
Tanya and Joann meet us when we drive up, one with cool washcloths, the other with cool drinks. There are only 4 rooms in Khanni Lodge and one other couple visiting from Capetown have arrived just before us, Irene and Herman, who turn out to be delightful. The table for lunch in set outside, next to the pool. Scott has the springbok, Mike and I have the chicken. The food is delicious and beautifully presented. The rooms are spacious and inviting, I am in the lap of luxury for the next two nights. I have a very large room with a sitting area, a patio with an outdoor shower, a huge tub, walk in closet, fireplace…but no connectivity to post this blog all afternoon. L
The ranger, Natasha, is picking us up at 4 for our game drive, but we have time to relax, unpack, sit outside and enjoy the breezes, and book our massages for tomorrow. Then it is time to go explore for Big Game. The reserve is over 130,000 acres, so we will have to go exploring indeed. The lions are wearing radio collars which makes them easier to find we are told, but they are very far away and we are not likely to see them today, perhaps tomorrow instead. We bump along in our land rover, the wind whipping at us in the open vehicle and the scenery is magnificent. Soon we see Springbok and after much searching, down near the water a small herd of Zebra. After what feels like driving in a lot of circles, since the roads are all dirt paths and unmarked we see FOUR elephants in the trees, eating away. Three are young and rather playful, Mom just chows down. Turns out that elephants eat 20 hours a day. I sometimes wish, learning that, that I was an elephant, but only if I get to eat like they feed me here. We come back from our ride freezing, to be handed hot towels, and hot cocoa, then head to our rooms where they have cranked up the heat in our absence and run hot bubble baths. I sink in gratefully for all of 15 minutes before I must rush to dinner. It is almost 8 pm already. Dinner is Karoo Lamb, lamb that eats the herbs and vegetation here in Little Karoo and gains an outstanding flavor from it. Yum. Good conversation, lots of exchanges around technology, first Scotts IPhone, then my Flip Video and Kindle…the South Africa’s have not seen these and they are hooked.
Hopefully, we will share video’s later today.
This morning I will try to post pictures from the Cape Peninsula. It takes forever to upload photos, so they will lag a day or two…sorry for any confusion that creates.
Today I am posting photos of Table Mountain and the boys, Scott, Mike and Kevin with a gorgeous view over the water (Mom, that’s the Jewish neighborhood below, looking a bit like Miami Beach, don’t you think?), the Ostrich that tried to eat me, the baboons and penguins are in these photos and some shots from the Cape National Park of the coast.
There is even one from right under the lighthouse of Scott, Mike and I being buffeted by strong winds.
1 comment:
I love your blog and also Mike's. I can't wait to read them each night. I am enjoying your trip by proxy, and am so pleased to have been apart of arranging it.
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