Blogs from Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Africa - page 3

We spent the first day of our road trip travelling from Johannesburg to Durban. (Lots of not so interesting driving). There had been a lot of rain so the Free State was much greener and prettier than usual. We stopped at Howick to look at the waterfall which was fuller than I’ve ever seen it. We arrived in Durban around lunch time and explored the city a bit. Durban is situated in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa. We saw the stadium which is being built for the 2010 soccer world cup and then dipped our feet in the sea for the first time on our trip. The sea is very warm on the Eastern side of the country. We also had a drink at the waterfront before heading back to our host’s house. Our ... read more

I’d hoped for a sunny morning to enjoy Chintsa’s beach one last time before getting on the bus at noon. But no luck. Cloudy and cool. I sat on my dorm porch once more and finished my knitting to leave behind for part of the blanket for AIDS orphans. Then there was a free breakfast today (!!!) which I happily enjoyed on a porch with an even more incredible view. I decided on a final beach stroll to take some pictures and savour the sight. It was lovely until it rained - all blowing from one direction so my front was soaked and my back was dry. A little bit of hanging out with Jen, Kevin and Sander and then the bus arrived. So goodbye to Chintsa. It has been an incredible 3 days. Leaving, I ... read more

Coffee Bay ist ein Phaenomen... Am unberuehrtesten Punkt in Suedafrika, der Wild Coast, gelegen, aber ueberfuellt bis zum Aeussersten. Ein Geheimtip unter Backpackern... so geheim und so beliebt, dass es schon Pflicht ist. Klingt komisch, is aber so. Der Bus passiert das Haus von dem grossen schwarzen Mann sowie sein Dorf in dem er gross geworden ist. Der gemeine Weisse nennt ihn Mandela. Jeder Schwarze nennt ihn hochachtungsvoll 'Mister Nelson Mandela'... ohne Ausnahme. Er hatte ja jetzt auch Geburtstag... 90 Jahre. Ich glaube, ich kann mich in die gefaherlichsten Gegenden der Grossstadt begeben. Solange ich mein Mandela Shirt trage, wird mir nicht viel passieren. Man wird von der Haltestelle des Baz Bus abgeholt, um dann mit einem Minibustaxi (Motto einer geht immer noch) zum Hostel an die Kueste gebracht zu werden. Kuehe und Ziegen auf der ... read more

EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS! MORE PHOTOS HERE Several people have recommended that I go stay at the Bulungula Lodge, on the Wild Coast, as it is said to be the most beautiful stretch of coast in the country. I believe them. But man, do you have to deserve it! Eight hours on the bus from Port Elizabeth, followed by two and a half hours of dirt road, the last half hour of which would probably be covered faster on foot, as it can no longer really be called a road, dirt or not... The driver is the sweetest old man, even though I can barely understand what he tells me--except that I should "be taken by a South African man to be his wife," and that it's God's present to have 10 children. Heaven forbids--please!!! When ... read more

After the Drakensberg, I moved on to Coffee Bay where I met up with Jess, Tracie, and Kerry. Coffee Bay is in an area of South Africa known as the Transkei Wild Coast. The rural region lives up to its name, and I loved how different it was than anywhere else I’ve been. The landscape was dotted with round mud huts, most a blue/green color. And we had little kids lining the road as we passed to wave at us. Most tourists in South Africa look out for the Big 5 - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and cape buffalo. Here they have the Transkei Big 5 - cow, goat, pig, sheep, and donkey. On our drive from the bus stop to the Coffee Shack (our hostel), we had to slow down for every one of these ... read more