Blogs from Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa - page 2

Monday 16th February - travel to Oudtshoorn. If you haven't got it by now - I guess it's best to add a few thoughts and observations at this point .... Route 62 is the old route through Africa.... Not so easy as there would have been no cars or lorries just carts with horses - but mainly ox and carts! It would have been a rough time. The topography would have been amazing - trying to find the least 'tough route' through the mountains but at the same time finding the best direct route.... Have no idea how they did that, but then the Romans did it in the UK and Europe so I guess there is a precedence ! Enough of that: It had been interesting travelling through the Little Karoo and then the mountains ... read more

Geo: -33.5928, 22.2025It's not often the invention of the automobile, womens fashions, and ostriches find themselves in the same conversation. And even more unlikely that Oudtshoorn South Africa would be the epicentre of this unlikely collision. During the mid-1860s Oudtshoorn experienced a boom time and the main reason for the surge in prosperity was the ostrich, whose feathers had become fashionable accessories among my Princess'ancestors in the European nobility. Feather exports saw a sharp increase from the Cape Colony and between 1875 and 1880, ostrich prices reached up to $1,600 a pair. The value of ostrich feathers, per pound, almost equaled that of diamonds. The farmers of the region, realising that ostriches were far more profitable than any other activity, ripped out their other crops and planted lucerne, which was used as feed for the ostriches. ... read more

Dag 6 Swellendam - Oudtshoorn Een keer uitslapen is ook niet verkeerd, dus vanochtend om 8.30 ;-) opgestaan. Er is vannacht een behoorlijke wind opgestoken en wanneer we naar het ontbijtgebouwtje lopen waaien we dan ook bijna uit onze kleren. Maar het is droog en dat is het belangrijkste. Het ontbijt is wederom heerlijk, wat een verwennerij. We pakken ieder een croissantje of wat yoghurt met muesli, kopje thee of chocomelk erbij, waar na de bediening komt vragen hoe we ons eitje willen. O, krijgen we nog meer dan!? Alles is mogelijk; van tomaatjes en champignons, tot bacon en worstjes, je zegt het maar en het wordt geserveerd. En wat een vriendelijkheid, daar kunnen wij echt nog wat van leren in Nederland. En een cappuccino toe is ook geen enkel probleem. Na een uur kunnen we ... read more

Oudtshoorn to Knysna (127 km or 77 miles)—Monday, March 3rd. Rainy and overcast today. The whole group left the park basically together as we needed to be at the Cango Caves at the same time for a tour there. Climbed straight up and then up some more for about 27 km. The Cango Caves were formed 20 million years ago by acidic ground water chemically eroding the limestone rock forming the rooms. The stalactites and stalagmites started growing in the rooms when the water drained away the same way they formed in Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Here the opening was large enough that the caves were used for shelter by ancient peoples, but were only historically described in 1780 by Dutch settlers. We assembled in an entrance hall while tickets were purchased and then walk ... read more

Geo: -33.5928, 22.2025All I want to do is STOP! What I mean to say is, on the day-to-day level I just want to stay in one nice place for no less than three nights – one bed, no packing up, a day of taking stock, getting laundry done, repacking and doing whatever else I feel like doing. On the larger level, it means going home – not right away but darned soon. As of April 12, we are 4 weeks away from returning home; every day I make myself focus on enjoying whatever I am doing yet constantly in the background, my mind is doing the countdown…27 days, 26 days, etc. Jim says he could continue travelling endlessly. This brings me to a piece of information passed onto us during our meerkat adventure (I'll tell you ... read more