Blogs from Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa

What a great day! The sun was shining and Sara felt better after a day of lying in bed ill. We started the day at Monkeyland, which sounds tacky but is in fact a huge reserve housing monkeys rescued from zoos and private owners worldwide. A ranger took us on a guided walk, with the moneys often running up to us. The most numerous were the ring tailed lemurs, so cute with their long ringed tails and big yellow eyes. Several were nursing tiny, very new babies. There was a female gibbon, separated from two newer gibbons that were in a cage for new arrivals, so they can get to know the other residents of the reserve before mixing. They were calling to each other making an astonishing racket. The guide told us the howler monkeys ... read more

This morning we said goodbye to Cape Town. We didn’t see much of the inner city, just the coast and the area we stayed in. As we drove out two things struck me; 1- how beautiful the modern city buildings looked with a mountain backdrop, and 2- how disturbing the difference in economic class is. The kids (and adults) were oohing and ahhing over the Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Porches they saw. And on the same road, homeless people, beggars, and men selling stuff at red lights were abound. On our way out of the city we passed what looked like a refugee camp that continued for miles. Our whale boat tour was cancelled due to the weather so we decided to try and see some for ourselves in Hermanus, a one and a half hour drive. ... read more

Leider heißt es für uns bald "Goodbye Plett", es war sehr schön, es hat uns sehr gefreut... Schön ist eine reine Untertreibung für die wunderschöne Küstenlandschaft und die atemberaubenden Strände hier in der Umgebung. Man kann hier so viele Dinge unternehmen, dass man schon viel länger bleiben müsste, um einen Großteil des Angebots auszuprobieren. Und nein, wir haben ihn nicht gewagt, den Bungee Jump von der höchsten Brücke der Welt (216m)!, Stattdessen haben wir tolle Wanderungen entlang der Küste im Robberg Nature Reserve und im Tsitsikamma National Park unternommen, haben die Elefanten im Knysna Elefantpark gestreichelt und gefüttert, waren zu Gast bei den "Birds of Eden" in einer riesigen Freitluftvoliere, shoppten am Saturday Market in Harkerville, statteten der netten Stadt Knysna einen Besuch ab und genossen die Aussicht auf die tolle Bucht. Vor allem aber verbrachten ... read more

They call it the Garden Route, all the way from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town. I did this drive nearly 10 years ago missing few fun places on the way! This time, we first drive from Addo to Pletenberg in just short of three hours. We would base ourselves in Plettenberg for two nights. I went for a drink at "The Plet" hoping to get some oysters, but they were out of stock. So it would only be a nice Sauvignon Blanc. No "Plet" for us this time, we stay for our two nights in a B&B slash Backpacker with a nice kitchen. I have to admit, so far on this trip, we have raid the supermarkets for pretty amazing food. And yes, the "Plet" didn't qualify, because on this trip...I want a kitchen next to ... read more

I'm speechless .... Today's experience with three African elephants rescued from traps and my girl Tandy who was cast out from her parade as they could not protect her due to poaching of the adults..... Here the ellies are being taught to overcome the traumas and with success, will one day return to life in the wilderness. Here is the video of that experience which I had at The Crags, in Plettenberg Bay, at the Elephant Sanctuary. Just look. There are no words. http://youtu.be/qzkFgZRkU4I... read more