Farming in the Eastern Cape

---

After a lovely week spent with Andrew, Ella and the kids, we headed off to visit Craig, Shantelle and Chloé on their farm, Devon Bank, near Indwe in the Eastern Cape.

It was an 8½ hour drive which was uneventful until we reached the town of Aliwal North. We had just crossed the bridge into town when we had to stop as there were two gangs throwing stones at each other across the main road, some the size of ½ bricks. It was quite an intense battle and they seemed to have no regard for the vehicles trying to get through. We waited at a safe distance until hostilities calmed a little and made a run for it. We made it through safely and reported it to the police manning the roadblock on the way out of town. We reached the farm as the sun was setting over the snow capped mountains. The Drakensberg Mountains are a truly magnificent sight.

It was great to see Craig & Shantelle again and meet the new arrival to the Fitzhenry family Chloé Grace. Phil joined Craig on the early morning feeding rounds whilst Laura caught up with Shantelle. Craig and his dad Mike manage roughly 4000 hectares of land with around 500 cattle and 5000 sheep - quite a task, a farmer’s work is never done!

Craig and Phil decided to tackle the Otto Du Plessis pass on the Tuesday. The pass is a dirt road over the mountains and is in a state of disrepair. There were some 60 kph speed limit signs which we found quite funny considering the condition of the road. We managed to get within 100m of the top of the pass before the snow proved too much for our 2 wheel drive bakkie. After several attempts we admitted defeat and walked to the top. The wind was howling so we gulped down our coffee and muffins and headed back to base camp (the farm). We had to reverse quite a long way back down the pass before we found a safe place to turn around.

On Wednesday we set off for the Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth.

---

Photos

Warm welcome
We were welcomed to the farm by some Charolais

Otto du Plessis Pass
Craig and Phil enjoy a cup of coffee at the top of the Otto du Plessis pass

Modern day Pied Piper
The sheep know where their food comes from!

View from Front Garden
This is the view from Craig and Shantelle's gate.

Unnecessary speed limits
The going was pretty tough

End of the Road
After several attempts we had to admit defeat and walk to the top of the pass, so near yet so far.

Comments

[danie]

Otto du plessis pass
Beautiful, mountains, Such tha I also visited regular the area,on holidays!