South Africa – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabie Sands Reserve

We left Graskop today and headed north back to God’s Window for a look here. The security guy was still about but no need to pay today so in we went and looked around to see the view. The view was great, although a little breeze at times but as usual the sun was out and it was all good.

We then called in at Mac Mac Falls and the Potholes – no nothing to do with disrepair of the road – these were rock formations that had been carved out by the water running along the creek / river and over the falls. the movement of the water had created little swirls in the rocks. Very nice to look at.

From here we basically hit the road all the way up to Sabie Sands and the Elephant Plains Lodge. The roads weren’t too bad and I think that while we didn’t get lost exactly, it did take a little longer than it perhaps should have. Having said that it may have had something to do with the last 25kms of road and the fact we were in a little Toyota Yaris that didn’t really handle the bumps in the gravel / dirt / sand road too well. There was also the massive speed humps on the tar road in the 80km zone too!

Estee hadn’t driven on gravel roads too much so that was an interesting feeling for her, especially when the sand arrived and it made the car move a round a little more than what she was used to. But she did well and got us to the lodge.

When we arrived, we looked at the accommodation and Estee was over the moon. Better than what she was expecting I think. The room – a rondavel – had a thatched roof and brick walls. and then the bathroom was really big. Huge. With a spa type bath and a big shower. Lots of room in the whole place.

Once unpacked we got lunch and that was great before we left to go out and see what wildlife we could shoot (with our camera). It was brilliant, we got to see all sorts of animals big and small.

Over the next three days we managed to see all sorts of things. There were Leopards, Impala, Hyena, Lions and of course Elephants as we were staying at Elephants Plains after all! And when we weren’t out hunting the animals were laying back keeping out of the heat or eating – what more could you want?

Estee took advantage of the health spa by getting a massage and she throughly enjoyed it. She came out of the place walking like a zombie before falling to sleep straight away. So that was Estee out of it until lunch time.

More pictures of Elephant Plains Lodge and South Africa.

South Africa – Graskop

We drove to Graskop today on the way to Elephant Plains Game Lodge. It wasn’t an extremely long drive but it was about 250kms or so on some of the straightest roads. But then there were some that were a bit windy and up and down too.

The most amazing thing was the size of some of the potholes and not the potholes that we were going to see tomorrow! you could loose a car down some of them and if not the car the front suspension.

Along the road we stopped at a place called Millie’s. It was just a little place that you could stop and refuel the car and yourself. It was a nice place. A little lake / dam by the side of the road with some carp in it. It should have had trout too but I didn’t see any swim past. We had some lunch there being of trout that should have been from the lake / dam and it wasn’t too bad at all. Nicely smoked.

After that, back on the road to Graskop where we staying for the night. The drive beyond here got a little more interesting with more bends in the road and some long climbs and descents. Would be the place to practice your hill climbing on the push bike let me tell you. On one hill we got behind a truck that was going down the hill. It’s brakes were smoking and I mean that literally. we got past it but it would surprise me at all if his brakes failed or that caught on fire they were that bad.

Arrived in Graskop mid afternnon so we had a quick afternoon nibble at Harry’s Pancakes and then went for a drive to “God’s Window”. When we got there the security guy said that the area was closed BUT if we gave him some money he would let us in and look after our car while we looked around. We decided against this as it was just promoting what South Africa is trying to get rid of. So we went on a little further and just took some pictures of the scenery from the side of the road then headed back to Graskop.

We had dinner at a restaurant across for the hotel we stayed at. It specialized in Mozambican cuisine. It was a nice dinner too. we had a seafood platter between us and that was nice with some very nice flavours.

More Pictures of Graskop and South Africa

South Africa – Cape Town

While in South Africa, we went down to Cape Town to see the sites around there.

Cape Town was totally different to Pretoria. It was a little like Sydney in that it was near the water and the sun was out with the people being fairly relaxed and hospitable. Yeah I know some will say that Sydney is not like that but on the main I think it is.

We went around the cape and along some of the roads that the Argus. Might have to come back and do the Argus I thin. Mind you some of the roads are a bit of a climb but non the less something that should be done I think. Especially if the weather is like it was every year.

The scenary was great, around the course and we even got to see some of the other wildlife – penguins! Yes penguins were seen in Simons Town. Just a few of them not like the scale on Phillip Island in Australia but still not too bad.

Table Mountain was alsoa spectacular place to go too. this is for a few reasons.

1. The cable car ride to the top. It takes you up to a height of 1067m. Not a bad view from that height let me tell you.
2. The clouds rolling off the top of the mountain gives and amazing felling of walking on the clouds.
3. I got to see everal cyclists ride from Cape Town centre up to the start of the Cable Car and a little beyond. It would be an amazing climb on the bike.

Estee asked if I wanted to take the bike while I would have enjoyed the ride around some of the places, I think it would not have been worth the hassle of getting it all on the plane for a few days riding. But the bike will go there one day!

More pictures of Cape Town and South Africa.