From Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and everything in between.
GARDEN ROUTE TOUR WITH RABINOWITZ FAMILY 23RD AUGUST 2016
Due to a mix up in bookings I receive a late call to collect the Rabinowitz family at the airport at 8pm on Tuesday evening. They have a Hyundai H1 manual shift.
We load the baggage into the vehicle and leave for Storms River. It is a clear evening and I take a slow drive (100 - 110kmph). We make no stops en route as the family is sleeping and no need to wake anyone.
We arrive at the Storms River Mouth (TsiTsikamma Nature Reserve) at 11pm and check in. The bungalow is a Guest House near to the Shops. It has Four double rooms and they generously offer for me to stay with them. Otherwise I would have to drive back to the village and find a room in the Inn.
For me I am straight to bed. I think that they may have made a supper.
Wednesday morning
We are not satisfied with the house as the plugs keep tripping and it was cold last night. Eventually I find the Electrician Maintenance man (Wilson) and ask him to repair the problem.
We then drive back to the TsiTsikamma Falls Zip Lining activity. We book ourselves as a group and with a lot of persuading everyone goes off on the first line. The River is known as the Kruis Rivier.
 |
| THE GORGE BELOW. THIS IS OUR VIEW AS WE CROSS THE KRUIS RIVER. |
The family is a bit nervous to start off but soon everyone is having a great time as we zip back and forth across the river and waterfalls below.
This is an exhilarating activity and I can recommend it to everyone. The cables are checked every day and the staff and guides are competent and make it a fun event.
After the Zip Lining we drive back across the Storms River Bridge to the Blaukraans River where Ofir and Hila are booked in to do the Bungy Jump.
Here too the staff are professional and competent. Both are fitted into their harnesses and after a short wait they walk down to the bridge and across to the middle of the bridge where the Bungy takes place.
This is the highest commercially operated Bungy in the world and a must for anyone touring this area. Even it you just stop to watch it is really an excellent activity -- maybe never to be repeated but definitely never forgotten.
While they are jumping I meet up with Tour Guide Tish Rabie from Cape Town and she gives me some good tips for planning tours in the Cape. I also have a toasted sandwich and coffee in the restaurant. While sitting in the restaurant we are able to get a close up of the Jumps. We watch as Hila and Ofir jump -- watching the Hop Hop to the Edge; Then a quick 3;2;1 BUNGY! and off they go. The recoil and finally the recovery man comes to fetch them and take them back to the Bridge.
When they have completed their jump there is a great deal of Celebration and Congratulations. Then they collect their Certificates and Video (Memory Stick).
We drive back to the TsiTsikamma village where we buy some provisions and enjoy the Elvis Bar.
And then back to Storms River Bridge where we take time to walk across and enjoy the spectacular views on the Paul Sauer Bridge.
PRIOR TO THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO USE THE PASS WHICH TOOK US TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GORGE AND THEN BACK UP TO THE TSITSIKAMMA VILLAGE.
RECOMMENDED STARTING TIME -- SUMMER NOT LATER THAN 14.30; WINTER NOT LATER THAN 13.30.
PLEASE USE YOUR OWN DISCRESSION WHEN WALKING THIS TRAIL.
From here we drive back to the Mouth and stop off at the start of the Otter Trail where we spend time just enjoying the waves breaking on the rocks. This can be quite spectacular as the power of the waves is unrelenting and awesome to watch.
We have a quiet evening and everyone is soon in bed enjoying a deserved rest after a really busy day.
Thursday morning -- The day starts off with Kayaking and Lilo up the river mouth. They are kitted up with Wetsuits and Booties..... Essential in Winter but probably for most of the year as the water coming down the river can be quite chilly.
Avi takes his youngest son Yoav with him and Ofir and Sapir go in another Kayak. Within a few minutes they are out of site so Sarit and I continue on to the Suspension Bridge walk. We take some time to just enjoy the views both out to sea and up river. If you ever do this walk -- Please bring with you an old pad lock. There are a number of locks on the bridge already and you can add to the collection.
After we have take the regulatory photos we return via the two other bridges and then climb the steep stairways and back to the camp area. We sit in the car waiting for the others to return. The whole activity is over three hours in duration. They report an excellent time and did some jumping from rocks at the end of the Lilo section.
It is midday and so we leave Storms River Mouth without doing all that we would like to -- There are a number of other walks including the first 6kays of the Otter Trail to the waterfall. However everyone is tired and there is just no time to do everything.
We get to Plettenberg Bay where we swap vehicles for an Automatic which is acceptable to Avi. He now takes over driving and this afternoon he takes his family to walk the Robberg. This is a good afternoon's walk which takes you first to the Gap and then onwards to the Seals Outlook Point. You can if you like turn and return the same way or you can continue all the way around the Robberg OR another route is to walk down the Sand Dunes to the West side of the Robberg where you can explore the point where the Sea Gulls Nest. Just be careful not to approach their nesting area otherwise they will dive bomb you to chase you away.
Friday Morning
The family visits first of all the Monkey land and then later the Cheetah and wild cat reserve where you can get up close to the Cheetah; the Leopard; The Lion and various other wild animals.
Other activities include the Reptile World; Puzzle Park; Jukani Wild life Reserve. Both activities are fun and interesting.
A Garden Route Tour with Peter Giddy as your Guide is something you will not forget..... Peter has been part of this area since his teenage years and knows many of the out of the way places and activities.
Contact him on peter.giddy@gmail.com for a personal and planned tour of this area of South Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment