GARDEN ROUTE TOUR NOVEMBER 2016..... WHALE WATCHING; SHARK CAGE DIVING; WILD LIFE RESERVE WITH CHEETAH; LION AND LEOPARD; TSITSIKAMMA AND STORMS RIVER MOUTH; BUNGY JUMPING

Peter Giddy is a qualified Tour Guide for the Garden Route of the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.
To contact him for tours --  peter.giddy@gmail.com

GARDEN ROUTE TOUR 7TH TO 11TH NOVEMBER 2016..... WHALE WATCHING; SHARK CAGE DIVING; WILD LIFE RESERVE WITH CHEETAH; LION AND LEOPARD; TSITSIKAMMA AND STORMS RIVER MOUTH; BUNGY JUMPING



Monday morning -- I drive to Cape Town for a Garden Route Tour. As I approach the city I decide to stay over with Nicky so add an extra 100k to the drive and end up in Riebeek Kasteel.  Watch Mia playing Cricket and then back to Nicky's house where Werner and John make a braai. Werner has fitted his new Transporter to take all the equipment and enable them to sleep in the back.  John has made some amazing cases to take some of the equipment in neat compartments without all the wiring and stuff lying around. Nicky sets up my computer so that I now have whatsup on my laptop.  Great for when I am working. 

GRANDAD AND MIA AT RIEBEEK KASTEEL.  MIA OFF TO SCHOOL AND I HAVE A GARDEN ROUTE TOUR TO PICK UP TODAY

 PICK UP AT THE PRESIDENT HOTEL IN SEA POINT.

 YOSHUA AND HENRIETTE AT THE MARKET IN STRAND

 THIS ROAD WAS NAMED FOR JACK CLARENCE WHOSE TIME ON EARTH AND DETERMINATION HELPED MAKE THIS ROAD COME TO BEING.

 CLARENCE DRIVE IS THE ROAD FROM GORDONS BAY TO ROOIELS BAAI.  A BEAUTIFUL COASTAL ROAD THAT ALLOWS MOTORISTS TO ENJOY VIEWS AND SOMETIMES SEE WHALES.

 THE UPGRADE OF THE ROAD OPENED BY GERALD MORKEL WHO WAS THE PREMIER OF THE WESTERN CAPE IN 1998.  THE NAME ROOIELS REFERS TO THE FLOWERING BUSH THAT COATS THE MOUNTAIN SIDES IN SPRING

YOSHUA AND HENRIETTE AS WE SEARCH IN VAIN FOR WHALES

Tuesday.  Nicky makes me a yummy breakfast.  I drop Mia at her school and then drive 95k to Seapoint 2h15min in morning traffic.  Here I pick up Yoshua and Henriette and we take a slow drive to Hermanus.  There is a strong wind blowing.  We try to spot whales but no luck.  They check into the Marine Hotel and I am in the Hermanus Backpackers.  We wander around the village, walking to the Old Harbour, the Point, Looking down to the bay below and kelp filled ocean; drive to the New Harbour and look out points along the promenade.  Waves and Swells are huge. And no whales to be spotted.  There are some people who sit on the benches for hours with binoculars trying to spot a Whale Blowing.  But no success.

VIEW FROM THE PROMENADE TO THE BAY WHERE THE WAVES AND SWELLS ARE IMPRESSIVE

A WINDY AFTERNOON -- CREATING A SCARY PROSPECT FOR WEDNESDAY'S SHARK CAGE DIVING.
Wednesday.
During the night in SA the US elections taking place.  Hilary Clinton Democrat vs Donald Trump Republican.  By early morning it appears that Trump will win the presidency.
 Morning -- No wind. I had a good night at the backpackers. No noise and good bed. Clear and strong wifi. Pick up at 8.45 to drive to Gans Baai where they plan to do Shark Cage Diving.  I pray that the swells are not too big and that they are not sea sick. Henriette is pregnant and was sick in the car as we drove around the Clarence Drive from Gordons bay to Rooiels Bay.

THIS ORGANISATION DOES SHARK DIVING AND WHALE WATCHING

MARINE DYNAMICS OFFICES

HENRIETTE AND YOSHUA KITTED OUT TO DIVE

DYER ISLAND IS WHERE THE GROUP WILL GO TO SEE THE SHARKS

PREPARING TO LAUNCH

THE BOAT IS STILL ON THE SLIPWAY AT THIS STAGE

BOARDING SLASHFIN.   FOUR HUGE V6 YAHAMA ENGINES POWER THIS BOAT

A TRACTOR PUSHES THE BOAT DOWN THE SLIPWAY

NEGOTIATING THE BOAT OFF THE SLIPWAY

ANTICIPATION AS EVERYONE READIES FOR THE BOAT RIDE

HEADING OUT OF THE KLEINBAAI HARBOUR

THE OFFICES OF MARINE DYNAMICS ARE IN GEELBEK STREET

WATCHING THE SHARK CAGE BOAT HEADING OUT TO SEE

SLASH IS THE NAME OF A SHARK WITH A DAMAGED FIN

The Shark Cage Diving at Marine Dynamics proves to be successful.  There are 3meter swells but this is considered a moderate swell.  We find the place in Klein Baai which is on the East side of Gans Baai.  There are 8 different shark cage operators in this small harbour. 
We are given a breakfast and a talk about what to expect. Everyone is kitted out and they board the Slash Fin Catamaran.  They leave for Dyer Island while I remain in the Restaurant area and try to catch up on Blogging and admin. The outing takes from 11am to about 2.30pm.  They are then given a soup and a second talk about the sharks. After this we drive the 420km to Knysna (over 5 hours driving).  They are staying at a B n B in Leisure Isle.  I drop them and then move on to Plett where I spend the next two nights.

WHALE WATCHING OPERATION IN PLETTENBERG BAY.

 KAYAKING, SWIMMING WITH SEALS, WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING CAN ALL BE DONE FROM HERE

 STORMS RIVER MOUTH AND THE SUSPENSION BRIDGES

 A POPULAR VENUE AS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES AT STORMS RIVER MOUTH.

 TENIKWA WILDLIFE RESERVE WHERE YOU SEE LION, LEOPARD AND CHEETAH.

 AUSTRALIAN FLAME TREE ON LEISURE ISLE

 CHRIS KITS YOSHUA OUT FOR HIS BUNGY JUMP.

 YOSHUA ON THE BRIDGE ABOUT TO JUMP.

 

 AFTER DROPPING YOSHUA AND HENRIETTE OFF,  I CHECK THE ODOMETER AND SEE THAT I JUST MADE IT IN TIME FOR 12PM CHECK IN.  THE TRIP METER SHOWS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN 2200KM THIS WEEK.
Thursday -- The day starts with a Whale Watching boat trip. They do not see any whales but report seeing a huge pod of Dolphins and seals.
We then continue to Storms River Mouth.  At this time it is raining but this does not stop us from enjoying the walk to the suspension bridges at the river mouth. Finally the day ends with a visit to Tenikwa Wildlife Sanctuary.  They have to walk in the rain but enjoy seeing the Cheetah, Lion, Leopard and other "cats".
Friday is our final day together -- an early pick up sees us making it in time to the Blaukraans River bridge in time for the first Bungy Jump of the day.  Fortunately there are only 3 in this group and we are able to leave by just before 10am and make it in time for 12pm airport check in in Port Elizabeth.  Overall a successful Garden Route Tour.