Peter Giddy Guided Tours. Garden Route Tour October 2017

Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- Contracted to Tourism that Cares.  Offering Garden Route Tours from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.
peter.giddy@gmail.com


Orit Family Holiday in South Africa, September 2017,  begins with a Tour of the Garden Route. 
First stop is the Tsitsikamma area; we then spend three nights in Knysna; one night at the Garden Route Game Lodge and then final two nights of this Garden Route Tour are in Hermanus.  It is always best to spend at least two nights in one place as this gives you time to settle and a full day for activities with little or no driving.

We start the tour with the family landing at the Port Elizabeth Airport on Friday 29th September.  They stay over at a Bed and Breakfast close to the beach front and have dinner at the Ginger Restaurant.  They have only highest praises for both the African Sands BnB and the Ginger restaurant.

 Shani, Joav, Orit, Dana, Ido and Tal at Jeffreys bay where we stop for a short break.

Our vehicle for this tour was a VW Combi TDI ... We managed to fit all our luggage into the car without a Trailer.

 The "Official" liquor shop is closed early so I am advised to visit the "township" Bottle store to purchase a bottle of whisky for Joav.  Lucky for me Lucky's was open this afternoon.

Joav, Ido and Dana did the Canopy Tours Zip Line adventure this afternoon.
Saturday morning we start off slowly as everyone is tired after the long flights and airports of the previous two days.
After breakfast we do a drive past tour of Port Elizabeth then continue to Jeffreys bay and Storms River Bridge.  After viewing the magnificent drop over the bridge we continue to the Tsitsikamma Village where the three adults do the Canopy Tours Zip Line adventure.

The Grandmother, Children and I check into the Tsitsikamma Village Inn and then go to the end point of the Zip Line where we wait for them.

This evening we have dinner at the Inn Restaurant.  Yoav is a brave person who tries everything. Snails and Kudu Steak this evening.
Meanwhile I have booked into the TsiTsikamma Backpackers which is quite comfortable.

 Ido and Orit receive instructions before setting off on the boardwalk

 There are so many steps to the Kayak launching place that stops are required to catch your breath

 Looking down to the Suspension Bridge that crosses the Storms River Mouth

 Orit and Ido settling themselves onto the Kayak

 Ready to start -- feeling confident but the water is freezing so just as well that they have wet suits
 This adventure starts under the bridge and then heads up stream

 And off they go -- Just need to get those oars Synchronized

 And they paddle upstream through the Gorge with these huge cliffs on either side giving the whole experience a kind of eerie feeling

 Meanwhile Dana and Jaov take the children -- Shani and Tal (meaning morning dew) onto the suspension bridge. These two little ones managed to walk the whole way up and down stairs on their little legs.

 After the Storms River Mouth (Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve) experience we walk to the Big Tree.  It is about 500m from where you pay and an easy boardwalk.  There are many other walks you can do but need a bit more time than we had this afternoon.

 Walking to the Big Tree

 The Big Tree of the Tsitsikamma Forest.
Standing guard over the treetop canopy in the heart of the forest is The Big Tree – an eight hundred- year-old Yellowwood. This majestic tree towers over the rest of the canopy; standing 36+m tall and with a trunk circumference of 9m – this is a giant among giants.

Monday morning -- Time to get back to a morning run.  So I leave my B & B at 6am for about a 6km run along the George Rex driveway next to the Lagoon.

Monday morning running in Knysna.

Yellow Protea. Leucospermum or Cripplewood

 These Yellow Protea are to be seen all over the Cape during Spring and October.
Sunday 1st October.
We start with Breakfast at the Tsitsikamma Village inn and then we drive to the Storms River Mouth.  Here Orit and Ido do the Kayaking and Lilo activity while the family do the Suspension Bridge and walks.
Walking to the Kayaking start is not an easy walk with a lot of ups and steps.  But once there the Kayaking and Lilo is a fun activity not to be missed on a bright sunny day.
The River Cruise does not appear to be running on a regular basis as this is the second time that it was not operating.
After the Kayaking we have lunch at the Cattle Baron and then drive back to the Big Tree which is a short walk.  There are many other walks but everyone is tired and so we drive to Knysna.
I get a bit lost and end up at Simola and not Pezula. Eventually we find the place which is a wonderful Villa.
I find my B & B in Horizon Road near to the East Heads. 
We go to supper at the Waterfront where there is a wide choice of restaurants.  Most of us have Kingklip for supper.  I am so tired and fall asleep as soon as I am in bed.

 Monday morning after breakfast at the Villa in Pezula we do the Knysna Elephant Park tour.

 Feeding of the Elephants

 Yoav and little Tal who is not keen to get up close.

 Orit tells the Elephant to be a good Girl.

 Look -- its just like a puppy to be petted Yoav tells Tal.

Family and guide with the Elephant.
Monday 2nd. 
A beautiful morning. My room overlooks the Lagoon and estuary of Knysna.  I do my morning 5k run and then meet the family for breakfast at 9am.
We drive back towards Plett for the Elephants and other activities.
We start off at the Knysna Elephant Park (KEP) where we register and take the Shosholoza Express from the Elephant Boma to the field where they are waiting for their feeding time.  The Elephant stand behind a bar and we reach out with the fruit and vegetables that we have bought for them. It is necessary to feed them together to avoid squabbles.
We then walk around the fields with the Elephant and take pictures while standing next to these huge animals.  This is a bit of a highlight but the children are a little nervous of the whole episode and reluctant to touch or feed them.

Monkeyland; Birds of Eden and Jukani are connected reserves. We move on to the Monkeyland and Birds of Eden area where we spend the afternoon exploring and learning about wildlife. Today was considered to be a successful day with the three activities of Elephants, Monkeys and Birds providing entertainment as well as education for adults and children alike.   Later this evening -- Supper at the Knysna waterfront where there is an array of restaurants.  It is presently school holidays and so Supermarket shelves are empty;  so our plans for a braai were put aside.
I have a bit of a scare as I realise that I don't have my wallet with me.  A call to home and Barbara finds it. Relief but now I have to make other arrangements for paying my expenses for the rest of this trip.

Looking across to the Western Heads from the Town side of Knysna

Family pic with Dana shading her eyes

Tal loved being on the beach this morning.  A happy child with almost no moods or upsets.

Family on the beach .

Jubilee Creek is on the road to Rheenendal and then turn right to Millwood Gold Mines.  The sign here shows the Millwood Hiking huts where my own family stayed many years ago when doing the Outeniqua Trail.

The Jubilee Creek Walk is about 30 minutes out and 30 minutes back to the Waterfalls

On the Jubilee Hiking Trails

 Walking the Jubilee Creek Trail with Shani on Yoav's back
Tuesday morning.  I walk/ jog to the view point overlooking the Heads.  Then take a few moments to wash the car.  My host is John and he is most accommodating with giving me access to his cleaning stuff. 

These beautiful pin cushion Protea are to be found everywhere in this district

Looking across the Knysna Estuary from Pezula

The Puzula Villa where the family stayed in Knysna
Today we start the day with the Heads view point.  It is a beautiful morning and although we did not see them, Whales were spotted a little after we left.
From here we drive to Buffalo Bay where we spend some time relaxing on the beach.  Yaov and I have a swim.  I fall asleep on the beach while he has a long run along the beach.
After the beach we drive to the Rheenendal road and turn off to Jubilee Creek where we enjoy a short walk but do not quite make it to the waterfall.
Thereafter the family does the evening cruise on the John  Benn.  They cruise to the Heads (while I enjoy John's hospitality with a Glass of wine with his wife Lynn and family (Claire is the neighbour and Nicky the daughter in law).  I fetch the family at 8.15.

Luyanda is our Township Tour Guide  -- Penny and Mamma Emma created this business -- Emzini (Meaning "In the City")Tours.

Luyanda takes us into the House of Mama Emma where he describes her life and then plays us a bit of a Drumming Tune

The young girls give some drumming lessons to the visitors

At the Garden Route Game Lodge.  Open vehicles ready for the evening Game drive

Mother and Daughter -- White Rhino

After a Cold evening drive we stop for Sherry and Hot chocolate in the lounge.

Wednesday morning -- A bit of a slower start to the day.  I have breakfast with the family at the Pezula Villa and then we go to the Waterfront where we hop onto a Quantum for a Township Tour.
Our guide is Luanda and the driver is Sidwell. Both extremely professional and pleasant people.
Luanda takes us into the Knysna Township and has a continuous Banter.  He shows us the Temporary houses, the new RDP houses, The views, Spaza shop, Library, Shoe and car repair places and then takes us to the home of Mama Emma where he gives us the background of Emma and Penny who run the tour company.  He plays the drums and sings for the group.  We are offered tea and biscuits.
This is really an authentic Township Tour.

We continue to Wilderness where we have lunch at Flava and then on to the Garden Route Game Lodge. We check in and immediately get onto open vehicles for a Game Drive. Our guide is Thomas and he shows us the various animals -- Rhino, Buffalo, Wildebees, Oryx, Eland, Kudu, Springbok, Hippo and Lions.
The drive ends with hot chocolate and sherry before supper.  It was VERY cold on the open vehicles.

The following morning is the second two hour game drive where he takes the visitors to see the Giraffe, Elephant and they see a Cheetah chasing a Mongoose.
After breakfast we drive on the N2 towards Hermanus. Stopping at Swellendam and then  Riviersonderend for lunch. We continue on the N2 and just after Riviersonderend we take the road to Hermanus and Stanford R326; and then just missing the Stanford Brewery for a beer tasting afternoon.
The family is staying at Pats B & B and I am in the Backpackers.

Friday is an interesting day.  Orit had heard from friends that the Shark Cage diving results in Sea Sickness.  So there is a whole lot of discussion about whether to do the sharks or not.  After a good breakfast at Pat's (Actually it is Suzanne) -- most of the breakfast is uneaten due to sea sickness fears; we drive the 40 km from Hermanus to Gans Baai and then on to Klein Baai where the boats are launched.
This area is a hub of activity with around 5 companies operating these huge catamaran boats equipped to take 20 or more passengers each.
We are with Marine Dynamics where we register and then the discussion starts -- to do Sharks or whales but the problem is that both are fully booked.  So in the end we opt for a later (12.15pm) trip where everyone will do Whales.

 After a long wait and delays the family is kitted up with life jackets and water proof jackets and ready to board.

 The last of the delayed passengers has boarded and the boat is ready to launch.

And the boat sets off into the bay where we have already seen whales frolicking around.

 Whales have Barnacles that grow on their face and back.

 The whales were within a few meters of the boat

Altogether 5 whales were spotted this afternoon.
So we have some tea and coffee and then stroll down to the harbour to watch others launch and dock. We see one group coming off the Shark Cage activity -- they are all looking sea sick and miserable.  On enquiry we find out that they saw No Sharks!
So we have made the right decision.  BUT there is a second issue -- on the N2 coming from Cape Town is a group of 11 who are also booked on the 12.15 trip and they are stuck in traffic where a huge truck has jack-knifed after a collision with another vehicle and there are police and delays which could not have been foreseen.
The whole program is delayed for over an hour and the boat eventually departs after 13.30. 
The good news is that when the group returns they have had a wonderful experience seeing around 5 whales up close to the vessel.

A nice cup of samp and lentil soup settles tummy's and we leave for Hermanus having spent the whole day in Gans / Klein Baai.
This evening we are out for supper at a restaurant which turns out to be a good supper with the Filet winning the Menu Day.

Saturday -- We start the day at the Mosaic Reserve near to Stanford.  Quad Biking is the activity for today. Our guide is Aaron and we start at the Spookhuis.

Dana and Shani.  Shani had this huge grin on her face from start to finish. This must surely be one of her highlights of this holiday the way she simply loved being on the quad with her mom.

All Ido wanted to do was to stand up and go faster. 

Yoav and Tal.  Tal keeps telling he Dad to "Go Faster"!

Orit loved this activity -- Seeing her family having such a good time does her heart good.

Yoav and Tal on the bike

We all enjoyed the bikes and the route that we took.

This is the Dikkop or "Thick Kneed Plover" that we see on the trail. A pair of them with this one hissing and making sure that we know who is in charge in this area.

Saturday morning 7th October.
We leave Pat's B & B and for the second morning drive back towards Stanford.  We are doing the Quad bikes this morning and have a 10am booking.  Our guide is Aaron.  He takes us for a ride through the reserve.  The little children love it even more than the adults.  Big grins on their faces.  Urging parents to go faster. This was a great experience and lots of fun.  On the way we see this Dikkop or Thick Kneed Plover as it is now called.  Defending its nest we think.
After the bikes we go to the lounge in the Spook Huis where we have tea and other beverages with some eats. A lovely warm fire warms us all up before we continue on the road to Cape Town

 After the Quad Biking we had stopped in the Spookhuis for a hot drink and warming up in a lovely lounge with a fireplace. We then drive towards Betty's Bay and on the way Dana suggests a Wine Tasting.  We find Rivendell wine farm and they are most accommodating setting up a pairing experience for the family.

After the wine pairing everyone is in a good mood and display some of the wines they have bought.  Here they are with the two people on duty who were so gentle and helpful in their service.

Following the wine tasting we stopped at Betty's Bay to see the Penguin / bird Sanctuary.

H

Penguins are funny birds... We found out that the collective nouns are a Raft of Penguins when they are out at sea and a Waddle of Penguins when on land.

Bettys Bay Penguin Sanctuary.  Open until four pm.

This was a Whaling Station where live whales would be winched up onto shore and their blubber harvested.
Dana says she would like to do some wine tasting.  And within minutes we find the .... wine cellar.  I meet the man who does the wine tasting and he chats to the chef who does some pairing as well.  This goes down well with the family while I stay in the vehicle with sleeping children.

From here we stop at Bettys Bay to see the penguin colony.  This is a bit hit with the family to learn about these endangered birds and to see how they nest in these "homes" just like one sponsored by Orit.

Finally we drive through to Cape Town along the coastal route to Gordons bay and back onto the N2.  I drop the family off at the Cape Royale Hotel where we say our good byes.
This is the final part of my time with the family however they still have four more days of activities in Cape Town including a Peninsular Tour, Robben Island, Table Mountain and other fun filled days.

I drive home with one stop off at the Albertinia Hotel for  a few hours sleep and arrive home on Sunday morning in time for my Municipal Hike that has been in the planning for months.