On Friday 8th December 2017 I leave home at 4am to fetch the family from the George Airport.
Once they have cleared luggage collection we drive towards Plettenberg Bay. We stop at the Dolphin Lookout point and then continue on our way to Knysna where we stop to look at the entrance to the Lagoon at the Heads Lookout point.
We check into our Lodge -- Robberg Lodge -- and I take the three youngsters to the beach for a swim and looking for shells. Robberg Beach is full of young teenagers who have recently completed their Matric Exams and many will be registering for University and College in 2018. Right now they are totally in a party mode. They just look young, Fit, tanned and like they are all on holiday.
Dolphin Lookout point overlooking the Wilderness from the Kaimans Pass.
Craig; Azryn; Isabelle; Miki; Elexzia -- supper at Toby's Deck overlooking BI Beach.
This evening we meet for dinner at Toby's Deck. Gerry is the manager and he gives us the best treatment. Not everyone is hungry but it appears that the meal is well received. Ostrich Steak; Oysters; Hake and Chips; Chicken and Burgers with Milkshakes all round. We stop off at KFC for an Ice Cream with a flake for our desert. I love this family. Enjoying the small things.
Saturday 9th. After breakfast we drive to Tsitsikamma Village where we do the Canopy Tours. This is a great experience for everyone --- Something completely different.
Our Guides are Mac John and Sunelle. It is an evaluation for Sunelle and she passes with flying colours. All round a wonderful time in the tree tops.
After we have had our sandwiches and received our certificates, we move across to the Segway at the Tsitsikamma Backpackers. Sipho is our guide and he takes us through an instruction on how to handle a Segway.
Elxzia is first on the machine and she handles it like a Pro. Then Azria and Isabella. The adults soon pick it up as well. We do a bit of training and then we are on the road. This is such fun and something that anyone can do. Sipho is a great guide and handles us with care but allows for free spirits as well --- having done both activities this afternoon -- We were basically all in agreement that while the Zip Line is fun... The Segway has greater appeal with the amount of control you have over the machine. Once we started to get the hang of it, leaning forward and backwards, where to place your feet and how to turn -- this was real fun. Especially as we went through the forest roads with the potholes and places to "ramp".
Our last activity for the day is a stop at the Bungy Jump at Blaukrans .. we have a hot chocolate and watch these crazy people throw themselves off a bridge. Purchase a few souvenirs before driving back to Plett to have a short break before dinner.
This evening dinner is at "The Table". This is a popular Pizza style restaurant. Azryn orders Ostrich Steak. It turns out to be the best dish of the evening. A Crispy bread crumb crust with light spices make this tender dish a hit.
Crème Soda in America is a vanilla flavoured drink while it has a uniquely different taste in South Africa. I am not sure if the children really liked the SA Version. Craig and I had a Brandy and Coke with is also a speciality of SA. He certainly enjoyed his beverage.
We again end the evening with a KFC -- Ice Cream with a Flake.
Sunday 10th December 2017
The family is up early and spend some time on the beach. I meet them at 9am and we leave for the Elephant Trunk in Hand experience at the Crags. This is my first time to be in this facility. Our tour guide is Brutus. A competent and articulate Zimbabwean who answers all questions and explains the nature of this facility as a sanctuary for Elephants who are either abandoned or orphaned. They have 5 X Elephants. The two younger ones are kept to one side. The three older females are Amarula (the name of an African fruit tree. The name has been made famous in South Africa as it is also an Alcoholic Drink. The fruit is produced by the female trees and edible with a high content of vitamin C. The nuts contain protein.); Jabulani (Happiness) and Thandi which means Love or Likable in Xhosa.
Jabulani (Rejoice Africa) -- the Christian Gospel song:
Jesus, life and hope to heal our land
Saviour, reaching out with your mighty hand
Sing for Joy, Oh Africa
The Lord your God is risen upon you
Sing for Joy, Oh Africa
The Lord your God is risen upon you now
Jabulani, jabulani Africa (Jabulani, jabulani Africa)
Jabulani, jabulani Africa (Jabulani, jabulani Africa)
Jesus, river of life to our thirsty land
Saviour, meeting our need with your mighty hand
Sing for Joy, Oh Africa
The Lord your God is risen upon you
Sing for Joy, Oh Africa
The Lord your God is risen upon you now
Everyone has a turn to lead the Elephants -- Trunk in hand. This does mean that your hand becomes a little wet and dirty but will worth the experience. We are then able to approach these gentle giants and pet / touch with a guide at attendance.
We walk back through the forest and then Isabella; Azryn and Elexzia all ride the elephants around the paddock
Our final activity for the day, even though we are all exhausted and a bit sun burnt, it the Jukani Wild Cats sanctuary. This is the best time to view these animals as they are just being or waiting to be fed and are a lot more active than during the day.
Our next stop is the Birds of Eden which is a real hit with everyone as we see a huge variety of birds up close as well as a couple of parrots even climb onto our shoes and shoulders.
After lunch we move across to Monkeyland. The guide is Dwayne. A real cheerful and pleasant man who I have met on previous occasions.
Our final activity for the day, even though we are all exhausted and a bit sun burnt, is the Jukani Wild Cats sanctuary. This is the best time to view these animals as they are just being or waiting to be fed and are a lot more active than during the day.
We end the day with supper at Moby's. Ostrich Steak is proving to be the biggest hit. I have the Hake and Salad; Craig has the giant Prawns. And then he sees Snails on the chalkboard so orders one to share. Amazingly everyone tries it and loves them.
For the third successive evening we stop at KFC for a ice cream with a flake.
Monday 11th.
We start the morning with a bit of shopping and then we visit the Mungo Tsitsikamma Linen Factory and retail shop.
100% Linen. European Grown and spun / Woven and made in South Africa.
Linen is a noble and ancient fibre. For centuries it has been grown in Western Europe where climate conditions are most suitable.
Our new Kamma Linen is woven with a superior weave construction, using linen that has been vat dyed which gives it a more brilliant and lasting colour.
- Flax is Sowed. Soil prepared and planted.
- Scutching. Fibres are separated from the stalks.
- Spinning. The fibres are converted to thread or yarn and shipped to South Africa.
- Weaving. A warp and weft are interlaced to form the linen fabric at our Mill in Plettenberg bay. It is this process that you are able to witness first hand in the nearby factory.
- Product. the final product is designed, cut, sewn and packed
After a pizza lunch we go to the beach where we meet up with the Whale Watching people (Ocean Blue). They first tell us that the boat is not going out due to poor conditions. The sea is a little choppy but nothing bad. And I had phoned earlier. And Craig would not take NO for an answer.
So Steve, the skipper, joins the discussion and immediately says he will take us out.
We kit up and set off to the boat.
The Tractor Man hitches the boat up and we hop on board. He then pushes us at full throttle into the sea and we are able to launch in this way.
We head off in an Easterly direction and within minutes we come across this huge pod of Seals. Probably over 100 of them. And they come right next to the boat. Look up at us and frolicking around. A sight to remember. For me certainly a first. I take some videos which I cannot load onto this blog.
Tuesday 12th. We are all up at 3am. Packing and getting ready for a 4am departure for PE. The drive home is not easy into the rising sun. We arrive at the PE Airport at 7am and in good time for the 8.30 flight that leaves for JHB and then on to Hoedspruit which I later hear was delayed.
After a while of watching these animals we move on to what we think is a whale sighting. In the end we never find it and so, with Izabella at the helm we turn west to the Robberg Peninsular. Here we again see (literally) thousands of seals. Steve tells us that in the past 5 years the colony has grown from 1500 to about 7000 seals.
A wonderful afternoon. And even I did not get seasick.
Our last evening together is at Moby's. The meal is not as good as it was the first evening. Gerry is off this evening, We cannot say if there is any correlation. And as always we have our Ice cream with a Flake for desert.
Fun in the sand after our boat trip. It did not take long for Azryn and Elexzia to get completely wet as they played in the surf.
It was a sad / happy good bye at the PE Airport. Happy as we had the opportunity to connect and enjoy each other's company for the past few days.
Sad -- as saying goodbye for long periods is always sad.
But the world is small and we never know what the future brings to our lives.
Peter Giddy is a qualified Guide.
He specialises in Wildlife Reserves such as ADDO Elephant Park and others around the PE Area.
He takes guests for a Township; Cultural and Historical City Tour.
Various activities such as Horse riding; Zip Lines; Canoe Trails; Sandboarding can be arranged.
And a favourite is the Garden Route and similar longer distance tours.
Contact Peter -- Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- See Trip Advisor. Things to do in Port Elizabeth
peter.giddy@gmail.com
+27 82 550 3174
On the Segway tour in the Tsitsikamma forest we come across some Imphepho.
Imphepho has many uses. The smoke of the herb is used as a sacred incense or smudge used to call the ancestors in and invoke trance states, cleanse energy and as an offering when praying. The smoke is also sedative. Traditionally Imphepho is burned on a potsherd when offered to the ancestors.
Medicinal uses of the plant include antiseptics, insecticides, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving (analgesic). The parts of the plant used are mainly the leaves, stems and flowers and sometimes the roots.
New born babies are washed in Imphepho to cleanse and protect them. The herb is stuffed in bedding for both humans and animals to repel insects. Wounds are washed with infusions of Imphepho to clean and sterilise them and a dressing of leaves are placed on the wounds. The smoke is inhaled for headache. Tea is made from the leaves for fever, coughs, colds and flu and also to cleanse the liver and kidneys. In woman’s health it is used for menstrual pains.
An aromatherapy / medicinal oil extract is now becoming available. Medical research has shown that this plant has huge potential for medicinal uses as a possible cure for Tuberculosis and herpes. For HIV patients Imphepho tea is a must.
We have already mentioned its anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties in treating as well as preventing disease. It also has a positive influence on the liver, bladder, heart and kidneys. It can also be used to clear the skin. A wash can be made for wounds, rashes, spots, skin ailments and fungal infections. It is also regenerative when used on scars. It is sometimes added to the steam bathes used by sangomas to cleanse away negative energies and to protect.
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