Greetings from South Africa!
I’m very pleased to be back in Cape Town, in South Africa, a country that impresses me to no end!
My trip to South Africa last fall was one of the best trips I have ever taken — because South Africa is the kind of country that WOWS you again and again. The truth? Not a lot of countries have that quality. Iceland, Jordan, and Montenegro have it, but South Africa has it the most, I think.
Time to Meet South Africa
I’m honored to be taking part in the #MeetSouthAfrica campaign , the biggest travel blogging campaign ever to take place in Africa. 15 international bloggers will be taking part in four tours crossing the country. Two tours start in Johannesburg and explore westward and southward; two start in Cape Town and go northward and eastward.
Adventure Along the Western and Eastern Cape
Years ago, I dreamily planned out a trip to South Africa that I would take someday. I’d fly into Cape Town or Johannesburg, buy a ticket on the Baz Bus , stay in cool hostels all over the country, hitting up several towns on the Garden Route, and I would do as many adventure activities as possible.
This trip is almost exactly the trip that I dreamed up all those years ago.
Over the course of six days, we’ll be traveling along much of the Garden Route and then further eastward, staying in top-end hostels with private rooms, and doing as many adventure activities as we can cram in. Essentially, it’s an awesomel and affordable adventure tour.
Here’s what’s on the schedule:
Gansbaai
Gansbaai, close to the southwest corner of South Africa, is famed for one activity in particular: SHARK CAGE DIVING. EEEEEE!! I’m going diving with sharks!!
Swellendam
I rolled through Swellendam on the bus last fall and thought it looked like lovely place. In Swellendam I have the options of horseback riding, hiking to a waterfall, or exploring the town.
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn is an inland town famous for ostrich ranches and meerkats. Now, as someone who has an enormous fear of birds, the thought of going to a farm filled with giant birds that can poke your eyes out with their beaks scares me. Maybe I should ride one.
In Oudtshoorn, I have the options of exploring the Cango caves, visiting an ostrich farm, or going croc diving. Not joking on that last one. Croc diving is an option.
Myoli Beach, Sedgefield
I don’t know much about Sedgefield, but that beach looks glorious, doesn’t it?
In Sedgefield, we’ll be staying in a beach lodge and taking a cruise through the lagoon.
Plettenberg Bay
Plett has been the Garden Route town I’ve wanted to visit the most. It’s one of the most beautiful beach towns in South Africa. We’ll also be driving through Knysna, where I spent time living in a tree this past fall.
In Plettenberg Bay, I have the options of stand-up paddleboarding (I really want to try that!), paragliding, wakeboarding, canoeing, kiteboarding, or just hanging out on the beach.
Storms River
Storms River is a more wooded location down the coast and it’s home to a terrifyingly rickety-looking bridge as well as the the Tsitsikamma Forest.
In Storms River, I have the options of doing a ziplining canopy tour (I’m leaning toward that), bungee jumping (NOT GONNA HAPPEN.), doing a forest tour by Segway (has GOB moved to South Africa?) or going to a place called Monkey Land.
Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay is a big surf community. Part of me wants to try sandboarding; part of me wants to go surfing on my third continent after Asia ( Bali ) and North America ( Mexico )! If I’m wiped out by this time, I might just hang out on the beach or visit a township (though I’m convinced nothing can top my township experience in Alexandra last fall).
Addo
Addo is home to Addo Elephant Park — a national park filled with lots of elephants. I’m excited to see elephants on safari (and with a much better set of camera gear, too!).
Hogsback
Finally, we finish our tour in Hogsback, up in the mountains. We’ll be learning about Lord of the Rings (apparently this landscape inspired Tolkein!) and exploring the mountains. We’re also staying at a place called Away with the Fairies — I love that name!
That concludes the tour, and all four tours move on to the next location:
Durban
Durban, in the Kwazulu-Natal region, is South Africa’s fourth largest city (third if you count Johannesburg and Soweto as one) and the site of the INDABA travel conference . It’s been called the Miami of South Africa because it’s a beachy city with excellent weather year-round.
I plan to spend my time in Durban either networking like mad at the conference or relaxing in the sunshine after the nonstop week we’ve had!
Stay in Touch
To follow us on the trip, be sure to check out the #MeetSouthAfrica tag on Twitter. Also, you’ll get cool photos through Love South Africa on Facebook.
Is there anything in particular that you want me to cover on this trip? There’s no way you’re getting me on a bungee, but anything else, I’d love to hear your opinion!
Many thanks to South Africa Tourism and iambassador for hosting me in South Africa. All opinions, as always, are my own.
