It’s hard to believe that it has been over six months since I returned home to Canada from our fabulous introduction to South Africa. Our amazing hosts, Linton and Lisa, made sure that our experience there was magnificent. Their kindness and hospitality went far beyond the usual meet and greet. They shared South Africa with […]

Our last tour of our holidays is the Wine tour. This leisurely drive through the beautiful winelands of the Cape was a lovely end to a fabulous trip. What I know about wine (other than that I like it) would fit in a wine glass. It was interesting to hear about the different types of […]

Tuesday, January 10. This morning we again enjoyed the expertise of African Eagle Tours as we went on an exploration of the Langa and Khayelitsha Townships. Our day began with a drive through District 6. District 6 is a barren, grassy area in the heart of Cape Town. It was once a community of mixed […]

We spent another enjoyable evening experiencing the night life of Cape Town. After dinner, we visited Long Street, the night time strip of the city. This was a world that I would be totally uncomfortable in without the company of a man. The street turns into one giant street party and people are everywhere. I […]

Although I am not one to enjoy going to the beach in the sense of laying in the sand or swimming, I do love a rocky seascape. One evening Linton and Lisa took us to a wonderful cove near where Linton used to live. The shoreline here in South Africa belongs to everyone so even […]

On Monday, January 9, we enjoyed a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula with African Eagle Tours. I cannot say enough about this company as their comfortable tour vans and excellent tour guides added much to our experiences in South Africa. While I am not a beach person, I found the seascape as we […]

Just returned from a tour of Robben Island (Sunday) where Nelson Mandela was imprisioned for most of his 27 year sentence. What a sobering experience this was. The tour was given by an ex-inmate of Robben Island. These men were persecuted and imprisoned here because of their belief that a black man should not be […]

Throughout our stay in Cape Town we sampled some of the excellent local cuisine. To say that Cape Town is eclectic would be an understatement. The city is fraught with contradictions and contrast, but all the while there is a wonderfully symbiotic feel to it. You will find clusters of restaurants in different neighbourhoods with […]

Friday, January 6 Today Lenore and I enjoyed a scenic tour on the “Red” line of the Hop On – Hop Off City Bus tour. This is a great tourist service that is offered in Cape Town. The double decker bus travels throughout the city with a guided tour. There are many stops along the […]

Wednesday, January 4. We easily travelled the two and a half hours to Cape Town to begin the second part of our holiday. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the Portuguese restaurant which I will describe elsewhere in this blog and then set out to explore the largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere. Okay! […]

Wednesday, January 4 was a day of conflicting emotions for me. While I was looking forward to seeing Cape Town and all of its sights, I was desperately sad to be leaving the Cederberg. Those of you who know me well know that there is very little I enjoy about city life, other than good […]

Tuesday, January 3, marks our last full day at Gecko Creek. Tomorrow we will head to Cape Town for our last week of holidays. I cannot believe how incredibly hard it will be for me to leave this special place and these special people. The people …. The gentleness and kindness of the people who […]

The opportunity to fly in the Fokker again was just too inviting to pass up. Beautiful day … blue sky …. a mix of cirrus and cumulus clouds … 12,000 feet up with the canopy open (and yes it’s cold up there) ….

There just are no words to explain.

p.s. Two barrel rolls today.

Sunday was again another beautiful day. Every single day here has been glorious sunshine with temperatures between 90 and 100. One day we did get over 100 degrees but always at night it cools down beautifully. There is generally a gentle warm breeze throughout the day and that, combined with the fact that it is […]

After a lazy day exploring the rich surroundings of Gecko Creek Lodge and yet another wonderful meal prepared by Ingrid, all of the guests of the camp gathered in the Boma for our nightly campfire, drumming and story session. The stars, as always were spectacular and the atmosphere was easy and relaxed. We enjoyed good […]

High Flight John Gillespie Magee, Jr Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, –and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of –Wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there […]

Thursday we ventured north through the mountains to the world famous Bushman’s Kloof. This 5 star resort is a jewelled oasis, starkly in contrast to it’s harsh surroundings. Imagine the image of a proper english gentleman in a white suit exploring Africa and stopping for a white tablecloth meal in the middle of the savanah […]

Wednesday we visited the closest town to Lisa and Linton, Clanwilliam. It is about half an hour from here, still nestled in the Cederberg Mountains. As we travelled the road, Linton pointed out the local dam here which holds back a portion of the Elephant River for use in irrigating local farms. He explained that […]

Evening saw all of the guests of the lodge gather in the Lapa, an open-air shelter which houses tables and chairs, stoves, sinks and refrigeration for the use of the guests. It is here that people gather for meals and in the heat of the day, to plan their adventures and introduce themselves to each […]

I think that Linton and Lisa have managed to capture the perfect union of rugged camping and creature comforts in their lovely lodge nestled in a valley in the Cederburg Mountains. The collection of tiny huts that we saw upon our arrival proved to be perfectly situated for breathtaking views and magnificent outdoor experiences. Brilliant […]