It’s been a whirlwind of family memory making over the past few weeks and we are all sad that we are winding down towards the end of this unforgettable break. What better place for a never-to-be-forgotten family event than this wonderful country – something for everyone, whatever their interest!
After we bid a reluctant ‘totsiens’ (translation: until we meet again) to the beach, we headed to my hometown of Bredasdorp for a quick retail therapy stop. (Important note: when planning at trip to Southern Africa, be sure to leave plenty of suitcase space for the vast array of artistic creations that you will stumble across. Better still – bring an extra bag!) No visit to this area is complete without stopping at Julian’s Ceramics for unique home décor, coffee and great food – and then on to Kapula Candles.
The drive to Swellendam was gorgeous as always, followed by an unforgettable al fresco lunch under the trees at De Gaol restaurant, across from the church on the square. Just when we thought the scenery of the day was unrivaled, we traveled over the wonderfully rugged Tradouwpass – Sir Thomas Bain’s incredible legacy and a breathtaking addition to any local itinerary.
Thursday found us relaxing/recovering from the many and varied holiday celebrations, at the beautiful Victoria Hotel in the quintessential Western Cape town of Montague…
Friday started with a yummilicous breakfast at the hotel followed by another ‘obligatory’ shopping stop – this time to stock up with peaches, pears, guava and other delectable dried fruit before traveling the breathtaking Matroosberg range to our Safari spot.
We were greeted at the privately owned Aquila Game Reserve with champagne, followed by yet another incredible meal – this time a poolside lunch buffet. (Note to self: Design a gastronomic tour of South Africa). This was topped by us hanging out in the swimming pool while viewing elephants grazing in the distance…spectacular.
Our afternoon game drive was all we had hoped for – spotted up close and personal: elephant; lion; rhino; wildebeest; hippo; springbok; eland; giraffe; zebra and Cape buffalo. Another wonderful meal and an early night in preparation for a 5:45am game drive!
