Another dream trip with Floyd - this time to South Africa

After we could experience a trip with Floyd through Namibia last November, it was clear that we wanted to make another trip with him. The garden route in South Africa had been our dream for a long time. Floyd immediately agreed with us to discover this beautiful part of South Africa. The route was quickly clear and Floyd put the finishing touches to it when he visited us in Switzerland in March.

Beginning of November the tour started. On 11.11. we arrived at the airport in Cape Town. In Cape Town the takeover of the rental car at AVIS went smoothly. With great weather we went straight up to Table Mountain, the next day to the Cape and in the evening to Long Street. In Cape Town we stayed at the Winchester Mansions Hotel in Sea Point. On the third day we left Cape Town for Swellendam. We were really delighted by the guesthouse ‘Rothmann Manor’! Everything was done with the greatest attention. The hosts were Germans and very nice. From Swellendam we went over the Trados Pass. For a very long time the gravel road belonged only to us. Finally, we reached a very small place, Herbertsdale. Floyd had a good nose and found a small restaurant called ‘Herberts Place’ for lunch. A family with a lot of humor.

The following two nights we spent in George at the Oakhurst Hotel. A day trip led us to Mossel Bay and Wilderness. In Mossel Bay we visited the Bartolomeu Diaz Museum. We continued to Plettenberg. In the Christina Lodge we were excellently accommodated. Our host gave us a wonderful tip for the next day, a hike through the Robberg nature park. The hike lasted three hours, every minute was worth it. We were lucky and saw a big shark. The beaches in Plettenberg are wonderful for jogging and walking!

Then we went on to Port Elizabeth! This was only a night-stop, because the trip to Addo Park would have been too long. We stayed overnight at the Radisson Blu Hotel. A city hotel, directly at the Indian Ocean. In the evening there was a surprise from Jost, who took us to an Austrian restaurant. For me as a native Austrian it was something to eat Austrian especially in South Africa. Floyd was thrilled and even tried liver dumpling soup.

The next two days were dedicated to safaris. In Addo Park we stayed at Kuzuko Lodge on the edge of the park. The game drives were two highlights, early in the morning we were lucky to see a lion roaring next to the jeep. In the afternoon we had a unique experience: We could watch a young lioness that got the GPS transmitter collar changed. Once in a lifetime we were able to touch a lioness, Floyd was even so brave that he reached into the lioness mouth. When the young lioness woke up from her short sleep, we had a lot of fun watching her take her shaky steps.

The drive from Addo Park to Oudtshoorn was a challenge for Floyd. It was raining very hard and the sand road was smooth like a snow road. Slowly and very carefully we made this trip. The car was no longer white but light brown! From Oudtshoorn we went to Hermanus! We spent two nights in the guesthouse ‘On the Cliff Guest House’ directly on the cliffs. Here we were lucky again, we could see three whales! A wonderful experience! Already the last day had come! Since we were already in South Africa, we also wanted to visit the most southern place of the continent, Cap Agulhas. Here the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. The next day we went directly from Hermanus to the airport in Cape Town. There our ways split, Floyd went home and we flew back to cold Switzerland, where we arrived in Zurich.

The two weeks along the Garden Route were a wonderful experience for us. Floyd was an excellent guide and good friend in every situation. Without his company this trip would not have been so adventurous and interesting.

Floyd and Elizabeth - you know: We will be back! In November 2016 there will be another reunion in Windhoek.