My heart belongs to the Western Cape, there I said it! There's no reason to deny it, only reasons to embrace it. I love the scenery and weather. We were fortunate enough to visit these stunning places this past December. Below is a list of my favourite spots!

My list of reasonably priced (some are free!) things to do while visiting the Garden Route. We did all of it in a week!

Dolphin point lookout (Wilderness)

The lookout point looks like any other you find along the coast, overlooking the deep blue ocean with waves crashing into the boulders below. That is until you stop and get out of your car. Depending, on which side of the road you stop, there's a walkway under the N2 leading to the lookout point. The view is absolutely beautiful overlooking the Wilderness beach and Kaaimans river mouth with the point shaped like a dolphin contrasting against the deep blue. This is one of nature's goodness and is free of charge!

 

Timberlake organic village (N2)

Timberlake organic village is situated on the N2 between Wilderness and Sedgefield. Offering a unique shopping and activity experience it is definitely worth a stop. They have a big kiddies play area with mini foefie slide and jungle gym. If that doesn't tickle their fancy try a pony ride or quad-tractor ride. Acrobranch caters for the adventurous at heart while Zucchini caters for the hungry. There are various little shops that will appeal to a variety of different tastes, like the mohair mill shop (i bought some socks for winter!), the fairy shop and a german deli, Schwaben.   

Admire the view form the Heads (Knysna)

The Western head is a privately owned nature reserve that can only be reached by ferry. With different viewing decks, the Eastern Head, offers spectacular views of the lagoon, Leisure Isle and Knysna. Remember that it can also be enjoyed by night. We (as in my husband) took some beautiful images just after sunset.

Cloud 9 viewpoint (Sedgefield)

Cloud 9 offers a spectacular view of Sedgefield, the lagoon, Myoli Beach and Gericke's Point. The view gets better when you paraglide from this point but for those with a fear of heights, it doesn't get more beautiful than this. 

Eat an ice-cream at sunset (Sedgefield)

The best things in life truly are free. Nothing calms down your soul like the ocean can. You can give all of your worries and sorrows to it, or you can just enjoy the beach sand underneath your bum and wait for your ship to come in.  

Tsitsikamma micro brewery (Tsitsikamma)

The Tsitsikama brewery is a must for all craft beer lovers and is situated between the Hotel and Marilyn's 60 diner. They have four beers on tap, friendly service and a couple of board games you can play. My daughter tried her hand at beating me at tic-tac-toe - look at that face! I love finding new gems. I love the barn like feel and the fact that you can watch the entire beer making process.

Stormsrivier suspension bridge

Situated in the Tsitsikamma National Park, is the storms rivier suspension bridge. Entrance fee for 2 adults and 1 child was R120, which we have no problem in paying. You have to conserve what you love. The strenuous walk and steep descent is nothing compared to the view you get where the storms river mouth meets the ocean. Stunning! Ideal view for photography. Take some!

Stoepsit restaurant (Mosselbaai)

On the N2 outside Mosselbaai is where you will find this little gem of a restaurant. Do yourself a favor and enjoy lunch at the restaurant, eat the calamari. Quality and great service must be their recipe for success! The big windows help to appreciate the views and breeze especially on a hot summers day!

Circles in a forest trail (Knysna)

We are all familiar with Dalene Matthee and her well known and loved book - Circles in a forest. Visit her memorial stone and be in awe of the 40 m Outeniqua Yellowwood tree. Follow one of the hiking trails that start at Krisjan se Nek. Choose between a 3km or 9km walk. The route takes you past Outeniqua Yellowwood trees, tree ferns and fungus. The abundance of life in and on the forest floor is mind boggling. I would suggest that you take a light jacket with.

7 Passes scenic route 

The seven passes road connect George in the West with Knysna in the East. It was built by Thomas Bain from 1867 and 1882 and used to be the highway between the two towns. There are various points of interest like the big tree.

Nuts and bolts rally - Dag een

Die vier dag avontuur het vroeg oggend, of dalk eerder 09:30 afgeskop in Malmesbury in die Weskaap. Dit was die wegspring punt vir die eerste dag van die nuts & bolts rally en die spanne het by die skougronde bymekaar gekom. Die spanne was gereed. Die karre is opgemaak, gesticker en gepak (met proviant en ekstra parte) vir die reis deur die Wes- en Noordkaap. Daar was ou karre en nog ouer karre, karre met snaakse sê goed op en karre wat opgedress is vir die trippie. Almal het mekaar voorgestel maar tog geweet dat jy later weer gaan vra vir 'n naam - daar was heeltemal te veel om te onthou en geen geheue oefening sou jou kon red nie. Dit was lekker om almal te ontmoet en mee te gesels en te hoor waar hulle vandaan kom, almal het tog mos maar 'n storie. Natuurlik het die karre hulle eie stories vertel van tye wat reeds verby is en reise wat vir altyd onthou sal word.

Ek was in span 35 saam met Marius, my man. Hy was oorspronlik in span 21 maar omdat ek my toon se ligament geskeur het 'n paar dae voordat ons vertrek het, het ek hom gedecommission om vir my te bestuur en rond te ry. Net totdat my toon beter gevoel het. Ons het saam gelag oor die karre en die mense met hulle vreemde (vir 'n Gautenger) aksente en grappies. 

Die woorde: "Gentlemen start your engines!" het die begin van die rally aangekondig. Ons het deur die strate van Malmesbury gery en omtrent die koppe laat draai. Die volgende stop was Darling. 

Die kinders van die privaat skool het ons ingewag en gewaai en foto's geneem kompleet asof ons 'n maraton hardloop. Mense in die stad doen nie sulke goed nie, julle moet verstaan dat hierdie 'n special traan in die oog oomblik was. Vir ons is dit net so vreemd soos wat 30 karre is wat deur hulle dorp ry en 'n nuts & bolts rally doen. Wat wou ...

Ons het gaan bier proe (en drink!) by Darling Brew, die brouery op die dorp. Hulle spog met 'n groot verskeidenheid bier wat nogals goed afgaan op 'n warm dag en heel moontlik op 'n koue een ook! Gaan lees gerus hul storie hier: http://www.darlingbrew.co.za/index.html

Vir brunch het ons gaan eet by die Plaasmol padstal buite Hopefield. 

Elke span moes 'n geskenk, van lae rand waarde, saam bring en ons het dit hier uitgeruil. Ons het 'n helderkleurige bos (plastiek!) blomme gekry wat ons op die roofrack vasgemaak het (en dit het gehou vir die hele trip). Party spanne het bok horings gekry en dan was daar natuurlik, Kerneels. Die perdjie was bo op Burt se beetle vasgemaak en was soms vrygelaat om bietjie te wei. 

Ons het deur dorpies gery waarvan ek nog net gehoor het soos Aurora. Ek en Marius het gedink ons gaan net deur die dorp ry, maar tot ons verbasing het die manne van die Kaap van 'n geheim geweet. Daar is 'n kroeg op die dorp. Dit laat mens dink aan 'n outydse saloon. 

Van daar af het ons kus langs gery verby Redelinghuys en Lambertsbaai tot in Strandfontein. Die Pikinini (span 21) het geleer om nie vinniger te probeer ry as wat hulle wiel verby rol nie.

Die kampeer terrein was ons eind bestemming vir die dag. Na 'n dag van baie ry en baie stof was die uitsig verseker die moeite werd. Die lug was geverf in skakerings van rooi en oranje met die weerspieëling wat oor die diep donker water skyn. 

Ons het soos konings geëet aan 'n spitbraai en potbrood, met botter en konfyt. Behalwe vir sjokolade en 'n lekker bottel rooiwyn is daar niks lekkerder op aarde nie. Ons het vroeg gaan inkruip en die kamp het mettertyd stiller geraak. Ons het wakker geword van water druppels wat van die tent af drup ... Dit was die tweede dag.