Tourist Vibes and Tangled Hair

5 April 2012

Leaving Strandskloof a full two hours later than expected (9.30AM) we took an eight hour meander towards Nature’s Valley based near Tsitsikamma. The first place we visited along the way (sort of) was Cape Agulhas which is said to be the southernmost point of South Africa. We made the precarious trip up a series of steep ladders to reach the lighthouse top and take in the view, although I didn't see much due to the incredibly strong wind threatening to whip me all over the place just as it was doing to my hair. It was a pretty cool place with a little museum and coffee shop at the base of the lighthouse, but we didn't stay long enough for me to make a full appraisal of what they had to offer. All I can suggest is take a hair tie.

The next eventful moment of our long trip was when we arrived in Malgas. At this point we had to drive our Bantam onto a little ferry powered by the latest technology, i.e. the sweat of three men pulling chains from one side of the ferry to the other until the ferry reached the opposite side of the river. This emptied our pockets by R37.00 per car – an expensive toll I thought (please insert sarcasm here)!

Our final stop before reaching Nature’s Valley was at PortBeauford. A stupendously huge bay, this is where the whales come to calve. Again I was made to deal with peering through my hair as the wind physically bullied me all the way from the car and back into it again.

We made it to Nature’s Valley as twilight fell and unfortunately had to set up camp in the dark – never an easy task at the best of times. Before we could do this however, we had to wait for Andrew to chat to the gatekeeper and ask if we could be given another campsite due to our originally booked one being far too small for six people. The gatekeeper was more than happy to help and promptly pointed us towards the bigger site we were now set up on. Nature’s Valley campsites reside in a forested location, and so we had to keep multiple mosquitoes and such like at bay with layers of PeacefulSleep. Besides that, I was looking forward to shaded strolls through the forest and the next three days we were to spend here.