travel

Cliff and I have travelled South Africa extensively, there are few towns which we have not passed through or visited.  Throughout our travels I cannot think of a restaurant with a view to rival Leopard Rock Coffee Shop’s, make no mistake there are some stunners but this one is super special.  The panorama of Oribi Gorge is breathtaking.  If you …

The giant flat-crown, crowns my memory of Rustic Cottage at Oribi Gorge.  Her limbs a tapestry of wood and light.  A marriage of permanence and elusive elements.  At sunset her dark silhouette stood firm against sunset’s fire.  What tales she could tell at our campfire.  She who has seen countless seasons, she is memory and she is now. Rustic cottage …

Imagine how it would feel to line up a row of identical cherries on a slot machine, I got that feeling when we discovered Blue Haze Country Lodge.  Yesterday on our trip home from Durban to Joburg we made a most awesome discovery.  On the trip we always travel through part of the Natal Midlands, we buy honey for R28 …

2000 Million years ago (how do they figure that out?) a meteorite with a diameter of about 10 km hit what is now known as the Vredefort Dome area.  The area was declared a world heritage site in 2005.  The ‘ripples’ of hills which remain hold a sense of ancient wisdom, visiting feels like sitting in a grandparent’s lap.  We …

Cliff has wanted to re-visit Ezemvelo Nature Reserve near Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng.  Last weekend we found the time to get there.  It was a very long drive from home in Boksburg particularly avoiding e-tolls.  There was a 30 min stop/go near Bronkhorstspruit which was rather annoying for a 4.7km stretch of road works.  The last 20 km leading to Ezemvelo …

  I love Padstals they place me in a holiday frame of mind before reaching our destination, providing a sensory lift during a long drive.  I love the Karoo for its simple canvas and colourful character.  3 Sisters marries these two loves.   This Padstal in the Karoo on the N1 between Joburg and Cape Town, is one of my top …

Yay, this week my camera was returned to me.  I had left it in our room at An-Ra Guest House in Richmond and am so grateful to Meda from An-Ra for her honesty and the trouble that she took to return it in perfect condition. An-Ra in Richmond is a perfect stopover between Joburg and Cape Town and is located …

You seldom see road signs in a town warning that Hippo may be encountered.  St Lucia in Kwa Zulu Natal has this distinction and Hippo do indeed fairly regularly wander through town at night.  Although I did not encounter a hippo on the streets we saw many on a boat trip on the estuary. I would so love to live …

Choosing accommodation for Cliff’s birthday weekend away I took a few things into consideration, price and the distance from home are top of the list.  After narrowing down our options I checked reviews and felt comfortable choosing Monyane Lodge.  If I could give an award for the best hospitality ever Des and Elna would win, they were fantastic! Driving to …

UPDATE – JULY 2015 Mirage Toeriste Kamers is now under new Management and Owners. They are currently busy with renovations, but still open. Secure and under cover Parking is now available. Prices still exactly the same as 2 / 3 years ago. Rusks, coffee and tea in each room. More often than not, heading for Cape Town from home in …