ADDO ROAD TRIP 

3rd – 8th April 2022

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Nine of us headed out of Cape Town on Sunday 3^rd April to the Eastern Cape.  After two ‘Little hitches’ of shuttles going to the incorrect area, we gathered everyone, and headed off on the N2 heading to our first night’s stop – The Moorings Hotel in Knysna.

En route the group enjoyed lunch at Tredici outside Swellendam – always a good stop!  We arrived in Knysna about 16h30 and went out to Dry Dock for a delicious dinner.

It was just so sad, however, to see how the Knysna Waterfront area has changed since Covid – many well-loved restaurants and businesses no longer there!  Knysna is not unique in this problem post-Covid – as many other cities have suffered so much in this area as well.

An early breakfast and we all headed up to the Heads – what a fabulous view we all had on a crisp, cool morning.  We also drove through Leisure Island as Marja had lived there many years ago, and wanted to see her ‘old house’.

We collected our 10^th passenger (Molly) in Plettenberg Bay – had a short stop at the Bloukrans Bunjy jump site – we hadn’t timed our arrival quite correctly!  They only do a Bunjy Jump on-the-hour – every-hour – and we arrived in between times.  We chatted to the one group of lovely young tourists & a second group were only heading down to the site where the jump happens!

We eventually arrived at Zuurberg Mountain Village about 16h00 – our ‘home’ for 3 nights.  Dinner tonight was a good a la carte selection!

Another early breakfast as we needed to be at Addo Elephant Park at 09h00 for our game drive in their open game drive vehicle.  We were so very fortunate to have SIYA and SIDNEY as our game wardens for the next 2 hours – we had a fabulous, very informative game drive.

The group saw many elephants (albeit in the distance); A unique Zebra crossing in front of our vehicle; and a fascinating dung beetle – everyone was very happy after this drive.  We all enjoyed a coffee break and then headed into the game reserve in our own vehicle – many more elephants were seen so very close which was fantastic to see!

After this Brian decided we all needed a refreshment, and we headed to Africanos Country Estate (another favourite in the Addo area) where we all relaxed on their outside patio and enjoyed a wine, cold drink or coffee.

Zuurberg had good occupance on Tuesday evening, and they had their buffet meal which was very enjoyable indeed.

Wednesday dawned and it was meant to be a leisurely morning – until we got a call from the Addo Barefoot Elephant lodge to say that the area was expected to receive a plague of locusts in the early afternoon!

They wanted the 5 people booked for the Elephant encounter to come earlier!  This, thankfully, was sorted out by Zuurberg efficiently, and the group left in their open game vehicle.

They travelled ¾ of an hour to get there.  A few locusts had already arrived, and they seem to make the elephants nervous – excellent  thing that our group of 5 thoroughly enjoyed their walk (at times a TROT with the elephants) and enjoyed the feeding session with them as well.

Meanwhile the other 5 of our group indulged in a fabulous lunch at Camp Figtree – the 5*+ lodge 7kms from Zuurberg.  What a treat this lodge is, and they are really top-of-the-class as far as hospitality goes – we spent 3 hours indulging ourselves with a delicious lunch served with passion.

The locusts arrived in droves (or plagues) and were the topic of conversation over dinner that evening.  A very worrying time for the farmers in the Eastern Cape as apparently the limes/oranges are at harvest/ripening time and as a result, not a good time to spray!

On Thursday we left Zuurberg after breakfast and headed down to Addo – along the stop-go road because of road construction – we had a short stop at the Nanaga Farm Stall – some bought Hanepoort Grapes / some enjoyed coffee / some stretched their legs before the next part of our journey.

We had scheduled a lunch stop at Marilyn’s Diner in Tsitiskamma village area.

We tried before lunch, to go into see the Big Tree – an 800-year-old yellow wood tree – consensus was “Who wants to see a TREE?” – perhaps the entrance fee might have discouraged a few but, in any event,  we decided to head into Tsitiskamma and Marilyn’s Diner where our ‘reserved’ table had a sign – “COOMBES PARTY – Welcome to the Diner – Let the Good Times Roll”

We all enjoyed a fabulous lunch – menu consisted of Banana Splits, Toasted Peanut butter and Banana and humungous burgers at prices unheard of in today’s times!  Really worth the stop in Tsitiskamma!

Then we had a short-hop to Plettenberg Bay (34,3km) and some of the group ‘had’ to have a stop at the Mungo shop to stock up on household goods – and the rest of us wandered and found something ‘we-had-to-have’

We then checked into The Bayview hotel in Plettenberg Bay – our last night on tour.  Dinner was at the upmarket Barringtons Restaurant where service was impeccable, and a good choice of meals was available.  So, to sleep in Plettenberg Bay –

An early morning breakfast at Adi’s kitchen where we chatted to the new owner – a man from Pretoria who opened the restaurant at the start of 2020 and has obviously ‘weathered the storm’ of Covid and lack of business and is looking forward to ‘season’ in Plett where holiday makers come in their droves!

On Friday we woke up to rain – and from Plettenberg Bay to George went through light drizzle – this cleared and eventually we found ourselves in Swellendam by 12h30 for lunch at La Belle Alliance where the staff are well-trained, and a delicious lunch was served.

We arrived back in Cape Town at the airport where Centurion Tours was waiting to shuttle everyone back to their homes.

To end this report – we had 2 brand new ladies on tour (Malonya and Liz) fabulous to get to know you better). Marja and Molly, although having travelled often on day tours and away trips with us – marvellous to spend time with you both! Sip and John always great & exciting to have you both on tour and Thresa you added your unique personality to our days – thank you all!

I could not resist quoting Shirley Mc Laine in what she has to say about travelling –

“The more I travelled, the more I realized fear makes strangers

of people who should be friends.”

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