15th April 2017. Conrad Pezula and Pezula Championship Golf Course

We wake following an excellent evening and a luxurious sleep, to find almost perfect conditions with clear blue skies and almost no wind.  

Following breakfast we drive along the coast road back into Knysna to complete some shopping at Woolworths and Jeanette also finds some tops. 

We arrive back at the Conrad, where we are greeted in reception and transferred by golf buggy down to our suite, where Ken has to change for his 12.20 tee time at the next door Pezula Championship Course.  He arrives at 12.05 and finds that he is playing with  15 year old German national scholarship player who is holidaying with his parents and another local member off 7.  Suffice to say it is somewhat daunting.  But we hit off and for the first 2 holes Ken has a bogey and par, then a 4 on the par 3.  So he is very happy.  But we are playing off the blue tees and loses a ball in the rough on the 5th and double bogeys the hole.  The scenery is just stunning with dramatic ocean vistas.   

We finish the first 9 with Ken having 47 strokes and playing very well.  Now the real challenges commence, because we see the majestic sweep of the course and the stunning scenery with a strengthening wind.  It is very up and  down with slope of 137, so you continually face challenges.  At the 12th , Ken sinks a 25 foot putt, and is delighted.  The local member continues to struggle, loses 2 balls slicing a little wide, then 3 putts from 15 foot and is really upset and our young German star is just like a machine, 260 yards down the middle , followed by a 7 o8 iron and 2 putts.  He had 42 on the front and is playing even better on the back.

The day passes quickly, with Ken shooting 97 ( off 24 modified handicap) so net 73 is very satisfying.  He would have preferred the white tees, the blue were in many places 30 metres longer. 

Otto the German lad shoots 78 off the stick do a net 71, very good for a talented 15 year old.  The local member just has a bad day. 

Ken is picked up by Hotel staff from the golf club and dropped off at our Villa.  We change , have a drink and then go down to the waterfront for dinner at Cafe Mario, and without reservations we have to sit outside by the canal.  We enjoy a superb Italian meal and good chianti.  Then back to our villa at 9.00pm where Ken watches European football on the large screen.  A great day.  

We decide to turn in at 11.15pm.  Our body clocks are well adjusted and we have a long drive from Knysna to Kenton on Sea tomorrow. 

We are still concerned that we have to visit a residential address in Kenton on Sea, which is an upmarket holiday resort area, to check in.

18th April 2017. Last day at Sibuya Forrest Camp

Again we both slept well after a long but enjoyable day on Safari.  Today brings the sane processes with a very early rise, coffee and biscuits then off on Safari. Jeanette isn't feeling 100% and Ken does the morning Safari with our guide. It is a cooker morning and we take the scenic route to the higher ground and experience a frustrating time as we hear ma y animals but see only a smaller number. 

The highlights include the giraffes, again the elephants, including 2 older males who have been excluded from the families. 

We stop at the water hole in the centre of the reserve and again see the rhinos and monkeys playing.  The zebras are coming out of the bush onto the higher plains. OurSafari again gets us back for breakfast at 9.15am.  Jeanette joins us as for breakfast. Group wise we take some time to sit around again after showering and discuss the Safari highlights.

Lunch is a spectacular picnic where the catering team have put together a banquet for us to enjoy in special surroundings.  It is a very enjoyable and special feast in the mist amazing environment of this superb Forrest Camp and its many animals. 

We drive throughout the afternoon returning to the boats after afternoon drinks. It has again been a special day with the Giraffes and monkeys as well as zebras putting on wonderful shows.   

Dinner tonight is a celebratory feast and we all enjoy and reflect upon a truly wonderful experience with the animals in their domain.

We again, it has been wonderful, but also clearly puts into perspective the wonderful time we had with the animals on the Serengeti and Massi Mara in Kenya and a Tanzania.  This isn't the she, yet it is still remarkable and the animals are amazing. 

Tomorrow morning we have an early Safar, then say good bye to the New Zealand ladies, we depart later . 

Daniel, ourguide has been excellent, the accommodation in the luxury tents just superb and the food excellent  .  We have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  We now have a long drive ahead of us as we travel through some rugged off highway roads with many potholes to eventually arrive at Seaview Hotel , Coffee Bay.

16th and 17th April 2017. -Sibuya Forrest Camp - Safari Continues.

We both sleep remarkably well, but 5.30am comes about very quickly and we decide not to shower until after our return from the morning Safari drive.  We all meet for coffee and biscuits in the lounge area of the Camp.  Departure is scheduled for 6.20 and we make our way down to the wharf and board our boat for transport back to the bush camp where we board our safari jeep.  The river is so flat and beautiful with only a few isolated bird life flying about. Sunlight comes at about 6.50am with a stunning sunset.

Into the jeep and we are off about.  We drive several miles only seeing zebra, deer, antelopes and occasional giraffe, before unexpectedly coming upon 3 rhino.  They are grazing in a delta area.  They are not tame , but come quite close to the vehicle.  They are beautiful  animals and Daniel explains that there is still significant poaching even in closed private estates such as Sibuya.  We also are told of the excellent work of the anti- poaching squads funded by the South African government and assisted by overseas aid groups.  But they are hopelessly out gunned by the extensive poaching networks, who predominantly kill the rhinos for the extreme values paid by the wealthy Chinese for their tusks.

Following this discussion we stop for a hot drink and biscuit on the plain and watch the sun rise further and the plains gone to life.

Our safari then takes us to the highest point on the whole estate and we observe wonderful views highlighted by an elephant family grazing on the green foliage of trees.  We drive close to watch the elephants working to pull branches down so that all members of the herde can share the spoils.

There is an amazing range of bird life to take in. 

Our morning safari concludes at 8.45am , having been very enjoyable, but Jeanette also comments that whilst it is enjoyable the animals are still constrained within the electrified fences of the property and there are not the vast open plains as we experienced in Tanzania and Kenya several years ago.  Nonetheless, the animals are wonderful. 

Breakfast is served at 900am where we enjoy a full breakfast underneath the thatched roof of the main lounge area.  We are then free to enjoy the Camp for the next 2 hours. Jeanette and Ken take leave yo return to our tent for a hot shower and then to take photos and donsone reading.

The two groups consist of 16 people plus guides.  Our group consists of the 7 New Zealand hockey players plus our guide Daniel. 

Lunch consists of salads and casseroles served in the lounge dining area.  The group is excited as after lunch we depart at the scheduled time of 2.15pm and we plan yo spend 4 hours as a minimum out in the jeeps on Safar and also visit one of the 2 lion prides who are housed separately on the estate away from the other animals such as Elephants, Water buffalo and other animals who they would traditionally hunt, such as Wilderbeast and Zebra. 

We again start by seeing several elephants putting on a show, then we see the Water buffalo together with zebras grazing.  The guide Daniel, then takes us into a totally separated enclosure where the two prides of lions are housed.  We drive through and suddenly come across the 5 lions, but it us amazing to see them watching animals such as Water buffalo, antilopes, Zebra.  All of the lions are watching and obviously wanting to get out and hunt. 

Daniel , our guide explains the impossibility of allowing 12 lions to graze and hunt in the 2500 hectares and how they would decimate the other animals.  But the other side of thus is how hopelessly inadequate it seems to have the lions locked away independently.

We sto for sundowner drinks at 4.45pm, having enjoyed a great afternoon of activity driving from 2.15pm and seeing so many animals.  At 5.30pm following drinks we begin the drive back to the rives, observe a beautiful sunset with 2 rainbows. We board the boat at 5.55pm for our transfer back to our camp via a 10 minute boat ride.  It has been a magical afternoon. 

Dinner is scheduled for 7.30pm after ore dinner drinks around the fire pit.  We talk and look at the amazing dispkays of the stars and night sky. 

We are served a 3 course dinner of good quality and high quality Wines largely from Stellenbosch area.  Conversations are lively and enjoyable.

We again have an early start tomorrow morning. 

22nd April Sani Pass and visit to Kingdom of Lesotho .

Having arrived at the hotel on a perfect afternoon in Himeville we decided that today we would do the guided tour through the Sani Pass and then travel into the small Kingdom of Lesotho. But we had to confirm our booking on the preceding afternoon and then meet the driver and vehicle at9.30am on the following morning after breakfast. 

That all sounds easy, but our driver arrives with a small vehicle with 3 people and their extensive luggage and proceeds to explain that there is room for Jeanette and I in the rear seats of the vehicle with some of their luggage.  After an initial attempt we decide this is totally unrealistic and Ken explains that we cannot fit and we will cancel.  This then creates a real challenge and Ken says we are not going, but our driver says he can get another vehicle.   

So we wait with a sense of expectation and determination, but 2 of the other 3 need heir luggage.  Our driver is relaxed and after 10 minutes, a larger Toyota Land Cruiser arrives and we transfer everything to the larger vehicle and Jeanette and Ken are in the back of the land cruiser.  We then travel 45. Minutes up on Sani Pass road, which is one of the roughest roads you will ever see.  The driver stops for photos before travelling 35 minutes up and down a severely pot holed road before coming to the South African Border where we stop to present our passports.  The road is unbelievably rough and we are constantly flung about, but the scenery is just amazing.  

From the border we have about a 70 minute drive constantly climbing up the Pass before reaching the plateau top.  It is amazing that a road has been carved into the rough terrain. 

We eventually arrive at a border area with a terrific paved roadway into Lesotho on a large road bitumen highway completed by the Chinese in terms of a foreign investment and foreign aid program from the Chinese government.  It is stunning to see this quality road following the terrible rough road up through the Pass on the South African side. 

From here we visit a village with their small round houses, pounded floor and mud walls and thatched roof.  We are then lectured by a young Lesotho lady as to their living conditions, there is also th mandatory purchase of products, but it is an interesting talk, we try some hot fresh bread and are lectured as to their economic activities of sale of water, mo hair and also cattle etc.  Our guide then drives back from the village toward the Hotel and Pub at the Top of the Sani Pass.  We drop off 2 of our party and visit  their accommodations, which turn out to be very good.  Lunch is at the pub, where we enjoy good food and a local Lesotho lager, before taking photos from the outside lounge area, with simply stunning views.

We again take in the views and then wish 2 of our party well, before we commence our return back through the Lesotho Border area and then leave the magnificent highway and return to the very rough pot holed terrain of the South African side of Sani Pass.  We have enjoyed a special day and perfect weather, without any breeze. We come across several areas of ice which never experience any sunshine and at 2,874 metres it is quite high.  We feel the climate change from the warmth down at he village to the cool and windy conditions at the top where there is a very large  area which is the plateau in Lesotho, as well as the top on the South African side of the Pass. 

There are significant civil engineering works on the South African side and there are plans to pave the South African side in 2019, but it is unbelievably windy and steep with many severe pot holes.  But the pot holes in no way diminish the wonderful scenery and the staggering beauty.

We are tKen back to the office to effect payment before becoming dropped off at Premier Hotel.

Yes, we were aware of Suni,Pass, but we had felt that it was beyond us both in terms me and availability.  We had departed at 9.30am and returned at 4.40pm after a terrific day with some great photos.

We thank our guide and the experience of Suni Pass and the dramatic scenery and extravagant ride through really rough terrain, will leave us with many memories.  We had never thought we would visit Lesotho, but it was a terrific day. 

Dinner at Premier Hotel, then we lit the wooden fire in our room and enjoyed a beautiful fire for the next 3 hours.  It is bitterly cold at night but leading to superb clear blue sky days. 

Again we have enjoyed our trip me in this part of the world. 

15th April 2017. Conrad Pezula and Pezula Championship Golf Course

We wake following an excellent evening and a luxurious sleep, to find almost perfect conditions with clear blue skies and almost no wind.  

Following breakfast we drive along the coast road back into Knysna to complete some shopping at Woolworths and Jeanette also finds some tops. 

We arrive back at the Conrad, where we are greeted in reception and transferred by golf buggy down to our suite, where Ken has to change for his 12.20 tee time at the next door Pezula Championship Course.  He arrives at 12.05 and finds that he is playing with  15 year old German national scholarship player who is holidaying with his parents and another local member off 7.  Suffice to say it is somewhat daunting.  But we hit off and for the first 2 holes Ken has a bogey and par, then a 4 on the par 3.  So he is very happy.  But we are playing off the blue tees and loses a ball in the rough on the 5th and double bogeys the hole.  The scenery is just stunning with dramatic ocean vistas.   

We finish the first 9 with Ken having 47 strokes and playing very well.  Now the real challenges commence, because we see the majestic sweep of the course and the stunning scenery with a strengthening wind.  It is very up and  down with slope of 137, so you continually face challenges.  At the 12th , Ken sinks a 25 foot putt, and is delighted.  The local member continues to struggle, loses 2 balls slicing a little wide, then 3 putts from 15 foot and is really upset and our young German star is just like a machine, 260 yards down the middle , followed by a 7 o8 iron and 2 putts.  He had 42 on the front and is playing even better on the back.

The day passes quickly, with Ken shooting 97 ( off 24 modified handicap) so net 73 is very satisfying.  He would have preferred the white tees, the blue were in many places 30 metres longer. 

Otto the German lad shoots 78 off the stick do a net 71, very good for a talented 15 year old.  The local member just has a bad day. 

Ken is picked up by Hotel staff from the golf club and dropped off at our Villa.  We change , have a drink and then go down to the waterfront for dinner at Cafe Mario, and without reservations we have to sit outside by the canal.  We enjoy a superb Italian meal and good chianti.  Then back to our villa at 9.00pm where Ken watches European football on the large screen.  A great day.  

We decide to turn in at 11.15pm.  Our body clocks are well adjusted and we have a long drive from Knysna to Kenton on Sea tomorrow. 

We are still concerned that we have to visit a residential address in Kenton on sea, which is an upmarket holiday resort area, to check in.

17th April 2017. Drive to Kenton on Sea and boat trip to Sibuya Private Game Reserve.

We check out of the beautiful Conrad Pezula at 6.10am following 2 wonderful days.  We have a long drive to Kenton On Sea  , where we have to check in by 11.00am  with departure by boat to our camp and our safari experience for the next 3 days. The drive out of Knysna has us pointing directly east and we witness a spectacular sun-rise following a 20 minute drive through tortious roads before we reach the N2 expressway.

Ken then drives for nearly 3 hours 30 minutes before Jeanette takes over and gets us to Kenton on Sea at 10.45am, where we stop at a terrific coffee shop and enjoy a cappuccino and muffin, before we then return to the office and check in.  We have packed one of our Tauck bags together with hand luggage. 

Our initial journey following check in is a 40 minute boat trip on Kariega River back to the 3 Camps owned by Sibuya Forrest Camp.  We are in the 3 rd Camp and find that we Wes included in a group with 7 New Zealand Hockey Players (Golden Oldies) who had been at the camp the previous afternoon.  

We see a variety of local birds whilst transiting to the Camp.  We arrive and are served a lovely luncheon.  The Camp,consists of 8 Glamping tents and a large central dining and lounge area.  We are in tent # 4 and make our way to our rent and Joachim following lunch, prior to our first safari drive commencing at 3.00pm.  Our guide is Daniel, a young but well experienced guide and driver and he gives us 3 wonderful days.

At 3.00pm we board our jeep for the first safari. We are all apprehensive but we quickly come in touch with the wonderful animals as we hear elephants feeding, then come across Girrafe, monkeys, donkeys and zebras as well as a variety of other birds and antelope .  It is a great start.  We then come across a large troupe of elephants grazing.  We then want to get to a waterhole by 5.15pm to see a whole range of animals come to drink. 

We make it and see a bewildering range of elephants, girrafes, zebras, and all sorts of bird life. 

Daniel decides it us time for a "sundowner" on a plain some 3km from thevwaterhole and we again see a variety if animals as we climb to our carnage point, where we enjoy drinks and canapés whilst raking in an outstanding sunset. 

Back to the Camp by 6.45pm in the dark, time to wash up and change fir dinner.  We enjoy a 4 course dinner with wines from Stellanbosch.  A wonderful first day. 

We retire to our rent at 10.20pm.  We unpack and turn in by 10.45pm.  The morning will cone quickly. 

17th April 2017. Drive to Kenton on Sea and boat trip to Sibuya Private Game Reserve.

We check out of the beautiful Conrad Pezula at 6.10am following 2 wonderful days.  We have a long drive to Kenton On Sea  , where we have to check in by 11.00am  with departure by boat to our camp and our safari experience for the next 3 days. The drive out of Knysna has us pointing directly east and we witness a spectacular sun-rise following a 20 minute drive through tortious roads before we reach the N2 expressway.

Ken then drives for nearly 3 hours 30 minutes before Jeanette takes over and gets us to Kenton on Sea at 10.45am, where we stop at a terrific coffee shop and enjoy a cappuccino and muffin, before we then return to the office and check in.  We have packed one of our Tauck bags together with hand luggage. 

Our initial journey following check in is a 40 minute boat trip on Kariega River back to the 3 Camps owned by Sibuya Forrest Camp.  We are in the 3 rd Camp and find that we Wes included in a group with 7 New Zealand Hockey Players (Golden Oldies) who had been at the camp the previous afternoon.  

We see a variety of local birds whilst transiting to the Camp.  We arrive and are served a lovely luncheon.  The Camp,consists of 8 Glamping tents and a large central dining and lounge area.  We are in tent # 4 and make our way to our rent and Joachim following lunch, prior to our first safari drive commencing at 3.00pm.  Our guide is Daniel, a young but well experienced guide and driver and he gives us 3 wonderful days.

At 3.00pm we board our jeep for the first safari. We are all apprehensive but we quickly come in touch with the wonderful animals as we hear elephants feeding, then come across Girrafe, monkeys, donkeys and zebras as well as a variety of other birds and antelope .  It is a great start.  We then come across a large troupe of elephants grazing.  We then want to get to a waterhole by 5.15pm to see a whole range of animals come to drink. 

We make it and see a bewildering range of elephants, girrafes, zebras, and all sorts of bird life. 

Daniel decides it us time for a "sundowner" on a plain some 3km from thevwaterhole and we again see a variety if animals as we climb to our carnage point, where we enjoy drinks and canapés whilst raking in an outstanding sunset. 

Back to the Camp by 6.45pm in the dark, time to wash up and change fir dinner.  We enjoy a 4 course dinner with wines from Stellanbosch.  A wonderful first day. 

We retire to our rent at 10.20pm.  We unpack and turn in by 10.45pm.  The morning will cone quickly. 

17th April 2017. Drive to Kenton on Sea and boat trip to Sibuya Private Game Reserve.

We check out of the beautiful Conrad Pezula at 6.10am following 2 wonderful days.  We have a long drive to Kenton On Sea  , where we have to check in by 11.00am  with departure by boat to our camp and our safari experience for the next 3 days. The drive out of Knysna has us pointing directly east and we witness a spectacular sun-rise following a 20 minute drive through tortious roads before we reach the N2 expressway.

Ken then drives for nearly 3 hours 30 minutes before Jeanette takes over and gets us to Kenton on Sea at 10.45am, where we stop at a terrific coffee shop and enjoy a cappuccino and muffin, before we then return to the office and check in.  We have packed one of our Tauck bags together with hand luggage. 

Our initial journey following check in is a 40 minute boat trip on Kariega River back to the 3 Camps owned by Sibuya Forrest Camp.  We are in the 3 rd Camp and find that we Wes included in a group with 7 New Zealand Hockey Players (Golden Oldies) who had been at the camp the previous afternoon.  

We see a variety of local birds whilst transiting to the Camp.  We arrive and are served a lovely luncheon.  The Camp,consists of 8 Glamping tents and a large central dining and lounge area.  We are in tent # 4 and make our way to our rent and Joachim following lunch, prior to our first safari drive commencing at 3.00pm.  Our guide is Daniel, a young but well experienced guide and driver and he gives us 3 wonderful days.

At 3.00pm we board our jeep for the first safari. We are all apprehensive but we quickly come in touch with the wonderful animals as we hear elephants feeding, then come across Girrafe, monkeys, donkeys and zebras as well as a variety of other birds and antelope .  It is a great start.  We then come across a large troupe of elephants grazing.  We then want to get to a waterhole by 5.15pm to see a whole range of animals come to drink. 

We make it and see a bewildering range of elephants, girrafes, zebras, and all sorts of bird life. 

Daniel decides it us time for a "sundowner" on a plain some 3km from the waterhole and we again see a variety if animals as we climb to our vantage point, where we enjoy drinks and canapés whilst taking in an outstanding sunset. 

Back to the Camp by 6.45pm in the dark, time to wash up and change for dinner.  We enjoy a 4 course dinner with wines from Stellanbosch.  A wonderful first day. 

We retire to our rent at 10.20pm.  We unpack and turn in by 10.45pm.  The morning will cone quickly. 

Our bathroom  

Our tent in Sibuya Forrest Camp  

Our bathroom  

17th April 2017. Drive to Kenton on Sea and boat trip to Sibuya Private Game Reserve.

We check out of the beautiful Conrad Pezula at 6.10am following 2 wonderful days.  We have a long drive to Kenton On Sea  , where we have to check in by 11.00am  with departure by boat to our camp and our safari experience for the next 3 days. The drive out of Knysna has us pointing directly east and we witness a spectacular sun-rise following a 20 minute drive through tortious roads before we reach the N2 expressway.

Ken then drives for nearly 3 hours 30 minutes before Jeanette takes over and gets us to Kenton on Sea at 10.45am, where we stop at a terrific coffee shop and enjoy a cappuccino and muffin, before we then return to the office and check in.  We have packed one of our Tauck bags together with hand luggage. 

Our initial journey following check in is a 40 minute boat trip on Kariega River back to the 3 Camps owned by Sibuya Forrest Camp.  We are in the 3 rd Camp and find that we Wes included in a group with 7 New Zealand Hockey Players (Golden Oldies) who had been at the camp the previous afternoon.  

We see a variety of local birds whilst transiting to the Camp.  We arrive and are served a lovely luncheon.  The Camp,consists of 8 Glamping tents and a large central dining and lounge area.  We are in tent # 4 and make our way to our rent and Joachim following lunch, prior to our first safari drive commencing at 3.00pm.  Our guide is Daniel, a young but well experienced guide and driver and he gives us 3 wonderful days.

At 3.00pm we board our jeep for the first safari. We are all apprehensive but we quickly come in touch with the wonderful animals as we hear elephants feeding, then come across Girrafe, monkeys, donkeys and zebras as well as a variety of other birds and antelope .  It is a great start.  We then come across a large troupe of elephants grazing.  We then want to get to a waterhole by 5.15pm to see a whole range of animals come to drink. 

We make it and see a bewildering range of elephants, girrafes, zebras, and all sorts of bird life. 

Daniel decides it us time for a "sundowner" on a plain some 3km from thevwaterhole and we again see a variety if animals as we climb to our carnage point, where we enjoy drinks and canapés whilst raking in an outstanding sunset. 

Back to the Camp by 6.45pm in the dark, time to wash up and change fir dinner.  We enjoy a 4 course dinner with wines from Stellanbosch.  A wonderful first day. 

We retire to our tentt at 10.20pm.  We unpack and turn in by 10.45pm.  The morning will cone quickly. 

14th April Beautiful Knysna and Conrad Pezula

We had a long drive yesterday from Hout Bay back toward CapeTown and the area called Newlands, where we stayed previously.  We then turned right and travelled toward the N2 expressway.  We had a long drive of some 6 hours.  

Ken drove the first 2 hours.  The drive was interesting and challenging as we initially drove toward the International Airport and passed by several shanty towns, but progressively the traffic thinned as we progressed through and over the mountains encircling this city, before commencing our long trip along the Garden Route eventually arriving in the village of Knysna after approximately 6 hours of driving.

Following the initial period, Jeanette took over the BMW and drove for almost 2 hours before we stopped for our lunch of rolls and fruit.  She is an excellent driver, and enjoyed this scenic drive initially through rolling hills following the rough mountains, but then our trip changed to the vast agricultural plains known as part of South Africa's food bowl.

In some respect this is like the flat low lying plains of central Victoria with the strong presence of wheat and sheep, but here it is a variety of grains and cattle.  We then entered a lush green area, where there is a heavy emphasis upon water use and the importance of the irrigation schemes.   

The time was passing very quickly and we thoroughly enjoyed the subtle but distinct changes in both the landscape and the agricultural pursuits as they changed.  After about 4 hours and 40 minutes we headed towards Mossel Bay  , famous for its oysters.  We then turned off and headed along the coastal areas where there are many very high sand drifts and much recent development activity with a variety of building types.

We arrived at Conrad Pezula a luxury resort sitting high on escarpments overlooking the lakes and waterways around Knysna.  It is stunningly beautiful.  We are greeted before reception, offered cold drinks and then processed through our check in.  We have 3 nights here in a villa / suite.  It is a beautifully designed resort overlooking the championship golf course with the ocean in the background, from the view from our suite.  Other suites look back over the village and waterways of Knysna.

Our suite is # 64 and located on a lower level, overlooking a stream and small lake. It is beautifully fitted and oh so private. 

We are delivered to the suite by the bellman ins golf cart and our luggage arrives bc is placed in the walk in suite. 

Jeanette decides that we will eat in the hotel at the Cafe Z which serves an offering of farm to table casual comfort food .  We change after showering and make our way to the restaurant having been driven up in the golf cart.

We enjoy a superb meal and Ken has 2 glasses of Good cab sav from Stellenbosch winery area.  Suddenly, we both realise that after a long drive we are tired.  We climb into bed quite early but sleep luxuriously until after 7.00am. 

Knysna is very much a typical hamlet sea side village going through all the pains of  facing the notion of beach house area, significant retirement growth and expensive real estate.  There are a variety of sea food and other restaurants at the waterfront.  But it is very much your seaside holiday township like Portsea, Sorrento and Torquay in Victoria.

We awake refreshed and hoping that yesterday's afternoon of cold unseasonal and wet weather will improve. Following breakfast Hardin our suite, we decide to drive back to the seaside township of Wilderness beside the Wilderness National Park. This is about an hous's drive along dome very special scenic outlook and stunning surf beaches.  During the night there was apparently some very heavy squalls and showers.

That continues to be the forecast for Good Friday and we are somewhat apprehensive as to being out in this weather.  But we make the effort and drive to Wilderness and tour through the park, visit the wild beach with raging surf and winds blowing a gale.  It is easy to understand how this township got its name.

We spend som 25 minutes on the beach, with the next heavy shower approaching quickly we scurry back to the BMW. We then drive about 10 minutes to an outlook which overlooks the wild beach for photos.

Jeanette wants several photos of this area, but as the weather changes again we decide it is timely to seek a place for lunch.  We are looking for Fish and Chips, but despite much being open on good Friday, it is all largely restaurant type food, not the cafe style meals.  We drive on and come to a small group of stores in another small hamlet and note an ld style cafe serving "Gordon's Fish and Chips".

An instant decision proves to be a very good decision.  We both enjoy a meal of fish and chips and salad and calamari basket with coleslaw .  We share a chocolate malted milk and can say we had a thoroughly meal.  Yes, spartan and old Worldy surrounds, but good food.

Jeanette decides we need to visit a supermarket for some gear for our future safari episodes.  We find all we need.

We are back at Conrad by 4.00pm after a terrific day out in the area and we haven't really been impacted by the inclement weather.

Dinner tonight at the Waterfront  .  Thus is a most enjoyable part of the world and we can see why there is dome much holiday traffic.

Attached are photos of the local area and beaches as well as our room #64 at Conrad, Pezula.

The superb outdoor areas provide panoramic views back over the township of Knysna and the waterways and harbour. 

The villa / suite is beautifully furnished and we look out over a serene water feature and out to the ocean

The beautiful small lake with running waterfall and lotus flowers. The ocean is over the back and the championship golf course is hidden behind the bushes and shrubbery. 

The wild surf beach at Wilderness .  Quite dramatic and wind swept with regular heavy squalls passing through the area. 

Wild 8-10 foot surf feature on the beautiful Wilderness beach.  The wind was blowing a gale.

6th April 2017 Arrival at ParkRoyal Airport Hotel , Melbourne and our flight to Perth.

We were picked up by a driver sent by our regular driver Gavin.  His vehicle was a new BMW 740 and we enjoyed the trip to Melbourne Airport.  Despite travelling from Wheelers Hill to the airport in peak traffic, it still was an easy 50 minute trip. 

The checkin at the ParkRoyal was smooth and we were in our room by 5.15pm.  The room is comfortable and whilst it is a little"tired" it is a good choice particularly with tomorrow's very early start.

We eat in and then it is an early night.  We have a wake up call for 4.30am, and this arrives on time and we have both slept pretty well.  We then check out and walk across the air bridge from the hotel to the domestic terminal and using our Qantas "Q" tag we are checked in within 10 minutes and then gave about 50 minutes to boarding of our QF 775 flight Melbourne to Perth.  We enjoy our aisle seats 44 a and b.  The meal for breakfast is fine.  We have a very good flight arriving on time at 8.45am collect our luggage by 9.15am and make our way to Hertz Car rental, where we pick up a Holden for the day.

We quickly programme our GPS and travel easily through the city and arrive in King's Park and Botanical Gardens on a perfect day with clear blue skies.  We walk through the beautiful gardens overlooking the Swan River and take in the stunning views over the city.  We also drove by the new Stadium being constructed across the Swan River. In the Burswood casino precinct.

Jeanette takes several photos and we then decide to have a coffee, before finalising our arrangements to meet up with Terry and Lindy Budge for dinner. 

Following the coffee we again walk back toward the driveway entrance to King's Park and take more photos including the magnificent gray gums which line the avenue. 

We have enjoyed these beautiful gardens on several occasions and take in the beauty and the colours overlooking our most distant capital city. 

Lunch then becomes our next subject, and we decide to travel to Fremantle the former major port and still a working harbour.  We aim to have a late lunch of fish and chips and sit and watch the harbour activity.  This is an easy 25 minute drive and we enjoy again seeing the old architectural type buildings of the 1880's, many of which have now been restored to their former glory. 

Ken parks the car and we walk to a former wharf store, called "E" Markets, where there are a variety of stores and restaurants. We select a small restaurant specialising in fish and select the daily specials of fish and chips and calamari etc.  We then spend over an hour watching the bustling port with several large container ships entering and departing Fremantle.  In many respects it still traces back to its working origins, despite it now being a trendy "yuppie " type area with major accommodation developments occurring and a stunning collection of restaurants.

We conclude lunch and Terry suggested that we visit Rockingham some 40km South, but also drive past the frigate construction  area.  We did this although have to admit couldn't get close and the wind was blowing a gale, but it showed us another Town of WA.

our drive from Rockingham to City Beach involved about 45 minutes, changing freeways.  Ken knew the general area, not far from Scarborough, where we have previously visited.  We arrived at City Beach for dinner at Odysea Restaurant, and Terry and Lindy arrived at about the same time.  We met in the car park and it was great to see them again and to catch up.  They are a lovely couple who have now been in Perth almost 20 years.  We worked together in NAB in the Australian Bank. 

Dinner was superb with beautiful food and a stunning outlook over a surf beach with spectacular waves.  It looked beautiful but it was also cold with a very strong breeze.

It was great to catch up and enjoy their company for a couple of hours, before we said our goodbyes and then drove the rental car back to the Hertz drop off and return at the International terminal.

Checkin was quick and we were in the Qantas lounge by 9.30pm so we still had almost 2 hours before our 11.15pm boarding.  The lounge is undergoing major refurbishment so seating was tight.  We have enjoyed a terrific day in Perth and to catch up with good friends over a lovely meal was a bonus.

Boarding commenced at 11.10pm and was very smooth.  We have travelled with South African airways previously and very much enjoyed their service.  We are seated in Business 15A and 15C and are comfortably seated by 11.25am.  We instruct the staff that we don't want any evening meal, but will change and hopefully sleep well following departure.  Interestingly, following departure and seat belt sign being turned off the service staff come along yo make up the beds with comfortable mattresses and warm doonas and good pillows.  We both then sleep really well over the next 7 hours, with only the occasional waking.  Breakfast is then served some 2 hours before landing.  We have had an excellent flight. Over the 10 hours 30 minutes everything gas gone well, we have slept well and are refreshed.  We are excited to be returning to Cape Town at the start of our African safari holiday.

Arrival goes like clockwork, we are through immigration and customs with all of our gear inside 35 minutes and are welcomed by a representative from Go2Africa, who then guides us to the Bidvest Car rental area at Capetown International Airport .  There is a lengthy queue and a delay of some 50 minutes.  We are taken to our car a light blue BMW320d, the luggage is loaded and all fits into the boot and we gave to make our way into Cape Town City centre.  The GPS works very well and some 30 minutes later we arrive at the Hilton Cape Town City Centre.  We are greeted by the Concierge named Paul, who arranges for transfer of our luggage.  

As Hilton Honors Gold members we are entitled to our room on arrival at whatever time anywhere in the world.  This is a great bonus, we check in and are ushered to the Executive lounge for a cool drink advised our upgraded room will be ready in 10 minutes.  Sure enough we are then shuffled to our room at 1.10pm and we are very pleased.  We have an executive king room with views out to Table mountain which is stunning.

We unpack and then plan our 3 days in CapeTown, a beautiful city with stunning scenery.

Ken goes for a walk down Bree and Long Streets, but we decide a rest and early night is the most practical thing before a busy day tomorrow .  We have a light meal in the executive lounge and a drink.  We are in bed by 9.00pm after a very long day travelling.  We are delighted that our flights worked well and Hilton Cape Town is very comfortable.  An excellent start.

Beautiful Perth from Kings Park

Entering Kings Park

Arrival at Hilton Cape Town

12th April 2017. Day trip to Cape Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope.

We awake to a perfect morning, with clear blue skies and little wind. 

Naturally we were excited to be going to the Cape of Good Hope after a stunning drive around the coast road through Chapman's Peak, then along the winding but spectacular coastal road right down the Peninsula.

Departure at 10.15am was ideal and the weather only improved as we commenced the drive paid the toll and just took in the breathtaking scenery.. 

We meandered our way along this road and frequently stopping for photos.  Some are displayed later. 

You drive some 50 km over about an hour before you reach the Cape of Good Hope National Park. This is a large national park with all of the security arrangements.  Jeanette decides that we will visit Cape Point light house and then ride the fenicular to the medium level and take photos where the 2 Oceans meet (Indian and Atlantic Oceans) and the scenery is quite stunning.  At the top after alighting the funicular, there are then another 200 steps up to the very top.  Needless to say we decided against attempting this climb.

We again start to see the many baboons and there are signs everywhere advising that they are dangerous , but also do not feed them. 

Our next detour takes us along the coast to the Cape of Good Hope sign posts and there is then a small queue to have photos taken.  From here we drive for some 40 minutes along the road beside stunning beaches with pure white sand.  There are also seals and some sea lions.

We have been very fortunate with the weather just about perfect.  But we are aware from the clouds building that there is a squally change approaching.   

Time for lunch ,but we decide to exit the park and make our way back along the first part of the winding road.   We intend eating overlooking the Ocean.  Eventually we stop overlooking a Bay, eat our rolls and fruit and reflect at 3.15pm what a perfect afternoon we have enjoyed with warm sun, no breeze and just stunning scenery. 

Jeanette is cooking fillet steaks tonight with potatoes, onion and salad followed by apple crumble.we are drinking a wine from Stellenbosch.  Life is just fantastic and how fortunate we are to do this. 

The amazing coast at Cape Point on The Peninsula. 

Ken had a beer on our first afternoon at Dunes restaurant in Hout Bay and then the following morning a jumbo cappacino.  Just stunning scenery in Hout Bay. 

The ocean beach at Cape of Good Hope

Baboons at play atop the vehicle next to our BMW. 

The view of Chapman's Peak from our balcony in Hout Bay

Beautiful Hout Bay

10th -13th April, 2017. CapeTown to Hout Bay and travel to Cape Point Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope

We departed CapeTown after arranging for a new SIM card and Jeanette had slain of sandals repaired.  We are travelling approximately 1 hour down the M6 to the coast and past the suburb of Camp Bay to the beautiful sea side resort town of Hout Bay, which is a oectacular Bay and harbour with a full range of water sport activities.  In the past it has been the beach and holiday resort town of the exclusive Cape Town wealthy and professionals such as medicos, lawyers and finance executives.  Today it is a famed seaside retreat.  We are travelling a little way beyond our route forward where we are planning to travel the famed beautiful garden route to Knysna. 

We have rented a 2 bedroom condo, supposedly with excellent Bay views.  We arrive and it is comfortable accommodation which overlooks the village area and is 2 streets back from the beach.

But it us clean, comfortable and fitted out extremely well. 

We shop for our 3 days and nights here.  Ken walks along the beach and stops for a beer at Dunes restaurant, right on the Bay.  We enjoy the late afternoon on our balcony overlooking the spectacular road around the rocky coast and the spectacular Chapman's Peak in front of us. 

This has worked out very well.  Weather is sunny and clear with a beautiful sunset. But a change us coming through tomorrow afternoon.  We plan to visit the Peninsula and go down to Cape of Good Hope tomorrow, so we want excellent weather.  Fingers crossed. 

Ken has trouble with the cable television so we both read and watch BBC news.  It us surprising to see the strong British influences that remain. 

The rocky Chapmans Peak taken from our balconies overlooking Hout Bay

8 th 9th and 10th arrival and stay at HILTON Cape Town, South Africa.

We enjoyed an excellent nights sleep notwithstanding that our body clock is out of whack.  We had breakfast of eggs benedict in the Executive lounge and then Jeanette decided that she wasn't 100, and suggested that Ken do the planned hop on - hop off Cape Town red line bus.  He caught the Hilton shuttle down tomVA waterfront from where he picked up the bus. 

It is a cool and blustery late morning, but the clouds are clearing over Table Mountain and the red line bus takes approximately 2 hours to travel through the downtown area and then up the road tomTable Mountain where it stops for 10 minutes for photos bur many people also leave the bus here and ride the cable car to the top.  Ken remains upon the bus, takes photos from the level where the cable car commences its climb and then back over the spectacular view to the city.

From here the bus then makes its May back toward the coast and eventually passes the 12 Apostles which are another protective range if small mountains which abut the coast behind Table Mountain. 

We then travel through narrow streets back to the coast and the beautiful Camp Bay Area, where we are treated to sunning landscapes, beautiful surf and then there are penguin beaches and seal rock, which has desks and sea lions sunning themselves. 

We then traverse the steep cliffs of some of the spectacular homes and apartments which have been constructed along the cliffs.

On our previous visit we had done this route but it was an unpleasant day, whereas this is just perfect with a light breeze.  The bus meanders through beachside suburbs before we start to nadir way back to V and A Waterfront, but before thud we pass the magnificent Cape Town Stadium which was constructed girl the World Cup (football/ soccer) where the final was played.

Eventaully we arrive back at V and A Waterfront at about 1.45pm.  Ken decides he will have some lunch at the small vendor markets and enjoys a vegetarian pastie and some Somosa which a yoghurt cone to finish.  Then sets off on a long walk around the waterfront, stands and watches the African musicians and then times his run to watch the old swing bridge open to allow several yachts and water cruisers through. 

He takes photos of the whole area and looks at several restaurants. 

There is also the Cape Wheel and plenty of entertainers and buskers.

From here Ken returns to the V and A  Hotel and enters the lounge area for a beer and watches the passing traffic. 

The Hilton shuttle arrives on time at 4.15pm and returns to the hotel.  Ken is tired from all of the walking. 

Delighted to see Jeanette up and feeling much better. We had planned to go out to a restaurant, but Jeanette suggests we eat in at the Executive lounge and then just watch television.

It has been a most enjoyable day.  In many respects our time here in Cape Town has been too short, but we were fortunate to have 5 days when we visited 3 years ago.

Table Mountain from V and A Waterfront  

Table Mountain shrouded in cloud as we look out over the former "Slave township" which is now full of brightly coloured renovated small homes.  It was initially located here to provide cheap labour as servants for the many mansions built in this locale of Cape Town the commercial shipping hub of South Africa.