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Category: South Africa

A visit to Addo Elephant Park South Africa

Sunrise Bob & Lesely's CSers Gonubie Eastern Cape South Africa

Sunrise over the Indian Ocean

After a marvelous stay with CouchSurfers in Gonubie…

N2 West Eastern Cape South Africa

…I continued my journey west along N2 headed to Addo Elephant National Park.

Farm Stall at jct N2 & N10 Eastern Cape South Africa

At the turn off to Addo I stopped for a quick lunch of lamb/mint pie. Like pot-pies, which I’ve never really cared for, only much better.

Made a quick stop in the Visitor Center then with park map beside me cruised the dirt roads in search of wildlife.

Warthogs Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

The first animals I saw were a couple of warthogs. Not the cutest critters out there. And I wanted to see elephants.

Tortoise at Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

This football-sized tortoise ambled along the road. Check out that tongue. But where are the elephants?

Distant rainy sky over horizon Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

The rolling hills offered some distant views.

Elephants Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

Finally I got to see elephants. When at Kruger National Park they were my favorite animal of all.

Buffalos Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

Then buffalos. Yes, there’s two of them there.

Elephants Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

And more elephants.

Elephant Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

This elephant was headed my way.

Prickly Pear Cactus loaded with fruit Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

The landscape amazed me, so much diversity.

Indian Ocean view from drive through Addo Elephant National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

Had thought about staying in Port Elizabeth and connecting with fellow blogger Jonker but the sight of the city didn’t call me so I continued a little farther west to Seaview where I found another sweet B&B.

 

Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa , , 19 Comments

Couch Surfing in South Africa

Great Kei River Bridge N2 W Eastern Cape South Africa

After the excitement of meeting some of the Mount Frerer police to straighten out a little fender bender and getting a new rental car my journey continued west through the Eastern Cape to my first experience Couch Surfing in South Africa. A magnificent drive across a land of gentle hills and rivers.

Indian Ocean & firepit in backyard of Bob & Lesely CSers Gonubie Eastern Cape South Africa

I’d tried to pre-arrange staying with several Couch Surfers during my visit in South Africa but due to my lack of timed schedule most didn’t work out. Not so with Bob and wife Lesely in Gonubie along the Indian Ocean.

Backyard & house Bob & Lesely's CSers Gonubie Eastern Cape South Africa

A brai, or BBQ, was planed for the evening with a few friends coming over. Even with a few sprinkles of rain there was a magnificent sharing of food and fun.

Bella, Lesley & Ron Gonubie Eastern Cape South Africa

After most of the guests left the party continued inside at the bar with Bella another CSer from Australia, Lesely and Ron.

Paintings on bedroom wall at CSers

I finally slipped off to my room, wonderfully painted by Lesely’s daughter who no longer lives at home.Great Fish River Bridge N2 West Eastern Cape South Africa

And after a delightful breakfast and coffee overlooking the Indian Ocean I continued my journey west to Addo Elephant Park.

Eastern Cape, South Africa , 6 Comments

On my own in South Africa

VW Citigulf Caravan Park Kingsburgh KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

From Monks Cowl camp Joan took me to Escort to pick up my rental car, a VW Citi Gulf. It was now time to say goodbye to Joan as she returned to work and I continued adventuring on my own. Along with good map reading and navigating skills. Plus, I did get to practice driving on the left side of the road in Kruger. Not too difficult. Just stay between the lines, follow the car in front of you and think real hard about turns.

Indian Ocean R61 KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

After getting lost, and helped, twice, thus happily bypassing Durban, I made it to the coast. Tried to sleep in the back seat at a caravan park near Kingsburgh. Didn’t work. At least not the sleeping part. Should have bought a small cheap tent. Next time.

N2 west KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

In the early morning I headed confidently down the coast, basically westward along N2.

R61 north Eastern Cape South Africa

Somehow I missed a turn and found myself on an alternate route, R61, north of Port Edward. But the map showed I end up meeting back up with N2 inland near Kokstad.

R61 North Eastern Cape South Africa

Good deal. And beautiful scenery on a two lane tarred road instead of the faster National expressway.

06 N2 W Eastern Cape ZA (1024x469)

Which I eventually turned back onto continuing west through the rolling green hills of the Eastern Cape. I figured on a long day of driving to get to Gonubie where I would try to stay with a CouchSurfer host.

N2 West Mount Frere Eastern Cape South Africa

Mount Frere

Yet, all plans don’t go as expected, or something like that. I was in a little car wreck. And after driving lots of miles ended up with a different rental car, a Yaris, also not meant to sleep in.

Courtyard at TeTeMuka B&B Lodge Kokstad KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

However, all this introduced me to staying at B&Bs, of which there are Many reasonably priced choices in South Africa. The first as I backtracked through Kokstad at the TeTemuka where I felt like family complete with pets.

N2 West Eastern Cape South Africa

Finally resettled into my journey, I continued west, back past the accident place, and beyond through the Eastern Cape to experience more South Africa adventures.

Eastern Cape, South Africa , 5 Comments

Lijit

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