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Category: Western Cape

Hartenbos South Africa

I got to the coast and looked for a place to stay for the night, desperately wanting to find internet so I could post about my eventful day caving and ostrich riding.

Outside of room at Riviera Hartenbos Garden Route Western Cape South Africa

I drove past Hartenbos to Mossel Bay and back thinking I’d spend a little extra tonight and get a room with a view of the Indian Ocean.

Bed & living room at Riviera Hartenbos Garden Route Western Cape South Africa

And I settled with the Riveria in Hartenbos, with no internet.

Livingroom & hall past bedroom to bathroom & back door at Riviera Hartenbos Garden Route Western Cape South Africa

And a very comfortable set up with front and back door.  Unfortunately no view of the ocean.

Dining room & bar at Riviera Hartenbos Garden Route Western Cape South Africa

I was the only guest in the dinning room (top floor).

Chicken, potato, cabbage & vegie dinner Riviera Hartenbos Garden Route Western Cape South Africa

Their loss as the meal was delicious.

Sunset over river mouth into Indian Ocean Riviera Hartenbos Garden Route Western Cape South Africa

And the view superb.

Sunset over river with bridge Riviera Hartenbos Garden Route Western Cape South Africa

Including the setting sun.

Sunset, moon & lit cross reflected in river Riviera Hartenbos Garden Route Western Cape South Africa

Plus sweet dreams of exploring more of the coast.

Hartenbos, South Africa , , 10 Comments

Cango Cave South Africa

Crawling underground in Cango Cave South Africa

Tunnel of Love squeeze Cango Cave Little Karoo Western Cape SA

Entering the Tunnel of Love

I really enjoy crawling around underground and sliding through small holes surrounded by mother earth. Call me crazy. And yea, I know caving isn’t for everybody, especially claustrophobics. Not my problem. Just don’t take me to a crowded shopping mall.

Sunrise George Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

After a great night’s rest at The Red House B&B in George I headed inland towards Oudtshoorn, destination Cango Cave.

Vineyard N12 Outeniqua Moountains Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

The drive over the Outeniqua Mountains was fabulous.

Cango Ostrich Farm R328 Oudtshoorn Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

And the Klein Karoo is rich in vineyards and ostriches.

Cango Cave map Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

Cango Cave offers two tours, Standard and Adventure.

Tight spots signs Cango Cave South Africa 

Not too hard to figure out which tour I went for.

Cango Cave entrance Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa 

I joined my tour group of about 20 people plus a very competent guide and we entered the 67F/18C degree cave for a 1 1/2 hour tour.

Throne Room Cango Cave Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

The cave formed in limestone deposited by an ancient sea about 800 million years ago followed by uplift 100s of millions years later.

Column Throne room Cango Cave Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

Artifacts like pot fragments, bone and stone points and ostrich shell beads, pictographs and hearths found at the cave opening indicate early hunter/gatherers used the cave up to 80,000 years ago followed by more modern herders.

Jacobs Ladder Cango Cave Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

Walking over 200 steps on Jacob’s Ladder led us deeper into the cave beyond the typical “Standard” tour route and past some exquisite cave formations. Then the Tunnel of Love starts the challenge of squeeze as seen in the first photo.

Gaelyn in the Chimney Cango Cave South Africa

But the Devil’s Chimney proved to be the trickiest. And some people didn’t do it and where fortunate that there as a loop back.

Arrow to Devil's Coffin Cango Cave Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

After squirming through the chimney into a larger chamber I confronted an even smaller opening at the Devil’s Postbox where I crawled on my belly a couple body lengths and finally slid on my butt…

Gaelyn in the Coffin Cango Cave Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

…returning to The Coffin, which is the beginning and end of the final circular route.

R328 S Little Karoo Western Cape South Africa

This was an awesome cave and I saw a lot of places I wanted to crawl into, if it had been allowed. Yet the road called so I backtracked to the Cango Ostrich Farm where you can see me tangle with one of those bad boys.

Cango Cave, South Africa , 16 Comments

Morning light over the Outeniqua Mountains South Africa

01 N12 N Outeniqua Mts Little Karoo Western Cape ZA (1024x767)

After staying over night in George at The Red House B&B I was off early to Cango Cave.

02 N12 N Outeniqua Mts Little Karoo Western Cape ZA (1024x743)

The drive away from the coast into the Outeniqua Mountains was spectacular as I headed towards Oudtshoorn.

03 N12 N Littlr Karoo Western Cape ZA (1024x649)

Outeniqua is said to be derived from a Khoisan tribe that once lived in these mountains and means “they who bear honey”.

04 R328 N Little Karoo Western Cape ZA (1024x767)

Sure was a sweet drive.

skywatch friday image

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Outeniqua Mountains, Sky Watch Friday meme, South Africa, Western Cape , , 16 Comments

Lijit

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