Travel Designers The Eastern Cape South Africa was not a destination on my bucket list to visit in South Africa. However, It’s strange that often something you thought you would not like turns out to be something you actually love. Whether it be a person, a place or a thing, you have to keep your mind and heart open and be willing to give anything a try. This is true of my recent visit to South Africa, a country that has always intrigued me but never had a big enough draw to make me book and go.
As a travel agent, I make myself visit one of these destinations each year to explore and learn about the country. Normally these events are arranged by the tourist board or an operator looking to increase sales to a certain part of the country. My visit to South Africa this time was hosted by Follow Me 2 Africa our ground agent for all our South African Itineraries. Our itinerary is packed with a tour of the Karoo region in the Eastern Cape, an untouched region just outside of the very popular famous “Garden Route”
We fly into Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg from London arriving overnight and hitting the road on arrival with a 4-hour drive to Craddock. (Personally, The 4-hour drive after that long flight is too much to do all at once and I would recommend an overnight in Johannesburg with a city tour, then travel down to Port Elizabeth first thing in the morning.)
The drive is interesting as the landscape could be that of my home country, Scotland but the vastness is much greater. You can see for miles, just land, and no buildings. We arrive late afternoon in Craddock and check in to the Die Tuilehouse for one night, an elegant collection of restored Victorian-era Karoo guest houses. Tonight, a buffet dinner offering hearty country fare is hosted by the hotel after a visit to the Township where we are treated to a local band practicing on their front porch.
It’s a different experience to any music event I have been to and standing in the dirt street with these run-down houses it reminds us of the extreme wealth gap in South Africa. The music is calming and as the sunsets, the smells of dinner being cooked move us back to the hotel for our own meal.
During our entire stay, we do not experience one bad meal, the food in South Africa is very good with a wide verity of choice. In particular the lamb from the Karoo region is excellent and of course, that is what is on the menu for our first night. To be fair it’s an option most days in various different styles.
After a good nights sleep we are off up an on our way for a visit to the National Zebra Park for some cheetah trekking, home to an abundance of wildlife with over 700 Zebra, cheetah, lion, buffalo, eland, kudu, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, blesbok, and gemsbok to name just a few.. The park is vast with over 28 412 hectares of land offering you a personal wilderness experience to remember. We transfer from our minivan into a safari jeep and head off into the park, after 3 hours of driving and 1 hour on foot we are rewarded with the sight of two Cheetahs sleeping of a recent feed of their latest kill. We get up close and take pictures, it’s our first close up experience with the wild, and it does not disappoint. Just an amazing experience.
Our hotel for the next 2 nights is the Drostdy in Graaff Reinet a beautiful boutique hotel which has just completed a 2-year refurbishment program. We stop en-route at The Owl House in Niue Bethesda for a walking tour of the town and the Owl House. If you like strange and whacky art then consider a visit here. Personally, it just left me asking why?
Graaff Reinet is so prettier with more to do and see so I would not miss this one out. At least 2 or 3 nights stay in the Drostdy would allow you time to chill out and enjoy the service of this luxury boutique hotel. Great little shops to browse and fabulous restaurants to eat in each night.
Our first night in Graaf Reinet we are hosted for dinner in the hotel’s restaurant which has lovely casual dining feel to it with a stunning menu. Lamb from the Karoo region features in many was from Koftas, shanks, and rack of lamb. No one is disappointed with the meal as the food and service are just excellent. We return to our rooms for a very comfortable nights sleep.
Today we have a private guide, David McNaughton for a tour of the town of Graaff Reinet visiting the museum, church, cactus center and the local shops for some souvenirs. Wood Carvings, beaded animal ornaments, and animal skins are in most shops and of course mohair features.
The cactus center is a fun trip from the moment you arrive. You are welcomed with a sign “Where is Harvey Oswald when you need him” it’s a protest to the American people for electing Trump as president. Americans are banned from visiting which adds to the craziness. If you like cactus you are in for a treat with so many different varieties.
We take a drive up to the Valley of Desolation for a sunset picnic, this is the ultimate end to this day of sight-seeing, the vistas are just stunning. A must to do in this area as the experience is just stunning. Our picnic is perfect for the setting and of course it includes a selection of the wonderful South African wines available in the area.
We leave Graff Reinet and head to Mount Camdeboo for our safari experience for the next two nights. We arrive at the gate of this privately owned game reserve and enter a code for entry to the game reserve. The drive down the house which is 27km of dirt road from the main road.
Game drives are early morning and late afternoon so be prepared for that 5.30 alarm call. The early rise is worth it for the experience. The vastness of the reserve leads to many experiences other than your normal game drive experiences.
The morning game drive can take you high into the hills above the cloud line. Sit waiting for the clouds to lift with coffee and freshly baked cakes. It’s a stunning sight to experience and a feeling of being on top of the world.
Afternoon game drives have a lovely finish to them with a sundowner of your choice out of the back of a Land Rover. Gin and Tonics or great South African wines with South African sausages cooked on a small burner. Sit back and watch the silhouettes of the animals in the sunset. It’s just Heaven.
Our last night is in Port Elizabeth, down on the coast. It’s a beach town offering a variety of accommodation from self-catering to boutique hotels. From here it is also possible to do a day safari to Addo Elephant Reserve. The airport connects with the major cities so a great arrival or departure destination when doing the Garden Route or the Northern Cape.