Ever since the fifth grade when we learned about the Explorers, I have been fascinated by both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn. They seemed such an intoxicating blend of danger and wild beauty. I never expected to see one of them in person, but when the South Africa trip emerged as a reality, I knew a visit… Read more »
Dazzled. That’s the word. Also totally smitten. I have run out of words to describe the beauty and wonder of South Africa. Gorgeous, amazing, stunning, awesome, fantastic. I’m sure I’ve used them all and none too sparingly. But I have yet to evoke that amped up state of my emotions, the it’s-so-great-to-be-alive exhilaration that I almost always experience when I… Read more »
Waterkloof was our raison d’être–that is, our original idea to come to South Africa was because of Ray’s relationship with the son of the owner. Unlike the grand old vineyard estates closer to Stellenbosch, which closely resembled those in Napa or in France, Waterkloof is at once ultra-modern and really old-fashioned. This biodynamic farm uses horses to plow its fields,… Read more »
We left Oudtshoorn and headed west on Route 62, and after a couple of hours of driving we crossed into wine country. Suddenly the desert was behind us and the vegetation became more lush. There were also more people in the towns we drove through, and more restaurants. It was lunch time so we consulted with Trip Advisor, which incidentally… Read more »
I think I had maybe heard the word Karoo somewhere, sometime, but we really didn’t know what it was all about. Probably you don’t either. So this is the region in South Africa on the other side of the mountains that separate it from the lush coast. There is the Karoo, strictly speaking further north, and the little Karoo where… Read more »
We were driven to the airport by Edgar, another vivacious Xhosan, and Ray, of course, got his whole life story. Leaving the reserve we saw the most majestic gathering of animals of the whole trip! We left the tiny Hoedspriut airport (which, btw, was adorable!) and flew to Cape Town and then caught another plane to George, a medium sized… Read more »
We are not exactly the safari type. That is, it always seemed like a white privilege ultra touristy somewhat inauthentic experience. But since we were coming to Africa, the lure was too strong. Everyone told us to come to Kruger. But then again, everyone told me to go to the San Diego Zoo and I am so, so not a… Read more »
South Africa was calling, and we decided to heed the call. Ray has some excellent wine contacts in Stellenbosch, and many of my former students had returned absolutely in love. My extra income made it seem more doable, and it really was time for us to break free from Europe–not forever of course, but there is a big world out… Read more »