Cape of Good Hope / Whales just off the Hermanus coast
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16-days 7 - 22 Oct 2004 Cape Town & Garden Route
Day 1: The group, comprising of 17 ladies and 4 men, assembled at KLIA for the midnight flight to Cape Town.
Day 2 Stellenbosch: Upon arrival we proceeded to Stellenbosch and had lunch at the University Mall. After checking into our rooms, we visited the Village Musuem, which is a collection of 18th century restored houses. Then we walked about the Braak or Town Square.
Day 3 Stellenbosch to Hermanus: In the morning we visited the Bergkelder for wine tasting and tour. We also visited the Simonsberg Cheese Factory. On our way to Hermanus, we stopped at a strawberry farm. We took the scenic coastal drive to Hermanus, arriving early evening.
Day 4 Hermanus: This place is world famous for being the best off-shore whale watching site. Sept Oct are the peak months of the whale watching season and we saw many whales in Walker Bay just from out bedroom windows that was facing the open seas. We did a short walk in Fernklof Nature Reserve with its rich diversity of wildflowers and a photo stop at a viewpoint above the town.
Day 5 Cape Agulhas: It was a short drive to the pretty little town of Bredasdorp and the Kapula Candle factory. After lunch we drove on to Arniston and viewed the famed fisherman cottages. The hundred year old homes are still in use today. Our last stop for the day was Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa, aka as the Foot of Africa. There is a lighthouse museum here.
Day 6 Montagu: In the morning, we went on a tour of the coloured township of Struisbaai, known to have the longest beach in South Africa. This took up most of the morning and we arrived in Montagu at 5pm. We shopped awhile in town before adjorning to our five-stars accomodation located near the famous hot mineral pools. Montagus a favourite weekend retreat for local South Africans.
Day 7 Montagu to Oudtshoorn: The 240kms trip passed through scenic fruit orchards and high mountain terrain. Also know as the little Karoo or mountains, it forms part of the highland plateau found in Central South Africa. We managed a stop in Calitzdorp, the port wine capital of South Africa. By the time we arrive in Oudtshoorn, it was late.
Day 8 Oudtshoorn: The day began at the Safari Ostrich Farm and the usual tour of the working farm and taking pictures sitting ontop of the ostriches. This was followed by a visit to the Cango Wildlife Center, one of the few successful breeding place for cheetahs. Lastly we went to the Cango Caves, the best in South Africa. Some opted for the 1.5hrs adventure caving involving climbing and crawling through some very tight holes. The rest of the evening was spend at the shopping mall.
Town of Agulhas / Wine tasting Bergelder
Day 9 Knysna & Wilderness NP: Some 180kms is George, where we caught the world famous Outeniqua Cho-Tjoe, a steam train running along a spectacular line to Knysna, a very pretty seaside tourist town. Some had oysters, which this town is famous for. After moving about the seaside mall, we on to Wilderness National Park.
Day 10 Mossel Bay: In the morning I took some members on the Pied Kingfisher Trail that passes through the reeds of the wetlands, offering many differing types of flowers and vegetation. We lunched in Mossel Bay before visiting the Diaz Musuem. This on every tour program covering the Garden route and houses a caravel (wooden ship), which replicates the ship of Bartholomeu Diaz.
Day 11 Swellendam: In the morning we opted for a cruise on the Ramonza, a sailing schooner to seal island, just off the coast of Mossel Bay. The next stop was the aleo ferox factory before heading on to Swellendam and the Drostdy House, reputed to be one of the best museum complex in South Africa. At night a local coloured friend took some of us to the local shabeens or drinking houses.
Day 12 Cape Town: On the way to Cape Town, we stopped at an apple orchard for a visit. In season, one can pick as much as one likes for the cost of admission. We were driven around in a tractor trailer. We also dropped in the Somerset Mall, a very popular shopping center for locals. Our final stop for the day was the Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town, rated one the best in the world.
Day 13 Cape Peninsular: Early in the morning we drove to Cape of Good Hope and was rewarded by great morning views of wild bontepoks and ostriches on the coastline. There were also few tour buses. After finishing, we head on to Simons Town to see the penguins of Boulder Beach. Another standard stop are the colourful bath houses of Muizenberg. Having more time on our hands, we headed to Table Mountains for a ride up the cable car.
Day 14 Victoria & Albert Waterfront: Our first stop was Groot Constantia, the oldest and grandest winery in the Cape region. We had good weather for most of the days we were in SA but suddenly it rained the whole day. We went to Blouberstrand to catch the view of the whole Table Mountain. All we could see was a think blanket of clouds. We spend the rest of the day at the V&A Waterfront and the Aquarium. This huge complex of shops and eateries is popular with tourists.
Day 15 Go Home: Went to the airport for our 10am flight home.
Day 16 Fri KL: Arrive in Kuala Lumpur 6am.
Self-catered meal / Strawberries in season
Email: yongleemin@pd.jaring.my or yongleekeng@yahoo.com
Phone: Lee Min: 016-220 9033 or 603-4023 8210
Phone: Lee Keng: 012-315 8353 or 603-6137 9937
Address: No 2 Lrg Air Bersih Satu, Air Panas, 53200 Kuala Lumpur
