South Africa Escapade 2002


Jan & Yew Meng South Africa Escapade
22^nd to 30^th December ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002
▼click link to access page ▼ Traveling Route Map Day 1 Stellenbosch Gordon's Bay Day 2 Stellenbosch Cape Town V&A Waterfront Topless Bus Day 3 Robben Island Green Market Square Table Mountain Camps Bay Day 4 Hermanus Fernkloof Natures Reserve Day 5 Boetliekop Game Reserve Kynsna Day 6 Kynsna Tsitsikamma Boulkran Bridge Day 7 Plattenberg Bay Storms River (Tsitsikamma) Oudtshoorn Route 62 Mama Africa Day 8 Cape Peninsula Drive Cape Point Day 9 On the way home Useful Links ___________ Tourist Information Cape Town Tourism Cape Town & Western Cape Garden Route Accommodation South Africa Self Tour ___________ Town Information Stellenbosch Gordon's Bay Hermanus Kynsna Plattenberg Bay Oudtshoorn ___________ Places of Interest Table Mountain Robben Island Cape Point Botlierskop Game Reserve Ocean Safari Cape Peninsula National Park Two Ocean Aquarium South Africa National Park Fernkloof Nature Reserve Storms River (Tsitsikamma) ____________ Guest House we stayed in Knorhoek (Stellenbosch) Bergzicht (Cape Town) Baleia de Hermanus (Hermanus) Black Waters River Lodge (Kynsna) ____________ Recommended Vineyards Knorhoek Spier Estate Neethlingshof Simonsig Kanonkop ___________ Recommended Restaurant Eating out at South Africa Fishmonger@Stellenbosch Bientang's Cave Restaurant Ocean Basket Dros Mama Africa Five Flies ___________ @ e-mail us	Day 1 We touched down at Cape Town International Airport at approximately 8.50am, as per schedule. We felt fresh and alert, no sign of jet lag or whatsoever. Could be that we had enough sleep in the plane or from the excitement! Whatever it is, we’re not complaining at all. After all, this is the beginning of our 8-day holiday in Cape Town! Immigration clearance was quick and hassle-free on Sunday morning. We headed straight to the Avis counter to collect our car. Excellent customer service and were happy to be given a brand new white 1.6 Megane. The Tourist Information counter was next, to gather more information. Clear blue sky and cooling breeze greeted us, as we walked out of the airport. Once we collected our car, we’re set for Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch Stellenbosch, the oldest town in SA, is synonymous with the oldest Wine Route in South Africa and is the heart of the wine industry. Approximately 40 minutes away from Cape Town., the drive from N2 was simply beautiful. Excellent road condition and beautiful weather, driving was a cruise on Sunday morning. We passed by many beautiful vineyards, lots of greens. Most of the shops were closed, except for restaurants and cafes. By the time we reached Knorhoek, our guesthouse, it was almost noon. Knorhoek is a beautiful guesthouse with modest and clean room. Stepping into Fishmonger almost felt like home! Our very own Fish & Co must have got the concept from this restaurant!! Unbeatable selection of fresh fish, i.e. line fish, shellfish & calamari was heavenly with wine. Ambience was great and we stayed longer than planned. Vineyard hopping started after lunch. First stop was at Spier Estate, one of the better-known wine estates. This wine estate is rather unique and is a hit with locals and tourists. There were leisure activities, i.e. horse-ride, golf course and there were many visitors picnicking. There were also hand-raised cheetahs, which is now the most threatened in SA. We also tasted some South African wine, very cheap @ R6 for 5 tasting. Needless to say, we bought some bottles of Rose and Pinotage. Neethlingshof was next. We drove up the unique kilometer-long Pine Avenue to reach the more than 300 year-old farm yard with its Cape Dutch buildings. Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Pinotage are among the superb wine produced here. Between Spier and Neethlingshof, both of us have had 10 -15 tasting and by this time, it was difficult to differentiate the wine!! Besides the tasting, we also had a few drinks in between. Thank god Yew Meng was still able to drive – never had so much wine within an afternoon!! As most of the wine farms were closed - it was almost 5pm; we explored around Stellenbosch and then headed towards Gordon’s Bay. Gordon’s Bay Via R44, Gordon’s Bay is a good 40 minutes drive from Stellenbosch. We passed through a couple of smaller towns. Set against the steep mountains of the Helderberg, this scenic seaside town with its bustling waterfront was packed with holidaymakers and the locals. There were lots of people fishing leisurely - we hardly see any fishes caught!! We guess it’s more to sunbathe and drink beer. We tried to swim but the Atlantic Ocean was icy cold (to us at least), but there were still children happily dipping away…grrr. Hence we just relaxed with a leisure stroll along the harbour wall and watched the sunsets – was simply awesome!!	▼ click to enlarge image ▼ In Transit Johannesburg at 5:30am (GMT +2) local time. Arrival at Cape Town Our plane 'Seremban' arriving at Cape Town Int'l Airport. The Camera A message to all guests Stellenbosch landscape Arrived Stellenbosch at 11:15am Sunday Spier Estate At the entrance of craft market Spier Estate craft market Checking out the handicraft market Spier Estate@Stellenbosch Checking out the Africans style hammock Along the Wine Route The second vineyard along the wine route we visited during the day Entrance to Neethlingshof 'The unique Pine Avenue, that's distinctive to Neethlingshof' Wine Tasting Having a bit too much for the day...:-) Wine Tasting Room The entrance to the wine tasting room Another Vineyard at Stellenbosch Took this at a vineyard which happens to be closed for the day Gordon's Bay The harbour is extended far out to the sea. Sunset at 8:00 p.m. Taken at Gordon's Bay, along the beach Day 2 ►

Jan & Yew Meng South Africa Escapade

22^nd to 30^th December ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002

▼click link to access page ▼

Traveling Route Map

Day 1
Stellenbosch
Gordon's Bay

Day 2
Stellenbosch
Cape Town

V&A Waterfront

Topless Bus

Day 3

Robben Island
Green Market Square
Table Mountain
Camps Bay

Day 4
Hermanus
Fernkloof Natures Reserve

Day 5

Boetliekop Game Reserve

Kynsna

Day 6

Kynsna

Tsitsikamma

Boulkran Bridge

Day 7

Plattenberg Bay

Storms River

(Tsitsikamma)

Oudtshoorn

Route 62

Mama Africa

Day 8

Cape Peninsula Drive

Cape Point

Day 9

On the way home

Useful Links

___________

Tourist Information

Cape Town Tourism

Cape Town & Western Cape

Garden Route Accommodation

South Africa Self Tour

___________

Town Information

___________

Places of Interest

Table Mountain

Robben Island

Cape Point

Botlierskop Game Reserve

Ocean Safari

Cape Peninsula National Park

Two Ocean Aquarium

South Africa National Park

Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Storms River (Tsitsikamma)

____________

Guest House we stayed in

Knorhoek (Stellenbosch)

Bergzicht (Cape Town)

Baleia de Hermanus (Hermanus)

Black Waters River Lodge (Kynsna)

____________

Recommended Vineyards

___________

Recommended Restaurant

Eating out at South Africa

Fishmonger@Stellenbosch

Bientang's Cave Restaurant

___________

Day 1

We touched down at Cape Town International Airport at approximately 8.50am, as per schedule. We felt fresh and alert, no sign of jet lag or whatsoever. Could be that we had enough sleep in the plane or from the excitement! Whatever it is, we’re not complaining at all. After all, this is the beginning of our 8-day holiday in Cape Town! Immigration clearance was quick and hassle-free on Sunday morning. We headed straight to the Avis counter to collect our car. Excellent customer service and were happy to be given a brand new white 1.6 Megane. The Tourist Information counter was next, to gather more information.

Clear blue sky and cooling breeze greeted us, as we walked out of the airport. Once we collected our car, we’re set for Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch, the oldest town in SA, is synonymous with the oldest Wine Route in South Africa and is the heart of the wine industry. Approximately 40 minutes away from Cape Town., the drive from N2 was simply beautiful. Excellent road condition and beautiful weather, driving was a cruise on Sunday morning. We passed by many beautiful vineyards, lots of greens. Most of the shops were closed, except for restaurants and cafes. By the time we reached Knorhoek, our guesthouse, it was almost noon. Knorhoek is a beautiful guesthouse with modest and clean room.

Stepping into Fishmonger almost felt like home! Our very own Fish & Co must have got the concept from this restaurant!! Unbeatable selection of fresh fish, i.e. line fish, shellfish & calamari was heavenly with wine. Ambience was great and we stayed longer than planned.

Vineyard hopping started after lunch. First stop was at Spier Estate, one of the better-known wine estates. This wine estate is rather unique and is a hit with locals and tourists. There were leisure activities, i.e. horse-ride, golf course and there were many visitors picnicking. There were also hand-raised cheetahs, which is now the most threatened in SA. We also tasted some South African wine, very cheap @ R6 for 5 tasting. Needless to say, we bought some bottles of Rose and Pinotage. Neethlingshof was next. We drove up the unique kilometer-long Pine Avenue to reach the more than 300 year-old farm yard with its Cape Dutch buildings. Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Pinotage are among the superb wine produced here. Between Spier and Neethlingshof, both of us have had 10 -15 tasting and by this time, it was difficult to differentiate the wine!! Besides the tasting, we also had a few drinks in between. Thank god Yew Meng was still able to drive – never had so much wine within an afternoon!! As most of the wine farms were closed - it was almost 5pm; we explored around Stellenbosch and then headed towards Gordon’s Bay.

Gordon’s Bay

Via R44, Gordon’s Bay is a good 40 minutes drive from Stellenbosch. We passed through a couple of smaller towns. Set against the steep mountains of the Helderberg, this scenic seaside town with its bustling waterfront was packed with holidaymakers and the locals. There were lots of people fishing leisurely - we hardly see any fishes caught!! We guess it’s more to sunbathe and drink beer. We tried to swim but the Atlantic Ocean was icy cold (to us at least), but there were still children happily dipping away…grrr. Hence we just relaxed with a leisure stroll along the harbour wall and watched the sunsets – was simply awesome!!

▼ click to enlarge image ▼

In Transit
Johannesburg at 5:30am (GMT +2) local time.