Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cats!!!

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

The Old House was a small character filled place. And I love character and quirkiness. So travellers love the predictability, and sameness, of chain otels. I love places like The Old House and it is highly recommended by me.

It attracted a lot of locals and I noted Guides of various 4WD Groups that were not staying there would also just drop in for a drink and a chat.

A couple were at first excited to meet me, but then a tad disappointed when I explained that my accent was not that of a Kiwi, but of an Aussie. South Africa at the time was beating NZ ina rugby match! We still had a great chat and they gave me a number of tips for my upcoming time in Cape Town.

On checking my email after breakfast, three other locals wandered past....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Back in the air!

We flew to JNB on SA Express as there were no direct flights to Cape Town. We overnighted at The Aviator which is decorated in an aviation and airline theme, and they have done a good job at it. It was good value with great convenience includinga free shuttle. However on arriving our long booked doule room was a twin, with the excuse that the various booking engines had overbooked double rooms. I refused to accept this and spoke to the duty manager and thus secured our booked double room.

Back to JNB in the morning for our flight on the quirkilly painted Kulula plane.

However first to go throuh security.

Mmmmmmm is it a good thing, or a bad thing, that there is separate Firearm/Weapon check-in ??? :shock:

Approaching Cape Town looking at the window gave us an inkling of the vistas that would soon be ours.

Landing at Cape Town Airport = CPT

While the rest of the trip (both before and after) very much focussed on wildlife and adventure travel, the upcoming week was to be an indulagent one where we would sup fully on the views, the food, the wine and the luxury!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

After so many thousands of kilometres on rough roads, normally with endless speed humps and with a 4WD suspension is was quite a change on picking up our hire car from AVIS to be straight on a 120kmph SMOOTH freeway with little traffic on it, and all with great views as we headed towards the wine region.

Within half an hour we were in the wine region.

And our first stop in The Cape Town Region was to be a very, very special one.... and we are almost there!

And in a trip that kept surprising and in exceeding our expectations this next destination turned out to be stellar....

Drumroll....

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Thought you might like this pic FM March this year I was lucky enough to have a play with these juvenile Cheetahs :mrgreen:


View attachment 55480

that is just magic - I love the baby cheetahs! ( Of course I am sure you were at a reputable place and not one of those horrible places that exploit babies for profit. . )

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

and not one of those horrible places that exploit babies for profit. . )

For us part of the strong pull and alure of Africa and this trip in particular was the abilty to see wild animals in their natural habitat acting as well wild animals act....ie animals in the wild. That of course means long hours getting to such locations and then in dedicating time to searching and looking when you might see nothing for long periods and in particularly the predators who by their nature try and not be seen.

When one did at last spot say that elusive leopard the experience was just all the more heightened, and yes the heart racing.

It was also very satisfying honing one's animal spotting skills. There is both and art and a science to it, plus luck plays a part too. We noticeablly got better and better as the trip progressed.

Many people just rush about and thus miss seeing a great deal, including many of the less common animals and birds. ie When in a vehicle for example you need to turn your engine off when you stop and listen for alarm calls, or a lion roaring in the distance, and of course the many and variad birds.

When you see a single lion or a pair, invariably there will be more nearby as they unlike leopards who are solitary will typically be in a pride. ie in Choebe where the two lions were near most of the other vehicles near us will not have spotted the other four lions who were off a little distance. When you see herd animals all looking intently in the one direction, that will also often mean a predator.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

For us part of the strong pull and alure of Africa and this trip in particular was the abilty to see wild animals in their natural habitat acting as well wild animals act....ie animals in the wild. That of course means long hours getting to such locations and then in dedicating time to searching and looking when you might see nothing for long periods and in particularly the predators who by their nature try and not be seen.

When one did at last spot say that elusive leopard the experience was just all the more heightened, and yes the heart racing.

It was also very satisfying honing one's animal spotting skills. There is both and art and a science to it, plus luck plays a part too. We noticeablly got better and better as the trip progressed.

Many people just rush about and thus miss seeing a great deal, including many of the less common animals and birds. ie When in a vehicle for example you need to turn your engine off when you stop and listen for alarm calls, or a lion roaring in the distance, and of course the many and variad birds.

When you see a single lion or a pair, invariably there will be more nearby as they unlike leopards who are solitary will typically be in a pride. ie in Choebe where the two lions were near most of the other vehicles near us will not have spotted the other four lions who were off a little distance. When you see herd animals all looking intently in the one direction, that will also often mean a predator.

I agree - we spent 9 nights in Singita in Tanzania last year and spent 3 days following a cheetah and her baby - it meant long periods just watching and doing nothing - best time ever. To see the interaction between mother and baby was just amazing and how protective she was even when trying to hunt. Every time our guide would ask us what we wanted to do we would say - go and find Mama and one and he was amazing at finding them again. After 3 days we decided to move to finding other animals, but it was so special. Another time we followed 3 males, until they joined up with the rest of the pride - - they must have walked 20 km. Again the interaction was fantastic. In Mala Mala we went hunting with a pack of lions one night. We followed them through the bush and Mr FM insisted there was something following us. I thought he was imagining things but when we stopped another male walked past us and joined the pride. It felt like we were part of them. I just can't get enough of the wild areas (which is why we are off to Okavango n a few days!).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Ok Drumroll finished!!!

The intent of our week in the Cape Town Region was to have a break from our wildlife and overalnd travel.....and to indludge in the luxuries of life.

In researching the Cape Town Region it soon became crystal clear that food and wine were two aspects to sup fully of. And indeed we did!

So we decided that one of the heros of this week would be to sample two of South Africa's finest. I looked through various reviews and settled on two contrasting restaurants that both rated on a Top 10 South African Restaraunts List.

The first of these was The Overture. See HERE

Overture: Something that is offered or suggested with the hope that it will start a relationship

And indeed it has as we are now both in love with the Cape Town Region and what a perfect way to consumate a new romantic relationship!

On approach one is struck with the sheer beauty of the restaraunt's location and indeed of the architectural of the building itself. This was unexpected as I had only been focussing on the food when I had selected the restaraunt. Indeed I did not even get out my DSLR Camera which in hindsight was a mistake, and so you will have to make do with cameraphone snaps.

Set in a vineyard, olive trees and a beautiful garden.

Table Mountain in the distance.

On walking up to the Overture Restaraunt the excitement builds.. One can sense that one has arrived at a special place.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

A fine restaurant is like a fine piece of music where many things must be done well to achieve a masterpiece.

First the view and the setting.

But then the next aspect that The Overture absolutely shone in was the warmth and friendlieness of the staff. The welcome was warm and genuine, and nothing was too much trouble.

We had booked in for The Tasting Menu with matched wines, and what a grand, grand way to spend such a beautiful afternoon.

and with a glass of bubbles each, let the fun begin!

Served with fresh baked bread and olive butter.

The Tasting Menu was a great way to sample so many different dishes and so many different South African wines which up till then we had little knowledge of.

We met the chef of the day and had a good conversation. we told her that we had come from Auastrlia to specifically dine at The Overture and I think that she and the other staff all seem quite chuffed with that.

She had worked in Adelaide for 12 months. She asked what we wanted to eat and we replied that whatever she wished to serve us that we would love to eat.

Let the feast begin.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Baked winter vegetables. Dusted with baked and ground beetroot.

Impala tartare and probably the best tartare that I have ever had.

And some great Shiraz..

A taste from Australia in some locally bred marron. Served on a bed of corn.

The kitchen team hard at work......seemlessly so.

Oven baked bream served with a local variant of broccoli, nuts and cauliflower.

With a broccoli sauce

Beef rib fillet served with parsnip crisps.

With a side dish of baked pumpkin slice

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

A bonus meringue as a pre-dessert.

Two desserts in a vanilla bean ice-cream with apple crumble served with a soufflé.

Served with a late harvest riesling with great legs!

And our matching wines....

And my wife posing with the great kitchen staff that put it all together.

With a fantastic front of house team too, The Overture really was an amazing overall experience. A better way to spend an afteroon would be hard to imagine.

The Overture was fine dining and fine food. Of that there is no doubt, but it was much, much more than that.

 

[drron]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Totally agree with you it is all about communing with nature and observing what is around.Though I do think some seem to be born with the ability to spot things that may be obscured.
In Uni holidays a group of us volunteered with the NSW National Parks service.Often we were doing surveys of koala populations and tagging them.I would always spot the great majority even when hungover.Continue to be able to do this sort of thing even with my failing senses.

Good to see your rhino pics.Looked like the ones we went for a walk with.Only one National Park near Livingstone that has rhino-they were introduced there.However when we did this they were protected by the Army.Were they still there?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

However when we did this they were protected by the Army.Were they still there?

I don't think it is the army, but armed rangers.

The one that went with us on the walk was just starting his "week-on" of living in the park to protect the rhinos, and we dropped him at his accommodation afterwards.

 

[craven morehead]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

that is just magic - I love the baby cheetahs! ( Of course I am sure you were at a reputable place and not one of those horrible places that exploit babies for profit. . )[/QUOTE

Our research suggested this place was reputable and we were only allowed in with the cheetahs because we were a party of 6. The lady said she normally has groups of 20+ and wouldn't entertain the thought of letting a large group in. Not that it guarantees that the place is of high standing but Kylie Minogue & Adam Sandler among others had stayed there. I definitely want to return.

 

[drron]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

I don't think it is the army, but armed rangers.

The one that went with us on the walk was just starting his "week-on" of living in the park to protect the rhinos, and we dropped him at his accommodation afterwards.

That has changed then.Although it was 1 soldier per rhino the whole platoon turned up to see us.

 

[Milboo]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

As we neared the Thornybush Private Reserve in the Kruger, we came around a corner and encountered 5 heavily armed army guys there for anti poaching purposes.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

We were booked into the Oude Werf Hotel in for the next two nights in the heart of Stellennbosch. It was a great base for our stay in the Cape Wineland's Region. The hotel had recently undergone a very stylish and expensive refurb. At 58 rooms while it had great flair it was also smallish and quirky and laden with character.

Speaking of the winelands, we signed up on an all day wine tour. Tere were meant to be 5 others, but they cancelled at the last minute turning it intoa private tour for my wife and I with our fabulous guide.

The itenary featured 6 wineries and 6 wines at each winery. This grew to a few more as our guide, with just us on the tour, added in some of his personalvsuch as this one which was not part of the normal tasting offerings:

It was a great day starting with bubbles....

Our guide took us through the history of wines in South Africa and chose 6 different wineries to provide both a great cross-section of not only South African wines, but also of large and small vineyards.

Lunch with a great view:

At one winery we had a fantastic tasing of cheeses with different cheeses matched with each wine. We finished the day with a pairing of different chocolates with 6 wines. Most unusual but it went down very well.


Needless to say that after so many different wines we had a very merry day !!

It was combined with the tasings of the day prior, a great introduction to wines of South Africa which are ofa very high standard, but compared to the prices of Australian wines amazingly cheap!

We were also introduced to Pinotage which is South Africa's own unique red wine grape.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

On the road again!!! After two stunning days in the winelands it was off again.

We took to R44 and in particular enjoyed it once we hit the coast...on our way to Kleinmond where we would stay the the next two nights, which is just short of Hermanus.

And ended up chasing a rainbow.....

Almost there...

Caught it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And our "Pot Of Gold" turmed out to be our next accommodation. A private apartment booked at Kleinmond right on the sea. A peacful and beautiful location.

The view from our terrace.

And the view from our bed....

And while we had just rented the self-contained apartment...

......our friendly landlord also gave us free reign over the attached 3 bedroom house as no one had booked it while we were there.



My wife loved hearing the roll and the crash of the waves at night.

And with a view like that from our terrace...why not an afternoon tea of a fine South African flavours.......a Shiraz, local cheese and biltong.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Ten minutes walk along the beach from our apartment......and a view that took your breath away...

And after a little more walking....flamingos!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

A short drive to nearby Hermanus.....to look for whales.

Thar she blows!!!

You can see a whale fluke below (there are actually two more whalesin the shot, but you will need to look closely to spot them!)....but unfortunately taking pics with only a 200mm zoom does not cut the mustard in this instance. With the rest of the wildlife on the trip I could often with patience and care often get close enough to get good shots.

However it was still fun just sitting, or walking along the coast and watching the whales. You could watch them frolicing and then every now and again you would see one leap out of the water.

And the wildlife were not just of the very latge variety either.


A Rock Dassie.

And a Dung Beetle at work.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

On to Cape Town.

Ok, while I mainly tend to avoid staying at chain hotels the Marriott Chain just recently expanded with redemption tie-ups into South Africa giving a broad range to select from, and I had a stash of Marriott points expiring next February.

So time to blow my remaining Marriott points with a three night stay at the Protea Hotel North Wharf Waterfront in what turned out to be a palatial suite complete with dining table, full kitchen, and plenty of lounging space, which would be our base for our exploration of Cape Town.

And a handy central location too as we could easily walk to the old city centre with its bars and restauarnts and local street life, Bo Kaap, the more artificial V&A and much much more. So we dropped off the rental car and mainly relied on shanks-pony, and the occassional taxi to take in place like Table Mountain.



After settling in we just stolled down to check out the V&A Waterfront precinct and find a place for dinner.....and one witha view.

We were planning a BIG day tomorrow where we would take in two of Cape Town's finest, but quite different, world class attractions. Tonight though we just chatted, drank in of the view of Table Mountain as the sun set, and enjoyed the casual buzz of the area as we strolled around.