Before we start on today’s adventure you may have heard that South Africa has been suffering a series of wild fires. The vegetation etc is tinder dry and fires have raged for days . However, where we stayed last night is an area called Fynbos, an extraordinary eco system that actually needs big, hot wild fires.  After the fire dies what looks like desolation is actually a reset. The fire revives and regenerates this vegetation and without fire species falter, diversity fades. The dense canopies formed over the years block sunlight and suffocate shrubs. Some flowers and plants became extinct. After 20 years now beneath the ash are seeds waiting for heat, smoke and open sunlight.  The recent fires have now set a rebirth for lilies, orchids, Erica’s and many other dormant species not seen for years.  It’s quite miraculous.

So today was a big driving day from Grootbos to Plettenberg Bay – about 400 miles including detours to interesting places. Sue was in the driving seat for this marathon and Sheila held her up for ages as she lost her sunglasses, long story but they were in her suitcase and she swore she never put them there……..

We had quite a drive before we even got to the start of the Garden Route at Mossel Bay, about 190 miles. 

There are some beautiful churches en route. In 1838, 2 farmers had a dispute as both wanted to build a church.  In the end they both built one and hence 2 churches in next door villages. Napier is named after Sir George Napier, British governor at the time.  They also boast the largest and only vertical Sundial in SA. It’s quite complicated!

Next stop was a detour to Cape Agulhas. We thought that at The Cape at Good Hope we were at the southern most tip of Africa but we weren’t.  It’s in Agulhas that the Indian Ocean scientifically meets the Atlantic Ocean.

It’s a very rocky area and there have been a huge amount of shipwrecks despite the 2nd oldest lighthouse in SA , 1838, looking over it.

On the road the scenery changed from mountains to agricultural land. We saw sheep, cows, horses, donkeys and, of course, ostriches.  Several birds attempted to cross the road in front of Sue – had they known her terror and dislike for anything with feathers on they might have been better staying at home!!

One of the challenges of a rental car in a foreign country is the first fill up of petrol.  However what a joy as pumps in SA are manned and you need not even get out of the car.  We also had to find the lights as we’d been on the road for 8 hours and at half 7, it was dark.  At last driving into Plettenberg Bay we unfolded from the car. It has been a long drive and the Garden Route is not quite as we thought but more of that tomorrow.