Yesterday we went to Table Mountain with the intention of hiking for a couple of hours, but the queues were so long we would have spent 8 hours doing what we wanted to do in 2.
So, we skipped Table Mountain and went straight back to Stellenbosch for a proper wine day. We first tried to go to De Trafford on Laura’s recommendation, but they were closed, so we went elsewhere. 5 wineries later and it was almost 6pm! What a great day! Bought a few bottles, and enjoyed every visit (except one which was disappointing because you only get to taste their table wines, not the good stuff. It’s possible I might buy some of the good sruff, but if I can’t taste it, then it’s not going to happen). Also, there is a decent winery here called Jordan, so of course we had to go there – bought a bottle of great chardonnay.
This morning we flew to Johannesburg to drive out to Madikwe for our safari/game reserve which starts tomorrow. On the way, just out of Jo’burg, we stopped (after getting lost and unlost) at the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind. Here is where a number of hominid and australopithecus fossils have been found in the last fifty years, most notably, Mrs Ples and Little Foot. A neat place that spans many square kilometers with numerous caves and continuously active excavations.
Now, we’ve arrived at our guest house where we are staying tonight in a cute rondavel (a round, thached roof hut) overlooking a dam reservoir/lake in the mountains. Janet, Paolo’s fiancee, who lives here in Jo’burg is driving up to me us for dinner. Can’t wait to see her again.
Tomorrow, three more hours of driving to the reserve and our first game drive in the evening.
So far, posting from the phone is good, so I’ll keep it up, but I’m unlikely to get any photos up until we’re home as there’s no more PC access.
Speak to you next time from the bushveld!
