Hello friends and welcome to my sixty ninth blog.
There is something alluring about the far-away, travelling abroad and going overseas . Most of us relish the idea of a long flight crossing oceans and arriving in a far flung place, a long distance from home. It’s exciting and different and so much fun. However, we so often forget to explore that which is right in front of our noses, practically on our doorsteps. Like so many things, we often do not see what is right in front of us. For me this is the beauty of our beloved country, South Africa.
As many of you know, Rich and I have just been road tripping in the Cape with some very dear old friends. This was our first proper South African road trip in many years. We have been fortunate in having done a few others in other parts of the world but have neglected what is in our own back yard.
My friend is particularly awesome at organising holidays (in fact she is pretty awesome all round) and seems to revel in doing an incredible amount of research and spending an inordinate amount of time deciding the best itinerary for any trip she, her husband and her family do. I also love doing this, but of late have not really had the available time. The result is that she did everything and in the end after all her hard work, produced an itinerary which I am certain equalled, or possibly rivalled, that which a top travel agent in Southern Africa, if not the world, would have done.
Arriving on a very cloudy, wet and wintry day in Cape Town after a particularly early flight we were greeted with a magical yellow placard held up by our friends in the pick-up zone with the name of the tour emblazoned on it, setting the tone for a magical trip. After much chuckling, big hugs and loud exclamations, we set off .
Thus started a week of abundance and joy, punctuated by many magnificent moments of fun, beauty, laughter and the celebration of life. We found out devastating news about a friend during this time. We were completely shocked and spent a long time reflecting and chatting about the terrible and tragic loss for this poor family. Looking back now, in some small way, I believe that this actually made us appreciate and embrace life and every wonderful moment that we had away, even more.
We explored little towns and villages, we travelled on lesser travelled roads, and it truly felt like we were in another world. The warm hospitality, genuine care and heartfelt generosity from everyone that we met throughout our tour seemed to know no bounds. We had many proudly South African moments.
We had hoped for a glimpse of the beauty that is the Namaqualand daisies … the wildflower route… call it what you may…but what we experienced was a vision that will colour my imagination for the rest of my days. Beyond magnificence as far as the eye can see. The stars were aligned, and we were blessed beyond measure. This can not be described in words, nor do photos do it justice. It must be experienced to be believed. I do not think that I exaggerate when I describe this as one of the greatest flower shows on this earth.
This was the veritable highlight of our week but there was so much more, the Quiver Tree Forest in Nieuwoudtville being another. The quiver tree is a kind of aloe and is characterised by branches that split into smaller sections and by its hardy succulent leaves that are designed to weather the sometimes rather hectic heat. Back in the day, these trees were used by hunter-gatherer folk who hollowed out the branches and used them as quivers for their bows. The sense of solitude and tranquility that one feels whilst exploring this forest makes this area beyond memorable. The spectacular sight of the 90 metre Nieuwoudtville waterfall as the water thunders down into the deep pool below was also particularly awesome.
However, it was by no means just the sights that made this a magnificent week. It was the time spent in our very comfortable and superbly capable vehicle. It was times of laughter and sing-a-longs and banter and serious conversations, the girls in the rear and the boys upfront, decided by the girls, of course, at the outset, and a great relief for the chaps, I dare say. It was catch-up time and birding time and making the most of so many moments, time. It was about gratitude and thankfulness and deep dear friendship and so much fun and care and kindness.
It was about local braai kos (barbeque food) and rooster brood, splendid seafood platters, bubbly bubbles and tasty wine. Teatimes, sundowners, delicious breakfasts, and car snacks. It was about just being, experiencing and making cherished memories.
The unexpected sunsets that took our breaths away and the even more unexpected blue skies that accentuated and added to the beauty of the wildflowers (the weather forecast for our trip was not terribly positive) were an added bonus.. These magnificent flora do not like cloud or rain or very cold temperatures. I still marvel at the fact that we managed to do and see everything we wanted in perfect weather conditions. We were so very lucky.
Our bed and breakfast accommodation were all perfect; from the upmarket country chic Yellow Aloe in Clanwilliam, to the historical sandstone building of Oudeklip in Nieuwoudtville, and then to the space of beauty and inspiration that is the contemporary Gonana in the beyond beautiful Pater Noster, just to mention a few.
It was just about being and enjoying and celebrating us, our magnificent country and our health and wellbeing. Glorious walks, a couple of jogs and some gentle meanderings through the magnificent carpets of multicoloured spring flowers that stretched as far as the eye could see. It was about some awesome vitamin Sea as we explored the beauty of the west coast of South Africa with its varied coastlines and quaint fishing villages. It was about simplicity and calm. It was about appreciation and thankfulness for all that we have and all that we are able to be and do.
So, my friends, there are so many reasons for us to travel locally and below are just a few.
- By travelling in our country, we can help local South Africans, their local industries, and our economy, which is much needed The destinations in our land also are fantastic in that they cater for budget travellers, those who want a little more comfort and then those who want to have a luxurious spoil.
- The people whom you meet on your travels of south Africa make it such an interesting time. The cultures, languages and heritages of our country are multiple, diverse, and dynamic. The warmth, friendliness and helpfulness of the local folk made me feel so proud to be a South African on our trip. Most folk speak English which is a huge added bonus.
- Our holiday was also great value, with no costly visas, very little paperwork and no gulping and “kakking and betaaling” (being shocked and just paying) as on often has to do when travelling abroad with those horrific exchange rates.
- Road tripping, as a way of getting round our country, is just awesome and relatively affordable. We could get into our friend’s car, stop where and when we wanted to, move our luggage with ease from place to place and enjoy memorable music in the comfort of our car.
- The plethora of great eateries throughout our trip amazed and thrilled me, from the tantalizing seafood platters on the coast to the authentic food in the small towns to the delicious pizzas at the local spot, all serving up some wonderful and plentiful fare. South Africans are rightly known for their love affair with food.
- So many places to see, and so little time, South Africa offers the widest range of tourist attractions from the exceptional game viewing of the bush, to the five epic mountain ranges to the vast diverse deserts and then the many sandy shores, pristine waters, and sensational scenery on our numerous coastlines. Not to mention the plentiful wine estates scattered throughout the Cape. There are also many lesser-known attractions too, like snow skiing and shark watching for those who want to try something a little different.
For my friends living abroad, please come and visit us as soon as you are able. There is always a room in our home for you to have a hiatus in between trips and Gauteng also has an enormous amount to offer tourists, contrary to popular belief. Also the climate on the Highveld is one of the best in the world, as far as I am concerned.
They say that travelling locally becomes an addiction. I have seen some of our friends become totally hooked on this, and it is just a pleasure to hear of their awesome local travels. This is a direct result of restrictions on travel due to Covid, but I believe this is one big positive that has come from these awful times. I am already investigating a potential future road trip locally. After all, we have just explored a really small part of our diverse country.
Although we are keen to explore, we are not fools, and we understand and realize that our precious country has many deep-seated issues and mammoth problems. In many parts of our country security is a huge problem, almost half of our adult population lives in poverty and our unemployment figures are staggering. There is a great deal of political unrest and the future of our country is uncertain. However, let us not dwell on this. They say charity begins at home. Perhaps in some small way, we can help our country by supporting all that is local.
Let us do the best that we can and make the most of what we have. Let us for a little while, forget about the problems, plan a local trip, have fun planning it, go on the trip and relish and revel in the beauty that is our wonderful country, South Africa.
With thanks to my amazing travelling companions.
Wishing you all majestic trips in our impressive southernmost country on the African continent.