8th day: Along the coast to Wilderness

 Along the coast to Wilderness i.e. the Garden Route


After the long drive yesterday I slept really long and enjoyed my luxury chalet just about 100m from the pier in a suburb -Summer Strand- of Port Elisabeth.

I had a really nice breakfast and started the day in Cape Recife national reserve. There is a light house built in 1851 and its light is visible from around 40km distance. Despite the light house in the storms of the past centuries, several ships sank around the bay and wreck diving is quite popular here.

Leaving Port Elisabeth and the cape I drove through several surfing villages like
Jeffreys Bay which is one of the five most famous surfing destinations in the world and hosts the annual Billabong Pro ASP World Toursurfing event at Supertubes during July. "Supertubes", are wave, which break for about 300m or more and is regarded as the best part of the wave. By chance it was of season, so there was not much to see.

Driving on an hour I reached the Titsikama NP, which is famous about its coastal hiking trails and the Storm s river suspension bridges. The best hike supposed to be the Otter trail, which is around 40kms long crossing the whole park. Since I did not had that much time I just visited the suspension bridges and the bay around.

Not far from here, you have also the highest bungy jump of the country, with a breathtaking 216m height. It is nice to look at it, but I don t think I would ever try it.

You jump from the bridge of the main road and if everything is fine, after 216m s of free fall you can touch the water in the creek down in the valley.
For nice pics visit their website: http://www.faceadrenalin.com/

The next stop was Plattenberg Bay, which supposed to be one of  the most expensive villages of the country. You can easily find villas to rent for 20000EUR a month. It is true, you have nice views on the ocean, but it is rather a prestige only, to live or to have a weekend house here. For some nice offer visit:
http://www.sothebysrealty.co.za/property/plettenberg-bay

Looking at these villas you realise, how big it is the gap between the people in South Africa. Just 2km s further on the road, whole families live in huts of 6m2 and have 100 EUR for the whole month.

Next stop was Knysna a very touristic village next to a lagoon. They call this part of the country as the Lake District of South Africa. Several dozens of sweet and salt water lakes changing each other closed in a hilly landscape.

For the original Lake District: http://szaip.blogspot.nl/2012/07/day-8.html

Arriving in Wilderness a picturesque village I found my cheapest accommodation that far. I will pay 11EUR s for a dorm bed in a backpackers hotel, having this view from the room.

I think it worth the money. The same applies for the restaurant I had my diner today. Calamari stripes, shrimps from the grill with sweet potatoes and cheesecake.

For all new pics: https://picasaweb.google.com/szaipandras/SouthAfrica
For the route and geotagged pics click below