PERU-BOLIVIA: 9th day: Driving to Gans Bai the Shark alley

Friday, November 9, 2012

9th day: Driving to Gans Bai the Shark alley

Leaving Wilderness backpackers, the cheapest accomodation with the best view that far I had big plans for today.

The plan was to test my allergy for cat fur. Sounds weird, but I have allergy for normal domestic cat fur. In Oudtshoorn, there is a Natural Preserve, where day have not only domestic cats, but some other kinds as well. It is rather like a Zoo and its main attraction is that you can get really close to the animals.

I ve got the chance to play with an adult male cheetah. Cheetahs are the fastest mammals on earth, able to reach 120kmh for a short time. Their accelaration is even more impressive 0-80kmh in just 2 seconds. They are really like cats, but you have to be very carefull with them. You do not see on the photos, but there were 3 employes the park all the time close by to warranty my safety. Time to time accidents still happen... See the video:

My test was succesfull with the conclusion, that I have also allergy for cheetah fur...

Next destination today was the Swartberg Pass UNESCO World Heritage. The Swartberg pass was built between 1881 and 1888 by Thomas Bain. The dry-stone retaining walls are still in place and almost 120 years old. Having already 4000km s in my right leg it was not a difficult exercise to drive my Nissan Tida to the top.

Thereafter I still had quite a long stretch to drive till Gans Bai, where I am going to spend the whole next day. The village is famous about its cage diving tourism. See you tomorrow... Maybe I ll show you some Great White Sharks, if they do not eat me...