March 7 2026 - Road to Cape Town

March 7 2026 - Road to Cape Town

Location: South Africa Summary: What an incredible day on March 7th during my epic road trip from the Netherlands to South Africa! After a disappointing bed and breakfast experience with no actual breakfast, I discovered the amazing Diesel and Cram restaurant next to Karoo Moon Motel. This 12-year-old gem serves delicious breakfast in an atmosphere filled with antique signs and furniture - what a find! I continued my journey, stopping at one of those fantastic Mule bakeries that I've grown to love (there are about 14-15 throughout the country). The drive took me through the spectacular Du Teutschkloof mountain tunnel, which stretches for several kilometers - absolutely amazing! As we approached Cape Town, Rona and Chris had wisely arranged accommodation in advance since it was the weekend. We stayed at Somer Place in Westridge, a perfect Airbnb setup with two rooms and a swimming pool that Chris thoroughly enjoyed. For dinner, we ventured to Muizenberg for Mexican food, driving through beautiful dunes right along the water - I'm always drawn to coastal areas! Whenever I get the chance, I love sharing with locals that I drove this car all the way from the Netherlands to South Africa. Most people are incredulous and can't quite picture how it's possible, but I hope it inspires them to think outside the box and pursue their dreams. Tomorrow will be Ron and Chris's last day before flying out.

March 6 2026 - Safari Camp to Barrydale

Location: South Africa Summary: I started March 6th waking up at the safari camp where I enjoyed a delicious early breakfast while Ron and Chris went on the morning safari. After leaving the camp and spotting more antelope on our way out, we hit the road toward Barrydale. Our first stop was at an Ostrich Show Farm, which was absolutely fascinating. I learned that these farms need specific conditions for ostriches to thrive, and many have thousands of birds for meat export and leather production. The ostriches come from various parts of Africa and may have originally come from Asia. Despite the warm weather, I was enjoying every moment. Finding accommodation in Barrydale proved challenging with several places being fully booked or overpriced, but we eventually settled at a place called Doorways. It was set back on a long, tight driveway that required some reversing, but it was affordable and worked for us. I had an interesting conversation with the owner's husband in the morning - a retired physician who had spent three years practicing medicine in Doha, Qatar. For dinner, we visited a tapas restaurant recommended by our hosts. It was the only place in town that offered something different from the typical burgers, chips, and fish and chips. The small portions were perfect and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

March 5 2026 - Safari Adventure in South Africa

Location: South Africa Summary: What an incredible day I had in South Africa! I finally made it to that stunning white beach I'd been wanting to visit - it was absolutely beautiful with amazing beachfront spots perfect for relaxation. Then I embarked on a scenic route through Reindendal, traveling east then north on Highway 62. I discovered a gem at Hohe Kraal - the African Experience Bush Cafe and Craft Shop, where I enjoyed excellent coffee and fresh cake while learning about their foundation that runs daycare and after-school programs for local kids. The journey continued to Mossel Bay's waterfront before I reached the highlight of my trip: a safari camp about 30 minutes north, owned by Abraham who had transformed old farmland into a wildlife sanctuary. Abraham, with his lodge experience from Botswana, created an incredible space where hippos, rhinos, giraffes, monkeys, and wildebeest roam freely. My 3-hour safari tour in a 4-wheel drive vehicle was led by an entertaining guide who shared fascinating insights about animals, flowers, and bees. The tour culminated with lions in a separate enclosure, where our guide actually called them to roar - absolutely thrilling! I learned these lions were raised on a lion farm, some for trophy hunting, which seems odd but provides commercial viability in Africa. The evening featured a fancy dinner at 495 Rand (expensive for South Africa but reasonable by US/European standards) with excellent service. I stayed in a cozy cabin with beds upstairs for Ron and Chris, and one downstairs for me. Meeting Abraham at dinner was fascinating - hearing about his passion project that he runs with his son Tom and sister ensures this amazing place will continue for generations.

March 4 2026 - Wilderness Canoeing & Waterfall Adventure

Location: South Africa Summary: I spent an adventurous day canoeing in the wilderness with Chris and Ron through Eden Company. We opted for canoeing over other activities like cliff jumping. The sit-on-top canoes were different from my usual sea kayaks - no back support but comfortable enough for our 40-minute paddle to a waterfall destination. While the guys explored the waterfall and swimming area, I chose to walk the opposite direction, discovering a fun pontoon crossing that accommodated 4 people at a time. I enjoyed watching friendly deer who seemed comfortable around humans. I met a fascinating Swiss entrepreneur who runs an IT company with 40 employees remotely. His innovative business uses AI to analyze sewer line videos, detecting cracks and damage in major municipal systems across Switzerland, the US, France and other countries. He's been doing this for 3-7 years and demonstrates the possibilities of remote work by spending months in South Africa with his attorney girlfriend. After our return paddle, we dined at the excellent Joplin's Steak Bar, which specializes in perfectly prepared steaks. The restaurant was within walking distance of our accommodation, though not waterfront like Salinas Beach Restaurant from the previous night.

March 3 2026 - Exploring Wilderness & Coastal Drives in South Africa

Location: South Africa Summary: Today I embarked on a wonderful coastal journey through South Africa with my travel companions Ron and Chris. We initially headed to Hermanas hoping to see dolphins in the harbor, but unfortunately missed them. However, driving through these charming coastal towns with their tourist attractions and beautiful beaches was still incredibly rewarding. South Africa's diversity amazes me - from these lovely seaside communities to the townships, it's truly a country of contrasts with 65 million people sharing this remarkable land. We continued our adventure to Kleinbaij, taking sandy coastal roads that made us feel like we were in the middle of nowhere, even though we didn't need four-wheel drive. After a pleasant stop for food in Bredasdorp, we made our way to Wilderness. Having two extra people to help with accommodation searches and photography has been incredibly helpful - they handle the logistics while I can focus on the journey, and we all share photos afterward. Ron and Chris took charge of finding us a place to stay since we hadn't made reservations. We ended up with an elderly couple who had previously built and operated a 7-apartment property across the street, which they sold a year and a half ago when it became too much work. Now they rent out 5 bedrooms in their own place, just across from the water, while the lady works on completing her art studio. The husband, a retired commercial real estate attorney who previously worked in what was once Orange State (now Free State), was incredibly welcoming. Interestingly, we traveled even further south than Cape of Good Hope, giving us the distinction of reaching the true southernmost point of South Africa, rather than just the westernmost southern point. We found a great restaurant within walking distance for dinner - a bit tricky to locate without directions, but well worth the effort. After our excellent meal, we called it an early night to prepare for tomorrow's adventures. Wilderness has proven to be a perfect place to stay, and I'm grateful you're following along on this journey.