26 Apr Ambling though the Countryside
We have just returned from doing a round trip along our south east part of the country. We started at Cape Town then to MosselBay (2) and up to Outshoorn (3) then along to Montagu (4) and back home.
Read more about route 62 here…..Route 62
We started off on the Sunday afternoon and the trip was going well till we neared our 1st destination just outside Swellendam. As we came over the hill we noticed that the traffic was standing still and that it looked as if there had been an accident. Well 2.5 hours later we were able to continue. Yes it was a fatal head on collision at high speed and while we sat there and chatted to our fellow road users we all realised how lucky we were to be alive as anyone of us could of come across the scene earlier and been part of the horrific crash.
When we eventually got going the sun was already setting and a beautiful full moon rose to greet us as if to say life goes on.
{Between Swellendam & Heidleberg}
The next day we set off to Mosselbay for some quick shopping a
nd then off to our Mountain lodge.
8 Bells Mountain inn. This was a stunning mountain retreat and we felt as if all the cares of the world just lifted off us after arriving here.
They are very well suited to entertaining little kiddies and there are loads of activities to keep them entertained. Callum was in his element. He had his own playroom, and a very nice outside play area with Swings and slides and a tractor!
We too felt special as in the evenings we had a babysitter so we where able to let him eat in the kiddies dining room early and then go to dinner later and not have to rush back home – sheer bliss.
We then took a trip up to Outshoorn to the Cango Wildlife Ranch. I had been years ago and was pleasantly surprised how well maintained the ranch was and the effort they took in ensuring that the animals were well kept and not just caged! They have extensive breeding programs and take in many injured animals and care for them as they would not survive in the wild. You can read more here…Cango Wildlife Ranch
The entrance has not changed in all the years….but the inside had.
We did not believe that these where real we thought they where a stone statue as they just stood like this sunning themselves without moving!
This "baby" is one of the White Bengal Tigers that they are rearing to breed with. They are looked after by 2 trainers who are feeding them and training them. Not a job I would want seeing as they are still just cubs and look at the size of them!
Most of the Vultures where injured birds that had been rescued and therefore where happy to stay as the enclosure they were in was open allowing them to leave if they wanted too. One of the birds had only 1 wing and would never have survived in the wild. These birds are getting to be very scarce as they are killed by poisons and humans.
And this handsome devil is the Marabou Stork…well I am glad I know where babies come from, who would trust a bird looking like this to safely deliver the precious parcel!
Don’t be fooled these guys may look all lazy and asleep but they are very much aware of what was going on around them. Although the ranger could not tempt them to eat I think a little toddler falling in would make good eating…!
These 2 are hand reared and very tame. You are able to go into the enclosure and stroke them.
Well we spend a few good hours there and I have loads of pictures of the experience.
We then went back to our mountain lodge for a nice English afternoon tea and scones on the terrace. I introduced Callum to the Trampoline and he was hooked. He just loved jumping away and being the only child at the resort at the time he was there for quite awhile.
Here is a picture to show you the delight on his face as he jumped away!
The next morning we packed up and made our way again through the mountain pass to the Outshoorn area this time turning left along Route 62
This route takes you through many beautiful country towns in the dry Karoo area and interesting scenery along the way.
Ronnie "Sex" Shop has got to be the most talked about little roadside cafe & pub on the route. The storey goes that someone decided that Ronnies needed more publicity as it is the middle of nowhere so they added the words "sex" to the name. Today that has stuck and it remains a cafe and pub but with a much talked about name.
No trip though route 62 would be complete without a stop at Clarke of the Karoo. We love the food made by this deli as well as buying the produce for sale in store ranging from herbal salts, jams and sauces. We had some really great sandwiches to see us through the rest of the day as we continued our journey down Route 62.
We then arrived at our next destination, Montague. We stayed at the African Game Lodge. Here is the link…African Game Lodge
True to the sign below we certainly felt surrounded by wild animals, in fact hours after arriving this little fox came to visit us 
This lodge was the ideal getaway as you are all alone in the wild with the animals. They too have some cheetahs that have been hand reared and I was able to go into the enclosure with them and stoke them. They are also rearing some others that will be set free into the wild.
We enjoyed a nice nature drive in the early evening which took us around the lodge and viewed many of the animals that roamed around in the wild.
We also went into the town of Montague to the Avalon Springs resort (Avalon Springs) for a day so that Callum could swim in the hot springs. This was just great as the waters are just the right temperature and we lazed around the pools for hours until it was time to return to our Game Lodge.
The next day we packed up ready to make our way home…….stopping off for some red wine along the way, as we pass through some of the best red wine farms in our area on the way home.
And so sees the end to another very enjoyable road trip and with the site of the Huguenot tunnel we know that home awaits us on the other side.
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