Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
The Map of Africa at Wilderness, located in the Garden Route National Park, is a stunning natural landmark that offers visitors a unique and panoramic view of the landscape. This natural rock formation, resembling the shape of the African continent, is located on a hilltop and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness, including the sparkling waters of Wilderness Lagoon and the expansive coastline stretching to the horizon.
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The Outeniqua Transport Museum, located in George in the Western Cape of South Africa, is a must-visit destination for history and transport enthusiasts. The museum is housed in a former railway station and showcases a fascinating collection of railway memorabilia, vintage locomotives, and carriages that tell the story of the region’s railway heritage.
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Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, located near Mossel Bay in the Western Cape of South Africa, offers an exceptional wildlife experience in a privately owned 4,200-hectare reserve. The reserve is home to a diverse range of African wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino), as well as giraffes, zebras, and various antelope species. It is absolutely amazing to see this wonderful animals roam freely and to get close enough for great picture. Botlierskop was the best place for a safari during my trip to South Africa.
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It is not only the Fairy Knowe Hotel at Wilderness, it is the Legendary Fairy Knowe Hotel because it is already one hundred years old. You can find this place a little bit outside of the city at the Touwsrivier river and if you’re lucky you’ll get a room with a good view on the water. Watching out of your window or sitting on a bench close to the river you’ll might spot some beautiful birds including the kingfisher.
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I honestly didn’t expect Oudtshoorn to be the ‘Ostrich Capital of the World‘, but it is. If you want to learn more about the historic reasons, try out a place like the Safari Ostrich Farm where you can see 4,000 of these birds held for getting feathers, eggs, meat and leather. You can observe different species of ostriches and enjoy viewing the birds that can run up to 70 km/h on a tractor tour.
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The Swartberg pass near Oudtshoorn is the most absurd road I’ve ever taken. Stunning views, steep ascents, interesting rock formations and a tiny little bit dangerous. The still unpaved road was created from 1884 to 1888 by Thomas Bain or better said by 200 convicts. It connects the small and the large karoo; the peak of the Swartberg is 1585 meters high. Road conditions are poor but you don’t need to have a four-wheel drive – I did it with a manual-shift VW Polo.
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The Cango Caves, located just outside of Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, are one of South Africa’s most famous natural wonders. These spectacular limestone caves, formed over millions of years, are renowned for their impressive stalactites and stalagmites, along with their vast, cavernous chambers. The caves stretch for over four kilometers and offer guided tours that explore different sections, with varying levels of difficulty and depth, providing visitors with the chance to see the incredible rock formations up close.
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Meerkats, small mongoose species native to the southern regions of Africa, are known for their highly social and cooperative behavior, living in large family groups called mobs or clans. These groups can range from a few individuals to over 30, with complex social structures and roles within the group. Meerkats are highly dependent on each other for survival, and they exhibit remarkable cooperation, particularly when it comes to protecting their young and foraging for food.
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A bit outside of Oudtshoorn you can find the De Zeekoe Guest Farm, a lovely guest house on farm grounds. It is one of these places I enjoy very much with well-designed rooms, balconies to look out on the surrounding landscape and a nice restaurant and bar. What makes them special is on the one hand that they’re trying to hire locals and use local produce wherever possible.
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The Bontebok National Park can be found near Swellendam and offers a wonderful, relaxed and immersive experience for nature lovers with its self-drive game routes. The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including the iconic bontebok, a species of antelope once on the brink of extinction, and now thriving within the park’s protected boundaries. The self-drive game route allows visitors to explore the park at their own pace, offering opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitat, such as springbok, zebra, turtles, giant spiders and various bird species, including the blue crane and black harrier.
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