Enza Gucciardi
Vaughn Marshall
Jason Gonsalves
Toronto - Canada
25 November 2006
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I met this trio on early Sunday morning (25th) at the Pinelands Courtyard Hotel where they overnighted after arriving in Cape Town very late the night before. After we became acquainted we set off on our Garden Route tour.
Having lunch at Le Belle Alliance in Swellendam
Toasting to a great tour while having dinner outside on the balcony of the Cape Vaccas cottage
DAY 2
Travel to Knysna.
Vaughn enjoying the morning view from the Cape Vaccas cottage
Jay, Vaughn and Enza enjoying Cape Vaccas
Jay, Vaughn and myself at Cape Vaccas
On the Diaz caravelle in the Diaz museum in Mossel Bay
On the balcony of the Diaz museum
The trio enjoying Klein Kranz just outside the Wilderness
Outside Botha and Barnard where we saw how all the local woods are used for furniture making.
We had a light lunch at 34 Degrees South
Jay nearly missed being in this picture. JJ
After a long day of driving and sightseeing Vaughn picked up some sleep in his Overmeer guesthouse room JJ
Enza enjoying her starter meal at Lush restaurant in Knysna
Jay enjoys his dessert at Lush
DAY 2
Travel to Brenton on Sea and Knysna.
We started our day at 07h00 with a 6Km walk from Brenton on Sea to Buffalo Bay beach. The pictures below tell the whole beach walk story
Arriving at Buffalo Bay after the walk
Please click on the above
picture to see Enza, Vaughn and Jay swimming at Buffalo Bay Beach
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Footwashing before returning to our vehicle
Having fun at the Knysna Heads
Enza saying "look mom I'm eating oysters at the Knysna Oyster Factory". JJ
In the evening we went to Firefly restaurant for a great dinner with Dell and Sanchia
DAY 3
Travel to Port Elizabeth via Treetop Canopy tour
We stopped in at Plettenberg Bay where I took this picture of the trio with Beacon Island Beach in the background
In the Natures Valley Forest
Having fun on Natures Valley Beach
We moved on to the Tstikamma Adventure center where the trio went on the Treetops Canopy Safari. The below pictures were taken by Dylan barring then last one in the set.
After the Treetop Safari with guides Dylan and Isa
Dinner at Whickerwoods.
DAY 4
Safari at Addo and Schotia
On this day the trio joined Ed, a ranger from Schotia Safaris, on a safari ride in Addo Elephant Park as well as on Schotia Game Farm.
Guess what Vaughn and Jay are looking at on Addo??
JJJ
With Ed on Addo
With Ed and Nick on Schotia
Look at the lion in the background of this photo of Enza and Vaughn
Sitting around the campfire at Schotia
Some of the animals seen on the day
Rhino
Red Hartebeest
Giraffe
Lion
Elephants
DAY 5
Travel to Oudtshoorn
We stopped at Jeffreys Bay where the trio enjoyed a great swim in the wonderful waters of the Indian Ocean.
Please click on the above
picture to see Enza, Vaugn and Jay swimming at Jeffreys Bay
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This is the life!. JJ
At Bloukrans Bridge where we watched the bungi jumpers doing their 216 Meter jump
We stopped at "Margaret's spot" in the Wilderness where I sent the trio on a hike down to the sea
Having fun on the Wilderness Beach
J E V disappears JJ
Dinner at Jemimas in Oudtshoorn
DAY 6
Cango Caves and Swartberge
In the Cango caves
Vaughn preparing to do a zipslide at the Cango Ranch
Please click on the above
picture to see Vaughn zipsliding at the Cango Ranch
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Please click on the above
picture to see Jason zipsliding at the Cango Ranch
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Enza meets a spreadeagled peacock at the Cango Ranch
We ascended the Swartberg Mountains and took the pictures below
Building an inukshuk
The Canadians make their inukshuk mark on the Swartberg Mountains. JJ
At the bottom of the mountain range
We had lunch at the Koggelmander (Lizard) restaurant in Prince Albert
The above comes from the Koggelmander Restaurant menu in Prince Albert and just shows how things work in the Karroo regions. JJ
We stopped at the waterfall in Meiringspoort along the way back to Oudtshoorn
Jay takes a break. JJ
Enza enjoys a quiet moment in one of the waterfall pools
We had dinner at Kalinkas restaurant in Oudtshoorn
DAY 7
Ostrich farm
Travel back to Cape Town
The trio started their day by going on the Mooiplaas ostrich farm with Koos as their guide. AS can be seen from the pictures they had a great time.
After the ostrich tour we set out back to Cape Town. In waht was very windy conditions we travelled via Calitzdorp, Ladismith, Barrydale (where we had some great sloppy chips), Montagu, Robertston and eventually Cape Town
We stopped for lunch at Robertson where Enza was not to sure of how vegetarian her vegetarian burger was.
On arrival in Cape Tow we went to 86 Waterkant Street where the trio would be staying for the next 4 days. Thereafter we went down to the Cape Town international convention centre where Enza had to register for the Diabetes conference she was attending. It was here that I bid farewell to this wonderful trio
This photo is how I want to remember this proud Canadian trio who were so keen to leave their Canadian inukshuk mark on the Swartberg Mountains!
This Canadian trio were an absolute delight to tour with. They were very easy going and just took all in at their own speed as we travelled through the wonderful Garden Route region. We shared much and had lots of fun together which resulted in a fantastic journey for all of us. What will stay with me about this tour was our nightly rituals of a shooter glass of mampoer as this was always a wonderful way to recap the day and enjoy a story or two about some of the unique experiences that my country offers its visitors. Overall the only way I can describe this tour is to that is what an awesome ride through a great part of South Africa with a fantastic trio of Canadian visitors!
THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT COMPANY
ENZA, VAUGHN AND JAY
Received 9- December-2006
Hi Selwyn,
Thanks to you as well for all your help and advice. We had an excellent time and would recommend your tours to anyone. Our family also loved the web site and were watching the whole time.
Take Care,
Vaughn & Enza