Anne and Malcolm Clark

The journey from Swellendam started cloudy and cool. As we climbed the gorge towards Route 62 and the Garden Route we were in deep fog until we arrived at Barrydale when the skies cleared revealing magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. We stopped for a short time for hot drinks and chocolate before heading on towards Oudtshoorn passing the eponymous Ronnie’s Sex Shop! We arrived at La Plume Guesthouse in time for Anne to have a swim in the pool and have drinks on our veranda before dinner. We enjoyed our first taste of ostrich meat which was delicious. Our accommodation was extremely spacious and comfortable with lovely views across the valley to mountains in the distance and fields of ostriches in the foreground.
25/4/24
Today we set off after a good breakfast to visit Cango Caves and the Swartberg mountains. Cango means ‘place of water’ in the local language. We had a guided tour led by Eric a local, who shared the history of the cave’s discovery and the limestone features which were majestic! Eric even sang some African songs underground including the ‘click’ song! We bought a biltong snack in the shop for lunch later . Once we left the cave complex we drove on to the Swartberg pass passing remote farms some of which were growing tobacco. The scent of tobacco was quite noticeable in the air. Sheds drying the tobacco were scattered around and the harvest was taking place. Continuing, the road soon changed from tarmac to gravel, winding through the valley and up towards the pass. The higher up the hillside we went, the closer we came to the clouds and very soon we were driving through thick fog. As we reached the summit of the pass the weather improved dramatically and the clouds were replaced by sunshine although we could still see clouds sliding down the mountain. Halfway down the pass the dirt road led us through the most incredible narrow gorge with a small river crossing the road as a ford. Much of the remaining journey followed a wider gorge as the river criss-crossed the road.
26/4/24
The day started with an early breakfast so that we could fit in a tour of the Ostrich farm with Bartel the farmer and owner of La Plume. We were told all about the history of the family settling in Franschhoek and then Oudtshoorn. Bartel explained the process of rearing, feeding and breeding ostriches as well as the markets for the meat and feathers.
We then continued our journey, driving from La Plume to Plettenberg Bay and Lily Pond Country Hotel. The journey over the Little Karoo was wet for the first time in the holiday.Læs mere