Journey to South Africa’s Eastern Cape
I explored the less discovered, Malaria-free, Eastern Cape of South Africa and the region known as The Great Karoo.
After a quick flight from Johannesburg to the Eastern Cape’s gateway city of Port Elizabeth, we were whisked through miles of citrus groves to the bushveld of the world-renowned Addo Elephant Re-serve, staying overnight at Woodall Coun-try House — an award-winning boutique hotel nestled in the heart of the Sundays River Valley. Renowned for its gourmet cuisine, Woodall’s thatched waterside sitting and dining area creates an enchanted mood for savoring cocktails and moonlit dinners, while offering glimpses of rare South African water birds. An afternoon of elephant viewing at Addo also included purple and yellow beds of wildflowers, more prolific than they had seen in 40 years!
We continued to Graaff-Reinet, worth a visit if just for the charmingly restored 1800’s Karoo-style homes and historical buildings. From there we headed to a geological phenomenon, the Valley of Desolation, declared a national monument, within Camdeboo National Park. The vertical cliffs and columns of dolerite that teeter precariously above the valley floor are breathtaking.
One of our favorite stops in that area, however, was at Ganora Farm, dating back to the mid-1700s, situated in the foothills of the majestic Snow Berg Range. At lunch, we met Hester, one of the farm owners, and enjoyed dining on traditional South African bobotie with spiced rice, organically grown vegetable dishes, koeksisters, and melktert (milk tart). Hester’s husband Jan-Peet has a rare collection of fossils, all discovered on the farm, and dating to about 280 million years ago when mammal-like reptiles roamed the earth pre-dinosaurs! The farm also boasts sites with well-preserved Koi & San rock paintings and engravings that bring to life 10,000 years of Bushman folklore.
The next leg was a pinnacle that included several days of safari. Samara is a stunning lodge with a combination of antiques and modern conveniences, and a wonderful place to return to after a day of game viewing either on 4×4 safari vehicles or on foot. We had “close encounters” with a family of gorgeous white rhinos, a cheetah, and giraffes. While at Samara, they surprised us with a spectacular full-course lunch as we rounded a bend on top of the highest mountain range in the area, resplendent with champagne, satay of chicken, quiche, and more.
The next day found us learning the basics of fly-fishing with expert Alan Hobson. This brought me full circle in my safari career, as my first job in tourism was in 1987 with a fly-fishing expedition company.
This magnificent Eastern Cape African experience, vastly different from most conventional safaris, will remain with me for a very long time.
Crafting Exceptional Safari Experiences
- When in the Eastern Cape safaris are an exciting piece of the puzzle.
- The Eastern Cape is malaria-free and easy to get to from Cape Town so works well for families on safari.
Embark on Your Safari Journey with Artisans of Safari
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