We picked up the car from the business district, which was only about a 10-minute walk away. The process was straightforward, and before long, we were on our way, leaving the Hertz car park and heading back to the apartment to load up the car. After a quick coffee, we were finally on the road, heading east out of Cape Town. For the first 10 km, the drive wasn’t particularly exciting, though the ever-present Hottentots-Holland Mountain range provided a stunning backdrop.
Soon after, the traffic lights (called “robots” in South Africa) stopped, and we were able to enjoy the open land that stretched out before us. The scenery quickly transformed into something breathtaking. The N2 motorway, which we would be using for the majority of our Garden Route journey, took us through wide-open landscapes, and after just under two hours, we arrived in Onrus—a former whaling town on the famous Whaling Coast. Every spring, people come here to witness the whales pass through on their journey to Mozambique, Tanzania, and Madagascar to breed, between December and June.
We’re staying in a simple coastal cottage, which perfectly suits our needs and is a relaxed base for the next couple of weeks. We’re lucky to have two perfect coastal walks nearby. If you turn left, it takes you along a rugged coastline for miles. If you turn right, the coastal path leads you to Onrus Beach, a popular surfing spot, with benches positioned at great vantage points to watch the action below. The people of Onrus have been incredibly friendly, and no more so than the folks at a small local coffee shop where we’ve met some of the locals who have helped us plan the next leg of our journey. We’ve even been invited to play tennis at the Kleinmond Tennis Club, though we did warn them not to expect any tennis prodigies, as we haven’t played in a couple of years.
Hermanus is about 10 minutes away, a much larger town compared to Onrus, which has only a few stores and restaurants. Hermanus is a charming town full of boutiques and cute little restaurants. It also offers some fantastic coastal walks. While the Atlantic Ocean isn’t the friendliest for swimming, it’s undeniably stunning to look at. We enjoyed walking from the old harbour to the new harbour, soaking in the sights. On Saturdays, there’s a vibrant market where local artisans showcase their work, and it’s a popular spot for locals to enjoy tasty street food while listening to playlists that seemed like they were created just for us. The vibe was fantastic, and it was great to meet and chat with the people. We absolutely love this place!
Dream Chasers 