Author Archives: Stefan Lomas

We had tentatively planned to visit Addo Elephant Park, but after speaking to several amazing people we’d met along the way, our plans were solidified. By sheer fluke, I managed to secure a last-minute cancellation within the park, and as a surprise for Rachel, I booked it for the night before her birthday. The ideaContinue reading “The incredible Addo Elephant Park”

We ended up staying an extra day on Leisure Isle—it was such a nice spot, and we were at risk of growing roots! But after packing up and visiting the “Food Lovers Market” to stock up on provisions, we got back on the N2 and drove just under 200 km, crossing from the Western toContinue reading “Jeffries Bay & Tsitsikamma National Park”

We left Mossel Bay after lunch and made our way back onto the N2, heading further east. The weather had been more unsettled the further east we traveled, and this continued as we drove the 100 km to Knysna. Along the way, we stopped at the “Food Lovers Market,” which always has a great selectionContinue reading “Knysna and Plettenberg Bay”

After a leisurely breakfast and farewells to our gracious hosts from the last four days, we “set sail” for Mossel Bay, continuing east along the Garden Route (N2). Our journey took us from the Over Berg back down to the cooler temperatures of the coast. During our travel along the N2, we noticed a fairContinue reading “Mossel Bay & Wilderness”

We’ve truly enjoyed our stay in Onrus; everyone we’ve met here has been wonderful. We didn’t even mind too much about getting well and truly beaten by the Kleinmond Tennis Club—they were so welcoming and far more humble than I would have been if the tables were turned! After thanking Ryno, one of our graciousContinue reading “Swellendam & De Hoop Nature Reserve”

We set off mid-morning from the cottage and headed back towards Cape Town along the R44 coastal road, making our way to Betty’s Bay, which was high on Rachel’s list of places to visit. We arrived just after mid-morning and decided to visit the main beach first to stretch our legs. We parked in aContinue reading “Betty’s Bay”

About two hours from Onrus, we arrived at Babylonstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms dating back to 1692, set at the foot of Simonsberg in the Franschhoek wine valley. The estate has been meticulously restored to reflect how it would have looked back in the day, complete with a beautiful fruit and vegetableContinue reading “Babylonstoren”

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,Continue reading “Onrus & Hermanus”

A driver arrived outside our apartment to take us to the dock for the ferry to Robben Island. Although it was an unusual way to spend my birthday, I had been keen to learn more about the island, its history & of course Nelson Mandela. During the ferry ride, we watched a video about RobbenContinue reading “The Long Road to Freedom…Robben Island”

There’s only one AC unit servicing the entire apartment, and since we’re in the height of summer here, we’ve had to keep the bedroom door open to stay cool. This means we’re awake as soon as the sun pokes its head over Table Mountain, around 6:30 AM. We’ve been enjoying exploring different parts of theContinue reading “A hike up Table Mountain”