Cape Road trip Part 1

We were invited to attend Gavin and Lisha's wedding in Cape Town and decided
to do a bit of touring on our way down there.  After our trip we worked out that we had covered over
4500kms travelling from Johannesburg, Gariep Dam, Graaff-Reinet,Uitenhage,Tsitsikamma, Knysna,
Cape Agulhas,Betty's Bay and Cape Town before coming back home.This is the basic route we took



After about 600kms we reached our first destination - Gariep Dam


We stayed at Forever Resorts Gariep


Our chalet


Map of the resort


Unfortunately there is a severe drought here in South Africa so the dam levels were only at 55%


Usually the water would go all the way to the stairs on the left



Looking toward the dam wall and the dark layer is usually were the water line is up to
We took a drive up onto the dam wall



These are all part of the sluice gates




The Orange River - at this point depending if you go left, right or straight ahead you will either be in the Free State,Northern Cape or Eastern Cape



The next morning Al got up early to catch the sunrise over the dam




And then it was time to start the second leg of the journey
Graaff-Reinet


via Middleburg



When we arrived in Graaff-Reinet we headed straight to Camdeboo National Park and
 the Valley of Desolation



This park is a strange mixture of very arid Karoo landscape followed by beautifully lush areas





The road starts to climb higher and higher and the lack of safety side rails makes it more fun lol


Our first stop was at the Toposcope. The views from here are insane, some of the prettiest I have ever seen!

 
To the left are the dam as well as the town of Graaff-Reinet


And to the right you can see some of the Valley of Desolation which we will get to later...


Al went up the very steep path the the top of the Toposcope and got some spectacular photos


Graaff-Reinett






The Toposcope


Lizard!

We then drove up further to get to the Valley


We waited at the observation deck while Al hiked up another steep path to see the Valley


The dolomite stacks that rise over 90m from the valley floor







Spandau Kop


Nqweba Dam

Finished exploring the park we headed back into town


The magnificent Grote Kerk




The war memorial in front of the town hall


All the houses in town are beautifully restored and so very quaint


The Obesa Cactus Nursery, I have never seen so many cacti

 

We stayed at Obesa Lodge



The row of colourful cottages that make up Obesa Lodge


Our cottage was called Family Thyme
 

The Cat'astrophe corner :)

We stayed overnight before heading further south again.

More coming in Part 2...