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
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
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
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
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...
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...
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