The Terrific Tsitsikamma
The Tsitsikamma is a gorgeous region which borders on both the provinces of the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. Geza and I were booked to stay just north of a village called Nature’s Valley at a backpackers (in Canada known as a hostel, but they are much nicer here) called “Wild Tongue Backpackers”. The location, people, general set-up and room were all amazing. Our room had an ensuite (which did not increase the price of the room) and they don’t lock doors here because there is no theft (wow!).
The atmosphere was very laid back and run by hippies. Geza exclaimed, upon arrival, that he felt like he was entering the twilight zone. There were plants everywhere, all the employees did not wear shoes, and there was a horse grazing by our living room window one sunny morning. The only thing missing was Janis Joplin and the Beatles. The general common area situated outside had a huge fire pit which we braaied some undercooked potatoes on and the enclosing wall was made entirely of driftwood nailed together [see right]. It was beautiful. The view when sitting on the deck drinking a cold beer overlooked the mountains and the moonrise. I have included our moonrise shots below...
After checking in, we headed out to Monkey Land which is a monkey sanctuary. Before arriving at Monkey Land, I made Geza bring the car to a screeching halt when I spotted the Mohair Mill Shop, and went wild. Mohair went flying left and right and I exited the store after 35 minutes with a dark brown and beige pin-striped mohair scarf and a large dark purple mohair blanket. Geza is not innocent either :) I am ready for winter 2007!
When we finally got to Monkey Land, we had to enter through monkey-proof fence. It is a sanctuary where the monkeys roam free. On our one-hour tour, we saw – squirrel monkeys (who were quite devious), two species of lemur [see below], a white gibbon, and many capuchins. My colleague commented on the devious behaviour of monkeys: she resides just outside of Grahamstown, and wild monkeys constantly steal the eggs from her chicken coop. There is not much she can do about it since the chickens must be able to enter and exit. At the end of tour, I was extremely grateful not to have monkey excrement land on me: my ex-roommate Hannah regaled a story that had happened to her long ago at Monkey Land.
The following day, on the 1st of January, Geza and I hiked a portion of the 4-day Otter Trail hike [see left], which is located in the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve. It was a coastal hike which boasted nothing but spectacular views and the roar of the ocean all the way through [see below]. We hiked to the waterfall where I posed for a picture, shared a can of orange Fanta and then headed back to complete the hike. This hike was about 3 hours in length. Buns of steel, buns of steel... :)
I have decided to include some of my flora and fauna photos, as usual:
The following day, I dragged Geza on what I thought would be another 3 hour hike, but turned out to be approximately 6 hours. This hike was called the Salt River Trail, but we started on the Kalanderkloof trail. We initially followed a dried up water bed [see below, but don't ask me what pose I was trying to assume in the picture], and Geza and I spent much time arguing about when South Africa had its rainy season. I have now discovered that none of us were right: certain regions in South Africa have their rainy season in the summer, and others in the winter. Case closed.
We eventually had to hike straight up a mountain [see below] to connect with the Salt River Trail. I had to laugh so hard when I looked at Geza inquisitively when he had reached a turn in the path to see if the mountain had ended, and his response would be: "son-of-a-bitch", with a smile. 
The Salt River trail led us to a cove, where we swam and cooled off. It was simply too hot to say “no”. The water was salty, obviously, and very refreshing. I noticed right away the peculiar angle at which the vegetation on the surrounding mountains grew. It grew in vertical lines, bottom to top [see below].
The atmosphere was very laid back and run by hippies. Geza exclaimed, upon arrival, that he felt like he was entering the twilight zone. There were plants everywhere, all the employees did not wear shoes, and there was a horse grazing by our living room window one sunny morning. The only thing missing was Janis Joplin and the Beatles. The general common area situated outside had a huge fire pit which we braaied some undercooked potatoes on and the enclosing wall was made entirely of driftwood nailed together [see right]. It was beautiful. The view when sitting on the deck drinking a cold beer overlooked the mountains and the moonrise. I have included our moonrise shots below...
After checking in, we headed out to Monkey Land which is a monkey sanctuary. Before arriving at Monkey Land, I made Geza bring the car to a screeching halt when I spotted the Mohair Mill Shop, and went wild. Mohair went flying left and right and I exited the store after 35 minutes with a dark brown and beige pin-striped mohair scarf and a large dark purple mohair blanket. Geza is not innocent either :) I am ready for winter 2007!When we finally got to Monkey Land, we had to enter through monkey-proof fence. It is a sanctuary where the monkeys roam free. On our one-hour tour, we saw – squirrel monkeys (who were quite devious), two species of lemur [see below], a white gibbon, and many capuchins. My colleague commented on the devious behaviour of monkeys: she resides just outside of Grahamstown, and wild monkeys constantly steal the eggs from her chicken coop. There is not much she can do about it since the chickens must be able to enter and exit. At the end of tour, I was extremely grateful not to have monkey excrement land on me: my ex-roommate Hannah regaled a story that had happened to her long ago at Monkey Land.
The following day, on the 1st of January, Geza and I hiked a portion of the 4-day Otter Trail hike [see left], which is located in the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve. It was a coastal hike which boasted nothing but spectacular views and the roar of the ocean all the way through [see below]. We hiked to the waterfall where I posed for a picture, shared a can of orange Fanta and then headed back to complete the hike. This hike was about 3 hours in length. Buns of steel, buns of steel... :) 
I have decided to include some of my flora and fauna photos, as usual:The following day, I dragged Geza on what I thought would be another 3 hour hike, but turned out to be approximately 6 hours. This hike was called the Salt River Trail, but we started on the Kalanderkloof trail. We initially followed a dried up water bed [see below, but don't ask me what pose I was trying to assume in the picture], and Geza and I spent much time arguing about when South Africa had its rainy season. I have now discovered that none of us were right: certain regions in South Africa have their rainy season in the summer, and others in the winter. Case closed.We eventually had to hike straight up a mountain [see below] to connect with the Salt River Trail. I had to laugh so hard when I looked at Geza inquisitively when he had reached a turn in the path to see if the mountain had ended, and his response would be: "son-of-a-bitch", with a smile. The Salt River trail led us to a cove, where we swam and cooled off. It was simply too hot to say “no”. The water was salty, obviously, and very refreshing. I noticed right away the peculiar angle at which the vegetation on the surrounding mountains grew. It grew in vertical lines, bottom to top [see below]. 
Since I show the usual flora and fauna of each hike, I certainly don't intend to stop now, so here it is: 
We departed on the 3rd of January to head back to Grahamstown. I would have stayed another day, but Wild Tongue was booked solid. Good bye Tsitsikamma :) I'll be back...
We departed on the 3rd of January to head back to Grahamstown. I would have stayed another day, but Wild Tongue was booked solid. Good bye Tsitsikamma :) I'll be back...
posted by Emma at 11:40 AM
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