South Africa

[Pughy]

Am going to Cape Town with Mrs Pughy in January and hiring a GS for a week to go touring ~ probably from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and then back via the Karoo.

Anyone been their, offer any advise or good places to visit (or not as the case may be !)

 

[Uinneag]

Am going to Cape Town with Mrs Pughy in January and hiring a GS for a week to go touring ~ probably from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and then back via the Karoo.

Anyone been their, offer any advise or good places to visit (or not as the case may be !)

Got a mate in P.E.
I can get in touch with him regarding a headsup on where to stay, see , do etc

don't ride at night

 

[Janz]

There was a good thread last week on this, quite extensive advice, check it out on search. Lucky man enjoy it.

If it were me I'd ride to Cape Point, then along False Bay to Hermanus. Caledon, Swellendam, Tradouw Pass to Barrydale. Route 62 to Ladismith, Swartberg Pass, Prince Albert, Meiringspoort, Gamkapoort Dam, Gamkapoort or Hel – a famous destination for offroaders. Cango caves, Outshoorn, Cape Aghulas, Arniston. Oh and PE too, man you're going to be spoiled...

 

[Janz]

Here it is last week's SA thread

 

[Pughy]

Here it is last week's SA thread

Janz...thanks for the link Yes really looking forward to it !!! and oonyak (?) thanks for the offer as well.....very friendly folk

 

[Janz]

Pughy, I forgot to recommend Graaf Reinet as a lovely town to visit when in the Karoo, see the Valley of Desolation while there. Nieu Bethesda is a typical Karoo dorp along good dirt roads, seeing Helen Martin's Owl House is a must there as is visiting Andre's micro brewery for his creative brews and goats cheese. In NB stay at the water tower run by an arts trust called Bethesda Foundation.

 

[Pughy]

Thanks Janz

I am just trying to look all thess places up on the map and plan the route

 

[Janz]

Just thinking of other recommendations, drop into the Jam Tarts restaurant on the R62 in Barrydale and speak to Terri, she'll look after you if you want a leisurely lunch or just a thirst quencher. Pick her brain about where to go & what to do.

If you're a brandy man drop into the Barrydale wine co-op their brandys are worth trying and buying. If you are into port and desert wines, then Calitzdorp is the place to go. Or Soet Karoo in Prince Albert, a new desert wine vineyard in the centre of the dorp.

There are hot water springs up the road at Warmwaterberg and a cooling pool, which I guess you'll need in January. Ronnies 'Sex' Shop I hear is worth a visit. A photo outside Ronnies is the Karoo equivalent of a picture next to a red phone box. It's a bar and the 'sex' is a fantasy of lonely farmers.