After a hearty breakfast, we hit the trail by 9:30 AM enjoying gorgeous Spring weather.
Market cross in Stanton
Today’s walk was similar to the first as we walked crossed many green pastures & said hello to some sheep & lambs.
Yes, they speak English in England; but, that doesn’t mean I always understand what they mean.
No tipping… Tip who?
A fairly common sight in England are the ruins from the many abbey’s that were destroyed by Henry VIII.
Hailes Abbey ruins
Just after 1:00 PM we made it to Winchcombe. This town is over 1,000 years old with many old buildings. Our hotel dates from 1554.
This town could easily be used on a historical movie set.
After a quick lunch we visited the nearby Sudeley Castle. British royalty ranging from Richard III, Charles I, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, & Elizabeth I as well as many other well known names in British history are included in its story. Henry VIII’s last wife Katherine Parr who survived him is interred here making her the only English queen buried in a private castle. Sudeley Castle is also where Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn along with Henry’s Chief Minister Thomas Cromwell decided Britain would break with the Catholic Church so Henry could divorce Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn.
Henry VIII & his 6 wives- (L-R) Catherine of Aragon (Divorced), Anne Boleyn (Beheaded), Jane Seymour (Died), Anne of Cleves (Divorced), Catherine Howard (Beheaded), Katherine Parr (Widow)
Henry VIII’s last wife Katherine Parr is buried in St. Mary’s Chapel on the castle grounds.
Great story on how Katherine Parr’s burial place was found
We were blessed with perfect weather on our first day hiking in the very charming Cotswolds.
We left Chipping Campden around 9:15AM passing through this lovely village that serves as the North-South Cotswold Way Gateway. The route ends 100 miles further south from here in historic Bath.
Chipping Campden
The walk began with a gentle ascent up Dover’s Hill. The climb’s reward is sharing a view overlooking the beautiful English countryside with sheep flocks at the top.
For the next few hours, we enjoyed meandering over green fields past too many sheep to count.
The trail is well marked & hikers simply have to look for the Cotswold Way signs which includes wooden posts with an acorn symbol or small round circle pointing the way.
One nice landmark on the trail is the Broadway Tower which is named after the town closest to it. The tower sits on the second highest point in the Cotswolds & as such, it can be seen from miles around. Its location affords a nice view from the hilltop.
This tower made me think about the Rapunzel fairytale. I could very easily envision Rapunzel on the balcony letting down her golden hair
Around noon we walked into the quaint village Broadway.
From Broadway, we only had 4.5 more miles to reach our final destination for today.
In England, you can walk through many farms & fields. This trail is a public walkway due to right-of-ways that have existed for centuries.
Since livestock needs to be controlled & managed, each time you cross into a new field, you have special gates to unlatch or fences to negotiate.
Along the way, we saw these very unique looking cows called Galloways or “Oreo Cows”.
Around 3:00PM, we reached our final destination of Stanton which is yet another cute English village.
For 5 days, we enjoyed exploring South Africa’s Western Cape along the Garden Route.
Day 1
We took a a short boat ride to see a very large seal colony at Hout Bay.
Upon our return, the boat was greeted by a band that looked like they belonged in New Orleans along with a friendly seal.
Before sunset we made it to Africa’s Southernmost tip at Point Agulhas which is where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean & vice versa.
A funny sign in L’Agulhas.
Day 2
This was mostly a driving day from L’Agulhas to Knysna (pronounced Nice-nah). Knysna is nice-ah! Due to strong winds, our nature walk there was postponed until the next morning.
Knysna Harbor- Featherbed Nature Preserve across the water
Day 3
In the morning we enjoyed a lovely nature walk at the Featherbed Nature Preserve.
With all the verdant scenery, it was hard to believe that most vegetation on this island was destroyed by a fire only 7 years ago.
At the beginning of our hike we were given slingshots to shoot seed pods down the hill to help replenish the native plants.
Due to the rocks, currents & tides, as well as not having modern navigation devices, the harbor entry was rated as the most difficult in the world to navigate.
After this lovely morning hike, we visited the Knysna Elephant Park that helps orphaned & injured elephants.
At the park , you are given a chance to feed & walk with the elephants.
Food for elephants Sally the elephant matriarch
We were lucky to have our picture taken with Sally. She is the 34 year old matriarch & the oldest elephant at the park. She now teaches the young elephants how to survive.
Day 4
Before starting this day, I had a lovely breakfast at the cute Roadside Cafe restaurant in Plettenberg Bay which has a plant nursery as well as a petting zoo.
I had a very filling breakfast to prepare me for the 7 mile hike around the Robberg Nature Reserve.
The views around the reserve were spectacular which included being able to see various seal colonies from high above on the cliffs.
After passing the half way mark on fairly easy trails, the path involved bouldering having to scramble over & climb many rocks for over a mile. Thankfully, we made it through that rough stretch without any turned ankles or falls.
An hour before sunset we made it to Jeffery’s Bay. This town was made famous in the 1960s documentary movie “Endless Summer” which is about surfers 🏄 who travel the world surfing at various beaches all year long.
Jeffrey’s Bay sunset
Day 5
Our last Garden Route day involved watching a few surfers at the beach & visiting the Birds of Eden bird sanctuary.
From the first moment we entered the sanctuary, we saw birds up close. This large facility allowed us to observe many species for a few hours.
My husband has an unusual hobby. He likes to do bungee jumps around the world when possible. He has now bungy jumped in New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Greece, & now South Africa.
He jumped off the Boukrans Bridge which at 216 meters (709 feet) high is the highest bridge in Africa & the world’s 3rd highest bungy jump.
As we left the Garden Route, we drove off into a beautiful sunset heading for the Karoo region.
Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city & as such is known in the country as “The Mother City”.
It is South Africa’s 2nd largest city after Johannesburg.
The German anthropologist Theophilus Hahn recorded that the area’s original name was ‘Hui !Gais‘ from the indigenous Khoi language meaning “Where clouds gather.”
Indeed, the week we were in Cape Town, Table Mountain was often covered by clouds.
Portuguese mariner & explorer Bartolomeu Dias was the 1st European to reach the area in 1488 & named it the “Cape of Storms.” King John II of Portugal renamed it the “Cape of Good Hope” because it opened a new trade route to the East Indies after the Ottoman Empire cut the overland routes to Europe.
Today you can visit the Castle of Good Hope not far from the bus station.
It was built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679. The Castle is the oldest existing building in South Africa.
Another historic attraction to visit is Robben Island where political prisoners such as Nelson Mandela were imprisoned. Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years as a political prisoner on this island.
It takes its name from the Dutch word for seals (robben); hence, the Dutch/Afrikaans name Robbeneiland which translates to Seal(s) Island.
The island tour includes a 30 minute ferry ride, a bus tour around the island where you see the lime quarry where Mandela & other political prisoners did hard labor, & a walking tour around the prison. Our guide around the prison grounds was an ex-political prisoner who was able to give us a first hand experience about the daily life for prisoners on the island.
Entry & Exit Gate for all prisoners. Ferry Terminal in Cape TownCape Town view from the island
Among most popular spots in Cape Town is the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront. It’s the perfect place to shop, eat, & enjoy the views.
If you are a foodie, then Cape Town won’t disappoint. One evening we enjoyed typical African food & entertainment at Mama Africa.
We found a very nice food court called the Time Out Market on the V&A Waterfront where every meal was delicious & nicely served.
Last meal- risotto & waffle dessert. 😋
Our last tour in Cape Town was to the Diamond Museum located at the V&A Waterfront. South Africa’s diamond industry dates back to 1866. In the 1870s & 1880s, South Africa produced 95% of all diamonds in the world.
After the tour we were given a chance to purchase a diamond. Hmmm…maybe next time or after I win the lottery.
Shortly after the 1st diamond was found 50,000 moved to SA to find their fortune Famous diamond replicas. Diamond workshop
A drive along the False Bay coastline on M4 is not to be missed on a visit to Cape Town. The view is spectacular; but also, there are a few other rewards along the way.
Boulders Beach & Foxy Beach in Simon’s Town are a permanent home to many African Penguins.
African Penguins are often referred to as “Jackass Penguins” due to their loud braying.
Simon’s Town is the only place penguins are found on the African continent.
For a small national park entry fee, you can use wooden boardwalks along the beach to observe the penguins. We found many only inches away not only nesting in the bushes; but also, a few penguins even occasionally meandered down the boardwalk along with us humans.
Two nice platforms allow you to watch the penguins waddle out to the sea, shake themselves dry after they return to the beach, or simply observe the colony nesting on the beach.
We got up extra early to be at the park when it opened at 8:00 AM. It was nice to enjoy the penguins all by ourselves for a while.
It’s a fun time for any nature and/or animal lover.
Up close snapshots? … Not a problem.
There are also many Rock Hyraxes near the penguins hoping to steal their eggs or any unattended human food.
Also, Simon’s Town is a cute little town to enjoy just on its own.
Penguin Crosswalk
Up the coast at St. James Beach, surfers flock to enjoy the waves & photographers can’t resist the colorful beach huts.
Sadly the fog lingered all day long at St James Beach
Among the most popular group shot is the one at the very tip of the Cape of Good Hope. We waited in a long line to get this photo.
We drove SE out of Cape Town this morning to enjoy the beautiful wine country. Since the day began enveloped in heavy fog, we weren’t sure how much scenery we would see.
The first stop was the historic Veregelen Wine Estate.
It’s name comes from Dutch meaning “situated far away”.
The estate dates back to the 1700s. During a visit, you have the opportunity to view the original homestead house & the wine cellar which has been converted into a massive library.
Today, the grounds contain various buildings converted into restaurants along with extensive manicured gardens.
When we arrived, it was a bit chilly & the fog had yet to lift. The weather made me want a nice cup of tea to get warm. To my great pleasure, the Rose Terrace was an ideal spot to relax on a cool foggy morning.
In fact, I rate the Rose Cottage among the most ideal tea rooms I have ever visited. Luckily, we were there before others began arriving, so we had time to enjoy its ambiance almost all by ourselves.
Nothing beats a warm cup of tea & a scone on a cool morning.
By the time we left the Rose Cottage, the fog had lifted revealing beautiful blue skies which allowed us to enjoy the gardens.
Camphor Trees on the estate planted by the 1st Dutch owner are over 300 years old & are still used to make Camphor
Next on the agenda was a visit to an Olive estate called Morgensted which is located right next to Veregelen.
They also produce grapes to make wine; but, instead of a wine tasting, we did an olive oil tasting.
Olive Trees at Morgensted
Then we made a short visit to Stellenbosch which is a quaint university town located in the heart of South Africa’s wine country. It has many eateries & would have been a great place for lunch if we had not just finished our olive oil tasting.
Our last stop was at the very high scale winery at the Delaire Graff Estate. It was still a little too early for wine tasting; but, the beautiful views from there were intoxicating.
For the past four days we enjoyed safari driving in Kruger National Park located in South Africa’s northeastern corner.
Kruger ranks among the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 17,576 square miles which is approximately the size of New Jersey or the country of Wales.
It took us 4 days driving many hours each day & we only saw about 1/3 of the park. We were rewarded with seeing many animals along with some new first time safari experiences.
One rare sighting was seeing a mother hyena nursing her pup on the side of the road.
Our theory is the mother hyena knows that predators don’t like being close to the road where vehicles & people are, so she felt safe nursing her pup there instead of in the bush.
The other rare sighting was a dead leopard in a tree.
Apparently it was deposited there after being killed by another leopard.
Leopards are not only very territorial m’; but also, they have very strong jaws & are excellent climbers.
Leopards are the only cats who can climb that high carrying another animal.
Like most African game parks, you get very close to the wildlife.
We enjoyed our game drives each day. Here are a few animal sightings from the past few days.
We were lucky to have half a day to explore the Ol Pejeta Conservancy wildlife park near Nanyuki. This is a private park that helps protect & conserve numerous African wild animals. With the recent rains, we were glad to have a 4×4 vehicle to maneuver the muddy roads getting to & from the park as well as within it.
Near the entrance is a nice sign marking Zero Degrees latitude on the Equator.
One unique feature at Ol Pejeta is their chimpanzee sanctuary for rescued chimps which was started in 1993 by the world’s preeminent chimp expert Jane Goodall. They currently provide a home for 2 troops totaling 40 chimpanzees.
You can get up close & personal with a blind black rhino named Baraka which means “Lucky” because he was Lucky to be rescued & cared for. He likes to be fed & to have his ears rubbed.
Here is an assortment of other animals we enjoyed watching on our game drive.
The very rare white rhino. They are protected from poachers by an electric fence.
A great place to visit near Nanyuki, Kenya, is the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy Animal Orphanage located at the Mount Kenya Safari Cub.
It makes up for its small size by providing true interaction with the animals. Each visitor is provided with their own wildlife management guide. The guide is able to answer all your questions & helps you interact safely with a few animals.
Up Close & Personal with Llamas, Monkeys, Ostriches, & Turtles
Animals to see here include: bongos, cheetahs, elands, hyenas, & lions to name just a few.
Many animals love the guides & come very close to the wire cage.
After 3 wonderful days at the Women’s Center at the Twala Tenebo Cultural Manyatta near Il Poles, we are back in Nanyuki.
At the MEET Girls’ Mentor Retreat, we met all 14 girls who are currently in school & 8 girls who have graduated.
3 MEET graduates are in trade schools learning to become a wildlife tour guide, caterer & plumber.
And, this year, 3 MEET graduates are starting college!
These girls & young ladies are amazing people who show strong determination to do well in school & find work to support their families.
Taking notes & meeting togetherWriting thank you letters to their education supportersLiz, the MEET team leader with her newborn. Break timeGina, Rosemary and Aurora, part of the Kenya & USA leadersRosemary with some of the local Maasai womenRosemary with the staff that cooked for us during the retreat On their way homeWe had a great time!
The Wanderers 