Driving the "Garden Route" to the SPECTACULAR Tsitsikamma National Park,

A platform in the treetop.
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After a day off to regroup from our great Oudtshoorn day trip, we set off for a six day adventure along the "Garden Route" of South Africa (from Mossel Bay along the southern cape to the beginning of the Eastern Cape).  It is indeed a majestic and beautiful drive along the coast with many, many spectacular ocean vistas of both miles and miles of sandy beaches and breathtaking cliffs and rocky shores.

George was the first small town we came to and the location of the airport from which we will return to Johannesburg in March.  We stopped at a really fun place, the Scarab Village, that has both a large and unique African Arts & Crafts Center and a yummy bistro, the Num Num -- named after these great little red fruits that happened to be in season and on which we "pigged out!"  I bought some great cards and a wildlife book from an artist who piants on acarb paper -- "It's the dung thing!"  Yes, paper made from elephant dung!  lolol  Wait til you see and feel it!  The next town, Knysna, however, was the real beach resort -- looks like anywhere USA on the ocean.  We strolled the harbor and walked through the shops on the wharfs before heading on to "the Heads" -- a scenic  area of cliffs that offers a very small, and sometimes dangerous,  route into the harbor from the Indian Ocean.

Our Canopy Tour, however, was the absolute most stunning thing!

The three of us, loving every minute of this!
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Next we came to Plettenberg Bay (known for its dolphins -- which were not present wile we were looking) and began searching for place to stay the night.  There was a Treehouse Forest Lodge which interested us except that we would have to backtrack to it.  Unfortunately we decided that we should (given the name).  It was a true disappointment.  Whoever did the brochure deserves credit for while there is unrealized great potential, the reality is mediocre at best.  There was no service, no hospitality and while the setting was gorgeous, the buildings were ill kept.  See review.  We couldn't get away fast enough in the morning and luckily came across the "Coffee Spot and Udder Things" closeby.  Yes, a cow motif with wonderful breakfasts!  Lots of the delicious Rooibos tea to wash away our memories of the night before!

Sally on a slide.
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Calling ahead we booked our "Canopy Tour" in the Tsitsikamma National Park and decided to go to Storms River immediately to ensure making our reservation time and finding a good place to stay the night before we leave on the three hour trip.  As luck would have it, we found THE BEST place right after the worst!  The Ploughman's Rest is a delight!  Malcolm and Peggy, the owners, and Marcel and Anje, their grandson and his wife, are truly wonderful hosts!  The rooms are clean and bright and the setting along a stream in the woods is perfect!  See review.

Knysna
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Our Canopy Tour, however, was the absolute most stunning thing!  This is a slide/glide through the treetops of a South African indigenous forest on high wires.  WOW!  When you arrive at the shop, they give you a talk about what will happen and how, and then fit you into a harness.  After a short jeep trip you arrive at a path that leads to the first platform nestled in a giant tree.  They start you out with small, rather flat slides to build your confidence and then off you go on a breathtaking journey of 10 slides 30 meters above the forest floor of giant ferns.  Knysna loeries were flying about -- a truly beautiful bird that shockingly makes a frog-like sound.  As the slides got longer and faster the giddier we all got!  Talk about fun!  PLEASE ask to see our video of this experience!  We seriously discussed doing it again upon our way back through the area next week!