South Africa Roads
Road Trip in SA
2023. 01. 26 - 2023. 01. 30
Hi friends,
Something I haven’t updated you still is the road trip JD took me on when we visited South Africa last year.
This man drove me over 3 thousand kilometers to show me different parts of his country.
We drove from Cape Town to the border of Lesotho
I’m indeed privileged to have this kind of experience and it must be shared.
Hope you enjoy it x
Driving into Barrydale
We drove from green mountains & valleys to semi-desert looking Barrydale.
It was a little desert town with very interesting characters.
We got beers from a shop, which was a combination of cafe and art shop.
I wonder if the artist is the wife and the cafe owner is the husband?
I was fascinated by pottery in South Africa.
We had crazy good food and wine in a winery restaurant called Mez Karoo Kitchen
Eating dinner surrounded by gardens felt unreal.
It was also a combination of restaurant and art shop.
There was also a local pub called BLUE MOON with a loud crowd, almost cowboy-farmer type of crowd.
That was exotic for me.
First beer after the first day drive. It was a shop selling paintings, ceramic and beer.
The place we stayed at the first night. It was a very interesting experience staying here. We saw a baboon from the kitchen window when we woke up the next morning. We could see it from the bed, too. It was an odd feeling to look at baboon’s eyes. We all got a fright and ran away.
In case you don’t know what a baboon is. It’s the biggest monkey with long sharp canine teeth.
When we were peeking it from the front door. He was sitting/ chilling like this on the pole of front gate.
We hit the road again
The next stop was Wilderness.
We were going to visit J-D’s uncle’s family.
We had a lovely dinner with braai (BBQ), endless wine and different conversation to meet each other.
The next morning, his uncle and aunt took us on a scenic drive to show us around in his neighborhood.
There was a local shop selling all sorts of seeds, vegetables, crystals and crafts, such as ceramics, handmade soaps and bamboo bird feeders!
Everyone has a crazily beautiful garden in that area.
The above right picture is a spot called ‘Map of Africa’ because it looks like the south part of Africa on a map.
The river color there was brown because of the denim from the tree. It’s not dirty but perhaps has good effect on our health.
After saying goodbye to JD’s uncle and aunt,
we left for Nature’s Valley and stayed at a HIPPIE hostel called WILD SPIRIT , recommended by our hippie friend.
It was a mind opening experience. I’ve never been to any place this hippie like this.
Most of the staff there are long-term guests staying and working there at the same time.
We had our forst glamping experience togther.
View from a public toilet at the hostel
We explored the little trails at the hostel following magic mushroom signs on wood.
There’s a sign saying that little pool in second pic from the right is a natural bath pool.
Would you jump in ?
The next day, off we went again.
This drive was very unforgettable because it was the national high way but unpaved,
just dirt road in the mountains going for a long long way.
Luckily, J-D is a very good driver.
He managed to conquer any road situations, even their notorious potholes.
The next stop was Graaff-Reinet in Karoo.
‘Wild Olive Cottage’
We stayed at a Dutch-style farm house in the middle of a semi-desert.
It was super windy but we still wanted to cook outside.
That was the first meal we made together after we got in South Africa.
We enjoy cooking together in the kitchen.
I made a peach salad with the peaches gifted by his aunt and he made lamb chops on charcoal.
I still can’t believe we cooked here.
I don’t usually eat lamb in Taiwan because of the strong scent.
J-D wanted me to try SA lambs with fynbos aroma because that’s what the sheep there eat.
It was mind blowingly delicious, as strong as the wind blowing there.
We cooked, drank and ate.
We watched the sky, the clouds, and the sunset.
It was quite a romantic evening <3
Until the sunlight became bright orange flames.
Back on road, this time, we were headed to Clocolan
We entered an area called ‘FREE STATE’.
However, it was not free and nor a state.
It was an area with the most potholes.
The roads haven’t been maintained for probably 40 years after it was taken over by the current ruling party.
This was what the roads there looked like.
J-D was driving S shape to avoid potholes nonstop.
He was exhausted from driving after that.
Getting close to the place where we were staying on a farm.
Endless grand sky in SA, very different fromTaiwan.
Left photo is view from the living room window.
And if you go right past the glass door on the right, you will enter an outdoor lounge.
Dream deck!
South African people do know how to bring the outside in and live with nature.
The view of the deck was magnificent as well.
South Africans can’t live without a braai(BBQ) area.
Afternoon walkie
We ventured out to have a walk on the big farm.
It was bizzare to see rain falling in front of our eyes.
South African sky is so vast that you can see afar.
After a little while, rain+sun = rainbow.
Then, this weirdly barking doggo that was following us on the walk.
It had a weird habit of showing teeth while trying to interact.
I thought it was a hostile dog trying to bite us at the beginning,
but turned out it just had a funny excited face of trying to get our attention.
That’s not the best habit to have when he tries to make friends with humans.
J-D has a gentle connection with dogs.
The dog couldn’t be happier once J-D lowered to pat her.
Just some magical lake scenes on the farm
Last stop
Maluti (Border of Lesotho)
Traveling with J-D, I was previledged to travel in safe and more posh areas.
My eyes were wide open when we drove through this following part, real AFRIKA feeling.
Poor infrastructure without water system, 4 ways to repair fridge sign, people walking, sitting and selling all sorts on the side of roads.
J-D was the only white and I was the only Asian on road.
Getting out of the car was definitely not a good idea.
Everything was so unfamiliar.
After the Zulu town, we drove onto national park roads.
I saw several shepherds on the road.
Coming from Taiwan, I’ve only seen shepherds illustrated in children’s story books @@
Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge
Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge is situated in the Northern Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa at the foot of the magnificent Sentinel Peak. The lodge looks across the rolling foothills of Royal Natal, into the face of the Amphitheater, from which the highest falls in the world – Tugela Falls – cascades. This beautiful alpine area is home to a variety of landscapes, rich flora and fauna.
- cited from hotel website
The view from the dining area.
Again, it was such a privilege to be able to stay here and enjoy the exquisite food and drinks in such a high mountain.
Tourism is their big income. I can’t imagine how much work they put in to bring all the supplies high up to run the business.
Take a walk and see what the surroundings look like?
Constantly changing clouds in Drakensberg
This is where the author of Lord of the Rings spent his childhood and wrote his incredible imagination based on the scenes here.
Can you see some resemblance?
J-D’s office view for the day. 
Last lastly
J-D took me on a route to see his different schools in several cities growing up as a child. Now thinking back, he was trying so hard to let me get to know him deeper. Thanks J-D for all the planning and driving.
Thank you for reading here in this little corner of the internet. As an artist, I’m privileged to get to ruminate the trip so many times in order to put this trip into a blog post and share it with you.
Saying goodbye here with the first wild chameleon I saw in the garden of a German restaurant.
I will see you next time.
Bye!