Swellendam – Mossel Bay

We had an early start today (7:00 a.m.), leaving Cape Town. Departing from Cape Town, we travel Sir Lawries Pass with its magnificent views over False Bay and the apple orchards of Elgin & Grabouw to Swellendam. It is the third oldest settlement in South Africa. Lying at the foot of the beautiful Langeberg mountains, this place is not only famous for its youngberries, but as well for its architecture and its history. Swellendam was founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1745. The town and its district were named after the governor of the Cape and his wife, Hendrik Swellengrebel and Helena Ten Damme. In time, a village was established opposite the Drotsdy, across the Koornlands River, where artisans, including numerous mainwrights and traders settled. To travelers and explorers, the services of these village folk were indispensable, as Swellendam was the last outpost of civilization on the eastern frontier. By the middle of the 19^th century, the eastern districts had been colonized by British settlers and Swellendam was a thriving metropolis. The town served as a useful refreshment station on the long slow journey up the coast.

We traveled along the coat by Gordon Bay, past Cape Hangklip to Hermanus where we stopped for whale watching, and coffee. We saw quite a few Southern Right Whales in the bay. We continued east to Riviersonderend and on to the Aloe factory where we enjoyed a lovely lunch and information about aloe products. After lunch, we had a short drive to Mossel Bay, our first glimpse of the Indian Ocean. We enjoyed the sights at the Bartholomew Diaz Museum at Mossel Bay, which depicts the history of the voyages of discovery. It boasts a replica of the vessel used in the 1488 voyage of discovery. It is incredibly small – seeing it brings home the extraordinary skill and courage of the explorers. We then continued north through Robinson Pass into the little Karoo and to our hotel in Oudstorn. We enjoyed a great supper of Ostrich, lamb and a few other delicacies. We stayed one night at the Oudtshoorn Hotel and Resort in Oudtshoorn