August 2023

If you read our previous post, you may remember that we mentioned we would have to drive from Langebaan to East London. Berto bought a new ‘bakkie’ (also called a truck/pickup truck in other countries) while we were in Langebaan and we therefore had to save our plane tickets for another day.

So, if you feel like a long and scenic road trip, hop into our new bakkie and enjoy the ride. We will name all the towns and cities on our way (indicated with a ✿) … a fun way of learning more of a country.

✿ Langebaan

A spectacular sunrise to start the road trip

Normally, when we go on a road trip, we don’t drive on the highways, but rather stick to the back roads. But as we had about 1,100km (683 miles) to cover (and time was limited) we headed for the N2 highway which would take us all the way to East London.

✿ Hopefield (32km/20 miles)

The canola fields with its yellow flowers were lovely

About 40km after we left Langebaan, it started to rain lightly. We talked about how lucky we were with the weather while visiting Langebaan. It was sunny all the time and perfect for admiring the colourful wildflowers.

✿ Malmesbury (93km/58 miles)

✿ Paarl (137km/85 miles)

We apologise in advance for the quality of the photos. I took most of them while Berto was driving, so some of them may be a little out of focus.

It was great to see that the Western Cape Province had a good rainy season. The fields were green and dams and rivers full.

Bare trees in the main street of Paarl

The Huguenot Tunnel is a toll tunnel between Paarl and Worcester and offers a route that is safer, faster and shorter than the old Du Toitskloof Pass which travels over the mountain. This tunnel was officially opened in March 1988.

At the toll gate of the Huguenot Tunnel

About to enter the tunnel

The tunnel is 3,9km (2,4 miles) long

✿ Worcester (195km/121 miles)

When we drove out the other side of the tunnel, it was still cloudy. But soon we could see more blue skies and even some sunshine.

Still cloudy after we left the tunnel

Blue sky on the other side of the mountain

Just after I told Berto that I wouldn’t mind a hot cup of coffee (and maybe something to eat too), a slipway to a petrol station appeared. After stretching our legs and enjoying our coffee and toastie, we hit the road again.

Time for a pit stop

✿ Robertson (241km/150 miles)

Just before we reached Robertson, we saw an old train in the field by the side of the road. We don’t think the train is running anymore, but nearby wine farms (Van Loveren and Four Cousins) have taken advantage of this by advertising their wine and restaurant on the carriages of the train.

Train in the field next to the road

The town of Robertson

Oh, wait! Did we just talk about wine? Although we still had a considerable distance to cover for the day, we definitely had time to stop at Robertson Winery to purchase a few of our favourite bottles of wine to take with us to East London.

Robertson Winery

Tasting Room at Robertson Winery

After a quick chat with the staff at the winery, we selected our favourite wines. As Berto walked to the delivery store to pick up our wine, the sales lady asked me if I wanted to see their conference room and underground cellar. It’s such a lovely place – how I wish we had more time (like maybe a week longer)!

I would like to attend a conference here

Stairs leading to the underground cellar

Underground cellar

Underground tunnel

Bowen Botha, Managing Director of Robertson Winery (until 2021)

Oom Pon (‘Uncle Pon’) – Robertson Winery’s first winemaker

Robertson Winery was established in 1941 and has become a global brand. They are recognised for the quality and value of its wines.

✿ Ashton (257km/160 miles)

Although we would have liked to stay longer at the Robertson Winery, we had to get back on the road again. The small town of Ashton is just 18km away. One of Ashton’s new landmarks is the Ashton Arch bridge, which was completed in August 2021 after more than seven years of planning and construction.

Ashton Arch bridge in Ashton

✿ Swellendam (304km/189 miles)

We loved the views of the beautiful green and yellow canola fields between Ashton and Swellendam. In fact, for the next hundred kilometers we saw these fields continuously. It really was a great time to drive these roads during late winter.

Lovely views on the N2 highway

✿ Heidelberg (360km/224 miles)

✿ Riversdale (395km/245 miles)

✿ Albertinia (428km/266 miles)

✿ Mossel Bay (473km/294 miles)

As we got closer to Mossel Bay, we shared our memories of this harbour town on the Garden Route. Berto was last here in the late 1980s on a school rugby trip and I visited this town with a friend in 1992. The highway does not go through the town and we decided to turn off and drive through the town because we have such fond memories of Mossel Bay.

Main street of Mossel Bay

Close to the harbour of Mossel Bay

✿ George (517km/321 miles)

The section we were driving now is called the Garden Route of South Africa. It starts in Mossel Bay and ends in Storms River. This area is known for world-class beaches, lagoons and indigenous forests. It’s such a scenic drive which we thoroughly enjoyed – again we wished we had more time.

Scenic views on the Garden Route

Just outside George, Berto pulled over to stop at a petrol station. While he was filling the bakkie, the smell of freshly baked pancakes lured me to a café. After ordering some pancakes and coffee, we’re back on the road for our last stretch for the day.

Cinnamon pancakes

✿ Wilderness (529km/329 miles)

We began to see more and more rivers, lagoons and forests – something this area is so famous for. We also spotted some paragliders above the forest. It was probably the perfect day for this activity as there was no wind. Just think of the amazing views those paragliders had of the beautiful beaches below.

River on the Garden Route

Paragliders above the forest

✿ Knysna (576km/358 miles)

Knysna is a popular holiday town and are described as a true natural wonderland. It’s famous for the Knysna lagoon, or estuary, as well as for its oysters and wooden furniture.

Knysna lagoon

Driving through the forests of Knysna

✿ Plettenberg Bay (609km/378 miles)

The road towards Plettenberg Bay had such scenic views. Plett, as it is popularly known, has sweeping golden beaches, vineyards and towering indigenous forests. If only we had time to stop here …

On the way to Plettenberg Bay

✿ Storms River Mouth (672km/417 miles)

Storms River Mouth is the end of the Garden Route. The river mouth is located in the Tsitsikamma National Park. It is also here where the famous 5-day Otter trail starts – something we still want to do one day.

Driving over one of the many rivers close to Storms River Mouth

Storms River Mouth was now behind us

High bridges (Bloukrans Bridge is famously the world’s highest bridge bungy jump)

✿ Humansdorp (760km/472 miles)

With the sun now setting fast, we also got closer to our overnight town.

Beautiful sky just before Humansdorp

✿ Jeffreys Bay (769km/477 miles)

Friends of ours who used to live in East London recently retired and moved to Jeffreys Bay. They invited us to stay with them before continuing the last distance to our home in East London the next day. After driving for 10 hours it was great to just sit on their balcony and enjoy the last light of the day.

Jeffreys Bay

We hope you enjoyed this beautiful area of South Africa with us. Join us in our next post for the last part of our road trip.

You can read the second (and final) part of our road trip here.