The Island Explorer

As the title suggests, Knysna is pronounced "nice na". At first I was pronouncing it wrongly, so the guys at Hitgeheim politely corrected me. Well, Knysna is a popular seaside town along the Garden Route. We were supposed to stay in Plettenberg Bay, but the accommodations there were hard to get by. Knysna is a charming and laid back town that is surrounded by a beautiful lagoon. It is also surrounded by lush forests, clear lakes and beautiful beaches. The town is also famous for its delicious oysters, which are harvested in the Knysna Lagoon and enjoyed by visitors in local restaurants. We stayed at the Waterfront Lodge on our first night. More on this hotel in my next article. The Knysna Quays Waterfront is where a lot of shops, restaurants and ferries are located. We decided to go on a lagoon tour on a ferry boat before having lunch. Basically, we rode a boat that toured us around  Knysna Lagoon . The lagoon was the center of Knysna, so it was just fi

In Hitgeheim, we spent our time mostly with a family who had two kids. These two kids were Lizzy's companions throughout the entire safari. They came all the way from Cape Town and ended their trip in Addo for the safari. Anyway, they recommended this place that is another popular attraction for kids. Hearing Monkeyland and Birds of Eden at first turned me off. I was swaying Lizzy not to go there anymore, but because her friends back in Hitgeheim told her how amazing it was, she was set to visit the place. We arrived in Monkeyland less than 2 hours before closing time. We were told we could still make it, so we decided to go in. I was expecting a zoo, but what we encountered was different. It was a real forest, where the monkeys can freely roam around. And there were different kinds of primates - yes, not just monkeys. The ones above are, of course, the lemur , made popular by the film Madagascar . The place was turned out to be a great recommendation indeed. Mo

Day 3 of our South African sojourn begins as we bid farewell to  our host, Archie, and Hitgeheim Country Lodge. Our safari experience left us wanting for more. So we decided to do something that most travelers don't usually do - drive the Garden Route in the other direction, from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town. The Garden Route in South Africa is a breathtaking stretch of coastline that spans from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape. The route is known for its lush forests, sparkling lagoons, pristine beaches, and towering mountains.  Along the way, travelers can explore charming coastal towns, visit wildlife reserves, go hiking in nature reserves, and indulge in fresh seafood. The Garden Route is a popular destination for those seeking outdoor adventures, relaxation, and stunning natural beauty. Our first stopover is not officially part of the Garden Route. The Daniell Cheetah Breeding Sanctuary was recommended to us by Archie. He sa