#601 African Wildlife on the Garden Route

Along the southern coast of South Africa, we travel from Cape Town to the Garden Route Game Lodge for an up-close introduction to African wildlife.

Our morning and evening two-hour game drives in traditional open-topped Land Rovers are led by Ronald who brilliantly mixes his deep knowledge with humor and passion.

This ever-expanding game lodge property now covers over five square miles so it's big enough to feel remote while you can be sure you'll see animals. We learn about successes in efforts to expand the property toward nearby reserves while re-introducing native free-range animals and returning the land to natural vegetation after many years of overgrazing.

When we aren't on a game drive, we tour the Reptile House (the puff adder is a local bad boy) and visit Cheetahs.

We stay in a beautiful 8-sided thatched-roof chalet with A/C, powerful shower, and a porch with views of Fynbos and mountains.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the lodge are delicious highlights.

The Garden Route boasts a mild climate similar to our 50th state, Hawaii.  But this is definitely not Hawaii.  

Yours in Africa,
Kelly