Oudtshoorn to Plettenberg Bay

Only three more sleeps until we see Toby and Amy again, and two extra until the wedding – excitement is growing!

Yet again, clear blue skies ruled the start of the day and the 37C temperature and low humidity was simply delightful.

Outeniqua Pass

We climbed into our silver Avis hire car at 11am and headed the 150 miles to Plettenberg Bay to cross the mountain range along the unbelievable Outeniqua Pass before joining the ‘Garden Route’.

As we climbed the pass we ascended into the cloud which was blowing in from the warm seas of the Indian Ocean. Descending to the seaward side the cloud stayed with us to the Tsala Tree Top Lodge. It felt cold. It was. Pullovers came to the fore.

For those who like meteorology, the cloud is created by the Foehn effect.

Tsala Tree Top Lodge

Tsala Tree Top Lodge is exactly as described on the tin being built in the tree tops on one side of a valley. I say valley but it’s more like a gorge.

Individual tree top villas have a lounge, bedroom, bathroom, terrace and small infinity plunge pool, all supported on long stilts from the ground, with wooden walk ways to connect to the main building.

Again, being the end of the summer season there were few guests. We felt spoiled with the staff only there for us.

Toby and Amy’s wedding

We had three nights at Tsala and spent the days exploring the beautiful Plettenberg Bay area. Now it was time to head for Toby and Amy’s wedding to fulfil the reason we had come to South Africa.

A drive to Port Elizabeth, an airplane to Durban and another drive along severely pot-holed country roads through hectare upon hectare of sugar cane brought us to Amy’s father’s house in Wartberg.

We pulled into the driveway to find Toby and Amy waiting for us.

Such happy days.

Next post

The next post will concentrate on Toby and Amy’s wedding…

Piers and Lin
Wartberg
…on temporary leave of absence from
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

With the cloud came lower termperatures click to enlarge

You can see the wiggly pass we’d just driven click to enlarge

Plettenberg Bay suddenly appeared click to enlarge

The entrance to Tsala Tree Tops Lodge click to enlarge

Walkways through the trees connected the villas click to enlarge

The final steps to our tree top villa click to enlarge

Our patio, plunge pool and lounge click to enlarge

Zig-zag walkways were everywhere click to enlarge

Our balcony overlooked the gorge click to enlarge

Our lounge, complete with wood burning stove click to enlarge

What a bathroom! click to enlarge

The bedroom had a full size glass wall overlooking the gorge click to enlarge

One could take coffee (tea for Lin) from the balcony click to enlarge

We took meals in the tree top dining room click to enlarge