altes landhaus

We see the cloud being heaped up over the mountains — Cloud, created by warm, humid air from
the Indian Ocean being lifted over the mountains
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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

The stunning Outeniqua Pass is just ahead — We were about to enter the stunning
Outeniqua Pass
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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.

The cloud surrounds us in the pass — The cloud began to surround us as
we climbed the pass
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We pulled into the driveway to find Toby and Amy waiting for us.

Such happy days.

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

Cloud covered the mountains and it became cooler — With the cloud came lower termperatures
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You can see the pass we'd just driven — You can see the wiggly pass we’d just driven
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Plettenberg Bay suddenly appeared
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The entrance to Tsala Tree Tops Lodge
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Walkways through the trees connected the villas
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The final steps to our tree top villa
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Our patio, plunge pool and lounge
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Zig-zag walkways were everywhere
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Our balcony overlooked the gorge
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Our lounge, complete with wood burning stove
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The bedroom had a full size glass wall overlooking the gorge — The bedroom had a full size glass wall
overlooking the gorge
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One could take coffee (tea for Lin) from the balcony
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We took meals in the tree top dining room
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We started our drive and soon were stopping for photos — We started our drive but we soon
had to keep stopping for photos
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After our two nights at the Rosendal Winery, the drive to Altes Landhaus (Schoemanschoek, Oudtshoorn) was greater in distance and greater in beauty if the latter was at all possible.

The enormity of the endless, dry, arid mountain ranges, the unusual variety of colours, the ostriches, baboons and other animals we couldn’t identify, was captivating.

We were staying in another boutique hotel, the Altes Landhaus, a large Victorian colonial style farmer’s ranch, beautifully restored and with gardens full of intense colours.

Everywhere in this ranch was huge including our room. I say room yet it was really three rooms. The bedroom, lounge and bathroom were all of equal size.

A nice touch was a decanter of sherry resting on a side table to refresh us.

Peace

The browny-red colours reminded us of Devon soil
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Both Rosendal and Altes have been so peaceful. It’s Autumn so guests are few; both hotels are in the middle of nowhere so there’s no noise apart from crickets, toads, tree frogs, endless bird song much of which is heard on David Attenborough’s documentaries, and the dinner gong.

For the next two nights we have a rest from fine dining and calories and plan the next stage of our journey – to Plettenberg Bay before setting course for Toby and Amy’s wedding in the Tala Private Game Reserve.

We’re so excited. We want to press the time accelerator.

Piers and Lin
Altes Landhaus
…on temporary leave of absence from
Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Beaucette Marina

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