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| SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL |
KLEIN KAROO & GARDEN ROUTE
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Submitted by: Jacqui Haddock, 22
November, 2007
Texas, USA |
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  The Klein Karoo and Garden Route: The Klein Karoo
- ever heard for it, well for us it turned out to be a magical experience first in a place
called Oudtshoorn.
Just getting there, driving through the Swartberg Pass is breathtaking. Coming from Texas
and getting to experience the vast and breathtaking mountain ranges was truly magical.
From there it was straight into Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. Nowhere will
you get to see ostrich's in such great numbers or experience eating Ostrich eggs for
breakfast. Imagine a dozen eggs all in one big shell, hard enough to stand on, yet big
enough to feed the whole family. From the experience of hand feeding baby ostrich's and
getting the chance to learn how to ride them was thrilling. The most fascinating thing my
children learnt was that male ostrich's are the ones with "painted" red nails,
this attracts the females. It's the one thing to this day they remember and tell their
friends. |
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A little past Outshoorn my
children experienced a time in the Cango caves
that is one of the world's greatest natural wonders sculptured by nature through the ages
- fascinating limestone formations in a wide variety of colors and shapes. The caves are
mainly composed of calcium carbonate. They develop as lime water drips from the stones and
evaporates. The structures growing down from the cave ceiling are called stalagtites,
while those that grow from the ground to the top are called stalagmites. If both
structures join together to build a column, this is called stalagnate. The Caves are
divided into three Cango's. Only Cango one is open to the public and at the end of Cango
one is an interesting course, where you can have the opportunity to give see how brave you
are and do some ‘real caving’. A steep ladder leads up to a small hole, high on
the wall. This marks the start of a circular trip where one has to crawl on hands and
knees in order to reach some fine small chambers beyond. Being a little claustrophic and
having 3 children with me I decided to not be the adventurer. That's my story and I am
sticking to it!
From the Cango Caves we headed towards a beautiful beach side town called Knysna
which is along the Garden Route, our destination in Knysna was not only to see and smell
the sea air but head to a place called the Knysa Elephant Park, where you can get up close
and personal with elephants who have been rehabilitated and now interact with the public.
Guests are transported to the elephants on a tractor & trailer where you have the
opportunity to touch, feed and photograph the gentle giants. My children each got a bucket
of fruit which the elephants love eating. There were no barriers or fences to spoil the
close encounter just guides keeping a watchful eye. It was truly intimidating and a rare
opportunity to see and experience how large these giants really are. We were amazed and
touched.
Spending and experiencing times like this with my children are dreams of mine and we will
return soon to journey more culture and land. Thank you South Africa for
memories of a lifetime. |
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Related Pages - Links to some of the places mention in Jacqui
Travel Story:
The Garden Route
Knysna
Elephant Park
Cango
Caves |
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Attractions » |
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With 20 National Parks
(including two of the world's most famous wildlife reserves, the Kruger Park & Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) &
numerous private game reserves, your trip to South Africa would be incomplete without
experiencing a South African wildlife safari .... |
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