DAY-2 16 December (Paarl to Aquila)

Assorted video collection from Day 2

We wake up to a bright, warm & sunny morning in Paarl. This place is the third oldest European settlement in SA and is renowned for its scenic beauty and fruit growing heritage. Our B&B, the Rodeberg Lodge where we are staying has some nice & cozy touches to it and also has a beautiful garden and feels more like a home.

LOADING UP OUR SHIP IN THEIR BACKYARD FOR THE RIDE

ALTHOUGH THESE BOARDS EXIST EVERYWHERE, DON’T BE PREJUDICED…ITS SAFE

Parting shot with our host

Our host, the graceful & extremely hospitable Mrs Leaney (pictured above with my wife) is the sister of the B&B owner and has set up an appetizing breakfast and also gifts us a packet of Rooibos Tea (a local bush tea plant only grown in a small part of western cape of South Africa). Anyways, the is by far one of the best B&Bs we have stayed at as it felt just like home. Will gladly recommend this place for anybody passing thru Paarl. Soon we pack up and hit the road. Along the way we pass the Victor Verster Correctional Center which is where the legendary Nelson Mandela in 1991 walked a free man from his 27 years of imprisonment (infact he spent the last three years of imprisonment there).

We continue on R303 road towards Wellington and then tackle the picturesque 30 km long Bainskloof Pass with an unending, mind stimulating series of twisties in the mountains. After its summit, there is a river on the right in the deep gorge below and it provides for some stunning views.

NICE JOB TO APPLY FOR…..

Continuing thru Wolseley, we arrived at Tulbach, which is a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains all around. A beautiful town which was almost wiped out back in 1969, in one of the most destructive earthquakes in South African history, when most of the city was destroyed. It was however subsequently rebuilt over many years and the present buildings hold a mixture of various architecture styles. After a drinks break at Tulbach, we subsequently backtrack and just before Wolseley turn left to R46 road that takes us thru the wonderful Mitchell’s Pass with its long fast sweeping curves and climbs that is a bikers delight. Along this route we pass the historic Toll House located on a curve on the left side of the road. We pass a few more kms and soon arrive at town of Ceres, the fruit capital of South Africa. The road leading to Ceres is lined with farms growing various kinds of fruits like peaches, nectarines, apples, apricots, pears and cherries.

After Ceres, we then proceed another 60kms thru absolutely barren landscape to the final destination for the day- Aquila Game Reserve for our ‘big 5’ experience, where we are just in time for lunch. At the entrance we have to sign an Indemnity Form not to hold the owners of the game reserve responsible just in case one of the animals decided to have us for its meal and we have to leave the park with less mass than we entered!!

OUR UNTIRING & TRUSTY PARTNER TAKING A BREATHER….

IN SHORT, DON’T TELL US WE DIDN’T WARN YOU…..

Upon arrival, we are dead hungry and after a sumptuous buffet lunch, we unload & briefly relax in our five-star rustic jungle chalet and get ready for the evening safari ride in their vehicle for our meeting with the Big-5 of Africa.

YEAH, SUPER LUXURY, BUT NO ROOF IN YOUR SHOWER…!!

BTW, the Aquila Safari is a private game reserve located in a 7500 hectare area of the Southern Karoo region with the Big-5 of Africa (Lion, Elephant, Wild Buffalo, Leopard & Rhino) as well as a variety of other wild animals & birds. This luxurious place has its share of celebrity visitors including the likes of Paris Hilton, Kian, Margaret Thatcher, MC Hammer etc, but for we budget adventurers, this sure burnt a HUGE hole in our pockets, but the experience  sure was well worth the money spent. The safari took us as close as 10-15 feet from the big animals in a ‘well ventilated’ vehicle which basically had enough space for the lions to enter and have us for its next meal!! Also midway there is a nice refreshment drink break in the wild outdoors with choice of grape juice or champagne…Truly 5 star experience!  

We return back to a great buffet dinner and after a nice walk around the ‘designated safe part’ of the park we retire to bed. It’s a peaceful night with the occasional sounds of the wild life around us. The chalets are very cozy and did you know the shower was open to the sky!!   Total distance traveled for the day  189 kms.