AFRICA - DAY TWELVE - Knysna to Ostrich Farm

Previous Blogs: Day 1 Pretoria | Day 4 Dinokeng | Day 5 New Years | Day 6+7 Umdloti | Day 8 - DumaZulu | Day 9 Hluhluwe | Day 10+11 PE to Knysna | Day 12 Ostrich Farm | Day 13 Hermanus | Day 14 Hout Bay | Day 15 Cape Point | Day 16 Table Mountain | Day 17+18 Namib Desert | Day 19 Sossusvlei | Day 20+21 To Swakopmund | Day 22 Cape Cross | Day 23 Luderitz | Day 24 Walvis Bay | Day 26 To Windhoek | Day 27 Katatura | Day 28+29 Zambezi | Day 30 The Falls | Day 31 Chobe | Day 32+33 Going Home

Click photos for a larger image...

Today is my birthday and it has been a great day so far. Last night we decided to have our first braai. Lamb chops and chicken. Lamb chops were $6 for 4 and chicken was less than $2 for a Wendy portion. Bought some Namibian charcoal for $3.50 and firelighter for less than $2.

It was a great success!

Up until now, our hotels and bed & breakfasts have

been very up to date and modern.

Not so much this place, it's kinda wrapped up in the 80s! The microwave was even older than the TV (love the bunny ears), but it all worked. And you couldn't fault the view.

Our breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, juice and cereal was delivered to our balcony in a picnic basket!

Hotels in SA can be pricy especially for foreigners as they have special rates for SA citizens. However, B&Bs don't care where you are from and charge the same. Prices for decent  B&Bs are typically $35per person and a luxury B&B will run you $50 per person. And that includes a FULL English breakfast.

Restaurant prices are also very affordable with a decent meal such as roast chicken/fish/lamb averaging $8 and the higher end steak such as fillet mignon or t-bone is $12.

The plan for the morning was to visit Knysna Heads, the entrance to the waterways from the Indian Ocean.

On the way we circumnavigated Leisure Island which is a small residential island in the bay - this is where the rich & famous people live.

Kynsna Heads looking inland and then out to sea.

Being my birthday I wanted a special lunch and was looking for a pie shop, of course. But right across the road from the pie shop was a traditional South African Fish and Chips shop.

And fish and chips shops have another delicacy not found anywhere else in the world: "Russian and Chips". I have not had a Russian Sausage in 20 years! You can't even find Russian Sausages in Russian - it is purely a South African thing. Closest you get in the USA (and not even that close) is a Kielbasa.

While not the perfect specimen it was very acceptable and a nice treat!

The one thing about a road trip in SA is that every

20 miles or so on the highways and country

roads you will find a picnic spot.

Pull off sit in the shade and relax.

Then it was time to get off the tarred roads and head to our next destination for the night - an ostrich farm guest cottage.

And  here is our 2 bedroom cottage

Can't fault the view.

Nicely appointed with full fridge, micro, stove, fully

stocked honor bar and fireplace.

Like the King and Queen! All this for

$53/person including breakfast.

While the place is equipped for self catering, including a braai with wood, the guest farm does offer a luxury 3 course dinner including eating Ostrich for under $20. So that will be my birthday dinner, pictures tomorrow!

This is a HUGE working farm, not only with Ostriches, but cattle, sheep and various plant foods as well. We have a farm tour in the morning.

And finally...

Sheer drop, no friggin' kidding. It took all I had to stand that close to the railing. Heights are not Bruce's friend!

No matter where she is, Wendy always seems to find a friend!