Our adventure journey through South Africa continues. We take the opportunity to tell you a bit about what happens behind the scenes - about encounters with health care, about interesting signs on the road and about new wonderful friends we get to know!
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The adventure journey through South Africa continues
We started our South African adventure in Johannesburg and discovered Kruger Park for a whole week, before we started driving through the country towards the coast. There were two cosy stops (in Bethulie and Nieu-Bethesda) before arriving at friends' summer house on the coast.
We stayed there for a week, and after that we have been driving slowly along "Garden Route" in the direction of Cape Town. A truly exciting adventure to discover South Africa by car!
South Africa offers a magnificent and stunningly beautiful landscape. It ranges from dramatic mountains and semi-desert to intense greenery and long, glittering sandy beaches.
What about the people of South Africa?
We have been asked about the issue of white and black South Africans, and the short answer is that this multicultural country is very segregated. Whites and blacks often live in completely different neighbourhoods and there seems to be limited interaction between the groups, even if they meet in everyday life.
All the guesthouses we have booked have been run by white South Africans. We meet black South Africans in restaurants and shops, and on the streets, but also, for example, as guides and tourist office staff. The issue is, of course, much more complex than this, and we will probably have to come back with some reflections on this!
More motorhomes and caravans than we realised
An interesting discovery is that there are more motorhomes and caravans here than we realised. Up in the Kruger Park we saw a smaller number of regular motorhomes and caravans, but more off-road vehicles. Here on the coast we see a lot of traditional motorhomes and caravans.
Chiropractor and pharmacy visits
Peter has had a lot of problems with stubborn neck pain, and finally we made sure to book an appointment with a chiropractor. When you book privately, it is quick to get an appointment, and Peter got help with both acupuncture and other things.
There was also a trip to the pharmacy to buy some painkillers. There you first go to the "medicine counter" and order what you want. This is then packaged in a small mesh cage with a padlock, which you can take with you to the checkout. Once you have paid for the medicines, the padlock is unlocked ...
Some signs from the week
We can also show some signs from the week... ! The first sign, "Enter at own risk" is a kind of sign that can be found just everywhere. At first we thought it was signalling some kind of danger, but then we realised that this sign can be found in everything from car parks to guest houses. You are simply reminded, all the time, that everything you do is at your own risk ...
The "Valhalla" sign was taken in a coastal town, where there was also a restaurant called something like "Viking" and where we were also served by a Norwegian-British-South African. We were simply reminded a lot of the cold north here ...
One of the sweetest signs of the week is probably the one that reminds you to check under the car, before driving, so that there are no penguins there ... We did not see any penguins under the car, but at the coast we saw them. I'll get back to you on that!
Meetings with friends of friends
Every South African we meet is incredibly hospitable. Our friends, Henri and Michelle, have a friend along the coast who heard we were coming. Although Belinda had never met us, she immediately invited us home via WhatsApp.
What to say? Fantastic! It was an incredibly pleasant evening in Belinda's beautiful house by the sea, including hanging out on the beach at sunset. And we got even more tips for our further journey. A big and humble thank you for this!!!
Another film from South Africa
Peter has put together another film from South Africa, which you can watch here:
Best this week
The best part of this week? That we continue to discover this amazing country, of course, and that we get to enjoy the wonderful climate and beautiful nature.
Your turn ... what has been the best part of your week, big or small?
The week ahead
During the coming week, we will visit some vineyards in South Africa. In addition, Peter's son Robin and his wife Alexandra are coming down here soon, which we are really looking forward to!
Here at FREEDOMtravel, we'll continue to tell you about the places we've discovered in South Africa, interspersed with guest writers, travel news and Wednesday musings. If you want faster updates from South Africa, you can follow us on Instagram, at @freedomtravelnews!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Everyday life on the long journey (lovely view at work)
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BP says:
What a great film!!! Now I have learnt that South Africa has left-hand traffic and that your barn is a dream house and so is Belinda's "mansion". I had a good laugh at "the medicine behind the lock and key". It was something completely new. I really liked the funny signs, especially the one with penguins under the picture.
Then I thought about all the motorhomes that were lined up there. They were all the same model. I guess they were rental cars from one and the same company.
Keep going and ENJOY!!!
23 February 2024 - 17:49
Helena says:
Yes, the summer house was a dream house indeed! We will show more tomorrow! 🙂 In general, many people live in very large houses here. If you do not live in a shed, that is. It is either or, very little in between. When it comes to the motorhomes, I think the same. There was a group of tourists in them. They had probably rented together, a group trip of some kind. And thank you, we enjoy! Wishing you a nice weekend!
23 February 2024 - 19:22
Lena - good for the soul says:
Great feeling in the film! And that house then. What a summer house you got to borrow!
Hug Lena
24 February 2024 - 8:18