East Bound & Down
Having spent the most of lockdown 2020 trying to figure out the best camper configuration for the bakkie, we finally got to a point where we were ready to take on a bigger trip. With Emily in the early stages of pregnancy we thought this may be our last chance to get in a big trip before the arrival our son.
Our original idea was to head up the east coast of SA as far into the Transkei as we could and hopefully catch some waves along the way. Having booked off work for a long period of time we were able to change plans easily and follow whatever instincts we chose.
Heading out of Cape Town we made a bee line for the Garden Route with our first stopover in Buffels Bay. Camping on the rocks overlooking the surf was a great start to the trip.
After visiting family in Knysna and a chilly campout in the Knysna Forest, we followed this up with a night on the river in Natures Valley and topped it off with a night in main parking lot over looking supertubes in Jefferys Bay. A few nights without showering and we were eager to find a camp site with ablutions.
We soon reached our first long stay camp site, Double Mouth, just south of the Kei River.
The camper fast became home for 3 weeks on the road. Like a tortoise with its home on its back, it kept us warm in the cold and protected from the rain. Later dubbed the White Elephant, for obvious reasons.
We were fortunate enough to catch a pretty decent swell at Mdumbi Backpackers during our stay. We spent many hours watching the dolphins surf alongside the few surfers in the area.
Our route followed the coast on the way up the east coast & upon our return we headed inland for the ‘Safari’ experience at a well known game reserve called Addo Elephant Park. We did our own 'self guided' game drives and camped out in the parks own campsite, which had great facilities.
We made one last stop on our final stretch back to Cape Town. A rather chilly wild camp under the stars at the top of the Swartberg Pass, where we felt the first movements of our soon to arrive baby boy.
The route
Cape Town - Buffels Bay - Knysna - Natures Valley - Jeffreys Bay - Double Mouth - Kei Mouth - Wild Lubanzi - Hole in the wall - Mdumbi - Addo Elephant Park - Swartberg Pass - Cape Town