11,161 km in 78 days: In this country we were surprised by an extraordinary diversity: scenic as well as human wise. The friendliness, warmth and especially helpfulness of the South Africans is unprecedented. A downside is the still strong tension and distrust between blacks and whites. In the north lush forests, secluded slopes, beautiful lakes dominated the landscape. Of course, the famous Kruger National Park was not missing in our program. Swaziland and Lesotho, which are both circled by South Africa, are small countries, but very different and worth seeing. Of course, we drove down the famous Sani Pass and enjoyed the off-road capability of Shujaa once again. Nana, the best-known elephant grandma from the famous book “the elephant whisperer”, gave us a special animal experience. The beautiful Drakensberg mountains are just perfect for hiking and mountains, and on top of that are a feast for the eyes. At the Wildcoast we shifted our hikes to the coastal area and were thrilled because of the actual wildness and beauty of this area. The green garden route with hiking trails, coastal walks and beautiful estuaries, one after the other, offer a huge recreational value. A contrast to the Plettenberg Bay and Knysna villas, where we strolled enthusiastically in the streets and looked at the charming houses. So, we drove the Swartberg Pass and visited the pretty village of Prince Albert. Of course, the southernmost point of Africa could not be missed: the Cape Agulhas. The whales were sailing off the Hermanus coast with their calves. Cape Town and the surrounding countryside with the wine regions, such as Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, and the Cape Peninsula, have captured us with diversity and the high quality of living. Finally, we have been along the West Coast, with the nice fishing village Paternoster, the Cederberg, and the Richtersveld NP.
