After 4 days of running from shop to shop trying to get my vehicle alignment problem solved, I have finally left Cape Town and am on the road north to the Great Karoo ecosystem and Karoo National Park – and points north. More on that to come. For now, suffice it to say that the Green Dragon is in good working condition and ready for the long haul – vehicle buffs can ask me about the details later. Cape Town really is a beautiful city situated in a spectacular landscape setting, but after driving in city rush hour 4 times over the past few days I am happy to be leaving the city for the bush.
I left Cape Town mid afternoon so I couldn’t make it all the way to Karoo National Park; instead I made it into the vineyard hill country outside of Cape Town to the north. This landsape consists of beautiful rolling hills covered in thousands of acres of vineyards backed up against some rugged and rocky mountains – the combination makes for a beautify setting, as shown here:
Most of the vineyards are estates with housing, processing buildings, tracks and tracks of vineyards, and very imposing entrance gates with guards. Here is one of the very less imposing gates that I was able to quickly pull off the road in time to photograph:
I decided to stop for the night at a more or less randoly selected campsite en route to the Great Karoo that I selected from my iOverlander app. Turns out I found a nice little gem of a site (Leef’n Biki) situated on a vineyard in the Jonkershoek Valley outside of the town of Stellenbosch – which is famous for its wine making. There are only 4 sites, but I am the only one here so it’s peace and quiet for me tonight. As you can see in the photo below, it’s just a grassy patch with some trees next to a pond, but it’s surrounded by vineyards and high mountains. Here is my little camp spot:
I did say “peace and quiet”, didn’t I? Well, here is another mystery audio short of my “peace and quiet” tonight:
Any quesses you wildlifers? There are two dominant sounds/species. The loudest sound coming from a single individual is a Red-knobbed Coot that looks just like our north American coot . The background chorus of “clicking” sounds are a whole pile of Clicking Stream Frogs. Not a bad background chorus to play my flute to – which I did! Bill, wish you were here as I could have really used that guitar accompanyment.
Next stop, the Great Karoo! Not sure if I will have cell service or no, so it may be a few days until you hear fro me. No Rick, I have not been eaten by lions; although there are lions in the Karoo.
4 wheels all pointed the same direction? Huzzah!
Yes, more or less. Precision within 1 degree!
Yay! You are on your way. Safe travels! The Country side is beautiful! Campsite looks lovely. I love the videos of the mystery sounds. My kitties are curious what it is as well. Looking forward to your updates. Love you. Be safe. ❤️
Thanks and will do cuz!
I’m not sure I could have been able pass by and not stop at one of those beautiful vineyards to sample the local wine! Looks like a great camp spot for the night.
I would have like to but that damn medicine I am on doesn’t allow alcohol – at least for the next several months. If you were here with me we would have stopped for sure!
I figured some of those sounds were frogs! Happy travels!
Glad you are finally on the road. Every day will be an adventure. I’d love to know what the weather is like, and I truly enjoy the mix of nature and wildlands with a bit of civilization too. I’ll have to look for Asara wines in my local wine shop. Love the audio clips too. Very cool!
Hey Libby, glad you are joing me on this trip, virtually! Anyways, weather has been great. It is the beginning of the dry season in southern Africa so rain at any time will be very unlikely. Temps are perfect for camping. Perhaps low 50s at night and 70 during the day. It will of course get a little warmer as I move north towards the equator. Cheers!
OK, so I lied. It is the winter season, or the beginning of it here in the southern hemisphere and once I get further north closer to the equator it really is a wet versus dry season driven by monsoons off the Indian Ocean. So once I get to northern South Africa (Kruger NP) and then into Botswana I shouldn’t see rain for the rest of the trip. However, here in the Cape Districts of South Africa I guess it is a little different and they do get rain storms this time of year, which unfortunately I am experiencing right now! Cheers.
Are you sure we came from the same two parents? I’m looking for resorts with 2-3 bedrooms, jacuzzis/ spas in the room, with kitchen ,dining room and resort pools and amenities , and you , # 6 are sleeping in a tent under the stars , listening to the crickets . Ugh.- just kidding . It sounds like quit and adventure and I’m anxious to read your update s. Be safe, please, love ya bro, #1
Hey bro. Wow, I didn’t think you would read my blog, but glad you are so you can see how the other side lives! Cheers!
Looks beautiful!
Glad your on your way. Be safe. Beautiful pictures. Love you. Joan
Ohhh the real world with your green dragon adventure! I thought I heard a herp of some sort but didn’t pick up on the coot.
OK, now you of all my blog listeners I would have expected to id that one, ace birder. Would be great to have you here helping id birds and bird sounds. Perhaps in the future?