I have been waiting to get out of my slump before writing my next post and this year has started off on such an amazing foot, I literally have not even had the time! There is SO I want to write about but I’m going to start with the most recent and asked about trip to the SANPARKS in Agulhas, Western Cape. So here goes….
After returning from a 2 week holiday in Cape Town I returned back to Jozi for a few days of work and then back to Cape Town last Friday for a quick BFF with one of my best, Kimmy! It was a 2hr30min drive from the airport to Agulhas, it was a picturesque drive with the clouds threatening is quite rain and a few light showers but we were welcome into Agulhas with some rays of sunshine and we quickly hit the ground running and were complete tourists, cameras and all!
First on the agenda was the lighthouse, it cannot be missed when you drive into Struisbaai and is a really cool activity before how often do you get to climb up 71 steps in a lighthouse to peep the views from the top. Disclaimer: not for the faint-hearted because it gets steep at the end but I scared everyone beforehand and we were all fine so maybe don’t listen to me and just DO it!
Listen, the entire reason you have to go here (besides the picturesque town and amazing escape from reality) is the southernmost tip of Africa! You’re at the bottom of Africa (mind blown) think about it….also this is where two oceans meet (nope, it’s not just a drink or a wine) It’s the actual spot where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet (another mind blown moment).
One of the highlights of the trip for me was the secret lagoon we found, close to our cabin. We stayed in a beautiful log cabin in the Agulhas national park, its far removed, super private and there are only a few cabins so you have uninterrupted views of the ocean and fynbos (somebody pinch me). Oh yes, back to the lagoon…It’s only available to the SANPARKS residents which means you basically have an entire lagoon as your swimming pool. Magical.
I must note the log cabins are perfect in any weather, whether you want to stay in and cuddle or sit on the balcony and enjoy the peace and quiet.
For the fitness fanatics there are a few hiking trails. For the novice like me, there’s the Rasperpunt hiking trail, a 5, 5 km circular trail, with its start/end at the Meisho Maru shipwreck and the actual Rasperpunt formations you can see at low-tide which is anytime between 9-11am. For people who want to do a longer trail there’s a 10km hiking trail, Two Oceans which covers the park.
Another highlight for me was our trip to Elim, about 40 km from the park, it’s a quaint town with a lot of Instagrammable (is this a word) buildings. I think my favourite part was our drive because we discovered a wine route on that route. I love discovering new farms. And I found a brand I was quite familiar with, The Black oyster catcher which is a popular farm to visit. But we found a boutique wine farm, Zoetendal and they had the best home-made platters and divine wine. They were super friendly and made you feel like a VIP, definitely a must-see. What I found quite interesting was that most of the wine in the area are white because of the climate. What an experience!
I love discovering spots like this in South Africa rich with history, nature, beauty and unique accommodation.
To book your baceation, BFF trip or just some family time:
Thanks to SANPARKS for an amazing stay and to @kimjayde and @gemaentaylor for a fun trip!