Touring the Western Cape (part 2)

Garden Route Towards The Safari

So it was time for us to pack our bags and get on the bus to start our drive inland toward Swellendam and Herbertsdale. And let me tell you, this drive was nice. We passed loads of open fields (corn? hay? something yellow and pretty, that’s all I know), small farms, long fences, and a whole lot of blue sky. After a couple of hours, we stopped at Diesel & Crème and The Karoo Moon Motel, and the whole place felt like a time capsule from the 1950s, and the burgers and milkshakes? Quite good.

Gondwana Game Reserve

From there, we continued our drive toward Gondwana Private Game Reserve, and the landscape just kept getting prettier. Once we arrived at the reserve, the staff greeted us with a welcome drink, and then we were driven to our cabins (which felt like luxury cabins). Because wow. I’ve never stayed anywhere so nice in my life. Each cabin sits on its own little hill, with huge windows facing the valley, and there are wild animals right outside them. But what is Gondwana? Let me tell you! This is a malaria-free private reserve and part of an area that used to be full of wildlife hundreds of years ago. Today, their conservation work is a huge part of the reserve as they are restoring part of the landscape and are reintroduced animals like lions, elephants, and buffalo. So when you stay here, you’re also helping support a project that protects nature and brings back species that belong here.

First Afternoon Game Drive

After quickly settling in, it was time for our first afternoon game drive. Do you know why it's called ‘game drive’? Me neither, until I looked it up. So it’s called a game drive because “game” is an old word for wild animals and also has historical roots in hunting, specifically dangerous wild animals on foot. And what about “safari”, what does that mean? The word actually comes from Swahili and means “journey.” It became popular when people started traveling to East Africa for wildlife tours. Today, South Africa is one of the easiest and safest safari destinations, and Gondwana is a really good example of why.

Anyways, moving on to our first afternoon game drive. So our guide, Abri, picked us up outside our cabins and gave us the rules:

- Some animals you can chat next to
- Some animals you should definitely not chat next to
- And some animals will ignore you completely unless you start moving around in the open-sided 4x4.

The road we drove on didn’t really feel like a road at all, more like someone said, “Let’s just drive here and see what happens,” and then everyone agreed. There were bumps, dips, holes, and rocks, but with that, the most amazing view over the valley. After some driving, we met our first animal of the day: an elephant. And honestly, I did not understand how big elephants were until that moment. But they are very fascinating. You have probably heard the saying, “an elephant never forgets” or to “have a memory like an elephant”? It's because its true, elephants have incredible memories and they actually remember specific places, routes, and even individual humans for decades. They also pass this knowledge down through generations. The oldest female (the matriarch) basically serves as a living library, as the herd’s walking GPS, therapist, and history book all in one. She remembers where water was found during droughts 20+ years ago, who is friendly, who is dangerous, and which areas to avoid. Pretty cool, I’d say.

After the elephants, we stopped for snacks and drinks right next to a couple of giraffes. And by this time, we were all eager to ask Abri a million questions. We hopped out of the vehicle, had some drinks, and just… took it all in. We stood around chatting with Abri while he told us more fun facts, and it was one of those small stops that don’t sound like much when you explain them, but when you’re actually there, it feels unreal in a way. Then we drove until the sun started painting everything gold, and headed to the dining area for dinner. A three-course meal that tasted as good as the view looked.

Morning Game Drive

The next morning we woke up at... 5 am...

Yes. I know, horrible. But was it worth it?

Absolutely.

Would I do it again?

Without a doubt, yes.

We watched the sunrise while driving out to look for lions. And guess what? We found them. They were very far away and very tired, so we decided to try again tomorrow. We continued and ended up spotting hippos, baboons zebras, antelopes, wildebeest, and more animals that Gondwana is home to. Halfway through, we stopped for a coffee break, watched the sun push through the clouds, and even though the weather wasn’t great, it still felt warm and peaceful. Here, Abri told us about fynbos, which is a unique vegetation type found here in the Western (and Eastern) Cape. And the fynbos actually needs fire to grow new life, the heat releases the seeds so they can grow again, even stronger. So Gondwana intentionally create a wildfire, or well, it’s a controlled fire, because it’s necessary for nature to keep growing. Nature is wild and clever like that, i guess. On the drive back, the sky opened, and it started pouring. We arrived at the lodge, very cold but happy, and went straight to breakfast. The breakfast buffet was amazing, and you could even order extra things. How crazy is that? Then I went back to the cabin and took the best nap of my life.

On the lookout for Cheetahs

After lunch (which, again, was incredible), we headed out for another afternoon drive, this time with one mission: find the cheetahs. We saw giraffes, baboons, antelopes, birds, more antelopes, more birds… and eventually we all started thinking that today might not be the day. But then, there they were. Three cheetahs, sitting far away but still very visible, and they had just finished dinner. Did you know that cheetahs are actually the only big cats that don’t roar? Instead, they communicate with high-pitched chirping sounds, almost like birds. It’s how they call their siblings or their mom in the wild, and we got to hear the calling, so cool. Another fun thing is that cheetahs are built for speed, not strength, so they have super lightweight bodies and even tear-tracks under their eyes (the black lines) that work like natural sunglasses to help them focus when running. Anyways, after the cheetas, we stopped for drinks in the middle of a valley, surrounded by mountains, and it was one of those moments where you want to take a million photos but also put your camera down and just enjoy the moment. Then we had dinner back at the lodge, and it was amazing. Again.

Last Morning Game Drive

On our final morning, we woke up even earlier than the day before because we wanted a better chance at finding the lions up close. And wow… did we. I was sitting in the front of the car next to Abri. After a while, he suddenly turned into the bushes and said, “Yesss, there they are!”. He continued driving straight toward a cliffside and then abruptly stopped. At first, I couldn’t see them, and I started thinking, but then I looked to my left and there they were, just a few meters away, right next to me. I know it sounds unreal, but I promise, they were right there. Yes, seeing lions that close is something I will never forget.

After the lions, we saw impalas, zebras, springboks, wildebeest, and so many more animals I can barely name. After a while, we made a stop at a viewpoint to drink hot chocolate while the sun came up. On our way back, we even spotted the Orange-breasted Sunbird, which is the bird on Gondwana’s logo. Small, colourful, and very cute.

We had one final breakfast, packed our things, and then it was time to say goodbye to Abri. And let me tell you, he was an incredible guide. The way he shared stories about the animals, plants, history, and the landscape around us was calm, easy to follow, and completely captivating. He didn’t just give facts, he made us see, feel, and understand everything. Whenever I asked a question, he didn’t just answer it, he gave me double what I wanted, sharing little extra stories or insights that made everything even more interesting. He also made sure to stop along the way to show us plants, explaining what they were used for in the wild and why they were important for the ecosystem. Abri really inspired me, not just as a traveler, but as someone who wants to work in tourism. Maybe one day I’ll be the one guiding people through the bush, teaching them about lions at sunrise, or pointing out plants and sharing their stories

Hermanus: Last Stop

Then we took a 4-5 hours drive to Hermanus, and everyone was tired, silent, and did I mention tired? So of course, we all took a few naps along the way. When we arrived, we checked into yet another beautiful hotel right by the ocean. 

The next morning, we hiked in Fernkloof Nature Reserve, a beautiful area full of fynbos, flowers, and views over all of Hermanus. The guides were amazing, and they knew every plant, every flower, every insect. Quite impressive. Along the way, we even saw a scorpion and a turtle. Not together, don’t worry. 

Whales & Dolphins

The next day was one of my favourites. We woke up at 6:30 and went on a whale-watching tour. And yes, we saw whales! A mother and her calf swam around us and even under the boat once. That alone was cool. But then… 500-1000 dolphins arrived. Yet again, I’m not joking. They swam, jumped, sprayed water, and raced alongside us, and it felt very unreal and was genuinely something I had dreamt of. Did you know that dolphins are incredibly smart and social animals? They even have their own “names,” which are unique whistles they use to call each other. And some species will protect their friends and mates, and even help humans in distress sometimes. Watching them leap and spin around the boat, I could almost believe they were saying hello… or maybe just showing off. Either way, it was incredible.

Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel, had breakfast, checked out, and drove back to Cape Town with that soft, tired happiness you get after an adventure you’re not ready to let go of.

A Perfect Ending

And that was Part 2 of the trip, the safari, the ocean, the whales, the early mornings, the laughter, the naps, the sunsets, all of it. This whole journey showed me what travel really is about: seeing new things, learning from people, and collecting moments that stay with you long after you’re home.

If this is what working in travel is like, then I know I picked the right path.