Call of Africa - Cape Town, Babylonstoren and Okavango

[Flying mermaid]

We both had the kudu for mains and Mr FM insisted on sorbet for dessert - up the stairs and I was asleep 10 minutes after we got to the room - I hate jetlag!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Breakfast this morning was lots of fresh fruit - love the gooseberries, followed by poached eggs, potato latke, mushrooms, spinach and smoked salmon. Definitely cutting down to 2 meals per day. Later today Sam is taking us to the airport and we will get our hire car there. Mr FM was very traumatised by the driving he did in Durban, so we decided to drive to Babylonstoren from the airport, but traffic and driving in Cape Town looks a lot more normal!

 

[craven morehead]

Sign me up for this TR !! :mrgreen: Can't get enough of Africa

 

[garyjohn951]

Can't wait to hear about Kings Pool. We are there from 8 October, so your report will b e interesting to hear.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Can't wait to hear about Kings Pool. We are there from 8 October, so your report will b e interesting to hear.

We can't wait to get there I will hopefully be adding to this soon - the internet was woeful in Babylonstoren.

 

[Imw]

Loving this report. Ahh the waterfront is amazing to wander round. Always so much going on.

 

[craven morehead]

Africa, one of many places we' haven't been ... looking forward to the rest.

You must get there amaroo !!

 

[amaroo]

You must get there amaroo !!

We're chipping away at the "list" ... we'll cross off Scandinavia over xmas.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We decided to drive to Franschoek via Stellenbosch. We headed to the University first - one of the old universities and the seat of Afrikaaner Intelligensia. These are some of the beautiful buildings at the Uni.

 

[Flying mermaid]

From there the route became stunningly beautiful -rolling hills, valleys, vineyards and old farm buildings. We really need to come back and do a wine tour!

 

[Flying mermaid]

It wasn't long and we were checking in at Babylonstoren -the hotel rooms are in sympathy with the original farm, while still very comfortable.

 

[Flying mermaid]

After organising to get an iron and board in my room, Mr FM and I set off to explore.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The ducks are a very important part of Babylonstoren's organic strategy. They have two herders, who move them around the property eating all the snails.

 

[Flying mermaid]

There was a pre wedding dinner at Moreson's farm - Bread and Wine is the restaurant and it has a good reputation. However as I felt sicker and sicker as the evening progressed and ended up almost fainting and throwing up everything, I can't say I enjoyed the evening. I think it was a combination of the rabies treatment and jetlag, but terribly embarrassing, particularly when knee deep in lawyers, bankers and captain of industry

 

[Flying mermaid]

Next morning was a farmhouse breakfast, although not feeling that well I didn't eat much - mainly watched Mr FM enjoying himself. All the produce is from the farm and the bread is particularly divine.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We had booked to go on the Garden tour and it was incredible - the variety is amazing and the techniques used very interesting e.g. female fruit fly pheromones to disrupt the breeding cycle.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Lots of photos as Mr FM just loved it all.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Prickly pears, an Insect hotel and a camomile lawn.

 

[Flying mermaid]

There is a big display of Clavillias - never heard of them but everyone seemed very enthusiastic about them

 

[Flying mermaid]

After our walk we were introduced to my brother's housekeeper and her husband. After a nice chat she asked me if I would like her to iron our clothes for the wedding. When I said I had already done them, she found that quite amusing and said she had forgotten we did our own work in Australia.