September 1st and 2nd: Augrabies Falls and Bloemfontein

So I finally got to see the falls. The "Place of Big Noise" is what Augrabies stands for. It's a tiny little park compared to the others I have seen so far but very impressive it is indeed!! There might be times when a lot more water from the Orange River comes rumbling down the falls, but this was quite a panorama! Very nice canyons and a beautiful mountain panorama. I didn't get to see a lot of animals, but that's simply not what you look for when you come to that amazing place. Thanks to the SANParks wildcard I didn't have to pay the conservation fee and I had four great hours in the park.

So I headed back to my guesthouse to pick up my laundry they went to take care of in the morning and then headed for Bloemfontein, a 700km drive from the West to the mid-East of South Africa. And what a great ride it was! Very scenic with lots and lots of vineyards surrounded by beautiful orange-red mountains. I reached Kimberley, the diamond capital (remember the "big hole" story?), at approx. 18:40 and with another 160km to drive in the dark I rushed to pick up some diesel quickly. Besides the family from Bloemfontein that had offered me a place to stay when we met in the Kalahari was to prepare dinner for everyone. So thanks to the GPS I arrived at 20:40 and I can tell you...I was happy to be there because I was tired and they gave me a really warm welcome. How cool is that??! You chat with someone you meet in a national park and talk about the pictures you have taken that day and after just a few minutes they offer you a place to stay. Just like that! I guess you would not make that kind of an experience in Germany, right? At least not too often. And they are incredibly cool people. Which is why we chatted all day and since I couldn't make up my mind over the next stage of my trip I have simply been offered to stay another night. Did I mention that South Africans are cool? A big HI to Niel and Nicolette at this point! ;)

Besides I was quite happy to be able to take a nice hot shower and then slip into a bed with electric blankets! No-no-no...don't you think of those thingies that only old people would use to warm their bums at night. No. It's very cold over here at the moment and since the isolation of the houses isn't that good these blankets provide some incredible luxury. Well, at least my perspective has changed quite a bit since last night. :) And believe me...I will switch it on AGAIN! :p

Before I forget...you might already know that I'm kinda happy when I am offered the opportunity to take pictures of (wild) animals. Which I also did today. Don't get mislead, not all South Africans have cats. But the ones I know do. And dogs. Well, see for yourself.

Have a good night everyone!

Cheers and sweet dreams!

Stefan

Pictures are to be found here.