Tamodi Lodge and Stables

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Tamodi Lodge and Stables was the perfect stop over on our way back to Cape Town for a night of luxury after a week spent with family at Sundays River just north of Port Elizabeth. Tamodi Lodge is situated on the hills above a valley overlooking a magnificent indigenous forest and the breathtakingly beautiful Outeniqua Mountains. We left fairly early that morning so we could take a slow drive back along the cape coastline and enjoy the views of the exquisite scenery that we were driving through. As we approached the garden route it seemed more spectacular than ever and it reminded us how lucky we were to be living in a country of such majestic beauty.

We continued to make our way along the garden route admiring the luscious scenery now glistening from the rain that had been coming down all day. Quite unaware of the time, we noticed signs to Plettenburg Bay approaching us and realised the turnoff to the lodge must be close by. As we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Owen Johnson, who is the owner of Tamodi Lodge and Stables. He helped us with our bags and offered us a glass of marvellous red wine before showing us to our room. It was a cold rainy afternoon and it felt good to be inside the cozy lodge and to feel the warmth of the fireplace that had just been lit in the large open plan lounge. Our bedroom was beautifully decorated with modern furniture built with wood and stone and the glorious large bath was positioned wonderfully overlooking the views of the valleys below. We made ourselves at home and took a long glorious bath before we joining Owen and the other guests around the fireplace in the lounge, where he told us a little background about the lodge and the area around.

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That evening we went for dinner to a wonderful little pizza restaurant called Enrico’s about 10 minutes down the road from the lodge. The restaurant is situated near the sea and although the night was cold and wet it was lovely watching the waves crashing from the table where we ate. We enjoyed a fabulous pizza and after a great night out it was easy to fall asleep on our large comfortable king size bed. We woke up early that morning to the chirping noises of our 6 month old trying to tell us that he was awake and we were happy to see that there was a ray of sunshine peaking through the clouds as we slowly arose for the day. We got ready for breakfast which was being served on the wooden deck overlooking the pool and beautiful views below. We were delighted to see all the scumptious food laid out ready for us to eat. There was a fullet buffet of cereals, fresh yoghurt, fruits, croissants and scones which was being served as well as a cooked breakfast of all sorts. We ate as much as our hearts desired before retiring to the deck chairs to sit and relax before making our way back home to Cape Town after our wonderful stay.

Exploring the Northern Cape

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My husband and I recently returned from an amazing trip to Papkuilsfontien Guest farm located just outside Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape (about four hours drive from Cape Town, possible longer depending on which route you take!). The Nieuwoudtville area is seldom visited by travellers to South Africa, except during the wildflower season from August – September each year when the area comes alive with an astonishing number of wildflowers which attracts visitors from all over.  The area is also well known by hikers for the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve which consists of breath-taking mountain ranges dissected by deep river gorges. Through these gorges flows the Oorlogskloof River which has formed hundreds of natural rock pools…..fantastic for swimming if you can brave the cold water!

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We departed from Cape Town early afternoon and decided to take the route through the Northern Cederberg Mountains (only advisable if you have a high clearance vehicle). The drive was stunning as we made our way past the mountain ranges and up the escarpment towards to the Northern Cape, the landscape becoming drier and more open as we went on. Arriving at Papkuilsfontien Guest farm at sunset, we were greeted by one of the most stunning sunsets I have ever seen. Our hostess pointed us in the direction of our cute little cottage. What a wonderful surprise to find such a beautiful cottage so well equipped with all the comforts of home! There is no electricity, but gas geysers provide hot water and lanterns provide light…providing a very romantic atmosphere. The cottages are all self-catering; however farm-style home cooked meals are available to order & delivered to the cottages by prior arrangement. I can highly recommend this option. I have never before eaten such an incredible home-cooked chicken pie in my life….the food was out of this world!  There is no cell phone reception so we turned off our phone and happily forgot about the world.

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We spent our days on the farm walking and cycling along some of the many trails that lead towards the gorge and the abundant rock pools exploring and trying to identify the hundreds of animals’ tracks along the way. We recognised tracks of porcupine, aardvark, caracal, civet, baboon, and discovered many other tracks of ‘unidentifiable’ creatures – none of these animals we got to see even though there are plenty around!  But we did have two close encounters with large snakes, one of them a cobra and the other a black mamba, which was really exciting and scary at the same time. The evenings we spent relaxing with a drink while soaking up the late afternoon sun, and barbequing (or braai’ing as its better known here) around the outside fire in true South African style. This is truly the place to come to if you want to relax, unwind and see hardly another soul.

Our trip back to Cape Town was very eventful as we decided to try out our Rav4 on the 4×4 trails that lead right over the Cederberg Mountains all the way from the mission station village of Wuppertal to Algeria near Citrusdal. Rocky, bumpy narrow roads with steep drops into the valleys below made this a ‘hairy’ road back, but one cannot call it a proper road trip without attempting to travel on a few ‘off-the-beaten’ track and out of the way roads!  With only a few wrong turns here & there, we made it over the mountains in one piece and I can honestly say this experience was one of the highlights of our trip.

Papkuilsfontien Guest farm in Nieuwoudtville is just one of the many incredible places to visit in the Northern Cape, and we will be back to explore this beautiful and vast province further in the not too distant future. For more information on the exquisite NORTHERN CAPE, please contact Janine@inspired2explore.com.

Malawi – ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’

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Malawi is well known to travellers for its Lake that stretches from one part of the country to another. The country is also commonly referred to by many travellers and locals as the “warm heart of Africa”. What people don’t realise is how much Malawi has to offer. I visited Malawi in December last year for three weeks and I could not believe how beautiful it is. Not to mentioned how affordable – most of the time we stayed in rustic camps or pitched our own tent and it was incredible value for money. Occasionally we ‘splashed out’ at a more up market camp and it definitely was worth it.

We headed straight to Cape Maclear as soon as we arrived in Malawi. This is a small village located on the lake in the South of the country with stunning views of the nearby islands dotted around the lake. We spent some time on one of these islands, Domwe, in a rustic beach camp all to ourselves. The island takes no more than 10 people so you have nobody else to bother you. The camp is run by local staff who cooked our food and cleaned our tents, and all we had to worry about was what we were going to do each day. The waters off the island are pristine and teeming with thousands of blue cichlids (a type of fish) so the snorkelling is amazing. We also rented a kayak and kayaked around the island, which took about 3 hours. Along the way we spotted Otter, plenty of fish eagle and water monitors. On our return we climbed up to the top of the mountain – a strenuous 1 hr hike in 40 degree heat – but the views were worth it and we felt completely remote in this untouched paradise.

Another highlight of our stay in Malawi was the Ilala ferry. It is the only regular means of transportation from one end of the lake to another and it is definitely an experience. We boarded the ferry for our 24hr trip to Likomo island, located in the middle of the lake, and all went well…..until it started raining in the middle of the night and we were sleeping on the deck under the stars. We should have booked a cabin! Oh well all part of the adventure. Huddled under a small section of the roof next to the bear we waited until the rain stopped. Many of the locals spend all day and night drinking “greens”, also known as Carlsberg Beer, all day and night, so the boat can get rowdy. Getting off the ferry was a real adventure …we had to take a lifeboat ashore, but before we managed to get off, about 50 locals tried to pile onto the boat on top of us so there was a lot of pushing and shoving to say the least. We somehow survived the experience….!

Likomo Island, our ferry stop, is located in the middle of the lake close to Mozambique and is so relaxed. The people go about their day in a laid back fashion and everybody greets each other on passing. There is always time for a chat and a smile. We stayed at a small backpackers located in a stunning beach and really didn’t do much each day besides snorkel and swim, and watch life go by. We managed to get a look at the new Kaya Mawa lodge that is currently being renovated and the location is breathtaking. If I was on my honeymoon, this would have been the perfect spot for me to spend a few days.

From Likoma Island, we were lucky enough to get the chance to pop over to the Mozambique side of the lake for a few days. Nkwichi Lodge is where we stayed, an eco-friendly lodge that gives back to the community and is run sustainable principles. I have never seen a more pristine beach as this…hard to believe that it is located on the lake. We spent our days canoeing, walking in the forests, swimming and snorkelling. For anyone visiting Malawi, a trip over to Nkwichi Lodge is well worth it and they need as much support as they can get. Being so remote they do not get as many visitors as they would like to.

Back in Lilongwe, the capital, we boarded our flight and bid farewell to Malawi. I was looking for a holiday where I could relax and unwind, and this is exactly what I found. Nobody is in a hurry here and there is no rush to get anywhere or do anything in particular. Malawi is definitely one of Africa’s gems and, although it does not offer the big game of other countries close by, it has its own special attraction.