Garden Route, South Africa

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Digging the view at The Heads at Knysna, South Africa — February 21, 1999


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Photo by Aren Boschman ©1998

16-meter cliff jump, Jeffery’s Bay, South Africa — February 14, 1999

It took at least 45 minutes of confidence boosting for me to make this leap, and I am so happy that Aren managed to capture a shot of me when I finally jumped.

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Larisa the big pig, Wilderness, South Africa — February 21, 1999

Larisa or Larisita, I forget her name, was so big she couldn’t move; she lay here instead waiting patiently for her food and water bowl to fill up. She got a lot of attention in the process.


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The Heads at Knysna, South Africa — February 21, 1999


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Jeffery’s Bay, South Africa — February 13, 1999


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Looking down at the Heads, Knysna, South Africa — February 21, 1999


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Garden route, South Africa — February 21, 1999


February 21, 1999 — Knysna

Knysna was one of my favorite towns along the famed Garden Route. There was a micro-brewery in town, and, other than a quick indulgence in a similar venue in Harare, Zimbabwe, this was my first kind brew in a long time. We also had the splendid view seen above when we ventured out to the city’s bluffs.

I remember meeting up with other travelers here. Among them was a man, about 27, who had been traveling for seven years. He partied all the travelers out and I remember watching soukous videos on TV with him and another group. This town is great.

Aren, Marieke and I also went to the oyster farm and enjoyed a dozen fresh oysters and a bottle of fine champagne, totaling $7.00 US. The country was so inexpensive due to recent currency devaluation.

local_airport

Countries visited - Africa 1998 - 1999

Africa route map

Our scehdule

I am not sure how it all got started. It wasn’t a magical spark of lightning that began the cataclysm, nor was it the supreme words of a higher being sending us on our way. Somehow, though, the powers of the universe contrived enabling our journey through the Heart of Africa.

It began quite innocently as an alleged trip to Bulgaria and Romania. This idea was eventually vetoed and placed “on hold” for future girlfriends. Zap—a long awaited spark was kindled—The Middle East: Yemen, in particular. And the visas were applied for, the air tickets purchased; and on a fine March 4th day we were on our way aboard a gleaming Air France 747 en route to Cairo, Egypt, via a five day layover in France.

We never did make it to Yemen, nor the Middle East for that matter; we headed South, instead, into the Heart of Africa, and what follows is the story of events as they unfold.

Egypt Ethiopia Eritrea Botswana Tanzania Madagascar Namibia Zambia Kenya Zimbabwe South Africa Uganda Malawi Mozambique