Our knowledgeable guide, David McNaughton, despite nursing a head cold today…
Filled our heads with the history/architecture of Graaff-Reinet…
Such as this house which shows up on map from early 1800s…
The Boer “war”…
And local flora, including aloe plants still harvested by indigenous descendants today…
We learned a lot!
After late morning tea, an art gallery visit, and geological/archaeological museum tour, we switched over to a Land Rover for a “safari” ride…
Learned about the flip-flop from a severe drought drying up a lake and then flooding rain causing the lake to overflow the dam almost overnight!
And went on our first guided off-road African safari…
…including catered lunch on the car bonnet…
Use of an African outdoor unisex “toilet”…
And wildlife, lots of wildlife!
Blacksmith lapwing (blacksmith plover)
We didn’t see the resident Cape buffalo but the views were great…
To top off the wonderful afternoon safari, we rode up to an overlook with sweeping sunset views of the Valley of Desolation and Graaff-Reinet…
A great way to end an even greater day with a sundowner drink…
Skipped dinner tonight and just soaked my legs in the unheated swimming pool, ate an apple and biltong in the room, packed up for a drive to the next adventure — our first “glamping” safari camp!
Time for some quick reading and then sleep…
Tired and alone 