Link to Part 1 here
Next, we set off for Gannabos, near Nieuwoudtville. The route took us over the Eselbank Pass, a beautiful but challenging drive for which a 4×4 is recommended. Along the way lies the Eselbank Waterfall, with two viewing points. The better of the two is not signposted, but fortunately it was clearly indicated on our Tracks4Africa GPS map, allowing us to find our way to it.
To better appreciate the terrain, look at Liana’s video on YouTube.
The route passed through the rooibos tea plantations between the villages of Eselbank and Wupperthal, before continuing through the Biedouw Valley, renowned for its spectacular annual display of wildflowers. Sadly, this year the season had arrived early and been unusually brief, and we encountered only a few scattered flowers.
I did get to see some more ruins, surrounded by flowers.
Our campsites at Gannabos guest farm were luxurious, with each site having its own very spacious ablution facility and kitchenette area.
Gannabos also boasts the largest quiver tree forest in the world, which we visited for sundowners.
An area closer to our campsite gave me access to do some landscape astrophotography.
With new knowledge and ideas gained from this outing, I would like to return here to improve on these.
After two lovely days at Gannabos, it was time to move on to Hondeklipbaai, where we were booked to spend the night. En route, we came across yet another lovely old ruin.
Our friends were greatly relieved to discover that the accommodation we had booked was considerably better than its name, Honne Pondokkies (literally, “Dog Shacks”), might suggest. As on our previous visit, supper at the Rooi Spinnekop Restaurant did not disappoint. Unfortunately, the heavily overcast conditions put paid to my plans for some astrophotography on the beach and around the lighthouse. I did, however, manage to capture a few late-afternoon images before the clouds rolled in.
Etienne's Camera 