Transkei- Friday 23rd-Monday 26th November

Transkei - Friday 23rd - Monday 26th November
After popping back home for Thursday to do some washing and stocking up we headed off to the Transkei at 4h30 on Friday morning. We drove down to the Mdumbi turnoff where we met Eric, Gill & their kids. From here Grant drove on to Mdumbi and Eric took the rest of us to start our hike at Presley Bay. Quite hectic roads but Grant & Bushwakka did really well.
We started to hike at about 10h00 and the kids did so well as it took us a leisurely 4 and a half hours to get to Mdumbi. WOW!!! The scenery, vegetation and landscape is so beautiful and this was a definite highlight for all of us.

Grant had to do some tricky reverse parking into campsite but we arrived to everything being set up and the most beautiful setting. We had a great braai in the evening with the kids playing with the other kids in the campsite and having a blast.

Saturday morning the kids elected to stay with the dads and have a beach day surfing and swimming as Gill & I headed off into the hills.
We really had the most amazing walk and the photographic opportunities are so abundant that I really want to find out how to use my camera to it's full potential. We got to the Mthatha river and although we were told there is a ferry that you can take to the other side for R10, we could not see anyone. Fortunately there were some fisherman in the mouth of the river that gave us a ride across. I think if we had hung around eventually the ferryman would have appeared. The other rivers that we had had to cross up until now had been manageable, with the kids having to swim but us able to walk with bags above our heads.
The morning had started off quite misty and in the distance we saw silhouettes which as we got closer were these stunning local ladies carrying bundles of wood on their head.

Soon after the river we had to head up a steep hill and towards one of the little villages heading towards Coffee Bay. Some of the local dogs decided that I made quite a tasty treat and took two little nips out of my calf. After Gill patched me up, we headed on towards the Mpuzi River through a coastal forest which a local boy guided us to.

When we arrived in Coffee Bay, we found an awesome little spot where they make an awesome takeaway cappuccino and delicious homemade bread. After these purchase we walked up the hill drinking our cappucino towards White Clay. Whew! When I saw the hill going down, I couldn't believe how Grant had got down their in the truck, but what a magical place. We spent a good portion of the afternoon watching the dolphins playing in the waves right in front of the campsite. Late afternoon we headed off in the Harris' car to watch rugby and get a pizza at Pappagelos.

The most delicious homemade ice-creams to be found at the above little spot. It soon bacame mandatory to never pass without stopping and trying out a new flavour.

On Sunday morning Gill, Mitch & I headed off for our last hike to Hole in the Wall. The others stayed back to surf and were going to pick us up later.

View of truck from hills heading towards Coffee Bay

Over the hill and faraway..... Mitch became very concerned at one point that we were going to be hijacked & taken to live in a village. After a few too many people offered to guide us, we had headed a tad too far inland, we adopted the services of a local who led us back onto the coastal track. We really got to see the most amazing views and were showed where the, "baby" Hole in the wall was.

"Baby Hole in the Wall"

Oupa en Ouma sit op die......

The rest of the gang met us at Hole in the Wall and then we headed back to Coffee Bay where the kids had an awesome time surfing and playing on the beach.

Big Hole in the Wall

Heading down to beach at Coffee Bay

Enjoying their surf

Monday morning we decided to drive to Mpuzi River and try and hike the cliffs to find the elusive cliff jumping. Well we hiked and hiked and hiked some more. We saw beautiful scenery but alas, we did not find the cliff jumping. We decided that this was more than a good enough reason to return. So we headed back to Coffee Bay for our last swim/surf and then back to White Clay to pack up the van & head up the very steep hill and home to East London.

We will definitely be returnin....