The Swartberg Experience

Well, if ever I had the opportunity again to do something really special on the day before my 60th birthday, I would repeat today's experience. We were all picked up by a local guide to take us on the Swartberg experience. Now we have travelled over the Swartberg pass many times but today was just so different. The trip was slow, the wheather was good, to start off with, the guide was passionate about the mountain and we stopped often for the record shots. We have travelled over many mountain passes in our travels, but the Swartberg must remain the Mother of all passes to me. In On Route in South Africa Lawrence Green writes: "I have travalled only one road in my lifetime more dramatic and that was the fifteen thousand foot pass  beyond Darjeerling that leads into Tibet and I am more than willing to agree with him (not that I have ever been to Tibet)
The thing that made the day was the fact that the guide from True South Travel is not only a guide, he is involved with the whole conservation of the Swartberg area. We stopped off at the Tolhuis, which has been beautifully restored, for a cup coffee and some fresh homebaked chocolate cake before we travelled down to Prince Albert. The Tolhuis now forms the "head quarters" of their community project called HOPE and it is about upskilling and providing educational facilities to the local community.
As we travelled down to Prince Albert I was just again gomsmacked about the ongoing awesomeness of the Swartberg. You cannot compare the scenery to anything else. It is unique, it is overwhelming and it is in our own beautiful country. Again the British group were in awe of the beauty and diversity of our country.
We had lunch in Prince Albert at the Prince Albert Country store and it was true Karoo, slow roasted lamb, ovenroasted veggies and lots of fat local olives, washed down with some of the local wine made at Bergwater. Well worth the money as well.  After lunch we drove back to Oudtshoorn via Meiringspoort, which as also so scenic in a different way again. We stopped off to walk to the waterfall and then it was back home and again an early night. All this " being a full time tourist" is exhausting work, but very good preparation for retirement, so roll on end of November!!!