Does a trip from Sedgefield to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) qualify as a road trip? I maintain that anything that requires me to pack padkos and check my tyres is a road trip. And, when my bestie and I left kids and husbands at home to do the trip, it was almost worthy of our own chick flick
We met in Sedgefield – also known as the slow town, for very good reason. There are cute shops and friendly locals, and the little village is peppered with an eclectic collection of art and sculptures. From mosaics at the traffic circles and on the lagoon banks to roadside fences that are made up of individually-painted wooden horses, it just oozes character.
Sedgefield has a stunning lagoon and river mouth, which opens onto the wilder side of the Indian Ocean. Its beaches are magnificent and really popular for kitesurfing, while the lagoon is gorgeous for families with little ones or for stand-up paddling. But, we didn’t have time to don a cozzie – we needed to get to the G&T’s waiting for us in PE.
So, we hit the road. We went through the beauty that is Knysna, where the placid lagoon is a deceptive representative of the wild ocean beyond The Heads. We passed through the pretty forests that line the N2 on the way to Plett, and stopped along the way at Shabby Fufu, desperate for a morning coffee. This spot is jammed full of gifts, trinkets, keepsakes, biscuits, sauces, and an eclectic collection of Cliff Richard posters, fake flowers, classic musical instruments, and giant bottles of Tabasco. It’s…an experience.
Plett was, as always, breath-taking. We popped into the town itself to check out the main beach from the lookout point. The view from up there is always impressive, regardless of the weather. During winter and spring, look out for whales!
We spent a lot more time at Old Nick Village, just outside the town, than we expected; but there was just so much to see. The shops have unique clothing, home décor, ceramics, blankets, gemstones, jewellery, toys, plants, and hand-crafted luxury chocolates. There’s a picturesque garden with sprays of colourful blooms. Of course, we had to visit the colourful koi fish in the pretty koi pond too.
We couldn’t miss a quick stop at Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary. There are amazing snakes, crocs, monitors, and more there (including a massive black pig that roams freely). I loved snuggling with a boa, but it might not be everyone’s cuppa.
Then, we headed off to Jukani to visit the wild animals that will be living out their retirement years in peace. All of the animals have been rescued and include lions, tigers, pumas, jaguars, caracals, wild dogs, and even a cheeky honey badger. Some were rescued from negligent zoos, others from reserves and other facilities that closed, and others were (sometimes illegal) pets. Our guide was patient and knowledgeable, and managed to call some animals right to the fences so that we could see them up close. But the highlight for me was that the animals were allowed to sleep on the forest floor or on top of a koppie, with no pressure too be visible to their human visitors. There are also platforms next to many of the enclosures to ensure that visitors can have an elevated view.
From there, we headed to Monkeyland for a delicious roosterbrood with bacon, egg and cheese; all under the watchful gaze of the local lemurs and capuchins. Many of the monkeys had recently had babies, so we went for a quick tour to see these little ones playing in the forest. What a treat. But, no time to linger…those G&T’s weren’t going to drink themselves!
Off we went, through the toll booth (about R60 for cars), and over Bloukrans Bridge, which is the highest bungy jump in the world at 216 metres. We wanted to stop, but the weather was drizzly and grey, so we weren’t going to get great views of those crazy (in my opinion, because I’m a total chicken) bungy jumpers.
The road between Plett and Storms River is absolutely beautiful – high, green mountains; plunging valleys that will take your breath away, distant ocean views, and stunning fynbos lining the road. Spectacular.
We stopped at Storms River for a bathroom break and to walk the little wooden pathway that passes under the bridge and shows off stunning views of the gorge below. It’s well worth the photo opportunity and really showcases the prettiness of the Garden Route scenery! But, it’s not for anyone scared of heights.
There are also shops, food outlets, a petrol station, and a booking office for Bloukrans Bungy at this convenient stop. As a bonus, there are really pretty spots to sit and eat a burger or enjoy a coffee without feeling like you’re right on the highway.
Once we’d refuelled on both petrol and caffeine, we hit the road again…by this stage, we could almost smell the juniper berries.
The next stop before PE is Jeffrey’s Bay…famous for stunning beaches and perfect surfing conditions. We couldn’t resist stopping at Infood Bakery & Deli for a quick snack and a look at their shop and fresh treats. We sat in the pretty outdoor area, under a tree with mosaic art as a fab backdrop. We had moreish ciabatta toast with avo and a really great cappuccino. Then, we took a quick squizz around the shop to have a look at all the gifts, keepsakes, coffees, and wines. It was a treasure trove for visitors looking for quality gifts and mementoes of the Eastern Cape.
We also popped into a few surf shops and a shell shop that was packed with bags of stunning shells, jewellery, ornaments, coasters, and so much more. Of course, we had to stop at the beach and just breathe in that fresh sea air. Those JBay beaches just hit different.
And then…it was time! We were done exploring and were more than ready for some serious PE time! From Jeffrey’s Bay, it’s only about 30 to 40 minutes into Port Elizabeth, with some lovely farms and mountains along the way; not to mention the famous Van Stadens Bridge.
Then, finally, we arrived in PE. The G&Ts were cold and pink – everything we’d dreamt of. PE surprised us with loads of new eateries and coffee shops, and time with old friends was food for our souls.
