Day 4: On to Knysna

Today we woke up to a rainy morning, so unfortunately we could not benefit as much from the beautiful coastline. However, the day started with a delicious breakfast buffet at the lodge restaurant and after that we were all fit to move on to our next destination, Knysna.

Our first stop was the Tststikamma Big Tree, just beside the N2. The big tree is a thousand year old ”Outeniqua Yellowood” (for any potential tree nerd: Podocarpus Falcaius), almost 37 meters high and a circumference of 8,5 meters. Quite big, yes. :)

Then we continued to Plettenberg Bay, or ”Plett” as it is more commonly known around here. According to the Lonely Planet Guide Plett ”is a resort town through and through” and one of the country’s top local tourist spots.

We stopped there for a light lunch and walked the Main Street. At this time of the day it had stopped raining, which was really lucky considering our next stop – Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre.

Tenikwa runs a hospital where injured wild animals are rehabilitated and returned to where they belong. Their main focus is on the South African wild cats. To finance the centre they welcome visitors that can interact with the cats that for one reason or the other cannot be rehabilitated, due to injury or disease. We had booked a 2,5 h cheetah walk tour and got the opportuinty to follow Chester and Zimbalie on their afternoon walk in the surroundings of the centre, together with a British couple and three guides, Patrick, Msisi and Semzo. It was a special feeling coming so close to these very beautiful cats! After the walk we were guided around the centre and got to see the other cats up close; lions, leopard, serval, caracal, African wild cat and Black footed cat. It was a very interesting tour and afternoon!

Chester, Joakim and Eva.

Joakim taking off with Zimbalie.

This is the caracal, solitary and territorial. Shoulder height 40 cm, mass 16 kg. 

This is the leopard, extremely territorial and solitary. Shoulder height 70 cm, mass 60-80 kg.

This is the serval, solitary or in small family groups. Shoulder height 50 cm, mass 10-14 kg.

The white lion is not a separate subspecies but rather caused by a recessive gene. Big, dark manes on male lions are an indication of health and vigor and these males are favoured by females. White lions do occur naturally in the wild but they are rare. (Source: tenikwa.com)

There were two lions in the enclosure. Shoulder height 90-120 cm, mass 180-250 kg (males) and 150 kg (females).

The drive from Tenikwa to Knysna was only 30 minutes and we reached ”the Hamilton Manor” at 18.30h. It happened that we arrived just at the same time as an Israeli family and it took some time to settle the check in. We ended our day at 34th South at the waterfront, where we had yet another excellent meal and very friendly waiter who added ambience to our evening. :)

Joakim getting instructions for a "must have" at the 34th South restaurant - "Line Fish". 

Nice food for everyone, I enjoyed eating an excellent stuffed sweet potato.