This year we finally had an inland holiday over the season. A friend had invited us to join her at her holiday house in Swellendam, Western Cape, South Africa. Just after the Christmas festivities were over we hopped in the car and took the 2 and a half hour drive from our home in Kommetjie to Swellendam.
We have always driven straight passed but this time it was awesome to stop and see a gorgeous old town.
Boho Country Cottage
We pulled up to the Boho Country Cottage and unloaded before quickly grabbing our swimming stuff and got ready to head to the Buffeljags River.
It was a short 15 minute drive and we arrived at Umshanti River Resort and hosts of the barge trip that we were about to embark on.
our driver
blowing up the floaties
We were soon loaded onto the barge with our picnic and braai goods (bbq) and ready to take to the open water of the wide river.
The barge ride was smooth and the weather was fine with a few puffy clouds in the sky. The day was windless and wonderful.
After a 15 minute ride on the barge from Umshanti up the river, we arrived at a gorge in the rocks. Our driver quickly tied up, hopped in his tinny and left us to float alongside the rocky face.
We took turns jumping into the warm dark water, stained with minerals so rich that we couldn’t see our hands only 20 centimetres below the surface.
Our floaties were awesome! We slowly packed ourselves up the Kloof about 70 meters to find a wonderful waterfall. Unfortunately I couldn’t get any photos but it was beautiful. Fresh water flowing down the mountain side and down into the Kloof.
My husband pumped up the Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) and headed out into the river for a paddle. For a surfer he had been desperate to get in the water. He was missing the salty waves, but the warm cokey river would have to do.
The guys onboard made a fire and we soon munched on boerewors rolls (sausage for non-South Africans). Delicious!!!
Then back we went into the warm water to float and paddle and chat. We must have floated for 3 hours and began turning into prunes when our barge driver returned just on time.
The packing was quick and the day was getting darker and we were ready to head back to real life.
We had one last chance to take in the magnificent mountain and river views in the light breeze of the moving barge.
I would do this again any time!
Watch this space for more Swellies adventure from our trip.
All photos are my own
[//]:# (!pinmapple -34.01819 lat 20.53959 long Barge ride on the Buffeljags river d3scr)]
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@zakludick - she's back!
This little adventure looks heavenly - I believe several of the scarier rock-jumping kloofs are near Swellendam as well, but this looks more my speed, hahaha!
Your husband is a surfer? Besides music, surfing is my main other post topic! Some chargers from Brazil have started the SurfHive Community, and would love to have more content from around the world to help the Community grow... so I get my GoPro out and try my best!
I assume you've tried to get your husband on HIVE before? :)
Hi! Yeah @m8duck is already on hive but has never posted 😜. He surf the Kom and long beach most days on a surf SUP so if you see a big dude with a beard then it’s probably him.
I’ll see If I can gather some surf stuff. That’s more my daughters area of expertise. You can see her stuff on Instagram @worthy.waves
The river was the bomb! My friends son actually climbed the side of the Kloof intending to jump in but I paddled over and sat on a rock about a foot under water just where he was planning to jump. Glad he didn’t. Anyway he had to find another way down 😳
Okay, I will follow your daughter's surf photos on that cesspool called Instagram, but she should try share on HIVE as well?
Yeah! @zakludick there's another one to encourage! Hahaha
I surf long beach if it's big enough to spread out the crowds, otherwise it can get a bit too concentrated around one peak for my liking! I have done Outerkom about as small as it breaks (which is plenty big enough for me) a few winters ago! I intend to spend time there, and its closest neighbouring breaks, more this year as well!
Ps. I’ll try to post weekly again but I need you to help build the climbing group!!!!
Hey hey! A wild @z03d has appeared!
Your hiking pics are awesome and beautiful! Please post more!
Now that you have arrived, I can add you to the ACTIVE section of this: https://ecency.com/hive-167922/@zakludick/hive-progress-the-activity-group
It is mostly South Africans and some others!
Awesome! I’ll Try post once a week at least. Last year had been a busy one and this one might be crazy too but i’ll try to keep it going 😃
Awesome! I look forward to it! You keep going Zoe!
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
certainly the place is very inviting for swimming