Day 6 (Monday) – Driving along the Garden Route, visit and lunch at an ostrich farm and safari game drive at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge

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Today we headed out of Cape Town to experience even more of South Africa. Our day began with an early wake up call at 5 am. We then packed up our things and headed to a nice breakfast at the hotel before getting on the bus for a 6 hour drive to Oudtshoorn. The weather today was different from the warm climate we’ve been used to all week. It was rainy and a tad chilly which is very good  because much of this area has been dealing with a drought and water shortages. At Oudtshoorn, we visited an ostrich farm where we could pet, feed, and get bit by ostriches. Their bite was a bit intimidating because of the speed it came at you, but the actual bite itself only felt like a mere pinch. Their eggs were also fascinating because of the large size and indestructibility. The ranger allowed us to stand on the eggs which further proved this point when they didn’t break. After spending some time with the ostriches, we took a short drive to the game lodge where we found our tents and got settled in. At 5, we met up with the group to go on a safari. Our ranger explained that the cooler weather we had today was good for viewing the wildlife, because the animals prefer to relax and stay hidden in warmer temperatures. We were lucky enough to see a grey mongoose, springboks, zebras, a white rhino, buffaloes, giraffes, and hippos. It was refreshing to see these animals in a more natural habitat than in a zoo-like setting back home. Our guide stopped in front of each animal and shared interesting characteristics about them. Once we finished the safari, everyone headed to the lodge’s restaurant where we ate a delicious three course meal. The tents are amazing because we are able to hear the sounds of African wildlife as we sleep.

Thanks for following along with us!

Taylor+Madi