Amazing and powerful spirit 
April in Greater Kruger: from iconic Table Mountain to amazing Kruger, from the wilderness of Cederberg to charm of Winelands
Year: August 2022
Countries: South Africa
Km: 2653 + internal fligth from CPT to HDS (roundtrip)
Vehicle: Mercedes C, Isuzu D-Max 4x4, Toyota Hilux 4x4
Camera: Sony A7
Directing: GPS with Garmin Explore
Planning & arranging: Self
Driving: Self-drive
in bold location to stay
SOUTH AFRICA Aug. '22 stages:
- Camps Bay (Cape Town)
- Table Mountain NP (Northern Section)
- Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate
- Orpen - Satara
- Crocodile river
- Crocodile brige - Lower Sabie - Skukuza
- Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate
- Orpen - Satara
- Camps Bay (Cape Town)
- Cape Town Greenpoint - Waterfront
- Mount Ceder (Cederberg)
- Krom river - Stadsaal - Maltese Cross - Wolfberg Cracks & Arch
- Franschhoek
- Walker Bay NR - Mount Rochelle NR
CAPE PENSIULA
Hiking the Table Mountain is always giving amazing rewards. View from the XII Apostoles' ridge overlooking Camps Bay and the Lion's Head is stunning. You can enjoy easy trail like the Pipe, but challanging yourself in tough hiking trails bringing you up to the summit of the Table Mountain's plateau.
In Camps Bay you enjoy a relaxing walk along the Atlantic ocean; the Cape Peninsula stretching all the way back with XII towering over the glamour town is a perfect framework.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Along our detour on the S39 from the H7 to Timbavati we meet a lions pride resting just next to the gravel road. We spend several hours with them, from their resting to their lazy wake up commencing their hunting trip for the the day.
Good morning, it's time to wake up and plan the tiring working day. Young lion roaring to us along the S39 to Timbavati.
Zebras are always a perfect photographic subject. A couple of them sharing road in Crocodile area with us. Images like this are such iconic that become memories you bring with you forever.
While driving the Mlabane Loop, where the S119 cross the Crocodile River Road, we came across a family of sleeping elephants. We spent long peaceful time admiring them. What a memory.
We get a bit closer to say farewell to them.
Green-backed heron fishing on the Sabie River next to Skukuza. It's amazing how you always start looking for the big-five, but then you discover that the wonder of Kruger lies in giving away some of the best scenes with the daily life of its smaller or lesser-known inhabitants.
The S36 is an off-beaten track which brings you into a stunning landscape and scenarios. At the Jones Se Dam you will find wonderful environment where waterbucks and other abundant wildlife is peacefully grazing.
CEDERBERG
The Cerderberg massif is a wonderful mix between wild and countryside. There are less farm in the Cederberg than what you can count on your hands, but they can be considered villages as each one of them is a self sufficient outpost into the wild side of these majestic mountains. Such farms are mostly producing one specific product each one; it's interesting for example how one is dedicated to olives and oil, another one to wine, another to citrus fruits, etc, and most of them are offering lodging and camping to the visitors. Most of such farms covers huge areas, still completely wild and pristine, where visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, visiting historical sites like rock paintings, fishings, birdwatching, etc.
The atmoshpere of Cederberg is difficult to describe, as brings you back into past times and pristine world, made of fantasy sceneries and landscape, populated by shy wild animals and starry sky, where you can engage yourself in epic adventures hiking over seemingly inaccessible mountains.
Cederberg is the kingdom of the shy mountain leopards, who raom free over these fairy mounts. Don't be scared, as they are very shy and they are almost half size than their cousins of the savannah.
The Wolfberg Arch is the most iconic attraction of Cederber and offers chance for an epic trekking trail: you will reach the plateu of Wolfberg peak passing a strenous hiking through the Wolfberg Cracks and the once on the summit a landscape from another world is waiting for you for a further long hike up to the wonderful arch. Panoramas all along the trail are stunning.
Approaching the Wolfberg Arch is marvelous: it's a long way but you will be rewarded with memorable views.
Wow! The world nestled over the Wolfberg plateau is magic. Once you on the summit you walk in a stunning scenario, where flowers blossom from the sand and the rocks and small pools of waters paint the desert. You feel so plenty of life! Wolfberg has been definitely one of our best hiking trail of ever.
The Maltese Cross is second most iconic attraction of the Cederberg then the Wolfberg Arch, but it's not less bizzarre. Don't miss the trail to this; it's challenging but not too much strenous and almost everyone with good will and good shape could reach it quite easily.
Here we are: Maltese Cross!
Cederberg is reach of rivers flowing in the middle of harsh stony wilderness land. It thus remains dotted with oases where life explodes in all its beauty; Giant Kingfisher perched on a fever tree waiting the catch of the day.
Natural elements have crafted amazing artworks: don't miss Stadsaal Caves, where you can also admire the painting of bushmen, who originally inhabits these lands.
The 4x4 trail from Mount Ceder to Kromrivier is an art gallery, scenario's beauty is stunning and artworks by nature are endless. High clearance 4WD vehicle is not necessary to visit Cederberg but it's a must on this section; by the way it helps you to have a more comfortable journey when driving on the other roads as well, since they are all gravel road.
Hiking over the ridges and peaks of Cederberg massif rewards you with some of the most beautiful view you aim to catch with your gaze. You'll love them at first glance.
In Cederber you can breath the freedom; the freedom of the spaces, of the nature of the mountain, of the privilege of solitude with yourself that makes you feel alive.
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