October 3, 2009 - The Oribi Gorge

Today is Sami's Mother's Birthday! Happy Birthday Mommy/Auntie!!!

We left Mantis and headed towards Oribi Gorge. We did a 3-hour hike through the gorge to the Hoepoe waterfall. Although there were no other hikers on the path, we certainly were not alone. We encountered a couple of antelopes (briefly, as they are quick to run away) and a myriad of insects including hundreds of giant millipedes (averaging six inches long). We both brushed up against a strange thorned plant that left us itchy and gave us temporary rashes, but they healed after a few hours.

After the hike, we drove towards Amapondo Backpackers on St Johns Beach, but found we simply could not make it before dark and the GPS was giving us very odd directions. So we changed course and headed for Port Edward, right near Umtavuna Nature Reserve, where we stayed at the very pleasant Vuna Valley Ventures.

We spent the evening chatting with the entertaining lodge owner and the other guests, and then went to bed.