DustBugs Travel

We spent a wonderful evening on the farm at Sonnevleg Self-catering, but the time came to hit the road through the Great Karoo to Williston. It was really awesome to see how much rain they've had recently in the district. The farm owner was understandably very happy and relieved. Not to mention all the little lambs we saw as we were leaving, really cute. Crossing the Sak River as we entered Williston, previously known as Amandelboom, was amazing, especially seeing how much water was flowing. We filled the car up with fuel and then realised we also needed fuel and had a wonderful meal at Manna Restaurant. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #williston #sonnevleg #sakriver #mannarestaurant #southafricavlog #amandelboom Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Driving out of Calvinia, we spotted the Akkerendam Nature Reserve and decided we had to go and explore. It has a really beautiful landscape, especially those rugged edge on the mountain tops. After that it was off to our farmstay at Sonnevleg Self-catering. The farm owner came to meet us and we followed him to our house and WOW, what a beautiful old house. The stay on the farm was absolutely stunning and we enjoyed every second. It was so quiet and peaceful, all we heard were the sheep, birds and wind blowing. It was a fantastic stay. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #calvinia #akkerendamnaturereserve #sonnevleg Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

When we left the Englishman’s Grave, we went over a gravel road pass called the Botterkloof Pass. It was a short, but very steep pass. We then found a monument just before we reached Calvinia on the R27 which commemorated the end of the Anglo Boer War. Our tummies were rumbling by the time we arrived in Calvinia, so we stopped at Die Hantam Huis for a quick bite to eat and then just took a slow drive through Calvinia. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #calvinia #hantamhuis #botterkloofpass Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Travelling along the N7, we needed a pitstop. We saw this farm stall called the Desert Rose and decided this was the place. It was such a cool experience. All the amazing sculptures made of steel were a real treat to look at. Such talented artists! Then just over the Pakhuis Pass we found the “Engelsman se Graf” or the Englishman’s Grave. The story behind this was really fascinating. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #desertrose #engelsmansegraf Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

The stay at Kroo Guest Farm was awesome. They have an animal sanctuary for those injured out in nature. The house was built in such a manner that it blends perfectly into its surroundings. I loved it there. Then it was time to head back home. We took a very long gravel road but what an incredible road it turned out to be! We saw giraffe, kudu, gemsbok, eland, springbok and horses. The absolute highlight was a group of donkeys we could interact with close-up. What an awesome experience! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #anysberg #krooguestfarm Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Driving through Seweweekspoort was truly an awesome adventure. I always thought it was a pass, but as its name says, it's actually a gateway through the mountains and not over the mountains. It has amazing natural beauty. We stopped at a small stream to taste the spring water and it was so cold and fresh. Then we saw an old ruin which actually is the old toll house, similar to the one at Montagu Pass. What a stunning drive! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #seweweekspoort Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Waking up after a great night’s rest at Hillside Guest Farm we had to hit the road for our next destination, although we would've loved to stay longer. We were fortunate to see ostriches along the road again and we had to stop to take a closer look. Coming into Oudtshoorn we saw a shop / restaurant with an awesome, playful vibe. Smitswinkel has a unique style and we were so happy that we stopped there for brunch. It is really worth taking a pitstop at this place. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #smitswinkel #oudtshoorn #brunch Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

The road down from the old British fort just outside Uniondale was really exciting to drive down. The views of the Little Karoo landscape as we travelled down were stunning. Not to mention the tarred road all the way from Uniondale to the turn-off to the farm. What can I say about Hillside Guest Farm? Absolutely gorgeous! The tranquil setting gives you the time and space just to relax and recharge. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #uniondale #hillsideguestfarm Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

The small town of Uniondale in the Little Karoo was formed in 1856. The church in this beautiful town was built in 1886 and overlooks the entire town. When you stand in front of this church you can feel the sense of grandeur with its sandstone structure. What an architectural masterpiece! From the church we went looking for the British fort on the outskirts of town. It was amazing to see this structure, still standing today and to just imagine what happened there over 100 years ago. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #uniondale #britishfort Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Prince Alfred’s Pass is known as Thomas Bain's greatest work. This pass takes you from Knysna to Uniondale and is the longest pass in South Africa at 68,5 km. We had an amazing adventure up to the Spitskop viewpoint high into the clouds. The road was washed out by the recent rain they had in the region but our little car had no problem dealing with this. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #princealfredspass Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Leaving Plettenberg Bay and backtracking to Knysna we found a gravel road which took us through the heart of the Outeniqua Forest on the Garden Route. As we were driving we saw many massive trees and then realised they were yellowwood trees. In the Garden Route National Park was the King Edward VII big tree. This tree is over 800 years old and is more than 40 meters high and has a circumference of seven metres! On our map we saw a museum and decided to visit. What an experience it was to see an entire elephant skeleton which was found in the forest and is now on display. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #outeniquaforest #elephant Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

As we went around the circle as we turned into Plettenberg Bay, we could sense the vibe in the air that this is a major holiday destination. This seaside town on the Garden Route of South Africa is very popular. We were here many years ago and knew that the beach was a beautiful location. Arriving down at the beach right by the Beacon Island Hotel we remembered why. It is a really clean and fun beach where holidaymakers come to relax and soak up the sun. We took a slow drive through the town and then knew it was time to hit the road to our next stop. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #plettenbergbay #vacation #beach Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

You will find Masescha Country Estate on your way to Plettenberg Bay and what a wonderful place to spend the night. We heard baboons and birds amongst the trees in the forest. This place is really a paradise on the Garden Route. Then it was off to Plettenberg Bay. Along the way, we stopped at the Hen House Eat Out Café for breakfast. Here we met Tinashe, a wire and bead artist. What a talented and amazing young man! He creates beautiful pieces of art. After breakfast we headed for Plett. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #Masescha #plettenbergbay #henhouse Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

We left Thesen Island and decided to visit Leasure Island. We were really blown away by the Steenbok Nature Reserve. What a beautiful place to take a walk and enjoy nature. What was amazing to see, was that this is the only place in the entire world where you find the estuarine seahorse species. Found only in this lagoon. From here we went to the Knysna Heads and what spectacular views we saw there! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #knysna #knysnaheads Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

When we arrived in Knysna, we went directly to Thesen Island. We walked around and just enjoyed the beauty of the place. We came across some houseboats and we were lucky enough to be allowed on board to see what they looked like inside. I think you would have so much fun on one of those. At Tapas & Oyster Restaurant we enjoyed Strawberry Daiquiris and they were delicious! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it, since I love beer so much. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #knysna #tapasbar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Arriving at a section of the Garden Route National Park as we were driving along the Seven Passes Road was an unexpected treat. We weren’t planning on going through this part, but it was awesome! The forest makes a person realise how small we actually are. Phantom Pass was another stunning and unplanned route which took us all the way to Knysna. Enjoy it with us! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #sevenpasses #knysna Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Waking up at Sedgefield Huts this morning was WOW! These huts are situated on a hill which overlooks a beautiful lake and mountains in the distance. But we had to leave for our next destination. We decided to take in the views from the Paragliders launch before heading down the hill to town. The views were breathtaking! Back in town we went for breakfast at Mac Butners! Do yourselves a favour and get the breakfast pie and croquettes. Absolutely fantastic! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #sedgefield #paragliders #macbutners Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

I really fell in love with Sedgefield. This coastal town on the Garden Route of South Africa is beautiful. It is surrounded by lakes, sand dunes and fynbos. Driving along Kingfisher Drive to the river mouth was absolutely amazing. The view from the top to the lagoon mouth was great and the walk down the long wooden ramp to this stunning beach is really worth it. Then the cherry on the cake was arriving at our little bungalows at Sedgefield Huts. What a place! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #sedgefield #sedgefieldhuts Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

A very interesting fact is that the Seven Passes Road is the oldest direct road link between George and Knysna in the Western Cape, South Africa. It runs South of the Outeniqua mountains and, as the name states, it traverses a total of seven passes. Karatara is a small town which is found along the Seven Passes Road. I think the town had something to do with forestry in the area. It is really a very small community. We then headed South toward Sedgefield which is a coastal town between George and Knysna. This is a place I would live in permanently at the drop of a hat. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #karatara #sedgefield Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Just outside the town of George we hit a roadblock. They had loads of rain there the past few months and the Seven Passes Road we wanted to take from George to Sedgefield was closed because of flooding. So we took a detour to Wilderness which paid off bigtime! I was at the beach in Wilderness many years ago but forgot how beautiful it was. We then took the road to the Map of Africa and found the most amazing views of Wilderness. We really lucked out. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #george #wilderness #sedgefield Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

After travelling over the pass, we discovered a hidden gem, the old Toll House on Montagu Pass. Hardus, the owner, served us traditional South African coffee, known as “moerkoffie”, with pancakes. It was a wonderful way to end our journey through the pass. There are many interesting antiques inside the Toll House. It is very similar to a museum. What I found particularly interesting was the piano which also could be played as an organ. After this interesting pitstop, we headed to our accommodation in George and spent some time with family and friends. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #tollhouse #montagupass Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Discovering another amazing gravel road pass is always a stunning experience and crossing over the Montagu Pass was exactly that. The views from virtually all over this pass were truly spectacular. Looking for the ruins of the old blacksmith's shop when the pass was built between 1844 and 1847 was tricky. There is not much left to see unfortunately. The narrow roads were really exciting to navigate. So, if you are looking for adventure, try this pass! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #montagupass Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

We decided to take a drive down to the beach at Dana Bay, which is truly a breathtakingly beautiful place. We were hoping to still see the dolphins we saw from our window at Anita’s Self-Catering. We did see them, but was just too late and nervous to capture them with Droney. Fortunately we met a young guy called Christiaan there. Super cool guy and experienced drone pilot who was willing to share the footage he took with his drone. We then left for the Outeniqua Pass just outside George. Another stunning pass to visit. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #danabay #outeniquapass Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

We finally arrived at our accommodation in Dana Bay. What a spectacular place and view we had! So, I finally bought my DJI Mini SE drone two weeks before and flew it for the first time. Man, was I nervous! I was really surprised at how small it was, but I am impressed at how easy it was to learn to fly the drone, which has been christened 'Droney'. The picture quality is impressive, as is its stability while flying. I must also add that I had the perfect setting for Droney's inaugural flight. Enjoy! #DustBugs #dustbugstravel #southafrica #danabay #djimini Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel

Gouritsmond is a very popular destination for fishermen. The name of the town is derived from the Gourits River, which runs adjacent to the village and “Mond” is the river mouth leading into the Indian Ocean. I spent some time on the beach of this tiny village and what a beautiful place it is! We took a slow drive through the village and you could feel the mellow atmosphere all around. Then it was time to head for Dana Bay. #DustBugs #dustbugstravel #adventuretravel #southafrica #gouritsmond #danabay Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustbugstravel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DustBugstravel TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dustbugstravel