The Tsitsikamma National Park and Plettenberg Bay

If there's one thing I've learned in Canada, it's that the earlier you come, the fewer people you meet. This proved true again today, so after a quick breakfast, I went to the Tsitsikamma National Park very early. Yesterday, on the way there, I drove over a bridge and saw a kind of canyon on the left. So I went there again first thing in the morning and I could already see the Storm River making its way towards the sea. Then I headed towards the National Park. Thanks to my wildcard, I was able to quickly pass through the gate and didn't have to pay anything. Arriving at the parking lot for the hiking trail I wanted to do, there were only two cars so far. The goal of the two-kilometer hike was the Suspension Bridge. A suspension bridge that hangs over the Storms River. The way there was quite exhausting as it went up and down stairs the whole time. Thinking that I have to go all the way back, I started to sweat. Unthinking as I was, of course, I immediately started running without taking any water or other provisions. In the end, I was able to leave the hiking trail relatively quickly and the view of the suspension bridge compensated for all the effort. On the way there, I overtook two hikers and when I arrived at the bridge, I was the only tourist. I took the time to take some cool self-timer pictures. Then I walked to the other side of the river and took a short break overlooking the sea. The sound of the water washing over the stones was delightful to hear. However, it didn't take long and the first tourists appeared. For me, it was the perfect time to start the way back. On this way back, groups of people were coming towards me and I was relieved to be already on the way back. However, I still had to make a small unplanned stop because the path was blocked by baboons. If you got too close to them, they made it clear: You can't go any further! Only after other hikers arrived, the monkeys disappeared into the forest. Back at the car, I drank a whole water bottle because it was already very hot. Then I went to Nature Valley. I didn't really know what to expect there, I just found the name interesting and the detour of 10 kilometers was worth it. When I arrived, I was also the only person around and in front of me was a huge sandy beach. So I took off my shoes and headed straight for the sea. I walked along the beach for a while and enjoyed the hot sun. However, the water was very cold, so my legs stayed wet. At this beach, a kind of snails were washed ashore and somehow they looked like aliens to me. In any case, I made a wide detour around these animals. In the early afternoon, I continued to Plettenberg Bay and sat on a bench on the beach for a while, when a group of dolphins swam very close to the shore. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera with me, so I can only tell you about it. The dolphins were so close that they would have swum between your legs if you had been in the water. A really great observation. Finally, I drove about five kilometers outside of Plettenberg Bay to my accommodation for today. Tonight, I'm sleeping on a horse ranch in a guesthouse. When I arrived, I was greeted by a very playful and friendly German Shepherd and in the evening I took a big walk around the estate and observed the horses. In the last rays of the sun, a few baboons made themselves comfortable and observed me in turn. Tomorrow, I will continue along the Garden Route to Mossel Bay. Some may know this as a wine growing region. On the way there, I will certainly make some more stops and report to you sooner or later.