Sabie and The Panorama Route

After 10 days in Kruger, we were looking forward to spending an entire week in one location. The kids definitely needed to catch up on school work and we desperately needed to do laundry! I chose our stay in Sabie because it's on the Panorama Route and centrally located to the many landmarks and hikes in the area. After we checked in, my excitement faded when the WiFi wasn't working and the washing machine leaked water all over the kitchen. So much for school and laundry!

Here are a few highlights from Sabie and the Panorama Route:

Sabie Falls and Gardens

Sabie Falls.

Our budding photographer practicing.

Katie's "artistical" pic!

Capturing the elusive FYO (Fourteen Year Old)!

Sabie Falls.

Mac Mac Falls and Pools

Mac Mac Pools.

Mac Mac Falls.

The Old Baobab

We had a delicious pancake (crepe) lunch at the Baobab Restaurant. The baobab tree has been around ~1,500 years.

Pancakes = crepes!

Baobab tree.

Long Tom Cannon

Long Tom Cannon.

Loerie Day Hiking Trail - 3 waterfalls

Bridal Veil Falls.

Katie exploring the falls.

Bridal Veil Falls.

Caught on film!

Following the yellow footprints through the forest.

Watch out for the spiky branches!

Kinyonga Reptile Center

We saw an advertisement for the Kinyonga Reptile Center and decided to stop. The center specializes in saving, rehabilitating, and relocating snakes, lizards, and spiders. Most of the animals at the facility were pets that can no longer be cared for properly or are not wanted. Who would want a black mamba, crocodile, boa constrictor, puff adder, or any venomous snake as a pet??!! There were also leopard tortoises, iguanas, chameleons, & an ostrich. We were educated by owner Donald Strydom about the myths of snakes and how the majority are harmless and we shouldn't fear seeing one in the wild. Hmmm??!! We thoroughly enjoyed this unplanned stop.

Help!

Alex and the leopard turtles.

3 Rondavels

Three Rondavels.

Echo Cave

 Our next stop was at Echo Caves. The cave formations are similar to Timpanogos Cave

Inside Echo Cave.

Pilgrim's Rest

Pilgrim's Rest is an old mining town with a rich history, two museums, and gold panning opportunities. However, it's almost a ghost town due to lack of government and bad press. There have been several articles and reviews about the 'car washers'. These are local boys that direct tourists into specific parking spaces with signs that say Car Wash R300 (a typical wash would cost R90). They proceed to wash your car without asking and then ask for payment when you return. Apparently it's an issue since so many have written about it and the local Pilgrim's Pantry has a permanent sign indicating they can help with any 'car wash' issues. The local South African government has tried to step in but could not come to a resolution with the residents of the town. It's too bad because there is so much potential.

Delicious homemade ginger beer and mint lemonade!

Tree Farms across South Africa

Pine tree farms forever...

Next up...

We will be heading from the high mountains (by South Africa standards) of the Panorama Route to the Indian Ocean and across South Africa's southern coast to the Atlantic Ocean.