Castleton - Lounge (1)

The lounge/dining room of the apartment at Castleton Holiday Apartments

Castleton - Kitchen

Castleton - Lounge (2)

The lounge/dining room from the dining end.

Neighbours - Left

The view to the left from the patio.

Neighbours - Right

The view to the right from the patio.

The Apartment

We stayed in the apartment on the ground floor.

The Lawns out Front

The Apartment Block

The Pools

Castleton have two pools - and adult and a kiddies. Unfortunately, neither were heated, so we didn't venture in.

Bunnies

Castleton have loads of rabbits milling about and you are actually encouraged to feed them.

Guinea Fowl

Loads of these guys milling about.

Lopped-Off Ear Bunny (1)

This chappy seems to have suffered an unfortunate accident.

Lopped-Off Ear Bunny (2)

Despite his odd looks, he's a plucky little guy. Kind of explains why he lost the ear.

Lopped-Off Ear Bunny (3)

He's so bold, he actually hopped right up to me. I'm guessing it wasn't my good looks - he was probably after food.

Guinea Fowl on the Wall

The View of Plett

Castleton is situated up on a hill over looking Plettenberg Bay. This view is of the town side and the bay.

The Valleys

Castelton looks over this valley on the other side.

Another View Over Plett

This is the other side of the hill over looking Plettenberg Bay. This is towards the harbour side.

Eyeguy

I wonder what this guy does for a living.

Knysna Quays (1)

Bench for Husbands

We passed this bench in the Knysna Quays and I couldn't help but take a picture.

Sea Horse

A bit of the local crafts on display at the Knysna Quays.

Knysna Quays (2)

The Heads (1)

These are The Heads at the mouth of the Knysna lagoon.

The Heads (2)

Usurper

Hmmm, would you really want to advertise this as your profession or hobby?

The Right Head

The Left Head (1)

The Left Head (2)

We had to clamber across these rocks in order to get to the path that runs up to the edge of the left hand head.

The Left Head (3)

Check how clear the sea is.

The Left Head (4)

Knysna Lagoon

This is the view back from the left head over the Knysna Lagoon.

Lush Cove

I thought this little lush green cove was worthy of capturing.

Waves (1)

Well, when by the sea, you've got to take pictures of waves crashing over the rocks.

Waves (2)

We'd only just walked round this cove. Thankfully there's a foot bridge and the sea smashes against the rock below.

When the Boat Comes In

Now how's that for an awesome shot. A sailboat returning to the lagoon.

Boat Flies Past

This little boat was actually crusing at quite a speed.

San Tribe

This is a fibre glass representation of what a Khoisan tribe would have looked like when the occupied the entrance to the Cango Caves.

The Organ (1)

If I remember correctly, they call this formation The Organ. It's caused by running water, as opposed to dripping water.

The Organ (2)

God's Finger

If I recall correctly, they call this God's Finger. It's a huge stalagmite.

The Organ (3)

Just a Pillar

I'm sure this has a proper name, but it's a pillar formed by a stalactite and stalagmite eventually joining.

Multiple Pillars

This is a formation of several stalactites and stalagmites that have formed close together and eventually merged into one great big column.

Stalactites (1)

These are also caused by flowing water.

Cave of Formations (1)

Stalactites (2)

Broccoli

This formation broke off during an earth quake many years ago. I think it looks like a piece of broccoli.

Stalactites (3)

Cave of Formations (2)

Stalactites (4)

Stalactites (5)

Cave of Formations (3)

Stalactites (6)

A Meeting

It's taken millions of years, but these two have finally met.

Cave of Formations (4)

Cave of Formations (5)

Cave of Formations (6)

The Commandments

Hmmm, this formation looks like the stones the 10 commandments were enscribed on.

Cave of Formations (7)

Cave of Formations (8)

14 Poster Bed

The guide called this a 14 poster bed.

Baby Stalactites

They may be called babies, but they're still several hundred years old. They'll probably never grow too big either as they're right in the path of tourists who'll all reach out and touch them.

Stalactites (7)

Stalactites (8)

Stalactites (9)

The Drum

Due to the earth quake that occurred a long time ago, some rock shifted and put more stress on this formation. As a result, banging on it results in quite a loud drumming sound.

Playing the Drum

One of the tourists has a go.

A Wall Of Stalactite

This is effectively one stalactite (a curtain stalactite if I remember correctly) that has formed a wall in one of the caves.

Cave of Formations (9)

Stalactites (10)

This Way to the Exit

I Wasn't Expecting This

I wasn't expecting this... a column in the middle of the path on the way out.

Stalactites (11)

Another Huge Column

Fog

Why is it people (me included) have a compulsion to take pictures of fog.

Beacon Island Hotel

You can't go to Plettenberg Bay and not get a picture of this hotel. This is techinally on the

The Bay

Surfing in the Bay

The Beach in the Bay (1)

The Beach in the Bay (2)

The Beach in the Bay (3)

Surf's Up

Lesser Spotted Beach Tractor

The beaches were in the process of being cleaned up following several days of heavy rainfall that had washed all sorts of debris down the river.

Cape Wagtail (1)

This little guy was quite curious to see what we were up to.

Cape Wagtail (2)

Far Away Whale (1)

This is the first whale I spotted frolicking in Plettenberg Bay. Here he is pretending to be a shark.

Far Away Whale (2)

Still pretending to be a shark.

Far Away Whale (3)

Ooops, a bit too much fin. Doesn't look like a shark anymore.

Far Away Whale (4)

He's waving.

Far Away Whale (5)

Waving some more.

Far Away Whale (6)

A little blow hole action.

Far Away Whale (7)

Now he's pretending to be a dolphin.

Closer Whale (1)

After taking some pics of the far away whale, we when and had a drink on the terrace of a bar by the beach. This is when I spotted this chappy a bit closer to the shore. It could be the same whale for all I know. He started off with a wave to say

Closer Whale (2)

Ooo, a little bit of tail action too. I was a little slow with this one. It would have been cool if I'd got his tail right out of the water.

Closer Whale (3)

A whale has to breathe at some point.

Closer Whale (4)

He's waving. He must have spotted some more photographers on the nearby boat.

Closer Whale (5)

Closer Whale (6)

A rolly polly.

Closer Whale (7)

He must really like the people in the boat. He's doing a lot of waving.

Closer Whale (8)

Closer Whale (9)

Closer Whale (10)

Closer Whale (11)

Closer Whale (12)

A little bit of backstroke.

Closer Whale (13)

He must have know this would be my last shot - he's waving good-bye.

Our Scorpion Visitor

Claire happened across this chappy in the bathroom. Nice of him to come visit.

Our Scorpion a Bit Closer

Well, they don't stumble in everyday, so may as well get a close up.

Road Thru Tsitsikamma (1)

The stretch of the N2 through the Tsitsikamma reserve is very pretty. Now and again, you pass people waving R10 and R20 notes - how quaint. :-)

Road Thru Tsitsikamma (2)

Storms River Valley - Downstream (1)

The water looks like Coca-Cola. How lovely. These were taken from the Storms River Bridgeno the N2.

Storms River Valley - Downstream (2)

Storms River Valley - Downstream (3)

Storms River Valley - Downstream (4)

Storms River Valley - Upstream (1)

Some things really are greener on the other side.

Storms River Valley - Upstream (2)

Storms River Valley - Upstream (3)

Storms River Valley - Upstream (3)

A Red Winged Starling

Waves and Rocks (1)

This was taken from within the Tsitsikamma Reserve. It's quite amazing how blue the sea is when you consider the Coca-Cola coloured Storms River enters the ocean about 500m up shore.

Waves and Rocks (2)

Waves and Rocks (3)

Tsitsikamma Coastline

The Tsitsikamma Reserve stretches for about 80km in that direction.

Picnic Spot

This is the picnic/braai area in the Storms River mouth part of the Tsitsikamma Reserve.

Waves and Rocks (4)

Waterfall (1)

Waterfall (2)

Waterfall - Arty

I just had to try slowing the shutter speed down to see if I could get the blurred effect. I definitely need to get a tripod.

Claire on the Walkway

The Walkways

The route to the Storms River suspension bridge in the Tsitsikamma Reserve is built out of these wood-effect plastic walkways.

The Forest

The Sea And Rocks (1)

The Storms River Suspension Bridge (1)

The Storms River Suspension Bridge (2)

The Storms River Suspension Bridge (3)

Yup, we actually crossed it. This is the view across it. It's not that scary really. It's a well made and maintained bridge.

The Storms River - Land Side

The Storms River - Sea Side

Waterfall (3)

A Lizard

This is the only wildlife, other than birds, that we saw in the reserve.

Going Up

We followed a sign for

The View Point

And this is the view we got. Pretty impressive. There was still more to go, but we thought this was high enough.

Arum Lilly

Arum lillies grow naturally in the Tsitsikamma Rain Forest.

Arum Lilly - Closeup

A Really Old Tree

Small Pothole

How's that for a small pothole. There's also a bit of

Small Pothole a Bit Closer

Our Ride Home

We flew back to Jo'burg on this little plane. It was quite a bit bigger than the 40 seater we flew down in.