Having failed to get a bungy jump in due to the wind, our tour group packed up early and headed down the road for another try. Only one of us, of course, and it sure wasn’t me. A line of young women were also planning to do it at the same time, so we ordered coffee and watched them jump one by one off the world’s highest bungy jumping bridge.
We continued down the road past beautiful mountain ranges and ostrich farms and wild baboons on the road (including one squished, unfortunetly) to our next destination deep in Afrikaner country, Oudtshoorn. The town was beautiful with lots of British and Dutch influences, but of course, it was mostly off limits to the local African population until fairly recently.
Nearby there was a cave we toured hat was very impressive in size and quite beautiful with its stunning and complex collection of stalactites and stalagmites. The largest room was actually so be that it was used for classical music concerts and plays for years before they realised it was creating too much damage. 1500 people could sit in the audience, we were told.
In the evening we met up with a local township resident for a tour of a local township to see how many black Africans continue to live to this day. The neighbourhood was very safe because everyone knew each other by name. It was similar to townships found near cities and towns all over South Africa.
We stopped in to meet some local residents and see how they lived in tiny tiny places. We also visited a local gym that used to house a school and a local bar for a drink and the chance to meet many local residents. Everyone seemed very warm and happy to see outsiders taking an interest in their lives. Afterwards we stopped by a house to sit around an outdoor fire and feast of local African dishes.
This village and township tours have been very special and memorable. It appears as though few tour companies pursue these tours, but they have proven to be among the very best things we had done while here.
