Day 20...Swellendam

Sadly we had to leave Kurland and do the long drive to swellendam. The roads are incredible in South Africa... Wide and empty and all the drivers are very polite. Unlike some places I could mention.
We booked into our hotel, the Schoone Oort, which is a modernised old colonial house. We went for a walk round the town and visited the Drostdry museum which showed how the old magistrates lived. The kids are mesmerised. We then returned for dinner which, for the first time, was rather disappointing with a waitress who had obviously never waited on a table below in hey life. It was also freezing in the restaurant. The food and accommodation had been amazing all holiday and this was the first time we felt rather let down. Still,  the room was comfortable and the breakfast the next morning was good.

Day 19...Wild animals

We let the children have the morning at Kurland so they could have a last quad bike and horse ride. The we went to Jokani animal reserve which was nearby. After noticing we had a puncture and negotiating a new car from Asia, we went on a tour round the park with a guide. Our guide was excellent and told about the various towers, lions, cheetahs and other animals there. All the staff then helped our tyre!
Then we went to Nature's Valley beach to watch the sun set and to give the children another opportunity to get soaked. Gillie and I then had a meal for two served in the library while the kids are in their room. Kurland is an amazing hotel... Would love to return one day.

Day 18...Robberg Point

After yet another large breakfast, we drove to the Robberg peninsula to walk round the National Park there. It was a glorious day and the path to us above a colony of Cape Fur seals. We reached a point where we had to decide whether to do the whole walk or take a shortcut. We decided to do the long does right around the point. There are lots more deals and we could get really close to them at the point itself.
They were playing in the surf with whales in the distance. The path then became more of a rock climb. Right up Ben's street and Hannah was reading ahead. Gillie didn't enjoy it so much however and Ben had to use all his survival skills to help her up the cliff faces. An amazing walk however.
Had dinner in Plettenberg on the way back. We are all shattered.

Day 17...at Kurland

Despite the huge dinner, it would have been a shame not to partake of the stupendous breakfast served up by Kurland. We decided to have a day exploring the estate as it is such a beautiful place. Gillie and I took some bikes out while the children roared around on the quad bikes. Then we found different fires to sit round and read while Hannah went riding and Ben built a camp. There is a polo pitch here and Hannah got to gallop across it. It looked great fun. I then went for a run around the jogging track while the rest enjoyed the afternoon tea served on the veranda. Another lovely meal rounded off a great day.