The alarm went off at 6.30am and we got up before the sun this morning to make the short drive to Buffelsdrift Game Lodge. It was a quite beautiful setting to watch the sun rise, although a bit chilly. We mounted the large safari truck with blankets in hand and headed out into the bush. Along the way we saw our first Springbok, quickly followed by several more and could also see elephants in the distance but our target was the Meerkats and we soon stopped beside their large burrow system.
After a short wait, they started to emerge into the morning sunlight, one by one, with the scouts coming out first to check it was safe! They really are amazing little creatures and have quite the morning routine. Once the whole ‘Mob’ were out in the open (18 in total in this family group) they all stand alert looking out for danger. Then slowly they relax and settle in to groom each other. This is followed by some play fighting and then some burrow maintenance where they clear the entrance holes of any obstructions. Finally they head off at quite a pace into the bush hunting. They were absolutely not worried about our truck being so close as they have learned that it no threat to them.
They have a clear hierarchy of power with an Alpha female bossing the group who is the only one allowed to have any babies and they also ingeniously have other ‘pit-stop’ burrows every 50m or so that they can use as shelter from predators if they need to. These pit-stops can be spread over up to 5km away from their main burrow so they are never far from safety. They also have front and rear scouts who don’t move at the same time to keep an eye on the rest of the ‘Mob’ and ensure they move safely as a group.
After they disappeared into the bush on their hunt, the safari was over and we headed back to our cottage for breakfast.
After a little rest back in our cottage, we then headed out to Cango Caves, a large and extensive cave network. We had two tour options, the heritage tour and the adventure tour. We had to laugh because the adventure tour was labelled as only suitable for ‘lean people’!! Needless to say we choose the heritage tour. The caves were quite enormous with incredible stalagtites and stalagmites, some as old as 1.5 million years and we spent an enjoyable hour wandering around the 6 main cave chambers.
On our way home we stopped off at the Cango Ostrich Farm for a tour and to meet some ostriches. Our guide explained all about the ostriches and walked us through the incubator room (incredibly they can get up to 120 eggs per female every breeding season which last 9 months!) and then out to meet and feed some of the ostriches. It was great fun to interact with them and a must-do if you come to Oudtshoorn, Ostrich capital of the World!
We had another lovely supper in the hotel restaurant (Issy had Wild Boar!) before returning to our cottage very weary after a brilliant day in Oudshoorn. Tomorrow we start the Garden Route at Mossel Bay and drive to Plettenberg Bay!
The Perry’s Travel Blog 