Exploring Cape Town, birthdays & Mtubatuba family life

Oh gosh it's time to fill you guys in on what we've been up to in the past 6 weeks..!!

I'm currently writing on a warm winters day in Mtubatuba but I want to rewind to the gloomy, misty morning Ben & I awoke in our flashy Airbnb in Camps Bay, Cape Town. We were still staying with our friends from the oasis overland truck and had been planning on hiking Table Mountain as a group, but as we stood on our balcony we could see little but dark grey rolling mist obscuring the whole of the mountain side. 

What the view from our balcony should have been...

What the visibility was when we wanted to hike...

Turning towards the ominous sea we predicted that the bad weather had set in for the day and therefore we abandoned our plans of the hike. Instead Ben & I headed over to Woodstock, the 'hipster' part of Cape Town, to enjoy the incredible tasting menu at the Pot Luck Club with our good friend Michael. Despite the dismal weather the panoramic view from the top of the restaurant, which is placed right at the top of an old biscuit factory, was stunning and the critically acclaimed food wasn't too bad either ;)

The genius chefs at the Pot Luck Club 

The view from the top was incredible, if only I'd remembered to take a photo!

Because there is always space for dessert...

It was a day destined for gluttony as we moved from lunch to coffee to drinks to dinner. Coffee wasn't entirely necessary as we'd only put down our lunch cutlery at 3 but Michael was keen to show us both a cafe he had found the day before. Now when I say cafe, imagine a big open warehouse type space with sofas, chairs, tables, a cake display and coffee machines all tucked in the corner. The rest of the space was allocated to cars, and not just any cars. I'm talking Top Gear wall of fame classics. The boys were almost drooling as we finished our walk around the Porche's, Ferrari's, Harley Davison's and more! Shortly after we walked through central Cape Town to meet Tim and Marie at a secret gin bar. Now I'm sure many of you will think it can't be that secret if tourists know to go there?! But it's the hidden location that gives its element of secrecy. Situated behind a chocolate shop, you can only access the bar if you walk through the shop and head out to what looks like the door to the store cupboard. Instead of cleaning supplies and mops you find a courtyard with garden furniture. Just a little further you discover the bar in a tiny unit that is said to be an old undertakers shop. The adventure may stop there but the excellence doesn't, as we appreciated when we sampled the signature gin based cocktails on offer.

Just some of the Porche's that were on display

How casual do these two chaps look reading the paper with Porche's in the background!?

As soon we could taste only ice in the bottom of our glasses we headed off to dinner at the Chef's Warehouse, this tiny, yet highly recommended, restaurant has a capacity of about 34, which is hardly surprising as it feels as if you are sat within a larder. With shelves of produce along the walls, and seated along mini wooden benches the five of us tucked in to the mouth watering tasting menu. All of the food was exquisite, but we also enjoyed what had to be the best fried egg any of us had ever tasted.

With Tim & Marie enjoying one of the many mouthwatering dishes - thank you Michael for the photo

After a total of 22 courses consumed that afternoon Ben, Michael and I were feeling more than satisfied, and yet the evening didn't end there. As it was to be one of the last nights we had as a large group in Cape Town the rest of the group joined us for cocktails in a nearby roof top bar. As the night progressed, or for some digressed, we partied hard at a rock & roll karaoke bar. I'll leave out the details but it has to be said that Siân & Charlie's rendition of Summer Lovin' was possibly the best received vocal of the night :)

Most of the group clearly enjoying the night :)

Despite being late to bed the next morning we woke early as it was time to leave our luxurious Airbnb in Camps Bay, and for most relocate to Greenpoint. Somehow Ben, Keianna, Michael and I lucked out as I found us a beautiful Airbnb apartment situated in the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel. In theory this is where we would all split up, but as fate would have it the accommodation we all booked independently of each were within shouting distance. Two backpackers and two Airbnb apartments all ended up being on the same block which meant the group activities continued. However, even though our bags were being unpacked, others in our group were packing up and preparing to leave and over the next few days one by one our group got smaller as people headed onward, some home and some on to the next adventure.

It was pretty tough leaving this slice of luxury - if anyone wants to buy me property in Camps Bay...

A highlight of ours in Cape Town was that we were able to reconnect with friends that had previously left the Oasis truck. As some of the few that had travelled all the way from Nairobi to Cape Town over 75 days we often forgot that the group had grown and shrunk as people left and joined along the route. However, for those who were still in South Africa, we were all reunited and acquainted during our 6 days in the city. It was such a delightful experience to see our truck friends, both 'old' and 'new' mix. (A special nod goes to Ben Shannon & Sheila who blessed the 'newbies' with their partying and crazy dancing after weeks of hype - how I'd missed my dance buddies!!)

The final photo with Ben & Sheila before they left us for Europe

This was especially true of our hike up Table Mountain which finally happened 2 days before we left. Ben, Keianna, Michael, Charlie, Siân and I met Danny and Aoife at the foot of the mountain and we climbed together catching up as we went. The shared experience of the Oasis truck led to conversation flowing with ease, however the same can't be said for walk. Having previously climbed Table Mountain in October Ben and I were at least prepared for the grueling steps up through the gorge and to our delight we weren't subject to blistering 30-odd degree heat. Another bonus was that we didn't go the wrong way for an hour before we started hiking upwards (no Ben, you still haven't been forgiven for that detour!!), and as a result we reached the top in a respectable time. I don't think I will ever be able to fully describe how beautiful the view is from the top, and having hiked up, it's even sweeter!

The girls at the top!! This view is the one you don't see as often as it looks across to Cape Point & the Indian Ocean

Looking down the Platteklip Gorge that we have conquered twice now

Due to our hectic schedule we then rushed back down (it would be wrong not to use the revolving cable car for the decent) and made our way across town to Tim and Marie's Airbnb. Here we were welcomed to a delicious spread of pancakes, which was exactly what was needed after the hike, and in preparation for hike number two.

Pancakes and wine, what more could you want?!

Yes, you read correctly, we didn't think climbing Table Mountain was enough for one day, so we also took on the hike up Lion's Head. Having done it on our last visit, Ben and I felt strongly that we should take our friends to see the sun set from arguably the best spot in Cape Town. Indeed after a power stroll up, we made it for sunset and enjoyed watching the skyline come alive with colour with a cold beer in hand. What other way to finish an exhausting day than gorge on Hudson burgers? As you can guess we happily obliged.

Table Mountain at sunset = absolutely stunning

Taking in the view with the lovely Keianna

Our last full day in Cape Town had come around far too quickly and after a visit to the District Six museum in the morning we spent the day together, shopping, eating (again!) and packing. The remaining group goodbyes were said in our Airbnb apartment following a meal down at the waterfront together.

A bench at the District Six museum bringing it all back home - 'slegs blankes / only whites'

The next morning was it, we had stayed up until 2am desperately packing all our possessions in to our backpacks (nothing had actually been packed up properly since our arrival in Kenya 3 months beforehand), and it was time to make our way to the airport. After a teary send off from Keianna and Michael we were on our own. Just the two of us - how strange that was! When Ben and I signed up for the trip we never envisioned making such good friends, and our short, but extremely sweet time in Cape Town really topped our overland experience off. We both knew that the goodbyes were 'until next time', as we are already planning on when we can travel the globe to see our fellow truck-mates again!!

The final final final photo in our Airbnb before the 2am packing started... (Thanks Michael for the photo)

It was definitely surreal to be at Cape Town airport and headed for domestic departures. Following so many goodbyes we both had a sense that it was the end and home time. So to not be looking for flights to London, but instead internal flights to Durban we both readjusted to the reality that we still had about 2 months in this wonderful country. Ironically as we drove back to Mtubatuba and were reunited with Kristy, Dylan and the kids we did get a sense of coming home. Having been here with Ben's cousins for nearly 6 weeks over the Christmas period we said goodbye in January not knowing, but seriously hoping, we would be allowed back in to the country to see them. Being so far from our real homes, and after a serious amount of travelling it was so nice to finally feel like we belonged again.

And we're off! Saying goodbye to Cape Town, hello Durban :)

Arriving back on the 22nd of May it didn't take long for four days of unpacking, reacquainting and playing with the kids to fly by before it was my 23rd birthday. I was utterly spoilt with flowers, breakfast handmade by Ben, a lovely lunch out with the kids and to top it all a peanut butter cheesecake cake made by Kristy's extremely talented hands. 

The next day was also a flurry of excitement and celebration as Jono turned 6. We were delighted to be officially invited to his 'How to Train Your Dragon' birthday party, which saw two dozen children full of sugar and energy bounce around the pirate ship bouncy castle and play with their Viking hats, swords and shields. It was a wonderful afternoon which finished in an evening braii which enabled Ben and I to catch up with local Mtuba friends.

How incredible does that cake look!?!?!?!

On my birthday we also signed up for the Tough Mudder obstacle race in Horesham on September 25th. I'm still not quite sure what we've got ourselves in for, but all I know for now is that training needs to be done for me to successfully complete a half marathon with a load of insane sounding challenges thrown in the mix. As a result Ben and I have been getting ourselves to the local country club gym which, despite being pretty basic, is trying to get us in to some kind of shape after nearly 10 months of inactivity. We have also been enjoying playing tennis, pilates, taking the dogs for a walk and Ben has been trying to improve his golfing abilities (I have also given caddying a shot..!).

Uncle Ben 'teaching' Abigail to drive

It wasn't long before we fell back in to the family routine we had dearly missed

Overall the past 4 weeks spent in Mtubatuba have been fairly 'normal' as we have fitted around school and working life. However, we are in Africa, and we are still based only 5 minutes away from the wonderful reality of living in safari land. It all came flooding back to me a couple of Sunday's ago when we visited the Hluhlue game reserve on our way home from church in the nearby town. Taking a slight detour we drove in to the park and before long were side by side to a very large herd of buffalo. The area had previously enjoyed a couple of days of constant rain, a rarity in the drought stricken land, and as a result the bovine herd were drinking and sloshing around in a mud puddle that had emerged next to the track. As we wound down the window, with kids peering out, we started swatting away flies that had descended on the muddy backs of the nearby grazers. When buffalo look up at you they always seem to give you a look that is half confusion and half death stare, and yet they should be feared as they reach, on average, 750kg and are considered one of the most dangerous animals to be around as they don't give a mock charge. 

Check out how the herd sprawling all the way up the hillside!

Driving on for half an hour we were rewarded with the sighting of a large elephant herd. After watching the mothers with babies cross in front of the car we slowly moved on, much to the amusement of a juvenile male who trumpeted us through. As the sun was setting and an orange hue dusted the park we made for the exit, spotting so many rhinos that we lost count, I pinched myself and remembered this was really on our doorstep.

My iPhone really couldn't do the light justice...

Our stay wouldn't be complete without a number of visits to the stunning beaches that grace the coastline. One afternoon we bundled the kids and dogs in the back of the car and drove 20 minutes down to St Lucia main beach. After a short stroll along the boardwalk and over the hippo tracks we slipped off our flip-flops and felt the cooling sand ooze between our toes. Keeping up with three very excitable dogs we wandered towards the crashing waves. As the sun set I stood back observing Ben and Kristy talking with their feet in the shallows. We have been incredibly blessed to spend so much time in this area, but above all it was a delight to see two cousins who have grown up on separate continents get to make simple memories together in such a beautiful setting.

Ben & Abigail playing with the dogs on the beach

Who wouldn't be happy on St Lucia beach??

On another trip to the seaside, this time to Mission Rocks, a beach peppered with rock pools, creamy coloured sand, game park dunes and, to our delight, a cave full of bats. Walking cautiously over the boulders we soon got to the soft stretch of sand and steadily strolled the 3 km along the beach to the bat cave. As we approached the stench hit us before we could spot their hideaway. Peeking in our eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and before us was hundreds of hanging bats. Watching for a while we saw as they swooped across the cave and elegantly maneuvered obstacles despite their blindness. Setting up camp just far enough away to not have their sour smell fill our noses we enjoyed a picnic and a lounge on the sand. Shortly afterwards the boys decided to give fishing a go, however, it wasn't long before they realised the hook was repeatedly returning fruitless. Despite the failed attempt at fishing we enjoyed some quality time together playing on the beach. Camber Sands at home can be utterly stunning on a good day, however the chances of it being a good day is rare, Ben and I will definitely miss the guarantee of a crystal clear, beautifully warm day at the beach we have taken for granted whilst in South Africa.

Mission Rocks beach

The next few days unfolded in a bit of a blur, Kristy and I headed to Empangeni to attend her dance exam which she brilliantly passed - I was on hand for my hair styling ability and definitely not my ballet skills..!!

On the drive back from the ballet exam Kristy & I were blessed with this sunset

However at some point during the next week all of the house, apart from Kristy and Ben, came down with a heavy, debilitating cold that neither the kids, nor Dylan and I could shake without a heap of sympathy from the healthy members of the household. As the end of the school term drew to a near Ben and I were delighted to attend the kids pre-primary parents day where we joined in the painting room and played on the jungle gym. Both Abigail and Jono did themselves proud in their own performance within the school production.

Making vegetable paintings in the art room

Showing Ben the ropes 

With the end of school also brought about our disappearance for 10 days as Ben and I took a road trip through Swaziland and enjoyed the delights of Kruger National Park - but I'll save that adventure for the next blog!

Thanks for reading. 

Love, Melissa xx

Prayer requests:

• We again thanked God for the friendships we made on the Oasis Overland trip. 
• We were grateful that through his provision we were able to come back to Mtubatuba 
• We pray for the next few weeks that we have in this wonderful country and to be blessed with continued good memories
• We ask for protection as we travel around South Africa and for when we fly home
• We continue to pray for all our friends and family, both at home and in SA, who will be preparing for our return / exit