Due to the weather being so beautiful lately, oh... and a break in Pete's weekend sporting schedule, we packed the car and took Harrison on his first camping trip at Nature's Valley, Tsitsikamma National Park.
Nature's Valley is a small village located at the mouth of the Groot River at the bottom of the Groot River Pass and alongside the beautiful Groot River Estuary. The village is surrounded by an escarpment on one side, Indian Ocean on the other and three mountain ranges behind. The local community is very eco-friendly so are striving to minimise any inappropriate or ostentatious developments in town, resulting is a very laid-back and low-key village. Harrison was beside himself with excitement on the first night- he couldn't understand why he was still outside for dinner and his last feed! He was craning his neck to take in all the new surroundings, including the Southern Cape Bushbuck and Vervet Monkey's which came close to invading our campsite.
We strolled along the estuary, along the beach and around the village on Saturday morning soaking up the warm morning sun. Plettenberg Bay is only 29km further along the Garden Route so we decided to visit and ate fish & chips overlooking the ocean for lunch. After returning to our campsite in the afternoon we went for a run around the village before swimming in the surprisingly warm river bordering on the camping ground. There was a small jetty with a tarzan rope so we easily entertained ourselves for a while! Dinner of thick aged sirloin steak and salad, accompanied with a bottle of red finished a perfect day.
Harrison wasn't such a happy camper (too good a chance to not use the pun!) on Saturday night, however settled himself to sleep after grumbling for 20min. Thankfully the camping ground was near empty so no one else had to hear! We packed up site and left in good time on Sunday morning to enjoy the meander back to PE via a yummy local farm stall on the N2.
So good to camp again and wouldn't hesitate taking Harrison again soon!
Harrison not too impressed about being well behaved for 2 hrs in the car, and then being placed in his bumbo upon arrival at camp site until we devised a play area. Within seconds he had dirt all over him & was loving it!
Watching Mum & Dad erect the tent
Our forest campsite within the Tsitsikamma National Park
Boy time at the fire
Harrison can entertain himself for hours with the right toys nearby!
A pretty camouflaged bird in a tree at our campsite
The Groot River estuary
Enjoying a morning stroll around Nature's Valley
The long and empty beach at Nature's Valley
The Groot River meandering to the Camping Ground
Southern Bushbuck grazing at our campsite
Top two teeth are clearly visible now!
Nature's Valley is a small village located at the mouth of the Groot River at the bottom of the Groot River Pass and alongside the beautiful Groot River Estuary. The village is surrounded by an escarpment on one side, Indian Ocean on the other and three mountain ranges behind. The local community is very eco-friendly so are striving to minimise any inappropriate or ostentatious developments in town, resulting is a very laid-back and low-key village. Harrison was beside himself with excitement on the first night- he couldn't understand why he was still outside for dinner and his last feed! He was craning his neck to take in all the new surroundings, including the Southern Cape Bushbuck and Vervet Monkey's which came close to invading our campsite.
We strolled along the estuary, along the beach and around the village on Saturday morning soaking up the warm morning sun. Plettenberg Bay is only 29km further along the Garden Route so we decided to visit and ate fish & chips overlooking the ocean for lunch. After returning to our campsite in the afternoon we went for a run around the village before swimming in the surprisingly warm river bordering on the camping ground. There was a small jetty with a tarzan rope so we easily entertained ourselves for a while! Dinner of thick aged sirloin steak and salad, accompanied with a bottle of red finished a perfect day.
Harrison wasn't such a happy camper (too good a chance to not use the pun!) on Saturday night, however settled himself to sleep after grumbling for 20min. Thankfully the camping ground was near empty so no one else had to hear! We packed up site and left in good time on Sunday morning to enjoy the meander back to PE via a yummy local farm stall on the N2.
So good to camp again and wouldn't hesitate taking Harrison again soon!
Harrison not too impressed about being well behaved for 2 hrs in the car, and then being placed in his bumbo upon arrival at camp site until we devised a play area. Within seconds he had dirt all over him & was loving it!
Watching Mum & Dad erect the tent
Our forest campsite within the Tsitsikamma National Park
Boy time at the fire
Harrison can entertain himself for hours with the right toys nearby!
A pretty camouflaged bird in a tree at our campsite
The Groot River estuary
Enjoying a morning stroll around Nature's Valley
The long and empty beach at Nature's Valley
The Groot River meandering to the Camping Ground
Southern Bushbuck grazing at our campsite
Top two teeth are clearly visible now! Pete on the tarzan rope unintentionally adopting his 'ninja' pose- looked hilarious!
Pete tending to our steak for dinner- they were incredibly tender & delicious
... accompanied with vino after Harrison down for the night
A bright eyed Harrison in the morning with a not so bright eyed Jen!
Peeping through the tent door and wanting to explore wherever he isn't!
The abundant wildflowers that line the N2 highway on the way home
Pete tending to our steak for dinner- they were incredibly tender & delicious
... accompanied with vino after Harrison down for the night
A bright eyed Harrison in the morning with a not so bright eyed Jen!
Peeping through the tent door and wanting to explore wherever he isn't!
The abundant wildflowers that line the N2 highway on the way home
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