ROAD TRIP
prawns so juicy they should have their own fan club. Add a non-alcoholic beverage( I was driving), and I was ready to declare myself a Knysna local. Then came an oyster and champagne cruise with Knysna Charters – indulgent edutainment at its best. Between sipping bubbly, creating content on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and learning fascinating oyster facts, I managed to convince myself that this was“ cultural enrichment,” not just day-drinking.
BACK TO GOUKAMMA – A LODGE WORTH THE DETOUR
Post-cruise, we made our way back to Goukamma, this time to stay at Blackwaters River Lodge. It’ s the kind of place that feels like a secret: tucked into the wild, with warm wooden interiors and staff who greet you like old friends. The owner personally welcomed us( apparently, hospitality here comes with hugs), and before long we were back on the river for another kayaking session. Midway, we stopped on a quiet patch of land for homemade hot chocolate made by one of the instructors, and I melted just there. We paddled all the way past the old and new N2 bridge, then returned to the lodge to find a crackling fire and the aroma of a three-course meal wafting through the air. Dinner came paired with a wine tasting by ESC Wines from Hermanus, proving that the best kind of exercise is lifting a glass. That night I slept like royalty: crisp sheets, soft pillows … and the distant croaks of frogs.
should be illegal, it’ s so good. I followed it up with a blissful foot scrub and massage, because clearly, my feet deserved a reward for all the hiking and kayaking.
Packing to leave was bittersweet. There’ s always that moment when you look around and think, I could stay another day. Or a week. Or forever. But Cape Town( and work) was calling, and the N2 waited. As the kilometers rolled by, I thought about everything I’ d experienced: the laughter, the locals, the food, the nature that somehow manages to outdo itself around every bend. I realised I’ d been a tourist in my own country, and that it’ s the best kind of travel. No passport, no jet lag, just pure South African magic.
The Ford Everest hummed along, the playlist looped back to the start, and I caught myself smiling for no reason. That’ s how you know a trip’ s been good!
BREAKFAST, BLISS, AND THE ROAD HOME
The next morning was the full“ out-of-town breakfast” fantasy: eggs, bacon, fruit, and the kind of coffee that
Ford Everest Specs at a glance:
Engine Power Torque Transmission Drive Fuel Consumption Towing Capacity
2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel 154 kW 500 Nm 10-speed automatic Rear-wheel or optional 4WD ± 7.1L / 100km Up to 3,500 kg
Seating 7
24 | SUMMER 2025 / 26 • rovesa. co. za