Garden Route Road Trip

This weekend, we took a road trip through the Garden Route area to the Eastern Cape. We stayed at an awesome hostel right on the Indian Ocean. That night we had a bonfire(but no s’mores, boo) and a braai (bbq), and we just hung around the fire keeping warm and relaxing. It was such a nice night.

The next day we woke up bright and early, and ate breakfast on the roof overlooking the beach. We headed about an hour from the hostel to our first stop, a safari game drive. We rode around in a BUMPY safari vehicle where we saw some great views and giraffes, lions, antelope, rhonos, hippos, and more! So cool.

 Next, we headed to an elephant sanctuary. If you know me, you know how happy this makes me. Elephants have been my favorite animal since I was little. They have 6 orphaned elephants here. We were able to walk trunk in hand with the elephants, feed the elephants, and ride them.  I have so many new best friends now.  Well, 6. 

Next…scariest part of our weekend. We headed to the Bloukrans Bridge, which is the world’s highest commercial bungee jump. And yes, I did it. I never thought I would, but on our 6 hour drive from Cape Town to our hostel, slowly more and more people were convinced to do it. We went from 3 of 12 people doing it, to 9 out of the 12. For 8 of us, it was the first time bungee jumping so we were extremely freaked out. To get to the bungee jump area, you have to walk across a narrow walkway next to a bridge. The bottom was a metal grate, so you can see straight down. So terrifying. And it was a LONG walk. When we finally made it there,  the guys working up there began to play Nickie Minaj’s Starships and it was just the perfect thing to have a mini dance party and take our minds off how scared we were. Before you jump, they strap your feet together and attach you to the rope. Then they help you bunny hop right to the side and you put your toes over the edge looking down 708 feet.  As your mind goes to another place, they count down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and you are supposed to do a sort of swan dive right off the edge.  The freefall is a pretty awesome feeling.  After you bounce some times, you hang at the bottom for about three minutes until the guy comes down to bring you back up.  One of the coolest experiences of my life.

The next day we went to a place called Cango Wildlife Ranch.  There I got go into the Bengal Tiger cage and pet them. They had three 6 month old Bengal tigers and they were so cute! 

We had a 6 hour drive back to Cape Town later that day. That night we all sat around watching our bungee jumping videos and eating the world’s tiniest pizza. All in all, quite the awesome road trip and weekend.

Missing everyone back home so much. About a week to go here in Cape Town. Love you all!