The coastline along the Garden Route is dramatic with steep cliffs descending to the restless Indian Ocean. Rivers have cut steep gorges through these cliffs.

We had a hire car so we could made the most of the nice weather for a few days. To the south of Knysna there is a part of the park aptly known as the Wilderness. We hired a canoe and paddled upstream as far as we could .

We then abandoned the canoe and continued on foot up to this scenic waterfall where we bathed in the rather cool mountain stream.

The rivers and lakes are dark brown from the journey through and the run off from the forests. Reservoirs are the same and often the drinking water has a rusty tinge but is said to be safe.

On our way back we took a side turning where we were told we would spot birds and sure enough we met this handsome malachite kingfisher. Like the pied kingfisher we encountered in the iMfolozi Game Reserve we were able to get really close and this fellow was quite unperturbed.

We chose a good day as 2 days later it drizzled all day long. The climate here at this time of year is very varied from cool English to tropically hot within a few hours.

Our next excursion was to a forest park campsite where we hired a cabin for the night. Right outside our front door these bush bucks wandered past …..

.....and not far away these hyrax, or dashees as they are called here, bumbled about in a most Winnie the Pooh sort of a way. These fellows are thought to be the closest living relative of the elephant.

Walking along the coast we found an unhappy and dehydrated penguin. Fortunately for him or her there was a local rescue centre and he was duly carted off for treatment.

Another coastal ramble took us to this impressive suspension bridge over the Storms River.

From the game reserves of Zululand to the Garden Route of the Capes, we are now wondering what Christmas round at the Cape of Good Hope will be like.Another expedition coming up.