This was a no-camping long weekend, built around a comfortable base in Witsand and a welcome break from the usual pace. The forecast had promised rain, and it delivered for most of the weekend, but that only made the fires, warm restaurants, and muddy roads feel more earned.
Getting the Convoy Moving
The trip started in the least glamorous way possible: peak-hour traffic. Alex needed to be collected from school, and the ZX-14 was the only way to get through the traffic without turning the start of the weekend into an even longer delay.
Shawn had arrived in Cape Town from the Northern Cape in the early hours of the morning. He would be heading north to Johannesburg after the weekend, so it was a proper detour for him. With Sarabi, the Prado, and the Range Rover packed with clothes and food to offload at the accommodation, we set out to meet the rest of the convoy near Swellendam.
A Late Arrival in Witsand
Everyone reached Witsand and settled in for the night, apart from Vernon. For once, I was not the last person to arrive. Work had delayed him, and at about 20:15 he sent a message saying he might be a little lost.
Sarabi and OuBlank went out to find him. We eventually located him and drove back together to the accommodation, with the convoy finally complete.
The house became a warm base between wet outings. There was still work to do for Shawn and me, but the connectivity held up well enough for us to get through it before returning to the long-weekend routine of food, fires, and catching up.
Witsand and the Back Roads
The weather did not leave much room for pretending it was summer, but Witsand was still worth exploring. We spent time on the beach and out on the jetty, then drove the Infanta 4x4 track while the rain kept working the roads into mud.
An ostrich-farm visit brought a different kind of roadside stop. The birds were close enough for photographs across the fence and had the full attention of the group.
The Malgas Ferry
The Malgas pont was one of the highlights of the route. We waited on the bank for our turn, then crossed the river two vehicles at a time. The ferry was free, which surprised us, but it runs to operating times, so it is not a crossing to arrive at casually if it is part of the day’s route.
Sunday at De Hoop
Sunday took us to De Hoop Nature Reserve for coastal views, a walk around the reserve, and a late lunch. CapeNature describes De Hoop as one of its largest natural areas, with fynbos, coastal scenery, and activities that include hiking, cycling, birding, wildlife watching, and seasonal whale watching. For us, it was a chance to slow down, take in the coastline, and get warm again.
The parking area made a fair record of the weekend: the vehicles were properly muddy after the rain and the tracks, and there was no point pretending otherwise.
As we left De Hoop after lunch, a rainbow appeared over the reserve: a fitting final reward after a weekend of working with the rain rather than against it.
The drive home followed Franschhoek Pass for most of the group. Shawn split from the convoy on the way to begin his longer run north toward Johannesburg.
It was cold and mostly wet, but it was a genuinely good winter break.
Destination details
For current visitor information, activities, directions, and bookings, visit CapeNature’s De Hoop Nature Reserve page.