Meet me in Mossel Bay – For the Adventurer
Mossel Bay was a sleepy little town when I got to know it for the first time. Back then there were a few houses, beach shacks were the norm, and surfing was the adventure you engaged in. But, since then the quiet town has become a “go to” destination for those with a flair for adventure, culture, food and extraordinary discoveries. As an adventurer my journey to Mossel Bay took me to the next level and my curious mind, insatiable appetite for artisan food, and lust for adventure was soon catered for. Its warm people are earthed and ready to share their experiences, knowledge and passions.
Set the adventurer in you free. Pack your gear, I really mean pack your adventure gear, before leaving home. Dust off those boots, rip out the costume, throw in a sun hat and get ready to breathe in the coastal air, feel the salty ocean spray on your skin and enjoy the soft sunlight of a destination that has the most moderate climate on earth. For it is here that if you think it, you can do it.
Let’s start with the ocean and its protected bay. Besides seaside activities the local focus of the town is the harbour area and its right here that the fun begins, with sharks! Yes you heard me, Sharks!!
Shark Cage diving is one of the best ways to get up close and personal with a Shark and here the focus is on Great Whites. My adventure took me to White Shark Africa where the friendly staff introduced me to this exciting activity. The Great White Shark has always fascinated us humans and the mere thought of viewing this huge yet graceful creature that is so perfectly adapted to its environment is a thrill on its own. They have patrolled our oceans for longer than we care to remember with their stealth mode behaviours instilling fear in the hearts of many. It’s the mystery of this powerful hunter that intrigues us and lures us into taking a closer look.
Once in the ocean, the feeling of the cold-water rushes over you as you lower yourself into the mechanical structure, the metal bar in front of you becomes your pivot and as you listen intently for the voice up above, waiting for the “down” word. Down!!
You take a deep breath, lowering into the crisp cool water looking for the dark shape in the distances, in a split-second you see the features of one of the oceans top predators, she glides past, if I could gasp I would, a wow escapes through my lips and she disappears into the blue water that surrounds us. I then remembered I was holding my breath. I pop out and the euphoria takes hold of me. Wow, again and you ready yourself for the next plunge into the blue.
Later one as you head back to shore the images still flicker in your mind and you are stuck with a stupid grin on your face, the sticky salt feeling on my skin still reminds me of what just happened. Really, try this….
Let’s get into the Countryside – its early morning and I take the back roads to Klein-Brak, just outside of Mossel Bay, the gravel roads crisscross the farmlands before approaching the foothills of the Jonkersberg region. Its here you will find Botlierskop. Today I’ll be going exploring this Private Nature reserve on Horseback.
Not long after my arrival I stepped into one of the most beautiful stables I have ever seen, it feels like an exclusive Cowboy Ranch. The rustic elegance appeals my earthy sense and I’m caught up in the moment. I chose a riding hat, discussed my horse option and stepped into the horse paddock.
The freedom of actually experiencing wild animals on the back of a horse takes game viewing to the next level. The animals are relaxed and carry on with their daily habitual routine as we observed them from the raised view point. The hour spent in nature is relaxing and with renewed energy we completed our ride.
The Coastal Cliff of Mossel Bay – its on day 3 that I made my way to Boggoms Bay a small hamlet in the Gouritz region. I spent my first day here hiking a small portion of the picturesque Oystercather Trail. The 9 kms of coast was a guided discovery of inter coastal marine life and fauna & flora of the area. We strolled the beachy stretch between Boggoms bay and Vleesbaai, clamber over the rocky outcrops and navigated the narrow footpaths of the staggered coastline, each corner delivering a more scenically breath-taking moment. What a beautiful place to visit.
Article & Photos: Rose Bilbrough – @gotravelbug
