JBay - Step 2.1: Gardenroute fast version, Wild Spirit Lodge and arriving in Jeffreys Bay

After extending my stay in capetown the 3. time (it was the last option to go) as I was starting to volunteer in a hostel in Jeffreys Bay.

We planned to do the garden route to go there but also were short in time and financal resources - so we just had the rental car for 2 days.

My friend was still strained from the night before, when the virus hit her again and we picked up the car at 9 a.m. at the airport in capetown.

So in fact we didn’t really do the garden route but at least we drove it, 4,5hours in the rain until we arrived in the wild spirit lodge in Natures Valley.

During my time in CT, a lot of people recommended this place and I was like sure let’s go. But arriving there, after 10mins we already regretted the fact that we will only stay one night.

The whole place had just a magical vibe. I know I use this description for everything that fascinates me, but in this case you need to trust me. The location is in a foresty-jungley place that is mostly build by wood and partly integrated into the trees.

There are several little hikes that you can start directly from the lodge, such as magic forest, the big tree or a waterfall. It is the home of one horse “Miracle” and (the most important to mention) 5 orange fat cats. (Aslan, Sassy, Jasper, Garfield and Bunsy) Not necessary to say I love them. Aslan always chills in the common area and lays on the table when you have breakfast, dinner or just working on your laptop.

It is like a village in the nature with little houses functioning as dorms, safari tents, open areas, a old bus with a place to watch the stars and a yoga barn where they offer morning yoga and meditation.

From this amazing terrace there is a spectacular view into the pure greens, mountains and just nature. In the dorms or private rooms you wake up to the sunrise, visible from a window from your bed and the sound of birds, frogs and whatever more animals of the forests around.

After one month of city life in Capetown (and 2 years in Barcelona) this was such a grounding and nice experience of coming back to what our soul is meant to be. That is what I meam by “magical vibe” in this case.

My friend and me arrived and felt so enchanted by the surroundings, nature, people, animals and scenery. We desperately looked for opportunities to stay more than one night, but unfortunately we had to bring the rental car back and I really couldn´t push back my start of volunteering in Jbay more.

After a stunning evening around the fireplace, again meeting lovely souls and chilling with Sassy on my lap - we needed to head to our next stop the next day. As my friend caught this virus in CT and was just recovering, it was not to avoid that I started to feel bad this morning as well. Perfect conditions for the 2-hour car ride to Port Elizabeth to first bring back the car, then getting an R600 uber back to Jeffreys Bay, where I was expected as the new volunteer. Finding out that the other three volunteering girls als came from germany.

This day I went to bed early as I needed to recover asap as we planned the Addo Elephant National Park for the next day.