Walking with elephants

Most people the world over may never get the opportunity to see an elephant in the wild and a much smaller number will have the chance to walk and interact with these giant creatures in their natural habitat.  Team Mini had the amazing opportunity to do just that at Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve outside East London on the recent Mini vs Maxi adventure.

I can go into lenghts about what it is like to walk step (on their part) by a couple of steps (on our part) with them, being able to put your hand on his body and feeling him draw a breath, standing face to face with them sensing their amazing intelligence or suddenly having one of them steal the cap off your head and putting it on their own.  But if I do this may just become a very long post.  

The Mini vs Maxi trip was literally made up of highlights with this experience being one of my favorites

Sunset at the Kranse

When you visit somewhere new its always good to do your homework before hand about what there is to see and I rarely go anywhere without doing so.  But knowing that East London based tour operator Neil Lyon was on the Mini team for the Mini vs Maxi challenge I didn't really bother too much and trusted that he would show us some of the hidden gems on our route.  And he didn't disappoint.

After our canoe trip on the tidal lagoon Neil suggested that we grab a couple of drinks and head up the Kranse just to the west of Morgan Bay.  The sponsored VW Polo easily made it up the last bit of two wheel track that took us to the top of the Kranse.  The Wild Coast is known for its dramatic coastline, most of which consist of rolling green hills that end in cliffs down to the Indian Ocean.  This was no different and I kept on thanking Neil for bringing the team up to this spectacular spot.

The perfect way with the perfect backdrop to end a perfect first day of the Mini vs Maxi challenge.

Late afternoon on Morgan Bay lagoon

Canoeing at Morgan Bay

The Mini vs Maxi Challenge gave me the opportunity to experience a number of new activities and the very first activity we did at Morgan Bay on the Wild Coast was no different.  I have, for some unknown reason, never canoed in my life.  After checking in at the hotel we mozied down to Morgan Bay's lagoon and got a couple of canoes at the caravan park.  Neil, having done it before, hopped in a one man canoe while Sisa and I, the two canoe virgins, took a two man canoe. 

It actually didn't take us long to figure out the proper paddling style and shortly after the talk started about taking on the Fish River and Duzi Canoe Marathons.  Big talk from a couple of okes who slightly struggled to make way against the wind when we turned the corner. LOL!

The big surprise was that we could actually glide slowly and quietly very close to birds along the shore to take some photos.  The bonus, spotting a Fish Eagle flying overhead. 

Morgan Bay sunrise

Sunrise from my balcony at the Morgan Bay Hotel on the southern Wild Coast taken during the Mini vs Maxi challenge.

By the way, today is my birthday.  Just thought I'll mention it.  Perhaps because I'm feeling slightly sorry for myself.  I'm exhibiting at the Getaway Show in Johannesburg which means that I'm not home to have my family with me to celebrate it.

Morgan Bay Hotel 6 course meal

Spending the night at the Morgan Bay Hotel on the Wild Coast during the Mini vs Maxi challenge, we also had dinner in the restaurant at the hotel.  The printed menu presented to us a 6 course set menu along with personal notes welcoming each guest that was booked for dinner on their name as well as other news from the hotel.

The starter was Caprese Puffs with Basil Pesto Drizzle.  My comment to my team mates after this course was that they could just throw a couple of these on a plate for me to be my whole dinner.  I'm not a big fan of cooked tomato but this was heavenly.

It was a good thing that I didn't request more of the starter, cause what came next was, in my opinion, even better.  Sweet butternut soup is my ultimate favorite soup, but the Morgan Bay Hotel introduced me to Roasted Red Pepper and Butternut Soup which was served with Bruchetta.  So what does that mean?  Well, its the taste of traditional butternut soup, but with the flavour of red peppers coming through with each spoon full.

The third course was called "From the Ocean" and consisted of pan fried Bream Meuniere.  By now I was starting to worry if I will actually have any space for the main meal, but one wants to taste everything and the fish did not disappoint at all.

The main meal was Red Thai Pork Curry on Pearl Rice and served with Roast Potatoes, Pumpkin with garlic chives and Broccoli au Gratin.  I'm not much of a chili or curry guy, so I was a bit unsure about this course.  It was perhaps just a tad too much for my tender taste buds, but my two companions absolutely loved it.

Dessert was a choice between Malva Pudding with Amarula Creme or Strawberry Jelly Jewels with homemade custard and all three of us went for the traditional malva pudding. 

Dessert was followed by cheese, biscuits and coffee and then, as we say in Afrikaans, "Magies vol, ogies toe", which translates to when the tummies are full the eyes want to close.

Lilies to celebrate Spring Day

Today is Spring Day.  The winter is over.  On the calender at least.  From here on the days will be getting longer and warmer as summer approach.  I took the picture of the lilies at the Morgan Bay Hotel on the Wild Coast and while editing my pictures I was playing around with some of the settings I never use.  The effect is called Cartoon and I thought it worked quite well for the picture.