Day 23: Nothando Backpackers & The Ocean Blue Adventures

September 27th, 2012

Yum! Nothando Backpackers has the largest breakfasts yet!

• A warm muffin
• 2 pieces of toast with butter and jam (their jam in SA is delicious)
• A bowl of muesli cereal with milk
• A banana
• Scrambled eggs
• Orange juice

… And now I can’t breathe 🙂

Nothando Backpackers treats you like a pampered princess here. The beds are amazing (the first time I’ve woken up after the alarm). The best part about it is that I accidentally forgot all our soaps, lotions, shampoo, body mist and hand sanitizers on the bus…. Thank goodness our rooms are fresh and clean because I won’t be showering for the next couple days haha!

I don’t even know where to start to explain to you how much fun we had today…

Ocean Blue Adventures took Alicia and I out for a whale and dolphin watching ride on their boat with 8 others this morning. Though it was a little over cast, we were ear to ear in smiles on this bumpy boat ride! There were MASSIVE waves today in the Indian Ocean and although it was a fun ride we didn’t actually see any dolphins or whales. To us it didn’t matter but I could see it being a little bit of a disappointment to the other guests on the boat. To our surprise (and this would NEVER happen in Canada) Ocean Blue Adventures actually gave the guests a portion of their cost back in a refund!

This company really shows that they care about their customers – free tea and coffee, allowing one of the chicks to pee off the back of the boat (haha) and refunding a portion of the cost since there were no animal sightings today. With that being said, the guides were funny and very educated …. I would not pass up this opportunity for a second if I were back in Plettenburg Bay again! 🙂

Maryna and Charles, the owners of Nothando Backpackers have absolutely spoiled us rotten here! Though I would be 100% content staying in my hostel room all day in the comfy sheets, Maryna had us busy as ever having the time of our lives today (literally, the best day of my life).

After a bit more shopping (whoops), Maryna drove us to Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre where we had some more animal fun with the cats of South Africa! Let’s just say Alicia’s photography profile will be a fat one after today. The cats were so photogenic and absolutely beautiful to see. Up close and personal with the cheetahs, African wild cats and many more gave us ample opportunity for a photo shoot. The cheetahs were so friendly and cuddly, I ended up with cheetah fur lining my pants on the way out!

The best part about Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre is that these animals are in captivity for a good reason and not to punished. This is a rehab centre for injured animals and used to save lives. To our surprise, these human trained animals in captivity actually live longer and happy lives living in the Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre than in the wild. If you’re an animal lover (for all you vegetarians like me) COME VISIT Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre.

Just as you think our day has come to an end… No way, Plettenburg literally has the MOST to offer out of all the locations we have been to so far and the Nothando Backpackers staff really know how to plan a fun filled packed day for their backpackers!

Now time to make my dream come true (since Alicia got time to play with the lions), I have finally had a chance to visit some MONKEY’S! And by some, I mean over 400! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary is like a monkey paradise for me. Literally everywhere you look, leaping from tree to tree there are monkey’s popping around every corner! With 10 different types of monkey’s and over 12 acres of land, it’s not hard to have the time of your life in this place (which definitely happened for me). Baby monkey’s, old monkey’s, fat monkey’s 🙂 … I am officially in love! Though we were not too lucky with the whales today, the guide at Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary was beyond educated and actually found all 10 monkey’s for us to spot today! I don’t have anything else to say but that YOU NEED TO COME HERE (well definitely not if you’re scared of monkey’s)!! Just look at our photos and your heart will melt!

Next up: Birds Of Eden!

Okay, before I get started I just want to say…. I’m honestly not the biggest bird fan, and neither is Alicia. Though the bird show in Drakensberg was a hit for us, it’s really difficult to entertain us with birds or butterflies or any of that kind. Birds Of Eden was a completely different story. No, you’re not allowed to feed the birds or touch the birds but when they fly onto your bag, shoes and shoulder while other birds are pecking at your feet, there’s nothing you can do right?! Haha, this sanctuary is at your own pace, no guide. Though we love the knowledge the staff bring, having free range to goof around with the birds was hilarious and so much fun! Oliver, a volunteer at Nothando Backpackers joined us in some fun and ended up getting nipped in the ear by a huge white parrot. The best of birds are in Plettenburg Bay at Birds Of Eden, hands down!

I know, this blog is running long today but I can’t say enough about Plettenburg Bay! So much to do in SO little time!

At Nothando Backpackers the cook who makes dinner (and the best dinners) is actually working as an entrepreneur and makes her money by cooking atNothando. We found this absolutely amazing as Maryna and Charles are helping train and provide job opportunities to the locals in Plett. A truly remarkable bunch here and we are so thankful to be staying at such a wonderful place!