4 weeks into our trip, 3 weeks left in Cape Town. And I bet you all thought we'd disappeared off the face of the earth? Well you know we've been extremely busy tanning, eating, drinking, seeing people. It's been difficult to drag ourselves away and get into an internet cafe. But here we are, safe and sound, so you can all stop worrying :-)

Our friend Lauren came out to stay for 10 days and she has just got back to the UK. While Lauren was here we watched her do some crazy things, like Paragliding, the worlds highest bungee jump and getting food poisoning! Poor Lauren! But we had fun watching (well, not the food poisoning bit). And we had a lovely trip up the Garden Route and on to Addo National Elephant Park.

Along the route (aside from stopping quite a few times for Lauren), we stayed over one night in Mossel Bay (the start of the Garden Route), one day/night in rainy (yes rainy!) Plettenberg Bay (and we stayed in a backpackers place!) before heading inland to Addo.

Addo was a great experience and I had an amazing time. It's so peaceful driving around looking out for the animals, and then such a treat when you come upon a watering hole with a herd of elephants and baby elephants! We also saw zebra, buffalo, hyena, lots of Kudu, a few lions and some hares! All very exciting stuff. And when we can manage to upload some photos (which we are still struggling with at the moment), you will soon get bored of all the photos - but it was amazing!

We are back in Cape Town now, and starting to think ahead to Thailand as we are over half way through our time in SA. Off to buy our backpacks, and spend the next 3 weeks working out which pair of shorts to take and coming to terms with leaving everything else behind!

I'll pass you over to Linds now, and will be in touch again soon.... beaches permitting!

Lots of love

Tracey xxxxx

Hey Everyone

Yes we are finally back online, hoorah! It's amazing how busy one can get doing nothing!!! Still lots of peops to see in Cape Town and lots to do in the next 3 weeks before we head off to Thailand.

Lauren's visit was great - except for the food poisoning episode of course. Can't believe she did the bungy - I nearly fainted just walking over, well actually under, the bridge to get to the bungy spot. She is a very brave girl. The garden route was lovely as always and we did manage to get in a sunny lazy lunch at Lookout in Plett in, on the way back to Cape Town. We did a manic drive back from Addo to Cape Town in one day but we managed and got there safe and sound in the end.

It looks like autumn has hit Cape Town so nearly time to move on to sunnier shores.

Chat again soon.

lots of luv

linds

xx