Let the cycling begin

November 4, 2025

Our day started with an amazing visit to the Addo Elephant Reserve. Over 2 hours we saw elephants, wort hogs, zebras, secretary birds (which are rare to see), meerkats and yellow mongoose. Most of the elephants in Addo do not have tusks. It is an adaptation from inbreeding to prevent poachers from killing the for their tusks. The ones with tusks have been introduced from Kruger NP to expand the gene pool. When the park started they had only 30 elephants now there are over 700. After the visit we had a 2 hour drive that was no fun but then we finally got on our bikes for an easy shakeout ride on tarmac and gravel. Tonight we are in the Tsitikama national park.

A secretary bird, they love to eat all sorts of snakes.

A very pregnant female, she carries the baby to 22 months.

After spraying mud with her tusk all over herself.

J&R arriving at the bottom of the long downhill.

Stefa at the end of the 7km downhill on the closed road.

There was a stream crossing but there was also a way around it if you preferred which I did.

Tonight’s wine with my kudu steak dinner, both were delicious

Bad internet more to follow.

Today's ride: 38 km (24 miles)
Total: 761 km (473 miles)

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