This is another locations with a lot of rentals for the holidays particularly during December and January. Our accommodation was on part of the lagoon around which this town is built. It was low tide when we arrived and had receded so much that the water birds walked rather than swam in their environment. We chose our bedrooms, prepared lunch from the braai leftovers and drove to the Heads of Knysna. This is the spot where the Indian Ocean meets the lagoon. High tide was coming in and from a high vantage point, we watched the water levels in the lagoon slowly rise with every surge of tides. The lagoon is mostly fresh water, but the closer the ocean it is, ther greater the salt content is. 
From the high vantage point, we winded our way down the sloped residential area to the beach. The parking was on a flat lot, but to get to the beach, there were a series of boardwalks and stairs leading down to the rocky shoreline. It was mesmerizing seeing and hearing the waves crash against the rocks and watching the fine spray of water rise into the air with each surge of water. The water was very cold and since it was a rock not pebble beach, we contented ourselves with photography instead of swimming.It was still fairly early and we headed back to our unit to continue to unwind and rest until dinner. Shelley and Gila both napped while I snuggled into the sofa reading. Within several minutes I was asleep as well. It seems we get almost as tired doing nothing as while rushing through exhibits and attractions. When we all roused ourselves we got ready for dinner in a lovely seafood restaurant. What do you eat when you are staying on the ocean? Seafood. The portions were large and delicious and we so full that there was no room for dessert.
By now Shelley who had been coughing and sneezing for several days decided that she would see a doctor in the morning. Our plans would depend on when Shelley could get an appointment. None of us had breakfast. Shelley left for her appointment. Gila had a long conversation with Jeff while I sat under the umbrella sipping amarula coffee and reading and finally making substantial progress in my book. By the time Shelley got back we were all ready for a big breakfast at Wimpy's before setting out for the Plett area. the ride continued through an incredibly lush forest called the Tsitsikamma.
Our plans were to visit Monkeyland, a sanctuary for eleven different breeds of monkeys. From there we were hoping to walk with elephants before heading out to Nature Valley, another area where the ocean waves surge through the bay and substantially raise the water level during high tide.
Monkeyland was fantastic. With the exception of monkeys that were being acclimatized, the monkeys were free to wander anywhere including outside of the sanctuary as well. The monkeys are left with as little contact with humans as possible in order preserve the monkey lifestyles. There were eleven different types of monkeys there and we were able to spot ten of them and learn about their habits. Monkeys clambered up and down trees, fed one another, wrestled together on the ground. The highlight was a walk through the canopying a 128 meter long suspension bridge. Shelley had little wooden baubles at the end of the drawstring of her pants. The monkeys tried to steal them as she snapped incredible photos of the monkeys trying to steal those baubles. There were also leopard shell tortoises. Their population had not changed because the monkeys continually found and ate the eggs laid. The staff allowed this to happen because they were trying to copy the environment that both types of animals were used to.
A walk with the elephants at 500 rands each seemed a stiff price for the privilege of strolling with the animals. While debating whether or not to pay such a high price, some visitors from Ireland told us it was not worth the cost. In return we suggested that they visit the Cango Caves and the cheetah encounters.
Our last destination today was Nature Valley, another area where the ocean fed a lagoon. This time, it occurred at a beach. Gila was the first to strip down to her bathing suit to swim in the lagoon. Shelley then took of her shoes and socks to wade through the water. When we reached the ocean part of the beach, Shelley could not resist the call of the surf and stripped down to her underpants to stand in the waves. I was the last to loosen up. I began walking along the shore wearing my shoes, but once they got soaked by the lapping of the water, I too took off my shoes. Much like Shelley I could not resist the ocean waves and I took off my pants to go greet the waves in my underpants. The surge of the water was so strong that it almost knocked me over, but I managed to stagger back to the beach dry except for my underpants. As we were already wet, we made our ways back to the car in the water. not by way of the beac. Being the klutz that I am, I tried to keep to the shallower edge but managed to scape the skin off one of my toes.Gila was the only one prepared with dry clothing. Shelley and I sat on our sweatshirts to keep from soaking the seats of the car. We had thought about staying in Plettsberg for dinner, but in our disheveled state, we decided to head back to Knysna to get cleaned up for dinner. After all the seafood we have eaten, I was in the mood for Thai food. Not far from where we were staying, there was a place called Thai Home Cooked Food. What a great little place. No credit cards were accepted, btu the food was prepared just for us and we dug into spring rolls with carrots and feta cheese, pad thai, cashew nut chicken and chicken and ginger. The food was hot, subtly flavored, plentiful and inexpensive. We were all happy campers when we got home.
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