AustrAliAn triAthlete | 49DESTINATION PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA
of Port Elizabeth, and combines the
winding coastline and rugged mountains
for 300km as you head westwards to
Mossel Bay. There are plenty of small
towns to visit and attractions to entice you
out of the car along the way, offering
everything from beach life to wildlife
viewing and even serious hiking trails if
your legs are feeling recovered enough
from the race. A personal highlight was
Tsitsikamma National Park. With its hiking
and mountain biking trails, treetop canopy
tours and bungee jumping, it caters to
nature lovers and adrenaline lovers alike.
At the end of the route, Mossel Bay is
known for its watersports and safe
swimming beaches, though it seems a bit
of an oxymoron to me as cage diving with
great white sharks is also on offer!
GO FOR THE RACE, AND STAY FOR
THE FOOD AND WINE
Admittedly, the lure of travel for me is as
much about seeing a new country as it is
about sampling the local food and drinks.
After tasting refreshing Gruner Veltliners in
Austria and spicy Shiraz in Australia, I’m
already planning where to go for some
delicious Chenin Blanc post-race in Port
Elizabeth! If you’re a foodie and love wine
then find some time post-race, to visit
South Africa’s Western Cape wine regions
of Stellenbosch and Frankshoek. The
Postcard Café, located just outside the
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve near
Stellenbosch, is the perfect spot for a
picturesque brunch or lunch. Nestled in
the Stark Condé vineyards, there are also
plenty of wine options on offer to
accompany your meal. For a post-race
celebration meal, an evening at the
Delaire-Graff Winery just outside of
Stellenbosch is splurge-worthy. Though
with the South African Rand still relatively
weak relative to most currencies, it may
seem relatively affordable for the food
quality and experience. You can enjoy
exquisitely prepared dishes with local
ingredients while enjoying expansive views
of the Banhoek Valley from the
restaurant’s deck. Naturally, each dish can
be paired with one of Delaire Graff’s
award-winning wines.© Shutterstock.comGREAT DINING: Sampling the local food
and drink is a must do when seeing new
cities and countries.THE BIG FIVE
You can’t read about safari in South Africa
without learning about the Big Five game
animals – lion, leopard, rhinoceros,
elephant and Cape buffalo. The term was
coined back in the day by big-game
hunters and refers to the five animals thatRACE LOCATION: A birdseye view of the beautiful race location in Port Elizabeth.© Craig Muller/IRONMAN via Getty Images© Shutterstock.com© Craig Muller/IRONMAN via Getty Images