On our recent trip up to Gauteng we stayed with friends in Johannesburg for a couple of days. The Sunday we was a stunning day and our friends suggested that we go to the Johannesburg Zoo for a picnic. I have had an opportunity to visit Jozi Zoo on a previous visit, but my family has never been there and even though I personally prefer game reserves over zoos, I though the kids would really enjoy it. Plus any trip with…
I have posted about Nelson Mandela Square next to the Sandton City Shopping Centre before (here and here), but on my recent visit to Johannesburg I couldn't help but snap another few pics to post on here. It was also the first time that I was in Jozi with the family and wanted to show them all the sights that I have only told them about.The six meter high statue of Nelson Mandela standing in the square is the main attraction…
The cheetahs is the fastest land mammal in the world and can reach speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Unfortunately for them they can't maintain that speed for very long as they would overheat. For this reason a cheetah needs to creep up as close as possible to their prey before pouncing. I snapped this magnificent animal a little while ago on a game drive at Pumba Game Reserve outside Port Elizabeth.
One of the most popular vendor stalls at the stadium during a rugby game is the biltong vendor. For those non-South Africans amongst you who don't know what biltong is, its dried meat and in the USA they call it jerky. The guy in the picture is my Boet. He knows the owner of the stand who asked him if he would help her out at the game. I stood there chatting to him for a while and was amazed…
This is my last Bloemfontein post from this trip, I promise. I was actually very disappointed that I didn't have time to explore the city some more. I have never been to Bloemfontein before and it has so many places, most of historical value, to see. The one thing I did notice is that there are many statues around Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein used to be the capital of the Boer republic of the Orange Free State and many leaders involved in the…
As I left the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last Saturday night after the EP Kings' game, I decided to drive around the North End Lake and get a couple of pictures of the stadium lit up from the other side. Unfortunately I didn't have my tripod and wanted to use the night setting, so the quality isn't the best, but still its a sight to behold.
During the Apartheid years Bloemfontein was called the judicial capital of South Africa. That was because the Appeals Court of South Africa is situated there. It used to be thew highest court before the establishment of the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. In 1996 it was renamed the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa by the Constitution and it has 22 judges presiding there.The court was formed with the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. The Court initially…
Our provincial rugby team (in the red and black) is known as the Eastern Province Kings. Previously known as the EP Mighty Elephants, the team has fallen on hard times lately and has struggled keeping players. This year, with new administration at the helm, the team has florished. Last Saturday night they played in the Currie Cup 1st Division semi final against the Boland Kaveliers at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, beating them in a tense game. This means that EP is…
Across the road from the Bloemfontein City Hall in Hertzog Square stands a fine monument dedicated to General JBM Hertzog. General Hertzog was a military officer in the Anglo Boer War (1899-1902) and later became Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa.Hertzog Square consists of fountains, a reflection pool and the statue created by sculptor Danie de Jager and unveiled in 1968. There another sculpture on the square of which I haven't been able to find any information. The male figure…