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Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour

Probably the most popular adventure activity in the Tsitsikamma is Storms River Adventures' Canopy Tour.  Imagine gliding along through the treetops in the indigenous Tsitsikamma forest.  Its more than just a dream.  Its a reality.  The 2 1/2 hour adventure starts with a safety briefing and getting kitted out before heading for the trees.  Ten slides between the forest giants taking you as high as 30 meters up and over 90 meters on the longest slide.  Something not to be…

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13/08/2014
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Cattle on the Wild Coast beaches

The Wild Coast was one of my last two unexplored Eastern Cape frontiers (the other one is the North Eastern Cape around Rhodes) and I got to do a trip through and explored for two days (more is needed as there is so much I need to go back to see) recently.  One of the things I hoped most to see were cows on the beach.  Yes, you heard me right.  Cows enjoying the sunshine and sand of the Wild Coast beaches. …

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13/08/2014
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Woodcutters Journey down the Storms River Pass

Continuing with this week's series on activities in the Tsitsikamma.  The old Storms River Pass built by Tomas Bain in the 1880's following the elephant trails through the gorge is only accessible on foot or by bicycle.  The only other way to explore it is along with Storms River Adventures on their guided Woodcutters' Journey. The tour follow the old pass down to the picnic spot next to the low water bridge over the river.  Along the way you pass tree ferns, stinkwoods, yellow…

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12/08/2014
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Oudebosch Farmstall

After visiting the Tsitsikamma twice over the last two weeks I decided to do a short series on things to do and attractions in the area.  Obviously those mentioned will be those I got to go to and unfortunately the Tsitsikamma National Park wasn't amongst them.  Doesn't matter though as there are load of other things to do and see in the area. Travelling along the N2 to and from Port Elizabeth most people tend to stop at the Storms River Bridge Petroport. …

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11/08/2014
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Van Stadens Narrow Gauge Railway Bridge

 Geocaching is about so much more than using multi billion dollar spy satellite technology to find hidden Tupperware.  Its also about exploration, going to and discovering places you may not otherwise have gone to.  One of these is the highest narrow gauge railway bridge in the world spanning the Van Stadens Gorge outside Port Elizabeth.  Years ago when the Apple Express was still running it used to stop before the bridge and passengers could walk across and get a photograph of the train crossing with…

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11/08/2014
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Lady Slipper protea

Lady Slipper is covered in fynbos and its always great to see flowering proteas in the wild, so I couldn't help but to take a picture of one with the Telkom tower on top of the mountain in the background. 

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10/08/2014
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Farmland island

I spotted this scene from the Sir Percy Fitzpatrick Lookout near Sunland between Addo and Kirkwood.  While taking in the magnificent view I spotted a green patch in the middle of a couple of ploughed fields.  On closer inspection I noticed that there was a farm worker's house and a couple of trees on it.  Very peculiar to find a green island like this in the middle of a ploughed field.

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09/08/2014
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Addo Elephant National Park promotional video

What is there I haven't said about the Addo Elephant National Park before.  Probably very little.  Addo truly is a gem of the Eastern Cape and so much more than just elephants.  Yes, its THE place to go if you want good (close-up) sightings of wild African elephants and you could easily end up at a waterhole in summer with a couple of hundred elephants all around you.  Yes, all around you.  Addo's main game viewing area is also home to…

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08/08/2014
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Kloof Nek cannons

Over the years the Cape has been occupied by different countries and there was always a threat of an invasion because of the Cape's strategic location.  Because of this a big number of defensive positions have been set up all around the Cape Peninsula from the time that the first European's colonised the area.  One of these can be seen at the top of Kloof Nek.  Two 12 Pounder Guns were placed on Kloof Nek in 1782 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC)…

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08/08/2014
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Food and wine paring presented by Shefetswe

So they say that wine is the "Nectar of the Gods".  Personally I prefer fruit juice or a Crème Soda, but I'm not totally anti wine.  I just never learned to drink it and even though I won't touch a red I wouldn't say no to a nice sweet Rose or late harvest.  Even in saying all that I really enjoy wine tastings - see, trying to teach myself to appreciate wine as one probably should.  A week or two ago…

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07/08/2014