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Horse riding in the Zuurberg mountains

Addo Elephant National Park offers horse riding in two locations within the Greater Addo park.  The first is down by the Main Rest Camp where the ride takes place either within the game viewing area or outside the fence if there are predators close by while the second is up on the Zuurberg Mountains.  The drive up the Zuurberg Pass is an experience on it's own with beautiful views and a visible change in vegetation as you get higher.  Once…

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03/02/2014
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Shark Rock Pier on a blue sky day

Since being constructed in the late 1990's, Shark Rock Pier has become one of Port Elizabeth's best known landmarks.  With Hobie Beach next to it and the Boardwalk complex across the road, most visitors to Port Elizabeth inevitably end up going for a walk on the pier enjoying the views of Algoa Bay and the surrounding beachfront.

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02/02/2014
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Maitland Beach

Maitland Beach to the west of Port Elizabeth.  Miles and miles of sandy beach, giant dunes and beautiful sunsets.  What more do you want?

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01/02/2014
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Mohair yarn strands

The Hinterveld Mohair Mill Tour in Uitenhage is not your normal run of the mill (excuse the pun) tour, but visitors go there expecting one thing and leaving with a whole different impression.  The factory is also heaven for photographers with so many interesting objects and angles like this one of all the colourful mohair yarn strands going into the weaving machine, turning it into exquisite blankets.

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31/01/2014
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Harbour Board Building entrance

The historic Harbour Board Building (often referred to as the 'White Building') on the corner of Flemming Street and Strand Street was built in 1904 and used for 70 years for harbor administration by the South African Railways and Harbours.  Most people pass it while on the Settlers Freeway and only get to see it's top, but the exterior of the building has massive and impressive stonework.  The inside is even more spectacular with richly ornamented woodwork and stained glass windows.  The…

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31/01/2014
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New Cash Store ribs

The Old Cash Store on Sardinia Bay Road has been a popular spot over the years but since October last year something has changed.  Well, for a start the name did.  It's now called The New Cash Store.  But a name change did just fall from the sky.  It came with new owners Doug and Clair who have blown new life into an old favorite.  Steak and burger night, pasta night, seafood night, pizza night, live music, an organic market once…

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30/01/2014
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No 7 Castle Hill historical museum

Sailing into Algoa Bay as one of the 1820 British Settlers, Reverend Francis McCleland would have been standing on deck looking out over the bay towards the beach, little knowing what awaited him in the Cape Colony and how he would influence what would become Port Elizabeth.  Rev McCleland became the colonial chaplain in Port Elizabeth and oversaw the building of St Mary’s Anglican Church (later declared a cathedral) which was completed in 1834. Only a couple of years before,…

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29/01/2014
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Then and Now – Van Stadens Pass drift

Approaching Port Elizabeth from the west you have to drive over the Van Stadens River Bridge about 40 kilometres outside of town.  Looking down into the gorge you can just imagine what an effort it must have been getting through that back in the earlier days.  The river was named after one of the area's pioneer farmers - Marthinus van Staden, who was the first person to plot a basic route through the gorge in the 1850's.  In 1867 Thomas Bain rebuild the…

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29/01/2014
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Jurassic Park at Bayworld

Did I stumble on a long lost valley filled with dinosaurs?  Did somebody finally invent a time machine that allows one to go back to the time of the dinosaurs?  Did I get invited to the set of Jurassic Park 4? No, no and... no.  I visited Bayworld in Port Elizabeth.  Bayworld has an very interesting section by the Snake Park that has life size moving dinosaurs.  Every kid's dream.

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27/01/2014