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WW2 observation post

Port Elizabeth has arguably the most complete collection of surviving coast artillery buildings and equipment dating from the Second World War (1939-45) of any port in South Africa.  Before the Second World War the Port Elizabeth Harbour actually had no defence in place except for Fort Frederick which was built in 1799 to guard the original landing place in the early days long before a harbour was even built.  In 1942 it was decided to put harbour defences in place at all South Africa's…

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11/11/2012
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Dias Park

I wonder how many Port Elizabethans know that the grass area next to the Green Mosque in South End is called Bartholomeo Dias Park.  Perhaps you didn't know it but have seen the stone with the granite plaque?  The plaque contains the information of Dias' voyage. 

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09/11/2012
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Stormsriviermond hangbrûe

Die Tsitsikamma Nasionalepark op die Tuinroete is een van die mooiste plekke in Suid-Afrika met sy inheemse woude, loodregte kranse en pragtige kuslyn.  Die 1 km lange mondwandelpad van die ruskamp tot by Stormsriviermond is die gewildste staproete in die park en die hoogtepunt is die drie hangbrûe by die riviermond self.  Die oudste een van die drie steek die rivier oor terwyl die twee mees onlangse toevoegings oorgesteek word soos mens die rivier met die paadjie langs nader.  Die enigste waarskuwing wat ek het…

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09/11/2012
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Back to the beach

After a couple of wet months (as I've said before, 2012 has been the wettest non flood year on record) it finally seems that summer is starting to slowly muscle its way into our lives.  Although its not totally in the door yet, the days are starting to warm up very nicely and people are heading back to the beach front more and more.  Even I went for a run on the beachfront walkway the other afternoon.  The less said…

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08/11/2012
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White Lions at Pumba

There are about 500 white lions left in the world, most of them in captivity.  Pumba Game Reserve is one of only a few game reserves in South Africa that has free range white lions on its property.  Pumba's white lions is right at the top of what visitors to the reserve wants to see and it was no different when I got to visit for a night.  On the evening game drive we spotted a female with two cubs in the…

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08/11/2012
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Damage on the Dip

During the recent flooding Port Elizabeth endured the road at the 3rd Avenue Dip was damaged which led to its closure.  This in turn led to major traffic disruptions on the William Moffet Expressway, specially during morning traffic.  The  Damselfly uses the Dip to get to both her work and the Kidz's school and her regular 20 minute drive took her over an hour with the road closure.  On Sunday I took a walk down to the low water bridge to have a look at the damage.  From…

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07/11/2012
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Vintage cars

A little while ago the team from SABC 2 show Pasella was in Port Elizabeth to shoot a couple of stories, one involving vintage cars.  Here the cars used for the insert are lined up at one of the lookout spots along Marine Drive.  This specific insert will be aired on 21 November on SABC 2 between 19:30 and 20:30 some time. Watch the insert on YouTube 

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06/11/2012
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Sondagsrivier Veerboot

Colchester net buite Port Elizabeth is a rustige plekkie en is baie gewild met vakansiegangers en stadsjapies wat oor die naweek bietjie wil wegkom en die Sondagsrivier geniet.  Behalwe die rivier is die twee ander groot aantreklikhede die Addo Nasionale Olifantpark wat se suidelike hek in Colchester uitkom en die reuse sandduine aan die ander kant van die rivier.  Die Sondagsrivier Veerboot doen daaglikse ritte in die oggend and laat middag met die rivier af waarna mens teen die duine kan opklim om…

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06/11/2012
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Marilyn’s Diner in Storms River

When one visits a small village or town you often expect some kind of quaint little restaurant or coffee shop and not necessarily a place filled with Cadillacs, 50's & 60's memorabilia, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and painted pink for added impact.  This is exactly what we encountered next to the Tsitsikamma Village Inn on our visit to Storms River Village.  Walking into Marilyn's Diner is like being whizzed back in time to a period of rock and roll, bold colours, chrome, neon…

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06/11/2012
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Rhino in danger

After a spate of poaching incidents the total number of rhino's killed in 2012 for their horns have now topped 500. A very sad state situation and if this doesn't stop quickly then my (future - cause I'm not that old) grandchildren would never one day get the opportunity to see rhino in the wild... or even at all.

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05/11/2012