One of the first projects done by the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) was the upgrade of Govan Mbeki Road (Main Street) and surrounds between Russel Road and the City Hall. Down one of the side roads you will this little enclosed structure (one of about two or three in the area) with a sticker of a man having a relieving himself. Yes, it is, as they referred to it, a pissoir. The reason for these toilets to be put up were…
Going on a game drive at Lalibela Game Reserve outside Port Elizabeth recently we were lucky to have quite a few very good sightings of rhino, giraffe and lion on the afternoon game drive. Unfortunately even though the ranger knew where the elephants were we just couldn't catch sight of them. As the sun disappeared in the west followed by the full moon rising in the east the elephants suddenly appeared out of the thick valley they were feeding. The light was just…
I took a couple of my colleagues on a walk around the South End Museum Heritage Trail with stops at some of the main heritage sites along the trail. After looking around the St Peter's Church ruins this was the view as we were heading down the street towards Walmer Boulevard. I kinda wish I lived this close to the beachfront.
Almal wat al langs 'n Suid-Afrikaanse strand gestap het moes die een of ander tyd êrens 'n seepampoentjie opgetel het. Ek weet 'n seepampoentjie is 'n "sea urchin" in Engels, maar het nog altyd gewonder of dit dalk 'n ander naam in Afrikaans het wanneer dit nog leef. Die eerste een wat ek besluit om te vra was my goeie vriend Google. Hy laat my selde in die steek en hierdie geleendheid was nie anders nie. Penny Nyren se boek Ontdek Stande was bo-aan die…
One of the most prominent mountains you will find fairly close to Port Elizabeth is the Cockscomb Mountain found in the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area about a hundred kilometers or so to the west of the city. The Cockscomb is the highest peak (1768m above sea level) in the Groot Winterhoek mountain range and got its name from all its little peaks that look like a rooster's comb. The original KhoiSan people of the area called the mountain Naniqua, meaning “mountain in…
Even though its been a wet winter so far we've also had some beautifully warm and sunny winters days in between. Ideal to take the kids to play in St Georges Park.
Wild grasses around the St Peter's Church Ruin in South End, Port Elizabeth
Today is 18 July and Nelson Mandela is celebrating his 94th birthday. Happy birthday Madiba! To celebrate the day and the 67 selfless years Mandela spent in the public eye, people all over the country (and the world) have been giving 67 minutes of their time to help others. Activities range from working at soup kitchens, painting township schools, helping to establish vegetable gardens, clean-up campaigns or just entertaining old folk at a retirement home. Anything that brings assistance and happiness to…
Wanneer mens in 'n stad woon is daar niks lekkerder as om uit die stad uit weg te kom nie, maar dis nie altyd moontlik nie. Die volgende beste opsie is om op 'n strand, 'n park of natuurarea in die stad te gaan stap. Al drie Suid-Afrika se groot kusstede het baie gewilde wandelroetes langs hulle onderskeie strandfronte. Dit maak nie saak op watter strandfront jy stap nie, elkeen het sy eie bekoring, pragtige uitsigte en verskillende besienswaardighede. Die Kaapstadse strandfront kyk meesal…
Looking at this scene with the Xhosa shepherd hut surrounded by flowering aloes one could easily think that the picture was taken somewhere in the heart of the former Transkei or the Wild Coast. In actual fact it was taken at the Cuyler Manor Museum just outside Uitenhage.