There are a lot of fresh water springs that originate along the Wildside coast of Port Elizabeth. All along the coast at places like Willows, Schoenmakerskop, Kini Bay and Seaview and in between you would find fresh water seeping through the rocks and running down to the sea. Its normally easy to spot these little streams as you would find reeds growing next to them or the pools they collect in. Also where they run down past the rocks green…
The sun shining through the arched gate in front of St Mary's Anglican Cathedral in the city centre.
Although Oudtshoorn is only a big town and not a major city, it houses one of South Africa's biggest military bases. It also has an invantary school where a part of South Africa's military forces get their training. This statue of a soldier is situated on the road outside the entrance to the base. The plaque reads:Exercé Perfection"Where the sun-bathed hights of Swartbergguard the wide and fertile plainyou are training future leadersfor our armies' might and main".GPS: 33°34'52.81"S, 22°11'30.18"E
As you drive higher up the Montagu Pass, the road gets steeper and narrower. You can imagine how this could have been a problem during the early days of ox wagons. Two wagons could not pass abreast in most places, specially around the tight corners. Consequently the drivers and ox leaders had to whistle and shout and crack their whips continuously to warn one another of their approach. Very close to the top of the pass, the road passes under…
Kini Bay is situated west of Port Elizabeth and is part of Port Elizabeth's "Wildside". The Wildside refers to the coastline outside Algoa Bay stretching to the west. Most of it consist of rocky shoreline although there are sections of magnificent sandy beaches in between at Sardinia Bay and Maitlands. Kini Bay is a small "village" (actually a suburb of Port Elizabeth) just before you get to Seaview. It is said that the name originates from the fact that in…
A week or two ago I posted on my trip over the Swartberg Pass (part 1 and part 2) during my recent holiday. I also had the opportunity to do another of the iconic Southern Cape passes while I was in the area. The Montagu Pass is the old pass over the Outeniqua Mountains from George on the coast to the Klein Karoo. The pass has been declared a National Monument which means that it is beautifully maintained and very…
I got to visit the Sea Otters Lodge in Kini Bay just west of Port Elizabeth today and was stunned by its perfect setting. Walking out onto the back garden you are literally on the beach. At the bottom of the garden is a two seater swing with the perfect view. I could see myself spending a day sitting there with a drink, a book and lots of peace and quiet.
Driving from the Garden Route to the Klein Karoo over the Outeniqua Pass, one passes a couple of farms growing plats that creep up strings hanging from wire frames. I used to wonder about it till I found out that it was hops. Now I don't know much about hops other than the fact that it is used primarily in the brewing of beer. So I went to the handy information tool that is Wikipedia. Hops are actually the female…