At the top of the Gamtoos Valley one would find the Kouga Dam, one of Port Elizabeth's three main water supply dams. The Kouga Dam was the first double arch dam to be built in South Africa. Other than for urban use, the dam is also the main supplier of irrigation water to the Gamtoos Valley. The pic was taken a little while ago when the dam last overflowed.More information on the dam can be found here.
The Gamtoos River Valley is one of my favorite areas and is found to the west of Port Elizabeth.Known as the food basket of the Eastern Cape, it is mainly a farming area producing citrus, potatoes and tobacco with all kinds of other fruit and vegetables also being grown. Its is a very scenic area with loads of potential as a top nature and agricultural tourism destination. All along the road accommodation can be found on various farms while there…
Cradock is situated about 280km north of Port Elizabeth. It is one of the chief centers of the wool industry of the Cape, and also produces beef, dairy, fruit, lucerne, and mohair. Close to the town visitor will find the Mountain Zebra National Park. The park plays a major role in the conservation of this highly endangered animal.Die Tuishuise in Cradock consist of 30 refurbished Karoo style cottages ideally located in Market Street. These unique houses have been restored to…
The charming village of Nieu Bethesda is set in the fertile valley of the Sneeuberg Mountains. It is so secluded that development took a back seat leaving a rare historical integrity. It has become a popular retreat for artists and because of its unique appeal, this is a place that no visitor should miss. The main attraction in the town is the Owl House.The house itself was inherited by a woman named Helen Martins after her parents had died.According to…
The Valley of Desolation is situated just outside the town of Graaff Reinet. It can be found in the Camdeboo National Park which provides the visitor with insights into the unique landscape and ecosystem of the Karoo, not to mention awesome scenic beauty. The Karoo was formed hundreds of millions of years ago and in some places, dolerite form jointed pillars. The best examples of which are found in the Valley of Desolation where erosion of the softer sedimentary beds…
Graaff Reinet is the 4th oldest town in South Africa and is the Gem of the Karoo. The town lies 750 metres (2,500 ft) above the sea and is built in a horse shoe on the banks of the Sunday's River, which rises a little farther north on the southern slopes of the Sneeuberge. The town is quite an interesting one with a big amount of historical buildings and museums that has been restored over the years. It is also…
The Addo Elephant National Park is situated just outside Port Elizabeth. The Southern Gate is only 30 minutes from town while the main rest camp is 75km away. Addo is the third largest National Park in South Africa and home to nearly 500 elephants. Addo is probably the best place in the world where one can see wild African elephants in big numbers and up close. Addo is also tagged as the first Big 7 game reserve in the world.…
Over this last December summer holidays we camped for a week in the town of Cannon Rocks on the Sunshine Coast. It has endless beaches and doesn't get over crowded like the other coastal destinations in summer. I also had an absolute ball with my camera with sunsets over the sea and specially the shipwreck of a fishing boat. For more pics of Cannon Rocks see here. This coming December we will be back there for a week.
The town of Port Alfred is situated halfway (150km) between Port Elizabeth and East London in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. One of the town's most distinctive features is a beautiful marina with a number of luxurious houses facing onto the canals. Associated with the marina is a small boat harbour, providing mooring for a variety of vessels from luxury yachts and other pleasure craft, to sporting and commercial deep-sea fishing vessels. It is growing rapidly due to a…
The Random ... theme for today is train stations. I'm going to be quiet on the blog for a little while as I am heading to Johannesburg for the next two weeks. The organisation I am working for is exhibiting during the Confederations Cup and I am co-ordinating the stand at Sandton City. See you in a couple of weeks time again. The old Humewood Narrow Gauge station in Port Elizabeth. It gets used by the historic Apple Express but…