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The Swartkops Estuary

Even though it has an urban setting, the Swartkops Estuary with its adjacent salt pans, is one of the most important wetlands areas in South Africa.  It is seen as an Important Bird Area playing host to over 10 000 water birds in summer and is one of the best places in the country to see the less common estuarine waders and terns.  All in all its one of the premier birding venues in Port Elizabeth with about 200 species found there regularly.  Big parts…

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16/10/2013
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Van Stadens Bridge barriers

Visiting the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve I noticed that the work on the pedestrian barrier is going well.  A 2.7m high barrier is being put up on the Van Stadens Bridge west of Port Elizabeth by the Friends of Van Stadens Bridge Trust in an attempt to deter suicides from the bridge.  The barrier is being erected along the whole 198 m length of the bridge and will be used in conjunction with the closed circuit television to stop potential jumpers. …

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15/10/2013
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Cricket’s Duckpond

Cricket fans the world over would be familiar with St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth, the oldest test stadium in South Africa.  Those same cricket fans would have watched or listened to commentary about games at the stadium and heard the commentators refer to the two ends as the Duck Pond and Park Drive Ends.  These days people would think that the Duck Pond End refers to the Duck Pond Pavilion that is on that side of the field, but do they know…

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14/10/2013
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St George and the dragon

Most people who have been to or driven past St Georges Park know the Cenotaph (war memorial) in front of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum.  I wonder though how many people know that one of the figures forming part of the Cenotaph is St George himself,  sheathing his sword moments after killing the dragon. St George's dragon slaying story is told as follow on Wikipedia: "...a dragon or crocodile makes its nest at the spring that provides water for the city of "Silene"…

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13/10/2013
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Acacia Karroo Sunset

The Karoo is big sky country so when the sun sets its something to behold.  In the foreground of this sunset is the branch of an Acacia Karroo (Sweet Thorn tree)

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11/10/2013
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The remains of Stuart Township

 I think most of the regular PE Daily Photo readers know by now that I am an addicted Geocacher.  One of my own caches is situated close to a old footbridge over the narrow gauge railway line next to the South End Cemetery.  Between the cemetery and the railway line used to be a residential area with only a few remains still visible today.  After publishing the cache one of my fellow cachers sent me a link containing some information…

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10/10/2013
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Lalibela Game Reserve – a photo essay

There are some truly awesome game reserves around Port Elizabeth ranging from the epic Addo Elephant National Park to excellent private game reserves with top class lodges.  Playing right in that space is Lalibela Game Reserve between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown.  Lalibela is home to the Big 5 as well as other predators like cheetah, hyena, jackal & lynx on 7500 hectares with visitors staying in one of three excellent lodges.  I spent a night with the Damselfly in late…

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09/10/2013
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Science Centre dinosaur

The Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre in Uitenhage is Nelson Mandela Bay's newest "museum" and is slowly becoming a favorite with both local and visiting school groups.  Taking a walk around the centre I found this boy looking at the T-Rex model with interest.  While his friends were gathered around the racing simulator nearby he was looking at the mechanical workings of the model.  Amazing how different people have different interests. 

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08/10/2013