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Beetles galore

If you are into cars then the VW AutoPavilion is just the place for you.  The museum is state of the art and a superb representation of everything Volswagen.  On display is everything from actual cars to driver simulators, engine parts right through to the detailed history of VW.  Visitor can also book tours through the VW factory next door to the museum, but I have to be honest here.  I've never been on the factory tour so I can't really comment in it.  I…

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25/09/2012
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Chill by the fire

Today is Heritage Day and a national holiday in South Africa.  It is also Braai Day which is closely linked to most cultures in the country.  I had to work today so made up for it by having a braai on Saturday night.  I am exhausted though and can really do with a bit of just sitting next to a fire at a game lodge with a drink on hand like this guy is doing at Pumba Game Reserve close to…

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24/09/2012
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A thorny meal

I am always amazed to see some wild animals like elephants and giraffes eat off thorn trees.  Elephants take the whole branch while giraffes curl their tongues around the branch and pull the leaves off.  How come the thorns don't prick them?  The thorns are angled slightly towards the end of the branch and bends over as the giraffe pulls the leaves off.  Amazing isn't it?

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23/09/2012
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Flapjacks for breakfast

I stayed over at Pumba Game Reserve with a group of journalists a week or so ago.  Returning to the lodge after our morning game drive I didn't really feel like a big breakfast so ordered the flapjacks with bacon, banana and maple syrup. Mmmmmmmmmmm............

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22/09/2012
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World Rhino Day

Today we celebrate the third annual World Rhino Day not just here in South Africa, but world wide.  World Rhino Day highlight the plight of the rhino which is targeted by ruthless poachers all over the world for their horns which are thought to have medicinal properties by the people in most countries in the Far East.  Part of World Rhino Day is to debunk the myths and diminish the demand for rhino horn.  Up to 12 September rhino poaching in…

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22/09/2012
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Mathilda’s Pasella shoot

Last week the crew from the SABC 2 Afrikaans magazine program Pasella was in Port Elizabeth to shoot a couple of stories.  The one story involved vintage cars and a bit of history of Port Elizabeth.  I needed to organise them somebody to interview regarding the Donkin Reserve and as I have been on Pasella before with regards to this same subject I needed to get them somebody else.  I asked my colleague Mathilda and she hesitantly accepted, although getting a…

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21/09/2012
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Penguins under pressure

Last week I saw a stunning yet very sad picture by Luc Hosten on Facebook.  Two days later I was down at Cape Recife in Port Elizabeth and came across the scene photographed by Luc.  The penguin wasn't in the same position anymore and I didn't want to try and recreate the exact scene anyway, so decided on something similar yet slightly further away.  African Penguins are highly endangered and under immense pressure at the moment with some people giving them only 5 years if…

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20/09/2012
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The top of the trail

Most people hiking along the Sacramento Trail between Schoenmakerskop and Sardinia Bay follows the path along the shore line in both directions not really knowing how stunning the views are from the top trail.  I had taken the bottom path many times before and got to take the top path for the first time while doing the trail with some colleagues recently.  The views are absolutely amazing.

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20/09/2012
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Standing at attention

Soldiers of the Prince Alfred Guard standing at attention while the giant flag on the Donkin Reserve is being lowered. The reason 6 guys are needed is due to the size of the flag and the fact that it may not touch the ground when it comes down.  It was quite fun watching them grab the 12 meter x 8 meter flag and putting it back into the base of the flagpole.  The flagpole is the tallest in Africa while…

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19/09/2012
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South End Walk flowers

September is Tourism month and on the second Saturday of September a group of about 40 people went on a guided walk around the South End Museum Heritage Trail organised by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism.  I found this patch of fygies growing next to the road close to the green mosque.  I dashed down to get a picture of the group passing it in the background and with my somewhat slow camera only got one shot before they had past.  Pity…

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18/09/2012