Love them or hate them, the wind farms around Jeffrey's Bay, Humansdorp and St Francis has become part of the Kouga region's landscape. After a meeting in Humansdorp recently I did a detour to Paradise Beach along the road that leads through Lombardini Game Farm and stopped to snap this pic back on the road. What's your feeling about the wind farms becoming such prominent landmarks on the landscape?
Driving through the Karoo from the interior to the Eastern or Southern Cape coast (or the other way around) and looking for a spot to sleep over? The Karoo Heartland has some excellent overnighting spots in towns like Cradock, Graaff-Reinet, Nieu-Bethesda and Somerset East. If Cradock is your overnight destination of choice then you really don't need to look any further than the iconic Tuishuise and Victoria Manor Hotel.Die Tuishuise on Market Street in Cradock is made up of 30 beautifully restored Karoo style cottages. These cottages date back…
I have never been to an Imax movie so big was my excitement when I received an invitation from Ster-Kinekor to the grand opening of their brand new cinema complex at Baywest in Port Elizabeth. The complex is made up of 5 regular cinemas, two Cine Prestige luxury cinemas (kitted out with reclining chairs and the works) and, the cherry on top, an Imax cinema. Only the fourth one in South Africa. Did I mention that Joburg hasn't got an Imax yet. Cool,…
The Langkloof may be a "less desirable" tourism destination than the adjacent Garden Route, but it doesn't mean that its less beautiful. It may not have the breathtaking coastline or inspiring indigenous forests of the Garden Route, but it doesn't have to stand back one step when it comes to scenic beauty. Framed by mountains in the north and south, the predominant vegetation is Fynbos, interspersed by farmland and summer fruit orchards. A little detour on my last trip up…
The Baviaanskloof is an UNESCO World Heritage Site representing the Cape Floral Kingdom but it could just as easily also have been one because of the KhoiSan history and heritage that is found here. Spending a relaxing weekend at Baviaans Lodge I learned that there is quite an important rock painting site on the property. The extra bonus was that Alan Fogarty of Alan Tours, probably one of the top nature guides in the Eastern Cape, was spending the weekend at the…
If I had to show this photo to anybody and ask them where the picture was taken, they would probably guess places like the Tsitsikamma, Knysna forest or Hogsback. Although all of these are likely candidates, in all cases they would be wrong. This specific scene is hidden away in a valley near Baviaans Lodge in the Baviaanskloof.
Since I started blogging nearly 7 years ago, the post that has received the most attention wasn't some exotic location, epic once in a lifetime animal photo or mind blowing sunset. It was a post about a flowering Kapok Tree. Up to now it has received over a whopping 20 000 page views. I've been wanting to do another post but the problem was that I haven't had another chance of encountering one while it is in flower and having my camera…
South Africa has eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. These are places such as a forest, mountain, lake, island, desert, monument, building, complex, or city that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of special cultural, natural or physical significance. One of the South African World Heritage Sites is the Cape Floral Kingdom. The Cape Floristic Region, the smallest of the six recognised floral kingdoms of the world, is home to more than 9 000 plant species of…
One of the best parts of exploring while traveling is discovering hidden gems. Some of these hides are figuratively, as in somewhere (either a place or establishment) off the beaten track that the hordes haven't discovered yet. Sometimes you find places that are literally hidden though. One of these I found on our weekend at Baviaans Lodge recently. A walk along a stream up one of the valleys near the lodge brought us to a breathtaking spot with a river pool, sheer…
The Baviaanskloof must be on the bucket list of a lot of South African travellers. Stunning scenic beauty which, if she was a person, would put her in the top three of a Miss Universe competition. Isolation, but not like just around the corner where you can't hear the traffic. A true wilderness area. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnighting in caves or on a river beach next to sheer cliffs. Challenging roads. Unfortunately for us mere sedan drivers a big part…