I got to lend somebody's camera on a trip to Addo a little while back. I love my camera but having a DSLR in my hand with a proper zoom lens was awesome and it allowed me to snap this Cape Weaver without any blur and a nice DOF. Oh how I wish I had a DSLR to take pics like this all the time.
The Otter Trail is probably South Africa's premier hiking trail covering 5 days and 42 kilometers between the Tsitsikamma National Park at Storms River and Nature's Valley. On the last day when hikers reach The Point, the end of the trail is in sight but not before descending down to Nature's Valley beach and then walking the length of it to the Nature's Valley Restaurant and Trading Store to kick off their shoes and have a welcome cold one.During our Sho't Left…
Driving along the N10 between Port Elizabeth and Cradock there is a memorial next to the road near the town of Cookhouse. Driving back from Cradock the other day I decided to stop and have a closer look. The Slagtersnek Monument remembers the Slagtersnek Rebellion and the subsequent hanging of 5 of the rebels, an event that changed the area forever and possibly had a big role to play in the start of the Great Trek. The museum in Somerset East has…
I have a very special spot in my heart for the Gamtoos Valley west of Port Elizabeth, having visited there quite often while I was working as a tourist guide. Since then we try to get out there every now and then for things like the Gamtoos Citrus Festival, Patensie Boere Basaar and the Gamtoos Adventure Drive and then usually stay in the Patensie area. A little while ago Carol Pearson of The Milkhouse Farmstyle Bar dropped me a line and invited…
Farm stalls all have their unique points and quirky bits. Daggaboer Farm Stall outside Cradock has this sign by the gents.....
Koningstrand is een van Port Elizabeth se bekendste en mees gewilde strande en strek van die hawemuur tot by die McArthur swembadkompleks. Die naam kom vanaf die Britse koninklike besoek van 1947 toe die koninklike trein langs die strand getrek is en 'n deel van die strand blykbaar omhein is vir die ekslusiewe gebruik van die koninklike familie. Die prinsesse het op die strand gaan perdry terwyl die koning ook daar gaan swem het. Plaaslik is begin om na die…
A surfer heading for the waves at Pipe at Pollok Beach
Geocaching is the ideal activity for people who love to travel and discover new places. Yes I know I've said it before and I will say so again many times in the future. On a visit to the Tsitsikamma I went in search of a cache called Elands Delight (GCX2QF) and even though it was raining (yes we geocache come rain or shine) I was very keen to find it. The coordinates took me onto the old road a couple of…
Looks can be deceiving. You tend to think young pretty girls would only be interested in fashion, nightlife, tanning on the beach, spending time in the shops and hanging out with their friends. Yes, yes, I know I'm generalizing but I'm trying to get to a point so bare with me. Late last year I hosted a travel blogger visit to Port Elizabeth and the surrounding area and the first blogger of the five to arrive was Rachel Lang, known…
Back in the old days distance stones were used to indicate to travellers how far they had to go to the next town. These days there aren't a lot of them around and often they are found on old and back roads. But trust Geocaching to take me to one of them on the N10 on a trip to Cradock. This stone indicates 27 miles to Cradock and 80 miles to Grahamstown.