Eastern Cape

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Riding PE’s miniature trains

Ketik ketik... ketik ketik... ketik ketik... The sound of the train's wheels on the tracks.  A sound which so many kids these days have never heard before.  Everybody loves to ride on a train doesn't matter if its a luxurious tourist train, a cross country train, a day trip tourist train, a commuter train or, in the case of this post, little miniature trains.  On the first Sunday of the month Port Elizabeth parents gather their kids, pack picnic baskets and head down to…

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01/11/2013
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Succulent flowers at Kuzuko

Succulents always surprise me with the beautiful flowers that they produce specially when they grow in dry and arid areas.  The flowering succulent in the picture was growing next to the path to our room at Kuzuko Lodge in the northern part of the Addo Elephant National Park.After reading the post, Alan Fogarty of Alan Tours helped me out a bit with the name:  Crassula ovata or Kerky bush, Beestebul, iPhewula also commonly known as the "Botterboom"

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28/10/2013
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Orchard rainbow

An afternoon shower washed off the dust of a day exploring the Gamtoos Valley along some dirt back roads.  As the sun came out we went for a walk through the citrus orchard at Nikalandershoek where we were staying and a rainbow appeared over the trees.  The perfect end to the day.

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24/10/2013
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Approaching with confidence

When this boytjie matures a bit more he will be a really impressive bull.  Not that he isn't already.  He's only problem is that he is an Addo bull so he will never have the huge tusks that the Kruger bulls have. 

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22/10/2013
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Valley Thicket

South Africa boasts seven biomes or plant kingdoms and Port Elizabeth is fortunate that five of the seven occurs within the Nelson Mandela Bay metro boundary.  One of the biomes which is found largely in the Eastern Cape is the Valley Thicket Biome, previously called Valley Bushveld.  The biome is found mostly in river valleys and is characterised by dense evergreen shrub vegetation.  Closer to the coast the thicket is most dense with thorny shrubs and an undergrowth of creepers and succulent…

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21/10/2013
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Patensie Plaasbasaar – the epitome of church bazaars

Most people have been to their local church or school bazaar where the old tannies man tables with vetkoek, curry and rice and pancakes and kids run around while their parents buy food and chat to their neighbours who they never get to see due to the 6 foot wall separating their homes.  Last weekend I got to go to the Patensie Plaasbasaar, the NG Kerk Gamtoosvallei-Oos annual bazaar and I have to be honest here.  It was the mother…

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18/10/2013
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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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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…

5 Comments
09/10/2013
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Enjoying scenic views

Visitors to South Africa are treated to the most beautiful views as they travel through our country.  Coastal views, views of the land from the sea, looming mountain views, views from mountains, scenic drives, hilly landscapes, flat landscapes, cityscapes, river gorges, animals on the plains and so I can go on and on and on ..... South Africa truly is a country of beauty.  This view of the Swartkops River on the Flamingo Trail outside Port Elizabeth is no different. 

4 Comments
03/10/2013
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Waterhole interaction

A couple of young bulls interacting at the Hapoor Waterhole in the Addo Elephant National Park just like a couple of young men would at their local watering hole

5 Comments
01/10/2013