Gauteng

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Fort Klapperkop

Sitting on top of the koppies (hills) overlooking Pretoria is a number of forts that was built prior to the Anglo Boer War in the late 1800's.  After the abortive Jameson Raid in 1895, the South African Republic (also known as the Transvaal Republic) had a number of forts built to protect their capital in case of a foreign invasion.  The Pretoria Forts consisted mainly of four forts, three of which was constructed by a German company.  I have on a previous visit…

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25/10/2010
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Klip-Els Guest Lodge

I recently had the opportunity to stay at Klip-Els Guest Lodge in North Riding area of Johannesburg.  The place was such a surprise to me when I got there.  Although the guest house is in Johannesburg, its situated on a 3 hectares property.  This gives one the feeling like you are somewhere in the bushveld rather than in the city.  Although you can hear some traffic somewhere off in the distance, you wake up to the sound of bird calls rather than city…

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24/10/2010
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Soccer City

As we entered Johannesburg on our recent visit, Chaos Boy asked if we were in Soccer City now.  I was very impressed that he associated Soccer City with Johannesburg.  He was of cause not refering to the city itself, but to the soccer stadium where the final of the recent 2010 FIFA World Cup took place.  We dicided to fit in a quick stop at Soccer City during our stay in Jozi.Even though most people refer to the stadium as…

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22/10/2010
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Birds at Jozi Zoo

Today I just want to post a couple of big bird photos I took at the Johannesburg Zoo to end of the Jozi Zoo trilogy of posts.The Greater Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus) at Jozi Zoo has their own enclosure.A heron in the Buffalo enclosureOk, not quite a bird, but the angel... ... on top of the war memorial at the Military Museum next to the Johannesburg Zoo.  The memorial is visible from the top section of the zoo.

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20/10/2010
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Jozi Zoo animals

Following yesterday's post on the Johannesburg Zoo, I decided to post a couple of random animal photos I took on our visit.  I have said so before and I will say so again (and again and again and again) that I much rather prefer to visit a game reserve and look for the animals in their natural environment.  The problem is that not everybody in society gets the opportunity to visit game reserves and thus zoos will always be the…

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19/10/2010
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Jozi Zoo

On our recent trip up to Gauteng we stayed with friends in Johannesburg for a couple of days.  The Sunday we was a stunning day and our friends suggested that we go to the Johannesburg Zoo for a picnic.  I have had an opportunity to visit Jozi Zoo on a previous visit, but my family has never been there and even though I personally prefer game reserves over zoos, I though the kids would really enjoy it.  Plus any trip with…

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18/10/2010
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Nelson Mandela Square revisited

I have posted about Nelson Mandela Square next to the Sandton City Shopping Centre before (here and here), but on my recent visit to Johannesburg I couldn't help but snap another few pics to post on here.  It was also the first time that I was in Jozi with the family and wanted to show them all the sights that I have only told them about.The six meter high statue of Nelson Mandela standing in the square is the main attraction…

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17/10/2010
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Pretoria skyline

On my last trip to Johannesburg I popped up to Pretoria to visit the Voortrekker Monument. It was a very misty morning and the Pretoria skyline was just just visible in the fog. Pretoria is South Africa's capital city and forms part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan. Foggy skyline Another part of the city seen with one of the monument's Voortrekker leader statues in the foreground.

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30/06/2010