Close to the well-known Kurland, situated in The Craggs, an escape with fireflies and fairies await. Turning off the Nature’s Valley Road, you are greeted by a laid-back setup with a feeling mixed between backpackers and glamping.

Firefly Falls is a relaxed accommodation option close to Plettenberg Bay. If you are looking for a bit of a glamping spoil without breaking the bank, then this is your kind of place. At R690-R890 per night, the luxury glamping tents, like Dusky Flycatcher, is reasonably priced. You can sleep in the comfort of a warm bed, with electric blankets for winter time and a fan for summer. The luxury glamping tent is not equipped with it’s own bathroom, but you have options when it comes to ablutions. You can have a bath in the forest, in the Forest Bathroom or you can choose to shower with the fairies in the Fairy Bathroom. Make sure you take your own cutlery and crockery and if you have forgotten something, you can always pay the communal kitchen a visit.

Sitting around a fire or lying in your tent at night, the night sounds are filled with a buzz from the nearby town. While you are on the edge of the forest, and can soon get lost in your own thoughts, Firefly is a backpacker family-friendly style accommodation. You might soon find yourself surrounded by families enjoying the open spaces with children playing on the perfectly mowed lawn, friends enjoying the hot tub/pool and families utilizing the communal entertainment area.

Lying in the hammocks, reading your book, practising your putting on the mini green, having a picnic on the grass or taking a walk in the forest to the Waterfall. This is a place where you come to relax and recharge. Although we have chosen the luxury glamping option for our visit this time around, camping space is aplenty and ranges from R150-R250 per person depending on season and site size. The ablutions and communal kitchen are clean (quite an important thing for us) and the staff is extremely friendly and helpful.

If you are looking for a quick getaway, not too far from civilization and you are not too picky as to whom you share your space with, Firefly Falls is the perfect place for you. They do offer various other accommodation options and even a Volunteer program. It is easily reachable with a normal sedan car and is also biker-friendly for those adventure bikers looking for a stay-over on their Garden Route trips.

We enjoyed our stay and can recommend this for anyone who is looking to get away with the family or a group of friends.

Note:
– Has communal entertainment area
– Has communal kitchen
– Car is parked in parking area
– Offers electric blankets & extra blanket throws
– Daily cleaning of amenities

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Close to the beach in 1967 (Photo credit: Pieter van Rooyen)

I am not giving away my age, but some of you who are old enough will remember the stranding of the Athina at Robberg Beach, Plettenberg Bay.  Some members in my family were still little boys and girls when this happened back on the 1^st of August 1967.  During the summer holiday of December 1967 my father in law swam out to the wreck, as I think a lot of holiday makers did too.

(Photo credit: wrecksite.eu)

At the date of the incident the ship was already 19 years old.  During her life span she had a couple of names starting off with ”Penstermon”, “Galaxidi”, the “Rosa Vlassis” and lastly in 1960 she was renamed to the ”Athina”.   The “Athina” came to her end when she collided with a large rock, named “Whale Rock”, which lies at the tip of Robberg Nature Reserve, when she was on her way back to Greece.  The fatal trip around the Southern tip of Africa was due to the Suez Canal being closed, because of a war raging in the region at the time.   The cargo of tuna was lost, but the whole crew made their way to safety at Robberg Beach.

View towards Robberg Beach from Robberg

On a clear day when the sea is calm you can still see the skeleton of the Athina close to the beach.  Today the wreck is a popular diving site lying between 3 and 6 metres under the surface.  The rusty steel hull turned into an artificial reef providing home and shelter for young marine life.

A ship at harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are made for

—- Unknown

PS:  I do apologize for the picture quality

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During the daily flying displays you interact with amongst others Barney the owl and other rehabilitated feathered friends which cannot be released into the wild again for various reasons.  After all, the very knowledgeable Dennis only uses birds with permanent injuries as ambassadors.  And boy oh boy they behave like head boys!  Not one step – or should I say feather – out of place.

The trained birds are tame and well adapted to visitors.  Therefore, during the flying display you are given a glove and the opportunity to invite the bird to land on your hand.  In other words, opportunities by the dozen to take that perfect picture in natural surroundings or try and try and try again if you do not succeed with the first attempt – like me!

Above all, Dennis and the centre is on call 24/7 to assist with injured raptors that are in distress.  Please visit the website @ www.radicalraptors.co.za for more detailed information. 

You can also follow them on Facebook under Radical Raptors.

DAILY SHOW TIMES: 11am, 1pm, 3pm   

(except on Mondays when the facility is closed)

—–oOo—–

 Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings

 —– Salvador Dali

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Views towards Keurbooms Beach

During whale time (normally August – October depending on the mood of the whales of course) you can spot these majestic Southern Rights or Humpbacks frolicking just behind the surf.

My own mermaid doing a photo shoot!

There is adequate parking near the tale and an easy surface to walk on for strollers and elderly people.  To keep the little ones busy a photo shoot at the whale tale is a lot of fun and an alternative option to beach days.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the sun and splendour of Mother Nature!

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The church with its lovely setting is situated close to a grove of trees and overlooks the beach and ocean towards the distant Tsitsikama Mountains.

In 1848 when the Grays (Rev Robert and his wife Sophy) arrived at the Cape of Good Hope there were almost no Anglican churches in the diocese in Cape Town. Bishop Gray’s enthusiasm – the obvious need for churches – and apparent lack of architectural services as well as money probably encouraged Sophia Gray (a self taught architect) to design buildings to suit the immediate needs.

Saint Peter’s was built from a random selection of stones and boasts beautiful glass stained windows.  The church welcomes visitors, but please show respect when entering the premises.

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In 1851 William Newdigate realized the need, of his family and farm workers, to enrich their lives with the Gospel and constructed St Andrews of broad yellowwood boards, which was freely available in those years, and a thatch roof.  The thatch roof was later replaced by the red tin roof as it stands today.  The church served 17 people of the Newdigate family and their labourers during those early years.

With its red tin roof and simple white cross at the top and setting amongst the lush green bushes of the valley it creates quite a romantic atmosphere.  Today the church is still used for country weddings, baptisms and church services for the descendants of the original congregants.

In the little graveyard on the grounds you will find graves dating back to the early 1800’s.    Today this little church is listed as a national monument.

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