Western Cape Archives - Page 4 of 7

KAROO VISTAS

The Karoo has a beauty of its own – you either love it and see the beauty in the simplicity of the landscape or completely hate it and just want to pass through as quickly as possible. The Karoo landscape comprises of big blue skies, typical Karoo koppies, windpumps of all shapes and sizes, sheep, the smell of Karoo vegetation, long and dusty gravel roads, beautiful churches and some interesting people in the countryside. Priceless! Once you spent some time in the Karoo you will fall in love with the little creatures, the spring flowers in bloom, the total quietness and sultry evenings on offer. And last but not least if you get your timing right you may get rewarded with the most amazing sunsets you can imagine. These are things that money cannot buy! After experiencing all of this you will want to come back again and again and again,… Read more >

BROWN HOODED KINGFISHER TRAIL

Situated on a gravel road close to Island Lake, Wilderness this is an easy to medium rated walk (depending on the water levels) which even the small ones in the family will be able to cope with. The entrance to the walk reminds me about stories of fairies and gnomes, but decide for yourself. We tackled the route in peak summer and even then the lush 2.5 km (5 km return) trail, which follows the course of the Duiwe River, provided enough shade for a nice walk. The entire route is clearly marked with blue markers and is easy to follow. There are a few river crossings which normally are very easy with no need to take your shoes off, but do take care over wet slippery rocks when traversing the streams – unless you want to cool down; which is also not a bad idea! While walking be alert… Read more >

GEORGE BOTANICAL GARDENS

Hello 2017! It is cold and wet outside; unlike our usual summery weather for January. It feels like winter already and my memory takes me back to our walk with the dogs in the Botanical Gardens on a sunny New Years day which was only a few days ago. To be precise five days ago! As we were wandering in the Gardens on the first day of the year I was praying for rain. I have never seen the Gardens so dry in my 20 odd years living in the area. Gone was the typical dampy smell of rotten leaves and fallen trees that I fell in love with. But today, today the rain has arrived and I am grateful. Entry to the Gardens is no longer free. They are now charging a small entrance fee (R10 per person; dogs still no charge) towards the upkeep and improvement of the… Read more >

BITES @ THE BREWERY

Since it is the festive season we all were feeling a bit laid back so we decided to treat ourselves with something nice. And the perfect place for this? At Bites inside the Robertson Brewery in Memorium Street! This is one of the places right on our doorstep, but that we have never visited before. So off we go – not for a beer but for a milkshake. I must admit it does sound a bit strange to have a milkshake at a brewery, but it worked for me. I had a Take a Break (stuffed with some chunks of KitKat), hubby enjoyed a Nutcracker (smothered with Nutella) and the not so little one had an Astrophysics (you guessed it – filled with lots of Astros). Perusing the menu I was quite surprised at all the delicious and tempting dishes on offer. You can indulge in an Elvis Presley breakfast,… Read more >

100 YEARS OF BMW

The German company, BMW, celebrated its 100th year in the industry around the globe in 2016. The Garden Route’s celebration ride took us towards the Knysna Heads view point for a photo shoot as part of BMW’s worldwide celebrations. The weather in George was gloomy, but we said that we will go so we kept our promise. On the bikes and off we go, we cannot miss this historic gathering because of a bit of rain! It was a nice leisurely ride to Knysna and the weather was holding. We thought that we were a bit early for the event, but on our arrival there were already some guys of the biking community waiting excitedly for fellow riders and friends to arrive. The weather turned out for the worse with some rain coming down, but the never ending stream of BMW bikes arrived in all shapes and sizes. – super… Read more >

A WHALE’S TALE

The whale tale is a land based look out point located in Fromosa Street Plettenberg Bay. It is also known as the Look Out viewpoint. From here you have breathtaking views over some never ending white beaches of Plett towards Keurbooms Beach with the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains as a backdrop. Blessed we are indeed to call this region my neighbourhood! 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. 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!

MALACHITE BIRD HIDE

If you follow the sturdy wooden walkway deep into the reeds you will stumble upon this tranquil birding spot on the northern shore of Langvlei in the Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park. Langvlei is part of the sensitive lakes system and is connected via the Touw river to Rondevlei and Island lake. Most of the times when you go there you will have the whole hide to yourself. Put up your feet, relax and enjoy the view. If you are a keen bird photographer this is a good spot to catch water birds early morning or in the late afternoon. Remember to check water levels beforehand as this will determine how close the birds will get to the hide. On our last visit we were lucky enough to spot some adorable Red-knobbed Coot hatchlings learning the ropes while their doting mothers keep a close eye on them…. Read more >

Tag Archive: Western Cape