Cape Recife beacon

The beacon out at Cape Recife is one of two beacons that was used for shipping purposes before the invention of modern navigation technology. The second beacon is the one on Marine Drive where Admiralty Road and Marine Drive comes together. Ships sailing along the coast from the west had to line up the two … Continue reading Cape Recife beacon →

The iconic Knysna Heads

What are the icons of the Garden Route? There are a few. The adventure activities in the Tsitsikamma, Storms River Mouth, the view over the Beacon Isle Hotel with Robberg in the distance, the Knysna forest, the lakes around Sedgefield and Wilderness, Kaaimans Bridge outside Wilderness (especially when the Choo Tjoe still ran), Outeniqua Pass in George and … Continue reading The iconic Knysna Heads →

Sun worshippers

The residents of the penguin pool at SAMREC having their morning sun worship. Notice how it's not just penguins residing in the penguin pool. There's also a gannet on the right and a cormorant in the back.

Cape Recife trail

The Cape Recife Nature Reserve has various trail options through the area with the 9 kilometer Roseate Tern Trail the most prominent. The trail includes a walk along the coast line and through the vegetated dune field, visiting a bird hide, the Cape Recife Lighthouse and the old Second World War lookout and barracks along the … Continue reading Cape Recife trail →

Flat rocks at Flat Rocks

Flat Rocks is the area between Pollok Beach and Cape REcife where the rocks stretch out to see at low tide. The rocks are very accessible and very popular with fishermen. The younger crowd in PE wouldn't know that the spot where the Flat Rocks parking area is now (across from the Humewood Golf Course … Continue reading Flat rocks at Flat Rocks →

Why were African Penguins previously called Jackass Penguins?

The African Penguin used to be called the Jackass Penguin. A strange name for a penguin. But how did it get that name? It is because the African Penguin's call sounds like a braying donkey. Right, so now we have established that they sound like a donkey, but why were they called Jackass? Donkey's are … Continue reading Why were African Penguins previously called Jackass Penguins? →

Cape Recife Lighthouse

I wish I had more time to go and explore Cape Recife Nature Reserve more often with my camera. It offers so many photo opportunities, one of these being the Cape Recife Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1851 on the western point of Algoa Bay. Cape Recife is one of the major turning points on … Continue reading Cape Recife Lighthouse →

Together for 15 years through thick and thin

The Damselfly and I had our 15th anniversary two weeks ago and as it goes, posted about it on social media. A few days later I got a call from a reporter at the Herald asking me if they could do an article in the La Femme supplement to include in their regular page celebrating … Continue reading Together for 15 years through thick and thin →

A blooming nice display at Van Stadens

The West Coast and Namakwaland is famous for their spring flowers while a number of reserves in the southern Cape, one of these being the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites as it is where the Cape Floral Kingdom occurs. Living in Port Elizabeth it's not always possible to do the trek west to go and … Continue reading A blooming nice display at Van Stadens →

SAMREC’s Must Touch Room

One of the attractions for visitors at SAMREC is the "Must Touch Room". It allows interaction of the visitors, especially the kids, with different aspects of the marine environment. There are just too many things to mention here, but visitors can touch shark teeth, a dolphin skull, stuffed marine birds and mammals, play games and learn lots … Continue reading SAMREC’s Must Touch Room →