Ann’s Villa Blacksmith Museum

The blacksmith workshop at Ann's Villa played a very important part on the main route into the interior back in the day and dates back to the opening of Ann's Villa in 1864. Our guide, Talent, was telling us that when a wagon arrived after crossing the Zuurberg Pass and they needed a wheel replaced … Continue reading Ann’s Villa Blacksmith Museum →

Ann’s Villa

Although cars cross over the Zuurberg mountains from Port Elizabeth into the Karoo via the Olifantskop Pass within minutes these days, the journey was a much longer, slower and bumpier one if you go back 150 years or so. Back in those days travellers had to make use of the Zuurberg Pass which snakes it's … Continue reading Ann’s Villa →

Lower Guinea Fowl Trail

I'm always in awe when I read Helen's blog, Walking the Cape, to see how many trails and walks there are around Cape Town. But living in Port Elizabeth doesn't mean that we don't have trails around the city. It just seems that the locals over here either tend to rather walk on the beach or … Continue reading Lower Guinea Fowl Trail →

Karoo sky

I know its not Skywatch Friday, but I wanted to show you a typical flat Karoo landscape with a typical BIG Karoo SKY. No wonder some people refer to the Karoo as Big Sky Country.

Despatch attractions

Even though the town of Despatch between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage is part of the Nelson Mandel Bay metropolitan area, its a fairly quiet place and most people from outside the area only knows it as the home of rugby legend Danie Gerber. One wouldn't really call Despatch a bustling tourist destination, but there are one … Continue reading Despatch attractions →

Coastline flowers

Walking along the Sacramento Trail outside Port Elizabeth this time of year you get to see a lot of different flowers along with fantastic views of the coastline.

Giraffe tracking on foot… and breakfast after

The Mini vs Maxi trip was starting to draw to an end and we were just about done with our morning game drive at Bucklands Game Reserve. We had one thing left to do and that we to find some giraffe to walk. We got as close to them as it was possible with the … Continue reading Giraffe tracking on foot… and breakfast after →

Firearm handling

During the Mini vs Maxi trip the organisers requested Bucklands Game Reserve to give Team Mini a firearm handling demonstration. It may have been a strange request to give to a game reserve, but it wasn't like we were going to head out and shoot at animals. I've never handled a firearm before in my … Continue reading Firearm handling →

Walking rhinos at Bucklands

Our morning game drive (the second drive of our stay) at Bucklands Game Reserve during the Mini vs Maxi trip basically had two goals in mind. We wanted to walk rhino as well as giraffe with rhino being first prize. Not long into the drive we pulled over for some welcome coffee at one of … Continue reading Walking rhinos at Bucklands →

Bucklands sunrise

Sunrise on the last day of the Mini vs Maxi trip, seen through the old Wild Fig tree next to the lodge at Bucklands Game Reserve.