Looking out the museum doorway

I'm finally busy going through and editing the pictures I took in Graaff-Reinet a few weekends ago and will start posting about our visit shortly. One of the photos I found was this one of Miggie standing in the door at the Reinet House museum looking up towards the Drostdy Hotel. She clearly likes being … Continue reading Looking out the museum doorway →

Up(s) and down(s) and into the water at the InniKloof Waterfall hike

Everybody has their travel bucket lists. I'm no different but because I would still like to do a lot of travelling I have divided mine into International, African, South African and Eastern Cape. One of the things that has been on my Eastern Cape travel bucket list for a while now is doing the Innikloof … Continue reading Up(s) and down(s) and into the water at the InniKloof Waterfall hike →

Black Oyster Catcher nest on the Wild Coast

The Wild Coast is all about the rugged coastline, beautiful beaches, rolling green hills, dramatic waterfalls, spectacular river mouths, friendly and hospitable people. So in fact that many visitors often miss the little things. And y'all know how I can go on about not just looking at the bigger picture when you are travelling.A little … Continue reading Black Oyster Catcher nest on the Wild Coast →

Pizza, World Famous in Nieu-Bethesda

The Karoo Heartland village of Nieu-Bethesda is weird and quirky, but in a nice way. It has a lot of interesting nooks and crannies which include a couple of fascinating attractions, authentic Nieu-Bethesdian accommodation and slightly off the regular type of mainstream restaurants and eateries. When you pass a little restaurant with a sign saying Bruno's Alfresco Pizzeria … Continue reading Pizza, World Famous in Nieu-Bethesda →

Going digital at the Owl House

The last time I was at the Owl House in Nieu-Bethesda I got a nice picture of a gent standing in contemplation between the cement figures. On this visit to the village I was at the Owl House with two friends and colleagues and I really thought there would be a good chance to catch one … Continue reading Going digital at the Owl House →

Why have you never visited Nieu-Bethesda?

It feels like most people I speak to about travelling in the Karoo Heartland of the Eastern Cape have been to Graaff-Reinet, yet many didn't venture much further to also visit Nieu-Bethesda. Nieu-Bethesda truly is a very special village located barely 30 minutes from Graaff-Reinet and have a truly off the beaten track feeling to … Continue reading Why have you never visited Nieu-Bethesda? →

When it rains in Nieu-Bethesda

A couple of weeks ago I headed up to Nieu-Bethesda in the Karoo Heartland with a colleague for a tourism meeting. En route we encountered the Fish River in full flow at Jansenville, puddles and pools next to the road approaching Graaff-Reinet and a very wet village at our destination. The word Karoo comes from … Continue reading When it rains in Nieu-Bethesda →

Karoo farm scene

I took this picture on a recent visit to Lowlands Country House in the Karoo Heartland outside Cradock. The scene just grabbed me and if I was a painter then I would have loved to paint it. It really shows the importance of water in this arid environment and how it can change things from … Continue reading Karoo farm scene →

A visit to Matatiele in the Eastern Cape highlands

I haven't really had the opportunity to venture into the North Eastern Cape so a first visit to Matatiele in the Eastern Cape highlands near boundary with Kwa-Zulu Natal was on the cards while en route to the Drakensberg in December. Matatiele services the surrounding villages and farming community and gives a very good first … Continue reading A visit to Matatiele in the Eastern Cape highlands →

Hogsback Labyrinth flowers

While the KidZ were negotiating the Labyrinth at The Edge in Hogsback in the rain, I was photographing flowers