A South African travel and photo blog incorporating Port Elizabeth Daily Photo
History buffs totally love Graaff-Reinet, what with it being the oldest town in the Eastern Cape (fourth oldest in South Africa) with about 220 listed historical buildings. Best of all, you can see just about all the best ones on a relatively short walk around town. And obviously, that is what we did otherwise I … Continue reading A historic walk around Graaff-Reinet
Graaff-Reinet in the Karoo Heartland is often referred to as the Gem of the Karoo. Spending a long weekend in the town just again proved to me that this gem isn't one buried deep under ground somewhere but rather has been unearthed and is mesmerizing those that get to visit it. Located in a horseshoe … Continue reading Graaff-Reinet – a gem discovered
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
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
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 in George the one attraction you have to visit is the Outenique Transport Museum (also known as the Outenique Railway Museum). It used to be one of my regular stops on the Garden Route back when I was working as a tourist guide and the Outenique Choo Tjie steam train was still running. Spending … Continue reading Trains, trains and some other stuff at the Outeniqua Transport Museum
I don't think George is very high on anybody's list of possible holiday destinations. Yes, as part of the Garden Route but not standing on it's own. If that is how you think then I'm going to have to tell you how wrong your thinking is. Spending Easter Weekend in George showed me in four … Continue reading Three easy on the pocket George attractions
I struggle to pass by a small town museum if I have time on hand and time on hand I had the last time I visited the Karoo Heartland town of Somerset East. I immediately headed up to the Somerset East Museum standing in the shadow of the Boschberg Mountain at the top end of … Continue reading Exploring (and not ghost hunting) the Somerset East Museum
The Karoo Heartland town of Somerset East is a place full of interesting and quirky attractions. One of them is the Walter Battiss Art Gallery which also houses the local tourism information office. Battiss (6 January 1906 – 20 August 1982) was generally considered to be the foremost South African abstract painter but is probably … Continue reading Walter Battiss Art Gallery – the home of Fook Island
If you are flying along in a northerly direction through the Karoo Heartland on the N10, the main drag between Port Elizabeth and Cradock, do slow down a bit after you pass the first turnoff to Somerset East and keep a look out on the right hand side of the road for a cenotaph like … Continue reading Remembering the Slagtersnek hangings
