St Peter’s Church ruins

Looking into the ruins of the St Peter's Church above the St Mary's Cemetery in South End

The abandoned Carlisle Bridge cricket field

No exploration expedition has ever ended in failure. Well perhaps some have. One or two may have run out of water trying to find a way out the desert, the odd expedition may have lost boat and crew on uncharted seas and at least one was never seen again after getting lost in the Amazon. … Continue reading The abandoned Carlisle Bridge cricket field →

My Old Fort adventure in Durban

I get to visit Durban once a year during the annual Tourism Indaba but other than stopping in Umhlanga and taking walks on the beachfront, I've never really had an opportunity to explore the city much. This year I decided to pinch off an hour to explore and discover at least one new place and the choice … Continue reading My Old Fort adventure in Durban →

British Fort at Cogmans Kloof

On top of the Cogmans Kloof tunnel outside Montagu stands an old English fort built by the British in 1899 during the Anglo Boer War. The fort has a great view of the approaching road and kloof through the mountains and one can immediately see why the British chose the spot. To get to the top there … Continue reading British Fort at Cogmans Kloof →

Cape Recife WWII Forward Observation Post

Port Elizabeth has arguably the most complete collection of surviving coast artillery buildings and equipment dating from the Second World War (1939-45) of any port in South Africa. Before the Second World War the Port Elizabeth Harbour actually had no defence in place except for Fort Frederick which was built in 1799 to guard the … Continue reading Cape Recife WWII Forward Observation Post →

St Peter’s Ruin windows

South End in Port Elizabeth is similar to District 6 in Cape Town where the original inhabitants where removed because of the Group Area's Act of the 1960's. St Peter's Anglican Church was built in 1877 and the school next to it was the first church school in South End to produce pupils to standard six (grade … Continue reading St Peter’s Ruin windows →

St Peter’s Church ruin

Wild grasses around the St Peter's Church Ruin in South End, Port Elizabeth

Ruined house

One of those unwritten rules of photography (and life) is to never venture somewhere potentially dangerous or unknown while you are on your own. Always make sure you have backup. Not that a guy like James Bond listens to that kind of advice. But James Bond I'm not, so I ventured as far as the … Continue reading Ruined house →

Swartberg Pass toll house

The ruin of the old toll house on the Swartberg Pass (here and here) can be found at the start of the pass on the Oudtshoorn side of the mountain. I would have wanted to spend some more time at the ruin getting photographs, but it was hot (around 40 degrees Celsius) and the family … Continue reading Swartberg Pass toll house →

Fort Frederick

Fort Frederick can be found on the hill overlooking the Baakens River valley and Port Elizabeth Harbour. It's a stone fort built in 1799 by the British Forces to defend the mouth of the Baakens River to prevent a possible landing of French troops to assist the Graaff-Reinet rebels. It was named after Frederick, Duke … Continue reading Fort Frederick →