Koelfontein Wine Farm
Garden Route, Cape Town
The Garden Route begins about four hours outside Cape Town, and includes one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline, the starting point of which is constantly contested as Towns such as: 'Witsand,Stilbaai and Albertinia'. They join the route that winds its way for some 200 km via George, Wilderness, Sedgefield and Knysna on to Plettenberg Bay culminating in the Tsitsikamma Forest - a fairyland of giant trees, ferns and bird life. The Garden Route provides a coastline of some 300 km between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay, and is one of South Africa’s most popular holiday destinations. Mountains crowd close to a shoreline dotted with beaches and bays, and vividly coloured wild flowers delight the eye.
Between Heidelberg and Storms River, the Garden Route runs parallel to a coastline featuring Lakes, Mountains, tall indigenous Forests, amber coloured Rivers and golden Beaches. Meandering trails are followed by hikers, the Forests invite long, leisurely drives, and the lakes and rivers lend themselves to swimming boating and fishing. A wide range of leisure options, spectacular scenery and a mild climate guarantee an unforgettable holiday experience when visiting the Garden Route in South Africa.
The region provides a stirring study in contrasts. The delightful town of George, known as "The Gateway to the Garden Route", graces a coastal plateau in a fertile Area of lush greenery at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. Oudtshoorn, "Capital of the Klein Karoo", is set in a semi-arid Valley, providing the ideal habitat for ostriches which are farmed here on a grand scale.
The Garden Route stretches on the Southern coast from Heidelberg to the Tsitsikamma Forest and Storms River. "It’s a nook of the Country that offers inspiration to writers and artists, whose presence gives the Garden Route a trendy flavour."
It is also a top priority of many a foreign visitor. The coastal drive links a series of charming towns interspersed with natural beauty. Along the way, every kind of adventure activity is possible: scuba diving; abseiling; fishing and more.
The Tsitsikamma National Park, perched on a tumultuous Indian Ocean shore is one of South Africa’s most dramatic protected areas, combining marine and land attractions. Its indigenous forests are a haven for birdlife. One of the most geologically interesting parts of South Africa is the Klein Karoo, with its towering mountains and sheer gorges. An important geological feature is the Cango Caves, a series of caverns and chambers naturally hewn out of limestone, situated outside the city of Oudtshoorn. The Cango Caves are among the top ten most visited South African attractions. Oudtshoorn itself, the heart of the ostrich feather industry when it was in its heyday the late 1800s and early 1900s, is well worth a visit. The grandiose, old feather palaces are still to be seen, while ostrich farms, now involved in the commercial production of meat, leather, eggs and feathers, can be toured, with the possibility of riding an ostrich.
The hospitality sector is arguably the leading source of income for Plettenberg Bay, generating an average of R3.9 billion in earnings annually pre-COVID. Tourism contributes significantly to Plett’s annual GDP and it is the largest employer in the town. As a world-class destination, international and South African guests flock to Plett’s award-winning and internationally recognized beaches.
The South African domestic market (South African travelers) traditionally made up approximately 90% of the sector’s income during the months of October / November / December, and the majority of businesses in Plettenburg, have relied on that December trade to sustain them, as for many of these, that income contributes to an average of 50% of their annual profit. Times have changed, and we are now seeing an emerging new type of traveler with different needs, this is evident according to the results of the annual Plettenburg Bay's Summer Survey conducted by: the 'Plett Tourism Association'. This was for the months of October, November and December 2022.
Hogsback, Eastern Cape
'Hogsback is a magical World of Mountains and Forests.' It is situated high up on the Amatole Mountains of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, and is surrounded by Centuries-old indigenous Afro-Montane Forests. "One's overwhelming sense of Hogsback is the quiet, broken only by the singing of birds or the primeval call of the Knysna Lourie - even the chatter of a troop of Samango Monkeys as they feed and play in the canopies of trees. And when you do hear a motor vehicle you wonder who is coming to visit."
Named after the three distant ridges of the Amathole range of mountains that resemble the back outlines of running wild pigs, the little Town of Hogsback has become an arts and crafts colony, a photographer’s preferred location, a nature lover’s haunt and a honeymoon couple’s top choice of romantic hideaways, in the Eastern Cape.
This Village, high up on the Amathole Mountains and surrounded by Centuries-old indigenous Afro-montane forests, "Which has a dramatic natural beauty!". Look towards the Mountains and Escarpment and you will see several Waterfalls. In the other direction you can see the Tyume Valley and beyond. Overlooking it all are the "three Hogs". From the top of Gaika's Kop (1700 m) you have a panoramic view: The Elandsberg Mountains, even the Coastline some 120 km away' as the crow flies. "You are likely to see a Long-Crested Eagle or Crowned Eagle riding the thermals, in search of its next meal. In the late afternoon you may be fortunate enough to hear - or even see - a few of the highly endangered Cape Parrots returning home after a long day out, feeding. They nest in the Yellowwood Trees, in the Indigenous Forest. In winter you may find even the lower-lying parts of the Village, covered by a blanket of snow.
A silent Winter wonderland that seems far removed from the hot days and noisy thunderstorms of Summer!" Here you will also find magnificent Gardens, with exotic plants from Australia, Europe, North America, the Himalayas, China and Japan. The Gardens of Hogsback are an attraction that brings several gardening tour groups from as far as Cape Town and Johannesburg every year. A range of excellent accommodation is provided by several Hotels, Bed-and-Breakfast establishments, Self-catering Cottages, and Backpackers and Camping facilities.
Hogsback is home to several accomplished artists, including painters, potters, poets, musicians, singers, and photographers. They, as well as many other active and retired professional and business people, live a rich personal and community life here. Hogsback has an active garden club and book clubs. A number of parents on Hogsback choose; homeschool their children. Hogsback also offers so much to those who want to break away from the rush of City life - walking, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, bird watching, and mountain climbing. Or you can simply relax, enjoy an aromatherapy massage, head and shoulders massage, reflexology, or just enjoy reading a book. "Maybe in your retirement Years?"
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Groenendal Wilderness Area
Robert L Barber
January 8th Statements - Statement of the National Executive Committee on the Occasion of the 108th Anniversary of the African National Congress by Cyril Ramaphosa, 8 January 2020
Today, the African National Congress celebrates 108 years since its formation.
We mark this occasion in the historic city of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, a place of resistance and struggle, and home to heroes of our people like Sol Plaatje, Frances Baard, Mittah Seperepere and many others.
Gayle: The Language of Apartheid South Africa’s Gay Underground
The socio-political landscape of Apartheid South Africa was a challenging one for members of the LGBTQI+ community. Under the former National Party (NP), homosexuality was regarded a criminal activity, punishable by up to several years in prison. Rooted in their inherent fear of racial intermixing, The Apartheid State became increasingly anxious about the transgression of sex and sexuality; these “grey areas” threatened their perceived codes of conduct. Strict rules and regulations were set in place to control the transaction of sex and its public presentation.