Sidwadweni Village, Queenstown-Eastern Cape
Sidwadweni is a little village with about a 150 people for its population, in the Eastern Cape which has produced a Celebrity!
Mthatha - Hundreds of people descended onto Mthatha Airport in the Eastern Cape on Sunday afternoon to welcome newly crowned Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi, as she arrived from Johannesburg to her home province, to celebrate her crown with her family.
Tunzi's flight was scheduled to arrive at exactly 5.10pm and the crowd was already waiting with excitement for her arrival. People from her village, Sidwadweni in Tsolo, could not contain their excitement as they ululated and broke into traditional songs amid the loud blare of Gqom music coming a long convoy of cars entering the airport parking lot.
“Almost everyone from eSidwadweni is here, we are very proud of her achievement. Look around, all the cars from our village are here; they brought the village residents here for free to come and welcome her home,” said Nosandiso Ningiza, who claimed to be Zozi’s cousin. Tunzi will spend the night in Sidwadweni, where she will wake up to a traditional ceremony thanking ancestors for the achievement, together with the local chief, prior to heading to the small town of Dutywa, where she grew up with her teacher mother.
Perseverance have paid off for the beauty queen who first entered Miss South Africa in 2017. Refusing to be discouraged by an early elimination, Tunzi gave the national beauty pageant another go in 2019. Her courage to try again paved the way for victory as Miss Universe 2019. She shared the following heartfelt message with fans from her hometown, the village of Sidwadweni, in the Eastern Cape: “This was big for us, for our province, for our little beautiful village. Yes, I do realise that this became more than just about me. Some of the judges pulled me aside and told me I was absolutely outstanding throughout my journey, I stood there, looked at them and thought ‘then why am I not in the top 12?’ Then again I thought to myself ‘God’s timing is perfect. He is never early, he is never late, he is always on time’.” From the preliminary competition on 6 December 2019, Tunzi seemed to be a one-way track to the final. On the night of the finals, on Sunday 8 December, she advanced to the top 20, becoming the first semi-finalist from the Africa/Asia-Pacific region.
After progressing through to the top 10, then top five, and then being one of the three final contestants, she was crowned Miss Universe 2019.
In a voice note to the media, Zozibini acknowledged the support she has received from South African supporters. “Ah, I’m so ecstatic. I think everyone is still waking up by the way. They are going to wake up to a storm of news. I don’t think I have ever had as much support as I did coming into the Miss South Africa crown and so I think this will be something extra and very special for everyone back at home as Miss Universe 2019!.”
Geolocation
-31° 44' 20.4", 27° 29' 42"
References
https://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/282016
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/zozibini-tunzis-faith-and-determination-drove-south-african-beauty-to-miss-universe-glory/
Further Reading
https://www.instagram.com/zozitunzi/?hl=en
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kleinmond
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Western Cape Province, within 40 km from Cape Town. This first South African biosphere reserve covers 103,629 hectares, where more than 80% consist of mountainous landscape with high mountain peaks and deep valleys to gentle hills and lower mountain slopes. The remaining area is made up of a gently rolling coastal plain as well as a marine part that covers some 24,500 hectares. The coastline is mostly rocky with some sandy beaches and estuaries. It is the floristic heart of the smallest of the world’s floral kingdoms (Cape floral kingdom) and it provides habitat for approximately 1,600 plant taxa of which an estimated 150 taxa are endemic to the area and characteristic of the Fynbos biome. The marine environment is part of the warm temperate south coast, and is subject to nutrient- upwelling events that support a highly productive and diverse marine community. Main economic activities in the area include deciduous fruit farming, wine production, flower production, fruit processing, commercial plantations of pines, and tourism. Tourism, specifically eco-tourism, has the potential of becoming one of the major economic activities in the region, with some 60,000 people visiting the area during the holiday season. Environmental education for school children and students is provided in the region. A private non-profit company, that is steered by a board of directors, manages the biosphere reserve. All stakeholders in the region can become members of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Company and thus have an input into the actions of the company.
Kogelberg Nature Reserve is considered by many to be the most beautiful of CapeNature’s protected areas. Its exceptional diversity and quality of fynbos means it is also considered the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom! Considered by many to be the most beautiful of Cape Nature’s protected areas, Kogelberg Nature Reserve earns that reputation largely to the fact that it occupies an area with minimal human interference. Its exceptional diversity and quality of fynbos means it is considered the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom. The reserve presents perhaps the finest example of mountain fynbos in the Western Cape and is a world-renowned World Heritage Site.
At Kogelberg, a sensitive core of 18 000 ha of the reserve has been kept pristine and wild. Here there is much biological diversity and conservation is the priority. Only activities which do not adversely affect natural processes and wildlife are allowed!
If you have driven along the R44 between Rooiels and Kleinmond, you would have marveled at the beauty of the Kogelberg. The reserve’s pristine beauty abounds all year round – during the blazing heat of summer when green is not what you expect, or in rains and mists of winter when torrents of water cascade down rock faces that were bone dry only weeks before. The whole area is inspirational and one of more than 400 biosphere reserves worldwide. Kogelberg was South Africa’s first registered biosphere reserve and it encompasses the entire coastal area from Gordon’s Bay to the Bot River vlei, and inland to Grabouw and the Groenland Mountain.
Geolocation
19° 1' 26.4", -34° 20' 24"
References
https://www.capenature.co.za/reserves/kogelberg-nature-reserve/
https://www.environment.gov.za/content/projects_programmes/manand_thebiosphere_reserves/list/kogelberg
Further Reading
https://www.kbrc.org.za/
King Williams Town, Amatola
Founded as a Missionary Station in 1826, King William’s Town later (after 1835) served as a military headquarters for British Kaffraria and as a centre for German settlement, before officially becoming a Town in 1861.
It was named for the British King William IV. The Town has a large textile mill and tannery and is Nationally known for its many excellent Schools. Its Kaffrarian Museum is considered to have the best collection of African mammal specimens in the World. Considered to be one of the most interesting towns to visit in the region, along with Grahamstown.
About 50 km West of East London, King William's Town is renowned for its beautiful stone buildings, many of which date back to the Frontier wars. King Williams Town has a number of interesting Museums - One of which houses the body of Huberta the hippo who walked some 1500 kilometers across KwaZulu Natal to the Eastern Cape in the early 1900’s and the Amathole Museum has the biggest collection of mammals in Africa. King Williams town is also associated with political unrest during the apartheid era.
Inextricably linked with Bisho - the two are regarded as one - because of its part in recent freedom liberation, King William’s Town is closely tied to Steve Biko, leader of the Black Consciousness Movement, whose grave is just outside Ginsberg and is now a Garden of Remembrance.
Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki hail from the area (it is just a short trip along the N2 to Umtata) and many tourists now follow the Nelson Mandela Route, which starts in King William’s Town, to Umtata and the Nelson Mandela Museum.
Today King William’s Town is the administrative capital of the Eastern Cape. The Town is worth visiting for its natural beauty. The botanical gardens are renowned and Jacarandas that line the streets come into flower in spring. Nearby are the Rooikrans and Maden Dams, which serve as great places to fish and pursue water sports and, should you be attempting the 100 km Amatola Hiking Trail, the Town is only 22 km from its start and serves as an ideal base.
Geolocation
-32° 52' 43.0573", 27° 22' 44.8173"
Botrivier, near Hermanus
The small, picturesque village of Botrivier lies in the foothills of the Houw Hoek Mountains, en route to Hermanus. The Bot River, after which the hamlet is named, meanders its way through a fertile valley surrounded by mountains covered in fynbos, historical wine farms and fields of wheat. A place of crossing in the Bot River originally served as a spot for bartering butter with the Khoi-khoi tribes and the river was attributed with the name ‘butter’ from both sides - the Afrikaans word for butter is ‘botter’ and the Khoi-khoi called it ‘Couga’, which means ‘lots of butter’. The name stuck and today this river flows through the town into a large lagoon, which forms a marsh at its mouth. These wetlands are home to thousands of waterfowl and one of the only remaining herds of wild horses is said roam the area. Botrivier has a tradition of accommodating travellers. The Bot River Hotel was probably built in the 1890s and today serves as a drop-off point for the Baz Bus shuttle - a hop on and off backpacker shuttle that offers travellers of all ages a way to explore South Africa.
A whole generation of South Africans were introduced to the town of Botrivier as the setting for their favourite TV series - ‘Nommer Asseblief’ (number please) and visitors used to insist on seeing the telephone exchange and meeting the characters from the soapie.
Close to Kleinmond and Walker Bay, Botrivier is ideal for travellers who want to escape the throngs during whale watching season, but remain in the vicinity for easy access. Botrivier is a haven for nature lovers, wine tasters and artists, and the sheer tranquillity of the setting means a complete escape from it all.
Geolocation
18° 27' 46.8", -33° 55' 12"
References
https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/botrivier.php
Further Reading
http://www.sabcencore.co.za/sabcencore/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=52:nommer-asseblief&Itemid=730&lang=en
Steenbras Nature Reserve, near Gordons Bay
Steenbras Nature Reserve includes: The well-known Steenbras River Gorge and Crystal Pools Hiking Trail. These are very popular destinations for abseiling, kloof jumping and swimming in the rock pools. The Danie Miller Hiking Trail and the Klipspringer Hiking Trails- ''Can also be investigated in Further Reading!'
Other activities enjoyed along the beautiful coastline include: whale watching, scenic drives and coastal fishing. The Steenbras Nature Reserve forms part of the greater Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. The area is often referred to as ‘the heart of the fynbos.’ With more than 1 600 plant species, it boasts the greatest floral diversity per unit area than anywhere else in the World. The Area supports five different vegetation types and is regarded as one of the World’s biodiversity hotspots. The Area was originally proclaimed as protected in 1979 and was registered with UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1998 and declared an Area of international importance. The Area was declared as Steenbras Nature Reserve, according to the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act, 2003 on 15 September 2017. The City of Cape Town’s portion of the protected environment is more than 8 500 hectares in extent! Opening hours Office hours 07:30 – 16:00 Steenbras River Gorge and Crystal Pools hiking trail bookings: Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30 – 14:30
Geolocation
18° 49' 37.2", -34° 13' 1.2"
References
https://www.capetown.travel/hiking-to-crystal-pools-in-gordons-bay/
https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/helderberg-attractions.htm
https://www.safarinow.com/things-to-do/helderberg/default.aspx
https://helderbergplaas.co.za/
Further Reading
http://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-city-facilities/Our-recreational facilities/ Nature %20reserves /Steenbras%20Nature%20Reservehttps://www.sanparks.org/parks/augrabies/tourism/klipspringer_trail_brochure_sandy%20(Read-Only).pdf
https://www.capetown.travel/hiking-to-crystal-pools-in-gordons-bay/
https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/helderberg-attractions.htm
https://www.safarinow.com/things-to-do/helderberg/default.aspx
https://helderbergplaas.co.za/
https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7077982/klipspringer-trail
Somerset West, Cape Helderberg
Somerset West accommodation ranges from romantic guesthouses to self-catering apartments. It is situated in the Hottentots Holland area, which is right in the heart of the Cape Winelands.
Somerset West is situated in the Hottentots Holland area, about a 30 minute drive from Cape Town along the N2 (national road). Close to Stellenbosch, this residential centre has a delightful setting and many of Somerset Wests residents commute to Cape Town daily.
Somerset West was named after an English governor of the Cape Colony during the 1800s, Lord Charles Henry Somerset, with the suffix 'West' being added to differentiate it from Somerset East, another South African town in the Eastern Cape.
Somerset West lies within easy reach of several beaches bordering the Atlantic Ocean and lying within False Bay. The nearest, the beach at Strand, approximately 6 km from the centre of the town, is popular with families and holidaymakers.
Somerset West is home to the wine farm, Vergelegen, an impressive 18th century farmhouse built in Cape Dutch style. The farm is now owned by a subsidiary of the large mining company Anglo American, who have restored the farmhouse to its original magnificence and continue to produce some of South Africa's best wines there.
A popular Christmas tradition that has been held annually for the past 20 years at Vergelegen is "Candles By Candlelight". Visitors are invited to bring a picnic basket, blanket and torch and celebrate the joy of Christmas with family and friends on the sprawling lawns of this magnificent wine farm.
Another Christmas tradition, Somerset West is known for its annual display of Christmas lights along the Main Road. Every year people come from all over the country to drive slowly down the Main Road to see the brilliant display of glimmering lights, bells, angels, reindeer, candles and a lot more! The Helderberg Lights Festival (also known as the Strawberry Festival) traditionally complements these lights when the Main Road is closed off in the evening, and floats, parades and flea market stalls are lined up under the lights. A wonderful outing for the whole family!
Geolocation
18° 47' 34.8", -34° 3' 46.8"
References
https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/arniston.php
Further Reading
http://nelmitravel.com/christmas-lights-in-somerset-west-south-africa/