Sunday, July 17, 2011

Kalahari Safari




We offer a safari experience with a big difference to the semi-arid northern regions of South Africa. It used to be called the Kalahari Gemsbok Park because these magnificent creatures abound.

As the area consists mostly of dry river beds covered in grass, it is open and the game is easy to see when animals come to drink at the water holes.
On a recent tour there, we had wonderful cat sightings, especially of cheetah. These endangered creatures love the open spaces as it is easier for them to hunt there. We were lucky enough to see a cheetah mum with 4 cubs making a hunting attempt. We also enjoyed daily visits to a hyena den where 2 pups, 3 adults and a juvenile were living. There were lions, including a mating pair and plenty of jackals who seem to be active day and night.
At the very end, just as we were about to leave the Park, we saw a leopard mum with 2 cubs, playing in and around an Acacia tree. That was something special!

Accommodation in the Wilderness Camps is in very roomy safari tents built on a deck with great views over the river bed, the trekking route of all the game in the park.

Ask about this tour, it is something so worthwhile and unique.




Monday, July 4, 2011

Xhosa Women delight in Traditional Dress


On a recent township tour, we were entertained by a group of wonderful Xhosa women, in the traditional dress of their culture. They sang and danced for us. They are highly respected elders in their society, whose duty it is to hand down stories in the oral tradition which will be lost without the likes of them.
They have taken much pride in making their colourful traditional costumes. Especially lovely is the beautiful embroidered beadwork.





Saturday, July 2, 2011

One of Cape Town's Most Interesting Ship Wrecks

Not far off the well beaten tourist track in the Cape Point National Park, is an easy and picturesque walk to the wreck of the SS Thomas T Tucker. The American Liberty ship, ran aground in thick fog in 1942, while hugging the coastline and trying to avoid the German U boats patrolling the South African coast.
I undertook this walk with a group of American tourists who wanted to see some of the many ship wrecks that lie around the Cape Peninsula.To get to the wreck, we enjoyed a tranquil walk through fynbos, along a deserted beach to see her interesting rusted hulk still relatively well preserved.