Let’s go camping – the best campsites on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast

Lets go camping!

It’s virtually that time of the year again, when a beach holiday for the family looms on the horizon and visions of just how one is going to wiggle one’s way into one’s swim attire with a fair amount of grace occupies one’s thoughts, if only for a moment. The rest of the time is taken up with trying to find the right campsite whilst dithering about how best to fit the entire house and the kitchen sink into the boot of the car!

The KwaZulu-Natal coastline is the most obvious choice when it comes to endless summer and warm waters. Along this strip of coastline between Port Edward and Durban is an uninterrupted playground of golden beaches, rocky coves, lagoon mouths, grassy slopes and, of course, the warm Indian Ocean that invites hours of water play … Continued

Sisters with Blisters taking place 28 November

We’ve all had them, that extremely painful blister after a fun night out wearing your favourite pair of stilettos. But this doesn’t really give us a sense of achievement or make much difference to anyone but ourselves. So why not get a blister on 28 November 2009 that will actually mean something?

Sisters with Blisters in an annual event that has been taking place for the past 3 years. Jacaranda 94.2 and First for Women have joined forces to raise awareness on the abuse suffered by many women and children Continued

Why I’m telling no-one about McGregor

It isn’t easy to find somewhere to stay on a farm that is remote but still close enough to a small town to provide light entertainment when needed and supplies when necessary. I spent quite a bit of time on the internet before I found our little gem on a farm just outside Robertson and McGregor (bonus as we got two quaint towns for the price of one!).

The unbelievably beautiful valley that holds Robertson, McGregor, Ashton, Bonnievale and Montagu in its embrace has something magical about it. And if you don’t believe me, visit it yourself and you’ll understand what I mean. The secret is to take the time to stop in the towns, as we did in Robertson and McGregor, so that the charm of each can find its way into the corners of your mind. Because it won’t be anything tangible or something you ‘discover’; the magic is simply there for the taking, you have but to imbibe … Continued

Dwarf Chameleon photograph by Jennifer Peers

This amazing close up of a dwarf chameleon was sent to us by Jennifer Peers as an entry for our November Photography Competition. Jennifer has submitted some of the most beautiful photographs (see previous featured photo here). According to the Wikipedia entry for Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum), it is native to the Western Cape where it is restricted to the region around Cape Town. Continued

It’s the Ficksburg Festival, my cherry!

Cherry Festival

Ficksburg didn’t mean that much to me until I visited the pretty little town set on the banks of the Caledon River. It lies at the foot of the beautiful Imperani Mountain in the Free State, for those of you who didn’t know, and I had only heard of it before the festival because a school friend of mine hailed from there (and since we were at school in Durban at the time, you can understand how she was regarded with a fair amount of  incredulity).

First off let me say that if you’re a fan of cherries, then this is the festival to attend. For the last couple of years at least, cherries seem to have given the shelves of my local Pick n Pay the run around. That, or they were in and off the shelves so fast that I didn’t even catch a whiff of the dainty red stoned fruit! Thus a trip to the Eastern Free State around the third week of November may be the closest you will get to this delectable dainty … Continued

The grand opening of the Cape Quarter’s Square

Cape Quarter

This is one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets because it has something for everyone, health, beauty, fashion, lifestyle and food all in one unique venue with typical Cape Malay architecture. This is a place that epitomises cool and if you want to be with the who’s who then you should make your way to the Cape Quarter …

This is such a fantastic space that is brought together with the central piazza which in itself is a meeting place for friends and family before they explore the Cape Quarter’s wonderful opportunities and hidden treasures. The Cape Quarter Piazza can be found at 72 Waterkant Street, Green Point … Continued

A weekend in Franschhoek

Franschhoek

Friends got married at Moreson Wine Estate last weekend so we used this as a good excuse to spend the weekend in Franschhoek.  It was a lunch time wedding and we live in Cape Town, so strictly speaking two nights in Franschhoek was not really necessary but then again, it’s Franschhoek and it’s always a treat to spend time in this beautiful town!

We arrived on Friday evening and there is something quite special about driving through the valley as the sun is setting.  We really do live in a country with the most breathtaking scenery … Continued

South African Sports News – 4 November

Francois Hougaard

Bulls tame Cheetahs to take Currie Cup
It was all smiles for the Loftus Versfeld faithful in Pretoria on Saturday night when their darlings, the mighty Blue Bulls, defeated a stubborn Cheetahs outfit 36-24 to become 2009 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division champions. The Bulls stormed to a 24-0 lead after just 25 minutes courtesy of a try from right wing Francois Hougaard (pictured with ball in hand) and a brace from left wing Bryan Habana, but the Cheetahs, as always, staged a spirited fight back to close the gap to just six points after 48 minutes. Continued

Giraffe photograph by Erma Mae Perkins

This beautiful photograph of a Giraffe taken on a game walk in the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve was submitted to our November Photography Competition by Erma Mae Perkins. Established in 1895, this is the oldest game park in South Africa along with nearby St Lucia Reserve. Apart from game viewing drives there are self guided auto trails which provide information on both the management and natural history of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi game reserve. Guided walks can be especially rewarding in the early morning and late afternoon … Continued

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

There’s a secret little world of fantasy and fairy tale, which unfolds every Saturday morning in Constantia, Cape Town. And if you have not treated your children to a visit to the Rainbow Puppet Theatre, at the Michael Oak Waldorf school, then you are missing out! Continued

Bashful and Beautiful – Waterbuck by Dror Orbach

Todays photograph of a female Waterbuck was sent to us by Dror Orbach from Israel, taken on a visit to South Africa in 2008. The waterbuck is not aquatic nor much at home in water, but it does take refuge there to escape predators. The waterbuck is a large, robust antelope with large, rounded ears and white patches above the eyes, around the nose and mouth and on the throat. Only the males have horns, which are prominently ringed and as long as 40 inches. Continued

Joostenberg Deli – a stop worth making time for

Farm outside Bloekomsbos

Saturday was a day filled with new discoveries and interesting stops. We visited a local farmer, Erick, on his farm just outside Bloekomsbos, accidentally discovered one of the Stellenbosch jewels – Joostenberg Deli – and uncovered a gem of a garden centre just next door.

Erick Zenzele is the farmer that sends us a bag full of peas, cabbage, mixed lettuce leaves, beetroot, broccoli and spinach every week. His farm (his land has been loaned to him by a local farmer) just outside Bellville in Cape Town is part of the local CSA (community supported agriculture) project supported by Slow Food Cape Town together with the Sustainability Institute. A group of families in Cape Town help support the farmers involved by paying upfront for our bags of veg. But it’s also a way of reconnecting with our food. As ‘consumers’ we now know exactly where our vegetables are grown, and after our visit on Saturday, by whom … Continued

Pinocchio Pantomime in Johannesburg from 4 November

Adventures of Pinocchio

We have all heard of the story of the little wooden boy who was carved from a piece of pine by the woodcarver Geppetto and who was created as a puppet but dreamt of becoming a “real boy” named Pinocchio. This fictional character has been around since 1883 and has become a well loved tale and was certainly a firm favourite of mine whilst I was growing up.

And if you are in Johannesburg or its surrounding areas you will be happy to know that Pinocchio will be the biggest pantomime ever this year with 60 artists taking part. If you already au fait with pantomimes you probably call them panto’s and already have your tickets booked. However, if you do not fall into this category let me give you a little refresher in what the pantomime is … Continued