Dinner at Al Pescatore in Ballito – a review

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Dine at Al Pescatore

A few weeks ago we had lunch at the well known Ballito eatery Al Pescatore. This Italian and seafood restaurant has been operating since 1989 and is well of the oldest and most popular restaurants on the Dolphin Coast.

Located slap bang on the beach – overlooking Clark Bay in fact, Al Pescatore is popular with both the older and younger generations. The restaurant has a stylishly decorated interior while the wooden deck outside appeals to the younger, more casual crowd who want to come off the beach and have a relaxed lunch. I like the idea of eating on the deck (which is closed in with large, sliding windows) so I can enjoy the magnificent view of the sea but unfortunately for me it also doubles as the smoking section … and one thing I detest is someone smoking while I try to enjoy my meal! Continued

A weekend in the Magaliesberg

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Beautiful Magaliesberg

Before the Dutch trekked up from the Cape in search of new frontiers, claimed the Ndebeli land and renamed the mountains Magaliesberg, Botswana tribes who’d migrated here were invaded by the Bapede and Ndabele while lead by Shaka Zulu’s best captain, Mzilikazi. He broke away from Shaka, formed his own tribe and controlled all the inhabitants between the Vaal River and Limpopo.

Thereafter explorers such as Robert Moffat, David Livingstone, and William Cornwallis Harris reached this part of Africa and interacted with the tribes who had settled here. Some explorers were scientists, missionaries, hunters and traders and the Cashan/ Kgaswane Mountains reaped many treasures for each party. Cornwall Harris was one of the men who hunted here and discovered the Sable Antelope whilst Andrew Smith lead s scientific expedition and later found the South African Musuem. Once the Boer trekkers killed Mzilikazi’s men and drove them north and transformed the Magaliesberg into productive farmland. Continued

Port Elizabeth one of the “Big Five” Cities

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Port Elizabeth

One of South Africa’s “Big Five” Cities, Port Elizabeth is located on South Africa’s world renowned N2 road. This long road travels along the eastern coast all the way from Cape Town, up through the picturesque Garden Route, and carries on through Durban, Richards Bay and then finally heading inland at St Lucia toward its ending in Ermelo. Just as many coastal cities in South Africa were started off thanks to the trade routes, so was Port Elizabeth. Noted on the charts of Portuguese navigational giants such as Bartholomew Dias and Vasco da Gama simply as “landing place with fresh water” Port Elizabeth later became an important stop. It was a harbour for the Portuguese ships leaving to trade with their Indian colony in “Goa” and hence the name Algoa, which literally means “to Goa” the ships would wait here until for favourable conditions before setting out. The history of Port Elizabeth is a fascinating one; dominated by the Xhosa, English, Portuguese and Dutch, it is well worth delving into for anybody that wants to know a bit more about “The Friendly City” – as it’s affectionately known. Continued

10 Hour Stopover in Cape Town – top things to do

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Cape Town, on the very tip of the African continent, whilst not the Singapore of the European / Asian flight path by any stretch of the imagination, is nonetheless conveniently placed to act as a stopover point for long-haul flights.

Already there are tourists who fly into Cape Town en route to Johannesburg. And it will only need a gentle nudge – now that fuel-efficient long-distance aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A380 are in the air – to convince airlines to take advantage of everything the city has to offer.

Layovers can be gruelling, frustrating and typically exhausting. But with an overnight, and 10 hours to play with, there is a lot to do Cape Town to take the edge off the wait.

Simply catch the regular MyCiTi bus from Cape Town International to the V&A Waterfront or Civic Centre. Continued

In Search of the Baobab – Where to find them in South Africa

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The Mighty Baobab

The African baobab or Adansonia digitata is the only of the now nine species (up until recently there were eight) of baobab trees native to the African mainland.

These monster trees with their swollen, gnarled bodies and incongruous branches that look more like roots than arms are also known as ‘elephant trees’, ‘big trees’ or ‘upside down trees’.

Their lifespan is great and there are specimens in South Africa as old as 3000 years. Even the average baobab on the side of the road is 350 years old. The tree against which you lean to have your photograph taken was there during your grandfather’s time, to put it in perspective. Continued

Accommodation in South Africa – how is it graded?

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Finding a place to stay these days is as simple as a few double clicks on a website like SA Venues to sift through pictures of accommodation until you’re happy. You even get to deal directly with the owners for further information.

But it does leave judgement up to you.

For someone like me, who regularly searches for unusual places to stay and who has a fair amount of insight into what to look for in a venue so that my expectations are met, this is ideal. A grading is not all that important.

If anything, I steer away from the four or five star venues simply to avoid the homogeneity and cost I perceive to be associated with them.

But is my assumption that the nitty gritty of a grading is all about air conditioning units, dinner service, headboards, and armchairs entirely fair? Continued

I ♥ Gordons Bay Because …

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I ♥ Gordons Bay

Hi, I’m Lynn Leclercq from The Blue Marine Self Catering in Gordons Bay in the Cape Helderberg, Western Cape.

Gordons Bay IS BEST KNOWN FOR small friendly village with lovely white beaches and vibey restaurants.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Whale Point, and if lucky can spot dolphins all year round and whales in winter.
THE BEST scenic PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT at the top of Steenbras dam,enter road as you drive along the coast road.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT Bikini beach (which is Blue Flag status). Continued

10 Ways To Survive A Holiday In A Group, With Kids

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Going away with children is fairly taxing on its own, but a holiday with a group of friends AND children – can it work?

Is that asking for more stress than you can handle, or are there benefits that far outweigh the minor compromises you may have to make?

We went away in a group of six adults and five children recently, for three nights. It was one of the most wonderful holidays I’ve had (with children, that is). Here are a few ways I would suggest to allow your holiday to run smoothly:

SELECT CAREFULLY
Inviting along a couple you know is going through a rough time in their marriage is a recipe for disaster, as is asking along people you suspect will never hit it off. That applies to single friends too – if they do not have their own children, they’re going to be fish out of water. Successful weekends develop when your friends know how to behave as adults and are at the same stage of life. Children are a lot less hassle. On the whole, I’m inclined to think that as long as they are neither too old, nor too young, children of most ages will get along just fine. And if the adults are having a good time, the children will too. Continued

The Food Market in Durban

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Delicious goodies

If there is anything I love its discovering a new market. I relocated to KwaZulu Natal from Cape Town almost a year ago and in the Mother City one is, well, spoilt for choice when it comes to markets. I mean the Earth Fair Market and the Blue Bird Market are within 10 kms of each other and they happen three times a week! Nevertheless, Durban and Ballito are not far behind when it comes to quality and range of traders and produce.

I joined friends at the end of last month at The Food Market which takes place on the last Saturday of every month at the Hellenic Centre in Durban North. This market has won, for the third year in a row, the 2012 Eat in Award for the Best Market in the Eastern Region – a well deserved award indeed. Continued

Knysna – A seaside town close to my heart

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Noetzie Castles

Growing up caravanning and camping in and near the little town of Knysna almost became a norm for me. I would visit every year during the school holidays, visit the town’s markets, picnic alongside the lagoon and enjoy the summer rainfall. Now that I’m travelling the world, it’s hard to believe that such a spectacular little place exists in the heart of the Garden Route only a few hours from Cape Town. Mountains, beaches, rivers and lagoons will leave you awe-struck and with many things to do. Here are some things to do in and around Knysna:

Knysna Castles

Just 20 km outside of Knysna and along a short dirt road will lead you to the Knysna Castles at Noetzie. The view is simply beautiful and once you’ve walked down 150 stairs, you can swim on the beach, go for a picnic in the forest, whale watch in season, hike, go fishing and walk a bit further to views the castles. Continued

An Adventure Junkies Guide to the Cederberg

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Stunning Cederberg

With winter fast approaching in the Western Cape, why not plan a trip to the Cederberg where you’ll find a dry and sunny climate all year round? You can escape the cold, wet Cape and drive for two and half hours until you reach the serene Cederberg. You’ll find peace, quiet and adventure amongst the mountains, streams and fynbos.

On your feet

If you’d like to explore this beautiful part of the world but prefer to be on your own two feet, set off on a multi-day wilderness hiking trail. After you get a Cederberg Wilderness Permit from Cape Nature, you can sign up for a hike. Explore the ancient rock art found within caves and on rock walls and feast your eyes on the vast expanse of mountain ranges, scenic valleys and truly unforgettable rock formations. It’s up to you whether you prefer to sleep in a forestry hut or beneath the stars, but huts cannot be pre-booked and will depend on a first come, first served basis. Whilst on the trails, you may not bump into anyone else for days, so make sure you travel in a group and inform people where you’re going. Pack water, sunscreen and adequate food for the trail as well as warmer clothes just in case. Grab a map from Cape Nature before setting off. Continued

I ♥ Sunset Beach Because …

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I ♥ Sunset Beach

Hi, I’m Candice Diab from Sunset Views in Sunset Beach in Blaauwberg.

Sunset Beach IS BEST KNOWN FOR its spectacular Table Mountain views and endless stretches of white, sandy beach. It is also internationally renowned as a kite and wind-surfing hotspot!

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN along the beach with the magnificent backdrop of Table Mountain!
THE BEST sunset PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN from the beach.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S WINDY, I LIKE TO choose between some action sports our coastline has to offer: kite surfing and wind surfing in particular. Continued

South Africa’s Majestic Drakensberg Mountains

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Majestic Drakensberg

The Drakensberg Mountains are not only the largest but highest mountain range in Southern Africa stretching all the way along Kwazulu Natal’s western boundary. It’s Dutch for “dragon mountains” and Zulu name, Ukhahlamba, means a “barrier of spears”. Its Southern region can be found in Lesotho whilst the rest of its undeniably spectacular valleys can be visited in the northern and central areas.

Some of the most popular valleys include Cathedral, Didima, Ampitheatre, Champagne Valley and Middledale Pass Valley. Once you visit, you will want to linger longer and luckily there are many camping, self-catering and luxury options available. Within the Drakensberg conserved area you’ll find 37 % of the country’s non-marine bird life making up 299 various species. 119 globally endangered fauna species can be found within this diverse landscape. This is precisely why hiking, bird watching, game viewing, horse trails and rock climbing can be enjoyed here amongst the thick bush, steep cliffs and smaller shrubs. Continued

FOUR Annual Festivals You Don’t Want To Miss!

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City of Gold Festival

Every city has one – a festival you just cannot miss. One that is worth going to because it’s spectacularly unusual, and for a moment you can almost pretend that your life is hip and happening (I’ll speak for myself, shall I?).

Here are four such festivals – unusual, creative, slightly whacky (a couple of them) and worth attending for the promised exhiliration you will feel as a result.

There will be those of you who argue about other equally as entertaining festivals, but I’ve selected those I think stand head and shoulders above the rest, mostly for originality.

CITY OF GOLD FESTIVAL

I missed it. Darn. To those of you who managed to get there, wow, this is one festival that looks simply unmissable. April 2013 was the third year for this Urban Art Festival. Graffiti and street artists from around the world hit the streets of Johannesburg in various events at different locations in the inner city. International artists are there to inspire the local graffiti / street art community by exposing them to new skills and stimulation. Continued