South Africa Travel News » Photos of South Africa

Chart Farm Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:00:57 +0000

My husband and I did something different on Sunday – we visited Chart Farm in Wynberg Park and picked our own roses! I had been earlier in the year only to find that roses are seasonal and I was a few weeks to late but taking my flowering Iceberg rose at home as an indication that other roses might also be blooming we made our way to the farm. Located near Wynberg Park, Chart Farm and its farm style environment is well worth a visit.

There are a wide variety of roses and they are available for pick-your-own (a bucket and secateurs are provided) or alternatively you can purchase the blooms ready picked. It is lovely though to wander the terraces, admiring the gorgeous colours on display and taking in the views of the Constantia Valley. The cost to pick your own is R4 per stem Monday to Saturday. Sunday picking is half price; R2 per stem. Already picked roses are R5.50 per stem.

Being a farm, the farm stall offers fresh, seasonal farm produce which include lemons, limes, grapes, veges and chestnuts. For the keen gardeners compost and mulch are available to purchase per bag. If you need larger quantities a bulk delivery could be arranged.

The views are there to be enjoyed and what better way to do that than by stopping for tea at The Terrace Coffee Shop. Home-made cakes as well as breakfast and lunch are served between 9am to 4.30pm (with last orders at 4.00pm) daily.

We really enjoyed our trip to Chart Farm and will definitely go back again.

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Slow Food Flick, Pick & Mix — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:00:49 +0000

Last week I had a fantastic evening out at the Fugard Theatre in District 6, Cape Town. I attended a screening of the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which was made in 1971. The evening was organised by Slow Food Mother City and they had arranged a sweet market before the movie began.

Were we in for a treat, local producers set up stalls to entices us at every corner. If you have a sweet tooth you would have been in heaven because this market offered you every treat imaginable. From vanilla treats to macaroons, raw chocolate to homemade ice-cream, chocolate brownies to lemon curd cupcakes. The list goes on ... Included in our ticket price was R25 worth of vouchers to spend at the market, mine were gone almost instantly. The event was booked out and there was such a festive atmosphere for the entire evening. I relived a part of my childhood by opening up my imagination and reminding myself it's ok to have sweet treats as your dinner once in a while ...

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Napier Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:30:56 +0000

Napier is a pretty town surrounded by fields of barley and wheat and was named after the Governor of the Cape at the time; Sir George Napier. Interesting shops and eateries line the streets of the town and if you are in town you must make sure you visit The Farm Stall which is located directly through the town. The interior is a quirky collection of enamel signs (unfortunately not for sale) and other memorabilia. Other interesting objects hang on the walls outside – it makes for interesting conversation as you wait for your delicious meal to arrive!

As like most of the towns in this area, the Dutch Reformed Church is a mightily impressive building – look out for its unusual architecture and if you visit, admire the teak interior. Napier hosts the Patatfees (Sweet Potato Festival) in June each year and the route of the Voet van Afrika Marathon goes through the town when it’s held in October.

I’ve been to Napier twice now and always enjoying stopping – whether it’s for an overnight stay or just for lunch at The Farm Stall!

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Elim Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:30:40 +0000

Id heard about Elim and seeing as we were in the area over the weekend we stopped off for a wander around on Sunday. Elim dates back to 1824 when it was founded by Moravian monks and became the third Moravian mission station in the Cape. Today it is one of the few surviving mission stations in the country. Most of the cute, thatched cottages date back to the 19^th century and are made of mud-brick, plastered with lime plaster and thatched with restio grass. Many of the 2000 current Elim residents are sought-after thatchers.

Worth visiting is the watermill which is still working after being built in 1824! The same is to be said for the church clock – it’s been counting time since 1824 and is the oldest working clock in the country. I can vouch for the clock; it struck 1pm when I was there! Elim proudly has South Africa’s only memorial to the emancipation of slaves.

Elim is an important part of the wine producing industry with four producing partners: Black Oystercatcher, the Berrio, Zoetendal and First Sighting creating Elim Winegrowers, a self-sustaining farming community. The fruit produced in Elim is slightly different to other fruit; the cool south west and south east winds restrict upward growth which means that the vine produces a concentrated fruit.

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L'Agulhas Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:00:11 +0000

The relatively small village of L’Agulhas is situated in the Cape Agulhas region of the Western Cape, a mere two hour drive from Cape Town and is famously known as the place where the two oceans; the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean meet. Discovered in the 15^th century by the Portuguese, Agulhas was originally known as Cabo das Agulhas (Cape of Needles) because no variation between true north and magnetic north was shown on compasses.

Many ships have ended their sea-going journey on the jagged rock formations found along this coastline; hence the construction of the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse which was built in 1840 (the 3^rd to be built in South Africa). The famous red and white building was restored in 1968 and after being declared unsafe is now a National Monument. The lighthouse is open to visitors and has an interesting museum and a quaint coffee shop should you need light refreshment!

The area has many walking and hiking trails; perhaps try a walk along the sandy beaches all the way to Struisbaai?

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Elgin Open Gardens Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:00:22 +0000

We spent the night in Elgin on Saturday and on the way home used the opportunity to pop into one of the open gardens. For those who don’t know, gardens are opened to the public every year (this year over the weekends of October 29^th and 30^th and November 5^th and 6^th) in the Elgin, Vyeboom and Bot River Districts. The gardens range from country gardens that are well established (some are over 50 years old) to smaller gardens in villages that have been recently planted but most are no more than a sixty minute drive from Cape Town and are so worth visiting. Many gardens have plants for sale and also offer tea and light meals. There are also art and sculpture events on in the district and some local wine cellars are offering tastings.

There are five different routes. Route 1 incorporates Grabouw and its environs, Route 2 is the Viljoenshoop Road, Route 3 covers the Highlands and Valley Road while Route 4 involves Villersdorp Road and Vyeboom and finally Route 5 looks after Houw Hoek and Bot River. The different farms and properties are located along the various routes so you just need to decide on your route of choice and follow the map!

We visited Boesmansrug which was part of Route 4. The gardens incorporated rose and herb gardens, a secret garden, gorgeous green pastures and majestic oaks. Plants and tea were on sale and money went to the chosen charity which was Kirstenbosch Environmental Education. Although some of the gardens offer free entry, some charge an entry fee of between R5 to R20 (entry to Oak Valley is R50 but pre-booking is essential) so make sure you have cash on you.

It really is a lovely day out – I wish we’d planned the day better and spent more time visiting more gardens.

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Arniston Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:00:31 +0000

This picturesque little fishing village on the shores of Marcus Bay is also known as Waenhuiskrans (‘wagon shelter cliff’). The name comes from a large sea-cave, which although only visible during low-tide resembles the structures used by settlers to house their wagons and cattle. The village itself got the name ‘Arniston’ from the Arniston ship which wrecked off the in 1815. After cutting away three of its anchors the vessel ran ashore and broke up on the sharp rocks off the Arniston Reef. Sadly, only six of the 378 passengers survived to tell the tale.

Arniston however is a pretty village, with sparkling blue water and gorgeous beaches, perfect for lazing away sunny summer days. Artists and photographers are attracted to the seaside location; the white-washed cottages, rolling sand dunes, steep cliffs and blue ocean make for picture perfect photographs and paintings! The cottages are Kassiebaai are more than 200 years old and are a National Monument.

De Hoop and De Mond Nature Reserves neighbour Arniston; a bird watcher and hikers delight.

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Struisbaai Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:00:52 +0000

Although a bit windy on the day we visited Struisbaai and not being during ‘season’ just yet we could still get a vibe for this pretty seaside town located in the Cape Agulhas region of the Western Cape. Colourful fishing boats bobbed in the harbour and children swam and boogie-boarded in the waves (don’t children ever feel the cold?!). A boardwalk through part of the dunes makes for easy walking and the views of the beaches are worth seeing – whether it’s windy or not!

During the summer months Struisbaai enjoys a healthy amount of visitors who come to the town to enjoy the water sports on offer. It’s easy to launch a kayak or small boat from the beach while kite-surfing and boarding are also popular. Struisbaai, like many of the coastal villages in this region boasts quaint white-washed fishermen’s houses and newer houses must follow the design of the original cottages. If in the town make sure you visit the Anglican church which is now a National Monument.

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Bredasdorp Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:00:19 +0000

We had the opportunity to visit the town of Bredasdorp when we took part in the Voet van Afrika Marathon this past weekend. The town is situated in the Cape Agulhas region of the Western Cape and claims to be the first town or dorp to be established in South Africa. Apart from being a big producer of wheat and protea flowers, Bredasdorp is also well known for having South Africa’s only Shipwreck Museum (which was sadly closed on this weekend). The museum has an extensive collection of artefacts from ships wrecked along this coastline … one can see cannons, coins, chinaware and ship bells. One of the rooms at the museum is a tribute to Audrey Blignaut, a South African author born in Bredasdorp.

The wheat fields that surround the town attract many different birds; we were lucky enough to see 13 Blue Cranes in one field alone and although not avid birders ticked off our first ‘lifer’; a Cape Teal duck merrily paddling around a farm pond! Hueningberg Nature Reserve is a must if you enjoy the great outdoors – there are lots of walks available. Bredasdorp and the area around it is a wonderful place to visit and at just over two hours from Cape Town, it’s the perfect distance for a weekend getaway.

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A Wild Ride at Ratanga Junction — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:00:14 +0000

I have to admit, I haven't been to Ratanga Junction in years — I remember when I was at school it was all the rage to spend as many weekends as possible at Ratanga. Going on every ride until we were delirious with adrenaline and excitement. So when a friend suggested this for her birthday I jumped at the chance.

Off we headed to Century City to get there when the gates opened at 10h00. Since the park is only open during school holidays and this was the first Saturday of the holidays we expected a fair number of people, however the queue was snaked around the entrance with eager people of all ages ready to have a day of fun.

I was happy to see the park so full and to top it off the staff were some of the most friendly and helpful I have encountered in a long time. We had a day filled with laughter and screams on the rides. It was an exhilirating day and I will most certainly be back. This is a fun filled day for all members of your family.

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Stanford Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:00:45 +0000

Stanford is a quaint, sleepy village that is found on the other side of Hermanus in the Cape Overberg. Sheltered by the Klein River Mountains it’s a peaceful village that has a healthy mix of art galleries, antique and second hand shops, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and pubs. Originally a farm, de Kleine Riveirs Valey and the historical buildings on tree-lined streets are reference to the English influence on the village and why its now the third most historically important village in the Western Cape.

If visiting Stanford a must see is the Birkenhead Brewery which is a boutique brewery open for beer tasting and lunches and the Stanford Walking Trail which meanders its way along the Klein River, through the town and offers walkers great birding opportunities, including sighting the endangered Blue Crane.

Stanford is a wonderful weekend venue; perfect to take in the sights or just as perfect to laze around the garden and do nothing!

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Bay Harbour Market — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:00:09 +0000

I’m a big fan of a market so imagine my sheer joy when we walked into the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay! It seemed to be a case of ‘the early bird catches the worm’ because on arriving at around 9.30am we managed to walk around easily, found a table to sit at and didn’t have to wait in to long a queue to order our delicious breakfast and perfectly made creamy cappuccino.

I was so impressed with this market; it’s been open for about six weeks and in that short space of time has become very popular. There are over 100 stalls which have a healthy mix of food, art, clothing, craft, décor and fashion. I loved the beautiful cushions, napkins and aprons Melanie of Quiver Design had on show and the ceramics Noleen Read produces are definitely on my Christmas list. The food all looked absolutely delicious and the only thing to do is to make the market a regular weekend stop to try all the produce offered.

The market is open 10am – 5pm on Saturdays, 10am – 4pm on Sundays and from September 9^th will also open from 4pm – 9pm on a Friday. There is ample, secure parking available.

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Spring in the Western Cape in photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:00:30 +0000

We were sent some really beautiful photographs which were taken near Philadelphia in the Western Cape which got us all excited about Spring. It's a wonderful time of year — Join us in celebrating the imminent arrival of Spring here in South Africa.

"I love this time of year and the rural fields are full of the new wheat and oats and the gush of bright yellow canola. The farm animals and birds take pleasure in the warm days too. What a wonder this is …
Enjoy my part of the world"!" ~ Barbara

View the full gallery on Flickr.com

(Photographs courtesy of and © Barbara Mueller-Thiart)

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A Seafood Extravaganza at Strandloper — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:00:24 +0000

A friend decided to have his birthday at the Strandloper Seafood Restaurant in Langebaan and it was a scorcher of a day. We all arrived with plenty of suntan lotion, hats and cooler boxes filled with drinks and ice (definitely recommended when its hot). Booking is essential and since we were a large group we were given a big space under plenty of shade cloth.

Lunch consisted of too many courses to remember, start the day off with the most spectacular homemade bread and butter — I could have quite honestly munched through an entire loaf myself, mussels done in garlic, followed by braaied fish, seafood paella and so much more. I think at this point I was in a food coma, but I woke up swiftly when I heard the kreef (crayfish) was ready. All of the food is cooked in front of you on the fires in the centre of the beach restaurant. Next time you're in Langebaan book your spot at the Strandloper ...

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Zinkwazi Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:00:57 +0000

Zinkwazi is probably one of my most favourite places in South Africa. A small seaside village on the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu Natal, it hasn’t changed much since we started visiting it thirty odd years ago. In fact the only growth is Prouds Pizza on the beach and the Magohany Reef beach bar – and this is just the way I like it! I’m lucky enough to have family that now resides permanently at Zinkwazi so the visits continue.

Zinkwazi has beautiful beaches with the main beach equipped with shark nets and lifeguards making safe swimming possible. One of the focal points of the village is the 7 kilometre long lagoon that meanders its way through sugar cane fields and offers spectacular birding. Some 600 species have been recorded putting Zinkwazi firmly on the Zululand Birding Route.

Although hot and humid during the summer months, Zinkwazi in the winter is a pleasure. The days are normally warm and sunny and although slightly chillier than normal, a swim in the sea can be achieved!

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Gorgeous Greyton — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:00:59 +0000

The gorgeous village of Greyton, located in the Cape Overberg and surrounded by farmlands and the Riviersondered Mountains is a very manageable 90 minute drive from Cape Town and is just perfect for a weekend getaway. The village has a number of super restaurants and delis so a decent coffee and a loaf of artisan bread is easy to find … if that is what you are looking for. The Greyton Market takes place every Saturday from 10am to midday; thing to try would be the lemon curd pancakes, the homemade lemonade, the heavy with meat pies, the pestos – actually the list is endless.

The oak lined streets, beautifully restored cottages and pretty gardens make Greyton picture perfect. There is loads to do; from walking or cycling in the mountains, ambling the streets, eating at the many eateries, hiking to McGregor, visiting historical buildings or hunting for antiques – the list is endless. Or of course you can just relax in the sunshine and enjoy the views!

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Franschhoek in mid-winter — photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 07:00:21 +0000

Even in the middle of winter the gorgeous town of Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands enchants. If you are looking for a romantic breakaway, Franschhoek in winter is a gem with lots of charming places to stay and lots to do in and around the town. Franshhoek’s village has a wonderful collection of art and antique shops and galleries and the main streets are lined with restaurants and coffee shops and things to do. It is easy to spend a day or weekend (or even a week ort two!) here and Franschhoek serves as an excellent springboard to other wine routes and the Four Passes Fruit Route, of which Franschhoek is also part ...

Photographs taken in midwinter in Franschhoek

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What's your favourite mid-winter breakaway?

Franschhoek Bastille Day Festival Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:50:18 +0000

Some of our team members attended the Franschhoek Bastille Day festival on the weekend of 16 July and brought back some wonderful photographs of the festivities. We especially like the photos of the Solms-Delta marching band — aren't they a handsome bunch? Franschhoek, South Africa’s Gourmet Capital, celebrates its centuries-old French Huguenot heritage with a wonderful feast of food, wine and entertainment at its annual Bastille Festival. Its a great time to be in Franschhoek and if you haven't been yet, we suggest you try to get there next year! Its a wonderfully festive time ...

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A Day Visit to Vermont — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:00:12 +0000

Last weekend my family headed off to Vermont in the Cape Overberg (just before Hermanus) to say a fond farewell to my grandfather. He had lived in Vermont for more than 25 years and we thought it fitting to scatter his ashes in the town he called home. Although his house is quite literally falling apart Spangereid (as he called it) has an amazing location and it just a short walk to the tidal pool.

The tidal pool is always a hive of activity, not only does it boast gorgeous views but you will always find people sitting on the beach gazing out into the ocean, children swimming (mostly in summer), families playing soccer on the grass, eager fishermen trying their luck for the day and more. If you haven't been to Vermont it is well worth your time, enjoy the stillness and beauty this seaside town has to offer ...

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Muizenberg Beach — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 07:00:16 +0000

After a late night and a disappointing Stormers match I woke up early-ish on Sunday morning and headed off with a good friend to watch some other friends who had begun learning how to surf with Roxy Surf School. We arrived on Muizenberg Beach just after 09h30 and after finding a spot where the sun would warm our backs we scoured the waves to see if we could spot our mates.

The waves weren't really up to anything exciting on this morning and I can't say I envied my friends in the cold water, however after a good hour and a half in the water they were ready for a hot shower. Once they had warmed up we all sat down and shared a delicious breakfast and divine hot chocolate at Knead on the beachfront. This beachfront is bustling with people and it is a great way to spend a relaxing few hours, if you're up for it during winter end it off as I did with an ice cream from Sinnfull ...

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Liliesleaf Farm — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:00:37 +0000

On a recent visit to Johannesburg my mom and I decided to spend a morning taking a tour at the Liliesleaf farm in the leafy suburb of Rivonia. I had heard of Liliesleaf before but this was a learning and historical experience unlike anything I have experienced in a while.

Liliesleaf farm was key to the political and military policies and strategies of the ANC during Apartheid and the farm has been restored and turned into an interactive exhibit which has been open to the public since 2008. We were taken on a tour by an experienced guide who was both knowledgeable and happy to answer our barrage of questions. She also showed us the places we could come back to visit should we want to find out more — or has she told us this is where you teach yourself. So you are able to take in as little or as much as you would like to from this visit. I strongly urge anyone who is in Rivonia to go and visit this special place. Learn more about our country's history and experience a fantastic exhibit...

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Nottingham Road — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:00:47 +0000

Nottingham Road, one of my favourite places in South Africa is a quaint farming village in the heart of the Natal Midlands in KwaZulu Natal. Surrounded by spectacular scenery; think green rolling hills, snow capped mountains in the winter (actually Notties has been known to have a substantial amount of snow during the winter!), fly fishing dams, fields filled with grazing cattle and trees turning colour during the autumn it truly is a beautiful part of the country. As part of the hugely popular Midlands Meander it offers a wide variety of gorgeous shops, restaurants and sunny spots for coffee and cake! Don’t forget to stop for a beer at the Nottingham Road Brewing Co and of course if you are in Notties then a visit to the infamous Notties Hotel is a must … just don’t wear a tie!

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Heavenly Hilton — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:00:50 +0000

Hilton, a pretty, misty village with an English country feel is located at the start of the very popular Midlands Meander. The streets are tree-lined and it’s the perfect place to live during the summer months with temperatures normally a good five degrees cooler than Pietermaritzburg in the valley below. The village was some wonderful examples of Tudor-style architecture – the recently renovated Protea Hilton Hotel is testament to that. Old Main Brewery (formerly Crossways) is located opposite one of the two sets of traffic lights in the village and is a Hilton institution and a great place to meet locals while La Popote serves a delicious lunch. On clear days residents are treated to views of the majestic Drakensberg which is a short distance away.

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A Day of Charcuterie at Lelieblom Farm — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:00:54 +0000

This past weekend we left Cape Town bright at early on a cold and wet morning and headed out to Darling to the Lelieblom Farm for a lesson in the art of charcuterie. The day was organised by Slow Food Mother City and a large group joined up to make new friends and learn something new.

We spent the first part of the morning prepping the meat in order to make salami, bacon and boerewors. This was a day to get your hands a little dirty because you mixed the spices into the minced meat and really got involved in every aspect of the processes. We were allowed the opportunity to make our own salami and sausage — believe me when I say that I now really appreciate where my food comes from. It is not that easy to make a perfect sausage and there was a lot of sausage comparison with the fellow participants. Michael and Karen from Lelieblom were wonderful hosts and Karen treated us to delicious soup, homemade bread and apple tart after a hard days work. All is all it was a fantastic day out...

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Really Close — A Cheetah Approach

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:51:50 +0000

“Just remember they are wild animals”, a warning from Rudi, our game ranger, as we disembark our game vehicle. We’d been tracking two male Cheetah near the Northern Gate of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve for about an hour and had finally spotted them (no pun intended), laying in the brush about 30 metres from the road.

“Stay close,” a reminder. “They’ll let us know once we’re close enough.”

And I’m thinking, how exactly are they going to do that? And with that we’re off, walking in single file, in a zig-zag pattern towards them and talking loudly, so they know we’re coming – in Rudi’s opinion the safest way to approach them. Humans are the super-predator in the wild (at least by day), so the zig-zagging lets them know we’re just passing by … a beeline for them would signal intent: that’s how predators stalk their prey.

“We may get closer than you feel comfortable with,” he says, “just let me know if you want to stop.”

I’m thinking, maybe 20 metres away. By ten metres I feel a nervous laugh building up and squish it pronto. Eight metres away and the larger Cheetah lays his head down on the floor, like he’s bored with watching our approach and would rather sleep. We stop at around five metres. I’m obsessively thinking about the fact that I’m the shortest of the three of us and the most likely target, should they decide it’s lunch time.

These two males are absolutely huge and in pristine condition. Not the mangy, scrawny looking cheetah I’ve seen in documentaries on National Geographic. Sanbona is home to eleven Cheetah — one female with two cubs, another female with five cubs and these two males, who hunt together, and very successfully, by the look of them. I understand the warning about them being wild animals, it’s easy to forget how dangerous they are, as you watch them licking each other, curled up on the sun-warmed earth.

“Is it safe to take some pictures?”
“Absolutely,” says Rudi, “I’m going to go a little closer and take some too.”

As I snap away, he edges closer, and closer still, and with just another three steps – the “signal” that we’d come too close: one of the males jumps up and circles away from us, with his brother fast on his heels. They don’t seem too concerned, just fed up with our intrusion, as they slink off in search of a more peaceful spot.

“You see the prominent white tip on their tails, that’s how you can tell they’re males from a distance. Only way to tell unless you’re really close.”

View all of the photographs in our Flickr Gallery

Suggestion: Click on "full screen" mode for an up-close-and-personal encounter with these beautiful boys.

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Vergelegen Wine Estate photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:33 +0000

Explore the gardens at the beautiful Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West. The Vergelegen story begins with some of the oldest living trees in the country guarding the three century old Homestead open to the public. Grand interior and elegant furniture narrate the preserved archives of South African history. The original winery, original pigeon house and original mill are bystanders to a bygone era and the library dictates bound recollections of life rebirthed through the elaborate White, Herb and Rose Gardens.

Photographs taken two weeks ago when we visited the gardens at Vergelegen Estate to see their magnigicent Camellia garden. The outstanding collection of over 1000 Camellia bushes at Vergelegen have been recognised as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society. And when you wonder through this garden you can see why. The gardens include approximately 550 cultivars from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan, America and South Africa ...

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Useful Links

Somerset West Attractions
Things to Do in Somerset West
Somerset West Accommodation
Somerset West Hotels
Cape Town Hotels

Green Point Park and Biodiversity Garden — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Fri, 27 May 2011 07:00:30 +0000

The Green Point Park and Biodiversity Garden is a wonderful, public area open seven days a week with free entry for all. There are two entrances to the park; one off the fan walk (I followed the signs from the stadium) or otherwise opposite the Mouille Point lighthouse.

There is loads of open space for a picnic lunch or an impromptu game of cricket. The biodiversity garden features over 300 local Cape plant species and is both educational and inspirational. Separated into ‘People and Plants’, ‘Wetlands’ and ‘Discovering Biodiversity’, the different beds are planted according to vegetation and information boards indicate where in the city the vegetation can be found – most informative!

The Green Point Park is a fantastic place to spend a few hours and what a privilege it is to have such a place open to the public.

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Useful Green Point Links:
Green Point Attractions
Biodiversity Showcase Garden
Things to Do in Green Point
Green Point Accommodation
Cape Town Accommodation

Rhodes and Barkly East — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Thu, 26 May 2011 07:00:55 +0000

The Northern Ukhahlamba region of the Eastern Cape is an area of wide open spaces dominated by the majestic Drakensberg. Known for its freezing winter temperatures it is one of the only areas in the country where snow skiing is available! This is not the only activity available though with options like mountain biking, trout fishing, horse trails and fossil trails also high on the list of things to do.

The villages of Rhodes and Barkly East are found in these Eastern Cape Highlands (one reaches Rhodes from Barkly East). Barkly East is known as the Switzerland of South Africa, offering almost guaranteed winter snow. Rhodes is a little more remote and almost seems frozen in time. Declared a conservation area in 1997 the village boasts wonderful architecture from the flat-roofed church house to the Herbert Baker designed stone school house. If you are visiting make sure you pop into the Rhodes Hotel.

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Useful Barkly East Links:
Barkly East Attractions
Things to Do in Barkly East
Barkly East Map
Barkly East Accommodation
Barkly East Guest Houses
Eastern Cape Guest Houses

Stunning Silvermine Nature Reserve — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Wed, 25 May 2011 07:00:24 +0000

The beautiful Silvermine Nature Reserve is part of the Table Mountain National Park is is perched on top of the mountain, overlooking on the one side Ou Kaapse Weg (the entrance is at the top of this road), Tokai, Constantia and Westlake and on the other side Noordhoek, Fish Hoek and Sun Valley.

There are loads of well marked mountain biking and hiking trails (dogs are allowed on some of the trails) so if you enjoy either of these activities you will love Silvermine. Picnic and braai areas are available in parts of the park and some of these are situated around the Silvermine Reservoir — a perfect place to spend a Saturday or Sunday especially during the summer months.

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Useful Links:
Cape Town Hiking Trails
Western Cape Hiking Trails
Things to do in Cape Town
Cape Town Accommodation
Western Cape Accommodation

An afternoon at Kirstenbosch — Photographs

The Team @ SA-Venues — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:00:37 +0000

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is known the world over for its beauty and diversity. Only indigenous plants are grown in the gardens and the 528 hectares support a diverse area of fynbos and flora. The gardens boast collections of South African plants; many of which are from the winter rainfall of the country which would suit the rainfall pattern of the Western Cape. Guided tours of the Gardens are conducted at 11h00 on Tuesdays and Saturdays. There are a number of trails through the natural forest and Fynbos of the garden so one can take oneself on a tour!

It’s a magnificent place to visit; whether it be for a lazy afternoon, a summer sunset concert, Carols by Candlelight in December, or for a meal at the restaurant.

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Useful Links:
Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts
Cape Town Attractions
Cape Town Accommodation