Two Olives Restaurant in Port Elizabeth – a review

The Two Olives Restaurant is an authentic culinary experience, immersing diners in the basic pleasures of enjoying excellent quality, coupled with flavours that are worthy of a few audible sighs. Situated in the food Mecca of Stanley Street in Richmond Hill, it is at the very heart of the ‘who’s who’ and ‘what’s what’ of the Friendly City.

The menu is a delight to explore. Even simple sounding dishes are presented beautifully and taste heavenly. The tapas options are a great way to sample a number of different dishes, especially when shared amongst friends. The portions (even the starters) are generous, so get here hungry. Continued

Tales From the Township

Red Location Museum

Lyn and Peter Haller own a tour company in Port Elizabeth called Umzantsi Afrika. As such, they offer a number of fantastic tours that expose the art, culture, history and heritage of Nelson Mandela Bay. The Township Tour is a very special experience; both for those that lived through the Apartheid era and for those that did not.

Lyn Haller is a registered tour guide, qualified through THETA (ex-SATOUR). Her passion for the historical homes and buildings of Port Elizabeth makes her keen knowledge of the area and its exciting beginnings even more engaging. Peter Haller is fluent in German, English and Austrian and is also a THETA-qualified tour guide. He is particularly interested in culture, nature and fossils, or geology. Continued

Discovering the Riches of the Bay

South End Museum

Port Elizabeth is part of Nelson Mandela Bay and is popular for its stunning swimming beaches. In fact, every summer, its guesthouses and hotels are brimming with visitors from all over the country, who have come to indulge in the pretty surrounds and warm waters of the glittering Indian Ocean. Still, it has plenty more to offer than long, lazy days spent on the pristine white sands.

The Historical City Tour on offer by Umzantsi Afrika Tours is made successful by the experience, knowledge and passion of the tour guides, Lyn and Peter Haller. Lyn has been qualified through THETA (SATOUR) and is a registered tour guide with a particular passion for the historical homes and buildings of the Eastern Cape. Peter is Austrian, but fluent in German, which allows him to offer a very special experience to German and Austrian visitors that would benefit more from tours being conducted in their mother tongue. Of course, he is completely fluent in English too. He is also a registered tour guide through THETA. His interests lie especially in culture, nature and fossils. Continued

Exploring South Africa’s Wild Coast

The Glorious Wild Coast

In an area first settled in by the Bushmen (San) and Hottentots, the Wild Coast presents a rural, unspoilt part of South Africa that is hard to find elsewhere. The best way to explore the coastline is by road tripping. So back those travel tunes and hit the road. Here are some places I suggest you visit:

For Bird Lovers

If you have your binoculars and zoom lens ready for days of bird watching, visit the coastal forest of Mbotyi. This extensive region includes mangroves, lagoons, gorges and open grassland with over 100 species. In the estuaries you may find Water Dikkop and Kingfishers, Knysna Woodpecker on the forest edges or the Knysna Lourie and Crowned Hornbill on the routes leading into the forest. Continued

A Peek into St. Francis – playground of Millionaires

Serene St Francis Bay

Only 30 minutes away from the surfer’s paradise of Jeffrey’s Bay lies St. Francis Bay. Driving through this little village of thatched-roofs and white-washed houses, it’s easy to see that this enclave holds a lot of wealth. As with many places in South Africa, you won’t have to look too far either to view extreme poverty close by. One the drive to Port St. Francis, we passed little children playing outside their houses made from tin.

This was such a vast contrast to the luxury exuded once in the port. We stayed in a friend’s apartment and from the lounge we could see the yachts and expensive boats moored in the port. This was a place where many owners came to retire and enjoy their wealth or holiday occasionally. Fishing boats from the main harbor would leave early in the morning and return as the sun was setting. We sat out on the balcony, braaiing delicious meat and having drinks to keep us refreshed. Continued

A Weekend Stop-Over in Jeffrey’s Bay

Surf in JBay

Exploring the coast of South Africa’s Eastern Cape is something every adventurer has close to their hearts, either they have it in fond memories and tales plentiful or they have yet to come across this sacred land and live in hope for the chance to bear witness and experience it for themselves.

Jeffery’s Bay is at the start of this adventure or at the end, depending on which side you start at. This quaint seaside village rich in fishing heritage and Afrikaans culture has become incredibly diversified and popular in recent years – so much so that the town had to add a traffic light, yes, one traffic light. This surge in popularity is due, mainly, to its penchant for consistently producing some of the best waves in the world as well as its pristine beaches and location. Continued

The Pleasure of Papies

One of the Beautiful Horses

It was with very energetic butterflies that I mounted the magnificent Chestnut, so named for her rich colouring. Our guide, Mira, hopped on – with no visible effort – to Blue, a stunning boy of about four years old, whose slate-coloured coat shone in the February sunlight. Mira is currently studying biology in Germany and comes down to South Africa to help with the Papiesfontein trails and to indulge in the African summers. Her passion for, and knowledge of horses put us totally at ease; despite our being real novices.

The trail starts off with about 50 minutes along a gravel trail through the scrubby Eastern Cape landscape. Every now and then, we caught sight of the river and a few buck species along the way. This was the right place to start us off as we were able to get a real feel for how to guide the horses before we hit the vast expanses of the open beach. Continued

Alfred Nzo District

Northern Ukhahlamba

The Alfred Nzo District Municipality has, as its seat, Mount Ayliff. It is situated in the northern part of the Eastern Cape and is surrounded by Lesotho, KwaZulu Natal, the OR Tambo District and the Ukhahlamba District. Being so centrally situated makes Alfred Nzo an ideal base from which to launch your tour of South Africa.

The Xhosa cultural heritage of this area is fascinating, and gives this quiet retreat a sense of true South African pride and identity. Visitors are encouraged to visit local villages, interact with the folk occupying the land and immerse yourselves in this authentic African hub. Continued

Things to do in Morgan’s Bay

Stunning Morgan’s Bay

Morgan’s Bay is a coastal getaway on the Wild Coast, making it one of South Africa’s most beautiful destinations. With its stunning beaches, Morgan’s Bay is an obvious summer holiday choice. However, it also offers plenty to do and see out of the peak tourist season. It is abundant in fascinating faunal and floral species, making it ideal for nature-lovers.

If you manage to tear yourself away from simply lazing on the sandy stretches and frolicking in the gloriously warm Indian Ocean waters, here are some more things to see and do in and around Morgan’s Bay:

• Water sports – whether you want to swim, surf, sail, canoe, windsurf, kite-surf, SCUBA or snorkel, Morgan’s Bay is the perfect destination. The water is warm, and the waves offer great opportunities for those wanting a challenge. Even winter time is not too cold or unpleasant to spend on the beach and in the water for water sport enthusiasts. Continued

Things To Do Near Jansenville

Valley of Desolation

Dubbed the heart of South Africa’s mohair production, Jansenville is a small town in the Camdeboo plains, just above the picturesque Klein Winterhoek Mountain Range. The appeal of this town lies in its natural beauty, which is quite different from the lush abundance of other areas. Rather, it is characterised by clear blue skies that meet a horizon of scrubby Karoo vegetation and the hardy fauna and flora that thrive under these conditions.

Although small, Jansenville has a distinctive historical value that testifies to the rich heritage of this part of South Africa. This historical value, combined with the scenic landscapes and quiet isolation makes Jansenville a rewarding destination for local and international travellers. Continued

Things To Do In Humansdorp

Zartenbosch Golf Course

Humansdorp is a very small town, established in the mid-19^th century, situated in the Eastern Cape. It is between Jeffrey’s Bay and St Francis. Although small and quiet, many visitors pass through Humansdorp en route to a number of other destinations and get a chance to visit this historical farming-oriented town. Humansdorp is situated along the N2, which extends from Cape Town in the Western Cape, through Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape and through to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. This makes Humansdorp accessible and centrally located.

During your time in Humansdorp, there are a few things to see and do. These include: Continued

Rhodes Village

Rhodes Trail Run

The Eastern Cape of South Africa is a province of natural beauty and an undeniably mysterious allure that comes from its ancient heritage and natural abundance. Rhodes Village is secluded within the Southern Drakensberg in the highlands of this province, bordered by Lesotho. It is, therefore, surrounded by imposing mountain faces, rolling foothills and the lush greenery that is found so freely here.

The travel magazine, Getaway, named Rhodes Village one of South Africa’s Top 20 Secret Places. It is surrounded by mountains, rivers and valleys and was declared a Conservation Area in 1997.

The entire village has the distinctive Victorian look and feel of yesteryear about it. The combination of its historical value, charm and natural splendour makes Rhodes Village the perfect getaway for just about any traveller, whether from South Africa or abroad. Those who want to escape the bustle of city living will be just as enthralled by this destination as nature-lovers looking for an adrenalin rush. Continued