Xmas by the sea
Wishing you a belated happy christmas. We spent our christmas at Paternoster. After a beautiful walk along the coast we had a stroll at the beach and watched the fishermen returning in the soft, late evening light. And then we had a very mellow christmas dinner. ...
Fancy a bit of paradise then?
We’ve been walking the new super-easy-super-beautiful five-bay slackpacking trail. It is on the West Coast of South Africa, not far from Cape Town. This is an area that has never really received credit for its incredible beauty. The walk was hypnotic and days merged into one continuous experience of blue ocean, white beaches, rocky shores, and exquisite vistas punctuated with flowers and birds. In spite of it being holiday season we saw almost no other people and had the privilege of the sound of the sea to accompany our own thoughts for...
Merry christmas from the West Coast
We've been having such a wonderful time. On christmas eve we saw this beautiful natural palette of colours at Langebaan Lagoon. It was a day of textures and colours and images because later we enjoyed the view and came across this old West Coast cottage on a granite hill. By the evening we had travelled to Paternoster, where we donned silly hats and enjoyed a traditional braai (barbeque). ...
Following the footsteps of Eve
I'm currently doing some wonderful walks with Malcolm & Helen Scott, who did the Mountains In The Sea trail with me several years ago. We are currentlybuy cheap generic propecia walking in the Cape West Coast Biosphere. The CWCB project involves the local communities and provides skills and employment. Over the years I've seen many optimistic community projects that have failed or delivered sub-standard services, but this is certainly not the case here. The trails that we are doing are still in their infancy but already provide a very high...
How safe is it to walk in the bush?
When guiding walks in the bush, the most common question I am asked is whether the activity is safe. People are generally out of their own familiar environment and they find the wild animals and insects intimidating. I generally reassure them and generic cialisexplain that personally I find the bush to be safer than living in a city. I recently tested this theory by spending some time in a large African city, called Cairo. And the results of this academic research strongly supported my theory! One night I was disturbed by...
The revolution
I'm currently in Cairo. The egyptians have just had a revolution and are experiencing their first democratic election in decades. When I arrived here there was still teargas in the air. I spent much time at Tahrir Square, which was the focal point of the revolution and the violence. By the time I arrived the violence had mostly passed and the atmosphere at the square alternated between carnival and thuggish, with some inspiring moments. For example I was there when about 10,000 devout moslems assembled to conduct the Jumaa prayer. The...
Table Mountain throws it all at us
Gerd Spegel is an old guest and friend. I guided him twice on foot safaris in Zimbabwe and we had incredible adventures in the bush in those heady days past (and future!) Since he was passing through Cape Town we decided to catch-up while we walked up Table Mountain on one of the more obscure routes. As we started-out the weather was perfect; cool with high cloud and gorgeous Watsonias (Watsonia borbonica) brightening our way with Table Mountain in the background. However as we ascended the mountain the cloud descended and engulfed...
Brunia Beetle on Table Mountain with the Kams
I went walking up Table Mountain with the Kam's from California. The weather was perfect - cool and misty for added ambience. Watching the cloud rise up against the cliffs was dramatic. Along the way we saw this exquisite Trichostetha capensis (Brunia beetle) on an everlasting or paper flower. ...
VIP wine-tasting with Hempies du Toit
I'm a garagiste', I enjoy wine and I guide many wine tours in the Cape Winelands. Without a doubt my favourite winery is Annandale. Many people ask why I am so enthusiastic about this cellar. Well for a start, it is housed in an old historic buildicheap cialis onlineng that was built in the late 1600's. It is beautiful and peaceful here and it as a very small intimate destination. Theses days it seems to me that many of the wineries are status symbols of wealthy individuals and...
Snakes Alive!
Brian, Robin, Mark & Ricky came walking with me recently. We were blessed with exquisite weather and many beautiful flowers. This inconspicuous orchid (Satyrium humile) almost escaped our attention. We also saw this beautiful hibiscus (Hibiscus aethiopicus) We stopped for a rest at a spot with magnificent views and the 'A' team looked like they were really happy and enjoying themsleves. For me the highlight of the walk was seeing this exquisite Boomslang. These snakes are back-fanged and have an haemotoxic venom (which means that is attacks the red blood cells). The bites...