Hermanus is a hive of activity as about 72 whales have been spotted frolicking in the shallow waters. This is the month of whale watching and all around the peninsula one is able to see whales, with the best spots being False Bay, Hermanus, Gandbaai and Witsand. At Witsand 40 whales have been seen the past weekend.
40% of the world’s Southern Right Whales come to these waters to have and raise their young, before they set off for icy waters elsewhere. Koppie Alleen at de Hoop Nature Reserve is the best look out point for whale watching.
In August 123 whales were spotted in False Bay and added to the data bank of A Whale of a Heritage site. Pearly Beach and de Kelders are also very good spots.
People have also reported seeing whales in Table Bay, Kleinmond, St Helena Bay and Stilbaai.
On sunny days when the water is calm one can see them clearly and they tend to come as close as 10m from shore. On bad weather days they tend to stay in deeper waters and is thus more difficult to see.
40% of the world’s Southern Right Whales come to these waters to have and raise their young, before they set off for icy waters elsewhere. Koppie Alleen at de Hoop Nature Reserve is the best look out point for whale watching.
In August 123 whales were spotted in False Bay and added to the data bank of A Whale of a Heritage site. Pearly Beach and de Kelders are also very good spots.
People have also reported seeing whales in Table Bay, Kleinmond, St Helena Bay and Stilbaai.
On sunny days when the water is calm one can see them clearly and they tend to come as close as 10m from shore. On bad weather days they tend to stay in deeper waters and is thus more difficult to see.
Capetonians will have the chance to play tourist this month-September-in celebration of tourist month.
The My Cape Town campaign has attracted various organizations and associations which will be giving away a load of vouchers and special offers and freebies for locals to use to visit tourit attractions in and around Cape Town.
In addition there will be many activities and events to attend. The exciting calender include the following: The Cape Airshow,iZiko Heritage Week,a free concert at the V&A (24September)Cape Town Creative Week and World Tourism Day,27 September
Photographers and videographers will get the chance to enter their images of Cape Town competing for overnight prizes and a large cash prize.
Get out there, be a tourist, make Cape Town your own!
The My Cape Town campaign has attracted various organizations and associations which will be giving away a load of vouchers and special offers and freebies for locals to use to visit tourit attractions in and around Cape Town.
In addition there will be many activities and events to attend. The exciting calender include the following: The Cape Airshow,iZiko Heritage Week,a free concert at the V&A (24September)Cape Town Creative Week and World Tourism Day,27 September
Photographers and videographers will get the chance to enter their images of Cape Town competing for overnight prizes and a large cash prize.
Get out there, be a tourist, make Cape Town your own!
The building of Casa Labia began in 1929 and was eventually completed in 1930. The house was intended to be not merely a family home for Count Natale Labia and his wife, but also the Italian Legation, the official residence of Italy’s diplomatic representative in South Africa.
One of the first receptions was in the honour of the King of Italy’s birthday on November 12 of that year. As Count Natale Labia’s diplomatic projects progressed, and as his circle of friends expanded, he began to play an increasingly significant role both in political and economic spheres. Casa Labia came to be a meeting place for statesmen, academics and businessmen from all over the country such as Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga, South Africa’s Minister of Finance from 1924 to 1939, and Isidore William Schlesinger, the well-known entrepreneur and businessman.
A new phase began in 1985 with the joint decision on the part of the Department of National Education, the Director of the South African National Gallery, and the Treasury, to preserve Casa Labia and to open it to the public as a museum and cultural centre. The brief converting Casa Labia into a satellite museum of the South African National Gallery was given in July 1985. Construction commenced in May 1987 and the work was completed in March 1988.
Twenty years later, in 2008, Count Luccio Labia (son of Count Natale Labia) regained ownership of the property, and it was with assistance from his daughter, Antonia Labia Hardres-Williams that the house was lovingly restored to its original glory and opened as a multi-functional cultural centre and up-market venue in May 2010.
One of the first receptions was in the honour of the King of Italy’s birthday on November 12 of that year. As Count Natale Labia’s diplomatic projects progressed, and as his circle of friends expanded, he began to play an increasingly significant role both in political and economic spheres. Casa Labia came to be a meeting place for statesmen, academics and businessmen from all over the country such as Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga, South Africa’s Minister of Finance from 1924 to 1939, and Isidore William Schlesinger, the well-known entrepreneur and businessman.
A new phase began in 1985 with the joint decision on the part of the Department of National Education, the Director of the South African National Gallery, and the Treasury, to preserve Casa Labia and to open it to the public as a museum and cultural centre. The brief converting Casa Labia into a satellite museum of the South African National Gallery was given in July 1985. Construction commenced in May 1987 and the work was completed in March 1988.
Twenty years later, in 2008, Count Luccio Labia (son of Count Natale Labia) regained ownership of the property, and it was with assistance from his daughter, Antonia Labia Hardres-Williams that the house was lovingly restored to its original glory and opened as a multi-functional cultural centre and up-market venue in May 2010.
The fact that it was a beautiful day in the whole of Cape Town yesterday, forced us out of winter mode and into explore mode. We decided to take a drive out to Bartholomeus Klip Farm.The farm is situated 84km outside of Cape Town , past Wellington and close to Hermon, a tiny settlement which was alive with people doing Sunday things. Ladies walk around with huge hair curlers in freshly washed hair, getting ready for Monday. Kids kicking a soccer ball on the newly mown field, a welcome sight to the normally sandy fields that they play games in. There is a positive legacy from the soccer world cup at least!The road leading to Bartholomeus Klip farm was breathtaking. Fields of yellow lupini interspersed the amazing green of new planted wheat fields. The mountains in the background were a hazy blue and the most magnificent red soil of the dirt road leading to the farm house.The farm is a working live stock and game farm and breeds disease- free buffalo for restocking to the Kruger National Park. March is the month when hundreds of tortoises hatch and these can be found everywhere. There were no staff at the farm having finished their shift for lunch, but we had the most amazing time exploring the various areas of the farm, sitting at the dam and watching baboon in the distance. The trip back was interrupted with lunch at nearby Riebeeck Kasteel and one had a lasting sense of well-being and peace, experiencing nature at her best.
Just inland from the secluded harbour of Saldanha Bay one finds the blue waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, focal point of the West Coast National Park. Thousands of seabirds roost on sheltered islands, pristine golden beaches stretch endlessly into the early morning mist and brooding salt marshes are home to vast concentrations of migrant waders from the northern hemisphere.
Flamingo's, Waders and Black Harriers are the birds to be on the lookout for.
During spring the strandveld is embroidered with a tapestry of multi-hued flowers, while in the Postberg section many antelope are to be seen in a setting that is as unique as it is idyllic.
There is a maginificent two day hike in Postberg Nature Reserve which is only open in August and September. The hike starts at Tsaarsbank and your car can be parked here. The trail is well marked and hikers are requested not to take short cuts over the dunes.
The overnight point is situated at the southern end of Plankiesbaai. There are no showers, hot water or cooking utensils available at the overnight facilities. On the second day, walk along 16 mile beach towards the wreck (Patelis A lemos 1978). It is the most relaxing and magnificent hike and is a must for any nature enthusiast.
Flamingo's, Waders and Black Harriers are the birds to be on the lookout for.
During spring the strandveld is embroidered with a tapestry of multi-hued flowers, while in the Postberg section many antelope are to be seen in a setting that is as unique as it is idyllic.
There is a maginificent two day hike in Postberg Nature Reserve which is only open in August and September. The hike starts at Tsaarsbank and your car can be parked here. The trail is well marked and hikers are requested not to take short cuts over the dunes.
The overnight point is situated at the southern end of Plankiesbaai. There are no showers, hot water or cooking utensils available at the overnight facilities. On the second day, walk along 16 mile beach towards the wreck (Patelis A lemos 1978). It is the most relaxing and magnificent hike and is a must for any nature enthusiast.
The land that now known as !Khwa ttu was purchased in 1999. Back then it was registered by the name of Grootwater, a wheat and sheep producing farm owning a number of rather dilapidated farm buildings. Khwa ttu is now the only San-owned and culture and education centre in the Western Cape of South Africa. It is a joint-venture owned by the San people in partnership with the Swiss UBUNTU Foundation. !Khwa ttu as a legal entity is a 50/50 joint venture between the San, as represented by WIMSA , and UBUNTU Foundation. It was established in order to provide a combination of traditional and formal education for the San children, youth and adults living and working at !Khwa ttu .It is a most interesting place and is well worth a visit and is situated an hour out of Cape Town, between Yzerfontein and Darling.
Lambert’s Bay also known as The diamond of the West Coast is a gem of a seaside village and owes its origin to humble beginnings as a fishing village, like most of the surrounding South African coast villages, but it has become one of the major tourist attractions on the West Coast due to its moderate all year climate. The Sandveld Museum and nearby local farms like Wadrift, will open your mind to the cultural history of this unique place.
Lamberts Bay is also jam-packed with plentiful birdlife. Some of the more popular species on the list include gannets and Cormorants. Dolphins, whales and the ever entertaining seals at the internationally acclaimed Bird Island attract tourist from all over. Lamberts Bay is also a great place to view the lush stretches of wild field flowers that are most beautiful during spring.
Lamberts Bay is also jam-packed with plentiful birdlife. Some of the more popular species on the list include gannets and Cormorants. Dolphins, whales and the ever entertaining seals at the internationally acclaimed Bird Island attract tourist from all over. Lamberts Bay is also a great place to view the lush stretches of wild field flowers that are most beautiful during spring.
The West Coast boasts the most popoular areas for wild flower tours:
Cedarberg (Algeria,Citrusdal,Clanwilliam and VanRhynsdorp)
Darling (Bitterfontein and Langebaan)
!Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre
Fossil Park Vredenburg
Bokkomlaan Velddrif
Pevita se Perron Darling
Lamberts Bay
Verlorenvlei
These are the most popular areas and on a sunny day
it is just amazing how many flowers are on display.
Cedarberg (Algeria,Citrusdal,Clanwilliam and VanRhynsdorp)
Darling (Bitterfontein and Langebaan)
!Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre
Fossil Park Vredenburg
Bokkomlaan Velddrif
Pevita se Perron Darling
Lamberts Bay
Verlorenvlei
These are the most popular areas and on a sunny day
it is just amazing how many flowers are on display.
Herewith a few handy hints on making the most of your flower viewing trip:
• Stand with your back towards the sun or drive with the sun behind you, as flowers turn their faces toward the sun.
• Stop your vehicle and walk amongst the flowers, take your time, it is a different experience to the mass display of flowers.
• The flowers are best displayed between 1100 and 1500 when the sun is warmest.
• Ask a local, they really do know best are really helpful and and are very proud of “their” flowers.
• Cell phone reception is not everywhere to be found in the country. Take some drinks and snacks in your car.
•Put some time aside for taking photographs as well.
• Stand with your back towards the sun or drive with the sun behind you, as flowers turn their faces toward the sun.
• Stop your vehicle and walk amongst the flowers, take your time, it is a different experience to the mass display of flowers.
• The flowers are best displayed between 1100 and 1500 when the sun is warmest.
• Ask a local, they really do know best are really helpful and and are very proud of “their” flowers.
• Cell phone reception is not everywhere to be found in the country. Take some drinks and snacks in your car.
•Put some time aside for taking photographs as well.
The annual flower season is upon us again and this year the signs are already there promising a maginificent display. We have had good rain and lovely warm days in- between, the perfect conditions for flowers to bloom and display their splendour.
There are various areas to go and the country towns take pride in their surrounding areas and put on all sorts of flower shows and talks to entertain and educate.
Hopefield, Clanwilliam and Vanrhynsdorp shows are all held in August through September.The Duckitt Orchid Show 16-19September in Darling is not to be missed.
The coastal flora include watsonias, nemesias and various others where as the mountains offer the most beautiful showings of Proteas, heathers and fynbos.
One can also go up the West Coast past Paternoster and view the sheets and sheets of pink sealavender, orange and red patches of brunsvigia, paintbrushes and pelargoniums.
It is truly a magnificent time to get out and go and see what nature has on offer.
