South Africa - Mossel Bay - A Must Do Vacation spot!

Mossel Bay has such an incredible history, plus amazing beaches and activities galore.

It is one of my favourite towns in South Africa!

Fishing and sailing are a major pastime among both residents and visitors.

"Mossel Bay Municipality partnered with Mossel Bay Tourism to rejuvenate the building that once served as the second municipal office (circa 1879). This initiative intends to unlock new potential in the tourism industry when the renovated centre will serve as the starting point for the exciting Tourism Route that will soon entice visitors and locals alike to meander through the historic core of Mossel Bay's 'Old Town'" 

"The Tourism Route is the result of a thorough consultative and collaborative process and the work is progressing well to develop the tourism potential through a focus on our history, while potentially creating jobs. The work done to re-energise the Tourism Centre will celebrate Mossel Bay’s heritage and what better way than to establish an arts and crafts centre in the town? In close collaboration with the chairperson of Mossel Bay Heritage, Carina Wiggle, and under the expert guidance of Lodewyk Coetzee of Coetzee Alberts Architects and LEAP Quantity Surveyors - who have offered their time and passionate professional involvement free of charge – both projects are progressing well. Mossel Bay Municipality values partnerships like these that are extremely valuable and benefit the town" 

"Eventually, the old municipal building will house, among others, a coffee shop and a beautiful garden and form the link between the Tourism Centre and the rejuvenated arts centre. The planned renovations will add to the renewed focus on the heritage of Mossel Bay" 

"The Tourism Route will unfold the story of Mossel Bay, taking in the history since 1488, but also telling the unique history of the Koi-San, the Strandlopers, the cave with its world-renowned history, and will integrate the World Heritage Status application that is in process. The story thus extends from the prehistoric, pre-colonial era to the later and modern history. Mossel Bay has a rich history and, according to archaeologists, this is where modern human behaviour developed more than 166,000 years ago. Therefore, the Tourist Route will offer new vistas to young and, and from far and wide, and new opportunities to many. This initiative, therefore, fits perfectly into the growing international tourism trend towards authentic experiences of local cultures and builds on an already well-established local arts and crafts community. In the July 2020 newsletter, Mossel Bay Municipality outlined our intent to optimise the tourism potential of our town and, in doing so, create employment. Empowering artists and crafters, in cooperation with the Tourism Office, is a high priority on the agenda". 

Santos Beach (Above) is a Blue Flag Beach and offers very safe swimming for all ages.

The Santos Pavillion is one of two beach pavillions still in use today from Colonial times. the other one is in Brighton, UK. Enjoy some craft beer, wine and food at Jackal on the Beach! 

"These renovations captured the opportunity to restore and repurpose two existing municipal buildings to house the refurbished arts and crafts centre. The first municipal building was built in 1858 and is a small white building with distinctive Karoo-style architecture. The plastered quoins around the front door and windows and at the corners are typical of this period. This was the town’s first municipal and community centre and was later used as a library, telegraph office, and dance hall. The mail coach also stopped here" 

For fun in the sun, try the zip line over the sea at the tidal pools - Point Mossel Bay.

Something not to be missed! It is an exhilarating experience!

Text of Article - Courtesy Mossel Bay Tourism Office

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South Africa - Franschhoek, Western Cape

Babylonstoren - Franschhoek Western Cape 

 Living in Cape Town has the added benefit of all the Western Cape beauty on our doorstep, with many day drives available.  It is sometimes difficult for us, as locals, to decide what to do on a gloriously sunny day. So many choices! Even after living in Cape Town forever!

Anyway, today we chose to head out to the winelands of Franschhoek, then do a circular drive back via the Theewaterskllof dam to Cape Town.

There are very many wine farms in the Franschhoek area and we would recommend that visitors try the Franschhoek Wine Tram for an exciting experience. With a number of routes to chose from, view their website:  www.winetram.co.za  There is a ticket office in the Main Street - very visible. 

The Franschhoek valley is one of the most beautiful in the world. The French Huguenots settled in this valley over 300 years ago and brought their knowledge of winemaking with them. The tradition lives on in this quaint village and surrounding wine farms.

Franschhoek Valley from the Franschhoek Pass 

Today we chose to wander around the gardens of Babylonstoren - there is a small entry fee and the farm is extremely popular. There is also much to explore so do allow sufficient time to wander the farm at your own pace. Garden tours are available, there is a Spice House, a Farm Shop, restaurants, wine tasting and even an onsite hotel! Bookings for the restaurant "Babel" should be made in advance while the Green House is on a first come basis. Shady walks, benches in tranquil spots, an amazing display of clivias (September), Cycads, Guava Avenue and much more.

Babylonstoren Farm Franschhoek Western Cape 

For a brief lunch, we decided to try a local brewery, Franschhoek Beer Co a try. One can enjoy a beer tasting or just try any of their beers. Sitting in the brilliant sunshine, listening to a mellow jazz trio in pleasant surroundings was a treat. For beer lovers, it's a must stop!

Franschhoek Beer Co 

We headed out of the village to Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve at the top of the Franschhoek Pass where we watched in awe as the paragliders took off to fly high over the stunning Franschhoek valley below. Fun for both old and young, it's a must try for those of you with an adventurous spirit!

www.winelandsparagliding.co.za

On a clear day, you can see as far as the Theewaterskloof Dam where we were headed next. 

Paragliding Mont Rochelle Franschhoek Western Cape 

Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve is extremely popular with hikers and the reserve offers a number of trails, varying in length. With stunning scenery, choose a short or longer day trail. There is an entrance fee at the gate and parking is free. The Reserve forms part of the UNESCO Cape Winelands Biosphere so the plant life and scenic views are well worth your time.

 

As we headed down the Franschhoek Pass and it's hairpin bends (not too many!!) we looked forward to another visit to the Theewaterskloof Dam to measure the increase in the dam levels after our much needed winter rainfall. This earth-fill dam lies in the Villiersdorp district and on the Sonderend River. It was opened in 1978 and is the largest dam servicing the Western Cape with a capacity of 480 million cubic meters. During out horrendous drough of 2017 when Cape Town nearly reached "Day Zero" this dam was only 12.9% full. Today is stands at over 94% so it's wonderful to rejoice at this water level and the scenic beauty of the dam. It is a photographers dream location.

Theewaterskloof Dam Villiersdorp Western Cape 

On the way back, do stop at one of the farmstalls on the N2 for tea and cake or something more filling before heading back to Cape Town. A perfect day out.

Theewaterskloof Dam Villiersdorp Western Cape 

Cape Town - Day Drives outside the City

Interesting Day Drives in the Western Cape 

Gordon's Bay

Theewaterskloof Dam

LLandudno

Muizenberg

Blouberg

The end of the road - Bikini Beach Gordon's Bay

Gordon's Bay: an interesting seaside village approx.30 mins drive from Cape Town. This village lies at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains. Boasting beautiful beaches and calm waters, it's an ideal spot during both winter and summer. With a few quirky shops, restaurants and sunshine, it makes for an ideal day's outing from Cape Town. It is also a favourite with fishermen!

The last house on the Bikini Beach Road Gordon's Bay

A highly recommended, beautiful day drive is to the Theewaterskloof Dam on the outskirts of Villiersdorp offers stunning scenery and photographic opportunities.
Take the N2 out of Cape Town and carry on until you reach the Villiersdorp turn-off to the left. Approx. 90 mins from Cape Town and 30 mins from Franschhoek, this drive is well worth the effort of an early start.

Theewaterskloof Dam Villiersdorp

"Theewaterskloof Dam. Theewaterskloof Dam is a man-made earth-fill type dam located on the Sonderend River near Villiersdorp. It was established in 1978 and forms a major component of the Western Cape Water Supply System and is considered one of the major civil engineering feats of the 80's".

Theewaterskloof Dam Villiersdorp

Another shorter drive is to Llandudno - a small village between Camps Bay and Hout Bay.
The glorious beach offers surfing, just lazing about or walking to the huge boulders adjoining the beach.

Llandudno Cape Town

This area offers very expensive real estate - stunning sea views and a rather exclusive position! Take a picnic and enjoy the warmth on these huge boulders.

LLandudno Cape Town


Whether it's winter or summer, Muizenberg is normally packed and parking is at a premium. Don't let this put you off, the beach is glorious for a long walk, surfing is king here and surf shops abound. The wind can often be rather fresh and the temperature is usually lower than the rest of Cape Town. It's invigorating so do stop and enjoy. 

Muizenberg beach Cape Town

There are shark spotters on Boyes Drive, high above Muizenberg so don't worry about swimming here!

Muizenberg Beach Cape Town

And on the other side of the peninsula, offering miles and miles of beaches is Blouberg
This is a firm favourite with families, Stand-up Paddle guys and wind-surfers. The iconic views of Table Mountain make this an essential drive.

Table Mountain from Blouberg

There are many other drives - this is just a taste of what Cape Town and the Western Cape offers.


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                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

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#iamtourism

South Africa - Kruger National Park

Still wondering where to go on holiday after Covid-19 Lockdown??

South Africa is an awesome choice with incredible variety - wildlife, scenery, city fun, wine farms, beaches, museums, and delicious food!

The photos below are from Kruger National Park.

Kruger Park South Africa - Vervet Monkey

Buffalo  - Kruger Park South Africa

Lilac Breasted Roller Kruger Park South Africa

Elephant Kruger Park South Africa

Birds of the Kruger Park South Africa - Cape Glossy Starling

Birds of the Kruger Park South Africa - Ground Hornbill

Kruger Park South Africa - Impala

Giraffe - Kruger National Park South Africa

Warthog - Kruger National Park South Africa

Water Buck Kruger National Park South Africa

Zebra drinking Kruger Park South Africa

Buffalo Kruger Park South Africa

Starling Kruger Park South Africa

Elephant Kruger Park South Africa

Giraffe Kruger Park South Africa

Baboon Kruger National Park South Africa

Elephant crossing river Kruger National Park South Africa

Giraffe Kruger Park South Africa

Zebra Kruger National Park South Africa

Birds of the Kruger Park South Africa - Blacksmith Lapwing

Impala Kruger Park South Africa

Zebra Kruger Park South Africa

Elephant Family Kruger Park South Africa

Come and stay with us in Cape Town - Bradclin offers self-catering apartments in Blouberg, Pinelands and Newlands 

We are open for all travellers once our borders again open after Covid-19

And don't forget to add on a Kruger Park experience.

The stillness of the bush is something to remember and maybe you will be lucky to hear a leopard even if he remains invisible!

Kruger Park South Africa

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South Africa - Road Tripping - Seven Passes - Garden Route

Boredom Buster - Seven Passes, Garden Route

Before we had the N2, there were the "Seven Passes"

Written By: Carri-Anne | 28 Apr 2020

Wilderness Beach, Garden Route

Wilderness and Knysna, in the heart of the Garden Route are popular holiday destinations, there’s plenty to do and see. Enjoyed for the array of outdoor activities it’s frequented by mountain bikers, runners and hikers. One of the hidden treasures of the area is the Seven, a 75 km stretch of road that technically has eight passes.

Knysna Lagoon - railway bridge

Seven Passes Road

The seven passes are, as the name suggests, seven passes all connected, running from Knysna to George or George to Knysna, whichever way you prefer to traverse it. This majority dirt road is a creation of the pass builder extraordinaire, Thomas Charles John Bain, and was finished in 1883. Bain had help from his brother-in-law Adam de Smidt, and rumour has it the two didn’t get along every day or most days. Back when Bain first built this road, it was the equivalent of the N2. Since the building of the N2 and the extension of the surrounding farms and B roads, the traffic you’ll find on the road are mountain bikers, trucks from the mills and the odd tourist or two.
The general profile of each pass is a descent into a valley where it either crosses a river or runs alongside one before climbing the ascent out. The variations are the gradients of descent and ascent, the amount of tight and twisty corners and the height. The beauty of these passes are that they’re not done at speed, it’s an easy relaxing drive, a dirt road with the forest canopy overhead that clears at the bottom as you cross each bridge.

Getting there

Beginning the journey from Knysna at Phantom Pass, the first pass that would be built out of the seven. Turning off the N2 before the Knysna lagoon the road runs inland towards the first pass, Phantom Pass. This 75 km stretch of the road reached the Kaaimans River in 1869, and in 1871 was built to reach Woodville near George.

Phantom Pass

The Belvidere turnoff from the N2 turns into the Phantom Pass, which was ready for business in 1862, with a rebuild in 1882. Named after the ghost moths that call the forest home.

Homtini Pass

Completed in 1882, opened in 1883, and was the last pass to be completed of the seven. The Homtini name has suggested roots in Khoi, and means either ‘mountain honey’ or ‘difficult passage’. We’re likely to believe that it means difficult passage with 45 corners, of which three exceed 120 degrees and one sharp hairpin. It was the building of this pass that led to the source of discontent between Bain and de Smidt. It’s believed that they disagreed with the path of the Seven Passes road, which led to an argument in the build of Homtini Pass. The argument between the two escalated to the point that they never spoke again.

Karatara Pass

The finding of gold in the area lead the pass to be further built and heading towards the Homtini area.
Bearing the same name as the forestry village the pass can have a few trucks on it. A gravel track that’s dusty in summer and turns into a muddy clay in winter. If doing this in winter, it would be recommended to go in a vehicle with all-wheel drive as the corrugations can cause a loss of traction.

Touw River Pass 

This pass remains the same as it was when built by Bain and de Smidt, except the timber bridge was washed away and replaced by a steel bridge in the early 1900s. It’s thought that de Smidt was more involved in building this pass than Bain, who was involved in the Homtini Pass at the same time. Much like the other passes it drops down into the riverbed and is often a victim of flooding in heavy rains.

Silwer River Pass

This short pass of 2.5 km is a national monument, leading into Wilderness Heights. Built by de Smidt the pass has 30 bends, which is quite something considering how short it is. Many consider this pass to be part of the Kaaimansgat Pass.

Kaaimansgat Pass

While Bain worked on the Knysna end of the passes, de Smidt built on the George end of the road. The original bridges were made of timber though succumbed to the elements quickly. In 1902 the concrete bridges were built, and are still standing today, and are national monuments.

Swartrivier Pass

A road that crosses the Swartrivier, the original pass was first used in 1853. Now it’s a modern tar road that runs past the Garden Route dam wall and down into the main road of George.

Make an adventure out of it

Stay in George, Wilderness, or Knysna for ease of access to the passes. While the passes can be done in just over an hour it’s recommended you make a day of the route. Pack food, picnic blankets, and sunblock. Stop along the way at local craft shops on the route. Stop at each bridge, take photos, and enjoy the flora and fauna at each pass.

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