Eswatini (Swaziland)🇸🇿

Eswatini, a special country with lovely people. 🇸🇿 🇸🇿 

Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini( former official name Swaziland)is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa . At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi) east to west, Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa. The  climate and topography are diverse, ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld. 

As one of the few remaining monarchies in Africa, culture and heritage are deeply engrained in all aspects of Swazi life, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all who visit. As well as the rich culture, the overwhelming friendliness of the people makes all visitors feel truly welcome and very safe. Add to that stunning scenery of mountains and valleys, forests and plains; plus wildlife reserves across the country that are home to The Big Five; and a fascinating mix of modern and traditional festivals, ceremonies and events, and you have all that’s best about Africa in one small but perfectly formed and welcoming country.

https://www.thekingdomofeswatini.com/

Walking with Giraffes

 Walking with Giraffes in the Eastern Cape of South Africa close to Addo Elephant National park 🦒 🦒 Simply amazing

Let me know if I can arrange this wonderful experience for you. 🦒🎉

West Coast National Park

The vast West Coast National Park is a great starting point to experience the raw, authentic, outdoors side of the Western Cape,  Endless natural beauty, a string of secret beaches, uncrowded braai spots, loads of exhilarating outdoor adventures, and some of the best wildflower-spotting in the land – these are just some of the wondrous attractions that make this beautifully preserved, unblemished paradise-on-earth the ultimate escape.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park lies at the foot of Lesotho’s Maluti Mountains. Loved for its unusual scenery and renowned for its golden aura as the sun lights up the sandstone cliffs and outcrops. Beautiful hiking trails to explore this lovely area.

Wildlife graze in the wild, grassy pastures, while rare bearded vultures circle the skies above the lost pathways of the San hunter-gathers, who once dwelled in the park's caves. Wildlife in the park includes the black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok and burchell’s zebra.

Clarence, the most charming little town that the Free State has to offer, next door to the park.

Lesotho

Lesotho 🇱🇸  "land of the Sesotho people, is a high-altitude, landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa, is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and mountain ranges including the 3,482m-highest peak in Southern Africa, peak of Thabana Ntlenyana. 

It is the highest country in the world, the lowest point in Lesotho is 1300 m above sea-level. It has an area of over 30,000 km2 and has a population of about 2 million.

The Sotho ethnic group (also known as Basotho), from which the country derives its name, composes 99.7% of the country's population, making it one of the most ethnically homogenous in the world. Their native language, Sesotho, is the official language along with English.

Blyderivier Canyon

Blyde River Canyon Reserve is situated against the Greater Drakensberg escarpment and includes natural wonders such as the Bourke's Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, Pinnacle Rock and God's Window.

The Blyde River Canyon is 26km long and considered the biggest green Canyon on Earth.  Grand Canyon is the biggest, the Fish River Canyon second and the Blyderivier Canyon the rd biggest Canyon overall.  

Regyne Protea farm

Regyne, the biggest commercial protea farm in the world. Regyne’s protea fields cover 80 hectares and they produce flowers primarily for the export market.  Proteas are cut, sorted and trucked straight to the airport for export. 

Hanli Viljoen took us on a tour of the farm. We visited one of the fields where they grow King Proteas, South Africa’s national flower.  We were educated on how proteas are propagated, either from seeds or cuttings. We also saw the sorting & packing shed where the flowers are prepared, and packed as well as the cold room. Flowers reach their destination in Europe within 48hours!

Timbavati Game Reserve

The Timbavati Game Reserve lays within the Greater Kruger area. It shares a fifty kilometer unfenced border with Kruger National Park. The animals roam freely between the parks.  🦒🐾

Timbavati Game Reserve offers is known for its natural splendor, wide swathe of bush and high density of wildlife - including the Big Five, over 350 bird species and the rare white lion. 🐘🐦‍⬛

Timbavati had various lodges to choose from. You will find remote, friendly abodes providing the perfect safari home for a family getaway, romantic honeymoon, group trip or whatever else you are seeking. Accommodations come in every price range – starry night skies are complimentary.

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is a South African National Park and one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,623 km2 (7,576 sq mi) in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 km (220 mi) from north to south and 65 km (40 mi) from east to west.  

Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's a national park in 1926. Kruger National Park. The Park was opened to tourism in 1927, only three cars entered the Reserve in the first year.

In South Africa there are several National parks which belongs to the government. It is allowed to drive with your own car in the National Parks.  The roads are fairly good and well marked.

Private Conservation areas border the National Parks and are privately owned. In most cases self drives are not allowed in the private areas. It is required to go on a guided Game drive. Which is normally in an open game viewing vehicle.

It is good to do a combination of National park and Private Conservation areas. National Parks offer larger herds of animals. In private concessions it is possible to get much closer to the animals.

Watch this Red-Crested Korhaan trying to impress the female 

https://youtu.be/JBAauZMT760?si=3VxJfSdSDbqZKFwA

Jordan Restaurant Stellenbosch

 When food becomes art👨‍🍳 Marthinus Ferreira and the team pride themselves on using seasonal ingredients, which means the menu changes regularly. Visit Jordan Restaurant at Jordan Wine Estate Stellenbosch to see the magic happening in real life. 😋

Whale Trail Availability 🐳

Whale Trail, always wonderful!👣🐳 Let me know if you want to join on our next Whale Trail 20 to 25 August 2024. Only 4 places available.. Fully catered. Only carry daypack.🎉🐳 Please also look at the Whale Trail Page. 

Cost: Including Meals,  Accommodation, Trail, Porterage. Only carry daypack.R10 500 Per person in Whale Season (June to December)

Out of Whale season R8900 (January to May) Good chance to see dolphins all year round.

The Whale Trail is a must-do if you love hiking and appreciate the outdoors. The trail is suitable for medium-fitness hikers. It is a five day, 56-kilometre slack-packing trail through the De Hoop Nature Reserve that introduces you to some of the most beautiful scenes along the Western Cape coastline. The reserve is part of the Cape floral region and is a World Heritage Site that hosts one of the largest marine protected areas in Africa. Famous for the large pods of whales that congregate during breeding season annually.

Between June and November, scores of the large endangered Southern Right whale, calve close to the shoreline. That being said, the hike itself is just as wonderful when the whales are not present. De Hoop Reserve acts as a nursery to the young whales during breeding season. It is said to be one of the world’s best land-based whale-watching areas. The Southern Right whale spends the summer in the far Southern Ocean feeding close to Antarctica and migrates north in winter for warm-water breeding. If you’re lucky you’ll also see large schools of resident dolphins and seals, as well as sharks in the marine reserve.

Expanses of fynbos, grasses and proteas lie before you every step of the way. The landscape is constantly changing as is the vegetation. The first two days are mountainous and as you move along the coast on the third, fourth and fifth day, the coastal scenery is breathtaking. De Hoop is part of the Cape floral region, which is one of the planet’s smallest, and most threatened floral kingdoms. The reserve is essential in conserving rare lowland fynbos. De Hoop has an estimated 1,500 plant species.

Stellenboschberg Ridge

We ascended from Paradyskloof side, Eden Forest. We descended towards Coetzenburg, then back to cars.

The views from the top are amazing. One can see the whole Jonkershoek Valley, Simonsberg, Table Mountain,  False Bay all the way to Cape Point. Beautiful Fynbos.

Alternatively one can ascend via Assegaaibos, on the Jonkershoek side or Coetzenburg.

Strenuous hike. Approximately 6 to 7 hours, be prepared with food and water.

Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/JvakutpfyAb

Start Eden Forest

https://maps.google.com/?cid=859782873173489165&entry=gps