While most backpackers know the epic 7 day Outeniqua Trail from Beervlei to Harkerville, the other day hikes are relatively unknown except to the local hiking and trail running community. Indeed, the hub of trails in the Outeniqua Mountains can be found just north of the coastal town of George, approximately 450km east of Cape Town. In terms of activities in the Garden Route, the … Continue reading Hiking Trails in the Outeniqua Mountains
August 15th 2020 : Fatal stranding of a juvenile Humpback Whale A juvenile Humpback Whale was stranded on the Wildside shore near Buffalo Bay on Saturday afternoon 15th August. Confined to a rocky gully and battered by huge waves generated by a 6m swell, the whale sustained numerous lacerations. Conditions and the location of the whale made a rescue attempt impossible and sadly it died … Continue reading Fatal Stranding of a Juvenile Humpback Whale in the Garden Route.
Free diving in the Knysna Heads requires planning to coincide with the tides. My preferred time to dive is to start approximately 20 minutes before high tide and exiting as the slack tide ends. Diving around the low tide is possible, but you run the risk of poor viz as the current flushes the estuarine sediment out of the Heads. Continue reading Free diving on the Paquita Wreck
Ever since I read ‘Seven deadly colours’ I have been fascinated by colour presentation of the multitude of fauna that exists. Often, the colour of an animal is not actually a pigment, but a sophisticated means of tricking the viewers brain into registering something very different to reality, a means of disguise. Then there are species with elaborate structural colours (one of the 7 colour … Continue reading The deception of colour.
A World in One. As a tourist destination, South Africa is renowned for a variety of attractions. With a diversity of landscapes, it contains a multitude of biodiversity hotspots with it’s floral and avian wealth drawing naturalists, birders and outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe. For decades the country’s wildlife has been the backbone of tourism with an abundance of national parks and private reserves … Continue reading Hiking Holidays in South Africa
