Category: Wilderness

adventure, Birding, Fynbos, Garden Route, Hiking, Mossel Bay, South Africa, Wilderness

Garden Route hiking – wild route to the peak of Jonkersberg.

In search of Eagles Two weeks ago, after guiding guests on a contour path hike on the lower slopes of Jonkersberg, I glimpsed a pair of eagles slope soaring along the ridge just before sunset. Back lit against the skyline, I instinctively identified them as Martial Eagles, but located approximately 3.5km away without a pair of binoculars, it was difficult to make a positive ID. … Continue reading Garden Route hiking – wild route to the peak of Jonkersberg.

Mark Dixon3 Comments
Cape Nature, Coastline, Ecology, Garden Route, Marine, Nature, SANParks, Science, Sedgefield, South Africa, Whales, Wilderness

Whale Strandings – the harsh reality of nature.

In the past 6 months there have been over 10 whale carcasses washed up, including a rare Sperm Whale, in the Garden Route. Depending on where they washed up, their handling varied from leaving them in situ to burying them or removing the remains for disposal elsewhere. Where possible, sampling was performed for DNA profiling and parasite collection. Generally, with the carcasses there is a … Continue reading Whale Strandings – the harsh reality of nature.

Mark Dixon8 Comments
Birding, Day walk, Ecology, Forest, Garden Route, Knysna, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, SANParks, Sedgefield, South Africa, Wilderness

Birding for the namesake of Knysna

The message on Saturday afternoon simple : I will be in the Garden Route on Monday and would like to photograph a Knysna Woodpecker and a Knysna Warbler. Can you help? August Birding in the Garden Route can be extremely fickle, very much dependent on which way the wind blows. A week of South westerly winds can drop the temperature and blast the birds into … Continue reading Birding for the namesake of Knysna

Mark Dixon2 Comments
adventure, Beach, Cape Nature, Coastline, Day walk, Garden Route, Hiking, Knysna, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, rock pools, SANParks, Sedgefield, South Africa, Wilderness

4 Must do Coastal Day Walks in the Garden Route

The Garden Route is synonymous with outdoor activities, in particular nature walks and hiking. While most guests to the region automatically plan for a forest hike in one of the famed Outeniqua, Knysna or Titstikamma Forests, few first time visitors realize that there are some amazing coastal trails to explore. Stretching along the coastal plain south of the formidable Outeniqua and Titsikamma mountain ranges and … Continue reading 4 Must do Coastal Day Walks in the Garden Route

Mark Dixon1 Comment
Birding, Cape Nature, Coastline, Day walk, Forest, Garden Route, Knysna, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, SANParks, Sedgefield, Wilderness

​Springtime Birding on the Garden Route. 

While the 2016/2017 drought in the Garden Route has affected birding resulting in uneventful forest birding, it has had twitchers adrenaline flowing with some exciting out of range and first in South Africa sightings. Now, mid way through September, some welcome rain having fallen and a green flush returning to the unusually autumn tone of the region, the song of a number of returning migrant … Continue reading ​Springtime Birding on the Garden Route. 

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