Mountain Splendour

From Old World Charm to the natural splendour of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountain Range, one of our World Heritage sites. This "barrier of spears", as the amaZulu call it, consists of mountains reaching altitudes exceeding 3 000 metres. Mist covering the area, is a natural phenomena - with a charm of its own - even if it frustrates visitors hoping to view the towering peaks.

With such high altitudes, it should come as no surprise that during winter, snow will "cap" the mountain tops. Situated in the central region of this mountain range, Cathkin Peak
(3 147m) is the most prominent feature.

Dominating the cliffs and plains of the "Little Berg", the towering Giants Castle
(3 314m) prominently juts out. This area is well-known for its realistic cave museum, where lifelike San figures bring alive scenes of an era past and a magnificent number of San paintings adorn the cave-like walls of rock.

Golden Gate derives its name from the orange-coloured sandstone cliffs of this area. It acts as a kind of sentinel and is best photographed in the warm glow of the sun late in the afternoon.


Apart from the mountain splendour, rolling hills, grassy plains and many a Zulu village are "part and parcel" of the charm found throughout the KwaZulu-Natal province.


Other than mist and snow, thunderous weather occurs regularly, especially during the summer months. From a photographer's point of view, the heavy clouds covering most of Cathedral Peak
(3 004m) and the Bell
(2 930m) next to it, also has a charm of its own.

Next to the Dragon Peaks Park and Monks Cowl, the world renowned Drakensberg Boys' Choir School is situated. It is said that the choir draws inspiration for its exuberant performances from the beautiful surroundings. During school terms, a concert is held every Wednesday afternoon in the school's auditorium - an experience I highly recommend!


By way of "demonstrating" the charm of this region - 2 photos of the same setting taken during "contrasting" seasons: this one photographed as autumn sets in ...







... and this one of summer in full swing.

Old World

Pilgrim's Rest has an "old world charm" - because it's a perfect replica of a prospector's town "born" during the gold-rush days, the entire small village was restored & then declared a National Monument. Accidentally Alec 'Wheelbarrow' Patterson discovered gold here in 1873, which lasted until 1972, when the Beta mine ceased operations as the last operational mine.

The historical Royal Hotel has a "famous" pub/bar, although the locals say they meet each other after work in the 'chapel'. This might sound weird but is based on fact: originally the pub was a Roman Catholic chapel of the St Cyprian's School in Cape Town. When the chapel was demolished someone decided to transport it via Maputo (Mozambique) & then by ox-wagon to Pilgrim's Rest. However instead of being re-erected as a chapel, it became part of the Royal Hotel as its bar.




The small Methodist Church was built in 1911 in the place of an original wood-and-tin structure.



In 1912, Tommy Dennison, a well-known man in Pilgrim's Rest, was badly in debt. He remembered that a coach robbery had taken place in 1899 on what is now known as the Robber's Pass. So Tommy decided to attempt the same but instead of gold sovereigns he only found a case of silver coins in the coach. When he nonetheless started to pay his debts with the stolen money, he was arrested & sent to jail. After a 5-year term Tommy returned to Pilgrim's Rest & opened what to this day is still called the Highwayman's Garage.

When an unknown man, who was once caught & convicted of tent-robbing, dared to return years later to Pilgrim's Rest, he was spotted on what is now known as Cemetery Hill. He was shot & killed & where he fell, buried. His grave lies north-south (instead of the Christian way of graves in an east-west direction) & this Robber's Grave is closely connected with the old cemetery.




Many old residences were converted into shops, as this pretty Craft Centre, which line the main street of "Up-Town" (> versus "Down-Town" = Highwayman's Garage)


Mrs Mac's Shop is another fine example of a historical building converted to a shop. In 1905 it housed the Royal Hotel's off-sales, then was rented as a chemist in 1913, but later began to trade as the general dealer in town.


On most days you'll find a colourful Ndebele lady or 2 on the porch of Mrs Mac's General Dealer. But please remember - they do "represent" a tourist attraction so photographing them means you need to pay a "donation" of R5-

I hope you enjoyed your VISIT to Pilgrim's Rest!?

At the Sea

We were for a week at the sea - visiting our daughter & son-in-law in Port Elizabeth.





During a walk along the coast in the Cape Recife Nature Reserve, we saw this Kelp gull carrying a fish. However instead of gobbling it down the gull seemed to have more fun playing with the fish.




Together with friends who also live in PE, the 6 of us went on an early morning hike along Sacramento Bay & watched the sun rising along the coast.




Although I mostly photograph birds & animals, I nonetheless "aim" my lens at anything with visual appeal.





My original goal was to photograph the Cape bulbul sitting "centre-stage", but then I realised what an interesting "frame" the dead tree stumps created.




We discovered this interesting (heart-shaped?) sea-"organism" lying on the beach.





In contrast to my "dependency" to photograph what I find in nature (= on terra firma), our son-in-law takes the most amazing photos whilst scuba-diving in the sea around PE - of which this pretty squid curled around seaweed is just one example of "another world" under the water.

Recent Tour

During the last tour, we were "treated" to this sighting of klipspringers, which are usually found amongst rocks or boulders. When standing or walking, they "balance" on the tips of their narrow, blunt-tipped hooves, which are specifically adapted to rocky terrain (= their habitat). Klipspringers are browsers & feed on a variety of wild fruits & leaves - which (in most cases) provide all the moisture they need.

To our delight, the young lady with the "eagle-eyes" [See: previous entry] also "discovered" 3 lionesses amongst thick grass during a game drive in open safari-vehicles in the Kruger National Park. A lion's feeding pattern customarily "depends" on the success in hunting of the females in a pride. Lions require a great deal of food - although their "favourite" prey include larger animals like buffalo, giraffe, zebra & wildebeest, lions aren't "fussy" & will feed on any mammal crossing their paths, as well as birds, reptiles & insects, even carrion, if necessary.

Knowing that lions have such an "all-embracing" diet, isn't it surprising that they seldom regard humans as potential prey? Whilst watching these 3 lionesses crossing the road ahead of our vehicle, we were delighted (instead of afraid) by their "caring" behaviour - so familiar amongst most cats.

Further on, this herd of elephants suddenly "emerged" in the road - appearing to aim straight for our vehicle! Although enormous, they seldom strike one as "dangerous" & in this case, soon veered off the road - their target: the nearby river (& NOT to cause us "any grief").




My first reaction, when near a river, I saw this elephant on the ground: had it slipped? Was it hurt? I soon had my answer:



The elephant only had some fun! Now it reminded me of a puppy exuberantly rolling in the sand. It also reminded me of a scene I had "witnessed" last year - of a frolicking hippo [SEE my blog-entry Friday, 6 Nov 2009].

Amongst thick undergrowth, I "detected" what I thought was a peacefully serene impala-scene. It would ideally have "fitted" amongst the pages of my latest book, Impi the Impala - a "story with photos" - [View my blog: www.impi-impala.blogspot.com OR see what the cover looks like on this blog, posted Friday, 19th March 2010]

Although today's entry is "dedicated" to larger "creatures", I do want to share this photo of a (grey) squirrel, who was collecting "provisions" ahead of winter & who's "home" is the Company's Garden in Cape Town. It's NOT an indigenous species, but was introduced to the Cape by Cecil John Rhodes at the end of the 19th century. This squirrel is a "native" of North America, was brought from there to England, from where Rhodes decided to "introduce it" (amongst many other exotic species from all over the world) to his Groote Schuur Estate.

In Retrospect

As my "followers" surely are aware of by now, most of my photos are taken in nature with "emphasis" on birds. So during the last tour (yet again with a wonderful group of German visitors) I was excited to see these Whitefronted bee-eaters the moment we entered the Kruger National Park through the Phabeni gate. Unfortunately their nesting sight was "disturbed" by road-works at the riverbank but it still was an amazing sighting.

I always love watching birds enjoying a bird-bath near the day-visitor centre at the Lower Sabi camp, where this Blackeyed bulbul & a Glossy Starling + junior either come to have a drink .....




..... or frolic in the water, as these sparrows & weavers did.







Amongst the smaller animal species we also had the pleasure to come across this chameleon jerkily moving across the road in the park.



Although I'm usually the one making everybody with me during game drives aware of any birds "on display", this lovely couple of Lilacbreasted rollers was "discovered" by a young lady (who has what I tend to call "eagle-eyes") with us in the open safari vehicle.


"Back at the ranch" (= our hotel), I had an early morning visitor in my bathroom in the form of a slug. Of course it became a "target" I wanted to photograph (LOL).





To my delight the slug "decided" to pose "prettily" for a photo of which in retrospect, I'm very proud of.





Outside in the garden I found the "counter-part" to the "visitor" in my bathroom - this time a snail with its shell.





During a rather "bumpy" boat-trip from the harbour in Houtbay to Duiker Island, where a colony of seals are "at home", I was lucky to get this shot of a "flying" seal.

[More photos of some "larger" animals we came across during the last tour will follow]

Look-alike

Before I leave tomorrow on another tour guiding German-speaking guests through our beautiful country, I'd like to share a few more photos & some "research" I did to accompany my photos.

The large green praying mantis apparently is 1 of about 120 different species of mantis found in South Africa. They tend to inhabit our gardens, although I "found" this one in our kitchen - & happily snapped away. A mantis tends to lift its powerful forelegs in "prayer" = waiting to capture its prey (= other insects).

Did you know that infant mantises are called "nymphs"?

In direct contrast to what I think resembles a ballerina (in this photo) rather than a formidable killer, the sharply spined forelegs of a mantis can incapacitate grasshoppers, locusts, bees or wasps. Before a mantis "traps" its prey, it tends to put on a "calculated" display to strike terror into its intended victim: it opens its rear-wings, jerks spasmodically whilst emitting soft, puffing sounds, & transfixes its prey with eyes situated at either end of its mobile head.

Did you know that the Khoi-San worshipped this remarkable insect (hence the Afrikaans name, hottentotsgod)? Similarly the ancient Greeks thought of it as a prophet ("mantis" = prophet - in Greek). In Europe, many a legend is said to be attached to the mantis.

When it pounces, the mantis aims for the back of a victim's neck. Then with powerful jaws, it gnaws steadily at small mouthfuls.

In my opinion, a praying mantis (especially my specimen in these photos) has an ET (Extra-terrestrial) look about it!?




Please don't forget to "check out" my latest (A4-sized) book at: www.impi-impala.blogspot.com [SEE: Book cover below]

Historical Winelands

The Afrikaans Language Monument in Paarl (by the architect Jan van Wyk) symbolises the wonder of South Africa's cultural & political growth. The Afrikaans language developed from Dutch but was also influenced by Malayan (= slaves brought to SA) & African languages. It still is a "young" language & was only officially accepted as such in 1925. The Language monument was built to commemorate this in 1975.

When visiting this monument, situated high on a hill, one is "greeted" by a magnificent sight of historical winelands. On a clear day, Table Mountain forms the "backdrop".



A "classical" winelands-tour includes the quaint little town of Franschhoek - with a monument dedicated to the French Hugenots, who came to South Africa in 1688 & really "set the ball rolling" with regard to the wine production in this region.

Situated next to the monument is a museum also dedicated to the French Hugenots. The building is a reconstruction of Saasveld, a mansion which once "graced" Kloofstreet in Cape Town - with the majestic Hottentots-Holland mountains in the background.



In the historical town of Stellenbosch, many restored houses line especially Dorp Street - like Saxenhof, a double-storey Georgian house.



Another well-preserved house is La Gratitude, which was built as the private residence (> parsonage) for a reverend. His deep religious belief is illustrated in the gable of the building in the form of the "All-seeing eye of God".


The Powder House (= ammunition magazine), situated at The Braak (= parade ground) in Stellenbosch was built in 1777. The neo-classical bell-tower was added 20 years later.



A tour of the winelands always includes visiting a wine estate - in this case Neethlingshof with its attractive tree-lined entrance.





Rural bliss = attractive scenery of vineyards, cattle grazing unperturbed & with magnificent mountains forming the backdrop - that's all part of a typical winelands tour!