I have always wanted to use the word “quintessential” but how and where, then, while I was writing an article on trees (don’t ask..), the Baobab Tree sprung to mind and, in particular the Sunland Baobab Tree.    This perfect example of a Baobab Tree is located on Sunland Farm, near Modjadjiskloof in the…

As the alphabet moves along, so does my journey down the Garden Route.  The Tsitsikamma National Park, which is just a couple of kms down from Storms River Village is actually part of the greater Garden Route National Park.

There are more than two reasons to visit the Tsitsikamma National Park with its forests and stormy shoreline,…

If you are after some adventurous activities, look no further than Storms River Village.  Set in the middle of the forest at the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Forest on the Garden Route, this tiny village oozes character.  It tells a story going all the way back to the 1800’s when elephants once roamed the area, then the foresters arrived and slowly a village developed.  From the Tsitsikamma Village Inn which began as a hunting lodge in the mid 1800’s…

Read the rest here …

The harsh, hoarse, raucous, guttural haa-haa-haa-de-dah dawn call of the Hadeda Ibis is enough to drive one demented!

I am sure a lot of people in South Africa can relate to my love/hate relationship with this bird.  Every morning, at sunrise they fly over my house screaming at me to wake up!  Who needs an alarm clock?  I live across the road from a golf course, one of the favoured urban spots for these birds to roost so, no matter what, I am not going to get away from…

http://theothersideofthecoconut.com/2012/06/20/intrepid-gorillas-chapter-two/

This chapter two, if you go there you can back track to Chapter one. I won this trip from Intrepid through TBU, so I consider it imperative to post here!

Intrepid Travel has a number of late availability places on the 26 May and 2 June departures of its 16-day ‘Gorillas, Chimps & Game Parks’ trip valued at £840/USD$1495/EUR€1000.

Rather than let the overlanding trucks set off half empty,…

If you have never been to South Africa, and you were wondering what kind of floral kingdom it would have, perhaps, because you think of it as being hot and sunny, you assume that it’s pretty desert like and quite scarce in the flower department; well nothing could be further from the truth. 

10% of the world’s flowering species are found in South Africa with the Cape Floristic Kingdom being one of the world’s six plant kingdoms. The others are the Antarctic, Australasian, Boreal,…

I am a fun loving mature woman from Cape Town, South Africa, who loves to explore new destinations and experiences.    My philosophy in life is “Have suitcase, will travel” and I like to drag my family and friends along with me to share in the joy.   Naturally, along the journey of “life” I like to indulge in long, lazy lunches, delicious champagne, creamy chocolate and most important, lots of laughter……

I recently started a Blog and invite you to take a twirl around it to…

Each week I'd like to share with you one of my favourite photos from my travels. This week comes from Brikama in The Gambia, West Africa. A cool dude, if ever I saw one.…

To everyone’s horror – but few people’s surprise – President Museveni has decreed that ‘the degraded part’ of the ancient and fabulous Mabira Forest, protected under international law, should be cut down. And for what crucial development project?

The president says the current scarcity of sugar warrants giving away the Forest.  Ugandans aren’t silly (and they love discussing current affairs); they’re well aware…

THUMP!

THUD!

CRASH!

If ever there was a rude awakening, this was definitely it.

It’s early. It’s been one hell of a journey to get here, the house rat has kept us awake and I need my shuteye. I turn over and try to get back to sleep.

But it’s not to be.

Above my head the gates of hell burst open.

At any moment I feel the roof will give way and whatever’s out there will land on us; I can’t imagine what’s making such a racket. The noise seems to…