Last week I spent a few nights in God Window in Port Edward – a small town in the KZN province of South Africa that borders the Eastern Cape. This one should not be confused with the much-loved Gods Window lookout point in the Mpumalanga province.
Here the owner, Marcel Lottering has turned his once residential property into a nature retreat and provided the perfect getaway for the everyday individual that would like to leave all the stress of their busy city lifestyles behind.
The establishment has been around for the past 3 years, and Marcel has created four secluded accommodation types that will ensure a peaceful escape that is best offered by nature.
God’s Window is his primary abode, which will offer you a spectacular view of the Umtumvuna River, the Indian Ocean, and the bridge that connects the KZN province to the Eastern Cape Province. It can sleep 6 with its three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is a self-catering unit, with a fully equipped kitchen.
The Gods Window flat is completely secluded and perfect for the couple. It has a deck that peers into the dense KZN jungle.
I stayed in the Cottage which is higher in the valley and shares an entrance to Marcel’s private property. It is also a self-catering unit, a bit on the rustic side with its antique-looking decor and furniture.
The Forest tent is my favorite. If I had not been in town for a wedding and had to enter in the middle of the night, I would have given this first preference. The tent is rested on a deck between a really dense part of the Jungle and is the perfect place to rekindle your love. It even has a “love couch” in the front part of the deck.
Most of the accommodation types have a gas braai (barbecue for our American fans) on the premises and private outdoor braai facilities. The communal swimming pool will ensure that you are kept cool, during the humidity of the summer, and the fireplace will keep you warm in the winter.
Marcel is constantly doing improvements to the property. As we speak he is busy completing his Mediation Yoga studio set in the middle of a dense forest. It’s an amazing place to unwind in the depths of nature. The studio should be complete in a few months’ time, but in the meantime, he is offering some reiki and yoga classes. Weekend retreats are on the cards too. It also has a fully functional sauna which you can unwind in.
Here are a few images of the studio in the making. I can’t wait to visit it again once it is complete.
If you would like to plan your retreat into nature get in touch with Marcel via email: marcel@adsadr.com or telephonically: +27 78 976 2311. Accommodation prices range from R200 – R400 per person per night. (Rates are current at the time of publication)
Once booked, read my top 10 favorite things to do in the area to really enhance your experience on the South Coast. These include a visit to the Petrified Forest, the world’s smallest desert, mountain biking at Clear Water Trails, and much more.
All images on this site, are the property of Kzara Visual Concepts and have been taken by Chantelle Flores.
Not something on your everyday bucket list – but a definite must-do for the brave. Soweto, South Africa
I was hosting a photographer friend over recently visiting from Spain. He has an adventure-seeking soul, so I wanted to give him a thrilling experience of what life in Johannesburg was really all about. What better way to show him what the traffic was like than by playing Dodge ‘em with Soweto taxis whilst on quad bikes?
Cristian Viko & myself are ready to hit the streets of Soweto
So I contacted the guys from Naledi Backpackers in Soweto and put together a unique tour that showcased all the best tourist attractions that Soweto had to offer.
Both nervous and excited, I had no idea what to expect.
On arrival, we were greeted by Naledi’s friendly staff and the community who assisted us with all safety checks before departing on our 6-hour journey that was about to turn into the most memorable experience we have had in South Africa.
We thought we would share this sort of experience with you. Pictures do after all communicate 1000 messages!
Just a little after dusk and as the beaches start to empty, local fishermen gather to take part in a series of illegal activities on Eastern Cape’s beaches.
I happened to stumble across this purely by chance on my recent visit.
This great white shark was caught through a process of catch and release, after having fishermen take photos with it. Kinda like a trophy animal. They later dragged it back to sea so as not to harm the poor animal.
They didn’t seem too impressed that I happened to be there, and appeared furious when I managed to sneak a few images of their illegal activity.
I later learned that hammerhead sharks are commonly used as bait for drawing great whites to shore.
Spring day – My absolute favorite day of the year! And there is a very good reason why!
I visited the Limpopo Province in South Africa recently and noticed that the flowers were already in bloom and I couldn’t help but grab my camera and start capturing the essence of everything that was in front of me.
Spring is more than just a season to me. It is a time of self-reflection. A time to remind yourself that although you may be going through some storms in your life, and surrounded by the ugly aspects of winter, life is beautiful, just like you are and those rough times you may be facing are only a season. Your character and personality are shaped during these times and you develop skills that help you stand tall during those moments in your life that God has thrown at you to make you the person you are meant to become!
And isn’t this person just beautiful?
Here are a few of my favorite images from my spring day collection. These are intended to be blurry, soft abstract art pieces to remind you that you are beautiful even when things are a mess.
Recently, I decided to explore the rehabilitation programs available in South Africa for introducing Baboons and Vervet Monkeys back into the wild. I found myself at the Bambelela Monkey Rehab Centre in the Limpopo Province.
Bambelela in Zulu means to “hold on”, and Silke from Germany has dedicated her life and savings to the conservation of these baboons and vervet monkeys in South Africa. The program is reliant on volunteers from around the world who are passionate about giving monkeys that have been abused and orphaned a second chance at life. It is incredibly sad to see how many monkeys they house that have been victims of the Illegal pet trade {Animals that have been captured by shooting the mothers}.
One of the “wild” vervet monkeys that have been released back into the wild, but found its way back to Bambelela, and stayed there ever since. Monkeys are territorial, so once they are released into an area they tend to stay in that area.
It is estimated that there are only 250 000 vervet monkeys left in South Africa, and could possibly be one of the next species to face extinction. They are currently having a huge problem with habitat loss, and are being squeezed into smaller and smaller areas, so although there are so few left, they are still common to see in certain environments.
Boys will be boys! No comment!
Vervet monkeys in Afrikaans are known as the “blouaap” for the blue color in their skins and of cause their genitals like this guy here.
“Freddie” has a lot of love to give by giving me kisses for days! Freddie’s mother was shot by a farmer and as a result, found himself orphaned at Bambelela.
Newborn monkeys are hand reared and get fed milk every 15 – 18 minutes by the volunteers. Once they weigh 1 kg and have received their Tetanus vaccine they are released into the Kindergarten where they can begin interacting with other monkeys.
Currently, Bambela has 400 monkeys that are in captivity waiting to be rehabilitated. Monkeys are grouped into troops, usually between 35 – 40, and kept in the main rehabilitation camp for a period of 3 years to develop skills that will help them survive in the wild.
Rehabilitation is not simply progress. Bambelela does a site visit to ensure that there is adequate vegetation in the area as well as scouting for other troops that these can be incorporated into which will help with the integration of the males in particular. They will then get a permit from Nature Conservation and once they have these permits they have 30 days to release the monkeys. Two weeks prior to the release, a team of professionals will go to the site to build them a temporary cage which will be their home for the first 7 – 10 days so that they can get used to the area and familiarise themselves with new sites and smells, Like humans, monkeys don’t like to change too quickly, so they ensure that the new conditions are similar to what they are used to. Once this is ready they start with the release preparations.
Early morning their caretaker removes all food and inserts a trap cage with food into their cage. Because monkeys can’t be darted and relocated this is the only option available during the process. Once done, these monkeys get vaccinated against Tetanus for the last time. The caretaker then lives with the troop in their new environment for 40 days to 3 months monitoring them and ensuring they make an easy transition.
Their food is still substituted during their first year, especially during the dry season but a lot of the food is left as they prefer to eat what is available to them naturally. Every release is different, in previous releases that they did the caretaker lived.
The average release of a troop will cost anything from R35 000 and includes food for the monkeys, payment to caregivers, and Tetanus vaccinations amongst other things.
“Kingsley” was horribly abused. Someone gave him a banana with a firecracker in and it exploded in his mouth burning away half of his lips. He I slightly brain-damaged as a result and will forever long remain in captivity. The team at Bambelela did an amazing job at looking after him through his recovery process.
Volunteer Programs are available from R3000 per week which includes your fo
od and accommodation.
If you would like to consider volunteering here, it is advisable to book directly with Bambelela as agents usually take 40 – 60% of the monies, Booking through Bambelela directly ensures that your money spent goes to the benefit of these animals.
Baboons are not kept in cages, and Bambelela encourages them to remain in their natural habit. They usually wander off during the day, but come back to feed in the afternoons.
Day trips are available when booking in advance and cost an average of R130 for a 2-hour tour with a monkey interaction. Monkey interactions are only available from July – November. If you would like to book you can do so by emailing info@bambelela.org.za with the subject line ‘Day Tour’ or by telephoning +27 (0) 14 736 4090. You will then receive a gate code and will be able to enter Leopard Rock Estate where you can access the rehab center.
I must admit I have never been a fish enthusiast, yet visiting fishing villages is high on my list of places to explore when visiting a new country. When Morocco Excursions contacted me to photograph their tour to Essaouira– Morocco’s historical coastal city and a World Heritage Site – I jumped at the opportunity.
I had first heard of this exotic and soulful fishing city from locals in Marrakech. They mentioned that it is a perfect destination to immerse oneself in a world of color, indulge in freshly caught fish, sample colorful traditional culture, and mingle with friendly fishermen.
Essaouira’s port was once an important hub for trade between Europe, Africa, and America until the 19th Century. Today the harbor is dominated by the comings and goings of local fishermen who make a living from the sea.
A variety of unique fish species unique to Morocco
I spent a few hours in the harbor watching the small blue fishing trawlers coming in at a relaxed pace with their catch of the day. A selection of fish species can be found on display by individual “fishmongers” in an open-air market alongside the quay. Fishermen tend to their stalls gutting and filleting their catch whilst bartering the best prices with local restaurateurs.
I visited each stall, fascinated by the wide variety of unique fish both big and small that can be found here and nowhere else in the world. Tourists and locals can hand-pick their favorite fish and have it cooked while they wait at the open-air restaurants around the market.
I struggle to remember each species’ name, so decided to share all the images of them I mustered up.
Local fishermen, equally intrigued by me, shared stories of their lives with me and with pride let me try out some of their fish. I am not the bravest foodie out there and very seldom you will find me trying out something I have never experienced before. I mean I have never even plucked up the courage to eat an oyster before.
One cheerful gentleman with a stall of fish you don’t have to cook – offered me a sea urchin. Its shell is made of calcium carbonate and its spherical body is defended by hundreds of spines that can pierce through human skin (This is the way I remember sea urchins – always getting stuck in my feet while exploring rock pools). Its mouth alone is home to five sharp teeth that can chew through stone, and as far as I can remember these things are poisonous. So why would one want to eat it?
He cracked open the shell to reveal 5 chambers of orange-colored gonads with a creamy appearance. Gonads are both male and female reproductive organs. It is this part of the sea urchin that gets eaten. It was just amazing to see. I had never before wondered what these sea hedgehogs looked like.
A visit to the library isn’t something on your average traveler’s bucket list. Well not on mine at least.
With just under 6 hours to explore Port Elizabeth’s city by foot, I accidentally stumbled across the Public Library on market square by complete accident I was amazed at how appealing beautiful a library could look. It must have been the victorian styled architecture with its gothic flair that first drew me to it.
Declared as a National Monument in 1973, the Public Library first opened its doors in 1901. In front of the building you will find a Sicilian marble statue of Queen Victoria who looks over the market square. The intricate, decorative, terra-cotta façade of the building was manufactured in England.
Today it is the only historic building in South Africa built as a Public Library which is still functioning as a public library.
There is no charge to see the library. When you enter you can’t help but stare at the stained glass windows that have survived to the present time. The library is 3 storeys high, and filled with book collections from around the world.
Earlier this month I was invited along to the Drakensberg with the Johannesburg Photowalkers to do some Star Trails photography. With a day and a half to spare before having to meet up, I decided to pay Freestate’s only National Park an impromptu visit – The Golden Gate National Park. Having heard how beautiful this part of South Africa was, I could not comprehend its beauty until I arrived. I could definitely see why it had been famed for its golden-hued sandstone cliffs that rose 2829 m above sea level and the spectacular scenery the park offered. Surrealism and a magnificent stillness exist here.
If you are a huge fan of the great outdoors like I am, then this place is tailored for you.
Camera in hand, I was excited to scope the area for some great photo ops. Having visited in winter, I can only imagine the kind of contrasting images I would get at sunset with the overhanging cliffs glowing orange and popping against the green grassland. Due to time constraints, I opted for a drive through the Park to make the most of my short stay here, rather than hike one of the many trails starting at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp.
This place reminded me so much of my favorite childhood movie – The Land before time. Maybe it was the aftermath of the intense drought South Africa had recently been experiencing. The lack of water saddened me. Or it could have possibly been the fact that in 1973 fossilized dinosaur eggs and bones as well as footprints from the Triassic period were found here.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but daydream about life here 195 million years ago. With not a soul in sight, I imagined myself being LittleFoot, who became orphaned during the earth shake. I could see evidence of this in the deep craters that dug out the land. As the winds blew I heard LittleFoot’s mother’s voice guiding me to follow the “bright circle”, past the great rock that looks like a longneck, then past the string of “mountains that burn to the Great Valley. I found myself following the sun’s rays towards the Brandwag overhanging cliff which is a well–known landmark in the region. After being greeted by a series of golden-hued sandstone cliffs I finally arrived at the “Great Valley”. The first and only water source I found in the park. Here you will find an angel overlooking the mountains at The Van Reenen family graveyard. This iconic landmark gives us insight into the lives of Jan Van Reenen; a historical influencer in South African history who gave this park its name in 1878 – Vuurland. Today is known as the Golden Gate.
It was fun pretending I was LittleFoot for a while, but after a good few hours exploring the park, I needed a warm comfy bed and shelter from the declining temperatures.
I spent the evening at the Basotho Cultural Village Rest Camp at the foothill of a mountain. Lucky for me, there was a friendly staff member on-site to assist with my check-in which would normally take place at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp, 20km away.
The self-catering Rondawel that resembled a Basotho Kraal was spacious. It had a kitchenette, a double bed, and an ensuite bathroom with an amazing shower. From the patio, game viewing was effortless and offered a spectacular view.
The next day, I tried to visit the Basotho Cultural Village, a live cultural museum but was shocked to see it was closed on a Saturday.
En route back to Joberg a few days later, I could help but return to the park for one last view of this gorgeous place.
I recently discovered Retiefklip on a recent visit to Northern Drakensberg, I was driving up the Oliviershoek pass coming from Sterkfontein Dam and found a sign board for it, and wondered what it was all about. I paid no attention to the 4 x 4 only sign and figured my Toyota Yaris would handle it as it hadn’t done too bad before on rough terrain. People laugh at me all the time when I tell them what my car is capable of, and very seldom believe me.
As expected, my car effortlessly made it up the mountain pass after a 20-minute drive.
For those that don’t, he played a huge role in South African history. He was a Voortrekker leader and a governor during the Great Trek. The Retief pass is where some of Retief’s party of Voortrekkers descended the Drakensberg in their quest for freedom and to find the land of their own.
This group of men consisted of 66 wagons and these were the first ever wheeled vehicles to enter Natal on the 14th of December 1837. The trail carved by these wagons is known as Retief’s Pass and was declared a national monument in February 1977.
I can’t believe I have never been to this historical area before. With not a soul in sight, I walked through a tunnel of rocks before accessing the monument. I was slightly distracted by these softly lit boulders glowing orange as the sun hit them. I was in awe of its beauty.
The rock was a fascinating art piece that told a historical story. When the front trek arrived in the Free State, there was a dispute about the eventual destination of the Great Trek. Some wanted to go to Transvaal and others to Natal. Piet Retief chose Natal. Here at the foot of the Kerkenberg, he left his laager on 7 October 1837 with 14 men to reconnoiter Natal in advance. On 11 November Conrad and Piet Meyer returned with the good news that Natal could be occupied and settled in peace.
Retief’s eldest daughter, Debora inscribed her father’s name with green paint on this very rock to commemorate his 57th birthday (12 November 1837) and his achievement. Today the rock is now known as Retiefklip.
The Retief trek party stayed at Kerkenberg till 13 November 1837 from where they moved east to reach the edge of the Drakensberg. With the 1937 centenary celebration of this historic incident, Mrs. J.C. Preller, a granddaughter of Debora Retief, unveiled a commemorative plaque. In 1986 students of the Pretoria Technikon donated the English version of the Plaque.
The other side of the rock opens up to a scenic surreal landscape filled with usually shaped boulders overlooking the Drakensberg mountains. It was so peaceful sitting there taking it all it. Looking at the threatening mountain passes and rocky cliff faces, I was surprised that the Voortrekkers made it through here with their wagons.
A few kilometers away from Retiefklip I found another heritage site called the Kaalvoet Vrou. This site is dedicated to Susanna Smit, who in 1837 declared that she would rather trek barefoot back over the Drakensberg than live in Natal under British rule. I don’t think she ever made it though, as recorded she passed away in Natal. The full-sized metal statue of her was erected in her honor in 1977, and strategically positioned with her back towards Natal.
Erasmus Smit – the Voortrekker’s priest named this cluster of rocks Kerkenberg which he considered worthy of a church. The views from here are unforgettable. When you look eastward you will see Natal. To the north, you will see the Freestate, and to the east, you will see Malutis.
San Parks describes its park as follows:
Thousands of seabirds roost on sheltered islands, pristine golden beaches stretch endlessly into the early morning mist and brooding salt marshes are home to vast concentrations of migrant waders from the northern hemisphere. During the spring, the Strandveld is embroidered with a tapestry of multi-hued flowers, while in the Postberg section, many antelope are to be seen in a setting that is as unique as it is idyllic.
The description of this place intrigued me, so I hopped on a plane, rented a car, and drove through to see what all the fuss was about.
On arrival, I was instantly filled with peace while silently sitting absorbing the soothing sounds of the ocean waves gently breaking on the shoreline. I sat breathing in the fresh coastal air and marveled for hours at the wonders of nature with not a soul in sight. I took in scenes of abundant wildlife and strolled for hours along the blanketed floral landscapes. I explored marshlands and was greeted by colonies of scarlet (lesser) flamingos. My soul was at home.
Not something on your everyday bucket list – but a definite must-do for the brave.
