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South Africa Overstrand Local Municipality

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  • TravelerSinclairianMoves
    Day 69

    No Match for a Mongoose

    February 7 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    A day of typing up stuff for Find Penguins as I know people want to know what’s been going on. I have been pooped by the end of the night, so today I managed to get 10 days of posts done and will have them up in th e next few days.

    Just after lunch, Drew decided to have another break for it because he did not want to wait until 3 to go swimming. Another call out to community support, he was found in short order. Anna and Alex hit the beach, I stayed behind with Drew as now he did not want to go to the beach. More writing done. A nice dinner of steak (oh and like really good steak! They cost about $7.60 Canadian each. These were Flintstones 2” steaks! And tender!), grilled sweet potato, honey ginger carrots and green beans. It was most excellent. With the kids in bed, as I did not get a walk in today, Anna and I snuck out to walk around the block.

    When we got back, we went to the back of the house to take a carpet of a line where we had it drying. Just after Anna took it off, we heard animal noises from nearby. We heard these noises the night before as well. A loud chattering squake to be more accurate, if that’s accurate. I had a head lamp with me, I shone it on the trees to see if we could see anything more, when a brown furry thing came running out of the bushes straight at us! I started the retreat and then noticed Anna was not beside me. Looking back I see she had the carpet from the line being held out like a matador, ready to take on this savage beast. The beast saw her steely glare and made a quick change of direction when it realized the error of its ways.

    Like all great hero’s this hero is humble beyond measure without the slightest hint of talking about her heroic deeds. So it is up to us, the common folk to raise her to legendary status for her battle against the savage Cape Water Mongoose, where not a drop of blood was shed, but her mark was left in our hearts.
    (Ed.: F.O.S. But luvs him)

    Kids in bed, more writing, like this right now. But now I am done. Good night.    Read more

  • TravelerWeltreise 2023
    1112
    Day 145

    Found Penguins 🐧

    October 15, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Am Freitag ging es für uns nochmal kurzzeitig ins Inland. Die Strecke nach Swellendam war zwar relativ lang, dafür aber sehr schön. Die Route 62 hat uns durch weite Felder, hohe Berge wie den Tradouw Pass und tiefe Täler geführt. Landschaftlich eine gute Mischung aus Kalifornien, Kanada und Irland.
    In Swellendam selbst haben wir nur die Nacht verbracht, bevor es dann wieder an die Küste nach Hermanus ging. Der Ort ist bekannt für seine Vielzahl an Walen (dieses Jahr über 250) die hier zwischen Mai und November herkommen, um ihren Nachwuchs zur Welt zu bringen, bevor sie dann weiter gen Süden ziehen. Mittags haben wir bei einer Bootstour mitgemacht und die Wale aus der Nähe beim Spielen und Schwimmen beobachtet. Und auch später vom Land aus konnten wir mindestens nochmal genau so viele der Southern Right Whales beobachten. Ich glaube, wir werden nie genug davon bekommen, diesen gemütlichen Riesen zuzusehen.
    Bevor es heute Mittag weiterging, haben wir noch in Betty‘s Bay (da kommen alte Gefühle hoch🥲) angehalten. Denn hier leben über 2.000 Brillenpinguine an der Küste.
    Und ab jetzt heißt es 2 Tage Wein in Stellenbosch🍷    Read more

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  • TravelerSüdafrika Part 1 - Praktikum
    211111
    Day 22

    Betty's Bay und Pinguine

    July 2, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Am Sonntag haben wir gleich den zweiten Ausflug mit unserem neuen roten Flitzer unternommen.
    Der Plan war, die Pinguine in Betty's Bay am Stony Point Nature Reserve zu besuchen.

    Wir entschieden uns an einem Ende des Ortes zu parken und dann am Strand entlang zu den Pinguinen zu spazieren.
    Leider gab's einige Hindernisse, wie frei herumtollende Hunde (mein Alptraum 😵) und Zuläufe zum Meer, die wir dann durchqueren mussten. Aber das war eigentlich ganz lustig und das Wasser war gar nicht so kalt wie gedacht. 😄
    Leider wurden unsere Mühen nicht belohnt, denn der Zugang zur eigentlichen Pinguin-Kolonie war geschlossen: Der hölzerne Steg wird anscheinend repariert. Auf der Website stand nur leider nichts davon.
    Immerhin hatten es sich ein paar vereinzelte Pinguine an der Bucht gemütlich gemacht, die wir dann von der Ferne beobachten konnten. Auch ein paar Rock Rabbits (auf Deutsch Schliefer) haben wir entdeckt. Es war schon sehr süß und ich würde gerne nochmal dort hin, wenn die Instandhaltung des Stegs angeschlossen ist. 🥰

    Zum Abschluss des Ausflugs wollten wir um Ort was essen. Hier liegt aber echt der Hund begraben und wir haben das nächstbeste Restaurant angesteuert: Jack's Restaurant and Sea view Inn. Ein total zusammengewürfelter Laden, aber irgendwie gemütlich. Das Essen war okay, sehr geschmacksneutral, aber nachdem wir erfahren haben, dass die Besitzer Engländer sind, war uns klar wieso. 😜 Als alle anderen Gäste gegangen sind und wir die einzigen waren, hatte wir uns sehr, sehr nett mit der Besitzerin Laura unterhalten, die uns ihre Auswanderungsgeschichte erzählt hat und ihre Perspektive auf die Entwicklung des Landes nach Mandelas Sieg und die politische Situation heute. Auch sie ist eine super herzliche und gastfreundliche Person!
    Zum Schluss hat Laura uns noch einen kleinen Umweg nach Hause empfohlen über einen Pass, sodass wir nicht nochmal an der wunderschönen Küste entlang fahren müssen. 😄

    Wenn ich es wirklich nochmal schaffe, nach Betty's Bay zu kommen, möchte ich auch unbedingt wieder dort essen, nicht zwingend wegen des Essens selbst (🙈😅), aber wegen Laura und auch die Ortschaft selbst strahlt so eine Ruhe aus. Es ist wirklich schön dort. 😊    Read more

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  • TravelerSüdafrika April 2025
    Day 30

    Südlichster Punkt + Bettys Bay Pinguine

    April 29 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Als erstes fahren wir zum Cape Agulhas, dem südlichsten Punkt von Afrika. Wir haben Glück und sind noch vor dem Regen dort.
    Erst unterwegs nach Gansbaai fängt es an zu nieseln. In Gansbaai machen wir einen kurzen Stopp. Von hier aus starten die Touren, wo man den weissen Hai sehen kann. Das haben wir damals 1992 gemacht, wo es noch nicht so populär war.
    Es gibt noch einen kurzen Stopp im Pinguin Sanctury und dann geht die Fahrt nach Bettys Bay weiter.
    In Bettys Bay gibt es afrikanische Pinguine. Hier sieht man sie viel besser als in Simons Town, auf der Kaphalbinsel. Es hat auch viel weniger Touristen. Es gibt einen Boardwalk und dabei kann man auch viele Klippenschliefer und 4 verschiedene Arten von Kormoranen beobachten.
    Rosie, als absoluter Pinguin Fan, ist ganz verzaubert und begeistert.
    Es lohnt sich die Pinguine hier zu besuchen. Die Fahrt von Kapstadt dauert ca 1.5-2 Std., je nach Verkehr und wo man in Kapstadt startet.
    Unsere Unterkunft ist ein grosses Stelzenhaus. Es hat sogar 2 Wohnungen. Die Adresse: lovers walk, Bettys Bay ❤️.
    Zum Dinner fahren wir in den Nachbarort nach Pringles Bay ins "ma cuisine" und essen vorzüglich.    Read more

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  • Südafrika | Garden Route
    Day 5

    Pinguine in Betty’s Bay

    March 26 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    In Stony Point bei Betty’s Bay haben wir einen kurzen Abstecher zu den afrikanischen Pinguinen gemacht 🐧 Weniger touristisch als in Boulders Beach – und dafür umso schöner. Wir waren fast die einzigen Besucher zu der Zeit. Die Pinguine watscheln durchs Gestrüpp, sonnen sich auf den Felsen oder schwimmen im Meer. Stony Point ist eine der wenigen dauerhaft bewohnten Pinguinkolonien auf dem Festland. Wirklich richtig süß und große Empfehlung 🥰Read more

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  • Misadventures Of WandaGhost and the Gnu
    Day 56

    Clarence Drive & Finding Penguins

    March 18 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    The wind got up overnight and we got woken up by an external flap I hadn’t secured slapping against the side of the canvas, and the caravan rocking.
    When I came out of the caravan at 6:30sm I expected it to be miserable outside considering the wind, but there wasn’t a cloud in the blue sky, and the sun was just coming up.
    Today had already been planned so after a couple of coffees we got dressed and then left camp just after 9am, our destination of the day was Bettys Bay and we arrived just before 10am and it was still pretty quiet with very few tourists. This is Penguin Town, where one colony of South African Penguins call home and they are protected. They came onto the shore this time of year to nest and breed and because they are endangered they have right of way for everything. If they nest in your back garden you have to leave them and make sure they have access to the beach. If they cross the road you have to wait. If they stop in the road you have to wait. Luckily we didn’t have that problem today and as soon as we pulled into the car park we saw our first couple of penguins. Once we were out of the car it became apparent that all of the bushes in the car park had little penguin sized holes in and they were all nesting sites.
    We walked to the steps towards the main colony and there were penguins everywhere. To us it seemed like lots but this is the end of the season and is a fraction of what can be seen during the early breeding season.
    We showed our wildcard to the lady at the gate and proceeded free of charge onto a boardwalk which took us over and around the nest colony. There were plenty of penguins to see and although it smelt a little fishy they did look quite cuddly.
    After an hour of penguin watching in the very cold wind we decided to push on further and leaving Bettys Bay we turned left onto Clarence Drive the whale watching route. This is a route I have ridden many times virtually on Rouvy and was looking forward to the drive.
    We drove a couple of miles and then came to the first lookout point where we stopped to lookout and get some pictures, then it was back in the car and we drove the entire scenic route. It was quite incredible just being able to look right out to sea watching for whales whilst driving along at 35mph. We didn’t see any whales but it’s not whale season.
    We ended up stopping at a restaurant for lunch at midday and we both had milkshakes to drink and I ordered the nachos that came with a flanged fried onion and fries and Jaleopeno poppers. When my meal came out it was massive. I knew I couldn’t eat it all as I decided not to have the burger because I didn’t want bread because I wasn’t that hungry. This was one of the biggest meals I’ve ever had put infront of me. So big it was served on a frying pan.
    I ate the onion first, big mistake. Then some of the chips before starting the nachos that were literally nachos in a block of melted cheese.
    I left most of the nachos and chips. I was totally defeated and so was Ellie with her Double Stuffed mushroom. When we left we felt so fat we just wanted to sleep.
    Back in the car we carried on driving Clarence Drive until we got to Gordon’s Bay where we stopped and went for a quick walk on the beach and a look around the shops. Then it was back in the car to make the journey home. TomTom wanted to take us down the motorway but we chose to go back the way we had come even though it was slightly longer it was far more scenic and enjoyable.
    We finally got back to camp at 3:30pm and after a cup of tea and the sun still burning down I decided to go for a swim in the tidal pool at camp. There were lots of old people in there and when I got in it was so cold it actually hurt. I waited a few minutes for the stinging to go and even though I’m used to ice baths this sea was really cold. I lasted 10 minutes and then we went back to camp.
    We’d already decided we didn’t need dinner tonight so we just chilled back at camp for the rest of the evening until it got dark and then headed indoors.    Read more

  • TravelerSinclairianMoves
    Day 72

    Another day in the water. Oh hum.

    February 10 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Today we thought we would go checkout the fresh water lake for swimming. The lake, like the rivers in the area all have a nice Rooibos Tea look to them. While some have an urge to put a slash of milk in it or a drop of honey, the boys decided to swim in it. This being said, the swim did not last long, primarily out of fear of not being able to see very far in the water, meaning fish, snakes, and lake monsters could not be seen enough in advance. So, back to the Ocean we went!

    Lots of Boogie Boarding and wave jumping time on this cool and windy day. Anna and I opted to watch rather than join in in the water.

    Post beach time, back to the house for a dinner of Boereworse, sweet potatoes and green beans for dinner.    Read more

  • TravelerSinclairianMoves
    Day 71

    Penguins, Oystercatchers and Ostrich

    February 9 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Since we are in penguin country, we felt we should pay our penguin friends another visit. When we arrived, we saw that the were all still dressed for a formal affair among the casually dressed geese. A few were off the beach area and right along the trail, we assumed for the desire to be photographed, so we obliged.

    From there we enjoyed a walk along the shore to the main beach. The water was definitely a a high tide with lots of people finishing among the rocks of the surf. On route, we ran into Daan, who would be taking us foraging on Thursday to show us what to collect and how. I am very much looking forward to this. In fact, I would say even a highlight. I know so little about the Ocean, what a great way to learn!

    While we continued our walk, I was impressed to see community based efforts to protect the Penguins and the Oystercatcher birds. Given my background in studying parks and protected areas, I have come to appreciate more and more the effectiveness of community based protection even over that of legislated park systems. Creating a cultural change, I feel, can be even more difficult than changing legislation. Thus, having a cultural desire to ensure good environmental practices and protection rooted in community is an incredible way to ensure good environmental outcomes. Just my two cents anyway.

    So, on we walked to the main, beach, a bit of boogie boarding, a bit of black walking then onto the restaurants up by the main road, as we were told they are open on Sundays. While this turns out to be an accurate statement, the full truth of the mater is they close at 2pm. Almost another Cricket match for us, but for the saving grace of Jack’s, a restaurant and B&B with an excellent view looking over Betty’s Bay and the Ocean. The kids sat at their own table in the shade while Anna and I enjoyed a sunnier table. It was nice change of pace to pretend we got to eat on our own and I believe the kids enjoyed it as well. Anna and I split a grilled fish dish and an Ostrich burger. Now if I can only get some Ostrich to Yellowknife as a one off vendor at Folk on the Rocks….

    Back to the house, we sat and enjoyed a movie together, only interrupted by the Water Mongoose circling outside the house looking for a rematch. In the time I went to get the camera, they decided they would bide their time and find a better moment to launch their next assault.    Read more

  • TravelerSüd Afrika 🇿🇦
    Day 23

    Überall Pinguine 🐧

    January 6 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Nach dem „Strand-Hopping“ wollten wir noch nach Betty’s Bay fahren, für einen kleinen Snack.

    Hier haben wir dann noch zufällig eine Pinguin Kolonie entdeckt 😍

    Also für alle die hier in der Umgebung sind, eine absolute Empfehlung und bei weitem nicht so touristisch wie am Boulders Beach!

    Und Pinguine waren nicht die einzigen Tiere , die wir entdeckt haben🙃    Read more

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  • TravelerSüdafrikareise 2024
    Day 5

    Pinguine am Stony Point

    December 2, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Am Stony Point bei Bettys Bay gibt es eine weitere Pinguinkolonie. Diese hier waren leider nicht so lebhaft wie die am Bolders Beach. Eine große Kormorankolonie verdrängt sie, denke ich. Der Streit um Futter muss hier anstrengender sein. Die Kormorane hatten bis zu 3 Jungvögel zu füttern.Read more

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