suemtravels

Stony Point Nature Reserve Betty’s Bay South Africa

By: suemtravels August 25, 2019August 25, 2019

Africa, Overberg, South AfricaAfrican Black Oystercatcher, African Penguin, African Penguin Colony, Arthur Yoldon, Atlantic Ocean, Betty's Bay, Betty’s Bay Whaling Station, Black Cormorant, Buffelsvallei Farm, Cape Cormorant, Cape Nature, Cape Whale Coast, Cormorants, Dassie, Dyer Island Conservation Trust, Egyptian Goose, Gansbaai, Grey Herons, Guano Harvesting, Hangklip Beach Estates, Harold Porter, Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Hartlaub Gull, Hartlaub’s Gull, Hermanus History Society, Irvin & Johnson, Jack Clarence, Jackass Penguin, John and William Walsh, John Welsh, Kelp Gull, Kleinmond, Kogelberg Mountains, Leiden Conservation Foundation, Marine Protected Area (MPA), Overberg Coast, Overstrand, Papenskuilsfontein Farm, Pringle Bay, rberg Region, Rock Hyrax, Roode Els Rivier Farm, Seabird Sanctuary, Shepstone Whaling and Fishing Company, South Africa’s Whale Coast, Southern Cross Whaling Company Ltd., Stony Point, Stony Point Nature Reserve, Una Whaling Ship, Waaygaat Farm, Waaygat Whaling Station, White-Breasted Cormorant, Whitebreasted CormorantLeave a Comment

Stony Point Nature Reserve is situated along South Africa’s Whale Coast at the base of the Kogelberg Mountain Range. The history of the area is fascinating! This rocky Atlantic Ocean outcrop in Betty’s Bay is home to African penguins, whaling stations, shipwrecks, Egyptian geese, cormorants and other seabirds, and dassies. The village of Betty’s Bay…

Hermanus South Africa Animal Welfare Society

By: suemtravels August 3, 2019August 23, 2019

Africa, Hermanus, South AfricaHermanus Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) South Africa, South African National Space Agency (SANSA)1 Comment

I began volunteering at the Hermanus Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) this week. HAWS “cares for sick, abandoned, and abused lost cats and dogs”. I’m spending time with both dogs and cats. Walking the dogs is especially satisfying, since they’re so happy to get out of the kennels into fresh air and sunshine! It’s good exercise…

Hiking Blue Mountain Trail Elgin Valley South Africa

By: suemtravels July 20, 2019August 23, 2019

Africa, Overberg, South AfricaAgama Lizard, Aged Sauvignon Blanc, Agritourism South Africa, Almenkerk Wine Estate, Andreas Groenewald, Babilonstoring Mountain Range, Blue Mountain Trail, Bot River, Botrivier, Cape Floral Kingdom, Cape Floral Region Protected Areas, Cape Klipspringer, Cape Mountain Leopard, Cape Orchids, Cape Overberg, Cape Porcupine, Craig Fraser, Dragon’s Head, Ecotourism South Africa, Elgin Basin, Elgin Valley, Erica, Farmstay, Fiona McIntosh – Slackpacking, Fynbos Biome, Fynbos Route, Grabouw, Green Tourism, Groenberg Mountain Ranges, High Rising, Highlands Forest, Hottentot Hollands Mountain Range, Houw Hoek, Hugh Fraser, Iona Wine Farm, King Protea, Kleinmond, Kogelberg, Kogelberg Biosphere, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Company, Kogelberg Mountain Range, Libby Doyle, Modern Wineries of South Africa, Nguni Cattle, Overberg Region, Paardeberg, PaardenKloof Estate, Palmiet River, PardenKloof, Pinot Noir, Plant Taxonomy, puff adder, Sauvignon Blanc, Slackpacking, South African Bushveld, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), South Hill Vineyards, The Voortrekkers, Western Cape Overberg, Wildekrans Country House2 Comments

Captivating Elgin Valley is part of the Overberg‘s Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. The valley is surrounded by three mountain ranges – Kogelberg, Groenberg, and Hottentot Hollands – that form a cool mountain plateau. It’s one of the most beautiful reserves I’ve experienced! A few weeks ago, I went ziplining in Grabouw and enjoyed eagle-eye views of the…

Sea Kayaking Walker Bay South Africa

A special joy of South Africa is its beautiful coastline. Experiencing it from a kayak is the best, but winter swells are often prohibitive. For about a week Walker Bay wasn’t safe for kayakers. This morning it was clear, crisp, and calm with minimal swell on the Bay, so I joined a sea kayaking adventure.…

Whale Watching Walker Bay South Africa

Humpback, Bryde’s, and Southern Right whales – we saw them all during a whale watching trip yesterday! It’s early season on the Whale Coast, so I was hopeful but not overly optimistic. Heavy sea swells caused cancellation of previous Southern Right charters, but this time we hit the jackpot and delighted in multiple spectacular sightings!!…

Ziplining Grabouw Elgin Valley, South Africa

For years I’ve wanted to experience ziplining. Saturday was the day! The adventure didn’t disappoint and was rich with adrenaline rushes, beautiful landscapes, and good company. I discovered Cape Canopy Tours with the help of a Hermanus kayak company – Walker Bay Adventures. After four attempts at joining a Cape Town kayak group and as…

Mandla Mlangeni – Oratorio Of A Forgotten Youth at Artscape Cape Town

I attended another Artscape performance last week. The musical “Reflection of A Forgotten Youth” focused on South African youth in 1976 and wasn’t like what I imagined. South Africa Youth Day June 16, 1976 “marked the beginning of the Soweto Uprising, a series of protests that escalated quickly around the country, especially in Cape Town”.…

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art Cape Town

By: suemtravels June 16, 2019August 20, 2019

Africa, Cape Town, South AfricaAbdulhay Jassat, ActionAid South Africa, African Contemporary Art, Albertina Sisulu, Amina Cachalia, Ampersand Foundation, Annie Silinga, Architect Thomas Heatherwick, Arthur Goldreich, Artthrob, Brenton Maart’s curated South African Pavilion Imaginary Fact, Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, Caroline Motsoaledi, Charlotte Maxeke, Elizabeth Paul, Exhibition Polyhedra, Frances Goodman, Grain Silo V&A Waterfront, Harold Wolpe, Hââbré The Last Generation, Helen Joseph, Joana Choumali, Jochen Zeitz African Contemporary Art Collector and German Businessman, Kendell Geers, Lilian Ngoyi, MAC/VAL Museum, Maggie Magaba, Marshall Square Prison, Mary Sibande, Michaelis School of Fine Art, MOCAA Director and Chief Curator Koyo Kouoh, Mosie Moolla, Neo Matloga, Nicholas Hlobo, Nokukhanya Luthuli, Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, Public Eye, Purple Must Govern Mary Sibande, Sue Williamson, The Order of Luthuli in Bronze to Amina Cachalia, University of Cape Town, V&A Waterfront Cape Town, Virginia Mngoma, Visual Arts Group South Africa, Volta Photo Studio, William Kentridge, Winnie Mandela, Young Urban Women Programme, Zeitz Museum Cape Town, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA)1 Comment

During this travel adventure I’ve explored museums and galleries in Europe, but South Africa’s Zeitz Museum always remained at the top of my list. I missed it during past visits and made a point of popping in last week. The first and third floors are closed for renovation and will reopen in August. I still…

Cape Town Philharmonic Winter Season Premier

By: suemtravels June 7, 2019August 22, 2019

Africa, Cape Town, South AfricaArizona Musicfest, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Cape Town Philharmonic’s 2019 Winter Season, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Czech Composer Antonin Dvorak, Juilliard School of Music, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Landestheater Opera, Lincoln Center, Mason Bates, Mason Bates Composer in Residence Kennedy Center Performing Arts, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, My Homeland Antonin Dvorak, New York Carnegie Hall, Pianist Bryan, Pulitzer Prize for Music, Robert Moody Conductor, Royal Academy of Music, Russian Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Samuel Barber Piano Concerto, Schalk Visser and Bryan Wallick Concert Promotions, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Virtuoso Pianists, Vladimir Horowitz International Piano Competition, Wigmore Hall LondonLeave a Comment

Cape Town Philharmonic 2019 Winter Season premiered at City Hall Concert Hall last night. The talented musicians didn’t disappoint! I sat in the upper bays – a great location for watching the orchestra in action. Over the years, I’ve seen the orchestra perform from various vantage points in the Concert Hall. One memory is sitting…

4 Tons of Fun Aretha Franklin Tribute at Alexander Theatre Cape Town

By: suemtravels June 2, 2019August 22, 2019

Africa, Cape Town, Theatre3 Tons of Fun, 4 Tons of Fun, Alexander Theatre Cape Town, Aretha Franklin, Bulelwa Sakayi (Beautiful Bee), Grammy Awards, Michelle Thomas (Mysterious Mich) and Soi-Soi Gqeza, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone Magazine’s No. 1 Greatest Singer of All Time, Sthe Mfuphi (Saxy Sthe), Tribute to Aretha FranklinLeave a Comment

I enjoyed a performance of Cape Town’s 4 Tons of Fun at Alexander Theatre last night. They paid tribute to the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. Produced by Sthe Mfuphi, Soi Soi Gqeza, Bulelwa Sakayi, and Michelle Thomas, the show featured Aretha’s all-time favorites like “Respect,” “Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools,” “A Deeper Love,” “Ain’t…

Kunene and the King at Fugard Theatre Cape Town

By: suemtravels May 25, 2019August 22, 2019

Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, TheatreAntony Sher, Antony Sher - Jack Morris, Birrie le Roux Designer, Black Consciousness Movement, Daniel Galloway Managing Director Fugard, Dave Fargnoli The Stage, David Classen Sound Design, Eric Abraham Producer, Fugard Theatre, isiXhosa, Janice Honeyman Director, John Kani - Lunga Kunene, John Kani Actor Activist Playwright, Kunene & the King, Lungiswa Plaatjies - On Stage Musician, Lungiswa Plaatjies., Mannie Manim Lighting, Market Theatre Foundation, Market Theatre Laboratory, Michael Billington The Guardian, National Arts Council of South Africa, Neo Muyanga Music, Sarafina Magazine, South African Film and Television Lifetime Achievement Award, Stanley by Pam Gems, The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre, William ShakespeareLeave a Comment

Fugard Theatre’s production of Kunene and the King is masterful! Seasoned actors gave powerful performances capturing the audience’s full attention. John Kani’s new play presents the deep pent-up emotions of South Africans before and after the end of apartheid twenty-five years ago. It gets to the heart of things with no holds barred. My first…