Africa – suemtravels

De Kelders Overberg South Africa

De Kelders is a nearby fishing village in Walker Bay Nature Reserve. It’s one of the best places for whale watching and is almost too gorgeous for words! I’ve visited De Kelders previously but wanted to return and spend some relaxed time there. Somehow, the tiny seaside village escaped the chaos of tourism and remains…

First Fridays Artwalk Hermanus South Africa

By: suemtravels September 7, 2019September 11, 2019

Africa, Hermanus, South AfricaABALONE GALLERY, ART THIRST, BELLINI GALLERY, BELLINI GALLERY & CAPPUCCINO-BAR, Blue Buck Bar, CANVAS OF LIFE GALLERY, Cecil Skotnes, Christine Henderson, Erna Dry, First Fridays, First Fridays Artwalk, FORTY X 40 GALLERY, GALLERY 19, GALLERY CHARMAINE DE JONGH GELDERBLOM, Harbour Road Hermanus, Hermanus, HERMANUS ART CIRCLE, Jeandre Marinier, Jenny Jackson, Judith Mason, KUNSKANTOOR, LEMBU GALLERY, Leon Muller, Liz Coates, Lize Van Der Walt, Lynette ten Krooden, MALCOLM BOWLING ART, ORIGINALS ART GALLERY, Phillip Badenhorst, Pure South, Raymond Andrews, Reinet de Jager, ROSSOUW MODERN, ROSSOUW MODERN SPACE, Susanna Swart, THE ART GALLERY HERMANUS, Walker Bay, WALKER BAY MODERN ART GALLERY, Zwelihle TownshipLeave a Comment

First Fridays Artwalk was a fun and lively evening! Hermanus weather has been glorious, forcing people out and about. The galleries were packed, and the crowd was overwhelmingly local. It’s late winter, and we’re in the throes of whale watching season, but a series of protests at Zwelihle Township have deterred would-be tourists.It was great…

Stony Point Nature Reserve Betty’s Bay South Africa

By: suemtravels August 25, 2019September 11, 2019

Africa, Overberg, South AfricaAfrican Black Oystercatcher, African Penguin, African Penguin Colony, Atlantic Ocean, Bank Cormorant, Betty's Bay, Betty’s Bay Whaling Station, 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, Hangklip-Kleinmond, 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, Sandstone Fynbos, Seabird Sanctuary, Shepstone Whaling and Fishing Company, South Africa’s Whale Coast, Southern Cross Whaling Company Ltd., Stony Point, Stony Point Nature Reserve, Table Bay, Theewaterskloof, Una Steam Trawler, Waaygaat Farm, Waaygat Whaling Station, White-Breasted CormorantLeave a Comment

Stony Point Nature Reserve, formerly an infamous whaling station, is home to African penguins, Egyptian geese, seabirds, dassies, and shipwrecks. A rocky outcrop along the Atlantic Ocean Whale Coast, it’s situated below the Kogelberg Mountains and has fascinating history! It’s no secret that I think South Africa’s nature reserves are special, but Stony Point has…

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, 2019September 4, 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. Kogelberg, Groenberg, and Hottentot Hollands mountain ranges surround the valley forming a cool plateau. Kogelberg is undoubtedly 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 Elgin Basin from high…

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 sea swells are often prohibitive. For about a week Walker Bay was unsafe for kayakers. This morning it was clear, crisp, and calm with minimal swell, so I joined a sea kayaking adventure. Our group…

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 spectacular whale 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 local adventure activity company – Walker Bay Adventures. After four attempts at joining a Cape Town kayak group and…

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, 2019September 4, 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 many great museums and galleries in Europe, but South Africa’s Zeitz Museum always remained near 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.…

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…