Bontebok National Park
April 17, 2008
Bontebok National Park
Bontabok National Park provides a real holiday destination experience inform of natural beauty and colour with doors to diverse idyllic relaxation spots and adventures. Look no where else other than the Bontebok national Park. The rumour and beautiful setting of the magnificent Langberg serves as natural colours synonymous with the Cape’s floral heritage.
Bontebok National Park is the smallest National Park in South Africa and yet serves simple and wonderful beauty to this park. The floral kingdom is appreciated throughout the year.
A story revealed behind this park’s name shows the importance of this park to natural conservation.
The name Bontebok once numbered a meagre 17, caring attitude and careful to the problem. The world population has been lifted to 3,000. The last 30 of the buck was proclaimed in 1931to host them in the park. This beautiful and colourful Bontebok can be seen in this park naturally. However there are other eco-system to be enjoyed by the visitors.
A mammal life include Cap mountain zebra as well as home to over 2000 bird species.
The popular breede River in the Western border of the Bontebok National Park provides an excellent setting for bird watching, fishing and swimming. Visitors can still enjoy ad relax in the cool water between exploratory outings into the park.
Among the activities at the park include; mountain bike rides and several options in hiking routes, which allow you to explore the park in one day.
Learning about local history is also among the popular part for visiting South Africa these days.
The park makes provisions by providing insight to the lives of the Khoisan and historical development, which have changed the community all round in Bantebol National Park.
A rest Camp, “Long Elsie” named after the Hessekwa Khoi-Khoi chieftainess. The Hessekwa were believed to be the first people to trade with the Dutch.
Accommodation provided by the park serves as a route where visitors can explore wine routes and historical buildings of Bonnievale Montagr Swellendam ansd Ashton, which remains a must visit for any visitor, as well as the Swellendam’s Drostdy museum, which also provides a historical setting of the Khoi-Khoi community.
Langeberg mountain hiking trails are also provided by the park, which can be accessed by the near by Matloth Nature Reserve and its rated one of the best in South Africa.
Augrabies Falls National Park
April 17, 2008
Augrabies Falls National Park
Augrables waterfalls roars only 56 meters. The sound of the waterfalls is deafening when the Orange river is full.
The Khoi-Khoi renamed the Falls “Aukoerebis”, which means place of great noise.
The characteristic of this 18km Gorge is rocky landscape cut into by Orange River, which feeds the Augrabies Falls.
The Kokerboom indigenous trees stand isolated in contrast to the wide open African skyline and rocky ground. The wildlife in the area live a battling life survival for the fittest over all generations.
Augrabies Falls National Park is a home to a variety of wildlife, ranging from giraffe and buck as well as reptile to bird species. Over 55 hectares of ground, you can spot Klipspringer, Pygmy, Falcons, Black storks, Gemsbok among others, which visit this beautiful region.
Augrabies Folk story.
The bushmen of the region gave a story about the snakelike creature with scales, which shines in the moonlight, which falls upon the Garcup river. This serpent is known to capture men and pull them down the deep waters beneath the waterfall’s froth, where it would dine on their limbs. However, bushmen dreamt of capturing its treasure.
A beautiful diamond girl is the treasure, which it wears on her head and its believed that if you capture this treasure, you will become more successful and you will live a happier life. However, its this crystal clear diamond which the serpent uses to attract its victims, while the serpent eats her breakfast for one day. It removes her beautiful jewel and hides it in the reeds.
A young man saw it and carefully o the diamond quickly while the serpent was not looking ad he ran a way believing his life is to become a dream.
However, there was one thing that spoiled the happiness of this young man. When the man was fully reflected off the shimmering scales of this serpent, this young man could hear her sorrowfully weeping in the gentle night breeze.
The serpent inquired among the creatures if they had seen her jewel and an otter one day told her that a to-legged yellow creature had taken the gem. However, luckily for this young man, a springhare informed him that the serpent was on to his search.
This young thief thought of the situation and decided to hide the gem where the serpent had hid it originally in the reeds. The serpent came to the bushman demanding to know where her jewel was with fury in her eyes and the fire in her mouth and then this young man stood and said, “I will help you look for your jewel”.
He took the serpent down to the river and pointed out to the reeds saying, you should have looked a bit harder see!!. The serpent was happy again and the bushmen a warded the young man with a title and gifts and thought that he was extra ordinarily brave.
If you look carefully and you are lucky, you may be able to see this shimmering creature under the full moon light in the waters of the Garcep.
Addo National Park Safari
April 17, 2008
Addo National Park (Eastern Cape):
The park was proclaimed to protect the remaining Elephants in Addo area in 1931 since they where less than 15.
At one time, it hard the largest herd in the Eastern Cape with 140 Elephants. However, with hunting, the animals decimated in a period of 200 years.
Among other hunted animals include Lions and Black Rhino. Mr. J.T Harney the land owner at Barkly Bride rescued the remaining Elephants by allowing the Elephant in his land.
Elephants had to be chased to Addo Elephants National Park, asset a side elephant area. However, the fence was not strong enough to stop the elephants from escaping, hence they continued to be killed by trains which passed by line and by farmers.
The manager of the park started feeding the elephants in an attempt to keep them a round, in 1933. An elephant-proof fence was developed in 1954 by Graham Armstrong lift cable and tam rails being used. A total of 2270 hectares was fenced and still stands to hold the elephants today.
Visitors would come and see elephants in the erected floodlight around the feeding area. However, the feeding caused more problems since elephants could congest in the area expecting food.
The elephants became more aggressive to each other and feeding trucks since most plants were destroyed.
This feeding was stopped in 1979 since most elephants were injured.
In 1981, its when the park was first opened to tourists and a number of grown elephants could be seen easily.
Also protected were the disease-free Cape buffaloes, Eland, flight less dung beetles, Black rhino, Hippos, Warthogs and Zebras were also introduced in Addo elephant National Park in the following years.
In 2003, Lions were re-introduced. In 2003/04, hyenas were as well introduced.
Among other animals seen in Addo Elephant National Park are Kudu, Red hartebeest, Duikers and Jackals.
There are no natural water holes in Addo Elephant National Park. The water holes are of good advantage since they supply water by the roadside, which gives you excellent photo
opportunities with a number of elephants and other animals going to the water holes anytime.
The hide and the speak water boom water hole are excellent for photographers. Hapoor water hole is named after a bull by Lankey (an up coming bull). Hapoor escaped through the developed fence by Graham Armstrong (The only one which did so). He was shot when it was found grazing by coerney station since it was an aggressive animal. A cast of this giant elephant head can be seen at the camp’s main restaurant in Addo National Park.
This main camp offers top quality accommodation to campsites from chalets, safari tents are also available outside the park and its normal to have an elephant or herd of buffalo pass you by.
Also available is horse riding. These tours are though the game area and are generally nerve raking and experience here is needed. Other ridings offered include sunset morning and night drives and very informative and good value for money. Its essential to book in advance especially during the holidays.
Its better to drive during the day since the park is generally small.
Agulhas National Park Safari Tour South Africa
April 17, 2008
Agulhas National Park.
The park lies in the far Southern part of the Africa Continent, where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Oceans meet creating one of the early explorer’s feared places. It’s a sense of adventure for most Sea travellers and modern explores.
Sailors dubbing is caused as a result of the danger of water in the region (Cape of Storms)
The National Park gives you a chance to see the Khoi-Khoi cultural traditions and hunt gathering life style.
These Indigenous people of the Cape trapped fish a thousand years ago in clearly engineered tidal traps, which made the Khoi-Khoi to live in harmony with nature, which made their culture and lifestyle an excellent area to visit in the rugged windy areas as well as the great Agulhas National Park.
Among the tourist activities include; walks along the numerous trails. Among others include the trail, which leads you to the Africa’s Southern far point. Other attractions include the parks museum and a built center to educate visitors on the environment of the area.
Among the four Agulhas National Park’s treasures include: -
A built Light house to lend much desired assistance to weary explorers of the early times as they rounded the trip to Africa. It took 71steps to climb up to the top of the Light house where it’s possible to view the remains of the Khoi-Khoi fish traps.
The Lighthouse is also made up of limestone from a nearby quarry. The light house museum has attractive art facts.
Zoetendal is among the wrecks found along the Agulhas coast as well as Birken head and Armiston.
Shipwreck museum found in Bredasdorp from these wrecks, has a display of pieces. Visitors can see some remains of the wreck on the shores of Cape Agulhas.
The Flora and Fynbos are well known to the Cape region most especially between May and September, with Flowers seen all year round.
The most visited area is the Africa Continent’s South-most tip, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
