Alexandria Hiking Trail

The Alexandria Hiking Trail is situated in the Woody Cape section of the Addo Elephant National Park, departing from the offices near Alexandria. The length is approximately 36 km which is a two day circular route of which the first day is 19.5km and the second day is 16.5 km. This is ideal for those who want a challenging walk along the coastline. Hikers carry their own provisions and the hike is not guided.

Early morning offers hikers an opportunity to investigate the signs of animals, such as jackals, duikers and the endemic hairy-footed gerbil, left on the dunes from the previous night. Tall posts guide hikers through the shifting dune fields.

By night you can listen for the haunting calls of the rare tree dassie and awake to a chorus of birds in flitting through the forest canopy. Look out for trumpeter hornbills, ground hornbills, Knysna turaco, tree dassies and bushbuck.

Keys for the overnight huts are collected at the park offices near Alexandria. Fees can be paid at Matyholweni rest camp or at the Addo main camp reception. At the Woody Cape hut, no fires are allowed and the hikers must carry their own cookers. Water at the Woody Cape hut is only for drinking and cooking as the hut relies entirely on rainwater. At least one or more of the hiking group should be able to read a map and compass, and to wear a brightly coloured jacket that can be seen from the air if a search and rescue is launched. The Langebos huts are available to hikers on the two-day Alexandria Hiking Trail, as well as those simply wanting an overnight stay in the forest. The 7km Dassie Day Trail begins at the huts and the breath-taking Woody Cape coastline of the Park is a short drive and walk away.

Engela

Monchique Guest House - Muldersdrift Gauteng

Monchique Guest House is a luxurious 4 star award winning country retreat that offers affordable holiday, wedding and business accommodation. They pride themselves on top-class amenities and service delivered with a special personal touch. The accent is on luxury, hospitality and friendliness – which you will experience from the moment you arrive.

All functions are welcome at Monchique! From intimate weddings to conferences, brainstorming sessions, birthday parties, baby showers, yearend events and farewell dinners. No function is too small.

They are minutes from the city, yet miles away in terms of the serene tranquillity of their rural surroundings. You’ll find us in Muldersdrift - nestled on the edge of the Cradle of Mankind, a world heritage site. Monchique are readily accessible by well-established roads, only about 40 minutes from Sandton and Pretoria. Lanseria International Airport is also nearby while the popular Cradlestone Mall and Silverstar Casino, are a mere 10 minutes away. Fourways shopping mall and Monte Casino being less than 20 minutes away.

Are you looking for a venue to host your corporate function, yearend function, product launch, baby shower, birthday party or anniversary?  Let Monchique take care of all your needs with our excellent service and attention to detail, so that you get to relax and enjoy your special occasion.

The Bridge - WeddingVenue

Engela

The Best Wedding Venue in South Africa!

My daughter Cindy and my new son-in-law Christie got married on 29 May 2015 at The Bridge and what unforgettable wedding at the most beautiful wedding venue it was!

In my time I have attended more than enough weddings and without being biased as it was my daughter’s wedding, I have to state openly that it was the best wedding ever and here I have to give The Bridge credit because it supplemented the occasion.

The Bridge is an old converted farmhouse set in tranquil gardens beside the banks of the Wilgespruit. The river runs over the low level bridge that takes you to indigenous gardens where willow and large stinkwood trees, amongst others, surround fountains, well maintained lawns and beautiful flower beds.

The Bridge in Muldersdrift is the ideal setting for celebrations of all kinds and is conveniently situated only 20 minutes from Randburg and Fourways and approximately 35 minutes from Pretoria.

The well-planned and appetizing menus are prepared and presented by a very talented and highly trained chef, who working alongside with a dedicated team has made The Bridge famous for its high quality food and professional service. On offer are both plated and buffet menu options - my daughter opted for the buffet menu and it was delectable!!

At The Bridge they are dedicated and passionate about ensuring your day is everything you hoped for. Your special occasion will be handled with great care and professionalism. There are no hidden charges or hidden costs for the venue. Should you wish, the can assist you with your floristry, 

musical and wedding cake requirements. All of these are optional additional services that they offer.

For weddings they have a country chapel that comes complete with drapes, chair covers, fairy lights, lectern, registry table, red carpet, two flower stands and tie back sashes down the aisle.

You may prefer a romantic gazebo, situated on the bank of the river for your wedding ceremony that you can draped and decorate with fresh flowers. They provide chair covers, lectern, registry table, red carpet and tieback sashes down the aisle - although it is winter the weather is very mild at Muldersdrift and therefore my daughter went for the gazebo.

As a special touch, they have a small row-boat that can be used to bring the bride to the wedding service which is a very unique way of arriving. The use of the chapel, gazebo and boat is included in your fee.

At this point in time they do not have any sleep-over facilities but they are busy with it. For the mean time there are enough hotels and guest houses in the area and my husband and I slept over at the Monchique Guest House about 3 km from The Bridge.

Without reservation, and unconditional I recommend TheBridge for your wedding!!

Engela de Villiers

Jim Reeves and South Africa

Jim Reeves was one of the best of the "Nashville Sound" style country and western singers. His fame was widespread, not only in the USA, but also in Britain, India, Scandinavia and South Africa. After his success he made successful tours of the U.S., Scandinavia and South Africa, where he starred in a film, Kimberley Jim (1963) (released in the U.S. in 1965) and recorded songs in the local Afrikaans language. 

Jim was well known as the singer with the velvet voice and the gentlemanly manner. Jim had been planning more tours and television appearances at the time his Beechcraft Debonair aircraft went down in bad weather on July 31, 1964, in Hendersonville, Tennessee, near Nashville - taking the lives of Jim and his business manager. Jim's widow, Mary Reeves, kept many of the recordings unreleased after his death in backlog and had them released, little by little over the years, to great success - so much so that younger executives in the record business had to be reminded that Jim has been gone for over 35 years! 

He even had an album reach Gold status in Denmark in 1999! It is a source of great frustration to Jim's fans and family that his great catalog of music does not get equal airplay today in the U.S. compared with other artists who have gone on such as Patsy Cline. But Jim's legacy still lives on, as one of the greatest voices in recorded music, country or otherwise.

Here he sings a South African folk song in Afrikaans. Enjoy!

Grahamstown and Surrounding Settler Towns

Not very far from Port Elizabeth, is the historic town of Grahamstown with other equal historical towns in its vicinity - Bathurst, Port Alfred and Salem.

Established in 1812 as military outpost, and later as a village and trading centre for the 1820 British Settlers, Grahamtown’s most prominent landmark is the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George which took 128 years to build.

There is also the 1820 Settlers Monument, the Methodist Commemoration Church, with its Gothic Revival facade, and the City Hall built in 1870 as a memorial to the 1820 settlers.

Other places of interest are the Albany Museum, the Settlers Wild Flower Reserve and Fort Selwyn.

Danie de Villiers - Freelance Writer

The Friendly City - Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth, situated in the Eastern Cape is South Africa’s fifth largest city and one of the leading ports. The city is vibrant and easy-going and national and international known as the “The Friendly City”. 

 The city was named in 1820 by the acting British Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Rufane Donkin, after his wife Elizabeth who died in 1818 in India. In 1820, the settlement was a small cluster of houses on the coast, protected by Fort Frederick on top of a nearby hill. Since then the city has grown to a city with a population of more than 700 000. 

The good-natured environment, the warm atmosphere of its lazy beaches and its warm, temperate climate all work together to make Port Elizabeth an engaging tourist destination. 

Port Elizabeth is ideally situated as base for coastal day drives to beautiful places such as Bluewater Bay, Schoenmakerskop, Seaview, and Van Staden’s River Mouth or inland to Groendal Wilderness Area, Addo Elephant National Park or Uitenhage Nature Reserve.

There is no shortage of things to do in and around Port Elizabeth. There is an abundance of historical sites, museums and monuments dating back to the 15th century; you can visit the Oceanarium; climb the Campanile; or snorkel and scuba in excellent diving spots. 

There are also other sea-related sports - boating, yachting, wind-surfing and angling. There are also interesting hiking trails through historic parks and nature reserves. 

Holiday accommodation is top-notch - from self-catering establishments to luxurious hotels and lodges, at prices to suit everybody.

Do not forget the many shopping malls and several fine restaurants. And, naturally the city has a good selection of wide, gently sloping beaches that are safe for swimming.

Come experience the friendliness of the Friendly City!

By Danie De Villiers - Freelance Writer

Scenic Eastern Cape

The beautiful shores of the Eastern Cape is aptly called the ‘Sunshine Coast’, so named for its long, sun-soaked days and warm seasons, is not only favored by South Africans, but also by tourists from abroad.

The reason is not only the sun-drenched beaches, but also because of its rural, mellow atmosphere, its superior swimming areas, surfing and angling opportunities and its wealth of other outdoor-related activities.

The province has plenty hiking trails, tracking beautiful mountains and valleys, and more than enough nature reserves offer great country accommodation and abundant wildlife.

The former Ciskei, once the scene of nine frontier wars between the Xhosas and the British, is now a tranquil holiday playground, world-renowned for its superb scenic landscapes, ultra-modern coastal resorts and tiny villages nestling at the feet of towering mountain ranges, such as the Katberge, Amatola, Winterberge and Hogsback.  

Beyond the Kei River mouth is the former Transkei. Here are bronze beaches of the Wild Coast - a palm-fringed paradise where monkeys play on the terraces of casino resorts and beautiful hotels.  

Danie de Villiers