Hottest Campsite in Knysna - WOODBOURNE

Well planned , level and well-grassed sites with plenty of room for family fun, served by immaculate ablution blocks. Woodbourne’s extensive park-like grounds, make sure that campers and caravanners are never crowded, one of many reasons holidaymakers return year after year.Here you can relax and have a holiday in a private estate only 5 minutes walk from the famous Knysna Heads.  True country ambiance within a 5 km drive from all the amenities of Knynsa itself. The surrounding area is famed for its beauty , with coast, mountain and forest walks in great variety, miles of unspoilt beaches, excellent sea, rock and river fishing, lagoon and deep sea cruises, the famous Choo Choo, and with golf, tennis, squash, bowls clubs close by, all happy and eager to welcome visitors. Woodbourne adjoins a private vlei which is a waterbird sanctuary so special that it attracts migrant waders from as far as Siberia.

We go here every year for the Knysna Oyster Festival and most of the runners come to overnight here for the race on the Saturday. There is an after party that same night and Knysna is buzzing over this wonderful festive period. The Party is the equivalent of a New Years party at Crabs Creek and you will have a fantastic time. But more on that in another blog.

This campsite has a wonderful reception area and the staff is amazing, we met Kara and this young lady was so pleasant and very informative. The campsite is really well kept and the prices are really good. The ablution facilities are immaculate and you can buy wood at reception and get a braai for 100 rand deposit. It is close to everything. We meet the usual’s there every year. Although freezing cold at the time of the festival, there is nothing a bottle of Old Brown Sherry cannot sort out.

This is a recommended site and very safe. We have never had any disturbances or theft !! Going back as soon as we have the chance.

The Map :

http://www.gardenroute.co.za/woodbourne/info.htm#rates !

Popularity: 32% [?]

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THE BEST 10 DAYS OF YOUR WINTER !!!

The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is 25 years old!

Pack your running and cycling shoes, sharpen your appetite and head for Knysna for the 10 best days of your winter…with 25 years of fun and games to celebrate this year, the annual Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival (July 4-13), one of the country’s longest running festivals, will boast a jam-packed programme of sport, entertainment and 200 000 oysters!

Oysters, the tasty mollusc that made the festival famous, will be the main act this year and you’ll find them featured in more than 30 delectable ways at the local Tabasco Oyster Hotspots in and around Knysna. Don’t miss the Pick n Pay Oyster and Wine Mardi Gras, a celebration of cooked oysters and wine, or the popular Oyster Eating and Oyster Opening (Shucking) Competitions which give locals and visitors the chance to compete in the festival’s unique annual championships.

There is something for everyone in the programme. In addition to the popular cycling tours and marathons, this year’s events include Bridge, bowls, soccer, golf, basketball and adventure sports. We’re catering for party-goers and the young-at-heart with a Wine Festival, a Whisky and Jazz Festival and a full eight-day Pick n Pay Young Oyster Festival programme especially for kids. Look out for an exciting programme of events planned for the Oyster Carnival grounds at the Knysna High School field and live entertainment at the Heineken Rockspots.

The Oyster Festival is about enjoying a great party in Knysna, for the benefit of the whole community. Many events will be hosted by the community and virtually all have a charity component, meaning that a percentage of funds raised will go to support local development, NGOs and charities.

So start planning now for the best 10 days of your winter! The full Oyster Festival programme is on this website and you can also check out our hot accommodation specials.

See you in Knysna!

ROCK WITH HEINEKEN®!

The Official Heineken® Afterparty at the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival

Tradition after the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon is to party the night away in celebration of a brilliant Festival and a race well run - at least for some! The Official Heineken® Afterparty is the only place to be on the 12 July, where rock acts Stealing Love Jones and Flat Stanley will mix it up with DJs Sean Duvet, Lee Munati and Lady Lea. There will be a full bar and everyone in Knysna will be there!

Tickets available at Computicket. www.computicket.co.za »

Popularity: 31% [?]

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The Chalets are absolutely wonderful, huge and clean and definitely a joy to stay in.
Swellendam Municipal Park is situated close to the centre of town, yet its quiet tranquillity creates the impression of being out in the country with panoramic views of the majestic Langeberg Mountains. This well-grassed, shady park is professionally managed and in excellent condition. Charming, self-contained, thatched-roof cottages and caravan sites (sixty-five have 220v hook-up)

R 496 - per chalet, sleeps 4 people

R 5 for 20 pieces of wood

Popularity: 16% [?]

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We went there again this weekend. The drive is truly fantastic and the scenery breathtaking. We met our friends there on the Saturday afternoon and after kicking some ball around and swimming we headed out to the house to do a lamb potjie (I will give you the “recipe” at the end of this blog). There was no wind and the kelp on the beach is quite annoying. But the breathtaking background of the Overberg mountains take all the bad and sort of shadows it.

The house that we normally go stay in is our friends family house. The front view of the house has a wonderful horizon view of the magnifying ocean and the back view of the house is in the shadow of the Overberg Mountain range. We normally braai out at the back and in the morning we sit on the front porch staring at the ocean. The house inside is painted all kind of colors as the owner is an eccentric Greek man and his personality shines through in the simplistic layout of the house and the multi colored paint in all the rooms.

The potjie ended up in pudding, a Pavlova and its mysteriously evaporated bottom and loads of red wine.

This morning was yet another astonishing sunrise peeking over the ocean creeping up the mountain and the beach was mystically happy again. With not a soul on the beach I caught up with God again and had a little chat. The waves crashing over the freshly awaken dunes was inspiring and truly crept into my yearning heart. I wept as I spoke to the heavens and as I looked back at my footprints in the sand I knew someone was there. I could feel it. Balmy on my skin and truly peaceful at the strands of my heart. Deeply touched to the core.

I headed back and we had some leftovers and good conversation with our two friends. Happily married coming from their second honeymoon. Photos friends, good food and their conversation backed up by the wondrous surrounding of Betties Bay. There is no other place like Betties - surrounded by her beauty, stress free under her calm spell, at awe with her beauty. You simply have to go there if you haven’t been there before. She will blow some deservedly fresh wind in your sails.

As promised herewith our little recipe - LAMB POTJIE

2 Chopped Onions - Loads of garlic fried on super hot fire. 3 Packets of Lamb chops fried with half a Windhoek Light Draft. While the meat is frying get your buddies to clean and chop 9 carrots. Peel , wash and cut in quarters 7 potatoes. Wash broccoli and mushrooms. Add a packet of onion soup mixed with 500 mil water. And after the meat is almost cooked add vegetables. Leave the broccoli and mushrooms and add 5 minutes before dishing up. Pour some more wine and bring more beer to the cook.

Get the chicks to get the rice and salad ready and whala. The best lamb potjie ever.

Cooking time approximately 30 minutes on shit hot fire.

Good luck and let me know how it turned out for you.

Popularity: 18% [?]

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An unspoilt fisherman village in South Africa -

A beautiful town lying under a sunny sky separated from the blue of the Atlantic Ocean by endless white sandy beaches.

This seaside village lies 85 km north of Cape Town on the R27. Situated between Cape Town and Langebaan, Yzerfontein is a grand base from which to explore the many attractions of the Cape West Coast. Closer inspection reveals that this really is a tourist´s paradise. In Yzerfontein, where warm, lazy days stretch into long, pleasurable evenings, you´ll find rest and adventure in equal proportions. Yzerfontein is known for its natural beauty, vast stretches of beach and tranquillity, as it is for its tradition of hospitality. Basking in year round sunshine, a splendid winter climate where balmy, daytime temperatures rarely fall below 10 degrees.0 m Elevation

1200 Inhabitants
Location: Beach Nearby

After a rocky start to a westcoast expidition starting in Vereeniging, my parents are finally settling down and enjoying their destination. Fixing their car in Darling visiting Evita’s Perron, having a fabulous day traveling through his house, it seems like they are mastering their traveling.

We are heading out there for the weekend to go spend some time with them before they head in deeper into the west coast. Will keep you updated.

Popularity: 11% [?]

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 Cape Point

 We took a trip there from Blouberg as i have never been to Cape Point. We tried to go there once before on a public holiday and didnt even make it to the gate is was so busy. The hike up to the lighthouse was wonderful and the scenery around you magestic. There is so much to explore and the Two Oceans restaurant with its magnificent view is truly an experience and shouldnt be missed. But catch it when there is electricity otherwise you will be eating warm greek salad and luke warm water.

The entire park has so much history to discover.

from their website :  http://www.capepoint.co.za !

TMNP & the Cape of Good Hope Cape Point is situated within the Southern section of Table Mountain National Park, the Cape of Good Hope entrance. The Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) encompasses the incredibly scenic Table Mountain Chain stretching from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south and the seas and coastline of the peninsula.

The narrow finger of land with its beautiful valleys, bays and beaches is surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the warmer waters of False Bay and has within its boundaries two world-renowned landmarks - majestic Table Mountain and the legendary Cape of Good Hope.

The Park is recognised globally for its extraordinarily rich, diverse and unique fauna and flora - with rugged cliffs, steep slopes and sandy flats - is a truly remarkable natural, scenic, historical, cultural and recreational asset both locally and internationally. Nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and such rich bio-diversity exist almost entirely within a metropolitan area - the thriving and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town.

Popularity: 10% [?]

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PORT OWEN AND ADMIRAL ISLAND

http://www.portowen.com/ !

Situated along the R27 West Coast Road, just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town, you will find this unique spot. Elegantly gabled dream houses in a tranquil setting facing the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean mixed with the magnificent Berg River.

Your guide to this lifestyle is real estate agent, Gail Stuyck and her team at Admiral Island & Port Owen Estates. A family owned and orientated business who are serious about building bridges between nature and the asphalt jungles by promoting an unique West Coast lifestyle, while offering an excellent return on your investment.

Many houses in the Port Owen development, around its Marina and on Admiral Island are on or close to the water and the pristine Berg River Estuary where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. There are many stunning waterfront villas available , some with a private jetty to berth your yacht. Enjoy the freedom. Let time fade and adventure take hold of you. Take advantage of year round sailing, canoeing, water- skiing, wind and kite surfing, power boating and diving.

Our visit - Leaving Citrusdal on our visit to THE BATHS we decided to travel along the westcoast to explore a little as I have not really seen much of the westcoast upon my moving to the lovely Western Cape. We decided to stop over at Port Owen and check out the Marina and I saw my lovely Leapord CAT which I did capture with me in the middle of the picture with my thumbs up. Surrounding this area was a lovely vlei with fisherman strewn across the waters and some salt pans that decorated this lovely place.

Definitely worth a stop over and maybe one day a location to settle.

Popularity: 10% [?]

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Leaving Century City on Friday afternoon at 14:00 from work we set out on the N7 towards Citrusdal. This was the first time I ever drove on the N7 and I almost chew my wrists’ off, it was such a boring drive. The scenery is truly dull and it was so dry everywhere. I don’t think we saw green patches for miles. The highlight of our trip was stopping at a Shell in Piketberg where at the station a white 20year old woman walked to the toilets with nothing but her bikini on. You can imagine everyone’s eyes popping out but I didn’t blame her, it was like a heat wave smacked us in the face. It was boiling.

We reached the baths and in jeans and high heels we set camp up. The campsites were truly wonderful and without electricity the skies were lit up like a valley of spotlights above us. It was however very sandy and although there is an abundance of springs around their isnt much grass around. The ablution blocks were also not the best but bearable.

Walking towards the hot and cold swimming pools the electricity spots were constipated with all cultures and their different noises. They were camping on top of each other and late night parties and boisterous shouts made me respect our decision for camping without the luxury of cold beers.

The Restaurant McGregor’s is fabulous and with the friendly service and character it made us go back for more. Sitting on the deck made the perfect spot for having sundowners with the mountain ranges overshadowing us. I would definitely recommend their Gordon Blue and Mediterranean veggie dish. Their R 27 breakfast was Wimpy-like and you get a free coffee/tea/fruit juice. A must have.

The hot pool was enjoyable late at night but during the day the cold swimming pool was at times too noisy with the children running amok, but the original rockpool further up past the cottages were very private and the waterfall runs into it.

I would go there again with a group of friends if invited, but I would not go back there again by choice. We had a great time and relaxed immensly. The Little Shop in the restaurant works wonders for left behind items, especially a torchlight which we would have been terribly lost without. From batteries to marshmallows and lighters for setting the fire alight, you will have everything there at your beck and call, if you catch it open at the right time ….

Popularity: 12% [?]

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I grew up on the Vaal river, it comes alive when you know the right people in the right rivers !!! When I use to stay in Smoggy Jozi I went to the Vaal each weekend. Not only to see the parents but to go rafting with my friends Tanya and Pieter who started their own river rafting company Tapimanzi,  Ta for Tanya, Pi for Pieter and of course manzi for water. You have to go check them out if you ever go there. See below!

Tapimanzi Adventure !

www.tapimanzi.co.za !
Tapimanzi Adventure’s home is on the scenic banks of the Vaal River Between Vanderbiljlpark and Vereeniging on the Barrage reservoir stretch in the Vaal triangle South Africa (Vaal Meander).
   
We have different accommodation venues to choose from on the Vaal River, vredefort/parys mountains, game farms and we do paintball, weddings, functions, team building, rafting, quad biking, parties,adventure activities, inflatable’s, adventure bookings events all year round etc!
  
We are also mobile for paint ball, quad biking, team building, sa river rafting parys and upper vaal river, raft fishing safaris south africa etc. And we have some wonderful venues to choose from! We offer a whole range of activities from mild to wild!! We cater for the young the old, corporate, leisure,bachelor parties and hen parties, adventure seekers, year end functions, adventure camps for school groups,experienced and inexperienced market! For all your affordable adventures!
  
WE’VE GOT over 10 years experience in this Business!! We believe in a Hands on approach!

Tapimanzi Adventures is a company specializing in white water river rafting, abseiling, tubing accommodation, team building, quad biking and Raft Fishing Safaris in Southern Africa for big or small groups of friends, family, work colleagues, tourists, etc. wanting an exciting day (or a few days) spent in nature.We do most of our white water river rafting, quad biking and raft fishing safaris trips in South Africa on the Vaal River near Parys in the Vredefort Dome , the worlds oldest and largest meteorite impact site ( World Heritage Site ) and the upper Vaal River from the Vaal Dam wall close to Denysville down to Vischgat in the Vaal Meander Midvaal. Summer and winter!

Popularity: 26% [?]

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		Table Mountain On top of the mountain you will find unspoiled pathways, a curio shop and refreshments at the restaurant or bistro. Fantastic views of the Cape peninsula. Go to Table Mountain.
		Robben Island Robben Island also tells us about victory over apartheid and other human rights abuses and is a Heritage Site. Take the ferry and tour the island. Go to Robben Island.
		V & A Waterfront The Waterfront is one of the few Victorian harbours still in existence in the world and  has 38 national monuments. A vibrant working harbour and a fest for the senses. Go to V & A Waterfront.
		Cape Point It has stunning views, plant life, bird life, animals, history, light houses, restaurant, cliffs, beaches and mountains. Spend time walking the many paths. Go to Cape Point.
		Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden World-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the indigenous flora displayed in a magnificent setting on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Go to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
		Cape Winelands While discovering the Cape’s rich cultural heritage and beauty, sample the large number of wine routes. Take your time to taste the wine. Go to Cape Winelands.
		Cape Town City Centre You will never be bored in Cape Town. There are so many things to see while in the Cape Town city centre area, including  interesting museums and historical sights. Go to Cape Town City Centre.

Popularity: 9% [?]

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