SUSTAINABLE “RHINO HORN” + DEALING WITH POACHERS
Posted by Pam | Filed under Articles
When reading the letter page in The Argus, our local evening newspaper, often I get to thinking about certain issues that make most decent people’s blood boil. Poaching of Rhino’s is one of them. When you have encountered these magnificent animals in the wild, only cowards could kill them.
Then when I find I cannot sleep all these ideas and thoughts come to mind. How to make Rhino horn sustainable and deal with poachers all in one go. Well there are things Judge Dennis Davis and his colleagues should think about about.
Poachers – actually all criminals alike - especially child molesters and rapists – send them all for an “orchidectomy” and have them go to First floor New Somerset Hospital, where they killed my father, the word will get out that you never come out of that ward alive, so the numbers of criminal will decline overnight.
Then Angels tap me on the shoulder and tell me that these dark thoughts make me almost as bad as the criminal itself and they then give me ideas for sustainable rhino horn, but no ideas of dealing with the criminals, so here is the advise for the horns, but await the ideas still for the criminals and poachers. I still feel that what I have said above is still good, in a bad way. Or if you have watched the movie – Hunted – do that to all these criminals, but do not pay them!! The person who, in The Argus last week wrote, that all criminals should go into old age homes and all elderly should go to prison – these thoughts come from that same mind set – we have had enough – someone needs to do something – come on Judge Dennis Davis!!
The horn replacement – overwhelming the market with this, that will make it impossible for “them” to know the difference, will make sure that my great, great grandchildren will still see rhino’s when they grow up, – it is also a money making spinner for the poor – everyone save all your finger and toe nail cuttings, keep them until you have 500g, then sell it to a entrepreneur. Every hairdresser, instead of throwing away all that hair you cut daily, put it special bins and sell that to these same entrepreneurs and they process these two items together – well why not – all that the Rhino horn is, is compressed hair – keratin – so the processing of hair and nails and you will have a good sustainable product of equivalent “stuff”. Flood the market and save the Rhino!! Who agrees with me??
Tags: angels, criminals, elderly, entrepreneur, flood, Judge Dennis Davis, keratin, market, nails nair hairdresser, New Somerset Hospital, orchidectomy, poaching, prisoners, rhino, rhino horn, sustainable, The Argus
A NEW AND “OTHER” DIRECTION – TOURS FOR WOMEN – single or otherwise!
Posted by Pam | Filed under Articles
Often I have been asked about touring for a single person who cannot find mates to travel with and usually that is VERY expensive and not easy to afford or do,
SO, after a nice lady from Ireland, who is coming here for a wedding, who could not find anyone to do a Garden Route tour to her dates, I decided that we cannot let this happen. She wants to see this stunning country, so why not, reduce the cost and accommodate her requirements. So this is how we got (are getting) into – TOURS FOR SINGLES – WOMEN ONLY.
This does not mean that we will only take 1 person, no it means friends can travel together as well, we will suit your dates and design a trip with your interests in mind and make it a holiday of a lifetime. If you are in a wheelchair or not, we will do these tours – LADIES ONLY, but if you want your husband, son, nephew etc; on YOUR TOUR, that is not problem either!! We suit all tastes and needs.
This unique type of touring is bespoke so you decide when and where and we do the rest!!
Any interesting new idea. I suppose now the idea will be “stolen” as all my ideas are, but one day that will be not PC, I await the day!!
Talk to me people – I will open this one up for comment!!
Tags: bespoke, comment, ladies, requirements, singles, tastes, touring, tours, travel, women, your tour
NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 2011 – SHORT & SWEET!
Posted by Pam | Filed under Articles
Hello from Cape Town the most beautiful city in the world, where we are having lovely summer weather, windy at times, but that is expected when the Cape Doctor blows at this time of the year, with temperatures ranging from high 20′s – high 30′s and into the interior of the Western Cape into the mid 40′s. Yes that is C not F.
We are only winter rainfall area in country, so while the wind blows here in Cape Town at gale force, the rest of the country are feeling like webbed feet are growing, as it is raining and raining and yes raining for 2 months already, with 27 municipalities declared disaster areas, over 7 of our 9 provinces.
So what’s new, it is flooding in OZ, Sri Lanka, Philippines and mud slides due to excessive rain in Brazil. + Snow mostly elsewhere ….
This then makes Cape Town and ideal venue to visit at this time of the year. Scenic, diverse, multi-cultural, excellent weather, I could go on and on with these beautiful adjectives, but jokes aside, many places have discounted their accommodation – hugely – and so our prices have fallen as well.
This will not last, so take the opportunity to get these bargains now. These lowered prices are valid until end March 2011. “Negotiation” is the watch word these days.
So while we enjoy the long summer days, with perfect sunsets and long evenings, having that sundowner with Table Mountain as a backdrop, think about it, YOU TOO could be enjoying that long cool Telquila Sunrise and sunset in Cape Town.
We are waiting … to entertain you!
Tags: accommodation, bargains, Cape Town, city beautiful, diverse, entertain, multi cultural, scenic, summer, sunrise, sunset, table mountain, weather
WORLD RHINO DAY 22 SEPT
Posted by Pam | Filed under Articles
Today is WORLD RHINO DAY – 22nd SEPT 2010. it is with sadness that I write this, shame as well, as South Africans have been caught killing and poaching Rhino Horns in our National Parks. I am also very angry at these men, as they are professional people who should know better and have done this for greed alone! MONEY the scourge of society. So far 2 vets, a game ranger and others have been involved. I hope the vets are struck from their professional register and that the game ranger is never given an opportunity to work in the industry again. BLACK LIST them. Also NAME & SHAME then.
I believe in COMMUNITY work for all offenders, none of this sitting around watching TV, getting 3 meals a day and a warm bed, while the poor are suffering out there. Get them to work to build houses, make bricks, do woodwork for making the furniture to go into these houses.
Or as my Dad would say send them to the KAROO, to live in open jails. Cold in winter and very hot in summer. Or as the Sheriff in one USA state did have an open jail and make then all wear a colour they hate. They have disgraced our rainbow nation, how about rainbow colours, mostly the pinkish shades.
Now back to the RHINO which is what it is all about. Please educate kids and people that the horns of a RHINO are made from the same substance your nails are made from – SO GO CHEW YOUR OWN NAILS – those of the world that think that RHINO HORN is an aphrodisiac – you really have your head up your …..
But really, what idiot takes what is equivalent to nail shavings, grinds it up and drinks it to get it up – OH PLEASE get real and save these magnificent creatures from extinction.
STOP THE KILLING OF RHINO
STOP THE SELLING OF THE HORNS
DO YOUR PART
BE REAL MEN,
NOT SISSIES
STOP KILLING OUR WILDLIFE
Tags: black list, bricks, community, extinction, furniture, game rangers, greed, houses, jail, Karoo, money, nails, national parks, poaching, rainbow nation, rhino, scourge, sheriff, society, South Africa, stop killing, summer, TV, USA, vets, winter, woodwork, work, world day
VERY PROUD TO BE SOUTH AFRICAN
Posted by Pam | Filed under Articles
Last night the world watched the showcase of the final World Cup Soccer as it came to an end, with much applause and ceremony, fire works blazing and the Spanish in seventh heaven, the Netherlands (my team) devastated, it was still, no matter the emotions, an incredible 31 days.
The “gees”, meaning enthusiasm, spirit of the game and everything South African, was a uniting factor. All our “woes” were put aside for these past 31 days. We smiled, laughed and sang, also shouted with glee and upset as the 64 games passed at such lightening speed. The world who thought we could not never pull this off are sitting back is disbelief with a little embarrassment of how could AFRICA do this and do it so well.
Well we did, with encouragement, dignity and pride, we showed the world this is AFRICA, we waved our flags, sang the songs and truly a tremendous time was had by all. This is AFRICA” S time just like the opening song said.
Some fools tried their luck and did stupid things, like set up a guy to go into the English teams locker room. Well Simon, your press pass and all your future media work should be barred from publishing and you should be disbarred from any work as a journalist ever again. Shame on you. I think your Mother would be ashamed of your antics.
Despite these “short-sighted” people pulling stunts, generally South Africa, every citizen did us proud and our President Jacob Zuma even thanked us all for our hospitality, for which this country is famous, now given a new name – swop hospitality for – GEES. Pronounced with a gutral G in the back of the throat!!!
So come see what all these supporters felt and saw in this diverse beautiful rainbow nation – as the song says – WHAKA WHAKA eh eh!!
Tags: Africa, citizen, dignity, encouragement, English, famous, fire works, flags, games, hospitality, Jacob Zuma, journalist, laughed, Mother, Netherlands, President, press pass, publishing, rainbow nation, sang, shout, smiled, South Africa, Spain, waved, World Cup Soccer
PRE & POST TOURS – WORLD CUP 2010
Posted by Pam | Filed under Articles
From the prices I have received, thank goodness I was sitting down when I read those e-mails, things are rather pricey for the Soccer 2010. So with a lot of thought and ideas rushing through my head, I have decided that I am NOT going to rip-off any potential guests and offer PRE & POST tours to see this beautiful diverse and scenically stunning country of SA, especially the Cape Town area and the Garden Route with Malaria-Free game safaris to 5 star private reserve of Shamwari in the Eastern Cape. They do have the BIG 5! I have seen them there often – Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, black & white!
We will be offering tours from early June until day before match day, which is 11th June and then again from 20th July.
13 – 14 days or parts of this itinerary – 4 nights Cape Town, 3 nights Garden Route, 2 nights Safari, another 2 nights in Garden Route area then a night back in Cape Town or Hermanus for big 6 – Whale watching, then home.
You can see the itineraries on my website – www.flamingotours.co.za
As each tour is personalised to your requirements, we do not have schedule tours or listed prices, each tour is designed to suit your interests and ability. so contact us and we can arrange this JUST FOR YOU!
- BIG 7 – CHEETAH
This is the most endangered big CAT in Africa – the CHEETAH!
Tags: Big 5, black rhino, buffalo, Cape Town, cheetah, e-mails, elephant, Garden Route, hermanus, leopard, Lion, malaria free, personalised itineraries, private tours, Shamwari game reserve, soccer world cup, South Africa, whale watching, white rhino, your ability, your interests
DISABILITY IS NOT INABILITY!
Posted by Pam | Filed under Articles
Who says having a disability makes you unable to do things!! They are totally wrong!! Recently I had a GENTLEMAN on tour, who had the largest and heaviest wheelchair I have ever had to deal with – 300kg = 66Olbs but we did a whole tour – safari and all! Many hours of negotiations went on before we decided it could be done, with a smile, some compromise and removal of only one bathroom door – we did a African Adventure Tour for him, his partner and his carer. I worried about getting through doorways with this very long 1.3m long (52inch) and 800mm wide (32inch)plus a height of 1.45m (58inch). We managed and managed well. To all those accommodation venues and attractions that went out of their way to make this trip a reality – I salute you!
Thank you for all your efforts and help with this tour !!
and Michael thank you for your patience, understanding about my nervousness in making your tour the best it could be with what we have to work with within this mysterious, wonderful country of South Africa.
So when you think that you cannot do this -
MICHAEL HIS LARGE CHAIR AT PENGUIN COLONY CAPE TOWN
He did – enjoyed and disability DOES NOT MEAN you cannot do it!
Tags: accommodation, Adventure, African, attractions, carer, disability, partner, penguin colony, safari, South Africa, tour, wheelchair
Cape Town in list of top 10 of world’s best party cities
Posted by Jason | Filed under Articles
The Lonely Planet lists the world’s top 10 party cities in its new guide, the “1000 Ultimate Experiences” and Cape Town appears 7th on the list.
7. Cape Town, South Africa
With the 2010 World Cup bringing a global audience to South Africa, the partying will only get harder as travelers converge on a city already well known for nightlife. Luxuriate on some of the world’s best beaches by day and kick back under the moonlight at suave cocktail bars by night. Two hours east, in the Indian Ocean, lies the elegant beach village of Mossel Bay, with more great beaches and chic flair. Visitors must try some of the wines crafted by South Africa’s world-renowned vintners, either at a Cape Town bar or at one of several wineries nearby.
Tags: 2010, Africa, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, soccer world cup, South Africa, wine tasting
Cape Town voted 2nd favourite overseas city
Posted by Jason | Filed under Articles
Airlines, tour operators and hoteliers faced huge challenges this year with a “perfect storm” of recession and a slump in sterling making holidays more expensive at a time when people could least afford them. Despite this, however, many companies not only survived but thrived. Holidays are still regarded as top priorities for many, surveys show.
Certainly the number of readers taking part in this years Guardian, Observer and guardian.co.uk Travel Awards survey seems to show no loss of appetite for holidays — 19,248 gave their views this year, up from 17,000 last year.
Favourite overseas city
Sydney keeps the crown it took from Hong Kong last year. Cape Town, bracing itself for next year’s invasion of Soccer World Cup football fans, leaps up five places to No 2.
· Top five: 1. Sydney 2. Cape Town, South Africa 3. New York 4. San Francisco 5. Berlin
Other categories mentioned in the article are:
Favourite UK city
Favourite long-haul country
Favourite European country
Best UK hotel
Best overseas hotel
Favourite UK tourist attraction
Tags: Cape Town, soccer world cup, South Africa, Travel Awards
Equinox Newsletter Combining Winter & Spring – September 2009
Posted by Jason | Filed under Newsletters
Hello all my friends, colleagues, guests and family
I have combined this newsletter, as time has run away with me, as thankfully I have been busy with tours for the last couple of months. I am truly grateful to those of you who have sent me business in this climate of fiscal fallout.
I love classical music and am currently listening to Vivaldi’s Four Season’s, which is pertinent due the heading of my newsletter. This will be followed by my favourite – Tchaikovsky! This gives me inspiration to write and love life. Some exciting things, besides the weather heading to “my season” I like it hot, I cannot take cold. I grew up in the town which has the second best weather in the world – Mossel Bay – with sunshine 350 days a year, so I am a sunshine person.
So what are the new tour all about – new tours included in our line-up in the new season – more animals and more people! What is this woman going on about I am sure you are asking yourself.
ANIMALS – Tenikwa in the Crags on the Garden Route of South Africa, where Len & Mandy opened their arms to animals in need of help, love and rescued some that would otherwise have died. They have many of the small cats we never see on a “safari” as they often nocturnal, shy or both. They have some never even heard of generally – Black Footed Cats, Caracal, Wild Cats, Serval and off course the most endangered of all the Cheetah. They also have birds – our national bird the Blue Crane and Malibu Storks – the undertakers. This is really worth a visit to support their amazing work. They also do pro-deo work with the local communities animals where possible and where funds allow. A worthy cause and wonderful place to visit, they also go the extra mile to ensure that my special guests get the most out of the experience.
PEOPLE – Meet the People – in Mossel Bay, a young man by the name of Jackie Viljoen, had a vision to help people with hidden talent to promote themselves with a tour with a difference, not a township tour, but a tour where these people could be exposed to visitors to the town who could be a source of “spreading the word” about their talents and how they are trying to help themselves rather than rely on help from government etc; I have written before about Janneman who has now sadly passed away. He did leather work in the form of hand stitched bags etc; he was in a wheelchair after a motor vehicle accident. I was very upset by his untimely death, as he was about my age – far too young to die. I still want to be a granny and enjoy many years of grandchildren. I will now also never get to buy that special pink ostrich leather bag he was going to make me when he could get the leather – sad indeed.
BUT on a brighter note, there are still others who we meet:
Cecile, who makes a foot balm and face crème from herbs she grows in her garden in Grootbrak and also serves a tea made from ingredients in her garden – refreshing hot or cold – she explains how herbs can relax and pamper you.
Then Hein Munroe, whose family have been diving for Oysters for 7+ generations. The beach where I used to dive for oysters as a child – Munroes beach – named after his family who lived there in the Cape Dutch style cottages, now part of the Dias Museum complex. Hein explain how this is done and how oysters are rich in calcium. Between the oysters and my mothers daily calcium pills fed to me, I have very hard and VERY heavy bones for which I am grateful no osteoporosis, so living in Mossel Bay did me a world of good as a child.
We continue the tour to a coffee roastary in Voorbaai where we meet Barruch who also explain the process. Then to the “township” area to meet a few other people, we met Patrick this past weekend. He is a man who is also a wheelchair user that works with leather like Janneman did, he also is a cobbler of sorts, in that he repairs shoes. His story is a real one of dragging himself up from the depths of despair, to be what he is today, a person with conviction to make the best of his life and push his boundaries in sport. Beside the leather work he is participating in various sports, such as wheelchair racing, shot-put, discus and more, for this he needs specialised wheelchairs. He has got old ones handed down from other competitors, but needs new to be the best he can be for getting his times to qualify for the Olympics – his dream – in London in 2012.
Any one who has contacts or can sponsor this, please contact me, whether you are in South Africa or overseas, we will make a plan to get any chairs donated to him and get publicity for you in this regard.
So all these people we meet all have a story to tell and worthwhile a stop and listen, engage with them and come away with a happy feeling of having met very special people. The tourism ad for Mossel Bay is – “no hurry – no worries.” A ‘must-do” stop!
Pam Taylor
Flamingo Tours
Tags: Barruch, blue crane, cheetah, coffee roastary, disability, face crème, Flamingo Tours, foot balm, Garden Route, Grootbrak, Jackie Viljoen, Janneman, leather handbags, malibu storks, Meet the People, Meet the People tour, Mossel Bay, newsletter, ostrich, Pam Taylor, South Africa, tenikwa, tour guide, tourism, township, township tour, Voorbaai, wheelchair, wheelchairs
