Winter newsletter – August 2008
Posted by Carey | Filed under Newsletters
With Spring knocking on the door, with wonderful weather yesterday and today with temperatures just into the 20′s C (70F), I think we are in for a real treat with our Spring flower display – Mother Nature at her best. She gave us a really hard time this winter with rain for weeks, so solid that flooding took place in many places, especially in the low areas of Cape Town, on the Cape flats, but in her usual motherly nature, she will compensate us for that with breathtaking magic of the annual flowers along the Western and Southern regions. I took this photo a few years ago, but it shows you how the veld becomes a carpet of colour. This is the West Coast National Park, where we visit for a day out of Cape Town and take a picnic lunch with us.
****************************************************
EXCITING NEW PLACES AND THINGS TO DO!!
On recent trip to check out a few places down the Garden Route, we found a new attraction in t he form of a “Small Cats Sanctuary” – TENIKWA – where you can get close and failry personal with animals like the smaller cats, those you do not see when doing a Safari, as many of them are the shy ones, nocturnal ones or those seldom seen at all. Caracal (lynx),with their tufted ears and redish fur, Wild Cat – that looks like house cats, but are far from that. Black footed cat, that are beatiful, ferocious and almost never seen. Cerval that are long legged and small bodied. The other highlight is the boardwalk above the new Meerkat enclosure, where you can see these fascinating animals in their natural enviroment. You can also get very close to our National Bird – the blue Crane. I sat having coffe stroking this birds feather – first for me!! The undertakers of the veld – the Maribu Stork was also a close encouter and a first for me on being so close. There are also hand reared Cheetah at this sanctuary that are loved and looked after by Len and Mandy who loves these animals so much it shows in the way the animals respond back to them.
HOW MUCH MORE RELAXED CAN THIS CARACAL (Lynx) BE???
****************************************************
WHALE WATCHING – FROM BEACH LAUNCH BOAT
For those who want to push their bounderies. We now have a sling seat to get you on board a boat that launches from the beach in Plettenberg Bay – ocean Safaris – to go out and get close to Southern Right whales, occasionally Dolphins will appear, which is the added bonus. This is best done during July to mid November each year, when these largest mammals in the world, come around our shores especially along the Western and Southern coastlines. Another incredible experience
****************************************************
FOR THE VERY MAD AMONG US!!
WHO REALLY WANT TO MORE THAN PUSH BOUNDARIES
(MUST HAVE UPPER BODY STRENGTH)
Become a monkey for about two hours – “swing from tree to tree” – I did – but then I am not in a wheelchair. Again the sling seat will get you to the forest site and out again. Get strapped into gear and with lots of help from a very helpful team of tree flyer guides – we will get you from tree platform to the next at the top of the tree canopy!! Again I must iterate, that there are restrictions for those doing this, in weight, strength and ability. Exhilarating – yes – exhausting – yes. I have very strong arms from pushing wheelchairs in and out of my vehicle and I have lactic acid muscle pain the next day! Not for the faint of heart – only the crazies like me! The certificate proves it – make of that what you wish!!
****************************************************
NEW ACCOMMODATIONS
I have a few new ones that I checked out last month. After years of “nagging” our bestman Dennis Jenkinson in Port Elizabeth, he and his wife Sandy, have adapted one of the rooms in their guest houses and built in a roll-in shower and grab rails. The room has an added bonus of having a kitchenette for a bit of self-catering. WELL DONE – at last! Thanks Den
In the Klein Karoo capital town of Oudtshoorn, we have found another gem and have a new guest house option there as well, with charming hosts and luxury interior and one adatepd room. This is my secret find!
Our usual stop at the Farm near Heidelberg, Anné-Lize and Neels, are also adding another adapted room on as we speak, so that they will soon have 2 adapted rooms on the Guest Farm.
So strides are being made in the smaller venue accommodation industry, who are showing up the big boys in the industry, in how to make a REAL difference to our guests with special needs -
WELL DONE ALL OF YOU!!!
****************************************************
Enough prattle from me today, until next time. – SPRING NEWSLETTER Love each other like there is no tomorrow. Tell your loved ones you love them often. Always hug your animals, they are the the ones that love you unconditionally! Love and hugs to ALL PAM & JEFF
Tags: accessible accommodation, accessible tours, adventures, Cape Town, day tours, Flamingo Tours, flowers, game viewing, Garden Route, klein karoo, newsletter, Oudtshoorn, Pam Taylor, safari, tenikwa, West Coast National Park, whale watching
