Buffel hauls out for his annual moult in Hermanus
It seems Buffel has decided to haul out for his annual moult in Hermanus this year! He has been seen around many of our beaches over the last couple of years. He is identifiable by a scar above one eye (left) and flipper tag #16577. Southern Elephant seals are normally found in the Southern Ocean, with the closest colony being Marion Island, almost 2,000 km away from Cape Town. So sightings of the species are rare although it’s rumoured that Buffel was born on our Cape shores to a displaced mother. He...
The Overberg one of the best tourist destinations
A record breaking number of travellers visited the Western Cape during the holiday season, bringing a much needed cash injection for businesses in the tourism industry. The provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said expectations of a record-breaking season were realised with more than 400 000 visitors being recorded. She added: “This is excellent news for the economy and for the hundreds of thousands of jobs supported by tourism in the province.” A number of tourist attractions in the Overberg were highlighted in this report that states that these regional...
The penguin whisperer of Gansbaai ensures all his patients have happy feet
Xolani Lawo has spent 14 years of his life helping penguins in the Eastern and Western Cape. Click to read more...
Oldlands Stud – Living The Quality Life
Nestling in the beautiful Hemel n Aarde Valley near the Hermanus coast is biodynamically run Oldlands Stud, which has been around for half a century, abiding by its motto of “quality of life for horses.” [caption id="attachment_11165" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Living the quality life[/caption] Oldlands were chosen as outstanding breeders of South Africa and the Western Cape in 2020/21 and have indeed bred high-class thoroughbreds over the years, including two who competed in the Dubai World Cup – Lucky Find and Sanshaawes, who finished fifth. The Sanne family offer four yearlings at the Cape...
Pearly Beach where the sand shimmers and the fish bite.
Maryke Roberts wrote an article on Pearly Beach that was published in Die Rapport Sunday 10 December 2023 ...
Canadian actor Jeff Teravainen creates epic video of African penguins
The penguins at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Gansbaai were the stars of their very own wildlife documentary, narrated by Canadian actor and VO artist, Jeff Teravainen. Teravainen, known for his role as Lieutenant Anders in the TV series, Dark Matter and as Agent Stack on 12 Monkeys, was on a trip to South Africa recently with friend and fellow actor, Martin Copping. A visit to Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai proved to be a day well spent, the duo were treated to some serious exhilarating fun with a shark cage...
Tourism Indaba gives Food for thought
The second day of the Overstrand Tourism indaba started with a packed auditorium on Thursday, 7 September in Hermanus. The event formed part of the Overstrand Municipality’s drive to develop a tourism strategy that speaks to what the industry wants and not what the Municipality considers to be priorities. Addressing the audience, Councillor Clinton Lerm, Mayoral Committee Member for Investment, Infrastructure and Tourism, spoke about the planned role and vision of the Overstrand Tourism Department. He planted the seed to rename Overstrand as Cape Whale Coast or Whale Coast as a more appropriate...
Tourism Indaba highlights Agri-Tourism Opportunities
Overstrand Municipality’s Tourism Indaba, officially kicked off in Hermanus on 6 September 2023 and continues tomorrow with a full programme. Topics to be addressed include optimising online booking platforms, investigating traditional versus non-traditional source markets, Overstrand regulations linked to the hospitability industry, travel trends, and the value of having accommodation establishments graded. Overstrand Executive Mayor, Dr Annelie Rabie, welcomed Western Cape Minister of Agriculture Dr Ivan Meyer at the opening and invited the audience to participate in the Indaba and give input with the drafting of a visionary tourism strategy. The goal...
CapeNature and Grootbos Foundation partnership to address alien vegetation clearing and skills training
MEC Anton Bredell on partnership between CapeNature and Grootbos Foundation to address alien vegetation clearing and skills training CapeNature, the Western Cape Government’s conservation agency, and the Grootbos Foundation have joined hands through a formal partnership to address alien vegetation clearing in the Walker Bay Complex and skills training through the Foundation’s Green Futures College, the vocational training home of the Grootbos Foundation. The two organisations recently hosted a joint celebration to honour the group of CapeNature trainees who completed a housekeeping training programme and a group of 19 women and one...