Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Beautiful green lawns stretch across this land with the magnificent view of the Eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is ranked as one of the most beautiful botanic gardens in South Africa. Don’t miss this one whilst visiting Cape Town.

Kirstenbisch Botanical Gardens

Fun facts about Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens:

• On every Sunday afternoon from the end of November until the beginning of April, open-air music concerts take place at Kirstenbosch.
• Kirstenbosch offers guided club car tours of the garden every day.
• As an alternative to eating at one of Kirstenbosch’s restaurants, one can also buy a picnic basket from Silvertree Restaurant or the Kirstenbosch Tea Room and have a picnic in the Garden.
• Kirstenbosch offers wonderful hiking trails up Table Mountain
• Kirstenbosch’s New Year’s Eve concert is one of the biggest events in Cape Town on 31 December.

Garden Route Sunrise

This photo was taken today at The Garden Route Game Lodge. 

Its true what they say "Every cloud has a silver lining"

False Bay

Photograph by Michael McSweeney

Recipe: Cape Malay Curry

 Ingredients:

Cape Malay Curry

• 2 kg boneless mutton shoulder or 2 kg boneless lamb shoulder
• oil
• 4 onions, peeled and chopped
• 2-4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 1 piece fresh gingerroot, peeled and crushed
• 14.79 ml Cape Malay curry powder or 14.79 ml mild curry powder, of your choice
• 4.92 ml ground coriander
• 4.92 ml ground cumin
• 2.46 ml turmeric
• 1.23 ml salt
• black pepper
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 250 g dried apricots, soaked in warm water and drained
• 2 bananas, peeled and sliced
• 29.58 ml tomato paste
• 50 ml wine vinegar
• 250 ml meat stock
• 44.37 ml apricot jam
• 44.37 ml natural yoghurt

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a large pot or saucepan.
2. Over high heat, fry the onions and garlic, stirring continuously. Add the ginger, curry powder and all the spices and continue stirring for a minute. Season to taste with pepper and add the salt.
3. Reduce heat slightly. Add the meat and fry it until it is browned on all sides. (This may be easier if you remove the onions, garlic and ginger mixture and set them aside, then return them to the pot after the meat is browned.).
4. Add the vinegar and stock, plus all the other remaining ingredients (except the apricot jam and yoghurt). Cover. Reduce heat. Simmer over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until everything is tender, approximately 1 1/2 hours for lamb and 2 hours for mutton, maybe a little longer.
5. Stir in the apricot jam and the yoghurt a few minutes before serving.
6. Serve this curry with yellow rice and a variety of sambals and atjars.

Recipe Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/bo-kaap-cape-malay-kerrie-south-african-cape-malay-curry-289231#ixzz1yy9CgkK6

Picture Source: http://food.sndimg.com/img/recipes/28/92/31/large/picAkIQDV.jpg  

Home to the African Penguins

Boulders Beach in the Western Cape is home to the African Penguins. 

Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach was started in 1983 and one of the very few mainland Penguin colonies.
The sea is great to swim in and the big boulders scattered on the beach provide shade and protection. 

Visiting the Penguins is a fun activity for the whole family, spend some time viewing and learning about the history and importance of conservation of these beautiful African Penguins. 

African Penguins, Boulders Beach

Tip: plan a trip with a few extra hours to spare and visit the small historical town of Simonstown. Simonstown has a lot to offer from whale watching to streets filled with history and heritage. Something you might not know is that their best time is during winter, I know right. Reason being they are part of the few small towns who are North-facing and they surrounded by magnificent mountains so well the rest are wet and windy, Simonstown is perfectly happy in the sun. 
  

Simonstown, Western Cape

If you have never been to Simonstown then I suggest you make a plan to visit this secret town situated between the mountains with magnificent views of the Giants of the Sea, our whales.

Congratulations Cape Town!!!

New York Times has voted Cape Town as one of the Top Ten Hippest Cities in the World.Not only has Table Mountain been added to the 7 Wonders of the World but Cape Town was voted as Design Capital of The World 2014. Pretty impressive!

Cape Town, Western Cape

Cape Town at Night

South Africa Vineyards

Source: http://blog.kumkani.com/index.php/2011/03/04/south-african-wine-leads-the-way-2/

White Shark Projects

Great White Shark

I'm sure everyone will agree with me... When you look at the beautiful waves and clear blue water of the Ocean somewhere in you mind the horrific image of Jaws pops up. That's exactly my thought pattern.


The White Shark Project came and paid us a visit. We learnt all about Shark Cage Diving and honestly I think I will be jumping into the cage if given the opportunity. 

They offer magnificent opportunities to cage dive with the beasts of the sea. 

Visit their website: www.whitesharkprojects.co.za


The reason it is called The Great White Shark is the white underbelly with the grey top.It is the perfect disguise as the white underbelly blends with the sky and the dark grey blends in with the rocks and water. 

Great White Shark leaping out of water

Did you know?


They can grow up to 6m (18ft). Can you imagine how huge that is?

The Great White Shark does not feed off humans. They mistake humans for Seals that's the reason once it bites, they do not continue to feed as we do not taste good to them.



The Great White Shark has a fingerprint? The Dorsal Fin is unique in each shark. 

My honest opinion when it comes to Sharks, sure they scary and huge but it is a wild animal and should be treated as such.

Would love to be sitting here right now

Paarl, Western Cape

Source: http://www.curiouswines.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/paarl-south-africa.jpg

Cape Town Lightning

Photo by: Glenn Kasner

An electrical storm which went over Table Mountain. Brilliant photography

Cape Town Book Fair 2012

One of my favourite things to do is to read. Nothing like escaping into a realm of fantasy with characters that you start to love and hate.I think this event is definitely on my to-do list.

The Cape Town Book Fair 2012 starts on the 15 - 17th June at the CTICC (Cape Town International Convention Centre). Exhibitions, workshops, displays and fun activities for the whole family. Book lovers get to meet publishers, writers and editors for some of the most loved novels.

The programme is spread over 3 days and includes activities such as:

• Book signings
• Publishing workshops
• Poetry recitals
• Lots lots more

Click on the link for the programme: http://www.capetownbookfair.com/pdf/ctbf-book-lovers-programme-version-33.pdf.

 Described as a "literary feast", one of the highlights in this month's event Calendar.

Visit the Cape Town Book Fair's website: www.capetownbookfair.com.

Cape Town Book Fair, CTICC

Floor view, Cape TOwn Book Fair

Golf in South Africa

Golf is one of the most popular activities to take part in. Here in South Africa, there are a number of beautiful golf courses to visit. 

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/1f/95/eb/giraffe-on-golf-course.jpg

All over the country no matter the Province, I promise you there is a lavish green course waiting to be explored. Even our wildlife cant resist the temptation of the green lawns stretching across hectares of land.  These gentle giants paid a visit to one of the Golf Courses in Phalaborwa, Limpopo.

While you  exploring South Africa be sure to visit some of the beautiful Golf Courses around our country.

Images speak louder than words, so I have attached some photos from the courses:

Royal Cape Golf Club Pearl Valley Golf Club

Durban Country Club

Sun City, North-West

 Picture sources:

http://www.golfdirect.co.za/specials-Golf-Special-Cape-Town-and-Garden-Route-8-nts--16.php 

http://www.embassyconferences.co.za/media/social_programme/cities_surrounds/jnb/sun%20city%20golf%20course.jpg

http://www.livethemagicofafrica.com/putt-your-way-through-south-africas-most-celebrated-golf-courses