|
Turtle Essays Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
| << September20, 2005 - Turtle Essays edition no 147 dated 19.9.2005 |
October03, 2005 - Turtle Essays edition no 149 dated 3.10.2005 >> |
|
Turtle Essays Edition no 148 dated 26th September 2005 ** Want a Grand Tour of the Cape Peninsula visit : Http://www.turtlesa.com/Peninsula_tour.html to book your seat ** Turtle Essays needs more regular readers: Here is the subscribe address 50058-subscribe@zinester.com ** In this edition: Editor's Blurb Kagga Kamma Barrydale ** Editor's Blurb. Hi folks. Welcome to all my new and regular readers. We have had a very busy week, what with my daughters matric dance, parents dance and the fashion show where all the matrics got to show off their expensive dresses and suits purchased for the dance. The party for the matrics is over now as they have about two weeks to prepare for their end of year exams. Its also quite a sad time as they say goodbye to their school mates who will be going out into the world to earn their livings. I can still remember my last days at High School and how amazed I was recently when one of my old classmates turned up in the newspapers as "Doctor Death". You never know what people will do with their lives do you? This week I have prepared articles on places in a radius of about 250 kilometres of Cape Town. Both are in arid dry areas that were once populated by Bushmen/ San people . I hope that you will enjoy them. Enough from me for this week. See you all soon. Geoff Fairman ** Kagga Kamma Kagga Kamma a private game reserve can be found in the Swartruggens region approximately 250 kilometres from Cape Town. It is bordered by the Cedarberg to the northwest and in the east by the arid Ceres Karoo. The area is covered by shrubs with names such as kakiebos, taaibos and skilpadbessie to name a few. Many of these shrubs were used by the ancient San peoples to build their huts and to make bows and arrows with which to hunt. The 15000 hectare reserve is made up of a number of farms and has a natural beauty of its own, The owners recognised this potential and decided to open the reserve to the public. However to do this they had to put in infrastructure such as roads and trails, and accommodation for visitors. Water was scarce and attempts to find it were unsuccessful due to large rock formations thirty metres below the surface which drills could not penetrate. To solve the water problem a farm to the south of Kagga Kamma was purchased and the water on this farm is utilised by the reserve. Architects had a field day designing Bushmans Lodge which was built with its rooms resembling Bushman caves and huts. The rooms are built between sandstone formations and are equipped with all the modern conveniences that are found in most modern hotels today. Kagga Kamma is blessed with a rich cultural heritage left behind by the Bushman and San . Rock paintings which are estimated to be up to 6000 years old are scattered all over the reserve on rock formations and in caves. Sadly the people who decorated the rock walls with their art have been extinct for more than two centuries now. The San were hunter gatherers and followed wild animals as they moved around the countryside. When the Dutch and later the British came into contact with them conflict arose and the San were forced off their lands. The problem between the groups was so bad that farmers openly hunted and killed the San who were considered to be vermin and sub human. Today however their contribution to the heritage of South Africa can be found in many caves and rock formations all over South Africa. Kagga Kamma has a group of Khomeni bushmen living in the Reserve. They make a living by selling their handicrafts to visitors to the area. A while back a storm blew up over these bushmen when it was felt that the owners of the reserve were abusing them. The bushmen were required to entertain visitors with their dancing and other skills but when the show was over were expected to return to their lowly huts and continue life as normal without proper recognition for what they were doing. The reserve is home to a large variety of wild animals which include the Burchell's zebra, the eland, gemsbok, kudu, white tail gnu, blue wildebeest, and bontebok. Smaller antelope such as springbok, grey rheebok, Cape grysbok, duiker, klipspringer and steenbok are also to be found in the reserve. There are a large number of smaller animals such as the dassie (rock hyrax), yellow mongoose, rock rabbit, Cape hare and striped polecat. On the open plains many larger birds such as ostriches, secretary birds and the kori bustard are to be seen. Smaller birds such as the Cape robin, Cape bulbul, Cape sparrow and house sparrow are also found in the area. Water birds such as the Egyptian goose red billed teat, black duck and South African shelduck are attracted to the area by open water during the winter months. Kagga Kamma owners have not only restocked the area with antelope, built up an excellent infrastructure but have also employed some excellent people to guide you around the reserve. Your stay will include guided walks and drives around the reserve, breakfast in the bush and night time game drives. Kagga Kamma being way out in the country away from most of the pollution found in the cities has also included a Mini Observatory as part of their attractions in the reserve. Here the visitor can view the night skies through a 10 inch telescope and see the moon and planets close up . For visitors wanting luxury accommodation, a unique experience of living in a wilderness area filled with the culture of its original inhabitants, Kagga Kamma is the place to visit. Let's see you here soon. Geoff Fairman ** Barrydale Situated between the Swartberg in the north and the Outeniqua and Langeberg mountains in the south is a plain which is about 60 kilometres wide north to south and 250 kilometres long from west to east. This dry and arid area is called the Little Karoo. Its mountains are full of deep ravines which are choked with vegetation and teem with wildlife. On the western edge of the plain is a fertile valley lying between the coastal belt and the Karoo which is enclosed by the Langeberg and Swartberg mountain ranges. The valley has a higher rainfall than the Karoo and it was this feature which attracted early permanent populations of Quena people to the low lying floor of the valley and the Bushmen / Khoisan people to the mountains. The Quena had a path through the Langeberg, which followed the deep, and steep, ravine known as the Tradouw Poort. It was this pathway that gave rise to the Tradouw Pass of today. The town of Barrydale named after James Barry, is situated at the northern opening of the Tradouw's pass which winds its way through the mountains to Swellendam. Barrydale's history begins in the early 1700's when farmers moved into the area looking for fertile lands with water to farm. They settled in the valley and after a while decided that they needed their own church and chose a spot where today the R62 and R324 roads meet. In those days before the church was built there were a number of nagmaal houses (Houses where Holy Communion could be celebrated) and a school and not much else in the village. The Dutch Reformed Community of Barrydale came into being in 1878 when land was purchased to build the church. Over the years the village grew and eventually in 1921 a Municipality was established. As the farmers in the area were encouraged to plant vineyards and orchards it was natural that a winery and distillery would eventually be built. In 1940 the Barrydale Ko?¶perative Wynkelder was formed and a distillery established giving rise to the wine industry in the area. Barrydale because of its situation at the gateway to the Little Karoo attracts tours leaving Cape Town for Mossel Bay and the Garden route. As many visitors want to include Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves in their itineraries the route through Barrydale is ideal as it gives them a good idea of the differences that a mountain range 30 kilometres wide can make in the vegetation of our country. In Spring the route becomes even more scenic when the wild flowers bloom and turn a dry and arid land into a carpet of colour. The vegetation on either side of the Langeberg is very interesting. The northern side contains succulent type vegetation such as the Aloe striata; botterboom, Tylecodon paniculatus while on the southern slopes there is fynbos vegetation which consists of proteas and ericas and reeds. As one moves further into the Little Karoo the climate becomes more arid and large quartzite patches are found where smaller compact succulents grow. The succulents growing here depend on the reflecting properties of the quartz to keep the soil cool. The R62 highway that one travels along from Barrydale towards Oudtshoorn is very interesting as one gets to drive through some awesome mountain passes with rivers flowing far below the roadway. The difference in day temperatures from the coastal region to the Little Karoo are marked. Visitors to the area often leave Swellendam in rainy and cold conditions and thirty kilometres later find themselves in hot summer conditions . South Africa is a land of contrasts and the Barrydale area is one of the places where the contrasts are visible. Next time you visit the Garden Route take a drive over the Tradouw Pass and experience the charm of the area. Barrydale would love to welcome you. Geoff Fairman ** Ezines R Us Ads: http://www.ezines-r-us.com/cmd.php?af=293028 ** ATTENTION: Would You Like A $500 Check Next Month? Or How About A $3,750 Check Within A Few Months? FREE No Obligation 30 Day Trial Proves How Simple It Can Be! Go to >>> http://ddp1.com/go.php?1217 ** Tired of MLM DROPOUT? Don't Give Them A Reason To Drop Out Free 4 60 Days Then Decide If it's Worth Staying A Member Why Try And Do It Alone When We Can Put You In Profit By Placing 2 In Your Group During Your Free 60 Days. Click here =>> http://just-visit.us/?i=7504 ** Turn your dog into the best behaved pooch on the park with Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer Guide Book http://www.dogproblems.com/clicksecrets.htm?hop=brerrabbit ** Turtle Travels new blog is online now. http://turtleessays.blogspot.com There are some interesting new articles being posted today. Be sure not to miss them. ** Start your own home nursery and earn yourself some pocket money! Find out how to do it from an expert. Here is his link: http://hop.clickbank.net/?brerrabbit/mcplants ** Sometimes one gets lucky! I did when I came across this site by accident. Its offers stunned me so I decided to try it out to see if it was for real. It Was! This amazing members-only website run by a top internet marketer, is UNIQUELY available: at http://www.pr-pl.com/a.php?ELn Check it out today and get some of the free stuff offered as bonuses. ** For my personal details, contact address, and warnings regarding products advertised in this ezine please read the disclaimers which can be found at: http://www.turtlesa.com/Disclaimer.html |
|
| << September20, 2005 - Turtle Essays edition no 147 dated 19.9.2005 |
October03, 2005 - Turtle Essays edition no 149 dated 3.10.2005 >> |
|
Turtle Essays Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
Archives powered by Zinester's Mailing List Service
Details on Turtle Essays |
Browse for more newsletters at Zinester's Ezine Directory
Managed by Zinester's Mailing List Management |