100km Mountain Bike Challenge - Knysna

23 September 2012 is the date to remember for all you Die-Hards! It's the Pennypinchers Die Burger Lions Karoo to Coast 100km Mountain Bike Challenge.

Get your rooms booked at the Knysna Logg-Inn, as after this race, your bodies are going to need the all the luxury that's available.

Route
Uniondale to Knysna via the Prince Alfred's Pass 100 km offroad Race - Not for the faint-hearted, this is a great competitive race.

Voted by Bicycling Magazine Readers as one of the top ten mountain bike races in South Africa. This race is organised by the Lions Clubs of Knysna and Uniondale in aid of the Lions "SightFirst".

Gear up!

For nearly 100 years, Lions Club members have worked on projects designed to prevent blindness, restore eyesight and improve eye health and eye care for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Lions volunteer to take part in sight projects for sight restoration operations for the poor.

De Zeekoe 'Doggy Walk'

The 'Doggy Walk' fund collection will be on 8 September 2012 at De Zeekoe Guest Farm, and is being held in collaboration with SPCA Oudtshoorn.

The walk will start at 11h00 and prizes will be up for grabs!

Get your doggies and your family together, as this day is bound to be filled with fun for everyone to enjoy.

For more information, please contact Adri on 044 272 6721

Plettenberg Bay - As Summer Approaches

Spring is just around the corner, and soon to follow is summer! 

With the clear skies coming our way, events are being planned left, right, and centre, and Plettenberg Bay seems like the place to be this season.

Why not book a room, and stay in the lap of luxury at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve? At just 12km from PlettenbergBay itself, travelling to and from these events is not a problem!

 

Mid-September sees the return of the much loved Plett Festival (previously known as the Whiskey, Whales & Jazz Festival).

 

At the end of October, it's The Ultimate Wicked & Wild Halloween Party - get your outfits ready, as this night is going to be one for the books!

And for all the Christmas enthusiasts, and Elephant lovers, the Carol's by Candlelight at Knysna Elephant Park is a unique experience one should not forgo (as Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve doesn't currently have elephants as a part of their programme, visiting Knsyna Elephant Park while staying at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve gives you the opportunity to see the Big 5 all in one day!).

De Hoop Yoga Retreat

De Hoop has teamed up with Kate Ball and Maritz Steyn of Yoga Spirit to bring you a lovely peaceful Yoga experience at de Hoop' in the Melkkamer area. 

Culinary Experience at De Hoop

 

'Gather your friends together for a wonderful Culinary Experience - email nini@iafrica.com if you would like to join a group and we will organize it for you'

Day 1
2pm : Guests arrive and check in at de Hoop
4pm : Delicious afternoon Tea under the Fig Tree then travel by open land cruiser through the Fynbos to Melkkamer
7:30pm : Dinner in Melkkamer Manor House
9pm : Stargazing with a de Hoop guide

Day 2
8:30am : Continental Breakfast
11am : Drive to the beach at Koppie Alleen were you will have the opportunity to walk along the undeveloped coast and experience protected marine life in the rock pools and spectacular sand dunes with a guide to see the Dolphins and Whales. A picnic lunch will be served at Koppie Alleen.
3:30pm : Afternoon tea at Melkkamer Manor
6 pm : Dinner Cooking Class begins – Renee will inspire you to create a simple but delicious dinner party menu to make ahead of time so that you can enjoy your time with your guests!

Day 3
8:30am : Continental Breakfast
10 am : Lunch cooking class begins: you will learn the art of creating a variety of delicious breads and interesting relishes and a selection of unusual small dishes to serve at a casual lunch party
5:00 pm : Leisurely guided walk along the shores of the Vlei learning about the rare and unusual birds and Fynbos on the vlei.
7:00 pm : Wine and food pairing Renee will prepare a delicious Chef's Table in the Melkkamer kitchen to be paired with Jean Daneel Wines

Day 4
8:30 am : Breakfast cooking class : delicious corn fritters with crispy bacon and cherry tomato jam
11am : Checkout

R2 675 per person (minimum of 8 people) Cost of package including all accommodation for 3 nights, meals, classes, guided walks (including Wine pairing but excluding other drinks)

Floral Retreat at Kagga Kamma

Flower season is upon us!

Pack your bags and head to Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve for the Floral Retreat, but not before booking your ALL INCLUSIVE Floral Retreat Package.

September Packages from R2510 per person per night sharing (book one nights accommodation for the September Floral Retreat and get 50% discount on your second night).

Accommodation Rates include:

• Luxury accommodation with twin or king-size bed and en suite bathroom.
• 3 meals per day.
• 2 activities per person. Activites include: Rock painting tour, Sundowners, Game viewing drive, Night drive and Stargazing.
• Quad bike safaris and Wellness & Relax spa treatments extra.

Offer valid for reservations with occupation date between 1 - 30 September 2012, and only for reservations made after the 1 August, and will not apply to existing reservations.

For reservations:

Tel:     021 872 4343

Fax:    086 500 0800

Email: info@kaggakamma.co.za

*Complimentary/Discounted nights exclude any extra's like incl meals and tours etc, and are for guests own account.

**For more information, please visit http://www.kaggakamma.co.za 

Shipwrecked in the Cape

While on a trip down to visit your favourite Country Lodge in Agulhas, why not make a stop at the Bredasdorp Museum?

The Bredasdorp Museum is primarily a maritime Museum whose primary theme is "Shipwrecks along the dangerous Southern Cape coast and their influence on the development of the Strandveld".

There have been approximately 130 shipwrecks off the Southern Cape coast since 1673. This dangerous section of coast is known as the "Graveyard of the ships". The Museum also documents the rich history of the area. Well worth checking out.

Stay at Agulhas Country Lodge where you can experience where the two oceans really meet, and visit the Bredasdorp Museum to explore the outcome. 

Some of the items you could see at Bredasdorp Museum

Over 130 shipwrecks off the coast since 1673

Ride the Rock MTB 2013

Entries are now open for the second annual Ride the Rock Mountain Biking Multi Stage Race.

Entries are limitied to 250 riders, so get your entries in now!

The race is set to take place over the weekend of the 8 - 10 February 2013.

Ride the Rock is a full service individual MTB stage race that offers riders the opportunity to ride on the most spectacular routes in the heart of South Africa's Cederberg Conservancy.  Each stage’s route is challenging yet rewarding, while encapsulating the pristine beauty of the Cederberg.

Former multiple SA mountain biking champion Kevin Evans was crowned winner of the inaugural Ride The Rock Mountain Bike Race in 2012.  Evans had the following to say about this three day mountain bike race, “I thoroughly enjoyed Ride The Rock.  It’s an intimate race that allowed me to meet great people passionate about the sport.  The routes are also very well prepared, although hard, they are short enough to allow sufficient recovery time before the next stage.  I’d definitely like to be back in 2013”.

So, for all you Die-Hard's, get your entries in now, and why not book a room at the Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve for the duration of your stay? If you're going to Ride the Rock, why not sleep in the rock too? 

Kevin Evans - 2012 Ride the Rock MTB winner

Coronation Double Century Cycle Challenge

The Coronation Double Century Cycle Challenge is a 202 km team race which is limited to 200 teams. The event is now in its 19th year!

Date: To be Confirmed (Monday, 26 November 2012)

Cyclists can once again look forward to starting and finishing in the picturesque town of Swellendam in the Western Cape. Teams will complete the most challenging climbs, Tradouw Pass as well as Op de Tradouw, within the first 60km of the race. From Swellendam cyclists follow the R324 through Suurbraak and over Tradouw Pass towards Barrydale. A left turn onto the R62 takes participants to the challenging 7km Op de Tradouw, before making their way to Montagu. The route then snakes through Cogmanskloof towards Ashton and Robertson, turning left onto the R317 towards Bonnievale and back to the finish in Swellendam.

The event has never been purely about the race, but rather about participation and team spirit. The Coronation Double Century is the cycling equivalent of an ultra marathon – you need to have trained if you want to finish in comfort. Teams will have 10 hours and 30 minutes from the team’s official start time, to complete the 202 kilometers.

After this long day of team spirit and team work, find your way over to Augusta de Mist Country House & Boutique Retreat for a full body relax and revival. Fall into the luxury on offer and find yourselves refreshed and rearing to go; just leave it all to the wonderful staff at Augusta de Mist.

Get Ready!

Vacancies in the Wellness Valley

Cascade Country Manor are looking for a dedicated individual or couple to look after their wellness area. It may be a trained beauty therapist, biokinetesist, physiotherapist or other professional related to the wellness industry.

They have a wellness area with indoor pool, treatment room and a large outside area that can be used for wellness activities. Cascade would like to offer a variety of treatments on request for house guests and also standard treatments for day visitors.

They can offer a live-in position for one or two people on the property as part of the remuneration package which is negotiable and depends on the candidates experience.

Please apply to vacancies@cascademanor.co.za

Wellness Area in the Olive Valley

Naturally Knysna Festival - Trail Run October 2012

Something new and exciting has been added to the The FNB Naturally Knysna Trail Run this year; previously inaccessible and unavailable areas of Knysna have been added to this event. Runners will be forced to dig deep within themselves to accomplish this exhilarating off-road trail run as they face the challenging natural terrain and overcome what nature throws at them - the freshness of the forest, the harshness of its steep valley climbs and the immense beauty that will inspire them to persevere to the end.

They'll be cool by the water-side, heat up at the mountain-side, and have to push themselves beyond the limit to manoeuvre the steep ascents and technical descents.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, start making the plans today! Book your rooms at the Knysna Log-Inn, because your body is going to need the luxury treatment once you're done.

October 2012

14km or 10km - are You ready?

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve - Review

“Awesome”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 August 2012 NEW

My mother and myself visited this past week August 2012 and the place was totally awesome. Staff was outstanding, food was great, and the rooms were amazing. I would truly recommend if your in the area to visit both the game reserve and to stay at the lodge.  See the review here.

Robertson Wine Valley - They're Grape!

All the Robertson Wine Valley winemakers are busy making preparations to head up to Gauteng again for the 2012 Robertson Wine Valley Festival @ Kloofzicht Lodge in Muldersdrift in the Cradle of Humankind. This Festival, taking place over the weekend of 15 – 16 September, is definitely an event not to be missed! 

The line-up of Robertson Wine Valley wineries showcasing their fine wines will include key exhibitors like: Excelsior, Graham Beck Wines, Major’s Hill, Rietvallei, Robertson Winery, Rooiberg Winery, Van Loveren, Weltevrede and Zandvliet to name but a few. And with wines being sold on site, this event provides the perfect opportunity to stock up on your favourite Robertson wines, renowned for their great value, from easy drinking to top-of-the-range.

Throughout the day, actvities such as fly-fishing, face-painting, jumping castles and many more will make this event an ideal family outing.

So bring family and friends, and dont miss out on!

Bird Fever in the Addo Elephant National Park

Avid birders should not delay in making their bookings for the Sasol Addo Birding Weekend which will be held in Addo Elephant National Park from 19 to 21 October 2012. 

The weekend of birding will offer a wonderful opportunity to experience the diverse biomes of Addo Elephant National Park and the chance to spot over 200 bird species.
Organised by the SANParks Honorary Rangers at Addo, participants will have a choice of taking part in different excursions. Birders will join groups birding in different areas of the ecologically diverse Addo Elephant National Park. Excursions include a trip through the Nyathi area of the Park while another group will lazily float up the Sundays River on a ferry spotting darters and different species of kingfishers. Other groups will depart for Kabouga section of the park, which is situated close to Kirkwood for the chance to walk on the ‘wild side’ or take a ride through Addo game viewing area and see parts of Addo that are not open to the general public.
The weekend starts on Friday evening with a get-together and ends with a venison potjie on Saturday evening. A variety of accommodation has been pre-booked by the Honorary Rangers in Addo Elephant National Park and bookings should be done well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Sasol has provided sponsorship for logistics and lucky draw prizes with Stretton’s Gin and Glendower Whisky being the other main sponsors. RiverBend Lodge as always will assist with night drives in the Nyathi section on Friday evening. Funds raised by the Honorary Rangers birding weekend will go towards funding conservation support work within Addo.
Bookings for the birding weekend close on 30 August 2012.
For more information, email Nicky Bosman at nbosman@nmmu.ac.za.

Get your bookings in today, to avoid dissapointment!

For the Love of Wine

Book your room at Evergreen Manor & Spa to be afforded the luxury in your accommodation that you deserve while attending the Winebiz Conference, which is being held at the Spier Wine Estate on the 30 August 2012.

This conference is aimed at wine makers, general managers, and winery owners.

Winebiz promises to inspire and transfer knowledge that can be used in the wine industry focusing on strategy, marketing, sales and sustainability.

Highlights will include panel discussions, case studies, digital and social marketing and promises industry leading trends and relevant information that can be implemented in your own wine business. With in-depth talks by wine buyers, journalists, public relations and marketing experts.  

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity for all you wine enthusiasts; this is an experience you cannot miss out on!

Stop Rhino Poaching!

Most of you know about all the rhino poaching, as it has been splashed all over the news for some time now, and the sad news is that unfortunately, it continues, on a daily basis.

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve saw the first Rhino poaching in the Western Cape at the beginning of last year, and the outcome of that tragedy, sadly, was that it was through organised crime.

Happy news soon followed as a new baby rhino was born a few months later, and extreme measures have been taken since to keep their tiny population of rhino's safe.

The horns have been removed from the adults, the animals are GPS protected, and they're under the watchful eyes of a contingent of armed guards.

The male baby rhino was named Kubudirira, which in Shona means "The Future", chosen as a beacon of hope for rhinos in the whole of Southern Africa. 

Kubudirira and his mother, with her horn removed.