SPIRITS OF THE PAST - Alan Weyer
It's a story that must be heard - a past that captures the imagination of visitors, and the idea that somehow, we all have an ancient and personal investment in the area that explains its magic - of frontier wars, pioneering spirits and heroic people bound together by indomitable determination and gritty humour.
During the 1800's the intrepid British Settlers, Irish immigrants and European explores left their shores to begin a new life on the southernmost region of the African continent - region of the spiritual San people and mighty amaXhosa. What awaited them in this region of wide horizons eclipsed their wildest imaginings.
Recapture the Spirits of the Past with renowned historian and raconteur Alan Weyer, whose captivating narrative of this region's proud history of spectacular battles and courageous people will add a new dimension to a visit to the Eastern Cape.
Combined with a visit to one of the region's magnificent game/nature reserves, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Contact Alan Weyer:
+27 (0) 46 622 7896
082 825 2685
info@spiritsofthepast.co.za
www.spiritsofthepast.co.za
AMAHLATI EXCURSIONS
Amahlati Excursions can take you on a tour in or all around the Grahamstown area, ranging from a few hours to up to 10 days.
Day trips include historical and township tours around Grahamstown. Go out on a game drive near Grahamstown in a provincial reserve. Or on a trip to Addo Elephant National Park, where you can encounter the huge African elephant as well as buffalo. If time allows we can go to a private reserve where sightings of free roaming lion are guaranteed.
Overnight trips offer a choice of the following:
One night in Addo Elephant National Park, with a choice of accommodation in either dome tents or forest huts.
Two night stay overs on IIiwa Island, where we stay in two-man dome tents on the banks of the Great Fish River. We abseil (repel) down a 53 meter cliff, water raft 8 km in the Great Fish River (if the are no hippos around).
Three night stay out on the Cape Midlands and Camdeboo Meander. Game viewing in the Cape Mountain Zebra Park, then onto Nieu-Bethesda that features the famous Owl House and sculpted figures. Followed with a stay over in Graaff-Reinett, which is the 4th oldest town in South Africa. We spend time to visit the Museums and National Monuments in Graaff-Reinet.
Three to six night stay (you choose) out on the Klein Karoo Tour which goes from the coastal bushveld through the vast dry Karoo. We stop over in the town of Oudshoorn to experience a visit to the world renowned Cango Caves. Then we move on to Cheetahland. They have the big cats and more, and you can have a close encounter and stroke a cheetah. Moving on, Amahlati Excursions takes you to an ostrich farm where it is possible for you to climb on an ostrich's back and ride it. You will also learn all about these big birds. Our stop in the coastal town of Mossel Bay allows us time for a boat ride to do some whale and dolphin watching, and if you fancy some cage diving, now is the time for it. For the adrenalin junkies we stop over at the Bloukrans bridge for them to bungi jump the highest bungi in the world (216 metres). The last stay over is near Storms River, where there is an adventure center offering tree top canopy tours, a 14 mile (22km) mountain bike route and a lot more.
Check out our website and contact us for any enquiries and requests:
Website: http://www.amahalatiexcursions.co.za
Email: info@amahaltiexcursions.co.za
Brett Flanagan
Cell: 083 631 4800
THE BLAAUWKRANTZ BRIDGE TRAIN DISASTER - 1911
A Tragic Episode out of Grahamstown's Past
Visit the bridge site and experience the ambience of the area, marvel at the engineering and construction of this mighty railway bridge. Visualise the enormity of this accident. Gaze down into the breathtaking chasm; experience the loneliness of the gorge. Hear the stories from Ben Bezuidenhout, of bravery and heartbreak, also of great courage and faith. Follow the account of little Maud Smith and her three-year-old-brother Willie. Stand at the edge of this bridge and visualise the rescue attempts.
How did it happen? What were the causes? What were the findings? Hear stories of some of the myths and legends that have arisen since the train disaster. Discuss over refreshments provided as part of the tour, what this disaster must have taken out of the community.
Visit the cemeteries where the train victims are buried and leave the tour with vivid memories and a book on the Distaster, as a memento of your visit to the Blaauwkrantz Railway Bridge.
Walking distance is approxamitaley 500 metres from the bus to the bridge and back; it's an easy walk on flat ground. Don't forget your camera, and binoculars if you have them.
Contact Ben Bezuidenhout
Tel: 046 622 6437
Cell: 083 330 1594 / 073 195 4049
FRONTIER COUNTRY TOURS AND TRAILS
Stretch mind and body on our heritage and wildlife tours in the malaria-free surroundings on one of the Eastern Cape's premier tourist routes.
HERITAGE TOURS
Hot Potted Grahamstown
Famous for the contrasts of its Victorian and African vibrancy, Grahamstown is a modern-day melting pot of the varied cultures that shaped this former frontier town. As the name suggests, this is a tour that takes in all the highlights of the City of Saints, including how it got that name. From its beginnings as a 19th century military village to its prominence today as a leading educational and cultural centre, the tour embraces all aspects of Africa's Festival Capital. Duration: Half day
WILDLIFE & NATURE TOURS
Addo Elephant National Park
See the Eastern Cape's famous pachyderms at peace and at play in the thickets of the unique Addo Valley Bushveld. Along with a wide variety of other bushveld game, Addo's bush provides refuge to these gentle giants, descendants of the former vast herds of elephants that once roamed freely in the area.
Duration: Full day
BUZZ AROUND THE BUSH
A veld walk that gets you up close and personal with the Great Fish River's Valley Bushveld, with scenic views over the neighbouring Great Fish River Reserve. Discover the medicinal and cultural values of the plants around you, and even try some for yourself! We offer walks of varying lenghts, depending on our guests interested and level of fitness.
Duration: 2-5 hours, depending on distance.
Guides will join you in your own vehicle, or transpost can be provided. Tours that include the provision of transport require a minimum booking of 4 people (or the equivalent charge), and take a maximum of 6 people.
The departure point is Grahamstown, which lies at the heart of the Frontier Country tourist route.
All tours are led by guides registered with THETHA, the East Cape Tourism Board and the Field Guides' Association of South Africa.
For more details, contact Lynn Phillips:
GILL WYLIE
Local Guide Gillian Wylie, available to conduct 'step-on' tours:
- Agricultural
- Historical
- Game Park Tours
- Veld Walks
- Scenic Tours
Gill offers half day or full day trips for singles, families or groups. Prices on request.
Tel: +27 (0) 46 637 2941
Cell: 082 832 5839
Email: gillianwylie@imaginet.co.za
MBULELI TOURS
Offers you a tour according to your needs. Local and regional guide Mbuleli Mpokela will tailor-make the tour to include any special interests you may have. This is the only time where you bring your own itinerary! Come and experience township life with real people in real life. Feel free to ask, visit a home and capture township life.
Places of interest
Your township tour will include a visit to:
The Egazini Monument
Egazini Outreach Project
Umthati Nursery
Four Townships
Taste a Xhosa meal (book at least a day in advance)
Contact Mbuleli
082 979 5906
e-mail: m.mpokela@ru.ac.za
OR Makana Tourism (Grahamstown) office
Tel: 046 622 3241
OTTOURS
046 637 1025 / 082 214 4242
046 622 3266
ottours@webmail.co.za
EKUHLALENI / SOCIAL HISTORY
Unwritten stories about Xhosa people, the area and style of living - Second oldest township in the country and its instinct since establishment - Hear the spirit of ancestors during battle between Xhosas and British soldiers in the fifth frontier war at Egazini (place of bloodshed) - Descendence of King Lobengula (From Zimbabwe) how to reach this area, see the tombstones. Come lets stand where the Xhosa legend Makana stood during the battle - open your ears and listen to the Ghost whistle to you in their Ghost town, Come and hear more stories ...
NCUBEKO / OUR CULTURE
Oral tradition from generations to generations, from the elderly to young - meeting the real people of the area, telling about us (Xhosa people) Sangoma welcomes you and sharing her religion to you, reveal things of your life - see our traditional hut as an old house of that particular family where treasures are concealed and the kraal where ancestors are worshipped.
ESGODINI / SHEBEENS
Our lifestyle of sharing, greeting and chaffing with our friends - experience our language to talk with you in "tsotsi taal" mix of different languages of South Africa in the township - meet people with Ubuntu humanity, have fun and our different dances in our Society - have a braai with us and buy your favourite drinks.
IMBALI / OUR HISTORY
Our Settlers history will astonish you - visit our monument (Grahamstown Foundation and 1820 Settlers monument) where it resembles the ship when British arrived here - our heritage buildings that are still instinct since then - our Cathedral to worship - our wellknown Camera Obscura museum as the first in the country and many other interesting buildings.
Yes, as you book for the package tour, you can also book for the accommodation in a unique township lifestyle Bed and Breakfast as one of your experience.
WALKING TOURS
If you only have a short time to spare, the walking tours are an excellent way to absorb Grahamstown's interesting history. The art of storytelling conveys the history behind the buildings, their past and their inhabitants. Each walk lasts about an hour and a half. They are conducted at a leisurely pace, and you'll be accompanied by a guide in full Victorian dress!
Choose from one of the following:
Saints, Sinners and Students, which imparts the early history of Grahamstown, and visits one chapel, (Chapel of St Mary and All Angels now simply called the Rhodes Chapel) in the grounds of the former Grahamstown Training College, two jails and Rhodes University.
Stately Homes & Old School Ties, which visits two of the oldest schools in the area - 150-year-old St Andrew's College, and DSG (Diocesan School for Girls) - as well as a number of Victorian homes that were designed by an amateur architect in various strange but interesting styles. The tour also includes the oldest working post box in South Africa - Worcester Street.
Historic Heart visits the centre of Grahamstown, and leaves from the Observatory Museum. It covers the growth of the town from a military site to a thriving "city" (because the Cathedral of St Michael and St George). The second largest city in the Cape Colony with the tallest spire boasted a number of newspapers, an academic robe factory and a Supreme Court before the army and fortune hunters (off to the diamond and gold fields) moved out. The entrance fee to the Observatory Museum is an extra R8.
To book, contac: Fleur Way-Jones
083 652 0522
f.way-jones@ru.ac.za
PERLEMOEN ESCAPES
14A Leicester Street, Grahamstown, 6139
Tel: 046 636 2986
Cell: 084 404 4546
Email: susan@perlemoenescapes.co.za
Website: www.perlemoenescapes.co.za
Perlemoen Escapes offers you a wide range of holiday packages in the beautiful Malaria-free Eastern Cape, with the click of a mouse button or by phoning us on 046 6362986.
Perlemoen Escapes helps you unlock this undiscovered province, where Nelson Mandela was born, spend his childhood and youth. Discounted Airfares make such a trip financially comparable with a road trip to places such as the Kruger Park. Perlemoen Escapes arranges all aspects of your package inclusive of transport from the airport to your destination and back and payments and interaction with service providers are therefore limited.
Perlemoen Escapes is based in the Eastern Cape, and we link you to facilities, sites and comforts you may never have discovered. Accommodation such as Shamwari Game Lodge, Pumba Game Lodge, Fish River Sun and many more is on offer, and this would certainly live up to your expectations. The Eastern Cape, a Malaria Free region has many top class facilities visited by the likes of Tiger Woods and Brad Pitt.
The Eastern Cape Province, where Mandela was born and grew up offers natural beauty and serenity, and makes a visit to these parts a must.
Transfer and Shuttle services -
longer tours also available
Perlemoen Escapes does shuttle and transfer services mainly in the Eastern Cape, Transkei and the Garden Route
We transfer from 1 to any amount of people depending on your requirements. Please phone us for a quote. http://www.perlemoenescapes.co.za/packages.php
Susan 084 4044 546
e-mail: susan@perlemoenescapes.co.za
|
