Portfolio Collection Travel Blog

Wildlife Wednesday - Pansy Shells and Lamp Urchins

2012-05-16

Some of our guests went for a walk along the serene Keurbooms Beach and came across this interesting shell:

It looks similar to our Plett icon, the Pansy Shell, but where the Pansy is flat this shell was larger and domed, but still intricate and delicate. We did some research and found that it is called a Lamp Urchin. It is a part of the urchin family, as with the Pansy Shell and it is incredibly rare to find one intact on the beach. Plettenberg Bay beach walkers and nature lovers still delight in the shelly wonders washed up by the Indian Ocean.

Both the Pansy Shell and Lamp Urchin live and burrow just beneath the sand in both shallow and deeper waters. Covered in velvet-textured “spines” and fine “hairs”, they feed on crustacean larvae and algae. The classic bone-white shell found by beachcombers is once the spines and hairs have fallen off and the skeleton has been bleached white by the sun.

In other parts of the world, relatives of the Pansy are known as the Sand Dollar, Sea Cookie and Snapper Biscuit and the shell has attained mythical proportions and wonderful tales of its origins, including the lost coins of Atlantis or mermaids. A wonderful little Christian poem:

There's a pretty little legend
That I would like to tell
Of the birth and death of Jesus
Found in this lovely shell

If you examine closelyyou'll see that you find hereFour nail holes and a fifth one
Made by the Roman spear

One on each side is the Easter lily

The Christmas poinsettiaits centre is the star

That appeared unto the shepherds
and led them from afar

Etched on the other side
Reminds us of His birthday
our happy Christmastide

Now break t

he centre open
and here you will release
The five white doves awaiting
To spread goodwill and peace

This simple little symbol
Christ has left for you and me
To help us spread His gospel
Through all eternity.

In Plettenberg Bay, the Pansy Shell has been collected to near extinction and its sale is now prohibited. Slowly the population is growing again. The Keurbooms Beach is an ideal spot for searching for Pansies and other beautiful seashells. The Pansy Shell with its delicate beauty seems to embody all that is peaceful and magnificent about Plettenberg Bay.

4 Star Plettenberg Bay Accommodation

Milkwood Manor is located on the oceanfront in Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route. Awake to the sound of breaking surf and seagull’s cry. Enjoy the Manor’s breathtaking views of the ocean’s white-crested waves tumbling onto a sandy beach on the other side of a vast lagoon, against the backdrop of the Tsitsikamma mountains.

Take a dip in a sea cove or the lagoon, or kayak across to the opposite shore for an exhilarating long beach walk, away from the crowds, and admire the beautiful seabirds. The Manor has no neighbours but nature, yet is not isolated, as it is a short stroll from the town centre’s charming shops and Continental restaurants. Central to all Garden Route attractions.

The in-house Thai restaurant, Lemon Grass, serves the freshest fish and seafood, to mouth-watering meats and game, all drawing influences from either International or traditional local cuisine.

Contact res@portfoliocollection.com for bookings and info.

Calitzdorp Port and Wine Festival

2012-05-16

The 2012 festival will again be centred at the historic Calitzdorp Railway Station, well-complimented by a full and fabulous programme of events at the various wine cellars and village venues.

Some of what you can expect to enjoy:

Tasting the ports and wines of all the local cellars under one roof at the Station Barn - or at each individual cellar.
Tasting barrel samples of the new and unique Calitzdorp Blend
Watching cooking demonstrations using local port and wines will be presented by Emile Joubert and Lise Beyers.
Tucking in at an ostrich spit braai.
Cheese & Wine Celebration, which will showcase South Cape cheeses with local Port and port cultivar wines.
“Stoep Stories” presented by Ollie Viljoen, Pietman Geldenhuys and Andries Vermeulen
Classical guitar music with your sundowner.
The Port Dance on Saturday evening.
Join local port masters to "Unravel the Mysteries of Port” and unravel the terroir of the region with a guest geologist.
“Chocolate and Port / Wine Decadence” hosted by Belgium trained Chocolatier Marita Lamprecht and Cape Wine Academy Master Junel Vermeulen.
Youth and Local Artists Expo at the DR Church Hall
Visit the art studios of Calitzdorp's wide array of talented artists.

Whether you're visiting the Biodiversity Expo to learn more about the town on the Cultural/Historical Meander, catch the tractor taxi to various cellars, playing a game of boule or jukskei, or just sitting back and relaxing while enjoying the selection of local musicians and a glass of port, you'll enjoy every minute of this timeless event.

Need to Know

Dates: 18 - 20 May 2012
Venue: Calitzdorp Railway Station
Ticketing: Friday only R35 (adults) R10 (kids); Saturday only R50 (adults) R20 (kids); Both days: R75 (adults) R25 (kids). Book at computicket or buy on arrival
Website: http://www.portwinefestival.co.za/

Calitzdorp Accommodation

Portfolio offers luxury accommodation in Calitzdorp at a select spread of charming places.

Stay at The Port Wine Guest House, a charming 1830 thatched homestead which overlooks vineyards and rolling hills, and offers a warm welcome. Set in the village of Calitzdorp, it forms part of the old world architecture lining the quaint country streets.

Petrol Heads Gather at the Knysna Speed Festival

2012-05-16

The festival started in 2009 and has really exploded into an amazing event. While the Renault Simola Hillclimb will always remain the core event, the Knysna Speed Festival is now far more than just a single motorsport race. The festival is the first multiple-event motorsport and motoring gathering of its kind ever to be organised in South Africa. In time to come the organisers hope it will become the South African version of the Daytona Speed Week held annually in the USA and the Goodwood Festival and Revival in the UK.

For 2012 they have tweaked the Hillclimb by expanding to three days and offering the Vintage, Classic and Historic motoring fraternity their own day of action on the Hill. Classic Car Friday will exclusively feature pre-1974 vehicles and competitors and spectators are encouraged to attend in period dress.

Entertainment

The Knysna Speed Festival is not just about fast cars and performance. There is a wide variety of exciting entertainment available for festival fans as well.

The Knysna High School sports fields are going to be transformed into a carnival – with bands, DJ’s, dancers, carnival events and stalls selling food and drink. The concert on the Saturday night from 6pm will blow away the dust from the afternoon’s racing and get everyone rocking and rolling. Called the “Petrol Head Opskop”, the concert will feature a selection of bands and DJ’s to make sure you do not stop moving.

Need to Know

Dates: 11 – 20 May 2012
Venue: Various venues around Knysna
Speed Festival Programme
More info: http://www.speedfestival.co.za/

Knysna Accommodation

Portfolio offers the independent traveller a fine choice of luxury Knysna accommodation.

Try the Double Dutch B&B - a classic, contemporary guest house set on a slope in the tranquil residential area of Paradise in Knysna on the Garden Route, with sweeping views across the lagoon to the Knysna Heads.

Visit www.portfoliocollection.com

The Tooth Mouse of Muizenberg - A Children's Book for Adults

2012-05-15

In the 'making of' video clip below (created by Terry Westby-Nunn) Sybrandus relays how he heard the story of the Tooth Mouse from Muizenberg (muis is Afrikaans for mouse) as a small boy growing up in Cape Town.

Sybrandus pulled together a creative team to help make the tale into a beautifully illustrated children's book that adults will love - he wrote the story, it was illustrated in striking colourful images by LIza Grobler, designed by Tania Bester and published by Xavier Nagel, making this a truly home-grown project.

The story, which is written in both English and Afrikaans making it uniquely bi-lingual, follows Tando's adventures. Readers learn what the mouse does with the teeth and, just as important, are taught how important it is to look after your teeth.

There's teeth, drama, action, fears, dreams. And cats and mice! Because it's a children's book for adults.

"May the tooth be with you. And if not, may it be with Tando!"

Visit http://tandmuis.webs.com/ for more info or to buy the book.

Obamas to be given Freedom of the City of Cape Town

2012-05-15

According to the City of Cape Town, the Freedom of the City is the highest honour to be bestowed and is awarded to "any person of distinction; any person who has rendered eminent service to the city, or any military unit. A person upon whom the Freedom of the City has been conferred shall be known as an 'Honorary Freeman of the City' and a unit shall be recorded as having been granted the 'Freedom of the City'”.

Cape Town counts former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu among its living ‘Freemen” and now US president Barack Obama and his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, have been recommended to be awarded the Freedom of the City by Cape Town’s mayor Patricia De Lille.

De Lille explained in an interview on Cape Talk radio this morning that she hopes this move would encourage closer ties with some of the big US cities, and that it would raise awareness of Cape Town as a destination to the American market.

Michelle Obama visited South Africa in 2011 as part of an African outreach.

Explore the Cape with SANParks' 20% Winter Discount

2012-05-15

I tend to moan about Cape Town’s winter as much as the next person.

Maybe more.

Ok, a lot more.

But even though I dread the long dark cold rainy days, when the leaves turn and Newlands is ablaze with autumnal colour, and even once real winter arrives, I remember what I always forget – that Cape Town has some pretty gorgeous weather even when summer is just a distant memory.

Today for example is chilly, but the sun is shining out of a bright blue sky, birds are singing and the day is begging me to step outside and breathe in the crisp clear air.

What better way to enjoy these golden days that intersperse the real deep winter rainy days than to get outdoors?

And luckily for those in the Cape, SANParks is helping to entice you into our beautiful piece of the planet with their 20% winter discount rate which gets you into many wonderful national parks for walks or even weekends (not applicable on public holidays or during the school holiday 22 June – 16 July).

Some of the places you may wish to explore are the wildly wonderful Agulhas National Park (Southernmost tip of Africa), the blissfully beautiful Bontebok National Park, the famously wonderful Table Mountain National Park, the hauntingly desolateTankwa Karoo National Park and the restful, rugged West Coast National Park.

Hiking, birding, caving, kayaking, rock climbing, photography, moutain biking - the list of activities to enjoy is limitless!

The Cape is truly diverse and winter is an excellent time to experience all its untamed beauty, when the summer crowds are hibernating and you get the silence and space to yourselves.

Terms and conditions do apply – to find out more visit http://www.sanparks.org/

Western Cape accommodation

Explore the Cape then snuggle up in front of a log fire in a luxury guest house or cosy B&B with Portfolio Collection.

We offer a selection of places to stay throughout the Western Cape.

Go to www.portfoliocollection.com

Kids Stay FREE at Samara in July 2012

2012-05-14

And they won't have a moment to complain of boredom - there's too much to keep them busy!

the children’s play area
ping pong
tennis
camouflage face painting
treasure hunts
bumble game drives

These are but a few of the wonders awaiting children at Samara!

ABOUT SAMARA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Samara Private Game Reserve in Graaff-Reinet, in the Groot Karoo, offers prestigious, luxurious South African safari accommodation in an unspoiled corner of the Eastern Cape.

Fine dining, on-site spa facilities and game drives are all available.

For reservations and information contact Portfolio Collection or visit www.portfoliocollection.com

BOOK NOW ONLINE

Cable Car Plan for Drakensberg

2012-05-14

Should this become a reality it would offer a cable way experience to rival that of Table Mountain's. The plan, still in embryonic stage, would be for the summit station to be in Lesotho. The cable length would be 3km in length - three times the height of Table Mountain's cableway.

While this would be exciting for KZN's tourism, the location of the cable car adjacent to a World Heritage Site is bound to draw negative comments from environmental groups.

Full article on IOL.co.za

We'll be keeping a keen eye on developments around this story.

Meanwhile - what do you think? Are you for the Drakensberg Cable Car? Or against?

Comments below!

Drakensberg Accommodation

Portfolio Collection offers a handpicked selection of luxury Drakensberg accommodation options.

One of these is Montusi Mountain Lodge

Montusi Mountain Lodge is an exclusive guest lodge in the northern Drakensberg mountains of Kwazulu Natal, a World Heritage Site, offering superb views of the magnificent Drakensberg Amphitheatre from each of the individual garden suites.

Relax in peace and tranquillity. Hike or horse ride in the mountains, swim, play tennis, enjoy birding and fly-fishing. Swing on the flying trapeze at the Adventure Centre nearby.

Enjoy superb cuisine and delicious home-made bread. Personalised service from friendly staff make this owner-run lodge a delight.

Visit www.portfoliocollection.com

Portfolio in the Press at Indaba 2012

2012-05-14

The Heath Nash designed eco-friendly stand featuring #hotnakedguy aka Mr Delivery was one of the most talked about and most visited stands at the weekend.

Our blue branding with the new logo is everywhere.

The consultants are getting lots of very positive response from establishment owners who are all loving our fresh and fun new vibe this year.

Our new guidebook is being snapped up!

If you're at Indaba and you haven't popped in at our stand yet, come say hi!

SA Tourism and Moja Heritage Speed Marketing at Indaba 2012

2012-05-14

South African Tourism together with Moja Heritage Collection is hosting an innovative speed marketing event for 200 invited international tour operators.

Twenty-five key heritage speakers will each have just a few minutes to speak in a 'speed dating' style format, with SA music legend Johnny Clegg as a special guest.

It looks set to be an invigorating session and Indaba is causing quite a buzz around the stands today!

Follow @mojaheritage on Twitter and like Moja Heritage Collection on Facebook for pics and updates of the event.

About Moja Heritage Collection

Moja Heritage Collection makes the ideal companion to Portfolio Collection's website and guidebook. Once you've booked your charming, luxurious accommodation through Portfolio you can use the Moja Heritage Collection book or website to plan day trips and excursions to one of the many historical, natural and cultural attractions around the country.