Thanks to Faroeshka Rodger, the Conservation Manager (On-site) for the Kogelberg Nature Reserve Complex, for updating us on aspects of their work at Stony Point. She previously worked for SANParks at Boulders Beach, so she has many years of experience at an African...
A curious visitor to Shelly Beach I dared myself to swim in the icy waters of Shelley Beach on Tuesday 24 March and was happily surprised to find a very small dried Shortspined porcupinefish (Diodon liturosus) which someone had obviously picked up and placed on a rock...
What a beautiful documentary! It gives up a glimpse into these remarkable birds and what they endure during a breeding season. Van As and Jacques Jordaan, oupa en kleinkind, treated us to a screening of their incredible documentary on the Black oystercatchers, or...
During my time of editing articles from contributors and proofreading for the book, one of the many things that stood out for me in the stories from the earlier days of Betty’s Bay was the freedom, fun and delight the kids had playing between the mountains and sea....
Few places on earth possess the rare ability to shape not only ecosystems, but also the very contours of a human life. For me, the Kogelberg Biosphere is such a place. Having had the privilege of serving for many years as Chairperson of the UNESCO-designated Kogelberg...
The first time I snorkeled at Betty’s Bay, I went looking for kreef and alikreukel, while my father-in-law was spearfishing. While I was immersed in the kelp, the sunrays filtered through the bamboes, dappled the rocks at the bottom, and it resembled a forest floor. ...
During an iNaturalist vegetation assessment that CREW conducted for a new owner on a recently purchased plot, we uncovered several old animal traps hidden beneath thick undergrowth. The discovery is a cause for concern as our wildlife in the Kogelberg Biosphere is...
Thirty-one volunteers congregated on an overcast and cool day at the St Francis of Assisi Anglican Chapel to remove liens along the verges of Porter Drive. This was a continuation of the February hack, starting at the White Road intersection and ending up on the bend...
Temperatures this past week (Week 11) have peaked at 35˚C in Betty’s Bay which is exceptionally hot for a coastal town anywhere in South Africa. I am reminded of how tough and resilient fynbos is because the plants have coped in this heat better than humans and their...
Many drivers may wince as they speed past the carcass of an antelope, porcupine or owl on the side of a busy road, but few pause to consider why roadkill is such a growing problem on our roads— or realize just how much it’s on the rise across South Africa. Most...