Latest News - December 2019
Clifton Beach, Cape Town
Just as Americans are recovering from the indulgences of Thanksgiving and unpacking their winter woollies in preparation for a cold December, the exact opposite is happening in South Africa. The seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres are of course reversed, so it is this time of the year when most South Africans take their annual summer vacation.
Gauteng is the smallest but most populous province of the country, and both Johannesburg, the largest city, and Pretoria, the executive capital, are located here. The province is situated on the "Highveld", an inland plateau with an average height of about 1600 meters (5250 feet) above sea level, and both cities are at least 350 miles away from the nearest coastline. Many businesses shut down or revert to skeleton staff for the vacation season, and then begins a lemming-like migration of millions of people to one of the coastal cities or vacation resorts.
Locals on the coast have a slightly derogatory term for these visitors - they refer to them as "Vaalies". The word has a double meaning. Gauteng used to be called Transvaal, so the name is a shortened version of this. But "vaal" is also the Afrikaans word for "pale", and, as the Gautengers would not have been able to spend any time in the sun prior to their vacation, it is also a reference to their untanned skin.
Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth are all popular destinations, as are many of the smaller towns on the coast like Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and Mossel Bay. But it is mainly Cape Town that staggers under a huge influx of these visitors. Most of South Africa receives summer rainfall, but the area around the Cape gets its rain in winter. This means that the weather is usually perfect and, because Cape Town is located at a very southerly latitude, there are at least 16 hours of daylight, therefore providing ideal conditions for an idyllic summer vacation.
So as Americans sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings, most South Africans will be having a "braai" (barbecue) on the beach. It might sound a little strange to you, but it is completely normal for the Saffers!
As we approach the end of the year, Close Encounters would like to wish all of our readers, past guests, friends and hopefully future tourers a very merry and safe festive season. The gift of love. The gift of peace. The gift of happiness. May all of these be yours over the holidays, and for all the days to come.
Gauteng is the smallest but most populous province of the country, and both Johannesburg, the largest city, and Pretoria, the executive capital, are located here. The province is situated on the "Highveld", an inland plateau with an average height of about 1600 meters (5250 feet) above sea level, and both cities are at least 350 miles away from the nearest coastline. Many businesses shut down or revert to skeleton staff for the vacation season, and then begins a lemming-like migration of millions of people to one of the coastal cities or vacation resorts.
Locals on the coast have a slightly derogatory term for these visitors - they refer to them as "Vaalies". The word has a double meaning. Gauteng used to be called Transvaal, so the name is a shortened version of this. But "vaal" is also the Afrikaans word for "pale", and, as the Gautengers would not have been able to spend any time in the sun prior to their vacation, it is also a reference to their untanned skin.
Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth are all popular destinations, as are many of the smaller towns on the coast like Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and Mossel Bay. But it is mainly Cape Town that staggers under a huge influx of these visitors. Most of South Africa receives summer rainfall, but the area around the Cape gets its rain in winter. This means that the weather is usually perfect and, because Cape Town is located at a very southerly latitude, there are at least 16 hours of daylight, therefore providing ideal conditions for an idyllic summer vacation.
So as Americans sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings, most South Africans will be having a "braai" (barbecue) on the beach. It might sound a little strange to you, but it is completely normal for the Saffers!
As we approach the end of the year, Close Encounters would like to wish all of our readers, past guests, friends and hopefully future tourers a very merry and safe festive season. The gift of love. The gift of peace. The gift of happiness. May all of these be yours over the holidays, and for all the days to come.
Upcoming tours
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South African Soul
June 16 - 29, 2020 Only 8 spots open! The trip starts off with a tour to Soweto, then moves on to the incredible Walkers River Camp in the Timbavati, where the group will spend 5 nights at this game viewing paradise. This is followed by 3 days of fun and adventure on the Panorama Route, a stopover in Dullstroom, and then 3 more days among the spectacular sandstone cliffs, caves and buttresses of Clarens and the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Because of demand, we have scheduled this brand-new tour. Grab this opportunity to get one of the spots before they are all taken. You will not be disappointed! Click here to get more information. |
Focus on conservation
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Ban on sending wild elephants to zoos a step closer
The regulator of global wildlife trade will likely ban sending African elephants captured from the wild to zoos after many countries supported the move in what conservationists have hailed as a "historic win". A large majority of countries voted in Geneva to prohibit the transfer of elephants caught in the wild to so-called captive facilities - a practice animal protection groups have long described as "cruel". The vote was the first rendered during a 12-day meeting of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which kicked off with thousands of conservationists and policymakers from more than 180 countries in attendance. With 46 in favor, 18 against and 19 abstaining, the vote cast in one of two committees secured the two-thirds majority needed to pass, but will still need to be approved by the full conference. |
"This decision will save countless elephants from being ripped away from their families in the wild and forced to spend their lifetimes imprisoned in substandard conditions at zoos," Iris Ho, a senior wildlife specialist with Humane Society International (HSI), said in a statement.
Specifically, the countries voted to limit trade in live wild African elephants only to conservation in their natural habitats, effectively ending the practice of capturing elephants and sending them to zoos and entertainment venues around the world.
While elephants in western, central and eastern Africa have long been listed among the species in need of most protection under CITES, and thus banned from all trade, some trade has been permitted in southern Africa, where elephant populations are healthier.
Zimbabwe has for instance captured and exported more than 100 baby elephants to Chinese zoos since 2012, according to HSI.
"The preliminary decision is a remarkable recognition that elephants don't belong in the entertainment industry," Cassandra Koenen, who heads the wildlife division at World Animal Protection, said in a statement.
"It's a huge step in the right direction."
Specifically, the countries voted to limit trade in live wild African elephants only to conservation in their natural habitats, effectively ending the practice of capturing elephants and sending them to zoos and entertainment venues around the world.
While elephants in western, central and eastern Africa have long been listed among the species in need of most protection under CITES, and thus banned from all trade, some trade has been permitted in southern Africa, where elephant populations are healthier.
Zimbabwe has for instance captured and exported more than 100 baby elephants to Chinese zoos since 2012, according to HSI.
"The preliminary decision is a remarkable recognition that elephants don't belong in the entertainment industry," Cassandra Koenen, who heads the wildlife division at World Animal Protection, said in a statement.
"It's a huge step in the right direction."
Folklore & legends: Able Seaman Just Nuisance
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Simon’s Town, situated on the western shore of False Bay, is a quaint Victorian naval town with a long and rich history. On the recommendation of Governor Simon van der Stel – after whom the town was named – it became a winter anchorage for the vessels of the Dutch East India Company from 1741. Soon after the second British occupation of the Cape, in 1806, the Royal Navy established a naval base in Simon’s Town, and it was the headquarters of the South Atlantic Squadron until 1957, when the base was turned over to the South African Navy.
One particularly well-known – and rather unconventional – member of the Royal Navy was a Great Dane called Just Nuisance, who was enlisted and stationed at the Simon’s Town naval base during the early 1940s. His owner worked with navy personnel, and the sailors often gave the dog tasty morsels and took him for walks. Nuisance recognized the sailors by their uniforms, and regarded every sailor as his best friend. He accompanied the seamen wherever they went, even on train rides to Cape Town. |
This did not sit well with railway officials, especially when Nuisance tried to convince them by standing up with his front paws on their shoulders and growling in their faces. Many people offered to pay his fares, but the railway gave Nuisance’s owner an ultimatum; keep him off the trains, or he will be put down. After some consideration, senior officers decided to enlist Nuisance into the Royal Navy, because this would entitle him to free and unlimited train travel. He was given the Christian name of “Just”, declared fit for active service after passing a medical exam, and he signed his enlistment papers with a paw print.
After a short while, Just Nuisance was promoted from Ordinary Seaman to Able Seaman. The friendly Great Dane proved to be an adored mascot and morale booster, a symbol of feistiness, loyalty and independence. Just Nuisance lived a full life, although a relatively short one. Great Danes do not live for a long time, and a car accident left him suffering from a thrombosis, which slowly paralyzed him. Just Nuisance was discharged from the navy on 1 January 1944, and on 1 April 1944 – his seventh birthday – he was put to sleep by a naval surgeon in the Simon’s Town Naval Hospital.
The following day his canvas-wrapped body, draped with the White Ensign, was laid to rest with full military honors at Klaver Camp on top of Red Hill. A simple granite gravestone marks his final resting place. Today, the legend of Just Nuisance lives on; there is a bronze statue of the dog on Jubilee Square in Simon’s Town, and all of his official papers, his collar and many photographs of him are on display in the Simon’s Town Museum.
After a short while, Just Nuisance was promoted from Ordinary Seaman to Able Seaman. The friendly Great Dane proved to be an adored mascot and morale booster, a symbol of feistiness, loyalty and independence. Just Nuisance lived a full life, although a relatively short one. Great Danes do not live for a long time, and a car accident left him suffering from a thrombosis, which slowly paralyzed him. Just Nuisance was discharged from the navy on 1 January 1944, and on 1 April 1944 – his seventh birthday – he was put to sleep by a naval surgeon in the Simon’s Town Naval Hospital.
The following day his canvas-wrapped body, draped with the White Ensign, was laid to rest with full military honors at Klaver Camp on top of Red Hill. A simple granite gravestone marks his final resting place. Today, the legend of Just Nuisance lives on; there is a bronze statue of the dog on Jubilee Square in Simon’s Town, and all of his official papers, his collar and many photographs of him are on display in the Simon’s Town Museum.
Destinations
God's Window
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Graskop (the name means “Grassy Hill”) is a stunning little town located in the heart of what is known as the Panorama Route in South Africa. Originally established back in the 1880s as a supply base for the numerous gold mining activities in the area at the time, the town has evolved into a tourist mecca, and has become renowned in particular for the many wonderful scenic attractions in the vicinity.
Top viewsites such as God’s Window, Wonder View, Pinnacle Rock and the Blyde River Canyon are all located within a few minutes’ drive from the town. The world-famous Bourke’s Luck Potholes are also in the area, as are a number of beautiful waterfalls such as Lisbon Falls and Berlin Falls. Situated close by is Pilgrim’s Rest, a historic mining town that was fully restored and declared a national monument in 1986. |
For the more adventurous traveler, there are a host of exciting activities on offer in and around the town. These include numerous hiking trails and walks, white-water rafting, mountain biking, quad trails and horse riding. One of the latest attractions in the village is the Graskop Gorge Lift, a 55-meter (180 feet) glass elevator which allows visitors to descend into a dense riverine forest located within a narrow ravine. Wooden walkways, carefully designed to blend into the natural environment, allow comfortable and easy access along the valley floor, providing not only a tranquil setting but also excellent bird-watching opportunities. For the adrenaline junkies, a bungy swing and a zipline are also operated from the same complex.
The town has a huge range of accommodation options, from hotels, guest farms and B&Bs to basic wooden cabins. The restaurants and eateries are sometimes a little quirky, but there is more than enough variety to cater to everyone’s taste. Surrounded by mountains and forests, and located right in the center of this beautiful corner of the country, Graskop provides an excellent and convenient base to explore everything that this magnificent area has to offer.
The town has a huge range of accommodation options, from hotels, guest farms and B&Bs to basic wooden cabins. The restaurants and eateries are sometimes a little quirky, but there is more than enough variety to cater to everyone’s taste. Surrounded by mountains and forests, and located right in the center of this beautiful corner of the country, Graskop provides an excellent and convenient base to explore everything that this magnificent area has to offer.
Creature Corner
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Common Name: Ground Pangolin
Identification: Covered in large, brown, overlapping scales. Small head. Heavy hindquarters and tail. Small forelegs. Cannot be confused with any other species. Weight: Males +/- 12 kg (26 lbs), females +/- 12 kg (26 lbs) Gestation: 4-5 months Young: Single young Habitat: Open grassland, woodland and rocky hills, but excluding forests and deserts. Diet: Only eats certain species of ants and termites. Red List Status: Endangered |
As a group, Pangolins are reported to be the most trafficked animal on earth. Their scales are boiled off the body and used for traditional medicines, their meat is sold as a high-end delicacy in China and Vietnam, and their blood is thought to be a healing tonic. A conservative estimate of Pangolins killed each year is 10,000, but the actual number is believed to be much closer to 100,000. It is unknown how many are left in the wild.
Feather Feature
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Common Name: African Fish Eagle
Binomial Name: Haliaeetus vocifer Status: Locally common resident Red List Status: Least Concern The African Fish Eagle is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. It is the national bird of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Sudan. It bears a striking resemblance to its cousin in the USA, the Bald Eagle, except for its white chest. The African Fish Eagle has a very distinctive call which is, for many, evocative of the spirit or essence of Africa. To hear what it sounds like, click the play button on the link below: - |
Did you know?
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Africa has always been known as the Dark Continent, and that is literally true – on moonless nights, some of the darkest places on earth are located in the region. Certain areas of the Karoo and the Kalahari can register as high as 21.9 on the Sky Quality Meter (SQM) scale of darkness, where 22 is the maximum number. This, together with the absence of natural atmospheric and man-made pollution, has made these areas some of the best stargazing sites on the planet.
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Words of wisdom
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven't spent the night with a mosquito” – African proverb
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