Homeleigh Halt Guest House

Posts Tagged ‘Eastern Cape’

 When:  27 & 28 February 2010          Venue:  Cuyler Hofstede Farm  
 
16 tonnes of bristling fruit makes this a prime prickly pageant! But this spiky little Mexican fruit hasn’t always had a smooth history in South Africa.

Initially introduced as fodder for stock and hedging, these fruity fellas thrived under the South African sun and went forth and multiplied. So much so, that in 1937 the Eastern Cape Agricultural Board declared the crop an ‘alien undesirable’ that had to be erradicated. Half a century later there was an about turn and now the prickly ‘cactus pear’ or ‘Indian fig’ enjoys a legitimate crop status.

 In 1987 the Cuyler Manor Museum held the first Prickly Pear Festival and attendance has grown to over 15 000 visitors. Today the Uitenhage Museum (comprising Drostdy Museum, Old Railway Station Museum and the Cuyler Manor Museum) is also the only institution with a licence to distill raw spirit from the prickly pear.

This fun family festival is usually held in late February or early March at Cuyler Hofstede farm near Uitenhage, just outside of Port Elizabeth (The Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Bay).

Kids will find plenty of cool things to do.

Grumbling tummies won’t go hungry and you will be spoilt for choice with an array of yummy traditional food such as ginger beer, pancakes, potjiekos, home-made jam, a spit braai and fish braai, bunnychow and home-made puddings on offer.

Of course the star of the show features as a prime ingredient and you can buy all manor of ‘pear products’ ranging from pickles and jams to prickly pear witblits, the local moonshine distilled in 19th Century copper stills.

Port Elizabeth’s rich cultural heritage guarantees history lovers a unique insight into the Eastern Cape’s and the Metro’s diverse and remarkable past.
The nomadic San were the earliest group of indigenous people known to live in the Eastern Cape. The Khoi displaced the San into the mountains and semi-desert, early in the second millennium AD. The forefathers of the Xhosa speaking people arrived on the banks of the Kei River in about 800AD.
While on his epic voyage of discovery searching for a sea route to the East, the Portuguese, Bartolomeu Dias, rounded the “Cabo da Roca” in February 1488 and entered “Baia da Roca” – Cape and Bay of the Rock (now Cape Recife and Algoa Bay). Dias also gave the name “Ilheus Chaos” (Flat Islands) to the Bird Islands. In 1497, Vasco da Gama, successor to Dias, entered Algoa Bay and noted the Bird Islands on his voyage to India. His charts gave Cape Recife it’s name – “Cabo do Arricife” – Cape of the Reef. The “Bay” was later named “Baia de Lagoa”, by navigator and cartographer Manuel de Mesquita Perestrelo in 1576, which referred to the lagoon situated at the mouth of the Baakens River.

By the middle of the 18th century, the number of ships passing the “Bay” had increased and occasionally survivors of the shipwrecks were given hospitality by Dutch Trekboers (farmers) who had trekked from the Cape in search of good farmland.

 At the end of 1799 the English, fearing that the French would render military assistance to the Graaff Reinet rebels, decided to construct Fort Frederick, overlooking the mouth of the Baakens River as a permanent military post.
4 000 British Settlers arrived by sea in 1820, to become the first permanent British residents in the Albany District. On 6 June 1820, Sir Rufane Donkin, Acting Governor of the Cape Colony at the time, named the new sea port in memory of his late wife, Elizabeth.
Before the up-country gold and diamond booms, PE developed as one of the major commercial cities in SA, trading in wool, mohair and ostrich feathers. As a result, the harbour became a bustling port. People traveled to the city in search of trade and labour opportunities.

Early Port Elizabeth was characterized by the settlement of European, Cape Malay and immigrant communities. The diverse community lived together according to economic and social status, rather than on an ethnic basis. Some folk were already residing in New Brighton since 1903. However, when the Group Areas Act was legislated in 1960, this resulted in forced relocation under the “apartheid law” among the non-white population and the so-called townships came into being.
Port Elizabeth was the first city in SA to establish a fully integrated, democratic local authority and has long been a leader in the political transformation of the country.

 Presently, Port Elizabeth is fondly referred to as “Ibhayi” by Xhosa speakers, “Die Baai” by Afrikaners and “The Bay” by English speakers.

Port Elizabeth Opera House: Fostering a love of the performing arts.

The Opera House is the oldest theatre on the continent of Africa and the Southern Hemisphere.

This special piece of World History is right here in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province.

The P.E. Dramatic Society was formed in the 1840’s .

On 6 June 1860 land was granted to “P.E. Dramatic Amateurs” on condition a theatre was erected.

The Theatre remains active and locals and visitors are often able to visit the theatre for a grand performance.

We at Homeleigh Halt Guest House can strongly recommend an outing to the annual Bedford Garden and Flower Festival, and can recommend a good 5 day tour at a reasonable price.

Join Deon Spies from Aloe-Drift Safaris on a magnificent well organised and well informed tour, guaranteed to scintillate the senses.

This magnificent tour is being offered at a very special price…..per person sharing. Please contact us for more details.

Combine this with a Homeleigh Halt special and you have yourself a dream holiday at an affordable price.

Spend a few days in Port Elizabeth with us at Homeleigh Halt, taking in the sights, and sounds of surf and turf. Go on an ocean safari or a Wednesday evening sail with the ABYC. We know someone who can arrange a social Wednesday sail for you! Weather permitting.

Take a day trip to the Addo Elephant  National Park .

BEDFORD – Eastern Cape Province

The charming, picturesque Settler village of Bedford, cradled at the foot of the Kagaberg and regarded as the “jewel” of the Eastern Cape will again be opening its beautiful gardens to the public during its annual Garden Festival.
The Country Fair with the various stall of Deli items, biltong, gardenalia, bath & body and culinary products, hand-crafted gifts, jewellery, fresh produce, potted lavenders and other herbs as well as loads of interesting and delicious goodies are just some of the items that will be on sale.
Mix with the locals over a traditional braai and a cold beer or glass of wine. Teas & Coffees with a range of cakes will also be available.

View fine art of wild-life artist Frans Mulder in the stables at De Kleine Maastrom and local artist David Khoury at the Art & Craft Gallery in town.

Bedford is renowned for its beautiful heritage roses. For the avid gardener, there will a wide variety of Heritage Rose cultivars available for purchas such as Mutabalis – with its multi-coloured pink to apricot flowers and the dark pink Zepherine Drouhin.

For historical buffs, there’s a wealth of history to explore in the area. The churches and many of the buildings and houses are wonderful examples of early architecture.

Spring comes early to this area of the Eastern Cape and October is the prime month for viewing the unique landscaping and the wonderfully-picturesque settings of the extensive farm and town gardens. Visitors can stroll through masses of roses, daylilies, hydrangeas and hellebores and other plant varieties or wander across emerald green lawns to discover some hidden garden treasure – a water feature or a fascinating plant. There are more than 24 splendid town and farm gardens to choose from.

Every year, between the months of May and July, many millions of silvery sardines travel north from the cold southern oceans off South Africa’s Cape Point, hugging the shore as they make their way up along the coastlines of the former Transkei (northern Eastern Cape) and KwaZulu-Natal in what is commonly known as the annual Sardine Run.
After experiencing the incredible Sardine Run, extend your stay and enjoy an african safari in a malaria free environment. The Eastern Cape boasts the most concentrated elephant reserve in Africa. Home to a herd of 300 elephants, the ‘Addo Elephant National Park’ allows close quarter viewing. There are also black rhino, buffalo, eland, Kudu and other antelope species. More than 170 species of birds have been identified. Shamwari, a privately owned, luxury game reserve boasts the “big five”. Whether at the exclusive Shamwari Game Reserve, the large Addo Elephant Park or the Mountain Zebra National Parks, the East Cape offers unequalled game viewing in conditions suited to the traveler.

Homeleigh Halt Guest House staff will arrange a custom designed tour to meet your specific interests with Alan.

Alan does tours throughout the Eastern Cape Province and also offers superb drives,starting from short  2 hour trips.

Experience the Cape Recife Nature reserve where you can spot the beautiful little Grysbok or learn more about the unique fynbos in the area.

Alan also offers additional activities:

• Walk the Grysbok trail or the coastal lighthouse route.
• Bird watching at Cape Recife point and bird hide
• Join an interpretive walk through the intertidal zone.
• Explore the cultural remains of the ancient Khoenkhoen (Men of Men) in the dune fields.
• Visit the Red Location Museum of struggle.