Posts Tagged ‘Eastern Cape’
Bedford Garden Festival 2009
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.
Sardine Run
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.
Alan Fogarty Tours and Holiday Services
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.


