my views

Deer Park is situated just below Tafelberg Road, on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. The selling point for this trail is that it offers all the spectacular views of Table Mountain, Devils Peak, Lions Head and the Cape Town CBD without any intense climbs.  It is great for dogs of all abilities, even puppies, as you can moderate your walk by doing a shorter loop.  Click here for a quick 360 degree view from the Deer Park trail. In winter, this trail is a wonderland with lots of flowing streams and pools – any water baby’s dream. Deer Park is part of the Table Mountain National Park and one of the richest fynbos-dense areas and part of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site.  Walking along the trails towards Devils Peak, you’ll see lots of Cape Sugarbushes, colouring the landscape you'll find lots bright pink and mellow yellow Proteas. These flowers attract the Cape Sugarbird and other bird varieties, who will serenade you as you pass by. It is also a birdwatcher’s ...

Life lessons we can all benefit from Hot off the press, ‘An Ode to My Mother-in-law, Winnie Serobe… a mentorship of love and honour’ written by Gloria Serobe launched on National Women’s Day (9 August 2023) in South Africa. This auspicious date also marks the 10th anniversary of Winnie Serobe’s passing. Gloria’s book reflects on her relationship with her mother-in-law, the lessons Mama Winnie imparted to her and how the application of these lessons has improved the lives of so many people that Mama Winnie has touched. Gloria credits a big part of her success to Mama Winnie’s networks that she exposed her to very early on in her career. And the lessons and learnings around caring for the community, lifting as your rise, the true meaning of living a life of service and asking the question, “Is what I’m doing good for all South Africans?”, is some of the things we can all apply in our daily lives.  In the book, Gloria reflects on her journey with the Serobe family, and they are nothin...

Sneaking in extra veggies and micro-nutrients Finding treats that are healthy, don’t break the calorie bank, are packed with nutrients and delicious too, sounds like a tall order. But it is within reach… This enrichment stuffing recipe was created with fussy eaters in mind, where you are able to sneak more veg and fruit into their diet and contains some great ingredients for dogs with allergies.   It is really simple to make and because you are freezing it, it can keep for a long time. Although I make a batch at least once a week. And I’m sure you will be too, because your dogs will love it. Ingredients 1kg pumpkin (can be substituted with butternut or sweet potato)  2 tablespoons of coconut oil (Coconut oil is good for a shiny coat, for allergies and itchy skin, boosts their immune, improves cognitive function and treats arthritis and ligament issues, according to Rover.com ). 4 tablespoons of peanut butter (a dog-friendly variety, preferably one that has no added sa...

A dog-friendly trail with the most spectacular views “There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them." - Jo Walton Sunset from Kloof Corner One of my favourite, short and sweet hikes to do is Kloof Corner. You shouldn’t underestimate the distance of the hike, which is only one kilometre from the start of the trail to the beacon, because it is quite a workout and will get your heart racing.  The plus side is that it is dog-friendly and has the most scenic views of Lions Head, the Camps Bay beach strip, the 12 Apostles and the city bowl from the viewing point at the beacon.  It is the perfect spot to catch an amazing sunrise or sunset. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous and want to do a longer hike, you can continue along the contour path, which has other routes that split off it like India Venster, Union Cave and even Platterklip Gorge.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Im...

If you want a more physically challenging hike for you and your dog, why not try Devil's Peak.  When looking at Table Mountain from the front (or in any iconic pic or illustration) the peak on the left is Devil's Peak before you see the flat tabletop and Lions Head and Signal Hill on the right.  How Devil's Peak got its name Devil's Peak is the Dutch translation of Duivels Kop. The Peak got its name from a legendary folk-tale. According to Ridgway Ramblers , Jan Van Hunks, a retired Dutch pirate who lived in Cape Town, would go to the mountain to smoke his pipe as his wife didn’t allow him to puff at home. One day while enjoying a pipe a stranger challenged him to a smoking duel. For several days they sat on the mountain and smoked and smoked until a huge cloud enveloped both of them and the peak upon which they were sitting. When the smoke cleared both old men were gone and it was realised that the second old man was the devil and in losing the smoking competition, Van...