my views

It’s become something of a family tradition to venture to Klondyke Cherry Farm in Ceres towards the end of the year for a family day out. We’ve been doing the annual trip for the last five years, mostly because my mother is crazy about cherries. Usually there is a lot of moaning (from a certain brother) because it entails an early morning start, a two-hour plus drive and some prep needed beforehand. But it is an enjoyable outing with the drive down the N1, through the Huguenot Tunnel and then the most scenic views while you are dwarfed by the majestic mountain ranges.  The road meanders next to the Breede River, which was quite dry this time of year. Because I have a huge family, we met at the Engen One Stop on the N1 so we could drive in convoy to the farm. Am I in cherry heaven? The view from the orchard How much does it cost? Klondyke offers a R10 discount per person if you arrive before 10am. Thereafter, the entry fee is R30 per person, R15 per child under 10 and

Most people who know or follow me on Insta , are aware that most of my Sundays (sometimes Saturdays) are spent in Silvermine Nature Reserve , which is part of the Sanparks Table Mountain National Park. Where is Silvermine Nature Reserve? If you are travelling on the M3 towards Muizenberg, you turn right at the end of the road to take Ou Kaapse Weg on the way to Noordhoek. As you ascend the incline, the road will take a sharp right and Silvermine Nature Reserve Gate 1 is on the right hand side. If you are somewhat puzzled by my directions, just Google Maps it! How much does it cost? There is an entrance fee of R35 per adult and R15 per child. If you have a four-legged, furry friend, they charge R70 for the dog and an accompanying adult. Waleed and I used to pay these fees weekly, until we got a couples' Wildcard (which provides unlimited entries into any of the parks or reserves) and a My Activity Permit for Kygo (this allows him into certain parks, reserves and beaches). Fo

Beaten but not Broken by Vanessa Govender I voraciously consumed Vanessa Govender’s story ‘Beaten but not Broken’. I hung onto her every word. Vanessa is an amazing storyteller, a journalist by profession, (you will probably remember her as the eTV news reporter). Her story is well-written, eloquently articulated and she weaves the intricate tale with such detail that it transports you to that place and memory, where you feel what she felt and experience her hurt, heartbreak, disappointment and longing for love and acceptance. I saw the book on my friend, Kim Langley’s Instagram post and she offered to borrow it to me. When she handed me the book, I asked her if it was going to bring me down. If it was difficult to read about Vanessa’s experiences even though I had no idea what the book was about. Kim assured me that it would not.  The title alludes to one of abuse but it also speaks to the strength of the human spirit and our innate ability to survive and even thrive.  This is

If you are anything like me, you love a good deal and it’s even better when you get something for free. I also love the allure of the mountain, as you can probably tell from my Gram posts, and during my recent staycation there was a combination of all of these things.  For this trip we substituted our hiking boots for cable car tickets and what made it even sweeter was that my niece and nephew received a free ride.  It’s Kidz Season at Table Mountain Aerial Cableway but hurry because the promotion ends on 24 September 2018 . With one adult return ticket purchased for R250, two kids travel free. They even get vouchers to collect free candy from the shop when you get to the top.  You can check their rates and whether they are open on their website . On the ride up we could see so many Proteas on the face of the mountain.  The mountain is never the same every day, because of the weather, but the 7th wonder of nature is still worth experiencing. The kids were real

Are you always looking for interesting places to go to, new things to try, ways to entertain the kids and some fun for the entire family? Well the Cape Town Ostrich Ranch  might be just the answer. It is about a 20 minute, scenic drive from Cape Town down the N7 to a place called Philadelphia. The ranch offers the most gorgeous views of rolling green hills where it feels like time slows down. Their claim to fame is that they house the world’s smallest ostrich, Tom Thumb, who made it into the Guinness World Records. You can meet Tom Thumb and even feed him if you go on the guided tour. Tom Thumb - the world's smallest ostrich The tour provides great facts about ostriches, some of which are that they are obsessed with shiny objects, they eat stones which help with digestion, they can run about 70 kilometres per hour, the male has black feathers, while the females are a dull grey and their eyeballs weigh more than their brains. Enjoying a guided tour