my views

Arderne Gardens, in the Southern Suburbs, provides an exotic escape for anyone craving some fresh air and a walk in nature. The great news is that the Gardens is open under the National Lockdown Level 3 restrictions for walking and is dog-friendly, provided your pooch is on a lead.  Situated at 222 Main Road Claremont, just opposite the Life Kingsbury hospital, the Gardens is a national heritage site with a rich history dating back to 1845. While they are keeping the gates closed, it is not locked and you can push it open to go for your walk. With the current restrictions, they are limiting the number of people and there are security guards at the entrance to monitor this. You aren’t allowed to sit on any of the benches or picnic. I haven’t been to these gardens in years. The last time to be precise, was when I was part of my aunt’s bridal party and we took some photos there. It still remains a very popular spot for wedding photos. I was struck by the beauty of the gardens anew. It was

One of our absolute favourite walks to do with Kygo, our rottweiler, is Sea Point Promenade. The nice thing about this walk is that it is paved and fairly flat, making it suitable for all types of dogs and people of various fitness levels. You can decide which distance you’d like to do but the entire prom is about eight kilometres.  A beautiful day for a stroll The highlight of this walk is the stunning views of the Atlantic ocean and of Signal Hill, Table Mountain and Lions Head as you snake along the prom. We started our walk (just after 7am) opposite the Dolphin Inn on Beach Road, where the paved area starts. We walked all along the ocean, allowing Kygo to stop and sniff and say hi to any friends that came by.  The promenade was already brimming with people but everyone was wearing face masks and there’s enough room to practise social distancing.  What a blue Monday looks like Depending on the weather, this is a great walk to do any time of the day.  But if you want gorgeous pics I

With South Africa under national lockdown Level 3 to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the beaches and many recreational activities like picnicking, braaing and swimming are off limits. And while a dip in the ocean may not be permitted, a walk alongside it, smelling the fresh sea breeze and feeling the cool ocean spray is a great consolation.  Hike the Hoek van Bobbejaan Trail We hiked the Hoek van Bobbejaan Trail in Cape Point, which is part of the Table Mountain Nature Reserve. It is a circular route with an estimated hiking time of 3 hours.  The trail starts with a sharp, stair-like descent to the beach. There were many people foraging in the low tide for crayfish. This is allowed, provided you have a permit. We also saw quite a few people angling (fishing). We were fortunate that there was a bit of mist when we started (just after 8am) so it was nice and cool.  A misty morning Can you spot the diver? He's searching for crayfish Stunning ocean views As our hike continued, the

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