Hailing International Year of Biodiversity with an 18-day hike

The fourth annual Eden to Addo Great Corridor Hike kicked off last week, when 24 adventurers set off to complete the 400km trek from Knysna’s coastal forests all the way to Addo Elephant National Park

PLETTENBERG Bay locals - from the guides to the back-up team, Wittedrift-based Bhejane 4x4 Adventures - are responsible for the unique Eden to Addo hiking adventure that is becoming renowned across the country as a must-do experience for any serious hiker.
The Eden to Addo Great Corridor Hike is an appealing route for those interested in long-distance trekking, a sport that continues to grow in popularity. As testament to the life-altering effect offered by a hike of this nature, this year sees four previous hikers repeating the 400km trek, all admitting that once experienced it’s hard to resist doing so again.
Last Friday (Sept 3) the group set off from Harkerville Forest along the edge of the Indian Ocean between Knysna and Ple...

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In harmony with nature through permaculture

A recent gathering at Home Hill Farm in Plettenberg Bay formed the first of many planned Permaculture Fairs, with committed greenies devoting two days to learning the practical and theoretical benefits of a permaculture lifestyle.
Organised by Plett locals Brett Garvie and Joy Harrow, the event consisted of talks and demonstrations by some of South Africa’s leading permaculture experts, who travelled to Plett from Cape Town, Baviaanskloof’s Terrapi Community, and Berg-en-Dal Permaculture Eco Village in the Little Karoo.
The day’s events covered practical permaculture methods, green food cooking, planting and applying permaculture to enhance one’s life and home, as well as the spiritual understanding needed to live this way of life.
Says Joy Harrow: “The intention of the Fair was to interconnect people and to inspire individuals to get into action. By working together we have the power to make a massive impact on the world by changing the...

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Author: Melissa van den Heever

Knysna highlights biodiversity this Tourism Month

NOT only does September herald the arrival of spring, it is also International Tourism Month and Knysna Tourism has developed an exciting programme of events to celebrate this keystone of the local economy.
“The extensive programme includes a branding in tourism presentation, an electronic marketing presentation, a talk on tourism trends, a homestay workshop and an SMME showcase,” said Knysna Tourism CEO Shaun van Eck. “Community events form an integral part of the programme and we are also utilising Tourism Month to optimise our ‘Changing Lives’ initiative.
“As part of this initiative a survey was conducted among local SMMEs to establish their needs and identify specific requirements to the development of their enterprises,” explained Van Eck. “Members have already pledged items such as gas and electric stoves, beds and lounge suites, and items such as sheets, pillows and duvets are on the wish list. Any member of the public...

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A stove that could save the world

WHEN it comes to any form of experiment that may possibly lead to eating, I'm your man.
So, naturally, I responded in the affirmative when I received an email offering a StoveTec wood stove for me to test.
A week later, I collected a green box at the post office. Keen to start cooking a lekker potjie, I noted that this neat little cooker is intended for the rural, low-income market but works just as well when camping - which is perfect, seeing that the recession has reduced most of us to low-income earning cave dwellers in a feverish search of cost-effective tools to guarantee the energy needed to live and work another day...
The beauty is that with minimal fuel - a couple of sticks of wood - you can cook a meal on this eco-friendly device, preventing the risk of running out of gas when camping, and doing away with the guilty conscience of leaving your carbon footprint all over the place.
While building my potjie, I learned that the secret to this stove is to ge...

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Author: Watty Watson