Spectacled Weaver male (ploceus ocularis) Addo Elephant National Park
It almost
seems like the old times. Two wine functions to attend, protocols observed, of
course. There was no Platter launch last year, so this year’s event was very
special, but in the open air on a wine estate, rather than in the ballroom of
premium hotel. And the continuation of our road trip story; this week, it’s all
around our stay at Addo and visit to the Addo Elephant Park with photographs,
naturally. We’ve had lovely comments from readers up to this point, and we hope
you’ll enjoy these. Please click on the headlines, photographs and Read on…
Platter's SA Wine Guide 2022 Launch
The release
of the Platter Wine Guide is a much looked forward to event in our year. It is
our bible; we use it almost daily to check facts, get names, spelling and to
plan visits to wine farms. And, of course, to investigate wines we want to buy.
We always have one in the car and one on our desks. This year, we will now also
have the digital version on our computers and our phones. This is available on
the apps for iOS/Apple and Android, and on the website, www.wineonaplatter.com.
This year's launch of the latest 2022 edition, with its refreshed, sharp
corporate logo, was held at Kleine Zalze wine estate in Stellenbosch on a
lovely early summer afternoon and they were also to reveal the recipients of
its sought-after and esteemed pinnacle awards – the Wineries and Wines of the
Year. Read on…
John Collins' Trade wine tasting at Den Anker
It is trade
tastings like this that we have missed so much in the time of Covid. John
Collins usually holds his annual tasting at this popular Belgian restaurant in
the V&A Waterfront. and it was here again this year. The tasting tables
were well spaced out and people attending were well spaced apart. The list of
wine farms and producers that John represents is a fine one. Read on…
MENU visits the Karoo and the Garden Route 13. River
Front Estate, Addo
The trip
from Cradock to Addo was uneventful; the country is full of rolling hills
rather than mountains. The N10 national road is good, but we must have had to
pass at least 60 very large trucks and numerous smaller commercial vehicles on
the way. As you approach, driving south, you drive over a very high pass called
Olifantskop, which is apparently one of the most dangerous in South Africa -
because of the high number of commercial vehicles and the sharp hairpin bends.
The views from the top are magnificent and we understand that, on a good day,
you can see the sea. We went up it very slowly, following trucks. Many of them
are double-trailered ore trucks going to Port Elizabeth. They would have gone
by train in the past but, apparently, Prasa, which runs the SA railways
(incompetently), is not working with the mining companies, so our roads are
flooded with these trucks. We arrived at River Front Estate at 12.30. Read on…
MENU visits the Karoo and the Garden Route 14. Addo Elephant
National Park
We took so
many photographs during our three days in Addo that it would be impossible to
show them all and it would also test your patience. If you are interested,
there are more photographs at https://johnduncanford.picfair.com.
Our hostess at River Front Estate, Lisa Ferreira, told us about a back entrance
to the park, just across the road. However, once we were in the park, a ranger
told us that it was an illegal entry point. It is actually an access road for
traffic to the other side of the park and they log your car in as you enter and
then out again on the other side. So we needed to go to the main gate and
register with our Wild Card. Read on…
MENU visits the Karoo and the Garden Route 15. Supper at
the Cattle Baron, Addo
On our last night in Addo we fancied spoiling ourselves with dinner out. We had heard very good things about the Cattle Baron at the main camp, so we made a booking for 6.30. The game area of the park closes at 6, but the area enclosing the accommodation, the shop and restaurant is still accessible until the park's gate closes at 8.30 pm. Read on…
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