I was fortunate to have been invited to the East Coast Radio Women’s breakfast by the Action Coach team. What an inspiring morning listening to some wonderful speakers but it was the positive message and the inkling of hope that left us all feeling a little lighter and a little brighter about tomorrow. And, coming […]
Dear Tourism KZN In mid-June we had the most wonderful holiday in Austria. Our old-man turned 70 and treated all his daughters and grandchildren to a special getaway. We voted to return to a place we had visited previously. Boring perhaps, but it had a story and a history and a connection and it’s a
I have a wonderful habit of collecting people! I am not sure what the attraction is but I seem to draw them in! So, when Marysia Nash visited the Cavern in 2015 and asked to meet with me because she thought she may be able to assist with our Khanyisela Project I have to be
On the 20th May approximately 135 hikers took to the hills surrounding the Cavern. There were two options this time. The Big5 for those that were feeling strong and determined and the Little5 with lesser hills for the oldies and smaller children. It turned out that the Little5 was challenging too and just incredible to
If there has been one thing my old-man has been nagging us to do, it has been to climb the main berg and do a short traverse. I have always resisted. Firstly, there is the dreaded chain ladder, next there is the possibility that an overnight raid may leave you without hiking boots and lastly
Four years ago when Big5Hike was born we were 20 hikers and many paying guests staying at The Cavern. That year we raised R103,000 in recognition of Megan’s late grandmother Ruth’s 103rd birthday. I distinctly remember us all sitting outside the cave bar drinking Flying Fish (as this was all we could get for free)
The big game was good value. Elands in ones and twos were seen often, as were their distinctive droppings and manic damage to Buddleja bushes. Bushbuck were moving into the gardens, and a group of six mountain reedbuck posed near the stables. We also saw a small grey mongoose. The really cold weather – snow
The highlight of this weekend was the return of the Fiery-necked Nightjar. It’s long been on the Cavern list without a single appearance in at least 15 years. Arguably it has the finest call of any bird in the world, a clear rippled whistle that carries for miles. In mid evening it struck up, for
by Corneel Van Wijk There is something to be said for experiencing a spurt of creativity when you are removed from your everyday surroundings. The Cavern Resort in the northern Drakensberg was such a place for me during 7 days towards the end of October 2016. I was as eager and curious to discover the
Birding weather was hot and windy, but the birds didn’t mind. Thirty-nine species in the garden before breakfast, just four short of our best ever. Included were four kingfishers – Great, Half-collared, Malachite and Brown-hooded. Red-necked Francolins were very vocal. This is a cryptic species of forest edge, rarely seen. Black Cuckoos were also in
