Tourism Forum Meetings in Plettenberg Bay

February 2nd, 2012

Department: Strategic Services
The Department wishes to liaise with all role-players in the tourism and related businesses on tourism matters in the Bitou Municipality. Tourism is identified as one of the main economic drivers in the area. Tourism is also a wide ranging field with a variety of activities, uses, interest groups and beneficiaries. The Department would like to engage with all individuals and parties with an interest in tourism to better understand their needs and to provide them with opportunities to comment and give input in the tourism operations. To this end, regular monthly meetings will be held in various localities in the Bitou area, where all role-players may attend and participate in the discussion of tourism matters.

Notice is hereby given of the first Tourism Advisory Forum Meeting. Its main aim is to discuss the way forward for tourism in Bitou.

All interested individuals and stakeholders from the different communities and tourism businesses in Bitou are invited to join in the discussion and debate, amongst others for the development of an all inclusive tourism strategy for the Bitou area.

The agenda will be made available at the meeting and will include the following:

The marketing strategy for tourism in Bitou.
Attendance at Indaba 2012
Destination Marketing / Advertising.
Community tourism development.
Tourism office operational plan.
The first meeting will be held in Kranshoek on Wednesday, 15 February 2012, at the Kranshoek Multipurpose Centre, starting at 18h00.

Notice of subsequent meetings will follow. Meetings will be held monthly, on the first Wednesday of the month. The venues will change, to create opportunities for all people to attend.

See you there!

Municipal Notice No 18/2012

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

A wonderful week of Culture and Nature in Plettenberg Bay

January 28th, 2012

What an exciting week we have had. Thursday evening Tourism Meet ‘n Greet at Kranshoek where we were hosted in gracious and very grand style by the wonderful Griqua folk; Friday morning Footsteps and Want to Learn children planted trees at Monkeyland with the Green Ticket; and Friday night a feast for the soul with beautiful music and visuals by the Eden Guitar ensemble and Carol Thorns (with visuals by Alistair) with her amazing Red Cello at the White House in aid of Kids of Kurland. And Saturday morning : a beautiful clear sunshine day with a nice cooling breeze to start the weekend. We are truly Blessed to live in Plett!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Names can be so confusing

January 24th, 2012

So many people refer to Birds of Eden as Birds of Paradise, Birds Paradise, Garden of Eden, Birds of the World and even as World of Birds.  So I wondered if it would help to explain why and how Birds of Eden derived its name.

At first we were going to call our bird sanctuary Kunjani Gorge, but we changed our mind when the municipality we fall under was re-named The Eden Municipality.  There was even talk of The Eden Gate way opening at the N2 Monkeyland turn-off (2km from us).

There is no bird sanctuary or bird park named Birds of Paradise, but there is a species of birdnamed Birds of Paradise.  Birds of Paradise are members of the familyParadisaeidaeand belong to the order Passeriformes. The majority of species in this family are found on the island of New Guinea and its satellites, with a few species occurring in the Moluccas and eastern Australia.

The Birds of Paradise family has forty species in 14 genera. The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of most species, in particular highly elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings or head. For the most part they are confined to dense rainforest habitat.

The Birds of Paradise specie is of cultural importance to the inhabitants of New Guinea. But because of this the Birds of Paradise specie is currently threatened with extinction as result of hunting and habitat loss. The trade in skins and feathers of the Birds of Paradise bird has been going on for two thousand years! If these birds are not protected, extinction is inevitable.

The only other Birds of Paradise I could locate on theworld wide web was a South African Bed-and-breakfast in Eshowe, KwaZulu Natal.

There is a bird park which features many species of caged birds in Robertson, but this is not remotely similar to Birds of Eden’s set-up. Think jungle, think gigantic  dome ….place this jungle inside the dome and there you have Birds of Eden – the World’s largest free-flight (single dome) bird aviary.

The World is full of birds, over 10 000 species of birds exist in our World. It is guesstimated that over 100 billion individual birds live in this World called Earth.

In our ‘World’ at Birds of Eden we provide a free flying sanctuary (forested home)  for 220 species of the World’s birds and Birds of Eden is home to more than 3500 individual birds. 

The name World of Birds is also often used to describe or refer to us here at Birds of Eden.  Please don’t confuse Birds Paradise (in Robertson) with Birds of Eden (Plettenberg bay), and don’t confuse us with World of Birds either.  Once you have visited the 3 you will understand why you cannot compare us to these.  There is simply no comparison.

World of Birds is a bird park in Houtbay near Cape Town, but their birds are in cages and ours are free.  That’s the main, notable and important difference. The second is that they sell their surplus birds and are not against the trade in birds as pets.  We agree with the 1st and we don’t condone the latter.  We simply don’t sell our birds,instead, we curb naturally their breeding to keep numbers down.

World of Birds is the largest bird park in Africa, meaning that they have the largest amount of different species of birds.  This does not mean that they are the best in the World, the biggest or most popular, this simply means that they have a large collection of different species of birds – about 400 species at present.  The birds at World of Birds are however not flying about a single dome sanctuary such as we have at Birds of Eden.  Instead, most of the birds at World of Birds live in individual cages or are pinioned or clipped so that they cannot fly away.

There is only one Birds of Eden, and we are based in The Crags, and it is the World’s largest single dome free flight aviary. We are located 16km east from the holiday town Plettenberg Bay, so turn off to Monkeyland and Birds of Eden from N2 S33 56′ 46.09″ E23 29″ 8.13″ or call us so that we can explain the way.

Mobile +27 (0)82 9795683

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in General, Our town | No Comments »

Wild in the Garden Route

January 22nd, 2012

Another year has drawn to  a close and we have welcomed visitors from all over South Africa to Plettenberg Bay to enjoy the natural beauty of this area.  Our spectacular landscape is shared with many furry and feathered creatures of the wild who inevitably become compromised through our day to day activities.   This is where Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre plays a pivotal role in maintaining a balance and giving every wild animal that is abandoned or injured, a second chance to return to nature.

The centre is based at The Crags, just outside Plettenberg Bay, and is also home to Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre where you can learn about the indigenous cats of South Africa.  By taking a guided tour to see our South African Wild Cats, or joining us for a cheetah walk, you support the running costs of the Rehabilitation Centre which receives some 200 – 250 animals a year for treatment from all over the Western Cape.

Tenikwa has an active Facebook Group which you can follow, to see the interesting animals which are admitted during the year.  This year, the centre has received several endangered animals for rehabilitation.  A young Cape Vulture landed in a flower pot at a resident at The Crags one morning – very unusual visitor to the area.  He was starving but luckily no other injuries and once he had recovered sufficiently, was released at DeHoop Nature Reserve back into a resident colony of vultures.  Another success story of a rare animal was an adult female Cape Clawless Otter.  She came in from the Grootbrak area where she had come into conflict with some dogs.  For some time it was not sure whether she would make sufficient recovery from her injuries to be able to survive in the wild, but she was eventually cleared for release and returned to an uninhabited section of the river.

Our populations  of the Jackass Penguin continue to decline in South Africa, and Tenikwa has received 40 penguins this year for rehabilitation, much less than in the previous years, indicative of the population crash that this species has experienced.  To raise awareness, Tenikwa has worked with Born In Africa at their eco camps to make the children of our community aware of the plight of penguins and what to do should you encounter a penguin on the Plett Beaches.  All penguins found on the Garden Route should be brought to Tenikwa for rehabilitation and return to their colonies nearer Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

Useful wildlife numbers to keep handy :
Cape Nature Plettenberg Bay  044-5332185

Tenikwa  Wildlife Centre, Plettenberg Bay 044-5348170

Penguins  (Knysna area) 083-4146730

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in General, Our town | No Comments »

Plettenberg Bay’s Problem Plants

January 16th, 2012

Why are invasive plants and weeds such a threat in the Bitou Municipal area ?

- They are able to reproduce and spread at alarming rates

- They increase the risk and intensity of fires

- They deplete water resources

- They reduce biodiversity

- They threaten fynbos

- The have no natural control agents

- They provide no support for wildlife

- Some are extremely toxic

   The Bitou Municipal area lies within priceless indigenous forests, mountain fynbos and a coastal dune thicket.  Living here we must be sensitive to the fact that any invasive plants which we allow to prosper can spread into these natural areas. 

Categories are 1, 2 and 3.

Category 1 – Lantana – untidy flowering shrub/climber. Flowers are pink, red crimson, orange, yellow or a combination with white.  Toxic to livestock and humans, fruits are spread by birds and it is considered to be one of the worst weeds in the world.  To control, hack away prickly branches, destroy stem/root with herbicide before they sprout.

Black and silver wattle, Rooikrans, and Port Jackson – category 1 & 2 – These are serious invaders replacing fynbos and clogging river beds and infesting sandy dunes.  Acacias produce seeds which can remain dormant for 50 years.  Cut trees and saplings low and paint stumps with herbicide

Long leaved Wattle – a major invasive of fynbos and woody areas, favours moist sites.  A biological control programme using a gall-forming wasp is in progress and is producing very good results.

Stinkbean  – looks like a black wattle with dark green leaves and flowers in bottlebrush like heads especially strong in spring.  This tree is becoming more and more evident and a threat to most forests.

Gum trees / eucalyptus – category 2 – They are quick growing and coppice after cutting or ring barking.  Stems must be treated with herbicide before the seeds are spread with the wind.  Clearing them has been shown to increase stream flow.

Blackwood – category 2.  They produce excellent timber and have been harvested to replace yellowwood and stinkwood. However, they are difficult to eradicate which must be done by hand when small, bearing in mind that they have a tough root system.  Trees regenerate from root suckers and herbicides are recommended after cutting.

Pines – category 2. Pines are invading our fynbos across the Bitou region.  They release their seeds through the cones when cut or burnt. Wood makes excellent braai wood.

Cestrum – category 1.�
It is found in coastal bush and has a very strong leaf aroma. The plant’s unripe berries and shoots re poisonous, ripe berries are purple-black while flowers are whitish green. Stumps must be treated with herbicide.

Ginger lilies – category 1.
All four of these canna-like plants are declared weeds and must be destroyed.  They invade shady places and forests’ under storey. All traces must be dug out to prevent continued growth.  

   Some of the category 3 /ornamental plants include Australian silky oak, myoporum, Pearl acacia, Brazilian pepper tree, Pepper tree wattle, New Zealand Christmas tree, Eugenia, Seringa fruits of which are poisonous, sword fern a serious invader and tubers should be removed from properties frequently. Peanut butter cassia, yellow flowers smell like peanut butter.

   Category 3 invasive ornamentals need not be removed but must be controlled and be replaced over time.  Once they have been identified, it is advisable to plant a locally indigenous species within their protection, and once established, to remove the invasive alien.
Information supplied by Flower Power, 083 453-6632.

Posted in General, Our town | No Comments »

An Experience for Life

January 16th, 2012

The Elephant sanctuary at The Crags in Plettenberg Bay is an elephant experience for life!
The herd consists of five female elephants and one young male. This is a very well balanced family structure and forms part of the reason why we have such a happy and relaxed herd of elephants. The elephants are exercised and stimulated daily, which provides a firm foundation for trust and bonding between the elephants, their handlers and visiting guests.
The Elephant Sanctuary is wheelchair friendly and also has wheelchairs available for any guests who may require a wheel chair.
Elephants are herd animals and need to be in constant communication through touch, smell, sight and sound for their emotional wellbeing and comfort. The training of elephants is based on trust and positive reinforcement – a reward system that not only works very successfully with elephants, but with all other animals as well.
Elephants in captivity have always been and will always be a controversial issue. The Elephant Sanctuary, as responsible elephant owners, constantly strive to improve the relationship between the elephants, their living environment, health and emotional conditions and also with the animal welfare organisations and other experts in the field of elephants in captivity. The Elephant Sanctuary has always had a very professional relationship with animal welfare organisations. The Elephant sanctuary also support and sell goods on behalf of some animal welfare and anti poaching units to provide funding for those units.
The Elephant Sanctuary is proud that it has never removed wild elephants from the bush for the purposes of tourism or entertainment. The Elephant Sanctuary merely took responsibility for the elephants after they had been removed from their natural environment by other people for various reasons.
The Elephant Sanctuary has the best and most modern stable facilities available and the stables have been designed with the elephant’s health, safety and wellbeing first and foremost in mind.
The Elephant Sanctuary hosts a unique and fully guided educational program that sets itself apart from anything else that South Africa has previously had on offer in terms of elephant interaction and touching elephants.
Guest numbers are limited to ensure personal attention and maximum elephant interaction for each guest which makes this a truly memorable and enriching experience. Please note that the last program of the day departs at 15h30.

Tags: , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Conservation Corner – Estuaries Plettenberg Bay

January 16th, 2012

Estuaries:
Where rivers meet the sea
An estuary is where the river meets the sea,
and plays an important role in the life of many
animals. Throughout the day, week or year the
physical and chemical variation can change
dramatically. The major source of this variation is the tidal fluctuations. This means that the animals that live in these environments must be able to cope with these drastic changes in salinity, temperature and
water level, making them very unique and special
creatures.
Many juvenile fish migrate into the estuaries during late winter, spring and early summer. This is when
the water temperatures are high and the food supply is abundant. The juvenile fish are better protected from most marine predators in the estuaries and therefore rely on these habitats in order to survive into adolescence. They return to the open ocean when they are big enough. (Wallace JH, “South African Estuaries and their importance to fishes”, South African Journal of Science 80, 203-207 (1984).
Human activities can have severe effects on estuaries resulting in the loss of biological diversity. Some of the most common problems include dredging, pollution and accelerated sedimentation due to erosion. If we want the estuaries and the species that thrive there to survive we must limit these destructive activities as much as possible.
info from ORCA

Posted in General | No Comments »

Plettenberg Bay Weekend 14 to 15 January 2012

January 14th, 2012

Saturday 14 January 2012 – Plettenberg Bay is hopefully going to get a little more rain today. The forecast is a possibility of rain with a light breeze, 3m/s from south-southeast.
Sunday 15 Janaury starts out a little cloudy but is due to clear by 11am giving us yet another sunshine sunday in our beautiful Bay.

The highlight of the weekend is the launch of the Site_Specific 2011 Book at the Beacon Island on Saturday afternoon ( See dates to diarise in the left column for more details). We look ofrward to seeing you all there.

Posted in General | No Comments »

Pop Up Shops in Plettenberg Bay

January 11th, 2012

As a local retailer of many years in Plettenberg Bay, I am sure I speak on behalf of many other retailers when I voice my objection as to what is now occurring in our town regarding the so called “pop up shops” which come here over season to invade our territory.

After all, we are permanent shopkeepers paying rent, levies, rates, water, wages all year round here in Plettenberg Bay. Then these people arrive here to climb on the band wagon for which we work so hard all year long. Of course, the greedy landlords are as much to blame for this occurrence, even insurance companies are letting out a front office space for retail use – how shameful!

We hope that our local residents will be sensitive to this and not support these “invaders”

   We must work towards not repeating this for the future or we will be in danger of losing our town!

A Concerned Retailer

Posted in General, Municipal Matters, Our town | No Comments »

January 11th, 2012

Have some say in the Rates you pay.

Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association

     Season’s Greetings to all of our members and, to our visiting ratepayers and residents – a very warm welcome to you. We hope that everyone will enjoy the Plett experience as we head towards 2012.

     You will have seen from this year’s Newsletters that 2011 has been tough at many levels. The ailing local economy caused several businesses to close and we are still experiencing the fallout from the erstwhile Mayor’s fiscal policies – with which fallout our Executive Mayor and his team continue to grapple.

     Many regular visitors will remember last year’s stringent water restrictions. The desalination plant which was commissioned at considerable expense had to be

 temporarily shut down, but this is now running at full load for a period of monitoring and testing. In April next year, the test results will be analysed to determine whether or not abstraction from the estuary will continue. In the meantime, projects have been initiated which are designed to meet household, business, agricultural and environmental requirements until the 2020’s.

     Since January 2003, problems in

 establishing a properly functioning airport have been ongoing. But the present

 Mayoral Council is determined to see an operational airport in Plett and matters have at least progressed to the stage where two companies are now proceeding to stage 2 of the tender process. There will be many in Plett who will celebrate when the

long-promised, but elusive, airport gives permission for the first 100-seater

commercial aircraft to land!

     The Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association has also been

actively involved in the state of our roads. The town’s rapid development meant that the Municipal infrastructure was unable to keep pace with the higher traffic volumes and the problem has been compounded by an overloaded storm water system due to property development. The run off from properties has added to the damage already done and your Association is urging the Municipality to define the urban edge and formulate a spatial development plan.

 This is not to say that we are against

development – it is simply to ensure that development is preceded by proper

infrastructural facilities, which will save on future maintenance costs and allow our rates to be meaningfully applied.

There are no funds in the current budget for major road work but patching and repairing will continue and we urge everyone to travel our roads with caution.

     Our Landfill Monitoring Committee has been closely watching development

surrounding the Bitou site and is fully

 informed on the options and possibilities for alternative means of waste disposal.

A firm decision as to whether or not our waste will be transported to Knysna for compacting before being sent to PetroSA (outside Mossel Bay) has not yet been made, but the intention is to stop all

deposits on the Bitou landfill as soon as possible.

     Your Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association has been keeping a close eye on the Municipal budget as well. Sadly, the service charge increases over last year’s budget (property rates, electricity, water, sewerage and refuse) reflect

 increases of between 10% and 28%,

 making our town the most expensive place to live in the Garden Route!

     On the thorny issue of crime and crime prevention, your Association remains closely involved with the highly active

Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Forum and we have a strong presence when it comes to treating and supporting victims of crime. Because money attracts time, we are all more vulnerable at this time of year, so please keep a close watch on your cars and your belongings and make sure that your homes are secured against possible

 intruders. An effective way to prevent crime is to be alert the people around you and to report anything which you believe to be suspicious. It is better to report a false alarm that to press a panic button!

     This is a very short report on your

Association’s activities for the year and it does not begin to convey the incredible number of voluntary hours invested by our civic-minded portfolio leaders and their teams. Through their involvement, they are looking after all Plett ratepayers and

 residents. If you do not have the time or the inclination to become actively involved, then – even if you are just a “regular

 non-resident” – we urge you to at least become a member. Your membership will increase the power of our collective voice when it comes to having a say in what happens here.  Contact us at 044 533 4663; e-mail: ratespay@vodamail.co.za.

Posted in Municipal Matters, Our town | No Comments »

« Older Entries