A Weekend at De Hoop Nature Reserve

De Hoop Nature Reserve

My partner is the editor of a travel magazine and as part of his job he is invited to visit, taste and see some pretty amazing things and when the invitation calls for a +1... I am the luckiest lady around. I never thought I'd be so happy to be a +1!

One of the most incredible adventures his job has afforded us is probably the weekend trip to De Hoop Nature Reserve we were invited to as part of a media event. Amazing doesn't even begin to describe this magical place. 

De Hoop is situated in the Overberg Region of the Western Cape and the drive from Cape Town is spectacular! We were against the clock as we tried to finish work early and make to the gate before closing time. The drive alone was an adventure! It was hard to imagine while travelling along dirt roads surrounded by rolling hills that over the next crest we would see the ocean. But when we did... Wow!!

Once through the gates we were greeted by a myriad of birds and buck. We headed toward the De Hoop Collection, a cluster of sprawling houses and rondavels which offer guests an array of accommodation from self catering to luxury rooms in the converted barn. Guest which one we got?

Our Beautiful Room

Enjoying a bottle of wine while
the sun sets over De Hoop

Sunset from our room

Marine Biodiversity Walk 8:30am

Every morning Dalfrenzo Laing,  the friendliest guide you have ever met, takes visitors on a Marine Biodiversity walk. As he talks animatedly you can't help but begin to feel as excited about dune migration and ocean currents as he is. He does this walk every day but this walk is the best walk of the month. Its low tide and that  means we can see in all the rock pools.

Walking over the biggest dunes I have ever seen

Low tide - the best time for spotting marine creatures!

Ground cover

A starfish, sea anemone and an octopus
found on the marine walk.

Saturday Meandering

You can walk anywhere and everywhere you want in De Hoop and along the way don't get a fright if you're suddenly right next to a herd of Eland like we were. They aren't bothered by people at all and carry on their journey through the bushes. 

Food at De Hoop

The Fig Tree is De Hoop's very own little restaurant which is open from breakfast to dinner. When it is cold you can sit inside by the fire and if the weather is fair you can sit out on the stoop. During the day animals graze in front of you while you sip on a glass of chilled wine. We were entertained one morning by two ostriches bathing in a puddle. 

A selection of starters, mains and desserts we
enjoyed De Hoop's restaurant, The Fig Tree.

Bird Walk 6am

It was hard to get up early enough on a Sunday to catch the bird walk but it was more than worth it. Within minutes our guide from yesterday, Dalfrenzo, had spotted several Hoopoes pecking about on the ground. It was a magical 2 hours walking along the waters edge learning the names of all the birds and the interesting little things they do. I love birds and could not have asked for a more passionate and knowledgeable guide in Dalfrenzo. Regularly along the walk he would stop and exclaim something like "Ah! Did you hear?! A Southern Tchagra. A very rare bird! We are lucky to hear him, he must be near us!" And moments later he would have spotted pointed out a little bird somewhere in a bush that we would never have seen. 

Blue Cranes, Fiscal Shrike, Bokmakierie and Cape Bulbuls
to name but a few.

Only some of the many birds living in the vlei

Southern Tchagra - a rare and exciting spotting!

After our bird watching we enjoyed our last breakfast and ticked off all the animals and birds that we had seen on the Bird, Mammal and Marine Checklist which had been given to us the day we arrived.

I cannot put in words the profound beauty that I experienced that weekend in De Hoop. I can only encourage anyone who is even remotely interested to visit.

Rad Hand Painted Tshirts

My friends and boyfriend love rad Tshirts. Sometimes when it is a birthday and I am feeling creative I paint a shirt for them. I judge how long it takes me to paint these by how many films I listen to in the back round.

This one was for my bf:

T shirt at various stages of completion.

The final product. 

Gorgeous Gardens

Whether you have a rolling lawn or a humble balcony, with some good ideas and some motivation you can have a little piece of leafy green heaven to call your own.

Porch & balcony gardens:

Vegetable & herb gardens:

Garden paths & walkways:

Vertical gardens:

Vertical Garden by botanist Patrick Blanc

Dancing on Poles...

A while ago I wrote an article for what was going to be a monthly article about Getting Fit the Fun way. The idea was that every month I would find a fun way to get fit, try it for 4 weeks and then write about my experience.

I did my first (and consequently only, since the magazine thing didn't work out) article on pole dancing as I had started it the previous year and really enjoyed it. I had to cast my mind back to July 2011 and remember what it was like starting out. Anyway, here it is...

“I am not a stripper!” I call back good-naturedly. Across the table I can hear my friend telling someone that I’m a pole dancer and exaggerating the facts.

“What’s the difference?” He teases.

“I don’t take my clothes off and I don’t get paid” I smile. I have been pole dancing for a year now and it still amuses some of my friends.

 Why pole dancing?

 I’ll tell you why I tried pole dancing.

 Go back to last July.  I was looking at my monitor thinking I want to do that. That is awesome. On the screen was a picture of a woman hanging upside down from a pole by one leg, accompanying it was an offer for 8 Level 1 pole classes at half price.

 One month later I was standing in a warmly let studio looking at 15 pink and silver poles. The other girls smiled and welcomed me. I took my place at the back of the room in front of a thick silver pole. Looking down at my long gym pants I wondered why everyone was wearing such tiny shorts. I tried to look around inconspicuously and judge whether my new class mates were also first timers or if I was going to make a fool of myself.

 There was no need for concern. Once we had started we were so focused on what we were doing (or trying to do) we looked at nobody save our instructor. After fairy walks and fireman spins (the first two spins you learn in Level 1) I discovered the reason behind the tiny shorts: friction.

 “Now we are going to practise sitting and standing on the pole” says our instructor, Donata, who is the owner of the studio. “I will demonstrate how we do this: Hold the pole with both hands. Place your strong leg on the pole in front of you. Pull yourself up. Place your other leg around the pole; you’re going to need skin contact or you will slip right off the pole.” Pants rolled up as high as possible I give it a go. “It is going to hurt until your skin gets used to it. The more you practise, the less it hurts.”

She wasn’t joking. I could feel the bruises on my feet forming with each attempt. “For those of you who feel comfortable with that, let’s try climbing!”

 By the end of the class I was bruised and shaky and looking forward to try this climbing thing (and by the next day I’d discovered muscles I never knew I had).

 The first few weeks were a combination of delight and frustration, bruises and sore muscles. I mastered the basics and took on new challenges. Sometimes my lack of upper body strength let me down but the taste of success made me want to keep trying.

 It wasn’t long before my arms didn’t shake after a class and my muscles didn’t hurt for 3 days after. I could sit and stand and climb to the very top of the pole. I was stronger! It was time to buy myself some tiny shorts and move to Level 2!

One armed plank

What is pole dancing, really?

I know the first thoughts that spring to mind are exotic dancers, transparent platform stilettos and dollar bills, but it is nothing like what you’d see in a gentleman’s club.

 Pole dancing is vertical gymnastics. (Think Circ de Soleil!) And it represents something different to everyone.

 To me it’s about strength, grace and flexibility, about being healthy, toning up and having fun while getting fit. But it is also about being sexy, feminine and powerful, it’s about self-expression, freedom of movement and confidence.

Chinese Lady

Why is it good for you? 

Pole dancing is more fun than gym and still offers you a great over all work out. It targets your abdominals, shoulders, arms and back. It also helps to build lean muscle – those are not the ones that bulge, but rather the muscles that leave you looking toned, which is what women want.

 Pole dancing is also a good way to lose some weight, improve flexibility and develop your co-ordination.

Stargazer

 Why should you give it a go? 

Perhaps I am bias, but I think everyone should give it a go! (Men included – many studios offer men’s classes.) Every woman should love her body and I believe in trying things at least once!

 If you want to achieve anything mentioned in this article: fitness, flexibility, getting toned, having fun, being sexy (or sexier) then give it a go, regardless of your age, fitness level or body shape (I’m serious, when you get there you will see the people in your class are normal people just like you and me).

 You don’t have to make a long term commitment – try an introductory class to get the feel of it. If you enjoy it you can do it on a class to class or month to month basic. 

Leg Hook 2 (at a Bachelorette Party)

Do’s & Don’t’s 

·         Do wear comfy clothes – a vest and shorts are best (remember, you need your skin!)

·         Don’t be discouraged when you can’t do something right away – our brains sometimes need time to process, try again next week.

·         Do keep an open mind – pole dancing is great fun!

·         Don’t think that everyone there will be thinner, fitter and better than you – we are all just people and we all have body issues!

·         Do complement your pole dancing with some gym work and a stretching routine – it will help you progress quicker.

·         Don’t try out your new moves on the pole in your favourite club (you think this statement is funny but trust me, you’ll want to show off our moves once you've got them). Just remember that the  combination of booze, cold muscles and a greasy pole can result in really hurting yourself.

  Pole Studios in your areas: 

Cape TownPole Dance Cape Town (CBD)

www.poledancecapetown.co.za GautengBody Mind Studio (Fourways, Randpark Ridge, Rivonia, Alberton)

www.bodymind.co.za DurbanFusion Dance (Hillcrest, Umhlanga, Bluff, Glenwood)

www.fusionkzn.co.za For more visit

www.pfasa.co.za