Known as the Heart of the Floral region I never envisioned the true beauty of the reserve and its hidden cabins until I visited the premises yesterday!

As a Hermanus resident I was shocked and amazed such paradise lies on the outskirts of Kleinmond. Apparently, and sadly not many locals from the Kleinmond area even know this gem exists either. How many tourists and locals frequent the road over the pass to Somerset and Cape Town, passing the small brown sign that displays in white letters “Kogelberg”. Pure ignorance I wonder, or maybe no interest in the natural beauty so many of us take for granted.

The cabins located in Oudebosch, consists of five self-catering cabins with an amazing eco pool and a small function venue. The venue offers panoramic views of the towering mountains and lush green landscapes drifting as far as the eye can see. Dots of colour speckle the foliage as vivid flowers stand proud and tall in the endless sea of green.

All the cabins are graced with glass fronted canons providing guests with awe-inspiring views of the reserve. Fynbos blankets the ground all around the cabins, as well as surprisingly the roof of each dwelling, which is covered in greenery also. The sight is unique and definitely catches one staring at it more than once.

Considered a World Heritage Site, I for one still never dreamed the beauty of the location. Each cabin consists of two bedrooms, one bathroom, one en-suite, and a spacious kitchen, lounge and dining area. The showers cleverly installed so the water drips down the wooden floors to the ground below. One could tell the cabins were built with a vision, to ensure that not only comfort, simple luxury and style was kept in mind, but of course reminding one that the cabins main aim is to be eco-friendly in every way. It was spotless, with large braai area, and neatly designed wooden walk-ways leading to adjacent cabins or the parking bay.

All I can say is, one must see this for oneself in order to appreciate the effort, time and consideration for the environment. The cabins sleep like a dream, enfolded by the night sounds of insects and frogs and the crystal clear velvet sky plastered with tiny twinkling green stars. Unspoilt beauty like nowhere on Earth!

Meaghen McCord:  Nestled in the old harbour on moss-covered rocks, an old stone building hide in the shadow of a cliff. Many passers-by and locals are unaware that this building holds more significance than most buildings in Hermanus. Following the blue spray-painted shark fins on the rocks, one discovers the South African Shark Conservancy (SASC). Meaghen McCord emigrated from Canada a few years ago and settled in Hermanus later where she founded the organisation. Inside these walls Meaghan who is the official Managing Director invites all to explore the wonders of sharks with her. She lives with her husband and daughter, and bears a deep-rooted love for marine life in general, but especially sharks.  Above all else she finds the Zambezi Sharks very intriguing. Asking her why, she simply elaborates and says, “Zambezi sharks are still a mystery to many, and I am drawn to the unknown, wanting to discover more about them”

Her love for sharks blossomed as a child, and her fascination grew as she got older. After obtaining her master’s degree in Fisheries Science, which more simply put is the study of fishery management and exploration focusing on sharks, Meaghen founded the facility that is located at the bottom of the old Harbour.

Programs are run from the facility in correlation to the Shark Cage diving companies in Walker Bay where their employees are trained, as well as schools, which are provided with a program for teenagers and even younger children.

The South African Shark Conservancy is a non-profit organisation and depends on generous donations. They also work hand in hand with commercial fisherman establishing relationships, gathering data from fishermen on shark catch rates, as well as using their vessels for tagging and obtaining samples for biology and ecology purposes.

The location is ideal with the waves breaking on their front steps. Meaghen admits her favourite time of day is early in the morning after feeding the sharks, when she enjoys a cup of steaming coffee while sitting on the front steps.  She openly voices her concern and says “humans are causing a mass extinction of sharks, it is the biggest extinction happening on our planet since the death of the dinosaurs”.

Meaghen reckons in roughly fifty years sharks will cease to exist in numbers required to maintain the delicate balance in the world’s oceans, all because of our careless ways. Asking her how residents of the Cape Whale Coast can conserve sharks Meaghan enthusiastically says: “People must educate themselves on the do’s and don’ts of the ocean. Do not throw rubbish into the sea and eat sustainable seafood”.

On a lighter note she delightedly admits that they have developed the exciting Marine Mammal Research and Monitoring Program in Walker Bay, to monitor mammal populations and human impacts upon these animals.  SASC is currently just waiting for funds before initiating it fully.

South Africa coasts accommodates only three penguin colonies, one located in Simons Town, the second in Cape Town Boulders Beach and the third right here on our doorstep in Bettys Bay at Stony Point. The African Penguin known as Spheniscus demersus has received its nickname due to the loud calls it makes similar to the braying of a donkey. The penguins located at the Reserve, in Stony point can delightfully boast an estimated yearly visitors of 81058. These animals are highly adapted for water exploiting white and black plumage using their seemingly fragile ‘wings’ as flippers instead. Witnessing the penguins in their natural habitat, is baffling they appear gawky and graceless on land, but once in the water it is like a Cinderella story unravelling. The penguins dash beneath the onslaught of the waves, they dive and dart amongst the kelp as graceful as a dancer..

From the scarce presence of our Whales, the extreme weather conditions, to a much anticipated fund-raising Bazaar.

The last few days the weather has taken a bizarre turn. First it is cloudy, then it is sunny, then it is cold then the sun is shinning pleasantly. The extreme weather conditions have started to give me whiplash. One cannot rely on Google to provide an accurate description since the websites I have frequented the predictions have not met its mark 100%. This makes a person wonder how quickly global warming is developing doesn't it..?

Then there's the partial presence of our beloved whales. With our infamous tourist attraction playing hide and seek, its difficult to convince first time visitors to bask in the glory of our Whales frolicking just off shore. Nothing beats the dark shadowy figure of the Southern Right whale as it drifts on the surface of the water. Even more so when it displays in all its wonder its gigantic body as it leaps out and crashes back into the waves. Their aerobics acts vary from sailing, to breaching, to spy-hopping. It is these times that we appreciate the Whale Boats and their initial purpose. Guests however have been exceedingly lucky as they spot whales on each whaleboat. So even though the rest of us left stranded on land only catching a glimpse of the whales as they blow water into the air, we take solace in the fact that we know they are still here - just more shy than previous years. I know the last 12years I have been a resident in Hermanus I have been luck enough to spot the whales from early June, therefore I was a bit frantic this year, when I have only seen them from a far off distance. It is not time for their departure just yet, so I am hopeful I will see them meters from the shoreline before they decide to head back to the icy water of Antarctic.

Last but not least there's the much anticipated Huis Lettie Theron Bazaar this upcoming weekend, 27th July Saturday. I can't speak for anyone else, but I cannot wait to sample the mouth-watering treat that’s going to be present. And of course it’s for a good cause, as the funds raised are all donated to Huis Lettie Theron. Hope to see you all there! Watch this space.

STRIKING pink and blue as a wedding dress? Sounds bizarre well it is no longer the 1980’s. White is no longer the only colours brides choose to adorn their bodies on this ceremonious day

I recently went to a wedding where the bride and all of her eight bridesmaids wore sneakers, the bride wore the infamous All-Stars brand but everyone else worse white sneakers. The groom and his entourage wore black sneakers. The thought of a bride in a fancy formal white dress, which looked absolutely amazing I might add with sneakers was a comical combination, but stirred the atmosphere with laughs and excitement. This was after all the brides day, it was her choice and theme. I have also seen brides with cow-boy boots and some that have worn more than one wedding dress on her big day.

The same applies to the guests, no longer the stiff, formal, traditional clothes are seen. Striking colours swarm the church, reds, to luminous yellow to leopard print – which brings me to another thought, a bride with leopard printed heels and a leopard print jacket.

As the say out with the old in with the new. Weddings have become a enjoyable, festive occasion – no longer the imperially ritual that have enveloped our ancestors. No one marries for expectations and obligation, but for love and the elation of being together. This was seen at the most recent wedding – the All-Star sneaker wedding, where the Afrikaans bride and groom danced into the reception hall to an Zulu-African song, all dancing vigorously and laughing from the sheer happiness of the moment. I could go on and on about the elaborate decor and how styles have transformed, from flamboyant colours, to the most outrageous venues... but that will be a blog for another time..!

I am sure we all have a bizarre and unique story how we ended up being in Hermanus. Mine might be a little more eccentric than the rest.

It started when my family planned a trip to the coast. We originally lived in Bloemfontein, and had our annual trip to Cape Town. Like most inlanders we loved the ocean and the mountains, and our yearly trip to the coast was a large occurrence in our household.

On one of theses excursion it was our last day at the coast, and we were ready to embark on the long drive back to Bloemfontein. My dads a real explorer and he decided to investigate the out skirts of Cape Town. None of us was enthusiastic about this idea, but no one voiced his or her disapproval. We travelled on a road that held us captive by the ocean on the one side, and a wall of mountain on the other. The views were extraordinary! We rounded a bend, then another, then another. The drive seemed endless. As the mountains rose up to meet us, following a number of roads we entered a small-town called Hermanus. Everything happens for a reason, so was it a coincidence I now ask myself? Maybe not.

It was as if all the people of the town were interlinked to each other’s lives, and the town itself. This amazing little town captivated us, with its tranquil atmosphere and breath taking scenery. The people were jovial, the mountains were our neighbours, with the sea basically crashed at out doorstep. Plus we had gigantic sea mammals frolicking off shore, the whales was a large attraction for us. Now for those that don’t know my parents they are not very impulsive, but two months after out encounter with Hermanus we moved here. We instantly put our house in the market in Bloemfontein, and got ready to move to the coast. It was as if this small coastal town had a magnetic pull on us.

That was more than 12 years ago. Now when I think of Bloemfontein I think of my birth city, but when I think of Hermanus I think of home.

Secretly I dislike the foreigners intruding in our little town. They are invading our little paradise and candidly using its resources. I dislike them taking up the parking space, over-crowding streets, our whale watching points and our restaurants. We have to share our town, with a bunch of strangers - Yet I also know that with them visiting our town, we benefit.

We benefit with the town growing thus boosting the economy, and multiplying its population, increasing employment and recourses. Therefore every time I see a tourist I remember and smile, knowing they will never own Hermanus like we do. The people that live here day and night, breathing the very air of the town. No foreigner will understand Hermanus the way we do. Like the locals do!

A short email and phone call from my dear friend Ruth, a community worker at the centre and I was on board in a blink of an eye! A second hand shop will be opening its doors tomorrow for the very first time. The shop situated adjacent to the Child Welfare Building will contain as its names suggests second hand clothes at reasonable prices.

A few of the on-looking children were delighted to pick up brushes and help decorate the walls in flamboyant rainbow colours, plus of course what is a Child Welfare project without hand prints of children beautify the otherwise dull walls.

Looking forward to viewing the progress of the shop ;-)