Kloofendal: close to the urban centre, yet part of the great outdoors If one of your goals in 2013 is to take more time off and get fit while also getting into nature, then we have lots right on our doorstep in Joburg. I was sent the Friends of Kloofendal newsletter and was amazed […]
For the next two weeks Mercury can be easily seen in our skies. Very early this evening, there’ll be a line up in the west of the 3 bright stars: Canopus (on the left), Sirius and Procyon; then the new crescent moon and to the right of that Mercury – very easy to see! Over […]
Weekend outings from Joburg Why not head out to Toadbury Hall in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Toadbury Hall offers specially packed picnic baskets to enjoy outdoors under a shady tree or in the warm sunshine. The menu changes with the seasons and includes a range of handmade snacks, delicious mains and a […]
Lunar eclipse 15 June 2011 Remember there’s a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday 15th June. It starts at 8:22pm, is total from 9:21 pm to 11:02pm, and ends at 00:02am. It will be visible from all of Africa, although north-west Africa misses the start. You don’t need any special equipment to watch this. The next […]
Transfrontiers Wild Life Safaris The magic of the bushveld Rich flame orange sunsets. The deep roar of a lion at night. An elephant in the reeded river bed below the deck outside my tent. I shower al fresco under the warm midday African sun. With the help of Brian’s Laser beam we make out the […]
Best thing to do this week: Adrian@fiftytwo.co.za Genre: Rough it – Relax it What: On a clear day you can see (from most good vantage points in Joburg) the Magaliesberg Mountain range – stretching for 120km from Bronkhorstspruit to Rustenburg. Amongst this mountainous zone you’ll find ample hiking routes – the tough and temperate – […]
FiftyTwo:25 This week’s pick: Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve Genre: Outdoor trails and reserve What: With 680 ha of open bush and 23 km’s of trails this Nature Reserve comes as a surprise to most Joburg dwellers. Rated the largest reserve in the Johannesburg Metropol, Klipriviersberg is overflowing with archaeological, cultural, historical and geological attractions. Home to […]
3 Places to walk and hike in and around Joburg T-J de Klerk of the Wilds Walks writes about a long walk at Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve on Sunday, April 25 from 07:30: Hikers are cordially invited by Johannesburg City Parks and the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve Association to participate in a 20 kilometre walk in the Klipriviersberg […]
SWARTKRANS CRADLE OF HUMANKIND WHERE EARLY USE OF FIRE HAS BEEN FOUND Another great opportunity here in Jozi. Yesterday, two friends and I visited Swartkrans, near Sterkfontein in the Cradle of Humankind. What a wonderful day! One of South Africa’s 8 World Heritage sites, the Cradle is rich with fossil-bearing cave deposits spread over 13 different […]
ISS VISIBLE FROM SOUTH AFRICA 30/08/09 The following was taken from the Johannesburg Planetarium’s newsletter (28/08/09) The International Space Station (ISS) passes directly over South Africa on Sunday evening (Aug 30th) – possibly accompanied by the shuttle Discovery! Discovery is scheduled to launch Friday evening (SA time) to deliver crew and equipment to the orbiting […]