Eish in the Addo

Eish in the Addo

Wildlife guide Conrad Cramer was at the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa when he came across a baby elephant lifting

his head and flaring his ears at a full-grown African Buffalo.

 

 

 

Luckily, the calf walked away with nothing more than damaged pride. And according to Cramer, even the elephant's relatives agreed that the buffalo was in the right.
"The other elephants were in no way disturbed by the chain of events," Cramer said, adding that they viewed the altercation as a "life lesson that the youngster had to learn."

Read the Mail Online for more photos and information. 

Follow Conrad Cramer on Twitter (@skindiboy), Facebook and Instagram (africanmandreaming) for more beautiful animal pictures.

25% off at Addo B&B Accommodation

For August & September 2015, we offer you, our valued guest, a 25% off special for our Sunset Huts.

Discover Addo & the Sundays River Valley whilst staying at Chrislin African Lodge, a popular Addo B&B Accommodation.

Situated 12km from the famous Addo Elephant Park & a central hub for much relaxation or adventure, we offer in-house activities and safari's with Crisscross Adventures. Delight in delicious meals in our in-house restaurant, Sneezewoods. Or relax, unwind & reminisce on your Sunset Hut verandah or in the pool lounge.

Please visit the website www.chrislin.co.za or email info@chrislin.co.za and quote 'August/September 25% Discount'

Bee Pure

Bee Pure is a South African based company, manufacturing 100% natural body products that are animal cruelty free. Our products are free from preservatives, parabens, mineral oils and artificial colours and fragrances.

Bee Pure products combine beeswax with the highest grade plant oils/ butters and the purest of essential oils to make rich, antioxidant filled treatments for your skin. Our products preserve your skin by embalming it in therapeutic oils that are absolute luxuries in healing and nourishing, repairing and rejuvenating. The potent plant and flower extracts in our Bee Pure products feed the skin on a cellular level, protecting it from ageing.

be nourished, be beautiful, Bee Pure

The story behind Bee Pure

After much research and product development, Bee Pure products came into production in February 2013. After taking notice of product ingredient lists, I became increasingly aware of the potentially harmful ingredients in many products we were using on our bodies, and wanted to produce body products that were not only 100% pure and preservative free, but highly effective and animal cruelty free.

I attended 2 courses in aromatherapy, so I would be well equipped with the knowledge on how to combine all the therapeutic essential oils into the Bee Pure products. These are potent and powerful oils that have many wonderful skin healing, repairing and rejuvenating properties. Their use dates back to ancient times, proving their efficacy and true benefits in skin care formulations.

Bee Pure products are manufactured in small batches to ensure freshness, optimal shelf life and quality.

Bee Pure products are free from lanolin, Petroleum, Ethyl alcohol, Propylene Alcohol and any other harsh chemicals. They are suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin, and can be enjoyed by both women and men.

Bee Pure’s Philosophy

We strive to source the finest plant and flower oils in order to produce only the best and purest in natural body products that provide your skin with maximum benefits and that have the least amount of impact on our environment

 Bee Pure…passionate about pure and natural skin care

I trust you will enjoy the Bee Pure products just as much as I do, and see the passion and love with which they are all made.

Karen Potgieter Xx

Bee Pure Founder

Chrislin toiletries

Chrislin African Lodge has just had new toiletry bottles made, with our new logo. 

Cango Caves

The Cango Caves, situated in the enchanting Klein Karoo in the Western Cape, are a true showcase of evocative dripstones. You will meet, among others, the Madonna and Child formation, which portrays Mary carrying her son, Jesus, in her arms. This and other formations will fascinate you.

South Africa’s oldest tourist attraction could well be closing its doors due to a lack of adequate management, corruption and heavy financial losses.

As reported by Africa Geographic, R16 million was removed last year from the cave’s investment fund, resulting in the disbanding of its scientific committee, unpaid supplier accounts and other problems stemming from this –  the attraction is at the brink of collapse because of this.

The Oudtshoorn municipality is currently locked in a major tussle between the DA and the ANC, bringing unrest to the Karoo town as well as inadequate management of its major attraction. That R16 million was supposedly spent on renovations and upkeep of the Cango Caves, but no changes have materialised since – leaking roofs and broken toilets are among many of the fixes needed.  More urgently is the lack of spending on new ways to reduce human impact on the caves, a necessity needed for the longevity of them.

It saddens me to read about the situation. When politics starts affecting a major tourist attraction, there is a serious problem.

Read more here.

THE ADVENTURE PROVINCE

Snakes, birds & local facts

Darren Kleinhans, from Addo, Eastern Cape, came to talk to guests at Chrislin African Lodge.

It's fascinating how one can live in an area for so long and still be so unaware of what is around us. And what people do.

What makes a bird of prey different to other birds? Why is it a bird of prey? Because it uses its beak to kill animals? No, because it uses it claws.

Darren works with Eskom (South Africa's national electricity supplier) to try save birds who die as a result of the power lines and educate on snakes and birds of prey.Did you know that vultures are closer to extinction than rhino? That there is an African superstition that owls are bad luck and they are therefore killed? Power lines in the northern Eastern Cape, King Williams town and Queenstown area are littered with owls and, worst of all, Cape Vultures. There are less than 5000 cape vultures left in the wild.

Darren enlightened us on the wind turbines on nearby Grass Ridge. Apparently these wind turbines do not affect birds of prey at all, however bats are taking strain. The birds see these wind turbines, and thus avoid collision but the bats are affected by the sonar waves they give off. So, basically, mid-flight, and not even near to smacking into these turbines, the lungs of these little bats basically pop, and they die mid-flight. He also elaborated on snakes in our area. There are over 200 species of snakes in South Africa but only 15 are venomous, only 6 deadly. You have more chances of dying from a car accident or bees than a snake bite! Although, the Cape Cobra is a very dangerous snake and is very common in Addo...

Darren then brought out a puffy on site. Puffadder snakes have Cytotoxic venom….aka flesh eating. Venom can be ingested, it can’t take any effect unless it comes into contact with blood. Puffadders strike incredibly fast…they can strike a balloon twice before it has popped.

Rinkhals snake

Terri and her nephews, Tristan & Ross, listening to Darren talk about owls

Ross bravely holding a snake

Darren with his owl, Tyrant

Darren with a spotted eagle owl

Tristan handling a corn snake