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The hour has finally arrived. The adventurers are gathering, and soon we will announce the Nightjar Adventurer 2013. The winner will receive a R5000 Cape Union Mart Gift voucher, sponsored of course by Cape Union Mart, and a GoPro Hero3 Black edition, sponsored by @GoPro. Then, the Readers' Favourite (Thank you all for voting!) will receive a R1000 Cape Union Mart voucher, and a GoPro Hero3.

Finally, we have further bundles generously sponsored by Adventure Inc. (importers of Buff and lots of other cool gear) and we will have a draw for the readers who signed up online, for R500 Cape Union Mart vouchers. Oh, and it's Nightjar Travel's 1-year birthday today, just to top it all off :-) So, this is going to be one Fantastic evening! 

If you can't make it tonight, we will miss you, but do check out the tickets we are giving away to the guest speaker series at One&Only Cape Town (on the Nightjar Adventurer 2013 Awards page). Ok, no more spoilers from me...

www.nightjartravel.com/adventurer-2013

 

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Today sees the launch of new archaeology tours to Mossel Bay’s Pinnacle Point Caves, which have revealed the earliest evidence for modern human behaviour.

The caves, which have been the subject of intensive study since 2000 by the SACP4 Project (South African Coastal Palaeoclimate, Palaeoenvironment, Palaeoecology, and Palaeoanthropology Project), under the direction of Professor Curtis Marean of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University, have recently been declared a Provincial Heritage Site.

According to research published in 2007 by Prof Marean and his team, this is probably where the small, core population that gave rise to all humans alive today first began to exhibit significantly modern behaviour. It was here that man began to harvest the ocean systematically, to use ochre for symboling, and to embed bladelets into other media to create complex tools.

A later study under Dr. Kyle Brown – also of the SACP4 Project - showed that it’s most likely that this is where man first used fire to improve the quality of stone tools. 

The remains in the caves – which date as far back as 164,000 years - were discovered during an archaeological survey, as part of the environmental impact assessment into the proposed development of the Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort, conducted by Jonathan Kaplan, the director of the Agency for Cultural Resource Management, and Peter Nilssen.

The ‘Point of Human Origins’ tours of the caves begin in June and will be conducted by Peter Nilssen or a similarly qualified scientist. They will also be offered as optional adds-on to one of the best slackpacking trails in the country, the Oystercatcher Trail (www.nightjartravel.com/slackpacking/western-cape). Bookings are now open.

See http://humanorigin.co.za/

www.visitmosselbay.co.za 

 

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This walking trail on the Robberg peninsula, just outside Plettenberg Bay, must be one of the most stunning and most easily accessible hikes along the entire South African coast.  As you walk, marvel at the indigenous fynbos, revel in the secluded coves and beaches and discover a whole new world sea creatures, like the Cape fur seals that frolic in the surf. You may also be tempted by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean after you’ve completed a few of the trail’s steeper ascents! There are three routes of different lengths and degrees of difficulty to choose from; ensuring that there are suitable options for everyone, from families to experienced trail runners (http://www.nightjartravel.com/trail-running/robberg-express-trail-event).

 – Dianne Tipping-Woods

 

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There are few beaches that rival Dalyan Beach in Turkey. Most beaches are commercialised and one has to enter a restaurant and pay for something on the menu before entering the beach. Dalyan's simplicity is its draw-factor. It is not crowded with restaurants whose music turns into a cacophony when played all at once. Even the hundreds of thatch umbrellas that line the beach are natural-looking. The sand is scorching hot, so it is best to stay on the wooden boardwalk that leads to the shore. Once you get to the water, you cannot help but gasp at the sight that greets you: an expansive Mediterranean Sea inviting you to wade in its still waters.

 – Pasqua Heard

Photographer: Jane Jager – Dalyan Beach, Turkey

 

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Hands up those of you who love sushi? Well how about learning the craft? The Nuri Sushi Factory hosts sushi classes every second Wednesday at it’s recently opened premises Cape Town and they are a hoot. Wannabe sushi chefs are given aprons, super sharp knifes and an array of spices and sauces then, after demonstrations of how to make tempura prawn rolls and other delights, let loose. The results from the launch evening were surprisingly good. The creative juices flowed and the resulting specialty rolls not only looked good, they tasted superb.

The next class is on Wednesday the 24th of April @7pm. R300 a class.
Call 021 461 8719/078 374 5034 to book.
Nuri Sushi Factory, 8 Parliament Street, Cape Town is open Monday to Saturday, 12pm – 9pm.

 - Fiona McIntosh

 

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The Mediterranean is a must-see. Unlike South Africa's majestic, thrashing seas, the Med is smooth and one can swim with minimum effort for miles. For the ultimate Mediterranean experience, one should hire a boat for the day. There is nothing better than lazing on a deck and enjoying Turkey's sunshine whilst knowing that back home in South Africa it is freezing. When the heat gets too much, you can simply drop your anchor and hop overboard for a dip in the clear waters. You may have a visit from local ice-cream sellers who travel via speedboat to their customers – so be sure to take extra Liras on board!

 - Pasqua Heard

Photographer: Jane Jager – A day on the Mediterranean in Bodrum, Turkey

 

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Every so often I come across something that I just want to get involved in. So I’ve pencilled in 22-27 April to join a group of intrepid Waddlers who will be waddling from Gansbaai to Simon’s Town raising awareness about the plight of the endangered African penguin.

The Penguin Promises Waddle for a week is an AKAA (Animal Keepers Association of Africa) initiative. The group of sixteen tackling the 120km walk consists of animal keepers and animal enthusiasts from around South Africa. Representing uShaka Sea World in Durban are Gabrielle Harris (and her son, Kai), Jane Dlamini, Peter Baloi, Tarryn Abrahams, Paul Lotter and Natasha Lotter. The team from the Two Oceans Aquarium comprises Hayley McLellan, Steven Casper, Nasmie Simons, Fiona McLellan and Katja Rockstroh. Nikki Chapman of Brands for Change and June Smith, Andrea Cronje and Carol Ellerker from Biggarsberg will also be waddling with the group.

You can join the The Waddlers and show your support at any stage. The group will leave from Muizenberg at 09h00 on the final day of the Waddle, Saturday 27 April, and aim to reach Simon’s Town by 13h00. They would love any Capetonians, dressed in black and white, to join them.

The Penguin Promises Waddle for a Week campaign, sponsored by CapeNature and Chrysler Jeep Dodge – Newlands, is not a fund-raising campaign, rather it focuses on raising awareness about the plight of the African penguin. Current data suggests that there are only about 60,000 of these endemic birds left on southern African shores and scientists believe that they could be extinct in the wild within 20 years. Overfishing, climate change, pollution and habitat destruction are just some of the factors taking their toll on the species. “We call on all South Africans to promise to make a change in their daily lives that will effect positive change in the environment and in the lives of African penguins. People are encouraged to promise to stop using plastic drinking straws, to eat only SASSI-green listed seafood (or to stop eating seafood altogether!) or to stop using single use plastic bags for shopping. These changes can have an immense positive impact when they are made collectively,” said Hayley McLellan, Senior Bird Trainer at the Two Oceans Aquarium. “We urge people to support Penguin Promises by sending their promise to [email protected]”. Come on Capetonians, lets all waddle together.

Find out more at www.penguinpromises.com, www.aquarium.co.za

 - Fiona McIntosh