peter.giddy@gmail.com
In association with SA Guided Tours
petergiddy@saguidedtours.com
Shore Excursions -- We meet Cruise ships docking in the Port Elizabeth Harbour and offer some of the following activities. Transport and professional guiding as well as meeting individual needs.
Addo Elephant and Kragga Kamma Wildlife Reserves; Historical and Cultural City and Township Tours; Walks and Hikes; Garden Route tours; Airport and Hotel Transfers. Pumba; Lalibela; Shamwari; Amakhala; Touch Farm for children.
SPANISH TRANSLATOR AVAILABLE
PORT ELIZABETH; GARDEN ROUTE AND CAPE TOWN TOURS
- Things to do
- Safari; Addo Elephant Park
- Kragga Kamma wildlife reserve
- Township and City Tours
- Garden Route and adventures
- Airport And Hotel or Safari Transfers
Positive comments from guests who were with me recently, makes it worthwhile to spend time and effort into making their visit a really special one:
From Pilar
Dear Peter
We have arrived home safe and happy to have spent these last days with you in the Eastern Cape. For us it has also been really special to share our time with you, I have learnt a lot from you and not just about Port Elisabeth neither the South African history but about life and how to face it, which is much more important! I feel really grateful of having had the opportunity of meeting you, perhaps this was the only purpose to visit South Africa after all. Who knows…
AND -- From Felizia
Hello Peter; How are you? Would you (no other guides) have time for an Addo Elephant National Park Full Day tour on Monday 21st?
August 2017
Tuesday 1st
Matt takes one of his Nieces for a holiday and this year it is for Liz. She is 17 and doing final year school and then training to be a Travel Nurse. We had a good morning of Wildlife viewing including this pic taken at Spekboom where we were able to see Elephant up Close and personal.
+-*/9
Daniel wants to do a bit of Kicking Practice so we cycle to Grey and he has some really good practice time. We then cycle around the school.
Wednesday 2nd August. This morning I pick up Robin and Dave and we drive to Royalston Wildlife reserve and Estate. We sign the indemnity forms and drive into the reserve. We find the Walks and Trails parking and then meet up with the rest of the walkers. Today we are 25 hikers.
The day is perfect for a walk. Not too hot but a warm winters day. An no wind to talk about.
So we start walking at 8.30. The trail is mainly jeep tracks which is mainly soft sea sand and occasional loam. Mostly we are under the canopy so not too much sun.
A very hilly trail. Few areas which could be called flat. And the hills are steep up and down. Not at all easy walking.
We start at WGC and then regroup at the Containers
Royalston Hiking Trail.
The morning walk is a great outing which I thoroughly enjoy. Continuous chatter with the group; meeting new people and talking about lives and interests.
Walking in this group today -- Dave X 4; Peter X 3; Jim X 2; Robin; Jenny; Di; Ralph; Julian; Manny; Reg; Keith; Neomi; Lucy; Julia; Flo; Cheryl; Margrietha; Ina; Shielah; -- 25 hikers.
Later this afternoon I cycle from Walmer Golf Course along the Bakens River cycle track to the Containers and then around the circuit. The group does the scary part where I am not yet confident and so I continue back to the containers. In the group -- Johan; Ian and Martin who I have met before. Dee joins the group at the containers. There are 13 in the group.
Pierre stays with me and we cycle back to WGC -- Cycling this way takes me just on 90minutes including stops.
I am having so much fun on this track as they have laid it out so that we can cycle in safety while enjoying the adventure of obstacles.
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| Alan points across into the valley |
Thursday Hiking group. We start near to the Third Ave Dip off Handsworth. Alan has arranged for two park rangers to be our guides. This morning there are 17 walkers. We walk down the dip and up to the Walmer Downs side before taking a left turn into the valley. We walk along the ridge on the west side of the valley. And then left turn at the "pile of stones" and down to Dodds Farm. We stop for a rest and snack before continuing up the hill and back to the Pipe. This takes us into Linkside at Carnoustie Ave. The last bit of the walk is on the road back to the cars.
Afternoon rugby kicking practice with Daniel.
Friday morning. First a Dole Collection. Then documents received for University Moderation. And then I have an Addo Tour for just one lady -- Magali from Toulouse in South of France. She is a French Language teacher. She read a Travel Blog by someone called Marie who I had done a Addo Schotia tour with and who recommended me.
At Domkrag Dam we find the bench dedicated to Craig. It is the first time that I see it there.
Barbara leaves early for Plett and then Stellenbosch before continuing on to Cape Town where they stay over with Nicky.
Saturday -- Rained all night. I am fortunate to have some University Paper Moderation to do. This is where I keep my numerical and logical thought processes going. It takes me all morning until 2pm to complete the two papers. This is a first in this discipline as someone else resigned from this work so it was handed to me last minute for exams due next week. Lene and family attends the funeral of her cousin Chanel who died of cancer during the week.
Sunday 6th.
I have an Addo Tour with three youngsters. Giliam is from France and just completed his Pharmacy Degree. Johanna and Bekkie have just completed high school and on a bit of a break before starting the next phase of their lives.
Church this evening with Jean and Liesl Nel.
Monday 7th.
Barbara and I have been married 40 years.
It is Ally's 20th Birthday.
They are both in Cape Town staying with Nicky. Later they move across to Stellenbosch where Barbara has found a B 'n B for the night.
I am up and ready early -- Do some Dole Work and then meet Frank at 1st Avenue to pick up some Dutch tourists who want a Township Tour. We are in two vehicles as it is a large Family. We start off at the South End Museum where Frank explains to them how the area was flattened and then rebuilt to what it is now and how the Mosques survived. We then continue up Uitenhage road and past Kenako and the Missionvale campus. Then into Zwide and down Daku road to the School where we are met by Nomakwezi who takes us for a tour of the school. Children sing for us and one of the Dutch children, Fkeur, has brought some clothing which she hands to the school.
We then visit Ayanda's pottery and pass the Red Location Museum and back to the B'nB.
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| TWO PEOPLE SERIOUSLY INJURED. IN TOTAL 6 SERIOUS INJURIES. |
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| TWO MANGLED AVANZA'S. FOUR PASSENGERS OF ONE OF THEM DIED. |
Pilar needs some medication which Earl kindly helps us with. We continue to Port Alfred with a stop at the Padstal (Isabelle MacDonald). She is in Franshoek for a break so her daughter, Nadia, assists us. We end up buying three bags of oranges. I also buy a bottle of pineapple chutney and a Venison Pie.
We continue to Port Alfred and then 9km further on is Oceana where they will be staying for 3 nights. It is a wildlife reserve and hotel.
Manuel and I drive home. By the time we reach Alexandria it is dark so I continue at my normal speed of around 80 to 90kph. No rushing to overtake -- a steady speed. And as we pass Nanaga I think to myself how strange it is that there is no traffic coming our way. This continues past Kinklebos Stasie. I am behind a truck that puts on hazard lights so we slow down and then complete stop.
Ahead we see blue police lights and get out of the car to look ahead what is happening. Finally after 45 minutes the cars are allowed to continue. The trucks (probably hundreds of them by now) are backed up in both directions and cannot move. We inch forward until we reach the accident and we can see what is going on. There is a huge pantechnicon that is on its side and across the road. To one side is a Mazda SUV in the ditch. Under the front of the truck is a bakkie. On the other side we see a couple of crumpled cars and what appears to be bodies under space blankets.
There must have been upwards of 20 emergency vehicles; ambulances; tow trucks and police vehicles. But nothing that would be able to move the big truck that blocked the road.
We drive back home and I finally get into bed after 9.30 exhausted.
Lindsay Ziehl writes:
My next incredible woman in Port Elizabeth is Barbara Giddy. What a wonderful lady she is. Always there for lost, broken and homeless animals. From Owls to dogs, cats, little chicks and if given the chance, lions if they needed help. Barbara has a heart of pure gold, full of kindness and love. She is a fantastic human being.
Tuesday 8th.
For the first time in weeks I am up early for a run. A short run around Linkside but at least I am out and running. Then Chris fetches myself and Stefany and we cycle the Kings Beach to Recife route. .
I fetch Barbara from the Airport. She leaves Ally, who now has the Opel Bakkie in Stellenbosch, to get on with her studies.
Braai to celebrate Womens Day tomorrow and our anniversary yesterday.
Wednesday
YAY !!! running again. A short and slow run with Chris, Liesl, Mike and Lindi.
And a Kragga Kamma tour this morning. Felix (Hippo) from Germany who is a retail manager and on three months holiday. And Volodymyr from Ukraine who is boarding a MSC ship and will work on the ship as an Engineer for the next three months.
Later I meet Johan and others at WGC for a Bakens Valley Cycle. We cycle all the way to William Moffet and then a circuit to the 3rd Ave Dip and up the other side to the PEGC for a circuit. They cycle back but it is too much for me and I cycle home and Lene drops me off to fetch my car.
Thursday 10th.
Leave home early. Drive to Oceana Port Alfred and arrive exactly at 9.00am. Back to Addo for an Elephant Safari with Jordi and Pilar. Picnic lunch in Addo and then back to drop them off at the Boardwalk. A successful day with close up of Elephant.
Friday. Collect Jordi and Pilar from the Hotel and we meet Jake the Skipper and Kelly (Crew) of the Raggy Charters Ocean Safari. Jake gives us a bit of background and we board together with the other 6 tourists. The weather looks perfect and almost windless.
Jake takes the route close to the Western side of the bay where we soon see a large spread out group of Dolphins. We continue to the coega Harbour and on to Hahleel Island. And then onwards to St Croix island where we again see Dolphins. It appears that this is a nursery of dolphins as they are smaller and stay in a tight group close to the rocks. Around the Island we see the penguins and other sea birds nesting. Jake identifies a big brown bird that follows us for a while -- Southern Artic Skua which is a bit of a pest as it eats the eggs of the penguin chicks.
Jake receives a message to say that the wind is picking up earlier than expected so instead of looking for whales in the second half of the trip, we head straight back for the harbour. It is a long, bumpy and at times, scary, ride as the size of the waves launch us into the next wave with a thud.
Back in the harbour we are all safe and no mishaps. Jordi, Pilar and I have lunch at the Yacht club before doing a short Cultural City Tour including climbing the lighthouse, viewing the Drill hall, Castle Street Museum and the fort. However everyone is a bit tired and ready for a rest so we end the tour early. Lessons learned from Pilar and Jordi
- They live in a small state in the Pyrenees Mountains bordering Spain and France called Andorra.
- See you later -- Hasta Luego
- Lets Go -- Vamonos
- And Lets Go in Catalan is ANEM.
- Catalonia is an Autonomous Community within Spain. Barcelona and Tarragona are in Catalonia which is the richest area in Spain. There are about 14 of these Autonomous Communities.
Saturday 12th. Meet at Grey for a short run with Mike, Lindi, Michelle Sievright and her friend Rene, Viv, Susan who is back from her trip overseas where she competed in transplant games and did very well, Stefany and Liesl. Chris is off with a bit of flu and missed the run. Adrienne is off to Jeffreys to open a new parkrun.
We watch Joshua and Daniel play rugby (U13 B team). This morning they are playing Westering. The last number of matches I have watched have been all in favour of Westering but today there is a back and forth as each side scores and the score with a few minutes to go is 10 - 10. Clarendon are defending with all their strength. And then they manage to score in the corner making the final score 15 - 10 in Clarendon's favour.
Joshua has a great game, passing and tacking. At one time he is under all the boys after a try saving tackle and I thought that he would come up injured. But no, he was up and running. And he had a great break where he had the ball and on his way to the try line when a Westering boy grabbed hold of his shorts, nearly pulling them off, and Josh went down.
Daniel came on as Replacement Scrumhalf. He plays well in this position, grabbing the ball at every opportunity and also had a try saving tackle as he jumped onto the back of an opposition player.
Johan sets co-ordinates so that he can report the drain leak.
Herald newspaper of 29th August 2017:
Port Elizabeth's Golden Girl, Nosipho Bell defended her SA junior lightweight title for the third time by a knockout against the formed number one contender in Limpopo on Saturday 26th August. An enormous right hook by Bell in the 8th round saw Muleba drop to the canvas, losing the bout by a TKO.
Coach Ntante reported: We were fortunate that Bell's fitness was on par and we managed to outbox her in the last four rounds.
Bell is the only SA Champion to hail from the Eastern Cape. She wants to defend her title one more time before contending for an international fight.
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| NOSIPHO BELL I found this report in the Sowetan 28.2.2017 |
I meet up with Nosipho Bell who is a boxer and her coach is giving her 10 reps of the steep gravel section from Dodds farm to 9th Ave.
I am exhausted but had a great work out this afternoon.
Monday 14th. One year anniversary of Ena's death. She lived for 100 years and 45 days. short run and walk with Chris and Lindi; Dole; Landrover starting trouble seems to have resolved itself; trying out Shara's brothers farming Gods Way (starting with Spinach and Tomatoes); Making a batch of Rusks; Evening fellowship.
Joshua and Daniel are taken to the stadium to meet and watch the Springbok Rugby team in practice for their upcoming international match against the Argentina Pumas. They have a great outing where they obtain signatures from the team members as well.
Van Staden Flower reserve hiking trail. I join five others for a Wednesday Walk. It is a cool overcast day and we have a good walk in the now fire ravaged valley. I end the walk with car trouble as the Landrover key refuses to turn and then I also have starting trouble. Finally I get the vehicle to the locksmith and later to the auto Electrician. A busy day ended with a chicken curry which I bought from a place that I have not been to before.
On the trail with me today -- Val; Paul; Grant; Ralph and Dave
Thursday -- It has rained solidly all night. I have an Addo Safari with Rinska (A remedial teacher from the Netherlands and Florence (A French girl; recently graduated Marketing intern with Parmalat who is working in Germany). These two met in Cintsa near East London and travelled together for a short while. They now split up again but hopefully will remain long term friends. Today we are very fortunate as, despite the rain, we see Lions -- we see them in action as they try to hunt down a wise Warthog who out smarts and out runs them, Elephant and Buffalo up close to the car. We also see a number of other wildlife including Jackal feeding on a dead Pumba. All these sightings are up close to the vehicle. Overall a successful day.
Friday I have a Township Tour with Melina and Isabelle -- two German girls on Holiday in South Africa. Taking part in all kinds of adventures. We visit the Museum; a Township Creche; Township history and activity; Schools and the background of the poorest parts of Townships in PE.
Saturday 19th. We have been waiting for this day --- the Springbok Rugby team take on the Argentina's Pumas.
I am linesman for the First and Second teams. This is a duty I enjoy but am pretty much leg tired at the end of the sessions.
I meet a Student Teacher at Herbert Hurd (Sinjin Greyvenstein), also a linesman this morning, who is an ex Dale Boy and played for Border and Free State until he was injured. He is now studying with UNISA to be a teacher and hopes to be a positive part of the Coaching in Schoolboy Rugby.
Morning run with Chris; Mike; Lindi; Liesl and Michelle. We run 8km in an hour with stops to walk.
Joshua and Daniel are playing rugby at Herbert Hurd.
This afternoon our whole family goes to watch the Springbok Rugby team play Argentina at the Nelsom Mandela Stadium. Not at all an easy game however the SA team end up comfortable winners. We have two local, ex Grey, boys in the team with Siya Kolisi and Curwin Bosch.
The last two weeks of August I am on a Garden Route Tour with a family.
Plettenbergbay; Wilderness; Hermanus and Cape Town. We do all kinds of activities from Hiking to Quad Bikes; Zip Lines to Monkeys and Whale Watching. Some of the tour is set back by cold and wet weather but overall it is a successful tour.
August -- Thursday 31st. I fly home from Cape Town.
While I am in Wilderness I receive this message from Barbara:
Felt so humbled this morning. Long story so I will plough through it.
Driving along a road in Walmer I pass an African lady standing on the pavement looking so dejected. Not asking for a lift, just standing. I drive past and then reversed and asked if I could take her anywhere. Her name is Anushka.
Anushka: Thanks, As far as you are going.
Me: Walmer park okay?
Anushka: Thanks
Me: Where did you walk from?
Anushka: Summerstrand (for information this is about 10km)
Me: That's a long way to walk. Where are you going?
Anushka: Back to Seaview
Me: Why did you go to Summerstrand?
Anushka: To see someone about a job, But I didn't get it. -- Breaks down in tears. Madam, please pray for me.
Silence for a while.
Me. Do you have children?
Anushka: A little girl of one named Sami
Me: Where is Sami?
Anushka: I left her under a tree and a neighbour is watching. Too far for her to walk.
Me: Why do you call it your tree?
Anushka: That's where Sami and I live. Under the tree. When I get a job I can buy the Wendy House in my Neighbours yard. The one who is watching Sami for me. Then will register it with the Township Council and we will be safe at night.
Me: how are you getting back to Seaview?
Anushka: Walking. I can walk fast on my own (for information this is about 20km)
Silence
Me; Come with me to Walmer Park and I will give you taxi fare.
Anushka: Tears
Me: As a matter of interest how much do you need to pay for the Wendy House in Seaview Township?
Anushka: R450
Me: My turn to cry. I withdraw R500 and told her to go and buy herself the house and use the R50 to get home to Sami.
Anushka: Falls on her knees in a heap of tears. On the floor in the mall. And we part ways.
How unbalanced life is. Lets all keep Anushka and Sami in our prayers and thank God every day for our blessings.
Thursday 31st. My touring family who I have been with for the past 11 days leaves for home from the Cape Town Airport. A little later I too fly home to Port Elizabeth.
It has been a tough two weeks with my left leg injury and unbearable pain at times. At the same time I have been suffering with a sore mouth as my lips must have chaffed during a hike or similar and this has caused me pain and discomfort for the whole of this tour.
Ally has her Hockey End of season function and looks gorgeous as you can see in her pics here.
Meanwhile Nicky flies off to Jhb for a function she is arranging.
Meanwhile, Jacqui and her family are in Romania for a three week holiday and making the most of their time there.
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