Peter Giddy Guided Tours. Walks and hiking tours. van Stadens Flower reserve -- Things to do in Port Elizabeth.

Things to do in Port Elizabeth

Peter; Marina and Elsa at the van Stadens Bird Hide.

Peter Giddy Guided Tours. Walks and hiking tours.  van Stadens Flower reserve

• On holiday in Port Elizabeth?
• Are you keen to see a bit of the outdoors and nature surrounding PE?
• Would you like to meet and chat to locals?
• And are you interested in a bit of light exercise?

If the answer is YES  --- Then join Peter Giddy Guided Tours for a special outing such as the one described below...... Certainly if Marina is testimony; you will have a wonderful 2 to 3 hours of hiking.
peter.giddy@gmail.com
0027 082 550 3174

Thursday 31st October 2019

I meet Marina, who is in South Africa from Moscow, Russia for a two week holiday.

 It is the season for the Pin Cushion Protea.

Flowers in the foreground and Lady Slipper mountain in the background.

We hike the Van Stadens Flower reserve.
We meet the group of Karen; Lynn; Helena; Bennie; Elsa; Jenny and Sheila and others at 9am.
We walk the Fynbos River Trail which contours the River Valley and then moves under the Van Stadens bridge over to the South side where we walk through the indigenous forest for the second half of the trail. 

 We start our walk at 9am.  It is still a little overcast.  Sheila and Jenny are at the back with us.

 We find this termite hill.  Not often we see the termites at work.    https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/southern-africa/species-browser/2983/termitidae

 The contour path above the river valley.

 Marina stops to take multiple pics.

 Here we make a left turn going up to the gravel road.  The Boulder walk carries on straight.

 Jenny and Sheila are up ahead of us.

 Marina loves the pin cushion protea.

 Marina finds a King Protea.

 The King Protea is the South African national flower.

 At the break we stop for a top up of water and possibly a snack.

 After the break we walk underneath the van Stadens River bridge and over to the Woodridge side of the valley.

 We decide to try a new trail  ... I have never walked the Forest Walk before.  As it turns out it is a simply wonderful trail.  There are slippery parts and you need to be careful when descending.

 We continue down to the Trail below.

 Beautiful canopies of indigenous forests covered with vines and overhanging trees.

 The down hill pathways are often the most tricky and one needs to exercise caution.  As it was most of us slipped at one stage or another.

We detour to see the bird hide.  Marina is in the hide but we dont spend enough time here to see birds.

Pond Lillies at the Van Stadens Flower reserve bird Hide.


Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- Shore Excursions -- Addo Elephant and other Wildlife Reserves -- Garden Route.  Flowers of Namaqualand -- 

0027 (0) 82 55 03 714    Whatsup

peter.giddy@gmail.com

• Addo Elephant Park Day Visit and Night drive. 
• Kragga Kamma Wildlife Reserve
• Daniel Cheetah Project
• Pumba; Shamwari; Amakhala; Kariega -- Day trips Private Reserves.
• Three day tour of Mountain Zebra Park. Graaff Reinet, Nieu Bethesda and Addo. 
• City Historical and Cultural Tours, 
• Horse riding for both experienced and inexperienced riders
• Hikes and Walks around Port Elizabeth (2 hour Nature and Coastal walks)
• Garden Route Adventure Tours (Zip Lines; Segway  in the Forest; Adventure Quad Biking; Bridge Walks; Bungy Jump; Knysna Elephant Park; Monkey Land and Birds of Eden; Big Cats Sanctuary; Oudtshoorn Cango Caves and Ostrich farms)
• Shore Excursions from Passengers ships
• Transfers. Airport; Hotel and Wildlife Reserve.
• Flowers of Namaqualand.  Seven days of adventure and exploring places and sights you never even knew existed.  History and natural beauty of the South West of South Africa
• Karoo to Garden Route. Six days of fun and activities.  Prince Albert; Swartberg Pass; Die Hell; Oudtshoorn; Prince Alfred pass; Plett and Tsitsikamma. 

Website --   petergiddyguidedtours.wordpress.com

For tours and bookings.. email me at.    peter.giddy@gmail.com

Contact me on Whatsup....  +27 (0) 825503174

Our group at the half way break.  Marina; Elsa; Karen and Helena and myself.  Pic taken by Bennie.