Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

Water sport: Boat trips down the Klein River or bird-watching cruises come highlyrecommended. Kayaking also allows one to venture closer to the birds without disturbingthem.Stanford Walking Trail: The trail meanders along the Klein River and allows undisturbed birdwatching.ART AND CRAFTSCraft shops: With such unusual names as “Dowies” and “The Laughing Lamb”, the town’scraft shops are bound to sell some very interesting craft items.Earthship House: The house in the Chaynouqa Private Nature Reserve was built entirely ofrecycled materials. It also makes use of rainwater and solar power.Sir Robert Stanford’s Home of Art, Crafts and Collectables: The works of local artists andcrafters are sold here.Stanford Trading Post and New Junk: The stores exhibits and sells, amongst others, Africancrafts.CUISINEBirkenhead Micro-brewery: Enjoy the special and unique brews produced at this estate.Klein River Dairy’s Cheese Shop: This petite shop sells South African-made Gruyère andLeiden cheeses.Wine-tasting: Wine-tastings are offered by the Springfontein Wine Farm and Erica Wines.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMMarket Square: The square, once the place where ox-wagons were unhitched duringNagmaal (Communion Services), today hosts events such as the Stanford Heritage Festival,held here annually on the last Saturday in October.FAUNA AND FLORASalmonsdam Nature Reserve: Just beyond Stanford lies the Salmonsdam Nature Reserve.The mountain fynbos vegetation sustains many small mammals such as the bontebok as wellas various bird species. The Cape sugarbird and orange-breasted and malachite sunbird areoften seen here. The black harrier inhabits the more marshy patches and giant proteas alsogrow in the reserve. The three-day hiking trails explore the reserve.Fynbos Ecotourism Route: The endangered blue crane is but one of the rare inhabitants tolook out for on this route.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAnglican Church: The building, originally a mission school, was converted into a church in1872.Bachelor’s Hope: The building at 19 Morton Street was built in 1902 as a town house. In the1930s it was jokingly called Bachelor’s Hope as many of the female teachers who lived therecame eventually married the local bachelors.150