of Special Interest - South Africa West Coast Hub

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of Special Interest

huis van roeden

BACKGROUND

After Mr Arnold & Mrs Doetje Wissink were both victims to cancer, Mrs Wissink decided to leave the usufruct of her property to her capable care-giver, Mrs Jul-Andra van Dyk to create a home for people suffering just as they did. This was also intended as compensation for Jul-Andra’s free, care-giving service extended to her during the last 18 months of Mrs Wissink’s life. Mrs Wissink felt that she was treated with love and respect, thereby retaining her dignity during her illness, these are the type of things she wanted to share with others in the same position. It has always been Jul-Andra’s dream to have a care-giving facility, now Doetje’s gift of love to her will become a gift of love to our community.

Huis van Roeden (Mrs Wissink’s maiden name) is in progress. Terminally ill, post-operative people and the aged will be amongst those taken care of, look at the following:

”Stepdown” means people who need care after operations or who had strokes and people with injuries who need to adapt to their new circumstances.
Children can leave their disabled, elderly parents for a period whilst taking a well deserved break, we understand the difficulties of caring for the aged...
”Chronic” means people with illnesses like cancer, or the aged who need constant TLC (tender loving care) and will stay for long periods.
Our referral system ensures that Hospice, Social workers, Doctors and Churches have access to our services. Because the nearest care facility to Velddrif is +- 25 km’s away and often too expensive for the people of our immediate community, we pledge our services to the people of Velddrif, Laaiplek, Port Owen, Dwarskersbos Hopefield and Redelinghuys.
We also feed 8 hungry, jobless families daily.

Whilst care–giving is a wonderful means of serving people, one has to remain objective and realistic, nothing happens without the help of people such as yourself. The house must be adjusted, renovated and changed into a place where we can accommodate wheelchairs, hospital beds and of course visitors. This means that we will have to erect new buildings, like bathrooms and a laundry, acquire hospital beds, bedding, washing machines and so on... Any contribution is valuable to us, please see how you can help us to build and sustain this much needed facility for the people of Velddrif and surrounds. Any crockery, cutlery or whatever you can spare or sponsor, do not throw your white elephants away, put them into the Van Roeden bin, we collect! Items we cannot use will be sold and the funds put towards the home. Food, food, food always food!! This is the main reason we are looking for monthly cash contributions and goods to sell.

Our vision of opening a farm stall where we can sell our home-made goods and a ”Tea Stop” and a vegable garden is being fulfilled. We will be "open for business in December 2009.

HUIS VAN ROEDEN in Velddrif has finally received its Section 21 name and registration number to aid us in collecting and raising funds for the livelihood of this place of care for the aged.

The name is: "Keep The Dream 276" - trading as Huis van Roeden - with

Registration number 2009218218

Contact Person: Jul-Andra van Dyk
Phone: 0723319255
Fax: 086 513 9395
Mobile Nu: 072 3319255

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BETHESDA - BERGRIVER ASSOCIATION FOR persons with disabilities

HISTORY
In June 1987, Berg River disabled opened its doors at St. Christopher’s church in Laaiplek to offer a work and training environment for persons with disabilities. They were soon able to acquire there own premises at 34 church street, Velddrif, with help from the municipality and various mother donors. The name changed to BETHESDA workshop for the Physically disabled and was registered as a non –profit organization t/a Bethesda workshop. Today it stands known as the Bergriver association for persons with disabilities.

AIM
Bethesda aims to provide employment for persons with disabilities residing in Velddrif and surrounds.

Bethesda offers the following services to the pubic –
• Laundry
• Crafters – cushion covers, table cloths, t-shits, place mats, aprons
• Woodworking – restores old furniture etc
• Sandblasting

Please contact us for more information about services offered.

Contact Person: Donald
Phone: 022 783 0420
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the langebaan lagoon

How does the Lagoon keep its colour, so clear and bright? The Langebaan Lagoon is one of three lagoons worldwide that is nourished by the sea and not by a river. What makes the lagoon so unique is that there is no river-mouth or fresh water flowing from the land into the sea. The Lagoon exists thanks to massive changes in sea-level over millions of years.

When the sea waters retreated the low lying land was covered in sea-sand. With time the wind blew to such an extent that large dunes formed along the coastline. At one stage the sea broke through the rocky hills at the mouth of Saldanha Bay and the sea into the low lying land alongside the large dunes that today form the Langebaan Peninsula.

This Peninsula is also known as the Postberg Nature Reserve and lies adjacent to the West Coast National Park. The Postberg area is only open to the public for approximately two months of the year during flower season.

the wonderful berg river wetlands

The Berg River estuary is one of only four perennial estuaries on the arid southwestern coast of Africa between the Cape of Good Hope and Angola (2000 km), and it is the most important estuary for waterbirds in this region. The wetlands satisfy several criteria for Ramsar designation, but the area has no official conservation status and lacks a management plan. SFR 40,000 will be used for conservation management of these Lower Berg River Wetlands.

The project’s objective is to identify the spatial and seasonal distributions of key feeding/breeding/roosting sites for waterbirds, and to prepare an effective management plan. All local landowners are keen that the area receive official protection; they have not only signed a Ramsar designation proposal but are also in the process of forming a conservation body, one of the aims of which is to develop a management plan. This will maximize the effectiveness of community-based conservation and strengthen the case for the area’s designation as a Wetland of International Importance.

“Why is the Lower Berg River so special” and “Why should it be protected” are often asked?
In fact, the whole of the West Coast is a birder’s paradise all the year round.
There are the thousands of waders which come from the Russian Arctic to spend their summers feeding on the prolific mudflats of the Berg River estuary.

HOME GROWN ST HELENA BAY PROFESSIONALS ACHIEVE WORLD CLASS BOATBUILDING RESULTS

St Helena Bay 26 March 2007 http://www.mtu.co.za/

Given the production tempo of the Tallie Marine shipyard, the staff at Tallie Marine rigidly apply teamwork principles - in fact their livelihoods were created by teamwork and still depend on it today. The present day 100 person staff complement of Tallie Marine was founded on a small team consisting of Anton Tallie and an assistant supported by his wife Rinette. The assistant subsequently advanced to the position of hydraulic system specialist with Rinette now managing the company finances and son Antonie in charge of production. A number of other family members hold key positions in the Tallie Marine team.

dassen island

Dassen Island lies 9 km off the coast, almost directly opposite the village of Yzerfontein. It is 55 km north of Cape Town, about halfway between Table Bay and Saldanha Bay. With an area of 273 ha, it is the second largest of the offshore islands. It is generally flat and sandy, apart from patches of exposed bedrock, and some areas strewn with huge granite boulders.

At the start of the 20th century, Dassen Island was home to well over a million African Penguins. At this time, about 600 000 penguin eggs were harvested each year. This rate of utilization was not sustainable. As the population size declined, the number of eggs decreased steadily, and egg harvests from Dassen Island finally ended in 1967.

Environment of Dassen Island
Anton Wolfaardt

Sail to the wildlife paradise of Dassen Island, the home to 68 000 African penguins.

The African penguin is endangered as a result of oil spills and the collecting of their eggs in the first half of the 20 th century. The most recent threat for penguins are the fierce competition with some commercial fishing practices.

The following is an extract of the Dassen Island Management plan:

Topography and Geology

Dassen Island is approximately 220 hectares in size, and is about 3.2 kilometers long and 1.6 kilometers wide. The island is flat and low-lying, the highest point above sea level being only 19 meters.

The island is formed on a granite base and is predominantly sandy with patches of exposed rock mainly along the shore. The geology of the island comprises predominantly fine-grained tourmaline-granite with a few areas of biotite granite (McClachlan 1949)(Figure 2). The granites found in the interior of the island have weathered into flat exfoliated masses, some of which form temporary pans in winter. The granites found along the coast, to just above the high-water mark, consist of large, rounded boulders.

The central part of the island is covered primarily with coarse, shell-derived sediments, with small areas covered by recent limestone sediments. A small outcrop of ferricrete occurs about 180m south of House Bay

Climate

Dassen Island experiences a temperate, Mediterranean-type climate, with warm, dry summer and cool, relatively wet winter seasons. The warmest mean monthly temperatures are normally recorded from January until March, with the lowest being recorded in July (see Figure 3a). The cold Atlantic Ocean has a tempering effect on temperatures.

The rainfall occurs as a result of cold fronts moving in from the south Atlantic Ocean. Most of the rain occurs from May until September, normally peaking in July, although there is some inter-annual variation in the time of this peak (see Figure 3b). The mean annual rainfall for the period 1990-1999 at Dassen Island was about 330 mm.

Northerly and north-westerly winds predominate in winter. In summer southerly and south-westerly winds dominate. The incidence of calms is greatest in the spring months, from September until November.

Flora

Very little is known about the vegetation on the island before it was first visited by the European seafarers in the early 1600s. It is known that the island was naturally vegetated (Brooke and Prins 1986). The environment on Dassen Island is relatively disturbed compared to the continental mainland, due mostly to the impact of the large seabird colonies – both directly in the form of trampling, and indirectly due to the high levels of nutrients in the guano. Human-related disturbance, such as farming activities and the establishment of gardens in the past, rabbit activity and a relatively harsh climate have all contributed to disrupting the naturally occurring patterns of vegetation. Consequently, the flora that has developed on the island has had to be tolerant of the above factors.

Invertebrates

Very little is known about the terrestrial invertebrates of Dassen Island. The taxa that have been recorded on the island are included in Appendix 2. A total of 7 alien invertebrates have been recorded (Brooke and Prins 1986, Appendix 2). A recent investigation of the Coleoptera (beetles) living in the nests of African Penguins has produced some interesting results. These include the discovery of a new species of Histeridae Atribalus wolfaardti, and the discovery of the unknown larva of Hypocaccus brasiliensis (Perreau, 2000 in litt.) A survey of the remaining orders of terrestrial invertebrates present on the island and their role in the ecological processes on the island is necessary.

Reptiles

Five reptile species have been reported in recent years (see Appendix 3). Three of these, the Angulate Tortoise Chersina angulata, Gronovis Dwarf Burrowing Skink Scelotes gronovi and the Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko Phyllodactus porphyreus, are presently common, although the dwarf burrowing skink is included in the South African Red Data Book for Reptiles and Amphibians due to its restricted distribution (Branch 1988). The island population of Angulate Tortoises is particularly dense in comparison with mainland populations. Branch (1991) suggests that the Angulate Tortoise was deliberately introduced to the island between 1896 and 1929, but others feel that the species is probably "indigenous" (Brooke and Prins 1986, E.Baard, pers. comm.). A research project aiming to, among other things, ascertain the origin of the tortoises on the Island is presently underway. The Rock Agama Agama atra has been recorded on the island in the past, but Branch (1991) considers this record to be doubtful. A Cape Skink Mabuya capensis was observed on the island in December 1997 (J. Kemper, pers. comm.) This is the only record of this species on the island.

Birds

Birds dominate the vertebrate fauna of Dassen Island, both in terms of diversity and numbers. Appendix 4 provides a checklist of birds that have been recorded on the Island. The African Penguin, the White Pelican, the Bank, Crowned, Cape and White-Breasted Cormorants, the African Black Oystercatcher, the Swift Tern , Hartlaub’s Gull and Leach’s Storm Petrel are identified for management purposes as the species with the highest conservation priority (not in order of priority).

African Penguin

African Penguins Spheniscus demersus are endemic to southern Africa. The African Penguin is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa, distributed from Hollam’s Bird Island, off central Namibia, to Bird Island, Algoa Bay (Crawford et al. 1995a). The total breeding population has decreased markedly this century (Crawford et al. 1995a). Dassen Island used to be the most important breeding site for African Penguins, and it was estimated that there were a maximum of 1 500 000 penguins inhabiting the island in the 1930’s (Frost et al. 1976). The present global population is probably less than 10 % of that at the beginning of the century, with the population at Dassen Island estimated to be just over 48 000 individuals (approximately 15 000 breeding pairs) (WCNCB, unpubl. data). Due to the rapid decline of the total African Penguin population, it is listed as "Vulnerable" in the South African Red Data Book for Birds (Brooke 1984). At the international level it has been regarded as a species of "Special Concern" (Collar and Stuart 1985), but was reclassified as "Vulnerable"(to extinction) at the 1996 CAMP/IUCN meeting (Whittington et al. 1999a). Factors implicated in the decline include egg exploitation and habitat alteration and disturbance associated with commercial exploitation of guano (Frost et al. 1976). These threats no longer exist at Dassen Island. More recently, reduced availability of pelagic fish due to competition with commercial fisheries has been responsible for persistent declines (Crawford et al. 1990). Other factors include mortality in oil spills, predation by feral cats, seal predation of potential recruits, egg and chick predation by Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus, and entanglement in fishing gear and other marine debris.

The population size at Dassen Island presently appears to be increasing slightly. Between 1990 and 1997 the population remained between 9000 and 10000 breeding pairs, increasing to 11 000 and 15 000 breeding pairs in 1998 and 1999 respectively (Marine and Coastal Management and WCNCB, unpubl. data). This increase could, in part, be an effect of greater synchronicity of breeding during the census period, i.e. in some years a higher proportion of the breeding population may be recorded because more of them are breeding at the same time. Over 25 % of the African Penguin breeding population breed at Dassen Island. Furthermore, Dassen Island is one of only two colonies with more than 10 000 breeding pairs, highlighting the global importance of Dassen Island for African Penguins.

At Dassen Island there are birds breeding throughout the year, with different sub-colonies showing different egg – laying peaks. Penguins moult annually, with a peak in moulting activity in November/December. African Penguins are prone to disturbance at all stages of the breeding cycle.

White Pelican

Dassen Island is one of only two localities in South Africa where the White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus breeds. The species has been listed as "rare" in the South African Red Data Book for Birds, with an estimated national population of approximately 2500 breeding pairs (Brooke 1984, Williams and Borello 1997). The breeding population at Dassen Island is approximately 500 pairs (Crawford et al. 1995b, C.N.C., unpub. data). The breeding season at Dassen Island is normally from September until February. The birds are very susceptible to disturbance during this period. Recent observations have shown that the pelicans are causing a large amount of disturbance to other protected species on the island. Pelicans have been recorded preying on the chicks of Kelp Gulls, Cape Cormorants Phalocrocorax capensis, Crowned Cormorants Phalocrocorax coronatus and African Penguins, and have probably disturbed Bank Cormorant Phalocrocorax neglectus, Hartlaub’s Gull Larus hartlaubii and Swift Tern Sterna bergii bergii colonies on the island.

Crowned Cormorant

The Crowned Cormorant is endemic to the Benguela system and the western Agulhas Bank. It has a small world population (approximately 2700 pairs in the early 1980s, Williams and Cooper 1983). Dassen Island is close to the centre of the species’ range and has a population of about 120 breeding pairs (WCNCB, unpubl. data). At Dassen Island the Crowned Cormorant breeds throughout the year with peaks in breeding activity occurring in January-February and August. There is also inter-annual variation in the time of the breeding season. The Crowned Cormorant was listed as "uncommon and vulnerable" in the first edition of the South African Red Data Book for Birds (Siegfried et al. 1976), but was not included in the following edition (Brooke 1984). However, due to its being endemic to South Africa and Namibia, persistent monitoring of its conservation status is important (Brooke 1984). Crowned Cormorants feed mainly on bottom-dwelling fish in the infratidal and intertidal regions, and are not threatened by competition with fisheries (Crawford 1997). The Crowned Cormorant is susceptible to human disturbance at breeding colonies. Fishing debris, such as pieces of net and nylon line, is often incorporated into nests and has resulted in the entanglement and starvation of birds.

Bank Cormorant

The Bank Cormorant is endemic to southern Africa. The Dassen Island population has recently undergone a severe decrease, from about 200 pairs in the late 1980’s to about 40 pairs in 1999. The Bank Cormorant breeds throughout the year, with a peak in egg-laying occurring from June to October at Dassen Island. There is also inter-annual variation in the time of the breeding season. Bank Cormorants prey on bottom and reef-dwelling organisms occurring in inshore kelp beds, such as clinids, crustaceans (including rock lobster), and cephalopods (octopus and cuttlefish). The consumption of rock lobster results in a potential conflict with commercial and recreational rock lobster fisheries. Bank Cormorant breeding colonies are susceptible to human disturbance, especially as unattended eggs and chicks are preyed upon by Kelp Gulls. Another potential conservation problem is the drowning of Bank Cormorants in rock lobster traps, which they presumably enter in search of prey (Cooper 1985). The Bank Cormorant is listed as "Vulnerable" in the latest South African Red Data Book for birds.

Cape Cormorant

The Cape Cormorant is endemic to southern Africa. It is the most numerous of all the cormorant species breeding on Dassen Island. However, there are large inter-annual fluctuations in the number of birds that breed, which is related to the abundance of Cape Anchovy Engraulis capensis (Crawford and Dyer 1995). This is highlighted by census figures for Cape Cormorants at Dassen Island; 48 182 active nest sites were counted in 1988-1989 and only two active nests were counted the following season, 1989-1990. Wise management of the anchovy resource is therefore important for this species. In the early 1990’s, close to 10 000 Cape Cormorants died from Avian Cholera at Dassen Island (Crawford et al. 1992). Breeding Cape Cormorants are very susceptible to human disturbance. The Cape Cormorant is listed as "near threatened" in the latest South African Red Data Book for birds.

White-breasted Cormorant

The Whitebreasted or Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus is a widespread species, which breeds both along the coast and inland. The South African coastal population is about 2500 pairs (Brooke et al. 1982). The Dassen Island population is about 18 pairs. At Dassen Island there is a peak in breeding activity from August until November. The major threat to this species is considered to be human disturbance at breeding colonies.

Swift Tern

The nominate subspecies of the Swift Tern (Sterna bergii bergii) is endemic to the coastal waters of southern Africa. There are substantial inter-annual fluctuations of the number of birds breeding in the southwestern Cape, including Dassen Island. These changes are related to the abundance of Cape Anchovy, the most important prey item of Swift Terns in the region (Crawford and Dyer 1995). In 1988, there were about 3000 pairs breeding at Dassen Island. In other years they haven’t bred at all. In addition to the large inter-annual fluctuations in the numbers of birds that breed, Swift Terns also exhibit a high degree of nomadism, and can alter their breeding sites from one year to the next (Crawford et al. 1994). At Dassen Island, the peak in breeding activity normally occurs in February/March. It has been suggested that the presence of feral cats on the island has prevented the birds from breeding in some years (Cooper et al. 1990). Swift Terns are also at risk from entanglement with fishing equipment and debris.

Hartlaub’s Gull

Hartlaub’s Gull Larus hartlaubii is endemic to South Africa and Namibia. It is one of the world’s rarest gulls and has an overall breeding population of about 12 000 breeding pairs (Williams et al. 1990). Hartlaub’s Gulls frequently breed in mixed colonies with Swift Terns. Egg-laying normally takes place in late summer and autumn, from February to April (Crawford 1997), although there is inter-annual variation in the timing of breeding. Hartlaub’s Gulls are relatively nomadic, and can alter breeding localities from one year to the next (Crawford et al. 1994). One of the chief factors affecting the reproductive success of Hartlaub’s Gulls is predation, especially by mammals (Williams et al. 1990).

Kelp Gull

The Kelp Gull is the most widespread and abundant species of gull in the Southern Hemisphere. The southern African Kelp Gull is a distinct subspecies, Larus dominicanus vetula (Brooke and Cooper 1979, cited in Crawford et al 1997). The largest breeding population occurs at Dassen Island, where approximately 4500 breeding pairs were counted in 1992 (Crawford et al. 1994). The number of Kelp Gulls in the southwestern Cape has increased since the late 1960s, probably as a result of increased post-fledging survival due to supplementary food from man’s activities, especially at sites such as fishing harbours and waste disposal sites (Steele and Hockey 1990). It has recently been observed that the breeding success of Kelp Gulls at Dassen Island is significantly reduced by predation of young chicks by Great White Pelicans (Crawford et al. 1997, WCNCB, unpubl. data).

Leach’s Storm Petrel

Leach’s Storm Petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa, is a (austral) summer visitor to southern Africa. It is normally seen in oceanic waters and is only rarely observed closer inshore. A recent investigation found a Leach’s Storm Petrels breeding colony at Dyer Island –the only confirmed breeding locality for this species in the Southern Hemisphere (Whittington and Dyer 1995, Whittington et al. 1999). A number of sightings of Leach’s Storm Petrels have recently been made on Dassen Island, and it is suspected that they may be breeding here. If this species is found to be breeding on the island, it will be the island’s rarest breeding seabird. However, it is an abundant breeding species in the Northern Hemisphere.

African Black Oystercatcher

The African Black Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini is endemic to the coast of southern Africa. The total world population is less than 5000 birds, over half of these occurring in the southwestern Cape Province (Hockey 1983). Dassen Island presently has a population of about 230 individuals. The population size appears to have changed little from the late 1970s, when a mean of 221 individuals was reported for the island (Hockey 1983). The main threats to oystercatchers on the island are the predation of chicks and eggs by Kelp Gulls, and the predation of chicks by feral cats. Another potential threat is paralytic shellfish poisoning following "red tides" (Summers and Cooper 1977). Oystercatchers are subject to severe disturbance on the mainland during the breeding season. Offshore islands (and protected mainland sites) such as Dassen provide a relatively safe breeding refuge for this species and generally have a high breeding productivity compared to mainland sites (Loewenthal 1998).

Other waders and shorebirds

Other waders that breed on the island include the White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus, Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius, Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus, and Crowned Plover Vanellus coronatus. The island is also frequented, mostly in the summer months, by a number of Palearctic migrants.

Terrestrial birds

There are four resident terrestrial birds on the island. These are the Rock Pigeon Columba guinea, the European Starling Sturnus vulgaris, the Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis and the House Sparrow Passer domesticus. The European Starling and the House Sparrow are aliens, which reached the island by natural dispersion after introduction to the South African mainland (Cooper and Brooke 1986).

4 Mammals

Early European sailors noted the presence of a "rabbit", which was, in fact, the Rock Hyrax or Dassie Procavia capensis. One of the island’s early names (Coney Island) and its present name are based on the presence of this species on the island. From the first arrival of Europeans to the island dassies were hunted for meat. Such large numbers dassies were killed that in 1654 Jan van Riebeeck ordered that no "rock-rabbits" were to be caught or hunted so that they could multiply. Dassies later (the precise date is unknown) became extinct on the island.

The first introduced mammal on the island was a domestic hunting dog brought ashore by hunters on the 3rd of December 1652 (Cooper et al. 1985). The European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus was introduced as food in about 1665 and is still present in large numbers (Cooper and Brooke 1982). House Mice Mus musculus were introduced, presumably accidentally, probably in the 19th Century (Cooper et al. 1985), and are still present. It is not known exactly when domestic cats were first introduced, but it was probably towards the end of the 19th Century (Cooper et al. 1985), presumably to control the mice. The cats became a nuisance, and their numbers were controlled intermittently until 1979 when a study of the cat population on the Island was initiated (Apps 1983, Cooper et al. 1985). Although Apps (1983) recommended that the cats on the Island should not be eradicated, numerous other researchers have strongly urged for their eradication, and this has been the recent -and is the present- management policy (see section 4.1.1.a). There is presently a small feral cat Felis catus population (estimated to be less than 10 individuals) on the Island.

Residents on the island have kept a number of domestic animals, which include Swiss Goats Capra hircus, sheep, pigs, donkeys Asinus africanus, different kinds of "buck" and tame Chacma baboons Papio ursinus (Cooper et al. 1985). Appendix 5 lists the terrestrial mammals still present on the island.

The Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus used to breed on the island in large numbers, but is now only rarely seen. The Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina and the Sub-Antarctic Fur Seal Arctocephalus tropicalus have been recorded as vagrants to the island. A number of whale and dolphin species occur offshore of the island. The most commonly seen are the Humpback Whale Megaptera novaengliae, the Southern Right Whale Balaena glacialis, the Dusky Dolphin Lagenorynchus obscurus, the Heaviside’s Dolphin Cephalorhynchus heavisidii and the Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis.

2.5.3 Marine and intertidal communities

The West Coast is influenced by the cold, upwelling Benguela Current. Nutrient-rich upwelled waters fertilize microscopic floating phytoplankton. Both phytoplankton and seaweeds are far more productive on the West Coast than on the South and East Coasts, and fuel more productive food-chains, culminating in the lucrative fisheries that are concentrated in this region. Although productivity is high on the West Coast, there are far fewer species than the East Coast. The West Coast, including the waters offshore of Dassen Island, is characterised by prolific kelp forests. The large plankton populations feed large offshore stocks of pelagic fish such as pilchard Sardinops sagax and anchovy, which are in turn preyed upon by marine predators, including numerous seabirds and other fish such as snoek Thyrsites atun.

The Intertidal communities on the island are typical of the West Coast, being made up of five zones. These include:
The Littorina highest and most barren zone on the shore, is inhabited only by the small, air breathing Littorina snails and the very hardy seaweed, Porphyra
The Upper Balanoid few algae, except for the bright green sea lettuce Ulva; small barnacles are more visible
The Lower Balanoid supports thick beds of algae, particularly Gigartina species
The Cochlear relatively barren, except for dense populations of the limpet, Patella cochlear.
The Infratidal lowest region on the shore; also the richest in plant and animal life.

Whales, dolphins, seals and amazing bird life makes every cruise special.
For information. Contact Heather on +27 (0) 82 6385723 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A Brief Sketch of the Life and Death of Lt. Simeon W. Cummings
The Alabama

By Peter Holman
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable

The Confederate raider CSS Alabama put in at Saldanha Bay in the Cape Colony (Western Cape in present day South Africa), 160 sea miles northwest of Cape Town on July 29th 1863. Captain Rafael Semmes’ vessel was desperately in need of repairs and he seized the opportunity to recaulk and paint the Alabama. Small parties of men and officers also made good use of the time to go ashore to hunt birds and other small game, often guided by local farmers.
The Confederate raider CSS Alabama

On August 3rd, while returning from such a hunt, the Third Assistant Engineer, Simeon W. Cummings earned a dubious distinction, one that he would hold for 131 years.

Geelbeksfontein - WEST COAST ELEPHANT SHOT BY CAPE HUNTING PARTY

By Mike Lodge; Honorary Ranger, West Coast National Park

Either a band of sailors from the garrison at the Cape on a fresh meat hunting party from their ship moored in the Langebaan Lagoon while loading replenishments for the garrison. Or hunters from the farm station at Geelbeksfontein, now known simply as Geelbek at the southern end of the lagoon once hunted elephant in the dunes at Langebaan.

The Geelbek dunes near Duinepos are a series of migrating sand dunes, which originated in the Yzerfontein area about six thousand years ago when the sea was about 2-3 m higher than it is today. Prevailing winds in the region are from the dry southeast in summer, with a wetter opposite northwesterly wind in winter. This wind transports the dry sand up the side of the dune and over the top to slide down the slip face, thereby slowly, but surely, moving the whole dune forwards. After computing the difference between the travel resultant from the southeaster, minus the travel from the northwester, the net result is that the dunes presently move approximately 8.5m per year in a northwardly direction up the coastal corridor. This means that in the dune field, the underlying calcrete rock formations are being exposed behind each dune as it moves along, uncovering evidence that had previously lain buried. . Various mineralized fossils have been detected lying on the 65,000+ year old calcrete deposits exposed by the wind-blown dunes, including the remains of the now extinct Cape Zebra, Giant Cape Buffalo and Giant Hartebeest, as well as the modern day Black Rhinoceros.

Imagine the surprise of the archeologists from the University of Tübingen when they first found a freshly exposed collection of unfossilised modern elephant bones in one of the depressions known as “Toaster” behind a mobile dune in the middle of the Geelbek Dunes back in 2002. Imagine how complete their surprise must have been when they discovered 9 musket balls in the immediate area, created by the original old method of pouring molten lead into water, resulting in misshapen ovoid lead balls. It is estimated that this method of making lead shot was discontinued at the end of the 18th century in favour of metal molds, placing the elephant shooting somewhere before the early to middle 1700’s. The hunters must have spent some time cutting up and packaging the meat in preparation for their journey back to the Cape, most likely leaving the rest to the local population of Khoisan, which is evidenced by a number of recently exposed fireplaces around the carcass remains where they obviously gorged themselves on this generous supply of fresh meat.

Today, as a result of weathering and the activities of scavengers during periods of exposure, many of the carcass bones have disappeared or been reduced to splinters, leaving many fairly large fragments of ribs, some foot bones and bits of skull scattered over an area roughly 20m square. Their presence today is due only to having been buried for most of the period by the dunes, and is probably the sole surviving hard evidence that elephants were present on the West Coast in van Riebeeck’s time, apart from the written record. No evidence of tusks was found on the scene, leading experts to believe that these were removed for transportation back to the Cape. Examination of dental evidence and bone morphology fix the elephant as an adolescent specimen, which would have had only smallish tusks. The remains of the skull, the majority of the body and the musket balls found, are today being studied at the Iziko-South African Museum in Cape Town.

What other surprises lie in wait under the Geelbek Dunes?

Reference sources:

* Archeologist, Andrew Kandel from the Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, University of Tübingen, Germany, based on his Team’s research and discoveries over the last 8 years in the Geelbek Dunes.
* The Geelbek History website.
* An article by Colin Codner, Treasurer of the West Coast SANParks Honorary Rangers, written after our first dune tour with Andrew on 04 February 2006.
* Notes taken from the second dune tour with Andrew on 10 June 2006 by Mike Lodge, also an Honorary Ranger (West Coast Region).

to langebaan by oxwagon

In the old days, an oxwagon travelled at 4 kms per hour. In 1732 the ox wagon dirt track from Cape Town to Langebaan was frequently used by travellers who would stop first at what is today known as Mamre, next at Geelbeksfontein and then at De Bottelarij, before heading north to St Helena Bay. So it would take approximately 4-5 days to reach langebaan

1200 miles in a Wagon - ALICE BLANCHE BALFOUR

The Balfours travelled from Cape Town to Rhodesia

Ours is supposed to be a model of all that is luxurious. It is about fourteen feet long, and about six feet wide above the wheels. It is covered with a canvas tent over its whole length, but the roof is not quite high enough to allow me to stand upright inside.

It is divided by a curtain about half way along. At the front end are our beds, which lie parallel to the length of the waggon, and when down meet in the middle. They can be fastened up by day to the sides of the waggon if required. Under them are lockers, and our boxes fill up the floor in the middle. The waggon is lined with dark green cloth.

The back end has small lockers along its sides with cushions on them to sit on. One gets out at the end by a high step, or when the oxen are out- spanned (unharnessed), by a ladder, as the floor of the waggon is over four feet from the ground. The gentlemen's waggon is of the same size as ours, but it has no central partition, and the beds lie across instead of along it. Both waggons are closed at the ends by curtains, which can be fastened firmly all round.

The buck-waggon is drawn by a span (team) of eighteen oxen, and the other two by fourteen and twelve respectively. The harness is of the most elementary kind, con- sisting of a trek-chain fastened to the end of the dusselboom (pole), and having yokes attached to it at intervals of about eight to ten feet. The yoke is like a thick curtain-pole, about five feet long. At each end of it (the trek-chain being fastened to the middle) is a pair of notched slips from wood called skeis, let into holes in the yokes at a sufficient distance apart for the neck of an ox to fit in between them.

The yoke thus lies across the necks of the oxen, the skeis being per- pendicular, and the whole pull being against the backbone just in front of the shoulders. The skeis and a bit of reim (strip of raw hide) fastened to one skei, brought round under the neck and hitched to the other, prevent the yokes from slipping off. There are no reins, except a little bit of reim fastened to the front pair of oxen, by which the "leader" or "boy," who walks in front in difficult places, pulls them in the required direction. All other guiding is done by shouts.

Cape Columbine Lighthouse

The last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast

Cape Columbine, a majestic headland on the Cape’s West coast, is a mere two-hour drive from Cape Town. It is situated in the Tietiesbaai nature Reserve, almost 5 km from the picturesque little fishing village of Paternoster.

Paternoster is well known for its crayfish and other seafood delights and reputedly derives its name from the thanksgiving prayers of shipwrecked Portuguese mariners. Early maps consistently record the place name as ‘St Martins Paternoster.’ Cape Columbine owes its name to the British wooden snow ‘Columbine’ which was wrecked in 1829, 1,5km north of the lighthouse.

Water Hyacinth in The Berg River Area
Our investigation on the Berg river in the West Coast area near Vredenburg, Hopefield and Veldrift.
Albert Teubes, with Sandi Barrett and Asmaa Mohamed

We visited the West Coast and met a farmer, Mr Albert Teubes on his farm overlooking the Berg river.

Water hyacinth has become a huge problem in this area over the last five years and it is affecting the lives of the farmers in that area.

Mr Teubes's farm overlooks the historic Kersefontein farm that belongs to the Melck family.
At the time of our visit the area had had severe rains and our trip had to be postponed by a week. We were unable to reach the farm Kersefontein, beacause the road was still flooded.
Mr Teubes took us to the area of the river above Kersefontein. The worst infestation of water hyacinth is in this area.

Bokkoms - West Coast News The bokkom story

What ARE Bokkoms?

Considered a 'delicacy',Bokkoms are one of the products found only on the West Coast and nowhere else in South Africa.

They are salted and wind-dried fish, usually "haarders" (sardines) or "maasbankers" (horse mackerel), which formed an important part of the daily diet in the Cape, where fresh fish was not always available. They are layered in a container, salted liberally with coarse salt and left overnight in a cool spot.

Berg River Canoe Marathon - Livewire Media Berg River Canoe Marathon
A river race for hardcore paddlers by Chris Marais

The Berg River Canoe Marathon is not a race to be undertaken lightly. It takes 4 days, and happens in the dead of winter. It’s the longest canoe marathon in South Africa and sweeps you along 230 kilometres, from the Cape winelands to the West Coast town of Velddrift.

A lot of river races are billed as 'one of the world's toughest', but the Berg River Canoe Marathon is right up there in the hardship stakes.

So daunting is this 4-day winter water race from Paarl to Velddrift, so hard-flowing is the Berg River, that the event attracts a breed of paddler who doesn't mind competing in foul weather on an unpredictable, at times dangerous, river. Who doesn't mind sleeping out at a time when most South Africans are tucked away inside, out of the deep winter chill.

The idea of a canoe marathon in the Berg River came to fruition in 1962, when just 20 paddlers took to the chilly waters and did the 230 kilometre stretch from the Cape winelands to the sea - making The Berg the longest canoe river race in South Africa.

Past Life at Langebaan: West Coast Fossil Park
Article published in The Cape Odyssey, June/July 2002

Elephant drawing

When Commander van Riebeeck first set his eyes on the west coast region his view was that, ‘there is no land in the whole world so barren and unblessed by the Lord God’.Today this region of the Western Cape is still found to be relatively dry and windswept, the vegetation stunted, and few wild animals inhabit the area.

The region, however, has a charm and down to earth beauty of its own. Five million years ago things were a lot different. Sediments and fossils discovered in the region testify to periods of warmer temperature, higher rainfall, lush vegetation and an abundance of animal life.

The elephant, Mammuthus subplainifrons, roamed around Langebaanweg 5 million years ago
The Fossil Park, a member of Iziko Museums of Cape Town in partnership with BHP Billiton, has been instrumental in uncovering a fascinating story – five million years old. The Chemfos Mine first discovered fossils at Langebaanweg in the late 1950’s during the course of phosphate mining operations. Since then, under the aegis of the South African Museum, it has been established that this deposit contains the greatest diversity of 5 million year old fossils in the world. These fossils have attracted the interest of leading overseas scientists and together with local researchers led by Dr Brett Hendey have generated over seventy publications.

Langebaan Footprints: A Walk With Eve
Article published in The Cape Odyssey, June/July 2002

Langebaan fossilized footprint The discovery of the Langebaan footprints was the final event in a serendipitous web of circumstance reaching 120 000 years into the past. Not the least fortuitous aspect is their exquisitely tranquil setting in the West Coast National Park. Situated on the Atlantic coast some 100 kilometres north of Cape Town, the turquoise Langebaan Lagoon, laced by azure tidal channels and flanked by lowering granite domes, is the showpiece of the Park.

In the early autumn of 1995, I was picnicking with a group of friends on the beach at Kraal Bay, on the western shores of the lagoon, enjoying the sweeping views. The sandstone cliffs flanking the bay represent ancient coastal dunes formed by sand blown from the beach. The northward sloping cross- beds, recording ancient dune surfaces, are superbly exposed (see figure).

!kwha ttu - A celebration of San culture

Our ancestors were the original hunter-gatherers of Africa who encountered a paradox fate over time: while thousands were persecuted, killed or incorporated into local rural serfdom, some managed to survive in relative isolation and cling to a semi-traditional life-style as recently as the 1960’s.

The San Culture and Education Centre Celebrates San Culture; Past and Present. As a tourist visiting !Khwa ttu, you will enjoy a unique and highly informative experience. Choose to stay with us for a few hours, a day, or take advantage of our ‘retreat-like atmosphere’ by booking overnight at our camp site, ‘bush cottage ’ or guest house. !Khwa ttu is too close to Cape Town for you to overlook! We are only a 40-minutes drive from the city.

Share an Experience with the San People of South Africa The !Khwa ttu experience is all about the San; a culture that dates back more than 40,000 years. We, the San (sometimes referred to as ‘Bushmen’) are the indigenous – or ‘first people’ of Southern Africa. These scattered small communities became the most studied, researched and filmed indigenous group throughout the world

The Life of the San However, this romantic fascination with our people all too often overlooks the real conditions that most of the 100’000 San of Southern Africa live under today. During the last 200 years, we have lost all ancestral lands and a good part of our cultural identity that is attached to one’s own language and traditional upbringing.

The reasons for this are as manifold as the complex colonial history and African migration movements from pre-colonial to present times. Consequently, today our people are poverty-stricken, desperately marginalized and discriminated against.

However, during the last few decades we have formed our own San organizations and identified relevant programmes and projects. With the assistance of professionals we run education programmes, conduct advocacy work, fight for rights to land and intellectual property and manage projects such as the !Khwa ttu Culture and Education Centre.

Stay Overnight

Guest House

Image It contains 3 bedrooms (each with two single beds), a kitchen with a large open fire place and 2 bathrooms with showers. This cozy house is a renovated old farm cottage, comes fully equipped for self-catering purposes and the sheltered terrace offers stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean. The Guest house is in walking distance from the restaurant.

Bush House

Rustic facilities It contains 2 bedrooms (each with 2 single beds) and a cosy kitchen/dining room with a large open fireplace. The bathroom is semi outdoors and provides an unforgettable shower. This accommodation provides an amazing experience, both rustic and romantic, i.e. there is no electricity but good solar lighting, a geyser, cooking stove and small refrigerator run by gas. It is meant for the more adventurous, who appreciate the crackling of a real fire and a warm shower in the open air but who prefer a little more comfort than camping! The Bush House is located within a natural bushland setting and is only ten minutes drive from the ocean.

Bush Camp

This unique tented camp is set within an idyllic bushland setting. The camp sleeps 20 persons in five comfortable-sized tents, which house four beds each. The permanent tents are hidden under a protective pole-roof structure and beautiful vegetation with a small , well-designed patio at the entrance. The open-air hot/cold showers and sheltered toilets are specially designed to be in keeping with the natural environment and it offers the visitor an unforgettable showering experience. The circular, semi-roofed boma [enclosure] with its central camp fire protects the visitors from wind and sun. Lights along the walkways, at the tents, boma and ablution block are solar-driven. The Bush Camp provides indeed excellent examples of how to use locally available material.

Dormitory

Functions This facility can sleep up to 20 persons in luxury dormitory-style accommodation. The building is built in the style of an old farmhouse. Space has been well used and the dormitory contains a total of 4 rooms each with its separate entrance. The dormitory has impeccable views from the patio. The dormitory is ideal for groups such as school groups, students and groups participating in workshops. A volleyball court, pool table and TV with DVD available in the recreation room.

Conferencing at the San Centre

Forward-thinking businesses and organisations across southern Africa are now looking to demonstrate their commitment to communities and to charitable institutions. If you are looking for a venue that will provide you with top-quality conference or special occasion facilities (such as birthday parties, team-building exercises or weddings), in an idyllic rural setting, then we can provide it. By booking your corporate or special function with us at !Khwa ttu, you can rest assured that not only will you receive an excellent standard of service, but you will also be assisting Bushmen education and training.

In addition to providing a conference room, !Khwa ttu also operates a new, stunningly designed restaurant which can seat up to 60 people. We can also provide guests with a variety of other activities such as guided walks, San Guided Experience,sundowners and picnics, etc.

...and starry, starry nights too We can offer you almost everything that the city conference and special occasion facilities can at an extremely competitive price. The unique rural setting of our premises and the fact that by booking our venue you will be assisting the San, will make your choice of !Khwa ttu a very special one! Conference Room If you are looking for a venue that will provide you with top quality conference or special occasion facilities, in an idyllic rural setting, then we can provide it. The conference room has all the necessary equipment, such as Projector with VGA connection, DVD with surround sound, overhead projector and slide projector, flipchart, a/c ect. The conference room can easily seat 40 participants. Meals, coffee and refreshments will be separately organized according to the clients’ special needs. Game drives, sundowners and guided walks could be arranged as additional activities Price R700 for up to 10 participants, R1000 for up to 20 and R1500 for more than 20 participants per day.

THE WEST COAST

Things to See and Do