TSITSIKAMMA SIGNS

As you have gathered, we recently spent some delightful days near the Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, which encompasses the southern coast between George and Port Elizabeth and includes the Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma. These areas include a variety of mountain catchments, indigenous forests and fynbos areas – all wonderful places to explore.

I have already shown some of the paths, seascapes, plants and pretty flowers. This is a selection of some of the signs – some more welcome than others. This one indicates clearly that one is in a protected zone in which one needs to respect the integrity of the area and not remove any shells or creatures from the rock pools. Fishing is not allowed – and most wonderful – there is noise control! Not that the latter was an issue at all for the camping area was virtually empty during the weekdays we were there, filling up only from the Friday afternoon. It is most disconcerting to camp in a wild area only to be blasted by loud music or the sound of televisions – yes, some people do take their televisions on holiday with them!

Although it was once considered one of the ‘wonder’ materials, it is now well known that asbestos is hazardous and can potentially pose a risk to human health. It was thus pleasing to see that the area formerly housing the Oceanettes was cordoned off as the removal of the asbestos roofing was in progress.

I am not really sure if the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet was used on this site, but the sign was there and I place it here as a reminder.

We have had some very close encounters with baboons during previous visits. This time we only heard them in the forest. Instead of a baboon, we had a close sighting of a vervet monkey.

A most unwelcome sign was this one.

I had been looking forward to swimming in this delightful pool in the company of seagulls and with the waves crashing over the rocks nearby! We were told by some workers that the pool had been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic; others said it had required maintenance; others said it was closed for cleaning – it looked full and very clean; and yet others said it was indeed open but the sign had not been removed! I remained dry.

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