The colourful beach houses are as popular for photos than the welcome sight of the little boat at the N2 turn-off to Stilbaai!
It was a rainy weekend iin Stilbaai, but that did not keep locals and visitors to still visit the beach while photographer, Mandy Laroo (Photography) made full use of the opportunity to take photos.
It is March and the “Candelabra Flowers” (Brunsvigia Orientalis – or ‘Koningskandelaar‘ in Afrikaans) are making their annual appearance – and how beautiful are these photos taken by Gavin Joyce!
This plant comes from the Western Cape where it blooms in late summer before the leaves sprout. The large bulb sends up a huge flower cluster up to 24 inches across resembling a red chandelier!
It forms a large bulb that can grow over 8 inches across. It usually makes 4 to 6 large, tongue-shaped leaves that lie flat along the ground.
The leaves grow throughout winter, and the bulb goes dormant for the summer. In late summer or early autumn, its dramatic flower stalk sprouts from the bare ground.
The cluster has from 20 to 80 scarlet blooms that face upward, which serve as a landing pad for birds. After flowering, the round cluster dries up, breaks off from the stalk, and rolls around in the wind like a tumbleweed, which spreads the seeds around.
The plant can reach blooming size at 6 to 8 years old.
“This extraordinary battle till death took place on my front lawn a while ago and although the quality it not great as I used a mobile phone to record, it still gives one an idea what happens in nature. These things happen so unexpectedly and can be over before you’ve blinked I didn’t have time to get a camera. Thanks for watching.” – Ballie Bizza (YouTube).
Watch until the end to see who won this battle – in Stilbaai.
5 August 2020 – The long weekend is here and although there will sadly be the traditional Galjoen Derby will NOT take place this weekend (for the first time in 29 years!) there will always be sunrises and sunsets.
Get up early to experience the beauty – like Nelia Schreuder did earlier this week.
If you are looking for something to do, please support Stilbaai’s local businesses, markets, shops, restaurants and coffee shops. You can also view and buy art from our talented local artists at the Stilbaai Tourism Bureau on Saturday morning (10:00 till 14:00) and stay to watch the feeding of the freshwater eels. The Country Shop will be open as well as the tea garden. Our Tourism Bureau is dependent on tourists and visitors and will really appreciate all the support.
The Burg Mark in the east (just after the bridge) will also be open from 8:30 until 13:00. Buy something pretty and stock up on delicious food stuff.
Remember that most shops are closed on Saturday afternoon as well as on Sunday and as Monday is a public holiday, many might be closed (or only open during the morning). SPAR and OK Foods also close at 13:00 on Sundays.
Enjoy the long weekend!
The whales are back!
The Southern Right whales visit from March till November to breed while the Humpback whales are also seen in the waters of the southern Cape during these times.
Take your time, sit back and watch them enjoying their annual visit. Go to the Whale Look-out Point above the harbour from where you have a spectacular view. Hein Oosthuizen took these awesome drone footage of the Humpback whales in Stilbaai recently.
There were some floods in 2008 in Stilbaai and although information about it are somewhat scarce, Stilbaai Tourism shared these photos (photo credits unavailable).
We were unable to find more information about these floods while it seemed that some flooding also occured in 2013. Feel free to contact us with information (and photos). Send e-mail to mystilbaai@worldonline.co.za or send WhatsApp to 082 458 8517.
@mandy_laroo_photography “Those who teach the most about humanity aren’t always human.”
