Hiking the Leopard Trail
If ever you have a chance to spend a little time in the Baviaanskloof, you should leap at it. It’s the ultimate destination to switch off from the rest of the world and feel enfolded by nature. Besides a quirky treehouse, cave dwellings, khoi-khoi paintings, and Vero’s roosterbrood, there is the increasingly popular Leopard Trail.
The trail is a four-day/ three-night hike that traverses hills, valleys, mountain tops, rocky bits, scrubby flat terrain and lush garden-like paths – each with its own selection of fabulous fynbos and indigenous greenery. You will feel all the elements in one day – prepare to be blitzed by a howling wind and moments later bathed in sunlight in a tranquil and protected corner. You will climb to the peak of a mountain (in my case, on all fours), walk over undulating hills, shuffle down sides of mountains, meander through grassy plains and hop across streams on stepping stones.
It’s simply glorious.
So, read on if you’d like to find out more about what to expect on the Leopard Trail.
When to hike the Leopard Trail?
A group of us recently did this trail together (August, 2024) and had an absolute blast. The advantage of doing it in the winter months was that we experienced the full beauty of the fynbos. The proteas were in bloom, the buchu fragrant and we were mostly surrounded by greenery. In summer, while you can take advantage of the streams and pools to cool off, the vegetation might not be as lush. A winter hike also means that you can sleep later and spend the day hiking – not rushing to avoid the midday sun. Don’t get me started on the winter sky….
Slack-Packing
For those who don’t fancy carrying a heavy backpack, the Leopard Trail is perfect. Each person gets assigned a box that they can fill with all their stuff (food, clothing, sleeping bag etc). The boxes magically appear at the appropriate camp in the afternoon – no schlepping required.
A word on packing:
Ladies, pack like a dude. You don’t need any of the extra stuff – keep it simple: good socks and trail shoes, hiking clothes plus comfy clothes and shoes for the evening.
Dudes, don’t forget jackets and jammies.
The Three Leopard Trail Camps:
The Sleeping Huts
Each camp has three wooden huts with two bunkbeds in each hut (earplugs are a must unless you are immune to the variety of noises your bunkmates may unknowingly make – I know many a snorer who swears they don’t make a peep). The huts have four benches for your stuff and a basin to brush your teeth. That’s it. No plug points or lights. They are glass on the front and the back.
- Pros – you can lie in bed and see the stars at night.
- Cons – not much privacy for changing.
The three huts are positioned perfectly to allow for easy access, yet enough distance from the main hut.
The Main Hut:
This is where all the action happens and where the boxes live. Most likely, the first thing you will experience is the outdoor showers located on either side of the hut. The pure blissfulness of a hot outdoor shower to the soundtrack of the screech of the baboons hiding in the mountains is heavenly after a sweaty day of hiking. The porch of the hut looks onto the firepit, providing a perch to view all the fireside shenanigans (and under those stars, anything is possible).
Inside, there’s a lovely potbelly fireplace and a long dining table with benches for meals and card games. The kitchen is well-stocked and has a couple of gas-stove tops and pots. If the sun has shone all day, you might even have some light as well.
If you are travelling in a group, it’s a lot of fun to share out the meals. One hut per night. We feasted on curries, gourmet pasta and braai dishes at the long table every night. We also happened to have our local baker in our crew who constantly seemed to be pulling out spoils from his apparently bottomless box.
For moments when the conversation may lull, there is a little question card to prompt discussion and ruminate on the deeper meaning of life. Thank heavens for the icebox that chilled the wine…
The Loo:
Located fairly close to the huts, it’s still a bit of a stroll to have your early morning tinkle – there are no lights in the loo, but they flush and are clean.
Leaping Leopards on the Move: The Trail
Day 1: 9.75km
Most people are pretty excited to start the trail and set off on a happy, joyful trot. Within minutes, you hit the first ascent climbing about 150m by the second kilometre. These first kilometres can give you an idea of how your hiking buddies like to do things and where best you fit in the line.
Once on top of the hill, you are surrounded by scrubby, wind-blown fynbos and long grass. We even saw some wild horses who just stared at us bewilderedly. The path veers off to Gabriel’s Pool and you go past what must have been Gabriel’s house. Surrounded by mountains and scrubby vegetation, it does beg the question as to what made this man decide that this was his spot. The little pool situated in the valley between two craggy mountains was not much of a swimming spot at the time but provided some big round stones, a bit of shelter, and a dreamy setting for a pitstop.
The walk from there felt like a breeze and the grassy planes became a winding riverside pathway that led to Camp 1.
Day 2: 18km
This was definitely the hilliest day, peppered with constant climbs and downhills. The kind of day where you think, there can’t be any more hills and then one appears. Lots of stone covered serious-looking countryside with the odd sprinkling of purple-flowered bushes. There is a beautiful ravine to stop for lunch before continuing. Don’t be fooled into thinking the worst is over when you see the sign that says 2km to camp. There is more to come, including a rocky descent into Camp 2.
Day 3: 22km
For those of us desperate for a fynbos fix, Day 3 was magical. At times it felt like we were walking in a private garden with strategically placed proteas and other beautiful colourful blooms lining the hilltops and paths. The hills felt more manageable (although perhaps it was just the fact that one couldn’t help but go a little slower to take in all the beauty). The latter half of the day’s walk is through a beautiful valley where you cross countless dry riverbeds, some with a little water and others completely dry. The vegetation changes the deeper you get into the valley and the scent of wild geranium tugs gently on the breeze. Brightly coloured succulents growing in rock crevices and ferny-like plants make your final stroll a little more colourful. Out of the ravine, the grasses blow in the wind as you finally breeze into Camp 3.
Day 4: 13km
Your last day begins with a grassy meander that takes you to a stunning stream trickling between the high walls of mountains. For a little while all is quiet and still. Then, the ascent starts and before you know it, you have climbed those mountains and are standing on top of the peak. The wind is whipping you from all directions as you stand on top of the world. It’s mostly downhill from there as you make your way back to base camp.
Good personalities to have on a hike:
- The Baker/ Fine Foods Specialist (most valuable pre-hike): Someone who brings an array of delicatessen goods, including cheeses and breads along. All are available at “The Bakery.”
- The Entertainer: The bringer of good humour, positive energy and naughty vibes. Known for good pep talks and keeping morale high.
- The Dad: The voice of reason and logic. Someone to add balance and humour to any situation.
- The Wildcard: The person who keeps you guessing and amazed.
- The Jock: The quiet, handsome dude who is happy to lend a hand when the need arises.
- The Empath: Someone unfailingly sweet and kind who can balance any conversation.
- The Conversationalist: A sparkly personality who can keep the conversation going, even in the tough moments.
- The Nurse: The diagnostician and repository of medical wisdom to advise and treat medical ailments (even if gross).
- The One-Night Wonder: The normally quiet person who suddenly produces enough energy to ignite a party when least expected.
- The Hand-Break: The straggler who guarantees others a longer than anticipated break.
- The Healer (most valuable post-hike): The strongest and gentlest hiker whose hands can revive the weariest muscles.
Tips for Leopard Trail Hikers:
- Take advantage of the icy pool to soak your tired feet at the end of the day. It will help reduce swelling.
- Bring meds for spider bites or shake pants well before putting them on in the morning.
- There is enough space for good bottles of wine in your boxes if you pack carefully.
- Share meals, especially with vegetarians (our food is always tastier).
- Pilchards on crackers taste great in the middle of a hike.
- A sense of humour goes a long way and does rolling your glute on a small ball.
- The pasta spoon makes an excellent microphone, and the colander can amplify sound significantly if positioned correctly.
- Singing Shosholoza loudly can ease any pain and have unexpected results.
- Bring firelighters and order extra wood.
- Be grateful for the experience and watch how nature inspires kindness.
Betty's Sea Vista Township Tour
Fondly known as “China” by many of its inhabitants, the Sea Vista Township is a vibrant residential area located next to the industrial area of St Francis Bay. It is home to an eclectic mix of people, speaking anything from Afrikaans to Chichewa mixed in with a bit of English. The atmosphere feels alive and pulsating with strains of music coming from all corners. Dogs are everywhere looking for scraps or a sunny spot to nap and exist alongside people going about their daily business. On the weekends, the streets are busy and noisy, especially around the taverns. Sea Vista residents live amongst each other, not behind doors and fences. After work or on weekends, people bring their chairs outside and kuier with their neighbours, everybody knows everyone else’s business! The smell of braai meat wafts through the air and there’s always chatter and music.
I hardly knew anything about Sea Vista until recently (even though I live a few kilometres from it). Nothing in my daily life required me to go beyond Tarragona Road. Yet, I was often struck by how much activity and celebration there seemed to be on the other side of the road after hours. I imagine it would be hard to feel lonely in a place like this. When the opportunity to take a township tour with a local guide came about, I seized it – eager to understand more about what life is like for others in my community.
Betty Anoster is our tour guide (and possibly one of the most captivating and resilient people I have ever met). Her hugely successful tours were curated for foreign guests at the Cape St Francis Resort who wanted to learn more about local culture. The tour is a slow stroll through Sea Vista guided by Betty and depending on how long your shebeen stop is, takes about 2 hours.
Talhado
The first stop on the tour is Talhado. Tucked away on the edge of Sea Vista, is a sweet preschool that has been nurturing and educating the youngest Sea Vista residents for the last 26 years. We are met by the charming and gentle Chamel Malgas, the school secretary. The school has four classes taught by qualified teachers in Afrikaans or isiXhosa with a total capacity of 100 children. As a Montessori preschool, Talhado focuses on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. As we walk through the school we see happy children, eager to say hello and give us a smile or a jump.
The school runs solely on donations and charges parents R200 a month (this may not sound like much to some, but as we near the middle of the year, when tourism is low and expenses are high, parents do struggle to come up with these funds). To ensure that the little ones go home with a full belly at the end of the day, the Lunchbox Fund serves the children two cooked meals a day, lovingly prepared by the school cook, Bridget. Talhado has a large playground with a lovely jungle gym as well as a vegetable garden made using recycled materials. I can imagine that when it’s playtime this space is encapsulated by a bubble of joy.
It becomes evident as we tour the school that this is so much more than just a preschool. Under Cathryn Hempel’s community-minded leadership, it serves others in the area as well. In the afternoons, the kitchen transforms into a space to teach sewing classes. There are also plans to convert the media centre into a dance studio. Chamel tells us about a group of young dancers in Sea Vista who are currently taking classes at Salt and how the transport there and back is often an issue. Having a dance studio that is easily accessible would make a world of difference.
This preschool is special and undoubtedly has a far-reaching impact. Chamel tells us with pride how when they track Talhado children through primary school, the top ten typically begin their education at Talhado. Her mood changes to one of concern when she starts to talk about the Sea Vista Primary. There are around 550 children at the school and each grade has only two classes with between 45 and 50 in a class, although the largest class has 58 children. The Co-op has funded 15-20 assistants for the school, but the funding dries up in June and the teachers will be left on their own again). From Grade 1 to 3 the language of instruction is either isiXhosa or Afrikaans. In Grade 4, this changes to English or Afrikaans. Xhosa-speaking children have to adapt quickly and often get lost along the way. Even Talhado does not offer classes in English and English is minimal in their foundation phase. I simply can’t get my head around this – how can these children be expected to cope with a sudden change in language?
Sea Vista Sports Field
After saying goodbye to the gorgeous little people, Betty takes us on a stroll around the corner and shows us the sports field. To our dismay, the fields are locked behind two gates. Apparently, the fields are only unlocked for scheduled matches and on Wednesday afternoons for rugby practice.
With a wistful smile, Betty tells us how the Sea Vista Sports Field was the local after-school hangout place, “Everyone would gather there to practice and run around”. She played netball in a team with her friends, and whenever there was a match, there was always an excited crowd to cheer them on. It was a big deal. She played in the ‘Hulettes’ and they would often play against other teams with equally cool names, such as the ‘Peacelovers.’ Betty talks openly and honestly and tells us how she feels the community has lost control of their home. They should rise up and object to things like the locked sports field and the large classes at the primary school.
Our tour continues and by now we have picked up a friendly pack of dogs with lots of personality to escort us.
The Bahlalis
As we walk, Betty tells us how much Sea Vista has changed in the last five or so years. Post-COVID, more people have been attracted to the area and the township has grown. Sadly, many residents are struggling financially, and alcohol and drug abuse is becoming more of an issue. The police are understaffed and don’t have enough manpower to deal with the many problems plaguing Sea Vista. Criminals are released from prison after a few days and resume their old games, only to be arrested again later. Out of necessity, the community has taken it into their own hands to make sure there are consequences for crimes. Neighbourhood watches called Bahlalis will discipline people who are found stealing, raping or committing violence. They are known to expel criminals from the community by walking them out – if ever you see someone with a suitcase followed by an angry crowd, you can guess what has happened.
The Nightlife
The tour continues and as we approach Rosie’s, we launch into a discussion of what the nightlife is like in Sea Vista. Taverns are open 24 hours a day and parties carry on all night, especially if there is a good DJ. Rosie’s, apparently the most popular bar in town, was in the throws of a facelift so we didn’t get to go inside. Betty tells us that her tours used to include a visit to one or two of the taverns and it was often hard to get her group to leave.
The next stop was Lulu’s and we had a quick chat with the charming manager. It didn’t go unnoticed that the price of beers here is half of what it is in the village and the bar also functions as a bottle store. There’s a pool table and a few booths, already occupied with patrons (at 10am). Strolling through Sea Vista, we go past a few Spaza shops that stock everything from hairpieces to cabbage – small bags of chips must be a top seller as there are crates of them in every shop.
Chisa Nyama and Amapiano
I can just imagine a Saturday afternoon in Sea Vista starting with a haircut while catching up on local gossip. Then, grabbing a Russian and Chips for the kids at Rosie’s Take Away and heading to the chisa nyama guy for a chop and maybe a vetkoek. We could then saunter to Lulu’s for a round of pool and a few beers. The kids are in and out, and fully occupied with their chommies. On the way home, the Spaza shop would have a Coke and a packet of Nik-Naks – all this within a hundred steps and accompanied by the shared soundtrack of Amapiano wafting through the air.
The Clinic, the Library and the Community Centre
After Lulu’s we head towards the Clinic. The clinic always has a full waiting room with lots of people needing meds for various conditions including tuberculosis and HIV. Once a week, a doctor visits for the more serious cases referred to by the nurse, but in general, treatment is administered by the onsite nurses who clearly have their hands full. The big rule is that you must have a clinic book – no book, no help.
Next door is the library – probably my happiest surprise on the tour. As you walk in, you are greeted by Sesetu’s magical smile. The three librarians working there are so welcoming and engaging, they make you want to check out a book! Priscilla is upstairs in the children’s section which is a hive of activity after school. On that day, it was International Play Day and Vula had set up multiple games – ready for action.
From the library, we could peek into the community hall. This is the place often used for funerals, celebrations and public meetings. It’s a safe and central venue but is apparently quite a challenge to book. In the distance we could hear the laughter of little children from the creche sponsored by Pam Golding.
Nomvula’s Knitters
Nomvula’s Knitters is typically the last stop on the tour. This small business runs out of a shop in the Industrial Area off Tarragona Road and is a creative and colourful hub for talented knitters who supply the wholesale knitting market in South Africa and abroad. Pop in and browse through the beautiful knits or buy a few balls of wool. The knitters are always hard at work producing beautiful clothing and home goods and will welcome you with a smile.
As we headed back to our car, I felt so grateful to Betty for giving us this tour and having the initiative to offer something like this to the community. She says that there are seldom South Africans on this tour and it is mostly foreigners who are interested. As a local, I benefitted from this tour. We live in a country home to many different cultures and people from many walks of life. Compassion comes from a point of understanding and acknowledgement and is key to living peaceably together. Thank you, Betty for sharing your experiences with us.
The Cape St Francis Resort - going the extra, adventurous mile.
During the ARWC 2023, the Cape St Francis Resort was a hive of activity, packed to its maximum and overflowing with foreign athletes, media teams and race supporters. Hosting an adventure race is a highly complex endeavour and without a doubt, the Resort nailed it. Having run the Expedition Africa race in 2017, they knew what was ahead and what was required. Ideally suited geographically for this type of race format, the Resort is close enough (or far enough) from the Baviaans and the Karoo, both suitably contrasting in biodiversity and terrain. Additionally, our challenging coastline with dunes and rocks also ensured that racers would have to ‘flex their muscles.’ With the Resort’s perfect facilities, restaurants and accommodation, plus their great team dedicated to promoting the area and sporting codes, it was a no-brainer for Heidi and Stefan Muller to host the event in Cape St Francis.
Arranging accommodation for all the visiting teams was easy compared with the logistics that accompany an event of this kind. Imagine housing about 400 foreigners in Cape St Francis, each of their very expensive bicycles and every team’s giant black box. This doesn’t yet include all the additional bodies – volunteers, media and supporters.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with how an adventure race works, everyone gets dropped together at the starting point of the race. Then they must make it through various legs, in this case over 800km, stopping at checkpoints along the way and ultimately finding their way to the final stop. This year’s world championship ended at the Resort. The first teams returned after about 118 hours – the last teams came 100 hours later! This meant that for those 100 hours there always had to be someone around to welcome incoming teams, even when they arrived in the wee hours of the morning. Additionally, those teams needed to be fed and shown their new accommodation (most teams checked out during the race and during that period the Resort welcomed 6 tour buses – so, it was business as usual). Yet it all worked seamlessly, thanks to the incredible staff and management of the Cape St Francis Resort.
The Resort staff were absolutely amazing and welcomed each team with heartfelt singing and dancing. For many, including Anita Lennox (CEO of the Resort since 2001), this was the highlight of the event. No matter what time of the day and night teams arrived, they were given a warm Eastern Cape reception. And the singing didn’t stop there! The Resort staff added a real South African flavour to the opening event held at the St Francis Links by singing and dancing in the flag parade as the participants walked up to be greeted by praise singers and drums. They have been a constant source of joy during this world championship event. And when the teams started returning from their epic adventure, they were there to guide them to the finish line and podium, celebrating every step of the way.
We were lucky enough to chat with Danni Shaw (née Malherbe) shortly before the race began. Her family has owned the Resort for many years and were all very much involved in this event.
DD: You have had personal experience with adventure racing?
DS: We were introduced to adventure racing in 2017 when we hosted the 500km South African Adventure Race. My sister competed in that event as part of the Resort team, so I have had personal experience with her with the sport.
DD: How long in advance did you start preparing for this event?
DS: We started preparing for it about 18 months ago, so it’s been quite a while in the making.
DD: What has been the biggest logistical challenge of hosting the ARWC?
DS: Finding enough beds and organising transport have been a challenge. We have had to overflow out of the Resort which has been tricky as most of the guests are foreign and want to be on site as they don’t have transport. Arranging everyone’s transport from the airport as well as to the village to go shopping or visit the other restaurants in town has also been a logistical manoeuvre. Stefan and Heidi’s work has been figuring out the route and liaising with the landowners and getting the necessary permission to through these properties. At the moment, their biggest concern is the transition zones and getting all the bikes and boxes to these positions.
DD: We see that your staff have been dancing and singing day and night to give the guests a warm welcome. How has the atmosphere been at the Resort and have you been surprised at your staff’s dancing abilities?
DS: We have not been too amazed by how well our staff dance – we knew this before! What has surprised us has been their charisma and how much they have enjoyed showing off South African culture and welcoming all the foreigners. Their enthusiasm has been massive and the way that they have embraced people being interested in their culture, and our African way of dressing, dancing and singing has been phenomenal.
DD: Have any menu items stood out as being more popular than others?
DS: In terms of food, people have different ways of preparing for races. Some people have been eating a lot of protein-heavy dishes such as steaks and fish and others have been carbo-loading with pastas.
DD: Have you had any unusual requests from adventure racers?
DS: Other than a few language barriers, there haven’t been anything other than people trying to figure out their logistics.
DD: How are you preparing for their return to the Resort? Are you anticipating a lot of parties? Especially with the rugby World Cup?
DS: Teams have placed orders for the food they want when they arrive back after the race. We will be dot watching so we will know when a team is about to arrive and we can have their food ready. From Wednesday or Thursday next week, the village we have created with extra tents and food trucks will be happening and should be quite festive. We have a lot of live music planned, but these guys won’t party too hard as they will be very tired. They will enjoy a bit of a celebration and some food, but they will probably want to rest.
DD: Teams have been arriving all day and night and when they return it will also be at all hours of the day. Are you getting any sleep and what are your stress levels?
DS: It has been hard work but thank goodness we have an amazing team and have worked well together. Everyone has taken turns to sleep and rest so we haven’t gotten too burnt out.
DD: Would you do it again?
DS: Definitely. It has also had an impact on the community of the St Francis area. The SPAR has had great foot traffic and I believe the biltong shop in the village was sold out. Those who helped with the overflow of guests in Cape St Francis have been fully booked. Also, many of the South African teams who have had access to transport have also stayed in the village. So I believe it has been positive for the area.
To all at the Resort: We are so proud of you and are grateful to have such a wonderful facility in our midst. Thank you for all you do for our area and for having the courage to bring an event like this to St Francis. We love you.
We have mentioned the great team at the Resort and credit must also go to Anita Lennox, who knows every aspect of managing a Resort of this size inside out. As the Resort is recognised for its sustainability practices, we chatted to her briefly about their affiliation to the Eco Atlas, Fair Trade and TravelLife Sustainability in Tourism and how they maintained their green code with an event of this size.
AL: That’s been our biggest challenge – fortunately adventure races are very aware of their environment, and this made it a lot easier (there is a zero-footprint policy in adventure racing). We have glass water bottles in the rooms as well as refill stations which helped. Obviously, the restaurants produce a lot more waste, so our earthworms are not complaining and Kouga recycling has been very busy.
Small Town Swaps & Sustainably Dressed Daisies
Choosing blog topics at Dune Daisies is always fun as we get a chance to don our creative hats and think about not only inspiring issues, but also ones we feel would interest our fellow readers. This particular blog was top of our to-do list and grew from a short story that was entered into the St Francis Today monthly writing competition. It began as an account of a feel-good experience of bartering and second-hand clothes shopping in our beautiful town. However, when we delved deeper into the closet of sustainability in the fashion industry, we uncovered a few proverbial skeletons (and they were not dressed for success).
We hope you enjoy the short story and related insights uncovered when we scratched around in the back of the wardrobe.
SMALL TOWN SWOPS: A short story by Sas
Small towns are known for their charm, special ways and individuality. I am sure you’ll agree St Francis Bay is no different. We have our own sports clubs, pizza combos, pale ales, surf breaks and bumper stickers. The views are breath-taking and there is a plethora of unique opportunities for its citizens. And let’s not forget the blissful lack of robots or rush hour. One of my (many) favourite things about the small town we call home is its brilliant barter system. Have something to offer? There’s a good chance that you will be able to swop it for items you desire. It’s all about knowing the people around you; something which is possible in St Francis Bay. And the beauty of a good barter is that you always give and receive more than the monetary value of the goods in question. I would love to share with you one of my bartering bonanza experiences. Growing up overseas, I went to a high school where matric dances were not the massive productions that they are here. We borrowed dresses, did each other’s hair and were lucky if a photo or two were taken by the math teacher outside the school hall. So, it was with disbelief that I learnt about the extent and complexity of my daughter Jemma’s upcoming matric dance preparations. The dress code for her school was long and white. Seriously? Make no mistake, I am a huge fan of tradition, but ‘long and white’ sounded very much like a wedding dress to me – help! Desperate to find a dress that would make both Jemma and our budget happy, I went to my favourite clothing shop; Gently Worn. This boutique is home to not only a wide range of pre-loved clothes, but the owners also happened to be customers of my organic vegetable business. The arrangement we had was this; I would deliver a weekly box of veggies and Angela would translate that into a credit, allowing me to ‘purchase’ her pre-loved clothes. No cash ever changed hands, and we both felt we were getting an amazing deal. On the hunt for miracle, Jemma and I browsed the rails and there, tucked in between a 70s floral house coat and a maroon jumpsuit, we found an utterly gorgeous, beautifully embroidered white wedding dress. When she stepped behind the changing room curtain to try it on, we all held our breath. She emerged triumphant. Not only did it fit, but she loved it, and it met the dress code! When we arrived at the till to settle up, Angela happily announced that I had enough credit (from my veggie sales) to cover its cost. The day of the matric dance arrived and Jemma looked stunning, graciously receiving many compliments on her appearance. I overheard a friend of hers asking, “your dress is to die for Jems! Where did you find get it? In Johannesburg? Or did you get it specially designed for you in Cape Town?” Jemma looked over to where Anton and I were standing and, with a slight, sardonic raise of her eyebrow replied, “my mum bought it for a box of vegetables.” And that is why I love this town.
Understanding the lingo:
Fast Fashion: Fashion that is cheap, quickly manufactured and disposable. Fashion that has a speedy turnaround and aims to bring expensive catwalk trends to the ‘man’ on the street.
Slow Fashion: Similar to sustainable fashion in that it aims to be ethically sourced, environmentally sound, locally made, high quality and honours textile workers’ social & cultural rights.
Thrifting: To shop for used clothing, whether it be at a garage sale, flea market, estate sale, charity store, donation centre, or a used clothing store.
Fashion-flipping: To buy second-hand garments for resale (they can be altered, mended or upcycled before the resale).
Greenwashing: Misleading or deceptive publicity regarding how environmentally friendly a product is.
The Environmental Impact of Fashion
The equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second (UNEP, 2018)
Approximately 60% of all materials used by the fashion industry are made from plastic (UNEP, 2019)
500,000 tons of microfibers are released into the ocean each year from washing clothes — the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017)
That the world of fashion has a lot to answer for in terms of social, ethical and environmental responsibility is nothing new. We have all watched appalled as overcrowded, life-threatening, dehumanising sweatshops have been exposed. We have gasped in horror as rivers turned green, poisoned by chemical effluent from textile factories. And we have averted our eyes and shrugged our shoulders as our teenagers have pressurised us into buying the latest, coolest, fast fashion trends, hot off the catwalk and now in our local malls. Clearly, there are a multitude of destructive social and environmental consequences stemming from the life cycle of a fast fashion garment.
D
aisies, it’s time to say goodbye to mindless consumerism and embrace conscious, sustainable, ethical shopping. It’s time to take a moment, pause, breathe deeply and embrace slow fashion. Trust us, you won’t regret it, and importantly, you’ll look good too 😉.
Luckily, we have a number of options at our fingertips: one of which is buying pre-loved clothes. The demand for second-hand garments is set to skyrocket (by up to 185% in the next 10 years vs a paltry 10% increase in fast fashion: thredup.com). The fusty, dingy thrift stores of the ‘80s have been replaced by modern, appealing boutiques, such as Gently Worn. And if digital browsing is more up your alley, there are a variety of online pre-loved and vintage sites on offer.
Gently Worn, and our other favourite, Vintage with Love SA, are not only in the business of acquiring and selling second-hand clothes, but they are also true ethical and sustainability warriors. Vintage with Love SA has donated over R9 million to numerous charities, from their pre-loved goods sales (Pre-loved Clothes | Vintage With Love). And here in St Francis Bay, Angela and her staff at Gently Worn make sure that the clothes received, if not sold, definitely do not end up polluting a landfill. Any unwanted items are boxed and donated to Freddie Van Rooyen. As well as being part of Kouga Disaster Management, Freddie also runs an NPO in Jeffrey’s Bay called Masikhathaleleneni. His outreach covers the entire Kouga region and all who live there, providing clothing, furniture and food parcels to those in need. In exchange for Gently Worn’s unwanted clothes, Freddie donates food to the soup kitchens in St Francis Bay. And last Christmas, his organisation provided festive food hampers to 10 local needy families (who had been identified by Pastor Andrew Vena and Catherine Falconer of the Green Box (greenboxorders).
So fellow daisies, even if you are struggling to adjust to the thought of buying pre-loved, please consider a visit to your local thrift shop, and ensure that your unwanted garments find a new home in a skeleton-free closet.
OTHER WAYS TO FIND YOUR ETHICAL FASHION GROOVE
- Be like twyg (twyg.co.za) and host a swap & mend group. Grab a friend, some snacks and wine and revitalise or exchange your unwanted garments.
- Support local brands (we have awesome local designers in our town, such as Shelly @surfsense Surf Sense | Handmade Surf & Swimwear – Surf Sense SA, Carrin @ Surfeez Handmade Beachwear St Francis Bay | Surfeez | Eastern Cape, Angie @ Salty Dog Surf Wear (1) Salty Dog Surf Wear | Facebook & Maria @ Shakti Shanti Where To Buy – Shakti Shanti (shaktishantiyogawear.com)
- Reduce the number of garments you buy, choose quality over quantity and opt for a capsule wardrobe The Ultimate Guide: How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe (modernminimalism.com)
- Research ethical and sustainable brands & shop consciously Why Fashion Needs to Be More Sustainable – Sustainable Living (columbia.edu)
The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of humanity’s carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined (UNEP, 2018). If the fashion sector continues on its current trajectory, that share of the carbon budget could jump to 26% by 2050 (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017)
Some 93 billion cubic metres of water – enough to meet the needs of five million people – is used by the fashion industry annually, contributing significantly to water scarcity in some regions (UNCTAD, 2020)
Around 20% of industrial wastewater pollution worldwide originates from the fashion industry (WRI, 2017)
WHERE TO FIND YOUR NEXT VINTAGE GARMENT:
Instagram/online shops: wolf_the_vintage_store / vintagelovercpt / vinatgewithlovesa
Whatsapp & Telegram groups: Pre-loved St Francis Bay
Markets:
- St Francis Bay: St Francis Bay Market – St Francis Bay Food and Craft Markets (stfrancismarket.co.za)
- Jeffrey’s Bay: Milkwood Mark \ Market | Jeffrey’s Bay | Facebook
Boutiques: Gently Worn / SPCA & Hospice shops in Jeffreys Bay
Lighting the Daisies - The Seal Point Lighthouse
Surrounded by gentle trails, idyllic rock pools and vibrant reefs, the Seal Point Lighthouse is irrefutably the most elegant and gracious lady in our community (and believe me, the competition is stiff). She maintains her perfect posture even with waves crashing at her feet and wind whipping her form. With her generous warm glow, it’s hard to imagine that at one point she was said to be loneliest lighthouse in South Africa.
Her story began in 1875. After nearly two centuries of shipwrecks, it was time to cast a little light on the situation. Cape St Francis is situated on the most south-eastern point of the South African coastline. It is the point where skippers need to alter their course if navigating around the country. Many ships take a shortcut and come close to land. Sadly, many come a little too close and came a cropper.
The designer of the Bird Island Lighthouse, Mr. J. Flack, and the lighthouse builder, Mr. B. Godfrey, were appointed to build a lighthouse at Seal Point and made the arduous trip by ox-wagon from Port Elizabeth taking a week to get here. Construction began on the structure using local rock and sand (some say you can still see where they removed blocks from the surrounding outcrops). They laboured at it for a couple of years until it was finally complete in 1878. Sadly, Mr. Flack died of typhus a year into the project and never got to see his lady all aglow.
At first there was nothing else in the area, only the lighthouse. The lighthouse keepers were supplied with provisions by local farmers, but lived a relatively solitary existence. Gradually, people began to explore the area and a few even decided to build holiday homes. Who would have thought it would become the thriving community it is now?
The Seal Point Lighthouse has now become a hub of activity thanks to a group of local entrepreneurs. The bottom floor of the lighthouse consists of two wings, each housing elegant and luxurious accommodation. The central portion of the lighthouse displays pictures of the old lighthouse keepers and the far end is used as a pop-up shop during the season.
Buy a ticket at the amazing Nevermind kiosk next door to climb up to the top of the lighthouse. Unless the weather is shoddy, it’s open daily from 10am to 3.30pm. As the stairs are rather narrow, only a limited number of people can go up at the same time, so be sure to check out how many people are before you. I went up with my 8 year old daughter and, although she really enjoyed the experience, was a little scared going up and down the last few flights of stairs which are very narrow and steep. Of course, the thrill of being at the top and the magnificent view wiped out her fear.
There is a small, old building next the lighthouse that is under conservation protection, but am sure will be renovated into something fabulous soon. We’ll keep you posted!
PS There are three buildings next to the lighthouse. Formerly a penguin rehabilitation centre run by SANCCOB, the closest one to the lighthouse is the fabulous Nevermind restaurant. Nevermind never disappoints and appeals to all – from the tiny tots to the connoisseurs. The furtherest building from the lighthouse is called Salt. Salt has a yoga studio used by local instructors and smaller private therapy rooms. Doing yoga with a view of the the Cape St Francis Beach is indeed a special experience.
Dig Deeper
- It took 839 days to build.
- At 27.75m, our lighthouse is one of the highest stone masonry structures in South Africa.
- She was illuminated for the first time on 4 July 1878.
- The strength of the illumination is measured in candlepower – initially it burnt 15 000 candles visible for 28 nautical miles. By 1931, the candlepower had increased to 2750 000 (still only visible for 28 nautical miles)
- Currently, the light is automated and monitored in Port Elizabeth.
- The fog horn tends to sound after load-shedding.
- All it’s 154 steps are encased in the lighthouse, only the last couple of flights are more like step ladders.
Whoops a Daisies
Sadly, this stretch of coast has seen many shipwrecks. Apparently, if you factor in all the shipwrecks known and divide it by the length of the coastline, there would be a wreck every kilometre. We pay tribute to the lives lost at sea, by naming the streets of Cape St Francis after various shipwrecks. If you would like to see a few pictures of the ships that came a cropper, visit Jill’s Groovy Scoops, grab a scoop of deliciousness and check out the mini-museum in the shop.
Dune Reading
The Seal Point Lighthouse Official Website : Find all the details about accommodation, Nevermind, tower tours and much more here.
The Heritage Portal: A more comprehensive history of the lighthouse.
The Lighthouse’s Facebook page: News about all the happenings at the lighthouse and in it’s surrounding cottages.
The St Francis Kromme Trust: Shipwrecks: This website has an amazing amount of information about the local area, including some fascinating stories about some of the shipwrecks.
Surfline: The real story of Cape St Francis: Craig Jarvis writes a wonderful story about the how things evolved in Cape St Francis.
Simpson, RN, The Monument Around Us, 2006: NL Hulett: An essential read about the story of the Hulett family and St Francis.