Zuurberg Mountain Village

Suurberg (Zuurberg) Pass -
This long and sometimes extreme gravel pass is located on a secondary road (the R335) in the Eastern Cape approximately 35 km north of Addo and 75 km south of Somerset East. At 27,5 km it is one of the longer passes in South Africa and traverses all four tiers of the dominant Zuurberg Mountain range. It was originally constructed by Henry Fancourt White in 1849, but White resigned during the construction phase to take up a post in parliament, leaving the project in the capable hands of the assistant roads engineer, Mr. Matthew Woodifield, whose name appears carved into a rock slab near the southern end of the pass.

The pass contains within its length 158 bends, corners and curves. As progress is made northwards, the road surface deteriorates to the point where low range and high clearance is required. Allow two hours (excluding stops) to complete the pass and be patient and careful as this is true puncture country. Changing a spare wheel on a steep incline is a risky affair, so it’s better to drive slower and choose your driving lines with care.

Daniell Cheetah Breeding Farm

Daniell Cheetah Breeding project was established in May 2001 and started with just three cats. It has since grown with breeding, purchase and swapping of animals.
The aim of this project is to play a part in the conservation of Cheetah’s (Acinonyx jabatus), the re-establishment of pure gene lines, as well as educating people to the importance of conserving this amazing species.
The cheetah project offers a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience where visitors do not only get an interesting, personalized tour, but get to interact with the animals. Visitors are encouraged to touch the cheetahs and have photographs with some of them. We believe this opens people’s eyes to the importance of the Cheetah’s conservation

Daniell Cheetah breeding also has other attractions:

• The Padstal where you can browse for gifts and African Arts at very reasonable prices

• Coffee, Tea and Light meals can be ordered for take-away or sit-down meals

• Feeding the tame Kudu’s and Springbuck

• Experiencing the hospitality of the Daniell Family

Addo Wildlife Centre and Eco Tour

Addo Wildlife Centre

We have an amazing selection of animals at the wildlife centre ranging from crocodiles to parrots from around the world. Children are welcome to handle our tame rabbit’s and feed the chickens.

Open 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 17:00.

Animals include:

Snakes: Red-tailed Boa Constrictor, Carpet Python, Corn Rat Snake Hybrid, Grey Rat Snake, Honduran Milk Snake, Snow Corn, Black Albino Rat Snake, Corn Snake, California, King Snake, Yellow Anaconda’s

Reptiles: African Fat Tailed Gecko’s, Rock Monitor Lizard, Nile Crocodiles

Parrots: Cape Parrot, Lovebirds, African Grey, Galah’s, Brown Headed, Senegal, Ruppel’s, Meyer’s, Eclectus

Macaws: Scarlet, Greenwing , Military, Red Fronted, Blue and Gold

Raptors: Cape Eagle Owl, Spotted Eagle Owl, Barn Owl, Bengal Eagle Owl, Rock Kestrel, Verreaux’s Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Steppe Buzard, Yellow Billed Kite, Pale Chanting Goshawk

Cats: African Wild Cat, Caracal

Antelopes: Blue Duiker

Monkeys: Marmosets

Squirrels: Red Bush Squirrel, Gouldian Finches, Suricate

Touch Farm: Turkeys, Chickens, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Dwarf Goats, Ducks, Geese, Black Swans

Addo Wildlife Eco Tour

This lovely four and a half hour guided tour on an open game view vehicle departs from the Addo Wildlife to our nature reserve situated on the banks of Sundays River.  It includes an informative drive through some citrus orchards, interesting facts regarding the varieties of fruit and whereto it is exported to.

Once on our nature reserve our guides will tell you about the unique Eastern Cape plants and trees, search for antelope species like the Blue Wildebeest, Red hartebeest, Springbuck, Zebra, Impala, Waterbuck, Nyala and Kudu’s to name a few. We stop and show the very uncommon Elephant foot plant after which you can enjoy a relaxing optional walk through the African bush to the river. End the walk with a nice jump of our deck into the Sundays River. A scrumptious meal and refreshments await you back at the Restaurant.

Darlington Dam - Lake Mentz

P.W.F. Weyers, a former hawker, who lost cattle in an attack by the Boers during the Anglo-Boer War, was said to have started Darlington farm in the Jansenville district. He always said that the Boers had shot his animals in the Bedrogsfontein Pass.

Weyers settled on Darlington in the fertile Sundays River Valley in 1905 and planted fruit orchards and vineyards. Later a hotel, post office, shop, smithy, house, and several outbuildings were established on the farm and later still they all disappeared under waters of Lake Mentz (Darlington Dam) when it was established in 1922.

This huge dam was created to supply citrus farmers further down in the Sundays River Valley with irrigation water for their trees. Weyers left the farm and it had other owners among them Dr Reginald Koettlitz, who accompanied Captain Robert Falcon Scott on his first

Antarctic expedition as senior medical officer. Some say that the doctor was blamed when some of the men of the expedition contracted scurvy and that this led him to come to South Africa to settle in the Karoo. But he was not the only famous man to have contact with this farm and dam. The first chairman of the irrigation board responsible for the building of the dam was none other than Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, author of Jock of the Bushveld.

And even the name of the dam has a good story attached to it. Piet van Niekerk, of Drive Out Magazine (August / September 2007) wrote:

“According to local legend the then minister of land affairs, Colonel Hendrik Mentz, who had granted permission for the building of the dam, was not exactly a popular fellow, so when it was suggested that the dam be named after him, some irate person loudly exclaimed: ‘Oh, damn Mentz!’ To which he received a polite reply: ‘No, no, just Lake Mentz, will do!”’

In the 1990s the ‘lake’ was renamed the Darlington Dam.

Extract from Roses Roundup. Lake Mentz construction commenced in 1918 and was completed in 1924. As had been envisaged from the start, the capacity of the lake became progressively reduced by silting. The wall was raised by 1,5 meters which had the effect of restoring the capacity. The accumulation of silt had by 1946 again reduced the capacity. In 1949 the wall was raised a further 5,8 meters. When the servitude proceedings came before the Water Court it was agreed that nothing further in the future could be done for Lake Mentz by way of increasing its storage capacity.

Commenting on the probable life of the dam the presiding judge said: “We are of opinion that, in the conflict of admittedly theoretical opinion, the safest figures to adopt on the probabilities is somewhere between 35 and 40 years (from 1949), at which stage (a) the dam will have ceased to function effectively and (b) the servitude area will have been completely silted up”.

In 1924, Philip Weyer, the main owner of land inundated by Lake Mentz, was awarded £27 000 compensation.

Following the raising of the wall by 5,8 meters in 1949, Weyer’s successor, Bertram Henderson, was granted just under £40 000 the event being described at the time in these words:

“The action arose because of the raising of the wall at Lake Mentz and was heard at Somerset East during November and December. It lasted nearly a month and witnesses came from all over the country. From the judgment it appears the Respondent did well on his land valuations which were substantially sustained by the Court”.

Today, Darlington Dam has been incorporated into the Addo Elephant National Park, adding to the attraction for tourists to the Park.

Things to do at Colchester and the Sundays River Mouth

Cannonville/Colchester and the Sundays River Mouth is located only about 35 km, or not even 30 minutes’ drive, from Port Elizabeth along the N2.  The area is an extremely popular holiday and weekend destination and offers a host of activities based around the Sundays River.  It is also the location of the southern gate into Addo Elephant National Park making it a very popular base for local and international visitors.

 Here are 10 Things to do in the Cannonville / Colchester / Sundays River Mouth area and surrounds:

 1. Scenic River Cruise / Boat Rides - Take a leisurly cruise down the Sundays River with Sundays River Adventures. Enjoy views of the the river mouth and the Colchester section of the Alexandria dune field.  The cruise offers great bird watching opportunities and a chance to climb to the top of the dunes for a view across Algoa Bay to Port Elizabeth as well as the surrounding dune field.   

2. Sand Boarding - Combine cruising down the Sundays River Valley with the chance to sand board down the giant sand dunes close to the river mouth with Sundays River Adventures.   

3. Addo Elephant National Park - Enter the world famous Addo Elephant National Park from the Colchester side through the southern gate at Camp Matyholweni for a self-drive safari through the park or book a guided tour to view the Big 5 and other animals. 

4. Nanaga Farmstall - No roadtrip west along the N2 from Port Elizabeth or on Route 72 is complete without a stop at the Nanaga Farmstall for their homemade roosterkoek and freshly baked pies, biltong, pineapple juice or a freshly brewed cappuccino to send you on your way. So if its padkos, a snack or quick bite to eat, Nanaga Farmstall is worth a stop.

5. Bird Watching - Bird watching can be done while cruising the river, walking along its banks, visiting Addo Elephant National Park (with over 400 recorded bird species) or just by making the rounds through the area.

6. Water activities on the Sundays River include swimming, fishing, paddling, waterskiing, cruising or just staring out over the river watching the sun set in the west.

7. Dune Hiking - Do a quick hike up the Colcherster dunes while on a cruise with the Sundays River Adventures or go for a longer hike through this magnificent dune field.   

8. Nukakamma Canoe Trail - The only Green Flag canoe trail in the country, the Nukakamma Canoe Trail is a 29 km overnight round trip on the flat water of the Sundays River. The trail is a joy for any lover of nature to behold, with over 210 bird species and abundant wildlife. Stay overnight in the romantic Hudson, a two roomed log cabin and sleep under the stars on the sundeck overlooking the river. It begins and ends in the village of Cannonville. Contact Sundays River Adventures for more info.

9. Fishing - Fishing on the Sundays River and at the Sundays River Mouth is allowed with a valid fishing permit both from the bank as well as from a boat.  Monthly competitions are held for visitors and locals wanting to test their skill against others. 

10: Running / Cycling: The Cannonville / Colchester area offers save running and cycling along it’s roads, the towpath on the river’s edge, and across the historic Mackay Bridge and onto the Tankatara Road.

Raggy Charters Marine Eco Cruises

There are several things that make their cruises unique and sets them apart from other operators.

• They visit St Croix island which is home to half of the worlds remaining endangered African Penguins and is the largest breeding colony of African Penguins.

• We are blessed to operate in Algoa Bay which is diverse in wildlife species and rich in history.

• We only run our Whale/Dolphin/Penguin island cruise once a day, in the morning, instead of trying to fit multiple cruises into one day. This ensures that our skippers and guides are fresh and fully alert for every cruise and it is possible to spend a bit more time and effort searching for wildlife in all corners of the Bay or observing something special that we come across provided that no one on board is in a rush to get back for a flight or any other prior arrangements or bookings.

• We are a small organization whose focus is education, conservation and assisting in research which is all made possible by the funds generated from conducting Marine Eco-Cruises for our guests out into Algoa Bay.

• At least one tree is planted for every cruise to balance our carbon footprint.

• We prefer using smaller boats over using large boats to keep our cruises personal with at least two guides on board each of our cruises to answer any questions and see to the needs of our Guests.

Our three boats are licensed for 20, 18 and 12 passengers, respectively. (For more comfort we suggest 20, 18 and 8 passengers)

All cruises are weather dependent.

Whale-Watching Cruises

Raggy Charters is a licensed boat-based whalewatching permit holder for Algoa Bay. Southern Right and Humpback whales are usually seen from June until December. 

Bryde’s and Minke whales can be seen throughout the year feeding on schools of bait fish which pass through Algoa Bay. 

Dolphins regularly spotted on cruises include both Common and Indo Pacific Bottlenose, Common and Humpback. If no whales are spotted a cruise to the penguin island will be undertaken. Tours leave in the mornings and take between two and three hours. 

Penguin Island Cruises

Visit the St Croix Island Marine Reserve and see the largest breeding colony of the endangered African Penguins on the planet, numbering 22 000 birds. Besides penguins there are many other seabirds including Cape Gannets which nest on a nearby island. Also often seen are Cape Fur Seals, sharks, and dolphins. Tours leave in the morning, taking three hours and covering 60km.

Beachfront Cruises

Join Raggy Charters for a leisurely cruise along PE’s famous beachfront turning around at the Cape Recife lighthouse which marks the start of Algoa Bay. Dolphins, Cape Fur Seals and numerous sea birds may be sighted. Tours leave in the afternoon taking one and a half hours and covering 10km.

About Raggy Charters

Raggy Charters is by far the oldest Marine Eco Tour company in Port Elizabeth and was established in 1997. We have a 100% safety record, and our boats are inspected annually by the South African Marine Safety Authority. The company was set up with the sole goal of funding the Baywatch Marine Conservation Project.