How the Mike Bolhuis flamingo project is also supporting vulnerable children in South Africa.

I came across Mike Bolhuis and the Flamingo Project through a friend in South Africa. I’m here for 2 weeks working with volunteers who support children’s charities year-round. When I’m not in South Africa I work behind the scenes, promoting, fund raising and online support. You can read about my last visit in December 2018, supporting a Christmas Charity.

After recent droughts in South Africa Mike took it upon himself to try and rescue hundreds of dehydrated and starving flamingo chicks, which hatched back in February in Kamfersdam, Kimberley.

Photo Credit

These chicks have now been released back into their natural habitat, but Mike was left with 100’s of teddy bears the public had donated for the flamingo chicks to snuggle up to, to keep warm and to play with.

I spoke to Mike this week to thank him for the teddy bears, which are now washed, repaired and waiting to be rehoused to 300 vulnerable children living in poverty or in orphanages in and around Pretoria.

You can read more about Mike’s Flamingo rescue on his face book page.

Flamingoes are one of my favourite birds and I often visit Ras Al Khor bird santuary where I live in Dubai and I went in search of the flamingoes in the Western Cape in July 2015.

I'm, pleased Mike and the volunteers have been successful with their project, just a shame I didn't arrive earlier and I could have volunteered.

Wildlife and Plants in the desert with HDYGG and Animal Tales

Winter in Dubai is similar to summer in the UK except for the sand storms. It's summer now at time of posting and way too hot to be going out into the desert right now, I'm just about managing to walk Bob at 5am and again at 9pm.

Driving into the desert through a sandstorm, that cleared up about 30km inland.

 My mother was visiting in December and we wanted to share with her the places we go on a regular basis as well as the usual tourist destinations, one expects to visit in Dubai.

 She tried to climb a sand dune or two, but wasn't defeated, nor did she do it gracefully. She's 72 you know.

 We saw cranes and a variety of other birds as well as in the distance a new lake that was home to quite a few flamingos, which took us by surprise.

 Bob as usual loved his run out and swim in the lakes.

 We visit the lakes in the desert every weekend when the weather is cool enough and I've started taking Bob out on a Tuesday morning, since I've stopped working, taking my camera, laptop and a picnic to spend a few hours in peace and quiet, writing up blog posts. In February and March we had rain so waterproofs and warm clothing were required.

There are numerous plants out in the desert, whilst there is a lot of water and irrigation systems in place, I can't wait to see what else springs into life after the recent rainfall and spend some time identifying the different plants that grow naturally out in the desert.

Spring in the Western Cape in search of Flamingoes

I've visited Cape Town many times. I've also driven the entire East Coast and Garden Route, but I'd never made it to the West Coast. I'd also never seen Flamingoes in their natural habitat and really didn't want to leave without seeing them. We were leaving South Africa in December 2014, so with there being no time like the present, I booked a return flight from Johannesburg, car hire and accommodation for one and left a week later.

September in South Africa is spring. They joke that spring lasts until midday on September the 1st then it's summer. However cape Town has a completely different climate to Johannesburg, which is a 2 hour flight away.

I arrived in the early evening and after discovery the accommodation I'd booked and received confirmation for in Green Point was double booked, I ended up on the other side of the city at Green Market at The Glam Hotel. There were restaurants within a very short walk from the hotel and a wide selection.

I'd made my way from the airport to Cape Town by bus, collecting my car hire in the morning. The reason being is that the Avis car hire from the airport was limited mileage, whereas collecting from the city centre wasn't. I've no idea why this is the case but that's how it was.

View from Bloubergstrand

Driving out of Cape Town, Table Mountain was visible in the rear view mirror for around 70kms, until I started to drive a little inland. There were plenty of places to stop for photos and coffee on route.

View from Yzerfontein

I stopped for breakfast at West Coast Farmstall and could've quite happily spent the day here. It was so pretty inside, staff friendly, food fantastic and beautiful gardens. There was also a farm shop and I stocked up with some snacks and drinks for the next few days.

I opted to drive through, rather than round, the West Coast National Park, taking advantage of my SANPark Wild Card.

Arriving late at my Absolute Beach Accommodation, in Britannia Bay. I was shown to my room and understood why their advertisemnt stated it was ideal as a retreat. I had a double room with en suite and the most amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean and I was treated to a whale sighting during my stay.

A full English breakfast was served with a wide range of drinks and freshly baked muffins. Each Self contained room had a veranda and there was a shared TV room with fully equipped kitchen and a small pool. I opted to eat out in the evenings at a near by hotel.

After breakfast I set off in search of Flamingoes at the Lower Berg River Wetlands, I wasn't disappointed, pulling over on the side of the road I was able to take as many pictures as I wanted. I ended up seeing quite literally hundreds of Flamingoes during my 3 day trip.

I then drove down to the harbour to locate a coffee shop, I came across a wonderful souvenir shop, a bar and restaurant and a variety of coffee shops.

I travelled South from there to Vredenburg where there was a mall for lunch and to buy my dinner to eat at the accommodation that night.

Heading back to Britannia Bay, I decided to visit Pasternoster I'd watched a documentary on the area and wanted to see it for myself. There is plenty of accommodation in the area, the scenery is stunning, but apart from a hotel and a sea shell shop and being a very expensive location to holiday in, you would need to be committed to just relaxing, walking, photography or art.

I spent an hour explore the rock pools before heading back to Absolute Beach.

Leaving early the following morning I made my way back slowly to the airport in Cape Town, my flight was at 8pm, so I drove through the West coast National Park and stopped to take numerous photographs, sit and watch the other wildlife.

 The roads were quite literally covered with these caterpillars and insects

I marvel at the stupidity, these were Puff Adders, there are also Cape Cobra's in the area and you really wouldn't want to encounter either one of them.

My drive back to Cape Town can only be described as Scenic 

I visited Darling Cellars to sample a cheese basket for lunch (I was driving)

Heading into the town of Darling, I was slightly disappointed to discover that the famous Spring Flowers had almost finsihed their season, but the rains had started a couple of weeks earlier than normal. parts of Darling and the Postberg Section of West Coast National Park are only open during August and September for the spring flower season.

 Postberg

Darling

My journey ended with a final stop to capture yet another photograph of Table Mountain, although I'm returning to South Africa in October and November, I will be staying in Johannesburg to work with a charity and I doubt I'll ever return to Cape Town.