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		<lastmod>2021-10-07T06:27:22+00:00</lastmod>
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		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/always-another-harvest/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:21:50+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Harvest April 2014 (Looking West Across the Breede River Valley)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Taken from the top most spot of our vineyards, the properties in the distance are owned by our neighbors. The numerous rows of windbreaks (trees) indicate it is much windier on the valley floor; our vineyard is largely protected by low hills to the south that deflect the "southeasters" above our grapes ... most of the time.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush Vineyards Entrance, Looking West]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We added this photo to give some sense of the width of the Breede River Valley at this juncture, the extent of the mountains to the west, and the vineyards climbing up their lower flanks. We used to have the highest plantations around but now are but one of several growers who have incurred the expense of planting as high on the hillsides as practical. Why? Because this is where we get the highest quality wine grapes. Our side of the valley is superb for reds and the other side, shaded earlier in the afternoon from the setting sun, is better for whites.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//2.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Manager's House Adjacent to Gate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Roos family lives adjacent to our front gate so they are very aware of all the comings and goings of people to our vineyard. Anton Roos can also see most of the hillside plantings from his patio so he can observe the stage of work being accomplished during the day, if he is not on the hill at that moment. While we have very responsible workers, nothing replaces careful supervision, especially at time of harvest. (This photo is probably from 2002, judging by the fact many of our fields had not yet been planted.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//3.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sunset From the Manager's Lawn]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The mountains to the north of our property look like minarettes at times like these. It probably rained later that evening, but with a lightshow like this, who cares about the weather?]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Ho, hum, Another Fall Sunset ...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When you farm grapes in the mountains, the weather can vary significantly from day to day. This autumn evening it was quite cloudy as the sun set, but the next day broke with a clear blue sky, and the harvest continued in perfect weather.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Winter Cover Crop]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[General Manager Anton Roos plants a seed mixture of rye et al between the rows. This adds to the overall fertility of the vineyards but does require management. We roll all the grass flat in the spring so it does not steal moisture and can combine with the soil.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cover Crop on Top Vineyard Blocks]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Above the bodam (upper dam), we are looking at our Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc blocks in the Spring.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bud Break: September 2012]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[September is Spring in South Africa and the weather is still chilly and rainy most days.The vines have awoken from their winter dormancy and the buds are starting to form shoots. Later the vines will flower, self fertilize, and the grape buds will form; all of this is needed before a grape crop can be matured.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Ripe Shiraz Grapes]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cabernet Sauvignon is usually the last variety to mature and harvest, but in 2004 we had both Cab and Shiraz hanging until the very end. One big problem was our principal winery could not process grapes as fast as needed, so the farmers had to delay their harvests. The longer "hang time" may have increased quality marginally but it also contributed to berry shrivel and decreased our delivered tonnages by at least 10 tons. You can also see the leaves starting to turn brown.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[King Cabernet, Ready for Picking]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[World-wide, Cabernet Sauvignon is generally known as the King of Red Grapes. It is the noblest of the Bordeaux cultivars and produces the most elegant of long aging wines. The skins are tough and the bunches fairly loose, so if it is rained on, usually the moisture drains out and no damage is done. On the other hand, Cab is invariably the last to ripen and harvest can be very late in the season. (In California, we have actually picked Cabernet as late as Thanksgiving, at the end of November!)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[GM Anton, Pleased With the Sugar Test]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sugar is just one of the several physical aspects of maturing grapes, but it is perhaps the most important. Most wineries do not accept your grapes unless they have attained agreed sugar minimums, and most want higher sugar levels, and exceptional fruit concentration that comes from long "hang time." But finally the day arrives that we have to pick NOW.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Oordman, Silkbush Foreman]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When the grapes are ready, our normal workforce has to be increased quickly with people who want to work hard. Oordman Dirks lives in the nearby town of Wolseley, and one of his jobs is to line up sufficient pickers and bring them by truck to the vineyard early in the morning, and return them at the end of the day. However, starting in 2008, our need for harvest labor decreased markedly with our acquisition of a harvesting machine. It was timely as fewer and fewer of the local people are interested in picking grapes anymore.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//9.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Braud]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Braud is a French-made grape harvester; we purchased a late model used one in 2007 and used it successfully for the 2008 harvest. While we can use machine harvesters on about 70% of Silkbush, they can't be used on all blocks. First, the steepness of some of the slopes would tip the machines over and if we have unevenly ripening bunches, the machine cannot discern between bunches we would prefer to leave hang longer.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Best Harvester Driver]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[By the way, Anton, our vineyard general manager, is also our ONLY harvester driver so far. This first year, 2008, he wanted to make sure everything went well, and driving this machine in the dark (starting around 4 AM) is a very serious and demanding job. The damage to our vines that a poor harvester pilot could do is not what we want to even imagine!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Poppie]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Poppie is hard working and very reliable. She is one of the people we count on to set a good example in the fields. When the grapes are ready, we need to be able to pick as many as 50 tons per day for one or more wineries. 50 metric tons is a lot of careful picking, carrying of heavy boxes, lifting them into gondolas, and repeating the process hour after hour in the hot sun. Few people are really willing to do the work on a consistent basis.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Katrina]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Starting in 2008, our need for seasonal grape pickers was decreased substantially when we purchased the Braud harvest. This is all well and good, as we were having a difficult time getting enough people from the local community of Wolseley who wanted to work. A relatively recent government financial support program has negatively impacted the work ethic and motivation to a major degree. Thank goodness we have reliable people like Katrina who we can always count on.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Year Round Staff]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our staff is really like our "family ,"as happy and hardworking as workers can be. Here two of the guys are completing the removal of vines, grape stakes, and irrigations hoses before we replant the block.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Female Grape Pickers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In the Western Cape, women are used seasonally to prune the grapevines in the winter and to help with the harvest. Normally they clip off the grape bunches into the plastic lug boxes, and the men carry the heavy boxes to the gondolas towed behind the tractors. For all concerned, the work is hot, dusty, and strenuous.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Reaching a Bunch on the Other Side of the Vine]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The bunches are cut off the vine with sharp knives but you first must be able to get to the bunch. Perhaps a third to half of the bunches are on the other side of the vine or wrapped in between canes that making access to them difficult. Most of this "picking" is selecting the bunches, cutting them off, and dropping them into the crates; the majority of the pickers are women and they are fast to fill up a box.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Men and Women Work as Teams]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As the women reposition the empty boxes, the men carry the 20 kilo crates filled with grapes to the waiting gondolas.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Crates Don't Come Out of the Fields By Themselves]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A full box probably weighs about 45 pounds and all the teams are paid based of the number of boxes that are dumped into the gondolas.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[He Doesn't Need to Go to the Gym!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While our workers are of all ages, the harvest is very strenuous. This young chap does not look like he has an ounce of fat on him.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Walking Uphill on a Hot Afternoon]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most of our fields are not super steep, but the grade is unrelenting! We layout our vineyard blocks so the pickers do not have to carry the full boxes an excessive distance, but it is still hot and dusty work. The row of big rocks in the background were all dug out of the fields by tractors and then moved to the side before the vines were planted and the grape stakes installed.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton, Our Hard-working General Manager]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As the gondola gets closer to being full, the grape boxes must be lifted ever higher. Anton helps his much shorter workers loft the last heavy boxes onto the almost full gondola.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Time Clock and Pruning Shears]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While our resident employees, other than management, work a 45 hour week for salaries, the rest of our workers are paid by the hour. Therefore, this modern time clock is quite helpful. Each worker has his/her own "key" which is touched to a small tube that usually reposes at the top of the board. The software system does the rest. Each employee who is involved with the harvest has their own pruning shears used to sever the grape bunches from the vines. Don't lose them!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Jan Checks Lucky's Box Count]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Jan is our most senior tractor drive, (although officially retired now) and during harvest he maintains the "blue tube," which is part of our compensation control system. Before each box is dumped, each employee's "key," which hangs around their neck, is touched to the tube. Its advanced technology, along with the personal computer, keeps track of each team's daily total boxes without having to have a paper trail. Much as in California's vineyards, the workers are paid on a piece rate basis, which can increase their hourly pay significantly.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Young Tractor Trainee: Francois Roos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While he is the second son, Francois does not take a backseat to his older brother. He loves tractors and can't wait to be able to really drive one. Notice his John Deere overalls.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tractor Driver and Trainee]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Samuel, from Lesotho, drives the gondola-pulling tractor, while Anton's youngest son, Antonie, learns the business first hand. The three year old seemed right at home.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Harvester Dumping Into Gondola]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The harvester's two side bins are usually completely filled after two rows and then they need to be dumped into our gondolas. In addition to Anton as driver, there is a worker who rides on the harvester to make sure the grapes are being deposited properly and a tractor driver who prepositions the receiving gondola at the end of the next row.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Harvester Heading Up the Hill]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The harvester obviously straddles the grape vinerow and the grapes are vibrated off the vines into belts that lift them into the side bins. It looks (and sounds) quite strange to see a harvest being brought in without 50 or more people in the fields, talking, laughing, and running the lug boxes to the gondolas. Clearly mechanization is reducing the number of seasonal jobs while taking much of the hardest labor out of farming.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Almost Full!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Tegniese Dienste means "Technical Services" in Afrikaans.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Gondola Headed to Loading Ramp]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Only our most senior and responsible workers, such as Willem shown here, are permitted to drive the tractors. Working on hillsides with heavy equipment is serious business, and the loaded grapes represent our entire year's efforts.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[New Loading Ramp]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A flatbed truck has been positioned to take on gondola loads of harvested grapes. Silkbush purchased hydraulic grape containers for trucks which hold about 8-9 tons of grapes; the hydraulic gondolas, which haul at least three tons of grapes, will be pulled onto the loading ramp by tractors. Three gondola loads go onto each truck, and then Anton or his assistant will drive the truck to the winery.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Roos Family Spots the Tractor]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Since this gondola load will be the last needed to fill up the truck's container, Anton and his boys are already in position. It won't take long to dump the gondola, and then they all will be off for Wabooms. From this photo you can also easily see the hydraulic system for side dumping the container at the winery.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Tip Starts]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[With the top of the ramp well above the waiting truck, the gondola's side dumping system is very efficient. Nobody other than the tractor driver is required to load up to four tons of grapes onto the truck in just a few seconds.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lookout below!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[From this position of the gondola box, the entire load of grapes spills out in just a few seconds. The grapes on the bottom of the truck's container have already been crushed by the weight and a fair amount of grape juice will pour out at the crusher. So it is now very important to get the load into the winery without delays. (Incidentally, the pear trees at the rear of the photo belong to a neighbor, not Silkbush. We are out of the tree fruit business.) These side dumping gondolas are very efficient and we own three that work in the field, and two more larger ones for the trucks that go to the wineries. We bought one more in 2007 as our increasing harvests required it. As of 2009, we are at perhaps 93% of full vineyard maturity and are consistently harvesting well above 1,000 tons each year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Down the Chute Again]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Jan watches about three tons of grapes go into a similar but three times larger gondola on the waiting truck. These side dumping gondolas are very efficient and we own three that work in the field, and two more larger ones for the trucks that go to the wineries. We bought one more in 2007 as our increasing harvests required it. As of 2009, we are at perhaps 93% of full vineyard maturity and are consistently harvesting well above 1,000 tons each year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Empty Gondola Returns to the Fields]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It is key to have as short a "cycle time" as possible. If there is not a gondola in the field, the pickers fill up their crates and then must wait until an empty gondola has arrived. Piece-rate workers can get quite testy if things are not going efficiently.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lining Up at the Scales]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In every grape growing area of the world, the tension between the grower and the winery is most manifest as the grapes are delivered. If the winery has any sort of glitch in the processing grapes, the lineup at the scales can get very long and return of the trucks or tractors to the farms delayed. This backup will delay the pickers and everybody's temper gets short.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Wagenboom Wyn]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Literally, "Wagenboom Wyn" translates to WagonTree Wine; the name of our local wine cooperative is Waboomsrivier, or Wagontree River. Direct wine marketing is not their thing: 98% of the wine is sold in bulk to other wineries and wine marketing companies. Once the loads of grapes have been weighted, then they line up for sugar testing, and then ultimately for dumping into the winery's crushing and destemming machinery.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Power Sugar Tester]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This powerful auger dives into each bin containing the delivered grapes and takes a highly representative sample cross section of the fruit about to be dumped into the crusher. Each grower receives a printout of the average sugar level of the grapes he just delivered to the winery; most wineries pay their growers on a number of factors, but the absolute level of Brix (percentage of sugar) of the grapes is one of the most important of the criteria.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//39.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Seeing Old Friends in Line]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As Robert Montgomery and Dave Jefferson said hello, Dave was thinking (but did not say) "you have an awful lot of leaves in that load of grapes, mate!" In CA we insist that our workers absolutely minimize MOG (Material Other than Grapes). That includes leaves, mud, rotten grapes, stones, or anything else. Each farmer earns his reputation at each winery partly based on how clean the fruit is when delivered.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hiding in the Shade Between Loads]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These guys are winemaker interns from one of the agricultural colleges, working the harvest. Their jobs at harvest are to make sure that all the grapes get out of the gondola properly and into the crushers, that there is little MOG (Materiel Other than Grapes), and any bunches that fall on the ground are quickly picked up. Small but important tasks. They are taking a dusty fruit and planning to convert it to a sanitary beverage in short order.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//41.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Flash Detente Vessel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[One of the big delays in winery operations is the 7-10 day time it usually takes to ferment a tank of grapes. This new system from France, which uses a huge vacuum tank to extract all the color, tannins, and other good stuff from the red skins at the start of the process, had just been installed for the 2004 harvest. It reportedly reduces the fermentation cycle by 50%, to 3.5-5 days, and even increases wine quality. This may reduce winery bottlenecks very dramatically in the years to come.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//44.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Juice From Bottom is First!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The weight of the grapes higher up in the gondola crushes the grapes on the bottom and therefore there is a lot of grape juice the comes out first. Because grapes are covered with natural yeast, it is important the entire load gets into a winery quickly before spontaneous fermentation is allowed to start in non sanitary conditions.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//45.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Pulpit Rock Fermentation Tanks]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most stainless steel tanks look about the same, but there are some clever design ideas incorporated in this winery. The large tanks in the center are self evident, but on the sides there are two rows of smaller tanks, one stacked on top of the other. Many times wineries need smaller tanks but they often take up the same building "footprint" as larger tanks, forfeiting the volume above. By stacking tanks, you do not require an excessively large winery building and still retain the ability of doing smaller fermentation lots.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Disaster North of Paarl!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This "hose coupling incident" occurred at a neighboring cooperative winery Dave Jefferson visited one Saturday afternoon. Such crises can and do occur at virtually all wineries, but perhaps more frequently at older facilities where fairly large quantities of grapes are being processed. (We at Silkbush were relieved that they weren't our grapes on the ground and wall, and that it didn't happen just as we walked by!) The Cellarmaster, an old friend, was a bit more upset because the workers were not sufficiently attentive.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Weekly Pay Envelopes]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The custom is still to pay all workers on Friday night IN CASH! So Anton and Franci have to make up the payrolls and have the cash proper and in the envelopes by Friday at quitting time. (Six year old Francois Roos looks like he is unhappy he isn't getting paid!)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton Adding Fertilizer]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The dry fertilizer is added to our drip irrigation system. As the season drew to a close in 2004, we were running quite low on water, but fortunately we had enough to be able to do a post harvest fertilization for our established vines. (As you can see from the small size of the just-planted block behind him, a number of vines certainly did need fertilizer.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/always-another-harvest_1//49.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Washing a Gondola, End of the Day]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We wash out all the grape gondolas every evening after the last load is delivered. The insides of the gondolas are covered in sticky grape juice, and natural yeast would start fermenting the sugar water in short order. The grape juice will also attract bugs and birds; we don't want any of that whatsoever.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Vineyard Workers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A number of temporary workers are only with us a week at harvest, and then we may never see them again. Only their faces, once captured on film, remain behind.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Aubrey and Willem]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Willem is our key tractor driver. We appreciate the hard work and Aubrey and Willem who are two of our permanent staff. The dedication of our vineyard workers means so much...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Saahie]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Saahie is another of our regular and trustworthy workers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Samuel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We get such a kick out of high spirited Samuel!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Thabo]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Thabo is one of our regular workers from the small mountain kingdom of Lesuto, Thabo lives on Silkbush and is an irrigation specialist.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Four Cute Girls from Wolseley]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This group of girls worked the '05 Harvest, picking grapes by hand, high in the mountain vineyard. While the majority of Silkbush grapes are picked by machine, the grapes on the highest blocks, especially the Pinotage, always have to be picked by hand into 20 Kg crates.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Zakkie Tasting the Fruit]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is Zakkie, having a little snack of grapes at the end of a hot day.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dat Dagga, Man?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dagga, by the way, is South African slang for marijuana, which is also grown and used widely, as the climate is ideal for cultivation.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Always Smiling]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This chap has a string of knit caps to wear, even on the hottest days. You will find most of the South Africans to be cheerful and interesting.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Exuberant!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Loved having his photo taken]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Open Trench Canal Converted to Water Pipes]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Some 75% of our mountain water is sent to neighboring vineyards further down the hillside. We had been encouraging the beneficiaries of the water system to line the ditch to prevent water loss; so in 2014, two pipes were installed to reduce water loss even further.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[An Etched Sunset on Silkbush Mountain]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The only way you can have sharp shadows on our eastern mountains at sunset is when it is bell clear to the west. This was such an evening in April 2004, as we neared the end of our first good sized harvest, over 550 tons. (As of 2007, we are doing over 1,200 metric tons as more blocks attain maturity and we are 99% planted.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Harvest Over- Last Sunset]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Every sunset seems to be different, depending upon the clouds (or no clouds), the season, or the mood of the watchers. But this one was just glorious.    Come to the Cape and see for yourself! We even treat all first time visitors to an evening of pizza and beer at the nearby Calabash Bush Pub, the closest adult watering hole, just over the river and west of the Bergsig Estate winery. Come on by and work on your Afrikaans, as English is definitely the second language there.]]></image:caption>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/east-africa-tanzania/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:38:54+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Air Tanzania]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Getting to Tanzania requires some effort. Most visitors fly from Europe or Jo'berg (RSA) to Nairobi, and then take a short flight to Arusha, a small city"http://www.access2tanzania.com"&gt;www.access2tanzania.com) who served as our travel agent.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Entry Papers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Crossing borders always requires paperwork. To visit Tanzania you must first obtain a visa from the government before you leave the US. It costs $50 and should be done well in advance of departure, because your passport must be sent their embassy in New York or Washington D.C. (Not all travel agents advise adequately in these matters.) Reportedly visas are also available upon arrival, but we would not take the chance.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Old Volcanos and Small Farms]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We don't pretend to be Tanzanian experts after a week's experience in the courntry, but some things did clearly emerge. While most of the people are involved in subsistence farming and cattle grazing, the principal cash generator are tourists coming to visit their national parks. (We presume there is some manufacturing industry at Dar es Salaam, the capital on the Indian Ocean coast, but did not spend any time seeing that region.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kilimanjaro International Airport]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Arusha does have international service by KLM, yet is a small but busy airport as it is the principal "port of entry" for the thousands of visitors determined to climb the highest mountain in Africa. Kili is about 20,000 feet high, so it requires good conditioning in advance. We also understand the air is quite thin and cold above 14,000' and the high altitude hike is not without certain risks; a few visitors die annually in the effort.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is a new hotel where we stayed in April 2005 for our first night. Unfortunately, our luggage did not make it out of Jo'berg to Nairobi with us; then there was a large Indian wedding at the hotel, and a colossal thunder and lightening storm overhead, accompanied with a torrential downpour. It barely slowed down the revellers, however, and we had a pretty miserable night of it despite relatively swank and spacious accommodations.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kili in the Distance]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is as close to seeing the famous mountain as we came, and our experience is not unusual, as Mount Kilimanjaro is frequently shrouded in clouds.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Faux Rhinos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These rhinoceros sculptures are very lifelike, and must give guests arriving at night quite a start.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Marabou Stork]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Quite a flock of these miserable looking vultures were on the hotel back lawn, begging for food from the kitchen. They are commonly known as the Undertaker bird, as it is a notorious.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Just Plain Ugly]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA["Whipped with an ugly stick" also seems an especially apt description of the Marabou Stork. The large pink throat pouch indicates a male. (How surprising!)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[KP (kitchen policy) Duty]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Close to 20 of these guys were hanging out in the kitchen area of the hotel, waiting for garbage to be discarded. These prehistoric appearing creatures really fight each other for anything edible.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Abdullah and Mike]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The next morning, 'Dullah, our guide provided by (&lt;a href="http://www.access2tanzania.com"&gt;www.access2tanzania.com&lt;/a&gt;) , and his colleague Mike Musa confer about our still missing luggage. Ultimately, since it was Sunday and shops were closed, we purchased used shorts and T shirts at a local flea market and left for Tarangire. (The luggage showed up a day later, and our travel company drove over 100 miles round trip to deliver our bags to us at Lake Manyara. This was exceptional service but was also critical to the enjoyment of the rest of our safari.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[House of What?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A petrol station called the House of Lubricants! Only in East Africa, mon...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tarangire National Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This outdoor viewing staircase surrounding a baobab tree, near the park entrance, was quite remarkable. Tarangire is about a two hour drive from Arusha.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Typical Park Vista]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Baobab trees and grasslands. Serene but not as dramatic as some other areas we visited later.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Baobab Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The huge tree outside our tent was easily 4,000 years old, and highly scarred by elephant tusks for many centuries. We stayed very comfortably in the tent despite the rainstorm that evening. (Because we wanted to finish the South African grape harvest first, we had knowingly planned our April visit to Tanzania despite being just at the start of the rainy season.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Friendly Chaga Waiter]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We were uniformly impressed on how nice the Tanzanian service people were; most spoke passable English while their first languages are native dialects. Catherine Moylan was always asking them which of two or three major tribes they belonged to. There are relatively few European ("white") people in this former German colony, then know as German East Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Three Zebras]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[(That's pronounced ZEBras in Africa, by the way.) Our first wild game viewing; the zebra has never been tamed by man for any sort of domestic service. While they are frequently lion food, zebras and impalas were the only game we saw at Tarangire.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Maasai Farmers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The highly traditional Maasai tribe lives in western Tanzania and Kenya, are herdsmen and farmers. They still use steel plows to break the land and the women sow seeds by hand, believe it or not.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Maasai Boys]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These young Maasai boys gathered quickly at our vehicle when we stopped to take pictures. They were very respectful but understandably smelled of cow dung. Their small hamlets never have running water.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Shades of National Geographic]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Maasai is a tall tribe of good-looking people, as these lads show. While keeping to the old traditions, they do not seem resentful of the more modern world. They maintain superb posture and are tireless, long striding walkers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lake Magadi on the Crater Floor]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A grazing herd is seen a dots on the lower left of photo, in front of the Lerai forest.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sausage Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A Sausage Tree? Need we say more?]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hippos and Friends]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Lake Manyara is most famous for millions of pink flamingos, but they were too far away to get a good photograph. However, the hippos and birds all seemed to coexist nicely.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tarangire River]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Taragire Safari Lodge is a comfortable dining and viewing structure perched on a bluff, overlooking the Tarangire River, usually a good game viewpoint. On our brief visit, there was little wifelife in evidence on the riverbed. (The rainy season had started, and the animals are therefore not forced to congregate at the large water sources as they are when it is dry everywhere else.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A Little Eden]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Zebras, hippos, and all sorts of birds.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manyara Buffalo Herd]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We learned there are two kinds of buffalos in the area, the African ("Cape") buffalo and the Manyara buffalo. According to our guide, the easiest way to tell them apart is by their horns.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Feeding Giraffes]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We usually saw giraffes in pairs. Despite their long necks, giraffes are very graceful and strong. They have very powerful kicks and as adults can usually defend themselves well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Departing Giraffe]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You have to be quick to photograph these guys as they are shy and move away quickly.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kneeling Warthog]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This homely chap always goes down on his knees to graze and root in the soil with his (or her) tusks. And in contrast with the lumbering nature of the domestic hog, these critters can run.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Male Impalas]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Beautiful, speedy, and graceful bounders, they are also lion and leopard food.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Vervet Monkey]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Different types of Vervet Monkeys vary in color, but generally the body is a greenish olive or silvery grey. The face, ears, hands, feet and tip of the tail are black, but an obvious white band on the forehead blends in with the short whiskers. Males are slightly larger than females and are easily recognized by their turquoise blue scrota. The Vervet is classified as a medium to large monkey. Its tail is held up, with the tip curving down. Arms and legs are the same length. The live in stable social groups of 10- 50 monkeys which mainly consist of adult females and their offspring. The male Vervet move freely in and out of these groups. Within the group, each adult female is the center of a small family grouping. Females who have reached puberty generally stay in the group. Vervet spend hours a day removing parasites and other materials from one another's fur. In their hierarchy, dominants get the most grooming.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Monkey]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The bloody behind would normally indicate this is a female in oestrus and ready to mate; however, it also looks like blue testicles to us, so we are confused as to sex.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Baboon]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Baboons are some of the most widespread primates in South Africa. Here you’ll mostly see the Chacma Baboon. What is interesting about them is how very intelligent they are. They learn fast, and along the Cape coast, often eat seafood – or brain food. And they’re very entertaining to watch. At Silkbush, we get a rare visit by Baboons as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Red and Black Bird]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[South Africa is a large country, ranked 25th by size in the world, and is situated in the temperate latitudes and subtropics. Due to a range of climate types present, a patchwork of unique habitat types occur, which contribute to its biodiversity and level of endemism. This Red and Black bird is one of many for Bird Fanciers to delight in on vacation in South Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cactus in South Africa]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A new invasive species of cactus, Opuntia pubescens, has been discovered growing right in the National Botanical Gardens in Pretoria. For several years it was assumed that the small Opuntia cactus that was invading the hill north and east of the SANBI Herbarium was jointed cactus (Opuntia aurantiaca). However, a closer inspection by Dr Helmuth Zimmermann, a cactus specialist, revealed that this was not the case. It has been estimated that at least 200 species of cacti, mainly for ornamental value, have been introduced into South Africa. Sweet prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), was introduced more than 350 years ago by the Dutch East India Company for its edible fruit, as a fodder and hedge plant. Currently there are more than 20 invasive cactus species in South Africa and many others with the potential to become invasive in the future. The threats that these plants pose include replacing indigenous plants, reducing grazing land, injury to animals and humans and the devaluation of land. We aren't sure which cactus we have pictured, but we found it quite beautiful.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Abdullah Pangani at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our waiter was 22 years old, and said he had learned Spanish from working in Arusha, where we had been. He also had his own Hotmail email address! Our greatest regret was only staying one night at each of these wonderful hotels; we knew this would be frustrating from the start but we were keen to save time for a jaunt out to Zanzibar at the end of the trip. Next time we'll take our time and spend at least two days at each stop. (Incidentally, the daily rate, including all meals, was about $116/for a couple in rainy season, about 65% greater in high season.) We considered this very fair and reasonable.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dancing Maasai Men]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The "floorshow" was a group of these Maasai guys who had the least "creative" dance we had ever seen. Every so often one just jumps straight up, seemingly in some sort of competition. However, the highest jumping reportedly attracts the best brides ...!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dullah, Enjoying a Laugh]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA["Are you picking up what I'm putting down?" American jive talk in the wilds of Tanzania; we really had fun with him. He was intelligent, well informed, resourceful and sophisticated. Having a good guide is exceedingly important on a safari , as you are with just one chap for day after day. This is far different from flying from game camp to game camp in Botswana where you usually have a different guide every two days.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Maasai Rondavels Within the Ngorongoro Crater]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Maasai are the only people allowed to live in and around the Ngorongoro Crater, as this has been their traditional land and their cattle herding impacts it minimally. The Ngorongoro is perhaps the most famous Tanzanian national park because of the profusion of protected game contained within the crater.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Maasai Village, Up Close]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Maasai Village was just below the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, and the women were gathering rain water from a creek. They really could benefit from a simple, inexpensive foot run sump pump rather than scooping bowls to fill buckets.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Young Maasai Girls]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We believe the white collars signify they are brides to be, but who knows? It was pretty miserable weather that morning and maybe it was just brief raingear.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Maasai Home at Koloki Cultural Boma]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A mud and stick hut, easy to put up or take down as the village moves around to find superior grazing conditions for their herds.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[One Room Schoolhouse]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Silkbush's Catherine Moylan delivered needed school supplies a California friend of ours had paid for. The appreciative teacher is holding the notebooks and pens we brought, and the chief's son is on her left. The children were very young, perhaps 4-7 years old; the school building was put up with Lutheran missionary money we understood.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Maasai Friends]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dullah and Catherine pose on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, a National Conservation Area, at the start of an exceptional day of game viewing. It had been raining earlier but then the weather lifted and it was reasonably bright all day. We had just come down the steep one-way Seneto Descent Road.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Young Impalas]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cuter Bambi's we have never seen.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Another Beautiful South African Bird!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here, we think, is a red breasted Weaver.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kori Bustards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These Kori Bustards are two beautiful birds showing us a courtship display. The Kori Bustard is a large bird Native to Africa. The male Kori Bustard may be the heaviest living animal capable of flight. This species, like most bustards, is a ground-dwelling bird and an opportunistic omnivore. Male Kori Bustards, which can be more than twice as heavy than the female, attempt to breed with as many females as possible and then take no part in the raising of the young. The nest is a shallow hallow into the earth, often disguised by nearby obstructive objects such as trees.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bustard]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Kori Bustard is as colorful as they come. During the mating season, these birds are usually solitary but for the breeding pair. Otherwise, they are somewhat gregarious, being found in groups often including 5 to 6 birds but occasionally groups can number up to 40 individuals. Larger groups may be found around an abundant food source or at watering holes. In groups, birds are often fairly far apart from each other, often around a distance of 100 m (330 ft). Interestingly, foraging groups are often single-sex. Such groups do not last long and often separate after a few days. These groups are believed advantageous both in that they may insure safety in numbers against predation and may bring the bustards to prime food sources]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[African Crowned Crane]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Crowned cranes are noted for their spectacular dances, which involve head-bobbing, wing fluttering, leaps and bows. Some African people believe these birds bring rain, while others have incorporated the crane’s dances into their own rituals. Crowned cranes are the only cranes to perch in trees. They fly with the neck extended forward and legs stretched horizontally behind the tail]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Grant's Gazelle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Grant's Gazelles resemble Thomson's Gazelles, and the two species are often seen together. They are similarly colored and marked, but Grant's are noticeably larger than Thomson's and easily distinguished by the broad white patch on the rump that extends upward, beyond the tail and onto the back. The white patch on the Thomson's gazelle stops at the tail. Some varieties of Grant's have a black stripe on each side of the body like the Thomson's gazelle; in others the stripe is very light or absent. A black stripe runs down the thigh.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A Less Hungry Grant's Gazelle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Gazelles vary their diet according to the season. They eat herbs, foliage from shrubs, short grasses and shoots. Grant's gazelles are not restricted to certain habitats by a dependency on water, but obtain the moisture they need from their food. Grant's have unusually large salivary glands, possibly an adaptation for secreting fluid to cope with a relatively dry diet. They typically remain in the open during the heat of the day, suggesting an efficient system to retain the necessary fluid in their bodies.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Male Ostrich]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These are very powerful birds that can kill a man with a kick of its legs. They are often kept in Africa in pastures with sheep or goats to give protection against predators, including rustlers. The males have very black feathers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Gazelles, Ostriches, and an Approaching Rain Squall]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[What could be more serene and dramatic at the same time?]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Two Adult and One Baby Zebra]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The African Zebra is easily distinguished from its relative "the horse" by the it's distinctive black and white striped pattern. However, like the horse, the African Zebra sleeps standing up.

The African Zebra is a highly social animal; however the social structure depends upon the species. Of the three species of African Zebras the Mountain Zebra and the Plains zebra are the most social, living in groups consisting of one male (i.e. stallion) and up to six females (i.e. mares) and their babies (i.e. foals).]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Cutest Zebra...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[African zebras are closely related to horses and donkeys. Despite their large size, they move very quickly, and they have large teeth that are designed for eating grasses and other plant matter. There are three species of Zebra, including the Plains Zebra, the Grevy's Zebra and the Burchell's Zebra or the Common Zebra. We call this one the Cute Zebra...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[How Artistic Can Mother Nature Get?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It was previously believed that zebras were white animals with black stripes, since some zebras have white underbellies. Embryological evidence, however, shows that the animal's background color is black and the white stripes and bellies are additions. It is likely that the stripes are caused by a combination of factors.

The stripes are typically vertical on the head, neck, forequarters, and main body, with horizontal stripes at the rear and on the legs of the animal. A wide variety of hypotheses have been proposed to account for the evolution of the striking stripes of zebras. The more traditional of these relate to camouflage.  The vertical striping may help the zebra hide in grass by disrupting its outline.  In addition, even at moderate distances, the striking striping merges to an apparent grey. The stripes may help to confuse predators by motion dazzle—a group of zebras standing or moving close together may appear as one large mass of flickering stripes, making it more difficult for the lion to pick out a target. The stripes may serve as visual cues and identification. Although the striping pattern is unique to each individual, it is not known whether zebras can recognize one another by their stripes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Friendly Zebras]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This pair is probably swapping flies off each other's face. Zebras have excellent eyesight. It is believed that they can see in color. Like most ungulates, the zebra has its eyes on the sides of its head, giving it a wide field of view. Zebras also have night vision although not as advanced as that of most of their predators.  Zebras have excellent hearing, and tend to have larger, rounder ears than horses. Like horses and other ungulates, zebras can turn their ears in almost any direction. In addition to eyesight and hearing, zebras have an acute sense of smell and taste.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Two Gnus, on the Move]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Called Wildebeests in Africa, the Gnu is the principal animal in the Great Migration. But these guys are just roaming around the Ngorongoro Crater, and aren't going to migrate anywhere else.   In the background are some loafing Buffalos.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Grazing Gnus]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Wildebeest are killed for food, especially to make biltong in Southern Africa. This dried game meat is a delicacy and an important food item in Africa. The meat of females is more tender than that of males, and is the most tender during the autumn season. Wildebeest are a regular target for illegal meat hunters because their numbers make them easy to find. Cooks preparing the wildebeest carcass usually cut it into 11 pieces. The estimated price for wildebeest meat was about US$ 0.47 per kilogram around 2008.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Don't Feed The Animals!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We presume somebody fed the wrong thing to this former buffalo!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hippo Pond]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When you see hippos in the water, usually all that is visible is a back and ears. We were quite fortunate to get this guy with his mouth open. We understand that hippos kill more humans in Africa that any other wild animal; usually it is the result of locals or tourists in small boats in advertently getting between mother hippos and their young.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A Smart and Kind Young Man]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Make no mistake, this is the guide you want in Tanzania. By now he is a father, as Roxy was pregnant when we were with him in 2005.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[One Muddy Hyena]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These jokers were laying in the mud puddles formed in the dirt road along which we were driving. They did not seem happy to have to move.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Groot (Giant) Eland]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Identified by its large dewlap, these are the biggest antelopes in Central Africa. Despite their impressive size, eland are excellent jumpers and clear 2m with apparent ease. They are timid animals and become nervous with the slightest disturbance.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Thompson's Gazelle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You tell these guys from the Grant's as the Thompson's have the dark brown stripe on their sides, their horns are closer together, and they also looked a bit smaller.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Thompsons Butting Heads]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Characteristic of young males everywhere.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Lonely Rhinocerous]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is the only Rhino we saw on the trip and the closest we got. There are few of these critters around, thanks to years of poaching on behalf of impotent old Asian men with money.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rainsqual in Ngorongoro]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Awe inspiring and beautiful.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[What Can a Guide Say About Rain?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The brief rainshowers that day gave us each time to reflect on this Garden of Eden, a stewpot of creation.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Advance Guard]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Don't even THINK about coming toward our herd!  (And we didn't.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lake Manyara Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This colourful safety railing was our introduction to another national park. The artful creativity was really neat and very appropriate.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[On One-way Road Out of Crater]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Lerai ascent road was very narrow and muddy. If your car did not have four wheel drive, you (and everyone behind you) would be stuck for a very long time. The view of Lake Magadi would make the the delay reasonably enjoyable.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Close to Ngorongoro Crater Rim]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our last pretty shot of the Crater. By the time we got back to the lodge on the rim, everything was again enshrouded with clouds.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lion Pair Beside the Road, Serengeti]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Just as we paid the gate fee and entered the Serengeti, here was this huge lion pair immediately beside the road. We've been around lions before in Botswana, but these two were especially large.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[About 10 Feet From the Car!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This would not have been a good time to pick up a thorn in a tire and have to change a flat.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Giraffes on the Serengeti...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[How they can graze on the very sharp thorned acacia trees is beyond us.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Leopard and Its Dinner]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The leopard is on the higher branch, having killed the impala and pulled it onto the lower branch. The big cats evidently do this whenever they can, as it tends to discourage other predators from getting in on the meal before they are done.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[First View of Great Migration]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Wildebeests (gnus) as far as the eye can see.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Quite Homely Chaps]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[But they can run like the wind. And frequently have to as the predators are always stalking them and their newborns.    As you can see in the background, there is a goodly number of zebras who also constitute a significant portion of the Great Migration as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Serengeti Serena Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This was the most luxurious of the places we stayed, and probably the most remote. The Serena hotel chain is owned/controlled by Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, a Muslim sect headed by the Aga Khan. (&lt;a href="http://www.serenahotels.com"&gt;www.serenahotels.com&lt;/a&gt;)  .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Entrance to Serena Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Operating under the "Serena" brand name, Tourism Promotion Services owns and manages fifteen hotels in East Africa and Asia. Besides earning foreign exchange and increasing employment and manpower development, tourism can contribute to national growth in more qualitative ways. Tourism that promotes awareness of the environment of developing countries and improves appreciation of their cultural traditions can help protect that environment and revitalise and sustain those traditions. The mandate of Tourism Promotion Services is to realise tourism's potential in selected areas of the developing world, in an environmentally sensitive manner.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dullah's Gift]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dullah's pal, the assistant manager of the Serena Lodge, was the one who gave us a night in the palatial rondavel as a birthday gift to Catherine Moylan.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Upscale Rondavel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We could have thrown a major party in this place. Sort of innoculous from the outside, and looking like many of the other units, it is actually the Aga Khan's private bungalow, and where he had been the prior evening! However, since our guide knew the manager quite well, and it was Catherine's 55th birthday, this was a very nice treat.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Be it ever so humble ...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Roughing it on the Serengeti Desert. (I could not have afforded to rent this place under normal conditions, believe you me.) But one would expect nothing less of the Aga Khan. The current Aga Khan is a pretty sophisticated guy: son of Prince Aly Khan and Princess Tajuddawlah Aly Khan, the Aga Khan was born on December 13, 1936, in Geneva. He spent his early childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, and then attended Le Rosey School in Switzerland for nine years. He graduated from Harvard University in 1959 with a BA Honors Degree in Islamic history.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Seronera International Airport]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Suddenly, our safari is coming to an end, at a grass airstrip on the Serengeti Desert. We are surrounded by perhaps 10 other Landrovers, with their driver/guides, and other tourists bound for parts unknown. Not an official within miles.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Safari Truck Among the Cars]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A hundred years or less ago, a safari meant carrying tents, food, and the servants for the wealthy sportsmen. Nowadays some tourists emulate the early days by hiring companies who send a truck on ahead to a campsite, where tents are set up, and the meal is already cooking by the time the Landrover and guests show up from a hard day of game viewing.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Serengeti Airport Waiting Room]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Pretty nice if it's raining or really hot. We ate our box lunches there as we waited for the outbound flight to arrive. We actually had to catch a series of four flights to get to Zanzibar that day; later we learned there is daily Nonstop air service to and from Zanzibar to this remote country airport! Our travel advisors screwed up on this important fact, but now you know, should you choose to go.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Single Engine Turbo Props]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Considering we are going to fly with a bunch of people over lion country, mountains, volcanic craters, and deserts, one engine does not seem like enough. But we all fitted in and the flight back to Arusha was uneventful, approximately retracing our journey by auto over the prior week.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Ngorongoro Crater Lake]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The size of the lake in the world famous park is much more evident from the air. Because of the size of the watershed, there is plenty of runoff to fill the lake and support the enclosed wildlife.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Ngorongoro Crater Walls]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There is a single lane road in and another out of the crater, and road gates on the crater walls to control entry. Further, there is a large but unobtrusive force of game rangers perched on the walls to keep poachers out. The animals have seen so many autos over the years they would be easy pickings for hunters, and then essential tourism would come to a quick close.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Too Many Dongas]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The deeply eroded gullies seen in this photo are generally known in Africa as "dongas." Subsistence farming of shallow soils, coupled with rainstorms, can result in major loss of first topsoil, and then a goodly portion of the tillable terrain itself. Truly a pity.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tanzanian Villages]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most villages are small, as most people are either farmers or tend modest cattle herds, or both. While in this and the prior photo you can pick out some rectangular homes, most village living structures are still rondavels (round, single room houses) with thatched roofs and thick stone and mud/dung walls and floors. They are smokey, of course, but relatively warm in winter and cool in summer.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mount Meru]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Just west of Arusha and Kilimanjaro, and considerabley smaller, Mt. Meru is obviously a major landmark. Once a volcano, it has been inactive for an extented period.   This was our final photo on Tanzania proper, as we left on a series of flights that ultimately got us to the island of Zanzibar, also a part of the nation of Tanzania. However, while much of continental Tanzania is Christian, a result of a couple of centuries of missionary effort from Europe and the USA, Zanzibar is close to 100% Muslim, the result of many more centuries of Arab sea trading and cultural domination.]]></image:caption>
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		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/garden-route-to-the-eastern-cape/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:39:15+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Garden Route to the Eastern Cape]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The" Garden Route" (Tuinroete in Afrikaans) is a well-known stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa. It extends from Mossel Bay in the West to the Storms River in the East. The name comes from the verdant and ecologically diverse vegetation encountered here and the numerous lagoons and lakes dotted along the coast. The Garden Route includes towns such as Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley; with George, the Garden Route's largest city and main administrative center.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Beaumont Estate Winery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Along the Garden Route, near the fishing and resort town of Hermanus, just off the N2 highway, is the small community of Bot River where lies Beaumont Winery (&lt;a href="http://www.beaumont.co.za"&gt;www.beaumont.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) . Their wooded Chenin Blancs, Pinotages and dessert wines are of such a quality that the majority of their production is now exported. The Beaumont's' also have two lovely cottages for guests. On your journey along the Garden Route, we highly recommend you spend some time at the Beaumont Estate Winery. Raoul and Jayne Beaumont started growing grapes"http://www.beaumont.co.za"&gt;www.beaumont.co.za) and we are sure you will enjoy your stop there.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Beaumont Estate: Bass Pond, Swimming Hole &amp; Vineyard Irrigation Dam]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Out the Beaumont's back door beckons this idyllic scene. On our visit, we walked in late one Saturday morning, expecting to be there 30-45 minutes. Five and a half hours later, having made "new best friends," we drove out, loaded down with their fine wines. SILKBUSH friends visiting the Cape should definitely plan to stay a day or two in Hermanus and visit Beaumont Estate in the process. It's beauty is unmatched!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hermanus Whale Watching]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Whale season in Hermanus is from October to January where you can sit on shore and most days watch them jump every few minutes. This is where the Right Whale comes to breed and calf, and the bay is relatively shallow.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hermanus Whales: Right Whales]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[If you really want to get up close, there are numerous boat charters that will put you directly alongside the Right Whales. The whale hunters of many years ago named the Southern whale the "Right" whale as it floated after being harpooned, and thus easier to get aboard the whaling vessels.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Shark Diving Boat (Hermanus area)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A few years ago, the adrenaline junkies of the world decided it would be fun to see great white sharks up close. The most accessible place for Europeans to do this is just off the coast of South Africa. Hundreds of people fly to Cape Town daily, zip out to Gansbaai, and get aboard one of a dozen or so sharkboats like this one. The boat operators bait the sharks with bloody meat and then dunk the adventurers in the cages. So far nobody has been killed, but there have been many close encounters. (Some of the bars on the cages we saw were noticeably bent, too.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton Roos Prepares the Crayfish Nets]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Fishing is great fun along the Garden Route. Hermanus is a traditional fishing village both historically and now. Here, under the watchful eye of his mother-in-law Isabel Marais, our vineyard manager Anton Roos makes sure the lines are not fouled before we go to sea. Anton's in-laws have a very comfortable house on the ocean, and the Roos family visits often in the summer. Crayfish season had just opened when we joined them for an outing. The shallow bay waters were covered with crayfish, and we easily attained our limits, and then some.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Johan Roos and Two of the Crayfish Catch]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Johan, our SILKBUSH GM's son, was a damn spunky five year old, as demonstrated by holding aloft these two very live crayfish (much like lobsters). The crayfish do not have large mouths but they have very strong teeth; we were told they can easily bend a coin. We all kept our fingers away!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Raka Winery (Hermanus Area)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A newer winery along the Garden Route is Raka (&lt;a href="http://www.rakawine.co.za"&gt;www.rakawine.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) which is named after the commercial fishing boat of its owner, Piet Dryer. It is located just west of the Cape's relatively arid grain fields and a little east of Hermanus, the seaside weekend-resort town and fishing village, about two hours east of Cape Town. The winery and grounds have been designed in an absolutely first class manner, and it is now attracting a significant tasting room trade from Hermanus tourists as the brand becomes better and better known.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Raka's Flags Fly Proudly]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The wind stiffening the flags in this photo is one of the keys to Raka Winery's quality wines. The vineyards and the winery are located in a narrow valley connecting the cool, foggy coast to the hotter inland grain fields. Accordingly, an onshore breeze blows almost every summer day, cooling the grapes and creating a perfect microclimate. Piet Dryer, truly a character, had owned the land for years and only started growing grapes on it fairly recently. He has retired from fishing and, with his entire family, is now into wine full time.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Inspections Before and After Destemming at Raka]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[On your visit to Raka Winery, you may be treated to tour the inner workings of the winery. Here you can see, instead of transporting the harvested grapes by gondolas, the grapes are brought into the winery in 20 kilo lug boxes. After cooling, they are dumped individually by hand onto a conveyor belt, and the workers sort through for immature berries. The bunches are then destemmed and more workers (their backs to the camera) perform a second sort looking for any final fruit imperfections. Finally, a stream of "perfect" berries drop back into the lug boxes on their way to the crusher/fermenter.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Raka Fruit Handling... Same Process as Opus One in Napa Valley!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While very labor intensive, this detailed handling of the fruit results in only ripe and rot-free fruit being crushed directly over and dropped into fermentation tanks. (The boxes of berries are being lifted by forklift to the elevated fermenters.) The fermentation tanks are fairly small, so individual blocks can be processed and kept separate, and the fermented wine gravity drained into other storage tanks while the fermenters reused. Perhaps 75% of the quality of red wine is dictated by the quality of the grapes, but this labor-intensive winemaking procedure assures that Raka Winery will get 100% of the quality of the grapes into the bottle. Due to this, you will surely enjoy the fruits of this labor in their tasting room!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mossel Bay]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Mossel Bay is a harbor town of about 60,000 people on the Garden Route of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province. The older parts of the town occupy the north-facing side of the Cape St. Blaize Peninsula, while the newer suburbs straddle the Peninsula and have spread eastwards along the sandy shore of the Bay. The town's economy relied heavily on farming, fishing and its commercial harbor until the 1969 discovery of natural offshore gas fields which led to the development of the gas-to-liquids refinery operated by PetroSA. Tourism is, of course another driver of Mossel Bay's economy.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mossel Bay History]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When famed Portugese explorer Bartholmeu Dias landed in Mossel Bay (Mosselbaai in Afrikaans) in 1488, it marked the first European encounter with the area's KhoiKhoi inhabitants. The Dias Museum there now contains a life size reproduction of Dias's original Caravel. The replica sailed from Lisbon in 1987 to mark the 500th anniversary of the rounding of the African continent.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mossel Bay]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Old Post Office Tree (not pictured here) is where sailors and explorers left messages for each other in the trunk of the tree. Sailors returning to Europe could carry letters indicating others had made it that far safely on their outbound legs. Mossel Bay is the only north-facing beach in South Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cape Saint Blaize Cave]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Cape Saint Blaize Cave is a short hike up from The Point's rocky promontories. It is a major archaeological site for relics from the KhoiSan people who inhabited the natural shelter continuously for at least 80,000 years. The Cape St. Blaize Cave is situated directly under the is the site of the Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse, one of South Africa’s oldest archaeological excavations. It was first excavated in 1888 by George Leith, then by T. Rupert Jones in 1899, and by A.J.H (John) Goodwin in the 1920s. Goodwin is said to have described the Middle Stone Age Mossel Bay Industry from his findings at Cape St. Blaize . The Cave has revealed deposits dating from about 200,000 years ago to the pre-colonial period, during which time middens were laid down by herders of the San or Khoekhoen people.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[View from the Cave]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Looking down upon these rocks, one could imagine what cost hundreds of ships over the years, lost in the fog or forced shoreward from storms. Now Mossel Bay is acknowledged as the western end of the famed Garden Route, a holiday playground for South Africans and international visitors, and stretching eastward to Storms River.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mossel Bay Views]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Looking out over the ocean, we recalled that Great White Shark diving is a local attraction for other visitors. They offer a "money back guarantee" that you will be face to face with these guys in the cage; and 87% of the time, thrill seekers do not get a refund!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Garden Route Wilderness]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In the literature, the "Garden Route" on the N-2 highway extends from about Mossel Bay in the west to Tsitsikama National Park in the east; in our opinion, it really starts at Wilderness and heads east. There is not much flat land between the ocean and the steep hills at Wilderness, so much of the lodging there is built on the slopes; it is farther to the beach but has great views.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Forget Me Not Guest House in Wilderness]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[On your stay along the Garden Route, we recommend a guest house called Forget Me Not. The exquisite B&amp;B served a tasty and attractive breakfast. The property is owned by Hettie Lombaard, the sister of Fanie Griessel, a neighbor of ours at Silkbush; the beautiful construction reminded us of Fanie's "treehouse" but was even nicer.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Forget Me Not interior]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You will surely enjoy staying a night or two here. Forget Me Not contact details: Hettie Lombaard, (&lt;a href="http://www.forgetmenotgh.co.za/ "&gt;www.forgetmenotgh.co.za/ &lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Forget Me Not Exterior Deck]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The exterior was done in perfect taste and we hated to pack up and leave. The Forget Me Not Guest House is in the Cultural Heartland of Mpumalanga. They are proudly South African and believe in the beauty of the country and people! They are an hour and 15 minutes drive from JHB, OR Thambo International Airport and Pretoria and are the perfect half-way stop on your way to Mpumalanga’s major game reserves, lodges and the Kruger National park. Forget Me Not Guest House is located in the new, central part of Witbank/Emalahleni - close to the CBD as well as entertainment venues like The Ridge Casino and cinemas. Forget Me Not specializes in being your home away from home!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Knysna By the Indian Ocean]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The beautiful town of Knysna, near the George airport, is situated within 157,000 ha of the Garden Route National Park. It is nestled between the shores of the pristine Knysna estuary, Indian Ocean and thousands of ha of beautiful indigenous forest, home to a myriad of wildlife as well as the famed Cape fynbos. It is also a prominent golfing destination as well as a haven for oyster lovers. Also, Knysna has far and away "the" open air market to shop along the Garden Route. While we suspect the vendors are supporting many mouths with their retail efforts, we were impressed with the lack of pressure to make the sales.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[African Art at Knysna]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The best and largest African art market on the Garden Route sits along side the main road leading into Knysna. In addition to local wood carvings, the range of art includes that of many countries to the north. This is definitely the place to shop, especially if you are in the market for higher quality art at reasonable prices.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Whahoo! What fun!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[For those who want more color than usual, you have come to the right place. Knysna explodes with personality in its folkart.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Knysna's Larger Sculptures]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Now these babies are not going on the flight back to the States with you. But the potential exists to furnish a new house in South Africa with real ethnic efforts.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Knysna's Harbor Entrance]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The opening to the Indian Ocean from Knysna Harbor is narrow and treacherous. Many boats have foundered here over the centuries, especially in bad weather. But the fishing evidently is good on the changing tides, as the food chain is carried in and out.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Looking Back at Knysna Harbor]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Knysna is west of Plettenburg Bay and is a larger town, (more "touristy)" and has a significant wood working/furniture industry. Visitors can explore its natural beauty through its many mountain biking and hiking trails, as well as by taking whale watching and boating charters. Accommodation in this seductive town varies from township living, houseboats, tree-top cabins to five-star luxury hotels. Also, for the past five years, Knysna has played host to the ever popular Knysna Speed Festival and recently hosted the International bi-ennial MG Indaba 2014. These events together with the abundant beautiful country roads have attracted many car enthusiasts to the town. Knysna is now fast becoming an International classic car destination.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Plettenburg Bay]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Plettenburg Bay, sometimes called "Plet", is the top resort area on the Garden Route, about a days drive east of Cape Town. The town is a popular summer holiday destination for South Africans. It is well served by restaurants and boutique shops, plus a few nightclubs and bars. Local potters sell their wares along the main roads leading to the town. A few art galleries can be found in the town center. Also, Hog Hollow is only 18 Km farther east. Plet has four beaches: Keurboomstrand, Lookout, Central and Robberg. Lookout has a point break which is popular with surfers who can be observed from the rocks or the deck above the beach. The beach was washed away by the river flood of 2007, but nature has restored it back into use. Central Beach has a couple of marine tourist operations who operate dolphin, seal and whale watching tours.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[NH Plettenburg Bay Hotel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Plettenberg offers a variety of facilities to  enhance your stay, including two refreshing pools, a pampering spa and an elegant boutique.  (&lt;a href="https://www.theplettenberghotel.com/ "&gt;https://www.theplettenberghotel.com/ &lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hog Hollow Country Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There are many nice places to stay and eat, but we recommend this oddly named lodge. (Their motif is actually a wild boar!) Between Plet and two hours west of PE, this is a nice place to spend a few days and tour locally. Their website is &lt;a href="http://www.hog-hollow.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.hog-hollow.com&lt;/a&gt;. The views were stunning from the two-story units, each with its own fireplace and porch. But if anyone in your party is wheel chair bound, this would not be the place and plan on about $200/per person/night.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tsitsikamma National Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Tsitsikamma National Park is an 80 kilometer stretch of untouched coastline, and the "Garden" of the Garden Route. Carved out of the parklands is this idyllic beach and cottage area, known generically as De Vasselot, Clinton's Bank, and Klipriviermond. The Tsitsikamma National Park is a protected area and well-known coastal reserve for its indigenous forests &amp; dramatic coastline. Nature's Valley is at the western end of the park, and the main accommodation is at Storms River Mouth. Near the park is the Bloukrans Bridge, the world's highest bungee jump at 216 metres (709 ft). The word "Tsitsikamma" hails from the Khoekhoe language tse-tsesa, meaning "clear", and gami, meaning "water", probably referring to the clear water of the Tsitsikamma River.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Famous Tsitsikama Park Suspension Bridge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The area is much like the California coastline, and there are many places to visit, including Tsitsikama National Park, and its famous Suspension Bridge. The Suspension Bridge and Lookout Trail is an easy stroll that leads along the western side of the river mouth, past the Strandloper Cave to the suspension bridge across the mouth. On the other side of the bridge there is a short but very steep climb to a lookout point from which there are fine views of the mouth and the camp.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Black Water at Tsitsikamma]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Explore the gorge formed by the Blaukrans River (Black Water) and the Kliprivier. This quiet pool was beside some very pretty camping areas. One popular adventure, Tsitsikamma Black Water Tubing, also called “Storms River Tubing” takes you on a unique tubing, swimming, &amp; bouldering adventure through the world renowned Tsitsikamma National Park on the Garden Route in South Africa. Black Water tubing trips are run all year round and the experience varies from a white water action-packed roller coaster ride to a chilled day out in mother nature.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Blaukrans Bridge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Completed in 1983 and at 216 meters, Blaukrans is the highest road bridge in Southern Hemisphere and the third highest bridge in the world. It is also the largest single span concrete arch bridge in the world! Everyone who drives the N-2 highway from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth (the "Garden Route") crosses this magnificent structure. On the Eastern side, there is a Bridge Building Museum and outlook point. If you like, there is a catwalk attached to the underside of the bridge (on the seaward side) leading to the top of the arch, the location of a remarkable commercial enterprise: bungy jumping.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Blaukrans Bridge Bungy Jumper]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[But the bungee jumping is the real reason the Blaukrans has an international reputation and a line of jumpers (at $75/per) lined up to see what sort of adrenaline rush they can generate. Bungy jumping came to Africa in 1989 and the Blaukrans jump commenced in December 1989. (Once you have stopped bouncing, they lower a chap with another cable, turn you head up, and winch you back to the jump position. Sounds like great fun, eh?)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Eastern Cape Waterfall]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Eastern Cape Waterfall is a must see. The pretty stream and waterfall were close to Morgan Bay and it appeared as if it had been used as a quarry in earlier years. A bird’s-eye view of Waterfall Bluff south of the Mkambathi Nature Reserve along the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape would reveal one of Africa’s greatest coastal rock formations.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Eastern Cape]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You will enjoy many different trees along your travels in the Eastern Cape. The Eastern Cape, as a South African Province, came into being in 1994 and incorporated areas from the former Xhosa homelands of the Transkei and Ciskei, together with what was previously part of the Cape Province. This resulted in several anomalies including the fact that the Province has four supreme courts (in Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Bhisho and Mthatha) and enclaves of KwaZula-Natal in the province. The latter anomaly has fallen away with amendments to municipal and provincial boundaries.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay on the Garden Route]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Morgan Bay is a seaside village which has a mile-long beach, safe swimming lagoon and picturesque sea cliffs. Activities in the area include horseback riding, golf, game drives, hiking trails and fishing. Pictured here is a very unusual and impressive tree in Morgan Bay. At the base, it looked like the legs of an elephant.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay Treetop]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[South Africa is certainly a bio-diverse wonderland, always full of surprises. This tree looked like a cactus at the top!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Transkei (Eastern Cape)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The tribal Xhosa people of the Eastern Cape appear to live in substantially better houses than those who have relocated to the shanty towns that are on the outskirts of almost every city of any size in South Africa. That said, the economies of the rural areas are generally little more than subsistence farming, and most of the land is held in common by the local tribes. Historically, the northeastern boundary of the Eastern Cape, the Transkei (or the land beyond the Kei River) was established as a separate country (a Homeland) in 1959, but was later incorporated into South Africa and the Eastern Cape province in April 1994.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kei River Garden]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The land of the Kei River is owned in common by the native tribes but evidently individuals can obtain permission to develop their own gardens.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tribal Housing Overlooking Indian Ocean]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[All the roads in this area are gravel and essentially without signage. There are very few telephone and electricity lines, and cows roam the unfenced lands. The owners of these tribal houses had the same superior views of the Indian Ocean as did a few small commercial lodges built lower and closer to the water.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Eastern Cape Cow; Great Kei River]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Just over the back of the cow is the Great Kei River and extensive vacation and retirement housing built on the south side of the river. The north side is tribal land, with little development, very rutted roads, but lots of grazing cattle.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kei River Ferry Headquarters]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[If you are at the Morgan Bay resort area and want to cross the Kei River, you must either drive back to the main highway, then a good distance north, and then via terrible roads to the coast, OR cross the river by ferry. As the sign indicates, the ferry runs during daylight hours and the cost for a passenger vehicle is R50, or about $7 (Each way.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Great Kei River Ferry]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You may swallow once or twice before deciding to board this rudimentary vessel. We doubt they had any liability insurance, and there were no life boats or preservers if it went down or the outboard motor failed. But the Kei River Ferry reportedly has been running successfully for years, so we drove our rental car on and hoped for the best.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[You have arrived!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The sign tells it all as any newcomer undoubtedly spent an anxious hour or two on the unmarked gravel roads, wondering if they had made a wrong turn or if they would get there at all. However, many hardy vacationers love being in this remote and underdeveloped area, and return year after year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Big Lizard!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This fearsome guy wasn't in any game park but slowly crossing the road near a number of native houses. We learned nothing about him but we presume the local mothers are quite familiar with him and his species. (Most African lizards we understand are poisonous are a risk to small children and pets.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay Hotel Gas Pump]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Morgan Bay is but a few kilometers up the coast from East London, but the area is called the "Wild Coast" for reason. Thus it is surprising to find this sole gas pump directly across the street from the Morgan Bay Hotel, See (&lt;a href="http://www.morganbay.co.za "&gt;www.morganbay.co.za &lt;/a&gt;) . The Wild Coast is the traditional home of the Xhosa people, and the birthplace of many prominent South Africans, including Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. The Wild Coast stretches from the Great Kei River to the Mtamvuna River and was part of the former homeland of the Transkei during the Apartheid era.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay Hotel, Eastern Cape]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Morgan Bay Hotel is an old fashion, family oriented, sea-side hotel on the Wild Coast; our Silkbush Vineyard managers, Anton and Franci Roos, stay here and really enjoy it. It used to be very remote, with a terrible road leading there from the main highway, but a new road was completed in late 2006, which is as nice and fast as anything one can imagine.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay- From the Air]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Morgan Bay Hotel is the large white building with a flat roof in the middle of the other white buildings on the beach. The placid blue water below is the Kei River Mouth. The hotel is nestled on a mile of beach and cliffs.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Beach at Morgan Bay]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The idyllic beach was very big and contained a large number of shells as well as vacationers. However, the tides at Morgan Bay are very impressive, strong and high, and when they are flooding, you definitely do not want to be anywhere on the beach.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay Hotel Shell Collection]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Morgan Bay Hotel has collected the best examples of many types of crustaceans and enclosed their collection under glass. This is just one more reason the hotel is popular with young families.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay Moonlight]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is Morgan Bay at night. The small light to the left is from the lighthouse on the point to the north.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay Moon: a Transfixing View]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[What you can't tell from the photo the tidal waves were breaking below with a very loud roar, a strong warm wind was blowing, and it was altogether stunningly romantic.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgan Bay Moonlit Nights]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We suggest you stock up on really good red wines, such as our Silkbush Pinotage, before visiting remote places such as Morgan Bay, as the choices there are usually limited. You will enjoy the wine along with the beautiful views each night.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cosmos Cuisine Guesthouse]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cosmos Cuisine (a local flower) is an exceptional guest house located a few miles west of the Addo Elephant Park. (&lt;a href="http://www.cosmoscuisine.co.za "&gt;www.cosmoscuisine.co.za &lt;/a&gt;) .  It had been a small strip retail center in a prior incarnation, but you could never tell. Safe behind a high security wall, with very large and well appointed rooms, it is a stunning guesthouse and restaurant. The evening meals were absolutely first class; they will also take you to the Addo Elephant National Park for a game drive and feed you there as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cosmos Guest Room]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cosmos Cuisine and the Addo Elephant Park are about an hour from Port Elizabeth (PE) airport. Addo Elephant National Park is a diverse wildlife conservation park situated close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and is one of the country's 19 national parks. It currently ranks third in size after Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Story of Hapoor]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Hapoor was the leader of the Addo Elephant herd for 24 years, from 1944 to 1968, during which time the herd increased from about 20 to over 50. Hapoor sired most of the increase. However, in May 1959, a young bull named Bellevue tried to dispose Hapoor. Hapoor emerged unscathed but Bellevue was killed.   In 1966, an old elephant cow called Ouma (grandma) had developed an abscess and the park rangers darted her to give medical attention. When another elephant cow and Hapoor could not keep her on her feet, Ouma collapsed. Hapoor then killed her with four tusk stabs directed at the brain. A tough old guy, eh!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hapoor- Head On]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Hapoor had received his name from the "hap" (or nick) to the left ear, believed to have been caused by a hunter's rifle. Accordingly, the bull retained a deep seated hatred of man throughout his colorful life, often running park workers up windmills or out the gates.   Finally, in 1968 a strong young bull called Lanky bested Hapoor and drove him out of the herd. Upset and despondent (we assume) he climbed over the Armstrong fence which had held all the elephants secure in the park for over 10 years. Knowing no fence could hold him, as well as his aggressive nature, park authorities had no alternative but to shoot him, in his 44th year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[MALE Elle: Addo National Elephant Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Perhaps one of Hapoor's offspring? More than 600 elephants, 400 Cape buffalo, over 48 endangered black rhino as well as a variety of antelope species live at the park. Lion and spotted hyena has also recently been re-introduced to the area. The largest remaining population of the flightless dung beetle (Circellium bacchus) is located within the park too.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Herd Approaches]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[To say the least, the elephants are very impressive, especially when parked beside them on a dirt road in a rental vehicle. 
Addo National Elephant Park receives about 120,000 visitors annually. 

There is a main camp, featuring a swimming pool, restaurant, flood lit water hole and various accommodations, four other rest camps and four camps run by concessionaires. The main entrance as well as two looped tourist roads in the park are tarred while the others are graveled. There is an additional access road through the southern block of the park feeding off the N2 highway near Colchester; it joins up with the existing tourist roads in the park. Addo is well worth a visit.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Elephant Family]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It is always sweet to see how carefully the family protects its young. Even prides of lions do not mess around with elephant herds. (If attacked, the elephant herds do not scatter and abandon the young like buffaloes and wildebeests do.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dirty Elle: Close up]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Reportedly they like to get dirty to keep bugs and other parasites out of the wrinkles in their hides. However, they often immerse in rivers and lakes when they get the chance, too.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[How He Got So Dirty...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Nothing like a little dirt shower in the midday sun, eh!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[In case you missed it …]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here's another view of the dirt shower!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Warthogs at Waterhole]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Whether they are grazing or drinking, the warthogs always kneel down, like religious supplicants.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Head to head hogs]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It doesn't appear these two warthogs are very happy with each other.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Shrike]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Shrike  is a common South African bird. The species is closely related to two other bush-shrikes, the Yellow-crowned Gonolek and the Black-headed Gonolek of East Africa. The shrike is extremely nimble and restless, its penetrating whistles often being the first sign of its presence, although it is not a shy species.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Red Hartebeest]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Hartebeest is an African species of grassland Antelope. Adults stand just over 1 m (3.3 ft) at the shoulder. Both sexes have horns, with the shape varying greatly between subspecies. Hartebeest live between 11 and 20 years in the wild, and up to 19 in captivity. Hartebeest are social animals that form herds of 20 to 300 individuals. Generally calm in nature, hartebeest can be ferocious when provoked. The hartebeest inhabits savannas, woodlands, and open plains. Addo boasts many hartebeest to view on your safari.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kudu]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Greater Kudu is a woodland Antelope found throughout Eastern and Southern Africa and of course in Addo. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation, and poaching. The Greater Kudu is one of two species commonly known as Kudu, the other being the Lesser Kudu. You can always tell the Kudu from the thin vertical strips and the curved horns. It is a beautiful animal that is hunted for meat as well as trophies.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[South African Tortoise]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Quite a large turtle, eh!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Two Osterichs]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a photo of an osterich pair together at Addo. They usually are are either head up or head down, and seldom close together. Most other ostriches we have seen in the Cape also have very dark, if not black, feathers. Their meat is very lean and tasty, and their hard, large eggs make great decorations that sell for high prices.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Garden Route to Eastern Cape]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Eastern Cape's capital is Bhisho, and its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province. Landing place and home of the 1820 settlers, the central and eastern part of the province is the traditional home of the Xhosa people. This region is the birthplace of many prominent South African politicians, such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, Chris Hani, Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko and Charles Coghlan.

You will surely enjoy your travels across the Garden Route- there are many adventures just waiting for our Silkbush friends!]]></image:caption>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/historical-silkbush-our-beginnings/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:40:01+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/our-mountain-vineyards-1//1-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Enter Silkbush Mountain Vineyards (photo from 2004)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Enter our "gateway" to Silkbush Mountain Vineyards! The high mountain peak to the right of center is called the Sybasberg (Silkbush Mountain) and Silkbush is our "anglicized" vineyard namesake. The 2004 vineyards appear as brown fields above the white gate wall. We purchased the farm in 2000 so were thrilled things were coming along so well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Vineyards Seen from Front Gate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[From this angle, you can see the planted blocks are nearing maturity, but the former 2.3 Ha of Ruby Cabernet (replanted to Pinotage in 2007) stands out, as does the final 1 Ha of open ground above our upper reservoir. (The last 1% of the vineyard was planted with Pinotage.) The higher, open land burned in a large wildfire in early 2006, but already had started to make a come back just one year later. In the right foreground is the General Manager's house, home to Anton and Franci Roos, and their three sons.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Front View]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This pretty view greets visitors as they pass our front gate and behold Franci Roos' flower gardens. The gate slows down cars and trucks, important around a home with children, and reduces the road dust somewhat. Across the road, see the hillside vineyard and the old laborer house (since removed) which belonged to Franci's father, Francois Marais. Franci grew up on the farm immediately adjacent to where she and her family now live: SILKBUSH Mountain Vineyards!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Only the Vines]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In this early photo, the more mature plantings had taken the "construction project" look away but the now green fields were still very young. The brown land to the right (South) of the tree line going up the mountain is the neighboring property, unfortunately a poorly managed property owned for years by an uninvolved Bahamian resident. This photo was taken years before we constructed our guest cottage The building is sited to the far left, just above the NE corner of the planted Petit Verdot block and our lower dam.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stages of Vine Growth]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This photo shows vineyards in several stages: in the foreground are our two year old Cabernet grapes; across the river is our 7 year old block of Shiraz; above our two equipment barns are the very old vineyards of Franci Roos' father, Francois Marais, and also, to the right a new block recently replanted. For some reason, Francois' young plantings on this block were struggling. (This at times happens to the best of farmers.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Western View from Top (photo from November 2006)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Silkbush General Manager Anton Roos took this photo in late spring when everything was very green. We planted about 90% of our acreage by 2003, and that is all now mature. We then held off for two years to see what the markets were telling us and to see what seemed to produce the best quality. We are pleased we waited as we then planted the balance of the land to smaller blocks of more exotic vines such as Mouvedre, Grenache, and Viognier. Our terroir is closest to that of the Rhone Valley in France, and we are doing more Rhone varietels than Bordeaux.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Peach Trees and Old Grapevines: Gone by 2003!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[All of the permanent crops from this photo have been removed! Because we could not physically plant and properly tend the entire property all at once, we had a program of phasing out the fruit trees and older, untrellised vines over five (2000-2004) years, which ultimately took til 2006. The swath of purple in the center of the photo was a block of nectarines that was just blooming in early October 2000. The last of the peaches were removed after the 2003 harvest was completed. A bittersweet day: those were great peaches and our best crop ever! But we will not miss the old and very low bush vines; 100% of our planted vines are now trellised.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Founder &amp; Managing Director, Dave Jefferson, Beams from River Bank in 2000]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Chronologically, Founder Dave Jefferson may not be a kid anymore, but on this beautiful May day in 2000 he felt like one; he had actually purchased a farm in South Africa! That the Wabooms River (more a strong, year-round creek) was still flowing strongly behind him in late fall was very encouraging. The Wabooms rages in the winter and then becomes tame for the rest of the year. But it's always comforting to farmers to see running water year round. Dave Jefferson is Silkbush co-founder and its Managing Director; he is a US citizen and lives in Sonoma County, California where he has been in the grape growing business for 45 years.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Aerial Photo - October 2000]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This early spring photo captures 80% or more of Silkbush's plantable acreage. It is easier to describe what is not our land: everything to the right of the almost straight tree line, including the two blue water reservoirs on the Alfonso Bowe property to the south; most of the dark green land at the top of the photo (to the east) which borders our reservoirs near the top of the photo. The dark green blocks on our land at this time were fruit orchards we removed over the years to come, as well as breaking many new acres which had only been bush for decades.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[New Planting Areas from Air in 2006]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Big changes from six years earlier when we purchased the farm: the lower reservoir was cleaned out and greatly expanded, and some 200 new acres planted. Remaining to be planted at that time were the open fields above our two resevoirs, planted in 2006 and 2007, completing our redevelopment and tripling of the farm. Behind schedule, sure, but very few mistakes were made, and we are very happy with our crop mix and the quality of the grapes coming off the mountain. The four tan, open plots in the lower left hand corner are where a neighbor was trying to establish a buchu production, an effort set back by the wildfires of early 2006 and then finally abandoned.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[November 2006]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The efforts of the previous years are quite clear in this '06 photo. Fruit orchards removed, more land cleared and planted, many new blocks nearing maturity, the roofs of the equipment barns painted green, and, in the lower left, a grape trailer ramp is being built. The grapes are picked by hand into trailers drawn by tractors; the trailers will then dump their loads into trucks which take the grapes to at least four different wineries.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[View of Planted Lands in Late Winter]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While by October 2008, 99% of our vineyards had been planted and were 95% mature for the harvest of 2009, even the mature vineyards looked quite bleak and desolate during the winter and very early spring. That winter in South Africa was especially wet, cold, and very long, and the resulting harvest dropped back about 20% of the prior year. Well, that's farming!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton and Land Preparation Equipment]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Subsequent to purchase of the property in February 2000, Anton Roos, our vineyard General Manager, had some old vines and peach trees removed and 16 Ha (about 40 acres) deep ripped for planting in the spring. The heavy Italian track-laying equipment (similar to a Caterpillar D-9) was rented from a local contractor only for the soil preparation period. Virtually each year this process was repeated until we were 99% planted in 2007. By 2008, we were nearing maturity on most of the vine yields.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Preparing New Fields in 2006]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here we are preparing new fields for planting. This is the sort of powerful equipment we need to rent to break new ground so young plants can get a good start.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Draining a New Field Before Planting]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[General Manager Anton Roos keeps discovering springs on the property, which require trenching, so as the artesian water does not "over-water" our vines. In the process, we discover boulders, such as the one here, that have to be moved out of the fields or buried very deeply. Without heavy equipment, this work would be nearly impossible to accomplish.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our "Machinist" Manager]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Anton determined that our old tractor needed a quick fix so he turned into a machinist for an hour, manufacturing a replacement bolt to put the machine back into action for the harvest. He is a very talented, hands-on farm manager.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Contemplative Manager, Anton Roos, in 2004]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Caught in a rare moment when he is not smiling, Anton Roos searches for the right words to explain what has taken place over the past four years since we had purchased the farm. While in early 2004 we were just about through planting, we had years ahead of us growing all the vines to maturity; throughout we must determine the exact viticultural procedures to maximize the quality of what we are producing. The efforts never stop and the entire undertaking can be daunting.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Franci Roos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Franci Roos plays a larger role on Silkbush Mountain Vineyards every vintage. Besides being a wonderful mother of three boys, and a terrific cook and gardener, she is de facto the Assistant Farm Manager to her husband, Anton. She also runs the small store for the workers, gets the weekly payrolls from the bank, and compiles many of the computerized reports we must file with the authorities for VAT and other required items. Franci is exceptional.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton and First Son, Johan]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Anton Roos, Silkbush Co-founder and GM, watches his first born son, Johan, affectionately strangle their cat on the steps of their home. Bismark, one of the pair of German Shepards that provides serious security to the farm family, looks on in utter dog amazement. Johan and the dogs are all over our farm daily with Anton, and may represent long term managerial succession!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Learning to Love the Land Early]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here are Anton and Franci Roos, with sons Johan and Francois in 2003. The harvest had been completed, and the Roos family was shortly headed for a 4-Wheeling and hiking vacation in the Eastern Cape with several other farming families. Their boys were still small enough to be carried on their backs for reasonable distances, and both parents stayed very fit.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton and Third Son, Antonie in 2005]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Antonie, son number three, was born in January 2005, and was named after his dad. By early 2006, he was walking very well and developing into a wonderful young character.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Antonie Roos at Age 1]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In this photo, Antonie is just over 15 months, walking like a champ, and developing a grand little personality. Whatta family!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Johan and Francois (2006)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[At ages 8 and 6, these two young fellows have truly happy souls and are very well mannered young boys to boot. It is a joy to be around them. Their first language is Afrikaans but they did learn English as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Francois Roos Cooling Off with Newest Dog]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Virtually everyone who has seen this picture has had the same reaction: what fun it would be to grow up on SILKBUSH Vineyard! Francois is enjoying life with Laska, the Malamute, on this warm South African day.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[ATV Crew: October 2009]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The personalities of the three Roos brothers is captured by this photo. The driver is Francois, the most mechanically inclined of the group; Johann, his older brother, is the light-hearted one, and his bare feet just ignore how cold a day it was. Antonie, the youngest, may prove to be the most cerebral and philosophical of the team. Only time will tell.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Just Before the Sun Peeks Over]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is a typical pre-sunrise, as seen from the Manager's House. In the middle distance are our two equipment barns. Vineyards on the east side of the valley, like ours, receive late afternoon sun, but a delayed sunrise. Farms to the west get early morning sunlight, but lose the sunlight much earlier in the afternoon. Accordingly, in this valley, white grapes do better on the cooler western side, and red grapes, who need the heat for maturity, do better on the eastern slopes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manager's House and Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is the Manager's House at Silkbush. The Roos Family lives here on property. From this angle, we are looking at the Voorkamer (living room), kitchen and pantry. You can see Franci's flower gardens, shrubs, and trees, and, over the fuller tree, the highest plantings on SILKBUSH Mountain Vineyards. This is the view the Roos family enjoys most days, and why Anton Roos says "we are living our dreams."]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manager's House and Grounds]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While not really big, the Manager's house had been a very comfortable home for the  the Roos family. Since acquiring the property, more bedrooms and bathrooms were needed for their expanding family. Accordingly, in 2012, we competed a major renovation of the home.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Patio]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is the patio area in front of the Manager's house which can seat quite a large group. Besides a colossal view of the mountains and our vineyards, meals are cooked over the outside braai (fireplace) during all kinds of weather. We frequently entertain representatives of wineries considering the purchase of our crops in this charming area here or above at the Kingsbury Cottage. While Silkbush is not open for drop-in wine tastings, you may certainly call and reserve a tasting on our patio and we will be happy to entertain you on your next visit to South Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Inside the Farm House]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The original house was a prefabricated structure, and was quite small, inefficient, and depressing. The renovation effort, while relatively inexpensive, really dolled the place up. The Roos family is now quite pleased with their accommodations. Further, having Anton and Franci live on the farm intensified the management attention they provide our Silkbush vineyard development.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Franci's Landscaping]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The huge sandstone boulders that flank the Roos' lawn and gardens were just a very few we had to remove to plant our land closest to the Wabooms river. Rocky soil is famous for producing high quality wine, and we certainly have some very rocky blocks to our vineyard. When prospective grape buyers come to Silkbush Mountain Vineyards, their first impression from the willow tree setting will be very well cared for vines, gardens, and an inkling of what we had to do to build a modern hillside vineyard.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[2002 Bridge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We built this bridge in April 2002, just before the winter rains hit. The previous bridge did not have the vertical side concrete rails we have now, and its footings were quite eroded. In a word, it was becoming dangerous. We will have still higher guard rails drilled into the bridge before we open the Manor house for visitors and because every visitor going up into the mountains along the River Road easement must cross this bridge.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Equipment Barns and Farm Office]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The two former fruit packing sheds now chiefly serve as equipment storage and maintenance barns. Naturally, they are especially useful during rainy winter days and very hot summer periods because there is always something needing repair on a farm. Further, all permanent farm employees are paid weekly salaries, come rain or shine, so we have also built a small office in one barn and everybody keeps on working.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Interior of Equipment Barn]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This large steel barn was part of our purchase of the property back in 2000. While not very glamorous, this shot of two sprayers, our "excavator," and a large truck, is indicative of modern farming. For example, if grape vines are not sprayed with sulphur regularly, powdery or downy mildew or rot can take off and devastate a crop in short order. (Because it was harvest time, all our tractors and gondolas were out in the fields working.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Worker Cottages and Boulder Field]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here we look at five of our six worker cottages and a portion of the large rocks that required excavation before we could plant our fields closest to the river. About 75% of our permanent employees live in free housing with provided utilities. Some have satellite television service as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Landscaping Taking Hold]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We don't contend our worker housing is glamorous but we try to improve it annually. The workers are also proud of their quarters and are making their grounds nicer as well. Today the landscaping is just lovely. There are flower and vegetable gardens for workers to enjoy now.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Second Triplex]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This building is located on the other side of the river, closer to the General Manager's house and the front gate. Unfortunately, the workers had a fire in 2011 but we were able to rebuild the building and put on a new roof in a few months time.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Worker Triplex Amenities]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The housing, including the utilities, is provided at no cost to our permanent employees, and is much higher quality than most farm labor housing in any grape growing country.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Labor Housing, Looking SE]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We are very proud of providing electrical service to all our labor housing  beginning the second year after we acquired the property. None of these cottages had previously been electrified. If people cannot read at night, it is unrealistic to expect a high degree of literacy to be attained. The winter subsequent to this photo, we extensively landscaped each of the labor houses, and the workers families now are also maintaining flower and vegetable gardens.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Upper Reservoir and Reflected Mountains]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The water was glassy smooth, and mirrored the mountain peaks behind. The blue drums serve to float our water intake hose. We always pump from the top of our dams, not the bottom, as we get the cleanest water that way. We have sophisticated filtration systems in our irrigation systems to keep the drip emitters from clogging, but it still helps to start with the cleanest water possible.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lower Reservoir - April 2000]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This reservoir (usually called a dam in the Cape winelands) has been enlarged since this 2000 photo. It looked quite scenic and idyllic when the photo was taken. However, we wanted the water used for grapes, not for growing these water-hungry "weeds," so the reeds were cleared out, and the Eucalyptus (Blue Gum) and Black Wattle trees removed.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lower Reservoir- November 2002]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is what our largest dam looks like after a couple years of work: greatly enlarged, and far more efficient, with all the water-sucking trees gone. Admittedly not as charming as before, but once we get all the new vines planted, we'll get around to landscaping the dam with some shrubs and perhaps a swimming raft. But only after we raise the wall at least another 2 meters and double its capacity.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Both Dams and Mature Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This photo documents late fall when the harvest was nearing completion. The Wabooms river bisects the center of the photo at the tree line. All the vineyards and property above the river at this point belong to the Marais family and other neighbors.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Weir and Campsite Between the Dams]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Adjacent to the water weir, a stand of mature trees in the center is a very cool and shady spot where a small campsite has been developed. To the lower left is the water weir, which divides water (draining from an uphill kloof) between our lower dam and other farms further below Silkbush. In the heat of the summer, the Roos family frequently invites friends over for an evening braai around a large campfire, and then the families often stay overnight in tents. The stars at night in this area are crystal clear and bright. Lovely, just lovely.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Campsite Ablution Facilities]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In military lingo, "Ablution" refers to a structure that houses both shower and flush toilet facilities; and that is exactly what this little log cabin, with sky for a roof, has for Silkbush campers. Behind the little building is a wading pond for children and then our upper dam rises toward the hillside plantings.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Water Weir]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[SILKBUSH is blessed with more water than it needs, as long as it can be efficiently captured in dams. However, a system has been developed to share water with neighboring farms farther away from the mountains. A water weir was built years ago to divide water flows between a ditch to lower farms and the balance to our lower dam. Water flows strongly into the weir 12 months a year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[New Water Pipes Replace an Open Ditch]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In 2014, after years of Anton's advocacy, the open ditch from the water weir to the lower farms was replaced with these two blue pipes. There will be much less water lost to evaporation and continuous seepage into our adjacent vineyards with the updated system. (Subsequently, the ditch with the pipes was filled with soil. The entire cost to Silkbush was very modest.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Wabooms River]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The last of the winter's snow was still melting in this photo, and the runoff was coming down the Wabooms River at a terrific pace. During and after a major rainstorm, this river goes crazy, frequently exceeding its banks, and it has occasionally done damage to our lower vines.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Catherine and Laska]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Catherine Moylan (now Catherine Jefferson, Silkbush founder Dave Jefferson's wife) and the Roos' Malamute Laska relax in the South African sunshine. Both appear engrossed in the "Beginning Afrikaans" primer!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Franci Shows Off her Gardens]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[From left to right: Wiwe Pretorius, a former guide from Paarl, Catherine Moylan (Jefferson), Kenwood, California, and Franci Roos. Franci was regaling them with the story of a woman's organization from nearby Wolseley that had come by for lunch a few weeks earlier. The professional gardeners in the group were highly impressed and a lengthy story with photos resulted in one of the Cape's largest Afrikaans language newspapers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Keke's Quilt from America]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When Catherine decided to visit Silkbush in November 2003 with Dave Jefferson, Silkbush owner and co-founder, she did not want to come empty-handed so she brought a handmade quilt to give away. This beautiful quilt was awarded to Keke by means of a fair drawing, and it is very apparent that he and his mother were both pleased.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Breede River Valley]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Taken close to the top of our plantings on a fairly clear day, we wanted to show the extent of the windbreaks planted on the farms of neighbors on the valley floor. The usual windbreak is made from Beefwood trees, and they are needed to diminish the force of strong winds that can blow through the valley any month of the year. Fortunately, most (but not all) of our grapevines are protected from the wind by a sharp rise on the neighbor's property directly to the south of us. (Our other problem periodically comes from baboons that live in the rough brush in the kloof bordering our farm; they like to eat sweet grapes, especially Pinotage.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Marais Above, Silkbush Below]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Virtually all the hillside land above our barns and the Manager's House in this photo belong to the Marais family; however, the scorched section of brush on the right is part of Vredehoek, another landowner above us. The double rows of Pinotage can be easily picked out on Silkbush at the bottom.  In this picture, from north to the left is our front gate and the Manager's home.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Land and That of the Marais Family, 2003]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The SILKBUSH property line is defined by the Manager's House (green roof, to left) and equipment barns (to right). The dark green trees were our peaches, removed after the 2003 harvest and planted to Cabernet Franc, Viognier, and Petit Verdot grapes.  All the hillside land above is owned by Francois Marais, Anton Roos's father-in-law. Francois is a noted grape and fruit farmer. He and his wife, Isabelle, support and advise Anton and Franci in many aspects of running the Silkbush farm.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fine Point in Afrikaans]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[With great amusement, Francois and Isabelle Marais, (Franci's parents and our Silkbush neighbors), discuss this "Beginning Afrikaans" primer. It appears as if they disagree with a contention of the author. Since this is the language they have spoken at home since childhood, they know of what they speak. Francois and Isabelle are a constant support system for Anton, Franci, and the boys.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[View from above the Marais' Vineyards/Orchards in 2005]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[By fall 2005, we had 90% of our land planted and most of the vines fairly well established. Every year, however, the plants are older and generally carry an increasing crop until they hit plant maturity in about the fifth year. Besides top viticultural practices all along the line, we also have developed an exceptional irrigation system that allows us to water the vines throughout the growing season, including the critical weeks just before harvest.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fall Colors in 2000]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Viewed from a hillside north of the property just after acquisition, we see much of the SILKBUSH plantable land. The brown, open land was planted to red grapevines in August 2000. Over the next five years, all the fruit orchards and most of the then existing vines were replanted to red grapes. As of December 2003, we were 95% there with 82.9 Ha planted and growing well. (We ultimately retained 4.3 Ha of existing vines and planted about 83 Ha of new vines, for a total of over 87 Ha.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[November 2006]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The "double" rows of 1997 Pinotage are in the front of the Manager's House, and are the only grapes planted in this fashion on the vineyard. These vines are irrigated with micro-jet spray emitters; all others are single row, vertical shoot positioned and irrigated with drip hose emitters, a far more efficient system.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Pears in Bloom]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While we have not had any fruit trees on our property since 2003, the neighboring small farm, Vredehoek, has a beautiful stand of pear trees immediately adjacent. Here we are able to admire them in full bloom even though there was still snow on the adjacent mountain peaks. (It makes you think you are in Switzerland!)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manor House Architect on Site]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In this historical photo, see Wilhelm Basson, Architect, and Anne Thistleton, a former Silkbush Director from Stellenbosch, reviewing the proposed Manor House site in 2001. (We subsequently moved the site 100 meters to avoid a winter wet-spot.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manor House Building Site, Looking Southwest]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While it may be a bit difficult to see, we had staked out the actual outside and inside walls of the what would be the Manor House so we could be sure it "felt right" as we walked around with the plans. Not much you can say about a rough graded homesite, other than "what a view!" A 5,167 square foot, four bedroom/four bath house will occupy the foreground.  We started the design effort in 2000, and completed the plan two years later. The building site was graded in 2002 (about when this photo was taken) and the road to the site completed and decorative trees along the road planted in 2003. While the Manor House has yet to be built do to unforseen other projects taking precedence, it will one day be looking down upon mature Petit Verdot vineyards and our lower reservoir.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Snow on the Mountain Peaks in 2008]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It was early October 2008 and the snow stayed late into a chilly and wet spring. The vineyards seen in this photo are not ours but belong to a neighbor about 2- 3 miles to the north. Our land is chiefly below the Sybasberg peak to the right.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Building Through the Winter of 2007]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Construction of our guest cottage continued throughout 2007 even into the wet South African winter. The winter rains had slowed construction somewhat but the guest cottage was closing in on completion. The site had also been filled and graded to nearly level in front of the cottage, but the final landscaping would wait until summer, 2008. In the Western Cape, winter is much akin to Northern California- heavy rains for a few days, and then spectacular blue skies. On this day, the snows in the mountains to the east are apparent and our reservoirs are as full as we want them from storm runoff.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kingsbury Cottage- Frontal Landscape]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The closer you approach the guest cottage, the more one must admire the builders and the landscapers. Very heavy equipment was utilized to move the boulders into place before the shrubs and flowers which were planted. The last step was the curved, brick-paved driveway that winds up to the cottage. Simply marvelous. Check more photos by going to the Kingsbury Cottage guest lodging section of the Silkbush website.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Kingsbury Cottage in Spring]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The purpose of this photo is not to highlight our guest cottage as much as it is to stress its spectacular setting. The cottage beholds most of our vineyards spread out below and to the left (from the perspective of one enjoying the view from the veranda). We built it chiefly for our partners and ourselves, but we do rent it out to  lucky vacationers as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Landscaping Below the Kingsbury Cottage in 2008]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In October 2008, the red flowers were in full bloom yet the vineyards in the background were still dormant, as a result of a long, cold, and very wet winter continuing well into spring. All the decorative rocks were a small portion of those that had been removed from our vineyard land years earlier.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Looking South from the Kingsbury Cottage]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It is such a striking contrast: the manicured grounds of the Kingsbury, the uniformity of the vineyards, and the the wild mountain veld from which it all has been carved and nurtured.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tom Kingsbury Visited In 2001]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Former Silkbush partner Tom Kingsbury, along with mutual hometown high-school chum Lorry Wendland, came to visit the farm in December 2001. Tom, Lorry, and Co-founder, Dave Jefferson, were all originally from Rochester, Minnesota, and had been friends since puberty (John Marshall HS, Class of 1961!).  Lorry was a cheerleader and brilliant to boot; now she is a grandmother and runs class reunions with panache! Both she and Tom came to South Africa to visit Dave and see what was shaping up at Silkbush Mountain Vineyards. To say the least, they were very impressed. 

Tragically, Tom was taken from us in August 2007 by pancreatic cancer at age 64. We decided to name our upcoming guest cottage the "Kingsbury Cottage" after this remarkable and enthusiastic man; we informed Tom of our decision shortly before he died and he said he would be honored. Likewise, old friend; you honored us with your manifold contributions during your altogether too brief a stay.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mountain Bike Racer in Silkbush Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There is an annual mountain bike race which crosses our vineyards; we offer a water stop for thirsty riders. This photo helps put the Kingsbury Cottage in perspective of the impressive surroundings.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hanging Birds Nests]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[SILKBUSH Mountain Vineyards has all sorts of wildlife on and around its lands. Leopards, baboons, snakes, birds, turtles: perhaps not many of each, but it's a regular Noah's ark over the course of a year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Beacon on Sybasberg Peak]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[From the vineyard below, the metal beacon can only be seen through high powered binoculars. But when you are in a glider 100 feet below, it is a different story. Perhaps the next time our neighbor Rico Suter takes us flying, the winds will be stronger and we'll get to see the other side of the mountain.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A Somewhat Closer View!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These mountains are very old, sedimentary, decomposed sandstone that have snow on them every winter, and are impacted by the odd earthquake every few decades.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sunset from the Back Yard]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[If the Silkbush mountain view is the "front door," this is the view out the "back door," looking west. Late November in the Cape is the equivalent of late May in North America. Late spring weather, with frequent spring showers, and even if it does not rain, clouds pop up almost every day. And they help to make outstanding Western sunsets at nightfall.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Nightfall]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Not every day is sunny and without rain. A strong wind and rain storm was moving off the south Atlantic and coming up the valley as the sun went down in this photo. Virtually all our crop was still unharvested so it made for a nervous night, but the light rain settled the dust, and the harvest went on for weeks more without any damage to our red grapes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sybasberg Peak at Sunset]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Quite striking, eh! Certainly the setting is beautiful but that was only one of many reasons for buying the hillside land. While grapes and fruit trees are also cultivated on the valley floor, the highest quality grapes come from the soils higher on the mountain slopes.  Also vineyards such as ours have the first opportunity to capture winter runoff to fill their dams.  But once you have experienced the sunsets, it is impossible not to love our land!]]></image:caption>
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		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:43:38+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Extend Your South Africa Adventure: Visit Pretoria]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It is quite a journey traveling to South Africa so make the most of your visit while here. After you have enjoyed Silkbush Mountain Vineyards and the South African Wine Country, we suggest you further your adventure to include some wonderful and historic areas of the RSA. Pretoria is an historical, tourist-friendly city in the northern part of the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the administrative national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital. Pretoria is generally regarded as being divided into three sections: west, east and north, relative to the central business district. Pretoria is contained within the City of Tshwane and is sometimes referred to as "Tshwane" due to a long-running and controversial proposed change of name, which has, as of 2014, yet to be decided.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Pretoria Area- Irene Country Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[An 18th century wagon peers out over a preserved wetland behind the upscale Irene Country Lodge (and restaurant). In the distance are the red tile roofs of the fast growing subdivisions between Pretoria and Johannesburg to its south. (&lt;a href="http://www.irenecountrylodge.co.za"&gt;www.irenecountrylodge.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) . Just a few miles away is the humble family home (now a museum) of General Jan Christian Smuts, acknowledged by Cambridge University on its 500th anniversary, as one of the three finest minds who ever attended (along with John Milton and Charles Darwin) and certainly the most accomplished public figure produced in South Africa (1870-1950).]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Pretoria Area: Irene Dairy Farm]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Barely still a working dairy, the historic Irene Dairy Farm has been turned into a first class tourist facility with amenities and well manicured grounds. It is a beautiful, interesting and historical place to visit while in South Africa. The Irene Dairy Farm offers a little something for all visitors; there is the Dairy Shop that sells a decadent thick cream (perfect for afternoon scones) and fresh, raw farm milk. The shop is open year-round. There are also two restaurants that serve a range of freshly made breakfast and lunch dishes. They also host weddings and special events in a 120 year old barn.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Pretoria Game Reserves: Groenkloof]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These Eland, grazing on a large preserved tract in Pretoria, are one of the surprises tourists will discover in the expansive open land north of Johannesburg. The land was acquired as a watershed by a large utility, and then perimeter fenced, permitting for the introduction of large game animals. There are paved roads which allow visitors to come close to animals if they stay within their vehicles. Groenkloof Nature Reserve is located near the famous Fountains Valley. This valley, on the southern outskirts of Pretoria, was proclaimed a game sanctuary by President Paul Kruger to protect the shy and timid oribi, which previously lived there, and other game that were being wiped out by hunters.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hippo in the Rain]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Seldom does a tourist see more of a shy hippo other than their eyes and ears, as hippos prefer to stay submerged in lakes and rivers. So spotting this guy just as a rain squall came down was a real treat. Because of their nature to remain hidden, more people are killed annually by hippos than all other wild animals combined, as boaters inadvertently get between baby hippos and their submerged but highly protective parents.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Voortrekker Memorial in Pretoria]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Located on a hilltop overlooking Pretoria, the Voortrekker Memorial was completed in 1949 as a tribute to the Voortrekkers who brought their culture to the RSA interior. The English had conquered Holland and Napoleon's France by 1815, but their presence really started being felt around 1820 when some 4,000 British settlers arrived in the Cape, motivated by a very severe, post war depression at home. When slavery was abolished in all British colonies in 1833, the friction between the new colonial rulers and the Dutch Boers, who had been in the Cape since 1652, became intolerable. The treks commenced from the Eastern Cape in 1835, and continued until 1838. Your visit to South Africa certainly won't be complete without a visit to this most historic monument.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The 64 Wagon Laager Wall]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Protecting the Voortrekker Monument "symbolically" is a laager of 64 ox wagons. Encircling of the covered wagons each night, or "laagering", was a necessary defensive maneuver. It was far easier to protect the perimeter from attacks of native tribes with this procedure, often filling the gaps between wagons with barbed acacia tree branches. The Voortrekkers carried all their worldly possessions and their families in these wagons, most leaving around 1835 from the Great Fish River, the eastern border of the Cape, and proceeding north to the areas know as the Transvaal (across the Vaal River). The Voortrekkers first crossed the plains of the Orange Free State, but considered it an area too close to the Cape government. Therefore, a number dropped down into Natal and ran into the Ndebeles and Zulus.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Voortrekker Monument Arches]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The order, geometrical precision and symmetry are basic to the design of the Monument, and its massive size and strength are indicative of the resolve of these pioneers. While they had muzzle loading rifles, the Voortrekkers were massively outnumbered by the fierce Ndebele. Nonetheless, these tribes were defeated in 1837 in the battle of Vegkop and they retreated to the north, across the Limpopo, to what is now Zimbabwe. Most of the trekkers and some 1,000 wagons, however, turned eastward, crossed the Drakensberg mountains into the lower lying lands of Natal where negotiations between the Zulu and Governor Piet Retief commenced in February 1838.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Open Ceiling and the Vow]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Two days after signing a treaty with the Zulus, Retief's 100 men were surprised and beaten to death with sticks and stones. A week later, at Bloukrans and Bushmans River, some 10,000 Zulu warriors attacked unsuspecting Voortrekkers and killed 500 people, predominantly women and children. Subsequently, an Eastern Cape farmer, Andries Pretorius, was elected the replacement leader in Natal. Pretorius set out with 530 men and 64 wagons to do battle with some 12-15,000 Zulus at Blood River. Fighting from a wagon laager and assisted by Ou Grietjie, a small canon, the Afrikaaners prevailed without a single Voortrekker casualty. Accordingly, each year at 12 o'clock on December 16th, the day of the battle, a ray of sunlight falls through the ceiling opening onto the inscription, "We for thee, South Africa." The vow to a Christian God taken by all the men prior to the battle is thus recalled annually.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Visiting Durban]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Another important place to visit while in South Africa is Durban. Durban (in Zulu or "eThekwini" meaning bay or lagoon) is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is also the second most important manufacturing hub in South Africa after Johannesburg. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in all of Africa. It is also one of the major centers of tourism because of the city's warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Zulu Rural Housing &amp; Large Donga]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Durban (formerly called Port Natal) is the center of this eastern province, and the majority Zulu people coexist with descendants of English settlers who started arriving in numbers by the 1830s. Under the former RSA government both groups had to learn Afrikaans in school but there were relatively fewer Boers living in Natal. Outside Durban, most try to make a living farming despite the poor land. The large Donga (a steep ravine created by erosion) is indicative of thin topsoil and overly intensive subsistence farming.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bridge Over Delmhwazine River]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Pictured is the bridge over the Delmhwazine River which is in the Drakensberg Mountains. The Drakensberg Mountains are part of the continuous escarpment that rings the high center plateau of South Africa. These are serious mountains that kept most Dutch settlers on the coastal plain until the early 1800's. In November 2000, the 243,000 hectare Drakensberg Park received the World Heritage Site status, the fourth such in South Africa. It is a beautiful place to visit and not-to-be-missed on your South African adventure.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Injisuthi Camp &amp; the Drakensbergs]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Injisuthi is a former private camp now part of the Government park service. Guests may stay in older, two-bedroom cabins, their own "caravans," or tents. The unique mountain peak in the center is appropriately known as the Monk's Cowl and is an objective of hardy climbers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Injisuthi Cabins Shaded by Giant Plein Trees]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Plein tree is known as the Sycamore in the US and it drops barbed nuts that are nasty to step on. However, they grow like crazy and provide good shade for non-air conditioned buildings. Accordingly, they are commonly planted in hot African locals.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Injisuthi Cabins &amp; River]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here you see theInjisuthi cabins more clearly as well as the fast running Injisuthi river. The trout fishing is quite good here. The white splash on the mountains in the distance is a rock landslide from years ago.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rondavel Housing of Zulu Workers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Injisuthi camp managers were an Indian couple making a career of park management, but all the workers under them were Zulus who lived next to the camp in permanent quarters. The rondavels are traditional houses for numerous African tribes, but especially the Zulus.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Solitary Hiker Stands Under Rock Outcropping]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Hiking is the predominant activity for Injusuti guests as there are wonderful trails and sights everywhere. However, one had best be fairly fit, as even the more gentle trails are a strenuous workout.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Climb Monk's Cowl]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The climb up Monk's Cowl is spectacular. Most Drakensberg climbers are experienced back-packers who spend days in the mountains and carry their own light-weight tents and provisions.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Proteas in Full Bloom in Drakensberg Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There are many varieties of beautiful Proteas in the Drakensberg Mountains. Many are harvested commercially and exported to Europe, but not from the South African provincial and national parks.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Protea Just Entering Bloom]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a Protea flower just entering bloom. The King Protea (Protea cynaroides) is the national flower of South Africa. It is only one of around 2000 species of the Protea family, an astonishingly diverse array of plants, also known as sugarbushes. They can range from ground-creeping shrubs to trees, but all have leathery leaves and thistle-like flowers from tiny red blooms to great furry pink and black globes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Injisuthi- View of Camping Area]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The tent campers' section is left of the buildings area; the Zulu rondavel housing is behind the area with the cabins.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Confluence of Two Rivers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Injisuthi is located at the Confluence of Two Rivers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Today's Objective: Climb to that Ridge Line!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The two prior photos were taken from the highest point you can see in this shot. While the view was really worth the effort, it was an extremely strenuous climb, not a "hike" in any sense of the word, toward the Champagne Castle. The Champagne Castle is a 4-star hotel situated within the "uKhahlamba" Drakensberg Park and is considered to be in the finest location in the entire Drakensberg range.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush Founder... One Tired Mountain Climber!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is Silkbush Founder, Dave Jefferson, starting to realize that he is not a kid and not fit enough! Note the beautiful Proteas bush behind him.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Adios Injisuthi!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This concrete bridge was the best part of the otherwise dirt road. You will cross several creeks between here and the main highway in a rental car holding your breath each time. If you get stranded in the Injisuthi Valley, and out of cell phone range, you may have a very long day or night ahead of you.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Predawn at Historic Isandlwana]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[About four plus hours drive to the east was the next objective: the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. Isandlwana was the first battle of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, and a very sad day in English military history. Much to the surprise of the English, who invaded Zululand from Natal to "disband the Zulu army," the Zulus won.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dawn at Isandlwana]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While this area is a full day's drive from the main coastal city of Durban, many visitors from South Africa, Britain, and elsewhere come here annually. The battle fought here has been studied by war historians world wide ever since. The Zulus, on foot, only had spears and swords; the English army had repeating rifles and pistols, and many mounted men. The English were of the opinion they would have to force the Zulus to fight them!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Midmorning: Overlooking the Mount and Zulu Housing]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In Isandlwana, most of the battle was fought on the slopes leading to the mount, where the English were camped. The day of the battle, the main force left over 1700 troops to guard the camp, and marched off well before dawn some 13 miles to where it was believed the Zulus were camped.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Isandlwana Lodge Entrance]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Isandlwana Lodge was built in 1999 and is a beautiful structure. Anyone considering visiting here should review their website: http://www.isandlwana.co.za. The attractive rooms are large, designer grade, and the food is super, AND they soon will be carrying Silkbush Pinotage!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Isandlwana Lodge Rear Deck]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This photo shows more of the external traditional design of the 12-guestroom lodge. The lodge is built onto a steep iNyoni cliff on which the commander of the Zulu army directed his warriors' attack. The British were invading Zululand and did not know the territory well enough, or sufficiently respect their opponent.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Waterfall Behind Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The cliff is steep and building the lodge presented significant hydrological problems to solve. If they did not provide adequately for runoff, the lodge could easily become a reservoir and flood the lower rooms.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Isandlwana Lodge Swimming Pool]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You can see the lodge's pool in the distance. When the battle took place, January 22, 1879, starting about noon, the local temperature was reportedly well over 108 degrees Fairenheit (42 Celsius). There was no pool then to cool off!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lodge Founder/Co-Owner on her Birthday]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Pat Stubbs, an American entrepreneur, is a gracious, mature and very determined woman. She and another American woman put up the money to build this impressive facility. One of their objectives was to employ local Zulus and celebrate their culture. It has been a bigger challenge than they anticipated. But having former US President Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter as guests for four nights and the growing allegiance of other bird watchers evidently makes up for a lot.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Another Isandlwana Dawn]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Every day in Isandlwana seems to have a different personality, and this one was especially eerie. The rolling hills and high cliffs of Natal are fascinating, but in 1879 they proved fatal. The main English military body rode and hiked off in a SE direction to where they had been, but the Zulu army had run almost 20 miles overnight to a Northern position blocked from sight by the cliff on which the Isandlwana Lodge now sits.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Sun Comes Up]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[By dawn the main English fighting force had already left camp, leaving behind 1774 men to guard their tents, wagons, and supplies. Unfortunately, this was before scout airplanes and observation balloons. What the General Lord Chelmsford did not know was that there were about 25,000 Zulu warriors sitting silently out of sight just a couple of miles over the hills to the north.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Monuments to Fallen English Soldiers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Of the 1774 men left behind, 1329 were dead when the main force returned about 6:00pm. The 400+ that survived (mainly conscripted Natal natives) had made a run to save their lives before the battle started, and had gotten over the Mzinyathi river (at Fugitives' drift) before the Zulus killed them off. Isandlwana is known as the greatest defeat of the English army during the reign of Queen Victoria.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Battlefield from High Slope Above]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is where the army was camped, with ox drawn wagons of ammunition and supplies. Perhaps because the land is so rocky, the weather so hot, or their stay to be brief, the English did not dig trenches or erect defensive walls. In fact they were breaking camp to move when the attack began. All catastrophic blunders, as the Zulus took no prisoners, immediately disemboweling any remaining wounded.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Young-Husband's Last Stand]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[According to many Zulu eyewitnesses, the final group of troops to fall was commanded by Capt. Young-Husband. High on the mount, surrounded by thousands of Zulus, and out of ammunition, he was seen to shake hands with each of his 14 remaining men before the final charge of warriors began. The Zulus were very impressed with the bravery displayed. Accordingly, the simple small memorial carries the inscription in Zulu, English, and Afrikaans.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Largest Rock Cairn Beside Young-Husband Memorial]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When the burial party interred the dead months later, the remains of the English soldiers were buried in mass graves, marked with rock cairns. The larger the cairn, the more bodies below.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Final Battlefield Scene]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[What a lonely desolate place to fight and die for only the hubris of the British Empire... Historians estimate roughly the same number of Zulus or more died that day, or soon afterwards, of wounds and while the war continued for another six months, the Zulu leaders already suspected their final defeat could not be avoided.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Guide at Zulu Necklace Memorial]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The sole memorial for the Zulu fallen is this massive iron necklace erected a few years ago. Standing in front of the Zulu Necklace Memorial is tour guide, Rob Gerrard, an outstanding lecturer with a photographic memory. Formerly an officer in the Gordon Highlanders, he makes all the events vividly come alive.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rorke's Drift Monument]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Not 20 miles away to the West and just across the Mzinyathi (Buffalo) River lay the small Swedish missionary community of Rorke's Drift. The safe river crossing (a drift) had been established by an Irish settler, who gotten along fine with the Zulus living peacefully across the river. James Rorke, a hard drinker, was long gone by the time of the battle, however, as he had committed suicide years before.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Wall Around Rorke's Drift Monument]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The low stone wall is emblematic of the wall hastily erected by some 139 British troops (including 36 sick or wounded before the battle began!) with corn meal bags. They were attacked by a division of about 4,500 reserve Zulu troops in the late afternoon of day of the battle of Isandlwana. These Zulus had been told by their commander to kill any soldiers fleeing from Isandlwana but not to cross the river into Natal (from Zululand). But they thought they could mop up the few remaining Brits and get a bit of honor in the process.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[An Easier Story to Tell for a British Soldier]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The battle at Rorke's drift lasted 11.5 hours through the night. Unbeknownst to the Zulus when they left at daybreak, the defenders had exhausted all but the final few hundred rounds of ammunition. The Zulus had lost perhaps 600 hundred dead, the British but 17. More Victoria's Crosses, 11, and Distinguished Conduct Medals, 5, were awarded to the heroes than from any other battle in the history of England. (The 1964 movie Zulu, starring Michael Cain, is a decent reenactment of the event.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kudu at Spioenkop Nature Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[On our way to visit Spioenkop, scene of an important battle in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1901, we startled this kudu. Protected from hunting, the kudus can range freely on the sides of this low mountain. There are other large nature and game parks in Natal, however, for respectively conservation and hunting enthusiasts alike.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Spioenkop Reservoir]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Second Boer War, as it is also called, started in 1899 when the Boers decided to resist expanded English domination. The First Boer War the Boers had won in 1881 after a couple of skirmishes with the Brits. Thereafter, the English had allowed the Boers to retain their dominion over the Transvaal and Orange Free State republics. But as the extent of the gold and diamond discoveries became known, England coveted the rich area inland of their coastal South African colony.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Spioenkop Dam]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This modern "Spioenkop Dam" was built many years after the early battle between the Dutch commandos and the English army. The English were attempting to secure the Dundee coal fields of Natal not far away, and the Boer horsemen had come from the Transvaal over the Drakensberg Mountains looking for a fight. The Boers were on top of the hill, and the English climbed the ridge at night; the battle started at dawn.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Natal Guide: Neville Worthington]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Neville, well in to his 70's and a Zulu-fluent, former farmer in Natal, is now a professional guide. He was superb, describing how the Boer riflemen and artillery cut down the unprotected British and forced their retreat. This, however, proved to be one of the few Boer victories in a futile war.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[English and Afrikaans Battle Monuments]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A one-day battle was fought over rural real estate soon to be abandoned by both. The euphoria of the Afrikaners was soon replaced with the depressing inevitability of English victory. The guerrilla war dragged on for three years, and the English prevailed, partly because many of the Afrikaners' families were removed from their farms and incarcerated in tented prisons in the first use of "concentration camps." Thousands of women and children died of disease rampant in these prison camps authorized by Queen Elizabeth.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Kudu Knows Not the Sadness]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Silkbush Founder Dave Jefferson went to visit the battlefields of the Zulu and Boer wars to understand better the history of South Africa. However, understanding the events and inevitability of these imperial wars does not decrease the tragedy which occurred just 100-125 years ago. The suffering on all sides was certainly no less anguishing than in any other colonial war, before or since. These sites are important for you to visit to gain a fuller understanding of South African History.]]></image:caption>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/namibia/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:44:03+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//map-of-Namibia.gif</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Welcome to Namibia!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Of all the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia is arguably the most comprehensively tourist-friendly. Not only does it have exceptional wildlife, (including a quarter of the world’s cheetahs and the last free-ranging population of black rhino), and a well-developed network of parks, reserves and safari lodges, but the landscapes of its coastline and deserts are some of the most photographed in the world, meriting a visit in their own right. Traditional culture remains strong in Namibia despite successive colonial occupations by Germany and then South Africa. (Namibia gained independence from the latter in 1990.) For many visitors, meeting the Himba people in the far north-west, or the San (formerly Bushmen) of the Kalahari, is an enriching and humbling experience. This Gallery of photos illustrates Silkbush Managing Director, Dave Jefferson, and his wife Catherine's, latest excursion from Silkbush Mountain Vineyards in 2014.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Namibian Road Sign]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Namibia, twice the size of California, has 2.1 million people. Of those, 100,000 are Caucasians of German &amp; Afrikaner decent, 50,000 are “Coloureds,” of mixed Caucasian and Tribal descent, and the rest consist of eleven major ethnic tribes. The principal tribes are Damara, Herero, Himba, Kavango, Nama, Owambo, San &amp; Tswana. Much of Africa was colonized (in order) by the Portuguese, Dutch, French and Belgians, then followed by the English. Germans were late-comers taking over the areas comprising Namibia and Tanganyika (today's Tanzania). 1884- Tribal lands become “German South-West Africa”. 1915- WWI Germany loses Namibia; League of Nations mandates the Union of South Africa to administer the territory. 1946- League of Nations becomes United Nations and wanted control. South Africa objects...legal argument ensues for twenty years! 1966- the UN General Assembly decides to rescind the original mandate, making control of Namibia the responsibility of the U.N. 1991- Namibia gains independence, after much violent political struggle.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Visualizing Namibia...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Namid Desert comprises 1/5th of country's area, approximately 62 miles wide and 1000 miles long, from the ocean to the Great Escarpment. Windhoek (Altitude 5436, 155’ higher than a mile), the geographic center of the country, is a semi-arid mountainous plateau, situated within the Great Escarpment. Southern Namibia has the dramatic Fish River Canyon area. The Caprivi Strip gives Namibia access to the Zambezi River for commerce, however rapids and Victoria Falls make this treacherous. The Highlands, Northern Namibia, includes Kaokoland, Damaraland, and Etoshia National Park.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Namibia's Economy]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It is said that “Namibia is rich in low grade deposits, and low in rich grade deposits”. Namibia's Economy: Mining ( 8-19% GDP) -Diamonds (owned 50-50 by Namibian Government and DeBeers- 5th largest in the world) -Uranium, Zinc, Copper, Lead Copper Silver, Gold, Tin, Cadmium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Germanium Tourism (7-8% GDP) -World’s 4th fastest growing tourist destination -900,000 visitors annually Fishing (4-7.5% GDP) -Benguela Current- nutrient rich water though very productive- low in species. -White Fish- Kingklip, Hake, Sole, Monk, Snoek along the continental shelf -Pelagic - pilchard, horse mackerel (in more shallow water)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Namibia]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Catherine and Dave spent three weeks in Namibia, had a great vacation, and will return and recommend it to others for their exceptional experience. That understood, Namibia has major social problems whose roots extend back over 100 years. “When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land”. -Desmond Tutu In Namibia, 35% of the people live below the poverty line; over 50% live on $2.00 per day.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Namib-Naukluft Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Namib-Naukluft Park is the fourth largest park in the world. There are four sections in the park: Sossusvlei and Sesriem, Naukluft, the Namib section, and Sandwich Harbor.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Namib-Naukluft Veldt &amp; Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Namid Naukluft Veldt (or Veld) is a term used to refer to certain wide open rural spaces of Southern Africa. The Namib Desert is the world's oldest desert and has been in existence for some 43 million years, remaining unchanged in its present form for the last 2 million years. The Namib is an immense expanse of relentlessly moving gravel plains and dunes of all shapes and sizes that stretch along the entire coastline. The most widespread and dominant type of desert sand dunes are linear dunes, with crescent shaped dunes common along the coast and clusters of star dunes, such as the towering horseshoe of dunes at Sossusvlei, found in the eastern reaches of the sand sea. Namib-Naukluft Park is one of the world's largest national parks, which merges the Namid Desert Park with the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park. It is 23 thousand sq. kilometers of arid and semi-arid land. The gigantic cumulus clouds each day filled the seemingly endless sky with as much beauty as the imposing igneous mountains.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Naukluft Mountains]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The southern Naukluft mountains form the eastern Namib-Naukluft National Park. The northern mountains are occupied by privately held farms. The mountain range is full of Leopards, Mountain Zebras, and many small streams and waterfalls.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Limestone.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Limestone Deposits]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Limestone and Dolomite deposits comprise the bulk of the Naukluft, a mountain range in the Southern part of the Namibian Escarpment.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kobas Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Kobas Tree (Cyphostemma Currorii) is found growing on dry rocky hill slopes, where it survives because it stores much moisture in its thick, smooth trunk.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Quiver Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[On the right see the beautiful "Quiver Tree". The Quiver Tree, also known as Aloe Dichotoma or Kokerboom, is a species of aloe indigenous to Southern Africa. Known as "Choje" to the indigenous San people, the quiver tree gets its name from their practice of hollowing out the tubular branches to form Quivers for their arrows.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Phantom Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The “Phantom Tree” (Moringa ovalifolia) is an upside-down kind of tree that grows mostly on rocky hillsides in the highland plateau and escarpment.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Amos Explaining Desert Creatures]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is Dave and Catherine's guide, Amos, explaining desert creatures.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//open-road.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Wide, Open Roads Across Namibia]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Namibia is made up of desert and most areas receive little rain so it is suitable for tourists to visit at any time. April and May are warm and clear, June to August can be cold at night, and September and October are good for game-viewing as the vegetation has thinned out, and animals gather at water holes. The rainy season runs from November to March. Roads are wide, as you can see from this picture, and easily drivable. Most roads in Namibia are not "tar roads," or what we call paved. They are dusty, wide, gravel expanses. Big yellow road graders keep the roads in beautiful condition (for gravel roads!).]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sesriem Canyon: Six Straps]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Four kilometers south from the little town of Sesriem lies the area’s only permanent water source. Sesriem Canyon is a 1 km long depression that was carved by erosion. Steep walls of 30-40 meters hug the ephemeral Tsauchab River that flows all the way to Sossusvlei after hard rains. For early settlers, the upper reaches of the canyon were the only reliable water source. Sesriem means “six straps” in Afrikaans as the settlers had to tie together six straps (likely ox cart reins) to haul the water out of the canyon.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sesriem Canyon]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sesriem Canyon, Ses Riems, or Six Straps- The early Afrikaners that came to this area would use six lengths of leather to lower a bucket into the canyon to retrieve water.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sesriem Canyon History]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[15-18 million years ago the Tsauchab River cut a gorge during a significantly wetter period of the Namib’s history. The canyon itself was created by continental shelf upheaval 2-4 million years ago.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//4b.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Catherine in Her Element]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Catherine loves trees, plants, and rocks; she also knows a great deal about them all, having been a good student in past years. So for her Namibia was a superb field trip, no matter where we journeyed.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//sossusvlei-lodge.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sossusvlei Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sossuvlei Lodge is just outside the entrance to the National Park. A visit typically entails a pre-dawn drive into the valley, flanked by enormous truncated dunes, followed by a walk around Sossusvlei itself. Going into the mysterious Dead Vlei and climbing up one of the largest dunes is not an isolated desert experience, but still mighty impressive.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bushmen Fountain]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[95% of the Namibian people are from different tribes. This fountain art showcases two Bushmen hunting with their poison darts.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//71.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Great Sculptures!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Namibia is abundant in fabulous artisans and their arts.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//01d-Social-Weavers-Nest.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sociable Weaver's Nest]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sociable Weaver's Nest Sociable weavers construct permanent nests on trees and other tall objects. These nests are the largest built by any bird, and are large enough to house over a hundred pairs of birds containing several generations at a time. The nests are highly structured and provide birds with a more advantageous temperature relative to the outside. The central chambers retain heat and are used for nighttime roosting.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//4j.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sossusvlei]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, within the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The name "Sossusvlei" is often used in an extended meaning to refer to the surrounding area (including other neighboring vleis such as Deadvlei and other high dunes), which is one of the major visitor attractions in Namibia. The name "Sossusvlei" is of mixed origin and roughly means "dead-end marsh". "Vlei" is the Afrikaans word for "marsh", while "sossus" is Nama for "no return" or "dead end". Sossusvlei owes this name to the fact that it is a drainage basin without outflows for the Tsauchab River.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//4h.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Seeing Sossusvlei]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[One way of seeing Sossusvlei is by hot air balloon. There are a number of attractions around Sossusvlei for visitors to explore, including Sesriem Canyon, Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei. The interesting landscape makes this area one of the most photographed in the world.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//6f.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Tour Guide &amp; His 4 x 4 Vehicle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As the earlier sign said, if you want to go all the way to Sossusvlei, you need a 4 x 4. And if you want to have a truly meaningful experience, you need a good guide.]]></image:caption>
		</image:image>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//4r.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Desert Spider]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Desert Spider]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//4q.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Side-winding Adder tracks]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Side-winding Adder Tracks]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//5f.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Just Another Beautiful Sand Dune]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Beautiful Sand Dune]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//5a.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Dune 45]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dune 45 is a traditional but very exhausting climb for tourists. It is not as strenuous as the climb up Big Daddy.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//5.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Dune 45]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dune 45 is so called because it lies 45 km past Sesriem on the road to Sossusvlei. It is also known as "the most photographed dune in the world" because of its unusually simple and fascinating shape, and its proximity to the road making it convenient for visitors to stop by and take pictures. It is 80 meters high and it is not very steep, so that it can easily be climbed.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Sossusvlei.png</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sossusvlei]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Sossusvlei area is characterized by high sand dunes of vivid pink-to-orange color, a consequence of a high percentage of iron in the sand and consequent oxidation processes. The oldest dunes are those of a more intense reddish color. These dunes are among the highest in the world; many of them are above 200 meters, the highest being the one nicknamed Big Daddy, about 380 meters high.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//5e.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Big Daddy]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Big Daddy Dune overlooks the Dead Vlei. You can run down the dune directly into it. When the Tsauchab River flooded, the silt flooded this little valley in the dunes, engulfing the trees and the heat pounded that silt into hard clay.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//5c.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Amos Leading Group Up The Big Daddy Dune...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Amos Leading Group Up The Big Daddy Dune... It was quite a hike to say the least.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Big-Daddy.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Big Daddy Dune]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is another view of the Big Daddy Dune, said to be the tallest in the world (but there is some competition, naturally, for that title). It is 383 meters (nearly a quarter mile) high, above the clay pans around its base.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//6g-Sesriem-and-Solitaire-Hardap-and-Khomas.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Dead Vlei]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Deadvlei is a clay pan, about 2 km from Sossusvlei. A notable feature of Deadvlei is that it used to be an oasis with several acacia trees; afterwards, the river that watered the oasis changed its course. The pan is thus punctuated by blackened, dead acacia trees, in vivid contrast to the shiny white of the salty floor of the pan and the intense orange of the dunes. This creates a particularly fascinating and surrealistic landscape which has appeared as a setting for many films throughout the years.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//5g.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Camel Thorn Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a Camel Thorn Tree in the Dead Vlei.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//dead-vlei.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Dead Vlei Trees]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Camel Thorn trees of the Dead Vlei started growing 880 years ago, and survived about 300 years, until the climate changed to become much more arid.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//6e.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Black Backed Jackal]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This little Black Backed Jackal wanders around the Dead Vlei among tourists.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//6c.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Jackals]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[If there is food around, the scavenging Black Backed Jackals always show up. They are always hopeful.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//6aaa.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Herd of Gemsbok in Sossusvlei]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a herd of Gemsbok in Sossusvlei.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//6b.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Close-up to the Gemsbok]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Gemsbok are also known as Oryx.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//helicopter-Sossuvlei.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Seeing Sossusvlei]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine Jefferson chose to see Sossusvlei via helicopter.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//6aa.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[View From Above Sossusvlei]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is an expansive view of Sossusvlei from the helicopter.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//sossussvlei-view-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sossusvlei Views]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sossusvlei is among Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attractions.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//sossusvlei-view-2.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sossusvlei Views]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sossusvlei is characterized by the large red dunes that surround it; Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt and clay pan and is a great destination all year round.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//sossusvlei-view-3.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sossusvlei Views]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sossusvlei literally translates to “dead-end marsh”, as it is the place where the dunes come together preventing the Tsauchab River to flow any further. Due to the dry conditions in the Namib Desert, the River seldom flows this far and the pan remains bone-dry most years. During an exceptional rainy season, the Tsauchab fills the pan, drawing visitors from all over the world to witness a spectacular site.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//7a.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sossusvlei]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Another Sossusvlei view...]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//7b.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Fairy Circles]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[From the air, the Namibian desert looks like it has a bad case of chicken pox. Spread across 1,100 miles of a narrow strip sit a smattering of these barren polka dots, also known as fairy circles. These sizable craters measure 10 to 65 feet in diameter, and represent one of nature's greatest mysteries.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//7ab.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Fairy Circle Origins...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Over the decades, a number of theories, from alien invasion to poisonous gasses have been put forth to explain the Fairy Circle phenomenon.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//7aa.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Fairy Circles]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Fairy circles are circular patches of land, barren of plants, though often encircled by a ring of stimulated growth of grass. While numerous scientists have researched these circles, no one has yet been able to ultimately determine their cause or purpose. Various theories of their origin have been suggested, including euphorbia poisoning, animal dust baths, meteor showers, termites and underground gas vents.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//4g.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Road to Solitaire]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Road to Solitaire]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//8-Namibia-drive-to-Desert-Breeze.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Driving in Namibia]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Observe the speed limit when driving in Namibia: 120km/h on tarred roads, 80km/h on gravel. 

Take special care on gravel, which can be deceptively tricky. For example, braking suddenly may turn your vehicle over, while you need to slow right down at Turn on headlights on gravel roads. 

When overtaking (passing) on gravel, be aware your plume of dust can obscure the vision of the overtaken driver.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//horse-bugg.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Donkey Cart on Dusty Road]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Although you may think that minivan taxis, buses and bakkies are the modern means of transport in an ever-expanding South Africa, on the dusty roads of the Namibian interior, far from crowded cities and the hustle and bustle of the 21st century, it is also the donkey cart that is one of the quintessential Namibian forms of transport.

The many gravel roads that bisect rural Namibia are arteries in the vast country, ideal for this transport of old that has survived the centuries, providing a vital form of affordable, non-motorized transportation for local inhabitants for carrying essentials such as firewood and water. Donkey carts convoy people from village to village, to wells and clinics, and transport children to school.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//kaokoland-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Donkey Carts in Kaokoland]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Donkey Carts are the rural 4x4's of Namibia!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Solitaire-sign.png</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Welcome to Solitaire!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Solitaire is a small settlement in the Khomas Region of central Namibia near the Namib-Naukluft National Park. It currently features the only gasoline station, post office, bakery, and general store between the dunes at Sossusvlei and the coast at Walvis Bay, as well as to the capital Windhoek.  It earned its name.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//solitaire-2.png</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Solitaire: Founded in 1948]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Solitaire was founded in 1948 by Willem Christoffel van Coller.  Solitaire is well-known in the Netherlands because of the book of the same name by Dutch author Ton van der Lee recounting his stay here.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//solitaire-3.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Solitaire Road Service]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In 1948, Willem Christoffel van Coller bought 33,000 hectares of land from the government of Namibia for the purpose of farming Karakul sheep.

Solitaire offers a Call-out Service of 100 km around Solitaire for fixing and fitting new tires, as well as a tow-in service.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Bridge-over-Kuiseb-River.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Bridge Over Kuiseb River]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Bridge over Kuiseb River

Rising in the Khomas Hochland near Windhoek, the Kuiseb River is a linear oasis. The Kuiseb is an ephemeral river that crosses the Namib Desert just like the Tsauchab River, but no longer reaches the sea, as it has been blocked by the northward movement of dunes. It begins in the central highlands near Windhoek, and whilst the basin area covers an area of more than 21,000 km, most of its water originates from the annual 100-350 mm of rainfall in the 6,600 km east of the escarpment.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Skeleton-Coast-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[The Skeleton Coast]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Skeleton Coast is the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean coastal region of Namibia and south of Angola from the Kunene River south to the Swakop River, although the name is sometimes used to describe the entire Namib Desert coast. The Bushmen of the Namibian interior called the region "The Land God Made in Anger", while Portuguese sailors once referred to it as "The Gates of Hell". The area's name derives from the whale and seal bones that once littered the shore from the whaling industry, although in modern times this coast harbors the skeletal remains of shipwrecks caught by offshore rocks and fog. More than a thousand vessels of various sizes litter the coast. It is quite a vision.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//skeleton-coast-2.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Skeleton Coast: "Dunedin Star"]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The name "Skeleton Coast" was given by author John Henry Marsh as the title for his book chronicling the story of the Dunedin Star. Since the book was first published in 1944, it has become so well known that the coast is now generally referred to as Skeleton Coast and is given that as its official name on  maps.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Swakopmund-District.png</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Swakopmund]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Swakopmund,  also known as "Swakop" in Namibia, is the country's biggest coastal city (pop 42,000) and a mecca for Namibians on holiday. 

The city's German origins are quite pronounced in beautiful old 19th century German Colonial buildings throughout the city, making an even starker contrast for this town sitting at the edge of the Namib Desert.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Swakopmund-Mouth-of-River.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Swakop River]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Swakopmund  means “mouth of the Swakop River” in German.

Swakopmund boasts palm-lined streets, seaside promenades, fine accommodation, a pleasant summer climate, and decent beaches. It is Namibia's premier holiday resort.   During the December holidays, the cool Namibian coast offers relief from the intense heat of the interior.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//13-aa-Swakopmund.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Swakopmund]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Swakopmund is 170 miles west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital, and situated in the Namib Desert.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//10a.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Interesting Architecture]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There is interesting architecture in Swakopmund.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//13c.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Swakopmund Street Craftsmen]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most people of Swakopmund live in the suburbs of Vineta, Tamariskia, Mondesa, and Vogelstrand.  Here are two street craftsmen. They were carving names for tourists onto the pods they sold.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//rotary-leech.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Vera and Mike Leech]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Vera and Mike are exceptionally talented and fun people. Vera is a past President of the Rotary Club of Swakopmund. Mike is the retired Managing Director of Rossing Uranium. The Jefferson's met them through Catherine's Rotary connections, and were delighted with their encounter. 


Vera operates her own NGO which is called Mondessa Youth Opportunity Trust in Swakopmund.  MYO is an after-school program, focusing on subjects like English, Mathematics, Reading, Life Skills, Music and Sport. “Learners” from formerly underprivileged schools are attending classes at the institute, totally free of charge. Their objective is to be an empowering force in the community, producing sound citizens, able to participate fully and confidently in their chosen career paths.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//12b.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Desert Breeze Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Desert Breeze is located a few minutes' drive from the Swakopmund town center. Standing on on the banks of the Swakop River, the lodge also sits at the opening of the Namib Desert dune belt. It is the perfect setting for visitors who prefer an out-of-town desert atmosphere.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//12d.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Desert Breeze]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While surrounded by ultra-modern, colorful, and unique architecture, the Desert Breeze Lodge buildings contrast sharply with the surrounding desert landscape. In this photo, see enormous basalt sculptures standing on guard over this interesting desert destination.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//12c.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Desert Breeze]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Desert Breeze was designed and constructed by one of Namibia's top lodge and restaurant developers, Danie Hugowith. Guests here and at Hugowith's other properties enjoy the distinctly original and unique character. Other properties include the Raft and Tug Restaurants in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund respectively, Erongo Wilderness Lodge near Omaruru and the nearby popular Stiltz Lodge.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//10e.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Aloe Vera]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Aloe (Aloe barbadensis) is a genus containing over 500 species of flowering succulent plants. This genus is native to Africa; species are found in southern Africa, the mountains of tropical Africa, various islands off the coast of Africa including Sardinia, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Kayaking-on-walvis-bay-2.png</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Kayaking on Walvis Bay]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Walvis Bay is located a convenient half an hour south of Swakop. Dave and Catherine enjoyed a magical kayaking experience on the beautiful lagoon and in the surrounding water of Walvis Bay.

They went there to experience kayaking with Jeanne Meintjes who owns "Eco Marine Kayak Tours" www.emkayak.iway.na 
(&lt;a href="http://www.emkayak.iway.na "&gt;www.emkayak.iway.na &lt;/a&gt;) 
 and leads everyone on the water.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Walvis Bay: a Natural Sea Haven]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Since a major part of Walvis Bay's economy is fishing, there are many fishing companies and canneries. It has been a haven for sea vessels because of its natural deep-water harbor.  It’s the only natural harbor of any size along the country's coast. The Dutch referred to it as Walvisch Baye and the English as Whale Bay. The name ultimately has evolved into Walvis Bay.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Pelican Point Sand Spit]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The protected Pelican Point Sand Spit is home for seal colonies and their beachfront friends. Historically, a succession of colonists developed the location and resources of this strategic harbor settlement. The harbor's value in relation to the sea route around the Cape of Good Hope had caught the attention of world powers since it was discovered. Accordingly, the political status of Walvis Bay has been complicated over the years.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Greater Flamingos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) breed in large, flooded shallow salt pans.  Flocks of tens to tens of thousands, usually with Lesser Flamingos, are common.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lesser Flamingos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In addition to the large numbers of the Greater Flamingo at Walvis Bay, there are also 33,000 Lesser Flamingos (Phoenicopterus minor), pictured here, in the same location.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[George Erb's Colorful Vehicle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[George Erb's colorful vehicle carried Dave and Catherine around Klipspringer Canyon. George has conducted nature and photography tours for many years www.swakoptour.com (&lt;a href="http://www.swakoptour.com"&gt;www.swakoptour.com&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[View Before Entering the Canyon]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[View Before Entering Klipspringer Canyon...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Klipspringer Canyon]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Kllipspringer Canyon is just outside of Swakop. On the Klipspringer Canyon Trail, hikers can expect a unique and exciting adventure in a wilderness area.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Klipspringer Canyon Trail]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Klipspringer Canyon Trail runs through the Nama Karoo and will lead you to a number of unique and fascinating plants such as the quiver tree, candelabra euphorbia, and tamarisk. Game resident in the area includes Mountain Zebra, Ostrich, Duiker, Springbok, Kudu and Klipspringer, from which the trail is named.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Klipspringer Landscapes]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine saw an incredible range of landforms and captivating landscapes, rugged mountains, and deep canyons carved more than 200m into the surrounding primordial, time-worn plains.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Red Granite Boulders]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a piling of Namibian red granite boulders.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Daga: Native Marijuana]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is Daga (Leonotis leonurus), which is native "Herbal Marijuana" and is also known as lion's tail. The dried leaves and flowers have a mild calming effect when smoked. In some users, the effects have been noted to be similar to the cannabinoid THC found in Cannabis, except that it is a much less potent "high".]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Welwitschia Mirabilis]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is Welwitschia mirabilis. Catherine kneels next to this dwarf conifer, classified with cycads and pines, as cone-bearing plants which are thought to represent an evolutionary link to flower bearing plants. They can live up to 2000 years; this one is about 1500 years old.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Welwitschia]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There are only two leaves on this Welwitschia plant which grow continuously throughout its life!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Unusual Plantlife]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A number of unusual species of plants and animals are found in the Namib Desert, many of which are endemic and highly adapted to the specific climate of the area. Here is a beautiful flowering cactus.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Headed Inland &amp; North Toward Kaokoland]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Kaokoland (also called Kaokoveld) is in Northern Namibia, within the Kunene Region. It is one of the wildest and least populated areas in Namibia. The most represented ethnic group is the Himba people who account for about 5,000 of the overall 16,000 inhabitants of Kaokoland. The main settlement in Kaokoland is the city of Opuwo.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Traveling Across Namibia]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[With all those empty roads and spectacular landscapes, driving is enjoyable in Namibia by car OR Donkey Cart...  but you can be lulled into a false sense of security if you’re not used to driving long distances, often on gravel.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Namibian Donkey Carts]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Donkey Cart is one of the quintessential Namibian forms of transport. As you journey across Namibia's dusty roads, you will pass by more than one...!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Journey to Erongo Wilderness Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine visited the Erongo Wilderness Lodge. Their guide, Richard zu Bendheim, hands a present to Catherine in this photo.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Erongo Wilderness Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Close to the small town of Omaruru in central Namibia, is the Erongo Wilderness Lodge. It is nestled amongst huge boulders and granite formations, all on the outskirts of an ancient volcano. Pictured is the entrance to the lodge, set into the Erongo Mountains, flanked by the Namib Desert to the west and a mixed, woodland savanna to the east.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tented Chalet]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Raised wooden walkways and natural stone steps connect the tented chalets to the main area. The restaurant and pub at Erongo Wilderness Lodge are situated on a separate, rocky outcrop from which the floodlit waterhole can be viewed.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Erongo Wilderness Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A winding path, past colonies of dassies, (some of which inhabit overhanging trees and have the startling habit of dropping down as you walk past,) leads from the reception area up the hill. There is a large, central fireplace, comfortable lounge with a big leather sofa with matching chairs, a small selection of books, and the 'Mokoro' bar, all set in stunning surrounds. There are also two decked areas where meals and drinks can be enjoyed in warmer weather.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Richard with Namaqua Chameleon]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine's two-week guide in Erongo, Richard zu Bendheim, was born and raised in Namibia.  As are many Namibians, he is of German parentage, as his surname indicates. His knowledge of animals was simply amazing.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Namaqua Chameleon]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Namaqua Chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis) is a ground living lizard found in the western desert regions of Namibia, South Africa, and Southern Angola  It is one of the largest chameleon species in Southern Africa, and reaches up to 25 inches in length.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Brandberg Rest Camp]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In Uis, this restaurant, motel, bar, swimming pool, and motorcycle-friendly hangout is the place to be, especially if you are a biker. (Mike Leech of Swakop suggested that the Jefferson's stop by ...)

The Brandberg Rest Camp is located in the heart of Damaraland, an unspoiled rural area in Namibia.

The Brandberg is the highest mountain in Namibia, standing at 2573m above sea level. 

There is a grocery store with basic food stuff, bottle store, filling station, curio shop and Internet café in the village.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Unelected Mayor of Uis]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Unelected Mayor of Uis used his inheritance to buy the Brandberg Rest Camp. He was really a fun and unique character.

There is a restaurant and bar, overlooking the large swimming pool. (Bring your own towels!) The guest lounge has a satellite TV system, and there is a communal braai facility, Internet Wi-Fi connection, laundry service and secure (undercover) parking. There is also a conference hall/facilities.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Brandberg Rest Camp Mascot: Grey Parrot]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This parrot was the owners pride and joy.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Damara Nation]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Together with the San, the Damara are one of the oldest nations in Namibia and their origins are unrecorded.  This is largely due to their loose social structure, which made them unable to defend themselves against the more unified tribes, dispersing them far and wide and driving them, for the most part, into servitude.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Richard in Damara Village]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here, guide, Richard, purchases his group's entrance to the Damara Village. The Living Museum of the Damara, close to Twyfelfontein, is the first traditional Damara project in Namibia and the only one of its kind. The possibility to experience the traditional Damara culture in this form exists nowhere else in Namibia or in the world. Within the framework of the Living Museum of the Damara, an attempt was made to reconstruct the 'lost culture’ of the Damara. Here visitors have the unique opportunity to get to know the fascinating traditional culture of the Damara, thus contributing to the preservation of the culture as well as to a regular income for the Damara community that built the museum.

The Damara were unique ancient and aboriginal hunter-gatherers but now are agriculturalist-animal husbandry and Khoekhoe-speaking people inhabiting the environs of the Brandberg and Khorixas. They are regarded as the oldest inhabitants of Namibia alongside San (Bushmen) and Khoekhoe (Hottentots).]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Damaraland "Natural History Museum"]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Prior to 1870, the Damara people occupied most of central Namibia, but large numbers were displaced or killed when the Damara and Herero began to occupy this area in search of better grazing.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Traditional Dancing]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When the first Europeans visited Namibia, the Damara were a group of semi-nomadic gardeners, pastoralists, and hunter-gatherers. However, in 1960 the South African government settled the Damara in "Damaraland," an area of poor soil and irregular rain fall. Due to this, many Damara now work in the urban areas and only about one quarter of their numbers still occupy Damaraland.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Damara Tribe]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[About 100,000 Damara people live in Namibia. The Damara have mystified anthropologists as they are a group of Bantu origin who speak a Khoisan dialect. Due to their resemblance to some bantu groups of West Africa, it is speculated that the Damara were the first people to migrate to Namibia from the north.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Damara "Living Museum" Experience]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Damara Living Museum offers three essential advantages to the project participants. First, it is a good source of income for the Damara, who, according to western conception, live in great poverty. At the moment about 20 Damara have a secure work place in the "museum." Second, through the sale of jewelry and crafts in the craft shop, additional community members are able to earn some money. And third, the Damara people focus their time and energy on preserving and showcasing their roots and thus prevent the loss of cultural values. In this respect, the museum also functions as a school for history and culture.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stone Game: Mancala]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The African Stone Game (sometimes called Awari or Mancala) is a two-player game in which each player tries to capture more stones than the other before all the pits on either side of the board are emptied.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Damara Tribe]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA["Nice Smile"!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Herero Nation]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Herero arrived in Namibia around 1550. Migrating from the great lakes of East Africa, they moved through Zambia and southern Angola and settled in the Kunene Region. After 200 years, a large group left the Kaokoveld and settled in the northern central areas of Namibia. The descendants of this group are most commonly referred to as Herero, while the groups left in the northwest are called the Himba and the Tjimba.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Traditional Herero Mother and Son]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Herero (together with the Himba) moved into present-day Namibia and Botswana several hundred years ago. 

During the 19th century, the Herero came under the influence of German missionaries who took exception to what they considered to be the immodesty of the traditional Herero dress, or lack of dress (similar to the Himba). Herero women eventually adopted the style of dress that makes them so distinctive today. Although the influence of the missionaries is certainly diminished in modern day Namibia, Herero women are still seen proudly wearing this elaborate costume in rural parts of the country as well as downtown Windhoek. Herero men cannot be distinguished by clothing except on special occasions. Then Herero men wear an elaborate suit that is reminiscent of 19th century German military uniforms.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Herero Cattle Farmers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Herero migrated to Namibia and established themselves as herdsmen. The Herero are proud cattle farmers who measure their wealth in cattle. The importance of cattle to these people is even evident in the Herero women's' headpiece. The horn shaped hat is said to represent the horns of a cow and is made from rolled cloth.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Herero Selling Crafts]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Herero are a mostly pastoral and nomadic, cattle-herding people.   This Herero woman and her children were selling crafts and dolls to tourists by the roadside. Catherine purchased a doll from them and gave the children paper finger toys.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Herero Homeland]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While the Himba today continue to live the nomadic life they have for centuries, the Herero settled down and prospered as cattle ranchers in the central grasslands of Namibia. Eventually, they came into conflict with the German colonial armies. After the Battle of Waterberg in August 1904, the Herero sought peace with the colonists, but German attempts to exterminate the Herero continued in what historians have labeled as one of the bloodiest colonial wars of all time. It is estimated that within three years, the Herero population was reduced from 80,000 to 15,000. Today, the Herero population is estimated at 130,000, about 7% of Namibia's total population.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Herero Tradition]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Today, the various Herero paramilitary groups parade before their chiefs and Herero women line the streets in their beautiful dresses, illustrated by the dolls this woman has for sale.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Meeting Garth Owen-Smith]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine Jefferson were very fortunate to meet Garth Owen-Smith, author of  "Arid Eden". 

Garth has spent almost his entire working life fighting – not against a conventional enemy, but against official ignorance, harsh climatic conditions, poachers, and other enemies of Africa’s fast-diminishing wildlife. In the process, he has lived and worked in a number of countries but his chosen battlefield has always been the most challenging place of all: the harsh, beautiful, and almost unknown Kaokoveld in north-western Namibia.
 
(The Jefferson's friends from Swakop, Mike and Vera, opened his door with a timely phone call about some Americans who wanted him to autograph his book!)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Garth Owen-Smith]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Garth Owen-Smith chose sides early on, when he spent two youthful years in the Kaokoveld and not only developed a deep affinity with the indigenous Himba, Herero, and Damara pastoralists, but also realized that they had developed the ideal form of nature conservation, a situation in which humans and their livestock could live in equilibrium with wild game, so that there was room for all. 

In 1970 he was thrown out of the Kaokoveld as an alleged security risk, then spent a year looking into conservation and the treatment of indigenous peoples in Australia, farmed for two years in Rhodesia, and did pioneering work in conservation education for black youths in South Africa. He finally managed to get back to South West Africa in 1978, and from there embarked on his life’s work, to save the remnants of the Kaokoveld’s rich wildlife, devastated by a variety of illegal hunters.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Owen-Smith Conservation Efforts]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In 1982, when Garth Owen Smith returned to the Kaokoveld, he found that its rich wildlife, including black rhino and desert-adapted elephant, had been devastated by illegal hunting. 

Garth has worked since then to reverse this, starting a non-government organization with his partner, Dr. Margaret Jacobsohn. The pair has won some of the world’s major conservation awards for their efforts. 

North-western Namibia has since become a popular tourism destination and the Kaokoveld’s wildlife has come back from the brink of virtual extinction. Thousands of people have benefited from the links they have forged between community development and natural resource management.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Meet Stumpy]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Garth named this black rhino "Stumpy" due to his short tail. This guy was right outside Garth's front gate so we went out to pay him a visit.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Owen-Smith Works to Protect Black Rhinos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Driven to the brink of extinction, the black rhino's story is one of the most tragic wildlife crimes. Due to poaching, 92% of the population has been wiped out over the past 35 years, and there are now just 5,055 left in the world.

These numbers are an improvement, however, from the lowest point of 2,500 in the 1980s and are thanks to conservation efforts of a few groups and, perhaps surprisingly, tourism.

The black rhinoceros or hook-lipped rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is a species of rhino native to eastern and central Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola. Although the rhinoceros is referred to as black, its colors vary from brown to gray.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stumpy's Mock Charge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Stumpy's Mock Charge...

You only know it was a mock charge when the rhino stops! If it had been a serious charge the next picture would have been from an overturned vehicle!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Twyfelfontein Country Lodge and National Monument]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Twyfelfontein Country Lodge is built directly into the rock hillside and definitely is not wheelchair friendly. Twyfelfontein was proclaimed a national monument in 1952. It first came to the attention of the wider world when Reinhard Maack included the site in a report in 1921. He is thought to have been informed of the engravings in the area by a land surveyor.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Twyfelfontein Country Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Twyfelfontein Country Lodge is located in the Huab valley in Namibia’s Kunene region (formerly known as Damaraland). The lodge is relatively new, about 20 years old, and, warning: there is no air conditioning so the rooms can be quite hot some nights.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Lodge's Front Lawn is Quite Impressive]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The area boasts 17 different sites of rock paintings and engravings, totaling 212 stone slabs. These are a silent testimony to the first hunter-gatherer and subsequent Khoi-San inhabitants of 6,000 years ago, who used the area as a place of worship and shaman rituals.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Twyfelfontein National Monument Imagery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The monument's imagery suggests it came from the Khoi-San belief system. The Khoi-San peoples lived in the area up to about 1,000 years ago when they were displaced by the Damara. No Khoi-San currently inhabit the area, but the beliefs of the San (800 km away) give insight to the meaning of the paintings and engravings. To preserve this unique history, Twyfelfontein became Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Twyfelfontein Geology]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Twyfelfontein is a truly amazing &amp; wondrous site of ancient rock engravings in the Kunene Region. It consists of a spring in a valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain that receives very little rainfall and has a wide range of diurnal temperatures. As Twyfelfontein lies in a valley, it is flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain, covered in a hard patina.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Twyfelfontein “Doubtful Fountain”]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The original name of the farm, in Afrikaans, was Twyfelfontein or "Doubtful Fountain." The prior owner was known for fearing his spring would go dry. The building in the photograph is not of the original farm but rather the rock engravings historical center and guide headquarters.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Guide for the Rock Engravings]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The guide explained the boulders and slabs of red sandstone reportedly hold some 2,500 prehistoric engraving depicting wildlife, animal spoor, abstract motifs, and water holes. It is believed that hunter-gatherers occupied the site over a period of 7000 yrs. The exact age of the engravings is unknown but the patina on the individual figures gives an idea of relative age.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rock Engravings]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There are 17 different sites at Twyfelfontein of rock paintings, totaling 212 stone slabs covered with engravings. It is these pieces of Stone Age art that lends the importance of Twyfelfontein, as opposed to that of the rock paintings and stone artifacts. The most famous and to some, the most impressive rock engravings are:

•The lion with the kink in its tail
•The giant giraffe
•The fable animal
•The works at the 'place of ceremonies'
•The symbolic engravings in the vicinity of the terraces]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Twyfelfontein]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Unlike the newer Bushman/San paintings that mostly depict people involved in everyday events from dancing to hunting, the majority of the engravings at Twyfelfontein focus on animals and were most probably executed by the San’s ancestors thousands of years earlier.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Shaman Artists]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Some of the older engravings show hand and footprints which could be artist "signatures". Rarely do you find complete human form however.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Twyfelfontein Engravings]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The shaman is thought to have chosen rock faces that not only served as suitable canvases but may have been portals into the other world. The act of engraving itself could have been a means of focusing energy to enter into trance. The animals are represented with elongated limbs or necks, as seen in the renditions of the giraffes, or like the well-known lion-man and dancing kudu, contain human elements or are half-human half animal, revealing the merging of the physical and spiritual worlds.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA["Organ Pipes"]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The separation of super-continent Gondwana into Africa and South America 125 million years ago is the cause of a number of geological curiosities in Namibia’s Damaraland. The Organ Pipes south of Twyfelfontein are the remains of molten rock pushing up through the Earth’s surface. The similarity of these vertical basalt slabs to organ pipes is obvious. The straight lines and geometrical shapes are intriguing and captivating.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Opuwo]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Opuwo is the capital of the Kunene Region in north-western Namibia. The town is situated about 720 km north-northwest from the capital Windhoek, and has a population of 15,000. Opuwo is the gateway to the villages of the Himba &amp; Herero Peoples, the Epupa Waterfalls, the Marienfluss, Desert Elephants &amp; Van Zyl's Pass. Plan to spend a night or two in Opuwo where you can experience its diverse people, sights and smells.  But the reason most come to this small city is to experience the Himba culture.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Opuwo Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is the "infinity edge" swimming pool at the Opuwo Lodge, and it looked very inviting.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Opuwo:  What's in a Name?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The name "Opuwo" was given by the commissioner of Ondangwa, Mr. Hugo Hahn, who came in search of land to build an office. Upon his arrival, he asked local headmen to give him land where he could build an office. The headmen gave him a small plot, and when the headmen tried to give him more land, Mr. Hahn responded saying "Opuwo (it’s enough for me). I don’t want any more land". That is how Opuwo got its name. The local residents of Opuwo called it Otjihinamaparero at the time, and some still call it that.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rural Poverty in Namibia]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Although Namibia is classified as a middle-income country, the income gap between rich and poor is one of the most marked in the world. The government has made good progress in addressing structural problems such as gender parity and access to basic education, yet the situation of imbalance persists. Although a tiny proportion of the population enjoys considerable wealth, overall poverty rates are high. About 27.6 per cent of households are classified as poor and 13.8 per cent as severely poor; poverty is especially prevalent in rural areas.

About 70 per cent of the population lives in rural areas, and about 60 percent are concentrated in the seven northern regions. The rural poor are typically undereducated, with limited access to health care, adequate sanitation and gas and electricity supplies. Food shortages are a major problem during years of drought, and nutritional intake is consistently poor.

Namibia has one of the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS in the region. The epidemic is a major factor in the incidence of poverty and vulnerability among the rural population.

Namibia is unusual in the region in that rural people are less dependent on agriculture than their counterparts in other countries.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Himba Village]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Himba People have been successful in maintaining their culture and traditional way of life. The Himba breed cattle and goats. Men handle the political tasks and legal trials. Men also care for, herd, and slaughter the cattle for special occasions. (It appeared pretty easy to be a Himba man.)  On the other hand, the responsibility for milking the cows lies with the women, as does taking care of the children; and one woman will take care of another woman's children. Women tend to perform more labor-intensive work than men do, such as carrying water to the village and building homes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Himba Homesteads &amp; Culture]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Members of an extended family typically dwell in a homestead which is a small, circular hamlet of huts and work shelters that surrounds an okuruwo (ancestral fire) and a central livestock enclosure. Himba homesteads are cone shaped structures made from palm leaves, mud and cattle dung. During the course of a year the family will move from one home to another in search of grazing for the animals.

Both the fire and the livestock are closely tied to their belief in ancestor worship the fire representing ancestral protection and the livestock allowing "proper relations between human and ancestor." The breasts are nonsexual, but the buttocks are always carefully covered. Both boys and girls are circumcised before puberty, to make them eligible for marriage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Himba Maintain Traditional Lifestyle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Because of the harsh desert climate in the region where they live and their seclusion from outside influences, the Himba have managed to maintain much of their traditional lifestyle. Members live under a tribal structure based on "bilateral descent" that helps them live in one of the most extreme environments on earth.

Under "bilateral descent," every tribe member belongs to two clans: one through the father and another through the mother. Himba clans are led by the eldest male in the clan. Sons live with their father's clan, and when daughters marry, they go to live with the clan of their husband. However, inheritance of wealth does not follow the father but is determined by the mother, that is, a son does not inherit his father's cattle but his maternal uncle's instead. Anthropologists consider the system advantageous for groups that live in extreme environments because it allows individuals to rely on two sets of families dispersed over a wide area.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Otijize]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Himba wear little clothing, but the women are famous for covering themselves with otjize, a mixture of butter fat and ochre, possibly to protect themselves from the sun. The mixture gives their skins a reddish tinge.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Mixture of Butter Fat and Ochre]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The mixture symbolizes earth's rich red color and the blood that symbolizes life, and is consistent with the Himba ideal of beauty. Women braid each other's hair and cover it except the ends, in their ochre mixture.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Himba Hairstyles]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The hairstyle of the Himba indicates age and social status. Children have two plaits of braided hair. From the onset of puberty the girls' plaits are moved to the face over their eyes, and they can have more than two. Married women wear headdresses with many streams of braided hair, colored and put in shape with otjize. Single men wear one plait backwards to their necks, while married men wear a turban of many otjize-soaked plaits]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Semi-Nomadic Himba]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Himba are indigenous peoples of about 20- 50,000 people living in the Kunene Region of northern Namibia, and on the other side of the Kunene River in Angola. Himba are a semi-nomadic, pastoral people, closely related to the Herero, and speak Otjihimba which is similar to the Herero language.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[1980's Disaster for Himba]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When drought and war struck Namibia in the 1980s, it looked as if the culture of the indigenous Himba people might disintegrate. 90% of Himba cattle, the center of their economy and identity, died. Some families left for Angola. Lacking any other means of survival and desperate for cash, a number of men joined South Africa's army in its fight against guerrillas seeking Namibian independence. Unable to feed themselves, Himba flowed into the town of Opuwo for relief food, settling in slums of cardboard and plastic sacks.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Himba Jewelry &amp; Clothing]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is Catherine posing with a Himba woman as the Jefferson's explored the Himba culture. They found that the Himba jewelry is made from iron and shell, and due to the intricate designs, this jewelry has become very popular among western tourists. 

Tourism has indeed become important to the Himba economy. Modern clothes are scarce, but generally go to the men when available. Traditionally, both men and women go topless and wear skirts or loincloths made of animal skins in various colors. Adult women wear beaded anklets to protect their legs from venomous animal bites.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rustig Toko Lodge (SW of Etosha)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Rustig Toko Lodge is situated in northwest Namibia, some 22km northeast of Kamanjab on the D2695. The lodge is situated on 6,000 ha of private farmland. It is an ideal base for tours into the Etosha National Park, the Epupa Falls on the Kunene River, and to visit one of the indigenous populations, the Himba. Toko Lodge has 14 individual en-suite rooms. They all have a stunning view from the verandah, over the surrounding savanna and lush gardens.


(&lt;a href="http://www.namibian.org/travel/lodging/private/toko.htm"&gt;http://www.namibian.org/travel/lodging/private/toko.htm&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Leadwood Tree; Ancestral Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is the Leadwood Tree (Combretum imberb) and is also called the Namibian  “Ancestral Tree.”  The Herero believe that out of this tree came the first human beings and later all the wild &amp; domestic animals as well. In time all such trees came to be venerated and wayfarers would address them as “Father” and entreat them to grant a prosperous journey.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rustig Toko Lodge Pool]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine stayed for only one night at the Rustig Toko Lodge, but really wanted to stay there longer and enjoy the pool and view.

Incidentally, we had been assisted greatly in planning by Cardboard Box Travel Shop, a one stop shop offering a complete travel &amp; reservation service for Namibia. Their friendly, experienced and knowledgeable staff can recommend a range of options for making your trip a success. They offer a comprehensive travel service available in Namibia. If you're looking for car rental, accommodation, lodges, safaris, self drive itineraries, day trips, vehicle hire, travel advice or just tourist information contact them about travel reservations service.

(&lt;a href="http://www.namibian.org/ "&gt;http://www.namibian.org/ &lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Etosha National Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Namibia’s largest and best-known wildlife park is Etosha. Its name means ‘Place of Mirages’, for the dusty saltpan that sits at its center. During the dry season huge herds of elephants, zebras, antelope and giraffes, as well as rare black rhinos, congregate here against an eerie bleached-white backdrop.

Etosha National Park is unique in  as its main characteristic is a salt pan so large it can be seen from space. Yet there is abundant wildlife that congregates around the waterholes, giving you almost guaranteed game sightings. At the same time Etosha National Park is one of the most accessible game reserves in Namibia and Southern Africa.

The large mammals in Etosha National Park include lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, giraffe, wildebeest, cheetah, hyena, mountain and plains zebra, springbok, kudu, gemsbok and eland. Among the smaller species you will find jackal, bat-eared fox, warthog, honey badger and ground squirrel. The park is home to 114 species of mammals.

Etosha National Park is open throughout the year and is accessible by tarred roads via the Anderson Gate in the central southern section, the Galton Gate in the west and the Von Lindequist Gate in the east.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Etosha: Great White Place]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is dominated by a massive mineral pan.  A San (one of Namibia's indigenous peoples) legend about the formation of the Etosha Pan tells of how a village was raided and everyone but the women slaughtered. One woman was so upset about the death of her family she cried until her tears formed a massive lake. When the lake dried up nothing was left apart from a huge white pan.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Etosha Elephants]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The number of elephants in Etosha park is around 2000. The most usual appearance is small family units and bull herds. Large herds are made up of small units, each unit consisting of a matriarch, several adult cows and offspring of different ages. Grown up young bulls are forced out of these units at the age of about 12-15 years and later they join bull herds. The tusks of elephants in Etosha which are actually two upper front teeth do not attain significant lengths, mostly attributable to a mineral deficiency. Another reason is that elephants use their tusks for digging up a roots and end up breaking the tips in the process.

The Etosha elephants are regarded as tallest in Africa. To regulate the body temperature they often use stomach water spraying it over the body or using large ears as radiators continually flopping them. Elephants have only four molars in use at a time. As these are worn down they get replaced by new ones. Elephants can be destructive around waterholes and the surrounding areas can be severely damaged and deforested.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Reticulated Giraffes Throughout Namibia]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine found giraffes throughout northern Namibian, not just in Etosha Park. They are hardy animals and not dependent on a regular water supply.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Giraffe Numbers Dropping Rapidly]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Giraffe numbers have dropped rapidly across Africa over the past decade and a half – and the world has taken little notice. Even recognised conservationists are surprised when they hear that there are more than 6 times the number of African elephant than giraffe. The fact that there are currently 9 recognised giraffe subspecies does not help to improve the situation. So, is there a future for giraffe in Africa? At least in Etoshia, they seem plentiful and it is such a treat to admire them.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Zebra]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There are about 13,000 zebras in the Etosha National Park. They are, unfortunately, particularly susceptible to the deadly disease anthrax, which causes several hundred to perish in the park each year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A HORSE-LIKE DONKEY OR A DONKEY-LIKE HORSE?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The origin of the word "zebra" is not certain. It likely comes from an African language via Portuguese (zevra). The Damara word for zebra is "!oareb" and the Oshiwambo word is "ongolo".

There are only three species of zebra extant – the plains zebra, including the Burchell’s zebra found in Etosha; the mountain zebra, including Hartmann’s mountain zebra found in north-western Namibia; and the more distantly related Grévy’s zebra found in Kenya and Ethiopia. While the Grévy’s species is more akin to a donkey, the other species look more like domestic horses. All three belong to the horse family Equidae.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//122.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Cheetah]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Cheetah is the fastest land mammal in the world and can reach speeds of 80-100 km/h. However, it is only able to keep up this speed for a short period of time.

Cheetahs do not roar like lions and tigers. Instead, they make birdlike chirping sounds for communication with other members of the family and they hiss when angered or threatened and purr loudly when they are content. If they are alarmed they whine or growl. 

A cheetah has a good sense of smell and communicates by scenting tree trunks, bushes and termite mounds with its waste. 

Cheetahs are typically solitary creatures although males sometimes live with a small group of brothers from the same litter.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//black-rhino.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Black Rhino]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Black Rhino is the more widespread of Africa's two rhino species. It is an imposing and rather temperamental creature which has been poached to extinction in most of its former range, but still occurs in low numbers in some southern African reserves. Namibia offers the Black Rhino its best chance of long-term survival – thanks in no small measure to the work of Namibia's Save the Rhino Trust.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//rhino.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[White Rhino]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[No paler in color than the black rhino – the 'white' derives from the Afrikaans weit (wide) and refers to its flattened mouth, an ideal shape for cropping grass. This is the best way to tell the two rhino species apart, since the mouth of the black rhino is more rounded with a hooked upper lip.

Aside from a relic population of some 30 animals in the northern Congo, the white rhino is now restricted to southern African reserves. They were reintroduced to Waterberg, and about a dozen have recently been introduced back into Etosha – where they seem to frequent the areas between Namutoni and the Springbokfontein waterhole. Unlike their smaller cousins, white rhino are generally placid grazing animals which are very rarely aggressive. They prefer open grassy plains and are often seen in small groups.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//buffalo.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Cape Buffalo]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Frequently and erroneously referred to as a water buffalo (an Asian species), the Cape, or African, buffalo is a distinctive, highly social ox-like animal that lives as part of a herd. It prefers the well-watered savannah, though also can be found in forested areas as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Etosha-Klipspringer.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Klipspringer]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The word klipspringer literally means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans. The klipspringer is also known colloquially as a mvundla (from the Xhosa umvundla, meaning "rabbit").

Klipspringers are herbivores, eating plants growing in mountainous habitats and rocky terrain. They never need to drink, since the succulents they consume provide them with enough water to survive.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//117.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Kirk's Dik-Dik]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Kirk's dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii) is a small antelope found in eastern and southwestern Africa. At a petite 7 - 13 pounds, the Dik-Dik has a soft, grizzled gray/brown coat and eats a wide range of plants. It has hooves with rubbery undersides, which are effective when travelling over rocky terrain. Newborns are hidden for two to three weeks, and suckle for three to four months.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//etosha.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Oryx or Gemsbok]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Oryx (also known as the Gemsbok) is the quintessential desert antelope; unmistakable with its ash-grey coat, bold black facial marks &amp; flank strip, and unique long, straight horns. Of the three races of Oryx in Africa, the Gemsbok is the largest and most striking. It occurs throughout the Kalahari and Namib and is widespread all over Namibia, from the coast to the interior highlands.

As you might expect, Gemsbok are very adaptable. They range widely and are found in areas of dunes, alkaline pans, open savannah and even woodlands. Along with the much smaller springbok, they can sometimes even be seen tracking across flat desert plains with only dust-devils and mirages for company.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//57a.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Posing Wildlife...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Gemsbok, Springbok, and Zebra all in one photo... the Jefferson's got lucky driving through Etosha one afternoon.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//119.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Springbok]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Springbok is the most plentiful antelope in Etosha Park. Springbok are mainly active around dawn and dusk, although they may feed through the day in colder weather, or through the night at particularly hot times of the year. During the summer, they sleep in the shade of trees or bushes, although they often bed down in the open when the weather is cooler.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//135.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Springbok Resting]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Springbok is native to the open, treeless plains of southern Africa. This one was lucky to find a little shade to rest under.  

Springboks once roamed in enormous herds but are now much reduced in numbers. Springbok is the symbol and nickname of the national rugby team of South Africa.]]></image:caption>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//kudu.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Kudu]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Kudu is the most frequently observed member of the genus tragelaphus. These medium-sized antelopes are characterized by the male's large spiraling horns and dark coat, which is generally marked with several vertical white stripes. In Namibia they are absent only from the Namib Desert – though they are found in the river valleys and are very common on farmland, where their selective browsing does not compete with the indiscriminate grazing of the cattle.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Etosha-Red-hartebeest.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Red Hartebeest]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Red Hartebeest is nicknamed the "Harley Davidson” of the antelope tribe because of the configuration of its horns. This 'beest' is truly a strange-looking creature. The elongated appearance of the face is exaggerated by the smooth, non-ringed section of the horns, which continues on the same line as the face. The horn then curves slightly forward and finally takes a drastic curve rearward coming to the tips. Both sexes carry these very unique horns, however, the bull's are much heavier, especially at the bases. The 'beest's' white rump is very evident as he flees the scene when disturbed. The rocking horse motion is almost comical when exaggerated by the up-and-down bobbing of its long face when the hartebeest takes flight.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Etosha-Warthog.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Warthog]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A member of the pig family, warthogs are black, grey or brown in color, with dark mane &amp; tail and white cheek whiskers. Their bodies are covered with sparse, coarse bristly hair. They have a long face with fleshy warts and protruding tusks. 

Warthogs are sociable animals and are usually found in groups consisting of 1 or 2 sows and young offspring. Males (boars) usually travel alone. Boars have more prominent warts than sows. These warts primarily protect their faces during fights. 

Warthogs use burrows for shelter and, when entering, the warthog backs in enabling it to defend itself. In the mornings, warthogs burst out of their burrows at top speed to get a running start on any predators that may be lurking nearby. 

Although they look fierce, warthogs would rather run than fight. But they can be fierce opponents if forced.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//Etosha-Mongoose.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Mongoose]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Mongooses live in burrows and are nondiscriminatory predators, feeding on small animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, and worms. Some species supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Creative hunters, they are known to break open bird eggs by throwing them with their forepaws toward a solid object.

Famously, some species of mongoose will boldly attack venomous snakes such as cobras. The most celebrated of these is Rudyard Kipling’s fictional "Rikki-tikki-tavi," based on an ancient fable and included in "The Jungle Book."]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//6d.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Black-Backed Jackals]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) gets its name from the broad, dark saddle which exists on the upper parts of the body. Although the black-backed jackal is an efficient hunter, it relies heavily on scavenging for its food supply. Jackals will often be found around campsites searching for scraps and unattended food. It is common for shoes left outside of tents and bungalows in Etosha National Park to go missing during the night, and jackals are generally the culprits.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//142.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Dassie Everywhere!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dassies, also known as Hydraxes, are small, thickset, herbivorous mammals. They are well-furred, rotund animals with short tails.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//47.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Another Dassie]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Often mistaken for rodents, Dassies are more closely related to elephants and manatees.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//etosha-gerbel.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Hairy-Footed Gerbil]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The hairy-footed Gerbil (Gerbillurus paeba) is named after the French name for a small mouse, "gerbille". The specific name, Paeba, is the Tswana name for a mouse. They have hair on the soles of their feet, hence the name. They prefer sandy soil or sandy alluvium with grass, scrub or light woodland cover.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//113.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Leopard Tortoise]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is a large grazing species that favors semi-arid, thorny to grassland, habitats. However, it is also seen in some regions featuring a higher level of precipitation. They have a very attractive shell pattern. This pattern acts like camouflage in its natural home range. It is found throughout savannahs of Africa from Sudan to the southern Cape. Being a tropical tortoise, Leopard tortoises do not hibernate.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//98.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[African Snail]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[African Snail (Achatina fulica) is a species of land snail in the family Achatinidae known commonly as the giant African snail or giant African land snail. It thrives in many types of habitat in areas with mild climates, it feeds voraciously and vectors plant pathogens, causing severe damage to agricultural crops and native plants, it competes with native snail taxa, it is a nuisance pest of urban areas, and it spreads human disease. It is listed as one of the top 100 invasive species in the world.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//7e.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Etosha Bird Watching]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While the abundance of the Big 5 not surprisingly tends to be the main draw for most visitors to Etosha, the wetter, greener and less busy summer months are a bird lover’s dream.

The park plays home to more than 340 species of bird, both local and migratory, with most being found in their greatest numbers on and around the Etosha Pan when it becomes filled with water during the summer season, roughly from November until April.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//138.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[African Ostrich]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The African Ostrich is the largest and heaviest bird in the world. It is one of five extant species of ratites, a group of flightless birds that are found in the Southern Hemisphere. Ratites are considered the most primitive living birds. The ostrich, native to Africa, compensates for its inability to fly with strong legs that make it the fastest of all bipedal animals. A group of ostriches is known as a herd.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//99.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Ostrich, Up Close]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Contrary to a popular myth, ostriches do not bury their heads in sand. When it appears from a distance that they are doing so, they are actually laying their heads on the ground with their necks stretched out to avoid being seen by predators.

In addition to their speed, which makes them capable of escaping virtually any kind of danger, ostrich legs are so powerful that they can kill a lion or a hyena with a single kick.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//03k.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Adult Guinea fowl]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is an adult Guineafowl. Flocks of over 20 birds are common and for all the noise they make, can be conspicuous or secretive. This species of guineafowl become tame in the vicinity of bush camps and are often seen on the sides of dirt roads in forest and woodland as well as throughout Etosha.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//guinefowl.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Native African Guinea Fowl]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The guinea fowl is a ground-nesting bird and spends much of its time scratching around on the ground in search for something to eat. 

In their native Africa, guinea fowl have been used as domestic animals for hundreds of years as the large size of the guinea fowl means that just one bird can provide a great deal of food.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//03j.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Baby Guineafowl]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Crested guineafowl are noisy birds that vocalize well into the night and before dawn. Pictured here is a baby Guineafowl. The young Guineafowl have white feathers. The guinea fowl chicks, known as keets, remain with their mother until they are big enough to fend for themselves. They roost at night in trees and move out of the forest areas in the morning to preen and take advantage of the morning sun.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//124-Etoshia.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Likac-Breasted Roller]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Rollers get their name from the aerial acrobatics some of these birds perform during courtship or territorial flights. Rollers resemble crows in size and build, and share the colorful appearance of kingfishers and bee-eaters, blues and pinkish or cinnamon browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but not the outer one. They are mainly insect eaters. Rollers nest in an unlined hole in a tree or in masonry.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//121.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[African Goshawk]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The African Goshawk is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Accipitridae bird family group which includes birds such as Raptors, Old Vultures, Osprey.

Etosha boasts 46 species of raptors that can be seen throughout the year – including a few different species of vulture, kestrels and 12 species of eagle – as well as a number of other open country species, both large and small, including the kori bustard and the rare yellow-throated sand grouse.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//7d.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Cape Sparrows]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cape Sparrows are primarily granivorous and also eat soft plant parts and insects. The birds typically breed in colonies and gather in large, often nomadic, flocks while not breeding. The nest can be constructed in a variety of locations- in a tree, a bush, a hole or even an empty nest of another species. A typical clutch contains three or four eggs, and both parents are involved in breeding from nest building to feeding the young.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//120.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Pied Crow]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Pied Crows are generally encountered in pairs or small groups, although an abundant source of food may bring large numbers of birds. The species behaves in a similar manner to the Hooded and Carrion Crows. Structurally, the Pied Crow is better thought of as a small crow-sized Raven.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//24.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Birdwatching in Summer is Best]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The summers are ideal for birding in Etosha National Park. While game viewing benefits from dry conditions, the summer rains turn some of the vast pans into seasonal lakes and attract migratory and wetland species. Etosha is home to 340 bird species, about a third of which are migratory.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//25.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Red Winged Blackbird]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This red winged blackbird has bright red eyes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//93.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Avian Residents of Etosha...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The avian residents of Etosha National Park make up an eclectic mix that ranges from flamingos to the colorful lilac-breasted roller and the eagles soaring high above. Everywhere you look, there is another beautiful and interesting bird.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//crickets.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Armored Bush Cricket]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Armored Bush Cricket (Acanthoplus discoidalis)
is a species of katydid that is native to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe &amp; South Africa. They are wide-bodied, flightless and can grow to around 5 cm. Their thorax is covered in sharp spines and they have a pair of strong biting jaws. They are able to defend themselves against predators in an unusual manner by squirting haemolymph (insect blood) out of their bodies. Their populations peak in autumn and their bodies often litter roads during this time. When deprived of protein &amp; salt they can become cannibalistic.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//146.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Bush Cricket Close-Up]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Bush Cricket Close-Up]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//africat.png</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Okonjima: AfriCat Foundation]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Situated halfway between Windhoek and the Etosha National Park, the 55,000 acre Okonjima Game Reserve offers some of the best accommodations in Namibia, but the highlight is the cheetah and leopard safaris.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//160.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[AfriCat Gate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The AfriCat Foundation rehabilitates cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, and leopards.  There are opportunities to see these beautiful carnivores in their natural environment here on safari.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//162.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[The Staff at Okonjima are Great!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The staff at Okonjima could not have been more helpful or responsible. And, they are very knowledgeable about their animals. 

Here, they told us about their Cheetahs. This carnivorous species preys on antelope, guinea fowl, hares etc - even jackal at times. The prey is run down at considerable speed over short distances and bowled over by having the hind legs knocked out from underneath. Death is brought about by strangulation. The Cheetah will not eat carrion or anything that has not been freshly killed. Of course their hunting is aided by excellent sight.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//171.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Guide With Electronic Advantage...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This AfriCat guide could never have found the cheetahs and leopards were it not for the beacons and and the direction finder carried in the Land Rovers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//130.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Exclusive Lodging]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This lovely cottage is where Catherine and Dave were upgraded to within Okonjima.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//africat-5.png</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[AfriCat Cheetahs]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This remarkable spotted cat has a greyhound-like build, and is capable of running at 70km per hour in bursts, making it the world's fastest land animal. A diurnal hunter, cheetah favor the cooler hours of the day to hunt smaller antelope, like steenbok and duiker, and small mammals like scrub hares. 

Namibia probably has Africa's highest cheetah population – estimated at 25% of the world's population. This is largely due to the eradication of lion and spotted hyena from large areas of commercial farmland, where cheetah are not usually regarded (by enlightened farmers) as a threat to cattle. Etosha is Namibia's best park for cheetah in the wild, though there's probably a higher density of them on many farms.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//africat4.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Cheetah Facts]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[•A ‘Rehabilitated Cheetah’ is an orphaned cheetah that has NOT been hand-raised, but has been in captivity from a cub to adulthood and is now hunting on its own and been given a second chance to return to the wild.

•It is important to remember that AfriCat’s cheetah rehabilitation program was initiated to give captive cheetahs an opportunity to return to their natural environment. Although hunting in carnivores is instinctive, many of the cheetahs at AfriCat lack experience due to being orphaned or removed from the wild at an early age.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Okonjima Wildlife]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[At Okonjima, all the rehabilitated cheetahs are monitored daily by radio-tracking them on foot.

Besides giving orphaned cheetahs a chance to return to the wild, the success of this project provides other substantial benefits. It provides the opportunity to assess whether rehabilitation is a successful means of conserving an endangered population and also allows for the number of cheetahs in captivity to be reduced.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Okonjima Leopard Cub]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This two-year old Leopard cub has a radio collar. The staff at Okonjima collared this male because his mother is so old she may not be able to take good care of him. So, they keep an eye on him by taking out their tourist guests and finding him through the beeps from his collar.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Leopard]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This adult leopard was equipped with an electronic collar which allowed the guide to track him down. It still took some doing, as the enclosed area is very large.]]></image:caption>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//170.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Electrified Fences to Keep the Animals inside]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Without these fences, the wild animals would escape onto the adjoining ranch lands and prey upon the cattle. The ranchers would retaliate with rifles, and the wild population would diminish in short order. So these modern fences are essential.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//111.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Zebra]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Jefferson's saw Zebras (pronounced ZEBras in Africa, not ZEEbras as in the US) in numerous African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, and South Africa, to name a few. The animals are so striking that Dave considered buying a Zebra skin rug to take home.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//175-zebra-rug.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Visiting the Leather and Animal Skin Shop...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Jefferson's trusty guide, Richard, steered them to an upscale shop in Windhoek where they checked out purchasing a zebra rug. Very handsome... but they decided to do some research on the US restrictions on importation prior to making a purchase.  When they got back to CA, they more calmly decided the zebra rug would not go with their present décor. But sometime in the future ...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//148.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Namibian Comicbook Hero]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Wow, was this kid ever into colorful garb! He and his brother were selling baskets in a small town as our trip drew to a close.]]></image:caption>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//149.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Head Basket Weaver]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The boy's mother was living proof the baskets did not come from some factory or sweatshop. As the Jefferson adventure ended, Catherine thought more about what she could pack for the return trip. As usual, baskets went to the head of the list.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tourist Lady With Basket Salesmen]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine will return to Namibia some fine day. For now, they have a little piece of Namibian craftsmanship at home as a reminder of their grand adventure.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com//wp-content/gallery/11-namibia//end.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[One Namibia, One Nation!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA["One Namibia - one Nation" is the Namibian government's motto since Independence was achieved. And, indeed, today there is a great feeling of solidarity amongst the Namibian people despite the variety of ethnic groups and the fact that Namibia is a multicultural nation. 

Each of the eleven national groups has its own history, language and culture and, and as a result of the South African apartheid policy, its own homeland, although that system has been abolished. People still follow, particularly in rural areas, a traditional lifestyle with tribal and family communities.

Dave and Catherine found the food very tasty and, of course, drank bottled water in copious amounts. But Windhoek is a tasty beer and this butterfly that landed on Dave's beer glass made for a great photo and fitting close to the visit.]]></image:caption>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/our-breedekloof-neighbors/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:44:34+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/breedekloof-neighbors//9.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Organic Silkbush Neighborhood From the Air]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This photo taken from neighbor Rico Suter's glider shows Silkbush Mountain Vineyards, Bowe (to the left and above), Suter (still farther to the left and above, with its large reservoirs most apparent), Marais (upper right hand corner) and Silver Springs (in the lower right hand corner, to the right of the windy gravel road). Note: the blocks above our lower dam had not yet been planted in this photo.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silver Springs from the Rear of Kingsbury Cottage]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is another grand perspective from our backyard. One of our few neighbors, Fanie Griessel, lives in the log cabin with the metal roof. Fanie, a charming and very social old boy, loves dogs, a glass or two, and his cigarettes. When we purchased Silkbush in 2000, Fanie's log cabin was perhaps a third the size it is today. He just keeps expanding its footprint and capacity for guests.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silver Springs, Our Uphill Neighbor]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While the Silver Springs property could also be planted as a true mountain vineyard, Fanie Griessel has only run cattle and a few pot belly pigs on it. This photo shows it is quite close to the mountain escarpment to the rear of SILKBUSH.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fannie Griessel, Our Fine Neighbor]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is the man himself, Fanie Griessel. He was born in South Africa, then spent a number of years in South Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and then went back to the RSA, with his dearly missed wife.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Chantelle Paans, Silver Springs Heir Apparent]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Chantelle is Fanie's lovely daughter who lives in Cape Town with her husband. They visit Silver Springs every few weeks and adore being in the country.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/breedekloof-neighbors//10.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Western View from Fanie's Silver Springs]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a dramatic Southwest perspective from high in the mountains. While photos tend to flatten things a bit, one can see our distant neighbors on the valley floor and their rows of Beefwood trees planted as windbreaks. Strong SE winds blow up this valley, but a long knoll just south of us (at Bowe Vineyards) conveniently knocks the gales above our vines. In the distance, and in the South African Fall, most of our plantings looked like brown, barren fields. But after winter rains and months of growing, these fields became very lush and green.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Breede River Mountain Bike Race]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a photo from the Breede River Mountain Bike Race. SILKBUSH's Roos family has been avid mountain bikers for many years and helped organize this bike race that has now become a big annual event. A portion of the race is run over Silkbush Mountain Vineyards and the "Water Station" is always at our campgrounds. It is a very exciting local event.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Breede River Mountain Bike Race, April 14, 2012]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Three participants in the annual Breede River Mountain Bike Race are in the foreground; the Kingsbury Cottage is at the rear.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rules for the Water Stop!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As the sign indicates, if racers want water, they must first stop and dismount their bicycle. It is quite a steep grade that follows to the top of our dam, and we don't want any accidents with racers trying to jockey a bike and a bottle of water. Note: the racer in the photo is sponsored by Rainbow Farms, South Africa’s largest processor and marketer of chicken.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Clay Dove Club]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Bernard is the Head Veterinarian of Rainbow Farms, a major South African poultry operation. Bernard has a great sense of humor, is highly educated, and loves outdoor sports.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Shooting from a Wheel Chair]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Bernard does need a little assistance from time to time, such as on a very steep concrete ramp to the shooting positions at the Clay Dove Club. But once in position, he shoots trap and skeet with the best of them. And this is just practice for actual hunting trips with his mates. We salute his can-do attitude!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hennie and Marné Du Preez at Capewine 2002]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Hennie Du Preez was Chief Winemaker at Du Preez Estate Winery in Rawsonville. His lovely wife had just passed her exams to become a licensed dentist, but this family already has great teeth. Capewine 2002 was a big, three-day international wine marketing festival. It was deemed a success by all, and has been repeated every two years in April, just after the harvest is completed, until 2008, when it was shifted to late September.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hennie the Farmer]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Ten years after "retiring" from the family wine business, "Klein" Hennie moved his family to Breedekloof, purchased a farm and became our close neighbor. This photo of our larger than life chum was at the Mountain Bike Race in April 2012.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Vredehoek Chalets (After 2006 Wildfire)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It really was sad to see in March 2006 what the recent wildfires had done to the hillsides above us, such as the Vredehoek, Marais and other farms. What had been lush green forests and hiking trails looked like a nuclear blast site. A couple of wet winters brought back much of the fynbos (native plants), thankfully.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Slicing the Sonoma Vella Jack Cheese]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The block of hard, dry cheese weighted about 10 pounds and we needed to have it cut into eights to give to our South African friends we visited. The sterilized table saw did just the trick!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rico Suter Winery Neighbor]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[About a mile from Silkbush Mountain Vineyards is a winery built on the farm owned by our friend and neighbor, Rico Suter. The Suter family planted a very large vineyard and delivered all its grapes in past years to the Wabooms Cooperative, but, starting in 2004, they crushed a portion of their production in their own facility built on their farm. Initially, they produced and sold bulk wine to other wineries but now their new building includes a tasting room for visitors, and they are building a retail brand as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rico Suter, Winefarmer and Glider Pilot]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Rico Suter was born in Switzerland but moved to South Africa about 50 years ago to become a farmer. One son, Bruno, manages the vineyards, another son, Carlo, runs the winery, and the third is an airline pilot in the Middle East! We wish them all the best of luck in this ambitious venture.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/breedekloof-neighbors//16.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Rico's German Glider]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Rico keeps his specialized aircraft in its own hanger and maintains it meticulously. Notice the metal lined groove in the floor on which a dolly slides the glider in and out of the hanger. Everything has been carefully planned out.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Gassing Up the Glider's Engine!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Believe it or not, this small engine is strong enough to get the aircraft airborne with two passengers aboard! Once airborne, Rico hits a switch and the propeller and engine retract into the body of the glider, and he then searches for updrafts, much like sailors look for the wind.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Worcester Airport/ Gliderport]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We took off from and, two hours later, returned to, the Worcester Airport. It has a few powered light planes based there as well, but reportedly Worcester Airport is home to over 40 gliders and an active Glider Club. People come from around the world, but especially Europe, to fly their sailplanes in the Breede River Valley and to destinations farther away.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sybasberg, at Shoulder Level]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Few people ever get to see the Sybasberg (Silkbush) Mountain at this short distance and from this elevation. Rico flew his glider very close to the rock wall and we took photos from the rear seat.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fable Wines (formerly Tulbagh Mountain Vineyard or TMV)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Fable Winery is located on our side of the mountains, about 25 minutes north of Silkbush. While a much smaller vineyard than ours, the prior owners (English investment bankers) built a very attractive cellar to process about 200 tons per year into wine. Their early results received international acclaim from top wine journalists and resulted in the winery's purchase by an American, Charles Banks.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/breedekloof-neighbors//21.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Fable Wines Tasting &amp; Living Room]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Few wineries, especially most smaller ones, have as comfortable and homey an area to entertain guests as does Fable. Other than the exposed steel in the ceiling, this could be the drawing room of an English countryside estate, an effect that was clearly intended by its former offshore owners, the Austin and Scott families.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fable Winery Fermentation and Barrel Storage Cellar]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This 200 ton winery is not set up for large production but rather very high quality instead. The fourteen 12,000 liter fermenters are elevated concrete tanks (behind the brick facade), which permits gravity flow to the barrels some 10 feet below. The stainless steel doors allow clean out of the saturated red grape skins (and lees &amp; pips), which will go into a rolling grape press on the main floor. For most of their red wines, the maturation period is 22 months in barrel. At the rear of the photo is the steel frame "great room" where guests can observe the wine making process without being in the way.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Egg Fermenters]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Fable Winery (originally TMV) acquired these French concrete "egg" fermenters. While grape juice can and is fermented in stainless steel, wooden barrels, plastic tubs, concrete tanks, and God knows what else, this one was new to us. There is some sort of theory about spontaneous movement of the fermenting juice, and minimal contact with the grape cap, all within the "perfect egg shape," but we know little else.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Final Red Fermentation in Small Oak Barrels at Fable]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most quality red wine is fermented dry in concrete or steel tanks before it is pumped into oak barrels for maturation (usually over one to two year periods). However, a former American winemaker Andrea Kozlowski is pumping into the new French oak while the wine has a small amount of remaining sugar still fermenting. (This technique is also used by a few top end Napa wine makers we know.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lemberg Wine Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Henk Du Bruyn and his wife purchased the Lemberg Wine Estatate (&lt;a href="http://www.lemberg.co.za"&gt;www.lemberg.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) in 2001. They enlarged and renovated the farm, with new cellars, wine tasting facilities, and additional plantings. Cultivars at Lemberg  include Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Shiraz, Grenache Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Harsevelu.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lemberg Wine Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We visited Lemberg for the first time in April 2014 as Silkbush has been selling a small amount of grapes to the cellar for two seasons. We are quite pleased we went as it is a charming winery, in a beautiful setting, and making quite spectacular wine. The wines include numerous varieties, but the one we considered just spectacular was their 2012 Cape Blend, made from Shiraz, Pinotage, and Pinot Noir.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lemberg's Winemaker, Niel Rossouw]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Neil Rossouw did a wonderful job of showing our American visitors around and tasting us through the full lineup of wines. Behind him is one of many works of art featured in the tasting room; original art is also a priority at Lemberg.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/breedekloof-neighbors//27.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sylvia Linde, Swedish American Whirlwind]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We were introduced to the remarkable Sylvia Linde and her husband, Greg Linde, in 1997 in Marin County, CA. Mutual friends had said we were both in the CA wine industry (they with a beautiful small farm in Geyserville, Alexander Valley) and keen on the potential of South Africa. Greg had also come from Sweden to the US in the 1950's and had a great career in the real estate department of the Southern Pacific Railroad; they have a real caboose on their Sonoma vineyard! Having enjoyed the Cape on numerous trips, Greg and Sylvia decided to buy a farm in South Africa and develop a vineyard, about the time in life most retirees are struggling with golf carts and tee times. It is another SILKBUSH neighbor, Linde Vineyards.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Linde Vineyards, est. 1999]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[So not only did the Lindes start to plant a 14 Ha hillside vineyard near the colonial town of Tulbagh, they planned and built a glamorous Cape Dutch style home in about six months time. Their lovely home is about 30 minutes north of Silkbush, and we celebrated Thanksgiving there with many other local friends of the Lindes in 2003. Greg is making Cabernet and Merlot in the basement there, as he is in Sonoma, and obtaining winery licenses in both countries! And if they keep holding large parties, they will have little left over to sell!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Linde Vineyards Visits Silkbush Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Greg and Sylvia brought Tom and Jerry Kamm down to see our farm and the Roos's new baby boy in early 2005. The weather wasn't the best but the Kamms were so sufficiently impressed they later became Silkbush stockholders!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stuckey Family at Mill &amp; Oaks, 2006]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Rick and Lois Stuckey, Silkbush investors, made their first trip to South Africa from Chicago with their pretty teenage daughters Jorian and Angela. Rick and Dave were classmates at Stanford GSB in the Sixties, and later Rick caught the wine grape bug while visiting Dave's White Oak Winery after a Stanford alumni reunion.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mill &amp; Oaks Country Inn]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In our considered opinion, the Mill &amp; Oaks offers the best dinners (outside of loving home-cooking) in the entire Breedekloof region. The Inn is about 17 minutes from Silkbush, on the road to Ceres. Don't miss it when you come to visit. They also have a small lodging capability which is altogether charming but it is located on a highway, not a vineyard.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Partners Enjoying an Inside Braai]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dick Wade, of San Antonio, Texas, and Helen Baker, of Tarzana, CA, both SILKBUSH partners, are on the left side of the table. Dick and Helen made excellent suggestions on how to improve the Estate house design, which became over 5,000 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. Bob Biggs, touring Stanford Club of Marin chum, can't believe how they serve Barbeque (Braai) in South Africa! (Sadly, Bob Biggs died a couple of years later while on another visit to Africa with his wife. We do miss his spirit and enthusiasm.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bergsig: Tasting Room and Restaurant]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Bergsig (&lt;a href="http://www.bergsig.co.za"&gt;www.bergsig.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) is a large, family-owned vineyard and winery operation located on R43, about five miles northwest of Silkbush Mountain Vineyards. The Lategan family are delightful neighbors who sell their wines within the country and internationally. In 2006 they opened a really first rate tasting room and restaurant at their winery. Both operations are quite posh and well worth visiting.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bergsig Proteas and Menu]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[On the ground floor of Bergsig, the menu of the day is available as the restaurant is on the second floor. The old copper brandy still is in the background and cut Proteas in full bloom add a splash of color.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Gorgeous Protea]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Close up of gorgeous Protea at Bergsig...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Proteas Just Opening]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Bergsig has some of the most beautiful Proteas examples decorating their property just outside the offices and tasting room. "Prop" Lategan may have gotten his nick-name years ago because of his love of flying small airplanes, but in his retirement years his avocation is raising these beautiful plants.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bird of Paradise on Bersig Grounds]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Not a Protea, this lovely flower's precise name is Stelitzia Reginae. But Bird of Paradise really fits! It is also grown in California.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Completely Yellow Protea]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Lovely, just lovely.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bergsig Estate has Spectacular Proteas!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most Proteas grow wild in the Western Cape, often in remote areas, although many are harvested before they bloom and then exported overseas to the flower markets of the world. When the grandfather was a younger man, he became a top flight airplane pilot, hence the nickname, Prop. He still flies a Cessna, but growing these spectacular flowers is Prop's main joy today.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Waboomsriver Winery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This local (former cooperative) winery presently crushes some 13-15,000 tons of grapes per year for its approximately 40 members. This winery is better off than many others because Wabooms members are delivering roughly 50% red grapes and obtaining a high quality reputation. Initially we delivered there a substantial portion of our production to be acknowledged as supportive members of the local farming community, because it is set up to process large quantities of red grapes, and because the winery is very handy to our vineyard. However, their wine making has continued to make serious strides in quality and our pride in being a member has increased significantly. At present, Wabooms sells about 98% of its wine in bulk to other wineries, wholesalers, and exporters, but its future may be in relationships with US and BRIC importers specializing in export quality, branded wines.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bennie Wannenberg, Waboomsriver Winery Cellar Master and GM]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is Bennie Wannenberg, former SILKBUSH winemaker, and GM/Cellarmaster for Waboomsriver Winery, behind the counter at the Clay Dove Club opening in 2012. Besides being very talented with large quantities of wine, Bennie is one very hard worker.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Inside Slanghoek Cellar]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Slanghoek Cellar (&lt;a href="http://www.slanghoek.co.za"&gt;www.slanghoek.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) is a huge cooperative winery on the western side of the Breede River Valley specializing mostly in white wines. (Their NLH dessert wine is exceptional.) Here Nicolaas Rust, Senior Winemaker, explains how some 25,000+ metric tons of grapes becomes over 14 million liters of wine in a very short period of time. The co-op is owned by 25 large farming families.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Opstal Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Stanley Louw, the sixth generation to own this farm and winery"http://www.jasonshill.com"&gt;www.jasonshill.com)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Jason's Hill Private Cellar (Rawsonville)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Jason's Hill (&lt;a href="http:// www.opstal.co.za"&gt; www.opstal.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) is a winery constructed on a very large vineyard about 25 minutes southwest of Silkbush. It is owned by the Du Toit family, including daughter Ivy, their award-winning winemaker. Ivy is gaining fame for her wines, and most especially for her whites. The farm's grapes she does not make into wine go to the Slanghoek Cooperative, a few miles north of her place, which is a large winery also doing well with white wine. We are pleased for their collective success, because as more brand-oriented cellars appear in the Breede River Valley, the higher the wine quality reputation will rise for the entire area.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Local Breede Rivier School Kids]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In the rural parts of South Africa, many of the school children ("learners") wear uniforms through high school. In our area, the children of all races typically attend elementary school together in the farm country. When they reach high school age, some children drop out of the education system and others go into the towns like Worcester and Paarl, either driven by their parents daily or they board in dormitories during the week.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sunday in Rawsonville]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most of the local farm workers dress up on Sunday and go to church. However, very few can afford cars so usually the farm owner or his foreman will drive everyone into town in a truck, or in this case, in a small wagon behind a tractor. All of these people are Cape Coloureds, the predominant genetic mixture of folk in the Western Cape, a "cafe au lait" of former San and Khoi people intermarrying and breeding with former Malay slaves, early settlers, and sailors from the Dutch East Indies Company, commencing in 1652. The dominant language is Afrikaans, which is also the language of the Dutch settlers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Calabash Bushpub]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Calabash is a nearby open air "bushpub", quite popular with both local farming families on weekends as well as visitors from Cape Town touring the Winelands and crossing the historic Bainskloof Pass just to the west. In this photo, see parents drinking local wines and eating a Sunday brunch while the youngsters frolic in the swimming pool under watchful eyes. English and Afrikaans is spoken interchangeably by most. Built as a cattle shed in 1899 at the Eastern base of the winding Bainskloof Pass, it is now owned and operated by Willie Lategan. If you are up for a good time, don't miss it.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Wolseley Blockhouse]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Of the more than 1,000 blockhouses built during the Anglo Boer War, few have survived, and two are located on the river south of the small town of Wolseley. They were built in 1901 by the British to protect the railway bridges from Boer attacks. The stone is local while the remaining materials were imported from Britain. Originally, the blockhouses could house 20 men with water, munitions, and supplies stored on the lower floor. The "living" area was the middle floor and was accessible by a retractable ladder and the top floor was the look-out deck. They were very effective barriers and few saw any action. Be sure to visit the Blockhouse on your next Silkbush excursion.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Waverley Hills Winery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our neighbor Waverly Hills Winery is a relatively new producer, located near the Mill &amp; Oaks on the R46 highway, between Ceres and Tulbagh. Waverley is strictly an organic wine operation (which frequently can be very challenging) and offers a nice restaurant that caters social functions for up to 50 people, and as larger weddings too.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[White Bridge Farms]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Virtually across the road from the Mill and Oaks lies another terrific SILKBUSH neighbor, White Bridge Farms, which is a commercial citrus farm that also has a few rustic self-catering cabins along with a bed and breakfast unit adjacent to the family home. One of our stockholders, Helen Baker, stayed there in 2005 and really loved it. www.whitebridge.co.za 
(&lt;a href="http://www.whitebridge.co.za"&gt;www.whitebridge.co.za&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Graham Beck in Robertson]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Graham Beck Wines (GBW) grahambeckwines.com  (&lt;a href="http://www.grahambeckwines.com"&gt;www.grahambeckwines.com&lt;/a&gt;) owns a substantial winery in Franschhoek Valley in addition to this large and impressive winery on "our side" of the mountains in the Breede River Valley. 

In the Robertson area, Cellarmaster Pieter Ferreira makes wonderful wine from a large 156 Ha planting surrounding the winery. Pieter also makes excellent sparkling (favored by US President Obama) as well as still wines and naturally has started exporting to the US.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Karoo Desert National Botanic Garden]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Karoo Desert National Park and Botanic Garden, while not as famous as Kirstenbosch Garden in Cape Town, is a lovely place to visit while touring the Breede River Valley. Located just north of the N-1 highway, across from the city of Worcester, the large hillside botanical garden contains countless species of succulent plants and flowers from the large Karoo Desert of South Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[African Wild Grape]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The posted signs said these tall, white plants were wild African grapes. Certainly far different from the grape vines we grow. The Dutch settlers, starting in 1652, planted European grape vines exclusively, and now grow most of the wines familiar to Americans, but also a few others, such as the local hybrid, Pinotage. (We will have to research what can be done with the native African grape.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Western Cape... Could be Tucson, Arizona!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Absolutely one of the fascinating aspects of the Western Cape is the widely varied micro-climates and settings all within a few miles of each other. Worcester is about 1.5 hours from the seashore, and all around it are lush, irrigated vineyards. But from this perspective, we could be in the desert of the American Southwest, which the Great Karoo desert, just a hour or so to the east, resembles.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush at Dusk]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The changing colors, from minute to minute, late in the day, can just take your breath away. Simply marvelous. Due to the steepness of the valley walls, sunset never lasts very long. But depending upon the cloud patterns, sunset can be very impressive and seldom the same from one evening to the next. Our Breedekloof neighbors share  our impressive vistas and we know you will enjoy every moment of your touring.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[African Sunset at SILKBUSH]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[At one time, all roads may have lead to Rome, but on the SILKBUSH website, almost all sunsets are seen from our vineyards. Traveling about the Western Cape is always great fun and as you can see, there is now shortage of scenic beauty and kind people.  

However, there is no place like home, especially at sundown. Do come down and visit us; we'll have a spectacular sunset and a cool "sundowner" waiting ...]]></image:caption>
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		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/south-african-botswana-game-parks/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:45:53+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kings Camp, Timbavati Game Preserve- Republic of South Africa (RSA)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Kruger is the world famous nature park where all the wild game of Southern Africa is free to roam. It is in the N.E. corner of the Republic of South Africa, and effectively constitutes much of the border with Mozambique. There are two very large private game preserves that border Kruger to the west: Sabi and Timbavati. The preserves are fenced on three sides, but open to Kruger, so the animals roam over an even larger area. Within each preserve are a dozen or more "upscale" game camps; Kings Camp is one of those. It is difficult to not gain weight at a game camp. Most camps compete on the basis of who serves more tasty food -- three times per day!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kings Camp -- Lodges &amp; Swimming Pool]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[At King's Camp, most guests are lodged in separate rondevals or duplexes. Check out rates and more information at (&lt;a href="http://www.timbavati.krugerpark.co.za"&gt;www.timbavati.krugerpark.co.za&lt;/a&gt;).]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Game Drives -- 6 hours/day in a Land Rover!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[At most camps, the Range Rovers leave at 6-6:30 AM for three hours, and then again at 4:00 PM for another three hours. Normally, a local native tracker sits on the front as the "hood ornament," but in this posed photo, Julie Parsons, an Australian guest, took the lead seat. (She probably would not have been as eager to be in this position when we got "up close and personal" with the lion prides.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Getting Unstuck: Part of the adventure!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here we are after very heavy rains and flooding in Mozambique, which is just across the border from the Kruger Park area. By the time we visited, it had started to dry out but not everywhere. The Range Rovers largely stay on gravel roads until the big game is spotted. Then the fun begins.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Guide Wezley With Rifle in Hand...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our game drive Guide lead us on daily hikes near the camp and having a rifle ready was no macho image exercise. One night we heard the male lion roar at the waterhole just 100 meters from the camp. Wild animals tend to stay away from people most of the time, but not all of the time.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Protective Mothers and Baby Elephants]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The female adults protect their young carefully and thus approached our vehicle boldly. It was very exciting for all to see the adorable baby elephant and herd in person.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Another Mother Protecting the Herd]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Just in case anyone thought the prior picture was a one time thing, here we are almost four years later, at Sandibe, Botswana, and the head female assumes the protecting position. Elephants are just fascinating to watch in all sorts of situations, as long as you do not upset them.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Young Bull Elephant]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We ran into this rambunctious fellow on our first drive. He was an adolescent, according to our Guide, Wezley, and he certainly had a chip on his massive shoulders. He became aroused, flared his ears, trumped and started a mock charge toward our car. With this bad boy around, none of us wanted to be on foot.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Wuza-wuza: The Lion King]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This old boy was reportedly near the end of his reign. He had a pride of 20 or so females of varying ages. The young males are destroyed by the Alpha male or run off to grow up by themselves. But when they are full grown, and the old lion aging, the "change of command" is not an orderly affair, by all reports.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Just Another Glorious African Sunset ...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[On your trip to Africa, you will enjoy one gorgeous view after another. Spending 3-6 days at African game parks is a vacation you'll never forget. The Kruger/Timbavati/Sabi area in RSA has smaller and more dispersed herds, and is very memorable for all who visit.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Arrival at Maun, Botswana, by Four Engine Jet]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Virtually all visitors to Botswana game camps come via Maun, a city of about 30,000 located at the southern end of the Okavango Delta. From here your travel will be via still smaller planes; if you don't like flying in light airplanes, think about going to the zoo in San Diego instead. It will be much cheaper, but not as much fun.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sandy Good and Dave Jefferson Go Camping!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sandy, from Danville, California, is on the left, wearing three different pairs of sunglasses around his neck. Dave, squinting into the son, is the sherpa with all the hand luggage because the Third Musketeer on this trip, Catherine Moylan, is behind the camera. Welcome to Botswana, Latitude 20 degrees South!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Air Botswana]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In 1994, my first trip, and 2001, when Don Groth's family went, we were ferried around exclusively in Cessna 206s flown by ex South African Defense Force pilots. Judging by my experience in 2003, the planes are now a little larger, and hold about 8-10 people. The pilots, now from all over the globe, load the luggage, make sure there are no animals on the runway, and take off.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Maun From Air]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As we depart Maun for our first camp, about 15 minutes to the north by air or 6 hours by car, you start to understand Botswana. The country was grabbed by the Brits in late 1800s so Cecil Rhodes' company could build a railroad north through its deserts to the fertile and lush lands that became known as Rhodesia. Botswana has approximately 1.5 million people today, and most are in a few urban areas. The country gained its independence in 1966 from Britain and "suddenly" diamonds were discovered. Diamond-magnate/ Anglophile Rhodes would have been outraged, but the mineral wealth pays for a great health care and educational system for all Botswana citizens.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Remote Okavango Delta Airstrip]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Actually this is longer and paved better than most, which are usually dirt or grass strips. The game camps are scattered throughout the Delta, on concessions competitively leased for 15 year terms from the government. Few camps hold more than 16-20 guests, and there are usually only three bush vehicles per camp. The net result is a real high quality wilderness experience.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sandibe Central Dining Area]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This photo gives a little more perspective to where drinks are enjoyed, all meals are taken, where we meet for the game drives. The small building in the center is the liquor locker and wine cellar, and off the photo to the left is the swimming pool. In the early morning and evening all guests are walked to and from their quarters by staff members because wild game does come into the camp regularly.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sandibe Singers Before Dinner]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[At many game camps, every other evening the staff marches in singing! And as Catherine Moylan, a very fine singer herself remarked, every black African seemingly is born with perfect pitch. She joined with them for a song and was really moved by their friendship and enthusiasm; the acapello music was great and the meal that followed, exceptional.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Basketmakers at Sandibe]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When the women are not cleaning huts or making food, they spend their time making baskets. The handiwork was very good and we brought several of them home with us. A good value at $10/each and a wonderful memento.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Peter's Epaulepted Fruit Bats]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Because the grass ceiling of the Sandibe common area is so high, we did not immediately notice the colony of bats napping during the day. Like bats everywhere, they feed on insects at night and sleep off the day. (There were no bats in our individual huts.) South Africa's fruit bats or Megachiroptera suborder consists of 7 species. They are typically large in size with distinctively dog-like faces. Fruit bats occurring in South Africa include the following species: Straw-coloured Fruit-bat (Eidolon helvum); Egyptian Fruit-bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus), Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit-bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) and Peters's Epauletted Fruit-bat (Epomophorus crypturus).]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Exterior of Hut at Sandibe Camp]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sandibe consists of just eight "huts" like this one that are far enough apart to provide complete privacy. Calling them huts is sort of a misnomer, as they have hot/cold running water, sinks and mirrors, electric fans and lights, flush toilets, and are fully screened. Not bad.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sandibe Hut Interior]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When you return to your room at night, the staff has dropped the mosquito nets so that your sleep will be peacefully free of insects. Well, that is generally true... The beds were very comfortable, to boot.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Blase Leopard]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[How lucky can you get! Many people come to African game camps repeatedly and never see a leopard. The Groth family's first night in Botswana, their first game ride, and they were treated to a leopard "up close." This female passed within a meter of the Land Crusier as she stalked her dinner.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Impalas on the Move]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Long known in the US thanks to Chevrolet, this small, two-toned "deer" is very pretty and fast. Quite a few wind up as dinner for lions and leopards, but these three managed to evade the leopard whose charge was a bit ill timed...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Giraffe Eating Trees]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This picture was captured during an evening drive just before the sun went down. The giraffe is certainly well-suited for dining from the tender new leaves at the top of trees.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Thirsty Giraffe]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We learned from the guides that the giraffes have highly developed valves in their veins which compensate for the blood pressure to their heads whether extended into the trees or lowered into a water hole. Mother Nature is a fascinating engineer, and the giraffe is so interesting to watch. They just glide silently around and few animals bother them; however, they do fall prey to lions at times, especially when they get older.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Giraffes Departing Waterhole]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Don didn't think his group had bothered these fellows, but the giraffes had decided to move on. Perhaps they had sensed the pair of lions that showed up five minutes later.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kudu]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Kudu are beautiful animals easily identified by parallel, vertical stripes and distinctive antlers. These young Kudus, however, have no antlers and likely are female.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Waterbok]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Much larger than Impala, the Waterbok is identified by its grey coat and white circle around the derriere. Some say it looks like they sat on a painted toilet seat.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Makuros]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Okavanga Delta is well known for its vast areas of permanent and seasonal swamps. Accordingly, no visit is complete without a ride in a dugout tree canoe, or at least its updated fiberglass version.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hippo Family Eyeing Us]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A pod of two adult hippos with a baby. (More people are killed each year by hippos than any other animal in Africa.) It is imperative to be careful around these animals, especially when their young are near.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Red Frog]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[After a hasty retreat from the open waters prompted by the aggressiveness of a pod of female hippos with babies, Don Groth snapped this photo while still deep in the reeds.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Successful Delta Excursion]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While these waters do hold poisonous snakes, crocodiles, and hippos, just to name a few..., Dave Jefferson and Catherine Moylan return unscathed! "The King," Sandy Good, was still on the water, looking quite regal.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[African Buffalo]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This was a very large herd of African buffalo, one of the members of the Big Five that most visitors want to see. (Lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino.) We have seen them all except the rhino, of which there are very few left and they must be protected at all times from poachers.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[African/Cape/Water Buffalo]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While their proper name is African buffalo, they are frequently called water buffalo in the English speaking world, to differentiate from the shaggy herds of American buffalo. These African fellows are much more dangerous and are usually found in quite large herds. If wounded, they are known to sneak behind a hunter and charge. Climbing a tree is advised. The African /Cape buffalo buffalo is a large bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo and its ancestry remains unclear. Owing to its unpredictable nature, which makes it highly dangerous to humans, the African buffalo has never been domesticated unlike its Asian counterpart.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mean Looking Buffalo]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This joker may be ugly but he has to be taken very seriously. He first gave us an evil eye and then went back to eating grass. We are not so sure how a Spanish matador would do with this guy in the ring with him. Incidentally, the female buffaloes also have horns and are just as nasty.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Three Lounging Female Lions]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We were very close to the lions, which as long as you do not stand up in the car, our guide assured us, was quite safe. In fact, as long as you stayed in the open vehicles -- which we assuredly did, most animals stay calm. A few years back at a game camp elsewhere, a 14-year old German boy jumped out the back side of a car, away from the guides, to take a closer picture. He was killed instantly, in front of his family. Quite a tragic lesson in taking orders.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Lions Move Out]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We were about ready to leave the girls alone when the female pride spotted some vultures circling near the buffalo herd well over a mile away. Suddenly they were up and trotting in the direction of the birds, and we followed them. Were we going to see a kill?]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lion with Buffalo Stillborn]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[What evidently had happened was a buffalo calf was miscarried very prematurely and dropped out dead. The carrion birds took off when the first lion arrived, and off she went with it. She had no intention of sharing it with her sisters either. The rest of the buffaloes looked on, perhaps glad the lions were not showing any interest in them.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[KB's Always Smiling]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We spent six days in three game camps in Botswana, and KB was our guide at Sandibe. He is far and away the most amusing chap we met on our safari trip; bright, self confident, and with a good enough sense of humor to do stand-up comedy in Las Vegas. CC Africa should make a promotional movie and have KB star in it; it would double their bookings!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Jofa is a Peach!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Jofa, normally the Assistant Manager at Sandibe camp, was in complete charge while the white managers were on leave in South Africa. At all the camps we visited, the managers were Causasians, as were virtually all the guests, and everyone else was a black Botswanan. The relationships of all the races seemed to very good, and we think there will likely be some promotions to top camp management in future years.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Groth Family and New Friends]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[After a short ride from the airstrip, the "open air" common area is a great place to meet the staff, relax with a cool drink and get oriented. Many of our Silkbush friends have stayed at Sandibe, a CC Africa camp, and think highly of it. Here, Darlene and Katrina Groth and some of the staff at Sandibe camp say adieu. After three days, the people they met upon arrival are now friends and goodbyes are heartfelt.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[African Sunset (Adios, Sandibe)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We normally stopped for a "sundowner" and snacks on each evening drive to watch the sunset. No matter what time of year you visit a game park, you usually need a warm jacket for a part of the drive. In an open car, 30 mph is cold after dark or before sunrise, and that is a significant share of the time spent on the drives in the Kruger area. In Botswana, the distances are usually shorter, the speed lower, and the air warmer, but it also can rain on you, too.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Chobe Game Lodge Entrance]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Chobe Game Lodge is the only lodge actually located inside of Botswana's oldest national park. The lodge was built during the era of "Rock Resorts" and reflects a level of luxury in the wilderness reminiscent of them. It is in the northeastern corner of Botswana, on the Chobe River.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lodging at Chobe Game Lodge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Chobe Game Lodge was the location of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's first marriage. (Dave Jefferson also visited here in 1994, but the world press failed to note it.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Chobe Room Interior]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Furnishings at Chobe are beautifully hand crafted locally and the rooms are more like hotel rooms than what one expects to find in an African park.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Chobe Balcony View]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This was the serene view from the Groth's balcony at Chobe Game Lodge.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Swimming Pool at Chobe]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The pool was a refreshing respite following a 3-4-hour game drive on the park's numerous dirt roads.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Warthog]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Wildlife is abundant at Chobe. However, being located within a national park where wildlife has been protected for decades, the game is less fearful of man. This warthog is on the lawn just outside our room. Sort of nature's lawn mower.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Elephants]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The size and permanence of the Chobe River attracts huge herds of all kinds of animals. Seen here is a small herd of elephants taking a bath. (Later in the season when the river is the only water source, apparently the herds can be in the hundreds rather than the dozens.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lilac-breasted Roller (Sandibe)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This pretty bird is called a Roller as it does slow rolls in the air when trying to attract a mate. Just another male showoff, it appears.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fishing Eagle (Nxabega camp)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This fishing eagle is a big, beautiful bird. It swoops down into a river, grabs a fish with its talons, and off it goes to its high perch.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kingfisher]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Kingfisher -- one of the smallest, and one of the prettiest, in the Kingfisher family.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Secretary Bird]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This amazing bird is probably the largest bird in the area. Our tracker said it is so named because of its long slim legs. (Do they teach American sexism to the guides here?)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Just Another African sunset]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The view over the Chobe River from one's private patio is breathtaking!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rainbow at Victoria Falls]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is a very small portion of Victoria Falls. The volume of water when we visited in the African spring of 2001 was so heavy it was impossible to see more than small sections. Even then only as glimpses through the very brief clearing of the constant mist on the Falls.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Visiting the Cecil Rhodes Statue]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Zambesi River, marking the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, drops into Victoria Falls. Incidentally, the "two Z's" were known in the late 1800's as Southern and Northern Rhodesia, named after Cecil John Rhodes, founder of the Debeers diamond cartel, Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, and noted English colonial imperialist.  Victoria Falls was a logical place for the Groths to end their Botswana adventure because it is a fairly short drive from Chobe Game Lodge. There is also scheduled jet service daily back to Johannesberg, South Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Savute Camp &amp; Airstrip, Chobe National Park]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most of Botswana is desert, including the Chobe Park. While a National Park, where all wheeled vehicles must stay on the established roads, there are many game camps permitted within the park. Savute Camp, located on what once was the Savute River, is about a 20 minute drive from the airstrip. Man, was this place hot and dry in November 2003.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Botswana Airport Modernization Program]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This was the extent of all improvements at the airstrip servicing Savute. Why these particular pieces of equipment were there, we really don't know. (Must check with Desert and Delta, the operator of Savute camp.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Guide Named Ngamba]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Ngamba, pronounced "Numba," was a nice, young guide, reasonably knowledgeable and helpful. However, he was less effective because his English proficiency was not up to the standard needed to communicate with and control our enthusiastic group. He'll get better, but it really pointed out to us how important it is to have great guides to create fabulous game camp experiences.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Savute "Means" Elephants]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We saw large numbers of elephants (Savute) everywhere, from the initial drive in from the airstrip to the time we left. There were many other animals in the Chobe National Park, as well, including the rare cheetahs we saw at long range with our binoculars, but man did we see elephants.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Savute Dining Hall/Lounge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Guests meet here twice a day to prepare for the game drives but noon and evening meals are served on a covered deck overlooking the dry river bed. The government actually paid to install and run large water pumps to keep three waterholes going, so the game viewing below the guests is constant. In the evening there are large lights on the waterholes so you can enjoy your meal and the animals simultaneously.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Elephants Below Swimming Pool]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Continuing the discussion of the prior photo, our dining deck was just to the left of the swimming pool. It is perched on the bank of the dry riverbed, so the waterhole is actually quite a distance away, and below. There is also a strong, electrified fence in the riverbed to discourage elephants from coming up to drink out of the pool.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Savute Cabin Outside]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Of the three camps we stayed in 2003, Savute perhaps had the largest and nicest visitor accommodations. The cabins are all perched on the bank of the Savute riverbed for game viewing, and ours was one of the best locations.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Savute Interior Room]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The rooms are fantastic. Be warned though that electricity goes off at 11 PM sharp every night; so be prepared.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dave Jefferson, Now an Elephant Expert]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[I blew off the afternoon game drive as it was 104F and I had had enough dust in my eyes to last me the day. So I read Robert Ludlum's latest, and watched elephants all afternoon. There wasn't a minute in six hours when there were not at least 5-6 male elephants at the trough; seeing how they established who was boss, and the actions of deference and personality were absolutely fascinating!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Peeing Elephant]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[So, it's 40 degrees C (104 Farinheit) in the shade and these big guys are drinking ferocious quantities of water from the waterhole below our cabin all day and half the night. Sooner or later, something has to give. So he unravels this firehose and lets loose ...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lion King]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We have seen pictures all our lives of the male lion so that is not surprising. But when they are 20 yards away, you realize how big and powerful an animal they are. And then you notice your guide does not have a rifle in the open vehicle ...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lioness Showing Her Teeth- Savute]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[What provoked her, we really don't know. We were sitting quietly in our vehicle, minding our own business and looking at perhaps two dozen of these cats around the waterhole as the sun went down.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lions at Waterhole- Savute]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The alpha male is in the distant background, while some of his brides take a drink. The only thing that made us a little nervous was the starter on our vehicle started sounding like it may fail. And fail it did the next morning on our early game drive.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Elephants Coming, Folks!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There is no question who the real boss of the jungle is. There were about 20 lions around these two waterholes, and when the elephants started moving in, the lions moved out in a hurry. Certainly a pride of lions can take down a lone elephant, but nobody screws around with any size herd of elephants, especially thirsty ones.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Eight Thirsty Zebras- Savute Camp, Chobe Game Reserve, Botswana]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Another major component of the lion's food groups, Zebras are very powerful animals who can really kick. Despite looking like small horses, they are legendary for never being domesticated by man. No saddles/no way.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Gnu/Wildebeest]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These guys look like cows having bad hair days! The Wildebeest, also called the Gnu, is an antelope belonging to the family Bovidae which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep and other even-toed horned ungulates. It is native to Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[New Friends from Mexico]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Among the many new people we met on the trip, Gabriel Peralta and his new bride, Adriana Masano, were perhaps our favorites. On their extended African honeymoon from Cuernavaca, we ran into them at Savute and enjoyed them immensely. Most of the people who visit the game parks in Botswana are pretty interesting and friendly; but these two shown like bright, twinkling stars.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Botswana Bush Pilot]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Most of our pilots were fairly young chaps. The typical flight lasts 20-30 minutes but saves days of ground travel for tourists. They ferry camp guests and staff around Botswana seven days a week, so they do build up their flying resumes if they want to work.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Perpetual Peat Fires]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As we flew from Savute to Nxabega, we spotted several fires in the delta and asked about them. Evidently the peat goes down very deep in some areas and if a fire gets started, it is virtually impossible to put it out. We asked how long these fires had been burning and they told us: At Least 50 Years!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Nxabega Camp, Conservation Corp. Africa (CCA)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As their website (&lt;a href="http://www.ccafrica.com"&gt;www.ccafrica.com&lt;/a&gt;)  proclaims: CC Africa (Conservation Corporation Africa) is one of Africa's most comprehensive African safari operators with 30 luxury safari lodges in Africa's most breathtaking locations, and over 30 years of experience. Nxabega (pronounced "Naah-bay-hah") was the second of their Okavango Delta camps we visited, and we were totally satisfied with the people and their stars, the animals.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Nxabega Dining Room/Lounge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This place was just so comfortable, we could have spent a week there, reading old books and getting to know the people better. Nxabega camp is perched on the side of a wetland, but there was plenty of dry land around for game drives.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sammi at Dinner]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Sammi was our Guide at Nxabega, and we considered ourselves very fortunate to be with him. A former schoolteacher, this man is exceptionally bright, deep thinking, and capable of rising to any level. Our conversations covered every subject possible, even including wild game. We learned a great deal about Botswana from him in our short time together.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tent Interior]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Nxabega was the only camp we stayed in actual tents, and it worked out just fine. While it was getting pretty hot in late November, we had an electric floor fan that worked well. We also had hot/cold running water for a shower, but were encouraged not to take excessively long showers. (There is a mother everywhere ...)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bamboo Bridge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Isn't this a beauty? Our guide drove our big, heavy Land Cruiser across this bridge several times and it put our hearts in our mouth each time. You would probably think twice about walking across this S. African bridge by foot, to say nothing about driving a car across!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tssessebe]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Tssessebe are members of the antelope family, about the same size as Kudus, and sporting the same humped shoulder as the kudus. We saw quite a few in the Okavango Delta at the two camps we visited.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Impala Herd]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A bachelor herd of Impala with a type of bird that usually follows them. The birds serve as a lookout for dangerous predators that stalk the Impala.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[More Impalas]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Such a graceful and beautiful animal! Unfortunately, some of them wind up in the belly of a leopard or lion every day, with the spotted jackals cleaning up after the main meal.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rookie Tracker Spots Game!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[At Nxabega, Dave Jefferson has his day in the real front seat of Toyota Land Cruiser, playing "game tracker," while Sandy Good, allegedly mature Stanford MBA, reacts with characteristic poise. The German tourists in the back seat had not yet loosened up, but they came around. (Both were very nice, well dressed people, but a bit bewildered with the crazy Americans.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our British Rugby fans!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Stephen Waud and his charming bride Sarah were from London and were most keen rugby fans. England was playing Australia for the World Cup and we watched the whole game on satellite TV in the camp manager's hut in the middle of the bloody Botswana swamps! Perfect reception, too.   When England prevailed, the Brits went nuts! I think Steve is still celebrating. Taught those cheeky Aussies a thing or two, eh!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sammi: our Buddy in Botswana]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It is appropriate we should end our game camp tour with Sammi's smiling face. This handsome bachelor guide made our two days in Nxabega camp absolutely fascinating. His knowledge on all subjects was exceptional and his humor was first class. He is a great credit to his employer, his people, and we hope our paths will cross again someday.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bye, Bye, Botswana!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While these travelers are walking out to a turboprop to leave, they must fly first to crime-ridden Johannesberg and before continuing on to Cape Town or back to Europe/USA. The Cape and Botswana leaders all know that tourism to both areas would double if international flights could come directly into Maun, and then continue to Cape Town, by passing Jo'berg. However, until Air Botswana is privatized by the government, this will not happen. Ach, Shame!]]></image:caption>
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		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/zanzibar-tanzania-and-pemba-islands/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:46:14+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Welcome to Zanzibar!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Silkbush Founder Dave Jefferson and his then girlfriend (later wife), Catherine Moylan (Jefferson), visited Zanzibar in 2005 on their South African adventure. Many Silkbush Mountain Vineyards guests choose to explore the region and we highly recommend a trip to Zanzibar after experiencing our South African wine country. Zanzibar is a large ( just over 50 miles long) island, just off the coast of the capital city, Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar is a part of Tanzania.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Zanzibar: An Archipelago]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Zanzibar is an archipelago made up of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, and several islets. It is located in the Indian Ocean, about 25 miles from the Tanzanian coast, and 6° south of the equator. Zanzibar Island is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide, occupying a total area of approximately 650 square miles. It is characterized by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs. Zanzibar which includes Unguja, Pemba and Mafia Islands remains one of few undiscovered pristine beach island destinations in the world with beautiful white silky-sand beaches and azure blue waters where the water temperatures are refreshingly warm. Guests can choose to swim in the Indian Ocean, relax under the shades of the famous Zanzibar coconut trees and read a book or sunbathe.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stone Town]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other over the extravagance of their dwellings. We all learned the exotic name "Zanzibar" as children in geography class, and probably have seen photos in National Geographic over the years. As this photo shows, small wooden boats are still important to the residents as they have been for centuries.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[More Boats!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The water is shallow and warm year round, so they all moor their small crafts off shore. Fishing is important to the population of just under one million Muslims, and perhaps 5% Europeans (whites) running the tourism businesses on the island. Swimming in Stone Town harbor is not suggested, as raw sewage is still pumped out to sea.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stone Town]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The principal city of Zanzibar in called Stone Town, as this old crenelated structure shows is an apt name. Yes, they also drive on the left hand side of the road, as they do in South Africa and other former English colonies. Tanzania, however, not too many decades back, was German East Africa, and Germans drive on the right side of the road. Go figure ...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Historical Stone Town]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This was one of the nicer and newer buildings in Stone Town (not made of stone!), reportedly used as an infirmary. When you visit Zanzibar, you will enjoy an historical experience with 12th century mosques, grand cathedrals and huge palaces. Walk through the museum and place yourself back in time while viewing Dr. David Livingstone's medicine box and the pictures of two of his faithful servants: Chuma and Susi. Stay in Stone Town and interact with the Zanzibaris undertaking their daily chores or participating in trade at the local food market. Take a walk through Stone Town and see the different faces that greet you: Zanzibaris of Persian, African, Arab, Asian, and European heritage. The day's enjoyment leads to the evening awesomeness when locals and visiting guests congregate at the Forodhani Gardens to participate in a feast that displays the strength of Zanzibar's cultural interaction.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Attractive, But Not Air Conditioned!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here's a charming inn in Zanzibar. Note that Zanzibar is close to the equator and is bloody hot and humid most of the time. (Average temperature year round is 79 F.) The Muslims wear long clothes and the tourists are in shorts and tank tops: it is a dramatic cultural clash that gets resolved without violence as the tourists provide the money that keeps the populace eating.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Somewhat Typical Stone Town Urban Street]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Actually, this looks better than most streets. This is a very poor country and it is reflected in the deferred maintenance evident on most of the buildings.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Freddie Mercury]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The salt air probably works hard on the exterior of buildings but most places looked like they really needed paint or plaster, or both. A little known fact is that the late Freddie Mercury, formerly lead singer of the rock group Queen, was born in Zanzibar September 5, 1946. His name then was Farouk Bulsara and his father was an accountant for the British government. (The family was Persian but had emigrated from India.) Freddie/Farouk was sent to boarding school in India when he was 9, then on to college in London, and never returned.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tembo Hotel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While it is old, the Tembo is in pretty good condition. We recommend it to other visitors. It has an interior courtyard pool but it sits right on the beach. Best of all, the rooms are air conditioned and there was free Internet in the lobby.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tembo Hotel Front Door]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[They don't make them like this anymore! When they close the door at night, they could stand off a serious attack.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tembo Courtyard Pool &amp; Casual Dining]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This was a lovely spot to hang out. The lunches were nice and the harbor montage is in the background. This hotel does not have a lot of rooms. A couple of days at Tembo would be more than adequate for siteseeing Stonetown.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tinga-tinga Paintings for Sale]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This colorful type of painting originated only a few decades back by one local artist. He has passed on but his art really caught on and has been emulated by many ever since.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Second Wife's House...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our guide told a story that a local pasha kept his second wife here; doesn't sound like divorce was an option at the time but this could not have been a palace in any era.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Welcome to the Spices Farm!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cloves constitute 45% of Zanzibar's Gross Domestic product, and 85% of foreign exchange earnings. The industry continues but export levels fall every year; 75% of the production comes from Pemba Island, just to the north. This farm appeared to be largely a tourist attraction. The Spice Route to Europe was begun in the 16th Century by the Portugese, but it was not really developed on Zanzibar until the Omani Arabs took over in the early 19th Century.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Floral Diversity]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The floral diversity of wildlife in the parks and game reserves is very rich as reflected from the fact that there are 11,000 plant species, particularly in woodland, montane and coastal habitats. In addition, there are 20 Biodiversity hotspots; these biodiversity hotpots encompass a wide range of habitats starting with the mangrove forests in the coastal region, many types of wetlands, floodplains, tropical forests, grass plains, savannah woodlands, lakes and rivers. On the coast and islands there are coconut palms, banana plants and cashew trees.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Damn Big Trees: South African Forests]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We put Catherine in this photo to give you an idea of size of this tree. There are three main types of forest in South Africa, which are Zanzibar-Inhambane lowland rain forest, Zanzibar-Inhambane transitional rain forest, and Zanzibar-Inhambane undifferentiated forest. Moist forests of Tanzania's Afromontane Region occur on its Eastern Arc mountains, on the volcanic mountains of Hanang, Kilimanjaro, Meru, and Rungwe, and the southwestern mountains of Mahali and Mbizi. The Minziro Forest Reserve conserves groundwater-forest with Guinea–Congo lowland affinities.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Spice Farm Guide]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our Spice Farm Guide was a really nice kid, and quite informative. As mentioned earlier, the island is peopled with Black Muslims, as opposed to Middle Eastern Muslims. The Arabs traded up and down the East African coast and converted everyone left alive to Islam. (Tolerance of other religions has never been a hallmark of the Islamic world.) Most of the Zanzibaris are Black Africans, usually descendants of slaves captured on the mainland and brought to Zanzibar as agricultural labor. The language is KiSwahili, largely simplified Arabic, although Bantu in origin. (The name came from the Arabic word sahil, meaning "coast.")]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[More Floral Diversity]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[More Floral Diversity]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Catherine and KP]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Being a plant and tree expert, she was enthralled with the ecology of the place.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lipstick Plant]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The seeds of the lipstick plant are moist and red, and many local women have used them for adornment. The lipstick plant, or Aeschynanthus radicans, is tropical plant that is native to rainforests of South Africa. Most species of lipstick plant feature dark, glossy, pointed leaves and red-orange flowers, although some varieties feature spotted leaves and others have yellow flowers. The lipstick plant has blooming seasons several times throughout the year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A Colorful Pineapple]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Gorgeous plants abound!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Wiggly Palm Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We are sure every visitor records this one. Evidently it was a virus that attacked this palm years ago, rather than just somebody's sense of humor.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bananas and Coconuts, Side by Side]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Marooned sailors probably could stay alive on the fruit and liquids of these two species alone. Could get boring pretty fast, however, ...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[How to Climb a Palm Tree...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Some genius figured this out a long time ago, and does it ever work fast. A boy can go up a tree very quickly without damaging the bark. Quite clever and very inexpensive.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[There He Goes!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[He was back almost as fast with a coconut for us to try. Coconuts are the second most important crop on Zanzibar, behind cloves. Coconuts are picked throughout the year and large quantities are consumed locally as food. When the kernel (white fleshy part) is dried properly, it is known as copra. It has been exported for years for the food industry for flavoring, as oil for shaving soap, candles, and hair-oils.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Marhubi Palace]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Marhubi Palace is little more than ruins but this sign recounts its grand history; Sultan Bargash kept his official wife and 99 concubines here. (He, no fool, lived in Stone Town.) The palace grounds were inspired by his visit to England in 1875; unfortunately, the very ornate place burned down in 1899, despite being built of coral stone as well as wood, and lots of water for the many bathing areas in the palace. (In Persian baths they kept the water warm for bathing with underground furnaces, so that may have lead to the property's unfortunate end.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Ruins I said!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Evidently this place was chiefly a harem with running water. But the coral walls clearly stood the test of time.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A Fairly Sound Structure]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Reportedly the principal building material is derived from the coral reefs surrounding Zanzibar, which also attract SCUBA divers from around the world. It and Pemba Island just to the north are rated among the very best dive sites in the world; a friend of ours dove there in early 2006 and reported he can't wait to return. The water is clear, clear, clear.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Aqueduct Columns]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[So we were told. Incidentally, slavery in these parts was not abolished until 1873 (and even then, old ways continue for a time), so inexpensive labor was available until quite late in the 19th Century. The Mtoni Palace, only 2km north, was said to have over 1,000 people attached to the sultan's court.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mnarani Natural Aquarium]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We called it the turtle farm, and it was very interesting. Did you read on the sign where the sex of turtles is determined by the temperature of the sand in which the turtles lay their eggs. Boy turtles come from colder sand. Turtle eggs and young turtles must be a principal food for somebody in the food chain, if 99.9% of the hatchlings do not make it to adults.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Turtle Feeding Time at the Lagoon]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It was well over 100 degrees F. and the humidity was not low. I was ready for a beer but the turtles wanted whatever this guy was throwing in the water.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hawksbill Turtle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The beautiful fellow eats sponges and fish. And maybe a finger or two. The hawksbill lives to about age 70.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Catherine with Baby Turtle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This may have been a green turtle, which is an herbivore. In any event, she was not afraid a bit.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Adult Hawksbill, on the Prowl!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We only saw them feeding seaweed to the green turtles, and all the turtles were enclosed in this natural lagoon. Exactly how this chap was going to get fish to eat we failed to ask.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Big Green Turtle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[He may like only seaweed and algae, but he looks like he means business at mealtime. These guys reportedly live to about 120 years of age.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Nungwi Beach, North End of Zanzibar]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is a big hangout for SCUBA divers, especially from Europe. It was located just a mile or so west of the turtle farm, and was a real melting pot of cultures.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Beach Scene]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It appeared as if these guys were scoping out the wahine in the bikini (Rational behavior)! I could not figure out if the guy in the middle had just taken off his trunks or was about to put them on.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Muslim Women at the Beach]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[I think they were doing henna paintings on tourist girls (notice lower right) for spending money. They sure weren't planning on going swimming in those traditional kanga outfits.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Luncheon Table]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When was the last time you saw a GLASS Coca-Cola bottle?]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dhow Under Construction]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is an artform; the boat fundis (building experts) have no written plans. The requirement for a good boat is a strong keel and a sturdy set of ribs. (Sort of what any boat needs, eh!) The keel is usually made of makuti (mangrove) as are the ribs. The side planks are mbamba-kofi (red mahogany). Important finishes include jumvi matting (made from woven palm leaves) for splash protection.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Bow Drill in Use]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Believe it or not, they do not have a single electric tool. They use this ancient drill, adze, chisel, and some hammers, from what we could see.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Finish Carpentery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This chap was pounding something, probably the wooden dowls that attach the planks to the ribs. Notice the ball peen hammer.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Caulking the Planks]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This chap was pounding in something fabric, perhaps made from coconut husks, into the cracks between the boards. If not done carefully, in a storm one could spring a serious leak.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Abandoned or Just Laid Up for Repairs?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We were not sure what was happening with this dhow: it looks old but sun and salt air can make a boat look like this in a year on the Texas coast. Judging by its length, it appears to be a day-sailor, probably used chiefly for fishing.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[More Boats]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The ocean in this region stays about 28C. (or 82 F.) year round so it is just delightful. The off shore motor yachts are probably owned by rich mzungu (foreigners) and the smaller boats on shore are locally owned. Farther out to sea appears to be an oil tanker.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Ladies Growing Seaweed]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Catherine gave this mother/daughter team (dressed in kangas) a small tip to get them to pose for her. Evidently in the shallow, warm waters, seaweed will grow quickly if it has something to attached to. They have sticks stuck into the sand and then strings between them where the seaweed is farmed. Seaweed farming was introduced to Zanzibar in the late 1980s, and now over 3,000 tons are exported annually. Seaweed grows at a rate of 7%/day, and the harvest cycle is two weeks. A family plot's dried production is perhaps 8 kilos, which is sold for only US$1 but it has aided the local economy significantly. The dried seaweek is used as a thickening agent in cosmetics, medicines, food, ice-cream, and even beer.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Back to Work]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Farming has traditionally been women's work in Africa. The drying and selling is also their responsibility, so much of the money earned stays in their hands. Normally, rural women do not have a personal source of income, so the advent of seaweed farming has given them a degree of freedom and enpowerment.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Drying Seaweed]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Once harvested, the seaweed is exported once it is dried, a process wherein 80% of the weight is lost. Pretty primitive agra business, but it may be keeping quite a few locals from going hungry, and is improving the standard of living for many more.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our New South African Friends]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Half the fun of travel is meeting interesting people, and these guys were that and more. Pictured"http://www.www.zantours.com"&gt;www.zantours.com) ,]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Beer, Sun, and White Sand at Matemwe Beach]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The water is like that of your bathtub, and the cold beer flowed as easily. We all got a little goofy and started covering each other with sand.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Francois: Our Beach Leader]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Francois is a conservative engineer and careful private pilot back in South Africa, but he had a lot of fun on this trip. He had pulled his chair out near the water and the girls thought he needed to be covered in sand as well. We all were staying in very modest bungalows just off the beach, and felt like we were in Tahiti or somewhere else in the South Pacific.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Coral Reef]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The line seaward is that made by the reef which keeps the waves striking the shore very small (even when the annual Kazkazi trade winds appear), and also adds to the warming of the shallow water.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A Lateen Sail]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dhows have been using lateen sails for centuries. We have read that when the trade winds get up to 25 knots, certain dhows can reach almost 12 knots per hour. That is just flying in a small sailboat! With the sail in this position, it is almost like a spinnaker, running with the wind behind.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Beating Toward the Wind]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Now with the sail pulled back this far, the sail should perform much like the mailsail on my Morgan 38 on the San Francisco Bay, and this sailer should be able to beat into the wind.    Zanzibar is remote, unsophisticated, and poor. But we had a fascinating time and you may have one as well if you ever get to East Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Certainly still as impressive a mountain as when Ernest Hemingway wrote about the "Snows of Kili..." but if anyone had question about Global Warming, the current snow pack settles most arguments. (We flew right by it in April 2007, on our return to Zanzibar.)    Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m / 19 340ft) is situated in The Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania and is the highest point in Africa, as well as one of the highest mountains in the world. Being only three degrees south of the Equator, it is the altitude which affects the temperature as a trek progresses.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kilimanjaro Views]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The view of Kilimanjaro was so impressive that we had to show a second photo. That is Mt. Mero in the distance, a much lower peak that we saw when visiting Tanzania in 2005. In between lies Arusha, one of the country's major cities.   The two main peaks of Kilimanjaro are Kibo located in the centre of the mountain, with the highest peak being Uhuru and Mawenzi situated on the eastern side. Kibo is the lower peak and is recommended for trekkers whereas Mawenzi is for mountaineers. Although many thousands of trekkers successfully reach Gillman's Point or Uhuru Peak every year without any real difficulty, many others do not make it to the top because they suffer from altitude sickness, which is caused by a combination of the decrease in atmospheric pressure and the decreased oxygen content of the air.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[ZanAir Turboprop]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is the kind of two engine airplane that took us from Nairobi (Kenya) to Zanzibar (Tanzania), and back from Pemba. They are safe and modern, but certainly not luxurious; they hold about 20 passengers. The inter-island flights, however, are often in single engine planes that hold 10 or less, and luggage has to be very limited. (Overweight luggage is expensive.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dorette van Aswegen, Ace Problem Solver]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dorette is one of the best looking travel agency managers in Africa, but her slightly anguished look that day was probably induced by helping us with our travel difficulties. We had become good friends with her in Zanzibar in 2005, and then really needed her help two years later in getting to Pemba Island.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stone Town's Suburbs]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While most of Stone Town seems to be flat roofed, three story buildings that have been around for 200 years or more, the general population lives in one story, cinder block houses with metal roofs. There are reportedly about 1,000,000 citizens of Zanzibar, mostly quite poor Muslims living in unairconditioned quarters, in a very humid and hot climate.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Zan's Idyllic Coral Beaches]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The beaches are simply marvelous. The white sand is very fine, and the water quite shallow for a goodly distance from the beach. The nicest homes, as one would expect, line the beaches and it appears much of the population supports themselves by providing services to the more affluent beach dwellers, many of whom live in Zanzibar only part of the year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Flags of Tanzania &amp; Zanzibar/Pemba]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Zanzibar and Pemba are a part of Tanzania, but consider themselves so sufficiently separate that they have their own islands' flags. The Tanzanian flag is on the right, and it is incorporated into the Zanzibari/Pemba flag, which uses the same colors in a different pattern.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Pemba Island, North of Zanzibar]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[If Zanzibar is poor and lush, Pemba is even poorer and lusher. It is a 30 minute flight north of Stone Town, and perhaps only 25 miles from the north end of Zanzibar. Imagine a population of perhaps 350,000, and no newspaper; and despite their proximity to Zanzibar, the two populations are at odds politically.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Pemba Rice Paddies]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There is one paved road on Pemba, running its length in the middle. It reportedly was paid for by the World Bank, and it is little more than one lane wide. Very few vehicles on this island, but an old Jeep Cherokee took us from the airport to our destination: Manta Reef Lodge, on the NW corner. (Its remoteness is a part of its charm, and it was a 90 minute ride from the airport. Did I say remote?)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manta Reef Dive Sites]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When you are talking about Pemba's unspoiled coral reefs, there are literally an infinite number of dive locations. But the map enumerated some 13 sites and we hit most of them during our week's stay, as well as a small island a long boat ride to the south. This is clearly one of the best SCUBA dive locations in the world. (If interested, visit  (&lt;a href="http://www.oneearthsafaris.com"&gt;www.oneearthsafaris.com&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Vanessa ("Van") Raath, Dive Dominatrix]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Van, shown with her favorite underwater camera, was our instructor for the week. She was a very good coach for two middle aged beginners, and she increased our confidence with each dive. Originally from South Africa, Van has lived and dived all over the world despite being barely 30 years old!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Graham Balcombe, General Manager]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Graham was also a Master SCUBA Dive Trainer to boot! A Brit with a heavy Manchester accent, a wicked sense of humor, chain smoker, and very slow underwater breathing; interesting combination, eh! A great bloke, and a big asset to Manta Reef.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hubert Phipps and Enigmatic Franco]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Two more of our diving buddies: Hubert Phipps and Franco, chain smoking Londoners. However, they both are very experienced SCUBA divers, with many hundred dives logged all over the world. Neither knew each other before this week but they became good buddies; Hubert, a successful Internet entrepreneur and English public school product, was our stand-up comic, when we could get through the accent. Franco, whose family lineage was fascinating, claimed to be a Spainard but supported himself as a language teacher. (We guessed his secret occupations were producing low budget Italian historical films ... and counter terrorism activies for numerous EU countries.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Steve and Claire, Brit diving couple]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Steve and Claire Carter from London were just great fun and very good divers. Steve has about 100 dives under his belt, but his bride started years earlier, and Claire has about 500 dives in her log book. (We sure were rookies in comparison.) Claire also reads, writes, and speaks Mandarin Chinese but that's another story ...!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dave &amp; Catherine (Dive 16!)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Since we had zero open water SCUBA experience going into the week, the fact we could quickly enjoy ourselves and the coral reefs at 50 feet speaks for itself. Van and Graham were both real pros and we highly recommend them and Manta Reef Lodge to other divers of all levels. If you are interested, we suggest you visit:  (&lt;a href="http://www.oneearthsafaris.com"&gt;www.oneearthsafaris.com&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[So, Why Visit Zanzibar?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[So, Why Visit Zanzibar?

Zanzibar is a low visitor destination and not commercialized compared to many other Islands around the world. Discerning guests wanting to visit the Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia Islands can expect an authentic welcome and an excellent opportunity to enjoy. Wonderful examples of discerning locations include Kedwa Beach Area where tarmac access roads are yet to be built and guests vacationing in this area can expect a secluded experience, or Mnemba Island where guests like Bill Gates, Naomi Campbell have visited, enjoyed and adored their vacation in seclusion.]]></image:caption>
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		<lastmod>2016-07-28T08:46:35+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Visiting Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, and Winelands]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The sheer beauty of the Cape, it's Winelands, and Peninsula lures photographers and artists to capture its magnificence along with attracting those on wine and culinary adventures eager for quality and variety. Touring the area is a must on your visit to SILKBUSH Mountain Vineyards. Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and is the capital of the Western Cape Province. It is located in the south-west corner of the country near the Cape of Good Hope, and is the most southern city in Africa. It is a stone's throw from South Africa's world-famous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. The route to the Winelands region is a 40-minute drive along the N1 from Cape Town to Stellenbosch. or, alternatively, visitors follow the N2 to Somerset West and the Helderberg region. Spend a day or two visiting world class wine farms and wineries, tasting award winning wines and savoring the natural beauty of one of South Africa's most popular tourism destinations. If you're a seasoned sommelier or a first timer you can be sure to find a tour to suit you here.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Winelands]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Cape Winelands region is the source of many legendary Cape wines, the product of row upon row of grapevines, many of which were first planted hundreds of years ago. The Winelands classic Cape-Dutch homesteads, mountainous surrounds, grand heritage and sumptuous restaurants have earned the Cape Winelands the right to call itself South Africa’s culinary capital. Apart from a wide choice of wine estates lined with top-class wines, visitors will discover a variety of locally produced cheeses, olives, export-quality fruit and organic produce to sample and buy, as well as numerous world-class restaurants. This is surely a region not to be missed on your South Africa visit.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Table Mountain (Seen from Bloubergstrand)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Table Mountain (Tafelberg in Afrikaans) is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top. The mountain forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. The view from the top of Table Mountain has been described as"http://www.rockhaven.co.za"&gt;www.rockhaven.co.za)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Living Room of Rockhaven Guest House]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As you can see, the main dining room of the Rockhaven Guest House is very comfortable and the view across the bay is spectacular. There is a paved public pathway just off the beach, and the only sounds are those of the wind and surf. Robben Island lies almost directly west. (Guest house contact information is found under "Planning a trip to South Africa" section of the website.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cape Town (as seen from Table Mountain)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[No tour of the Cape is complete without ascending Table Mountain by the new cable car system: modern, safe and rapid ascents/descents. This shot shows the equally famous mountain shoulders known as Lion's Head (to the left) and Signal Hill, the green ridge in the center. Between them both, about six miles offshore, is infamous Robben Island, a prison or leper colony for hundreds of years, now a tourist destination.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cape Town: Natural Amphitheater]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cape Town really encircles Table Mountain, making it the dominant centerpiece. Even more than the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, this mountain can be seen from all directions and is synonymous with Cape Town. Try to visit when the "table cloth" (frequent cloud cover) is not set. Incidentally, the rough NE end of the mountain seen in the photo to the right is known as Devil's Peak. Devil's Peak is part of the mountainous backdrop to Cape Town. When looking at Table Mountain from the Victoria &amp; Alfred Waterfront, or when looking at the standard picture postcard view of the mountain, the skyline is from left to right: the spire of Devil's Peak, the flat mesa of Table Mountain, the dome of Lion's Head and Signal Hill. The central districts of Cape Town are nestled within this natural amphitheater. The city grew out of a settlement founded on the shore below the mountains in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck, for the Dutch East India Company. Some of the first farms in the Cape were established on the slopes of Devils Peak, along the Liesbeek River.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Victoria &amp; Alfred (V &amp;A) Waterfront and Cape Town Harbor]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The real working harbor of Cape Town, where container ships dock, is further east, so out of the photo. But old Victoria Basin, protected from winter storms by the extended seawall, is the real tourist attraction, akin to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 in San Francisco. Some of the best shopping in the city is also found at the Victoria &amp; Alfred Waterfront center, on the left or west side, and two of the most expensive Cape Town hotels are adjacent. The tour boats to Robben Island also leave from here. The tour is of a sterile old prison, but it does have a great view of Cape Town from the sea.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cape Town Freeways and Castle of Good Hope]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The two national freeways (N1 and N2) nicely dive into the heart of Cape Town, making for good ingress/egress, other than during rush hours. In the background, with the semicircular roofline, is the Good Hope Center, and closer toward the viewer is the old Castle of Good Hope. Cape Town is a relatively informal but modern city, relatively safe for tourists but ridden with more than its share of burglars. (Don't leave anything in your car.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Table Mountain Aerial Cableway]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Above the winding road is a white structure, which is the bottom of the Cableway system. Taking the cable car to the top is one of the "mandatory" tourist events for most visitors. However, make sure it is a clear day, such as this one. Many days the top of the mountain is enshrouded in a cloud, and the view then is akin to that of the inside of a sack of flour. The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is one of Cape Town's most popular tourist attractions with approximately 800,000 people a year using the cableway. The lower cable station is at an elevation of 302 metres (991 ft) on Tafelberg Road near Kloof Nek. The upper cable station on the westernmost end of the Table Mountain plateau is at an elevation of 1,067 metres (3,501 ft). The upper cable station offers views over Cape Town, Table Bay and Robben Island to the north, and the Atlantic seaboard to the west and south.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cape of Good Hope: Cape of Storms]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Cape of Good Hope has also been known for centuries as the Cape of Storms. This steel plate map of sunken vessels is mounted on a pathway on the ridge of Table Mountain. When the weather is good, and it mostly is, the ocean below looks like a mill pond. But the winter storms on the South Atlantic can be quite awesome. As the plaque reads, there were over 650 ships lost in these waters over the last 400 years.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dassies on Table Mountain]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Whenever the sun comes out ont the mountain, the Dassies also emerge to beg food from tourists.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dassies]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dassies are also called Rock Hyrax, Rock Badger, and Rock Rabbit. They are one of the four living species of the order Hyracoidea, and the only living species in the genus Procavia. Like all hyraxes, this Dassie is a medium-sized terrestrial mammal, superficially resembling a guinea pig with short ears and tail. The closest living relatives to hyraxes are the modern-day elephants and sirenians. Hyraxes typically live in groups of 10–80 animals, and forage as a group. They have been reported to use sentries: one or more animals take up position on a vantage point and issue alarm calls on the approach of predators.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lion's Head]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Lion’s Head is a mountain in Cape Town situated right next to the Table Mountain. It is a dramatic peak that has hiking trails that would never pass muster with OSHA in the US! Lion’s Head peaks at 669 meters (the Table Mountain is about 400 meters taller). Lion’s Head peak forms a dramatic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and there is a famous stone Ledge which makes amazing photos. Wheelchair friendly it is not, and you could take some very nasty falls ascending or descending, especially in the dark. "Assumption of risk" falls upon the climber, as well it should.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Table Mountain and Lion's Head Shadows]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[As the sun started to set on this spectacular evening, you can see that the shadow of the lion is clearly outlined to the left, with Devil's Peak right above it. It is a pretty rigorous climb but this stunning view was worth the effort.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rauck's First View of Table Mountain]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[SILKBUSH friends John and Flynn Rauck visited South Africa for the first time in December 2001. They explored game camps in Botswana first and then drove the Garden Route (from Port Elizabeth to SILKBUSH) before enjoying the full Winelands experience. So the first time they saw Table Mountain in person was from the rooftop of Amani Vineyards http://www.amani.co.za . (&lt;a href="http://www.amani.co.za/"&gt;www.amani.co.za/&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hout Bay &amp; Llandudno]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Two of the more fashionable communities south of Cape Town are Hout Bay, seen below the gap in the mountains, and Llandudno. Dave Jefferson, SILKBUSH Managing Director, was a luncheon guest of Mario Ilotte, a retired Italian Grand Prix race car driver, who lives with his wife and two sons in Llandudno. Mario and Christina elected to leave Milan in 1995 and emigrate to Cape Town because it represented a far better living condition for their family than Europe. They take their old Land Rover and frequently tour the "outback" of many of the countries to the north. Hout Bay (Houtbaai in Afrikaans) means "Wood Bay." It is near Cape Town, situated in a valley on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula. The name "Hout Bay" can refer to the town, the bay on which it is situated, or the entire valley. Llandudno is a residential suburb of Cape Town, also on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula. There are no street lights, shops or commercial activities, and the suburb has some of the most expensive residential property in South Africa.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stellenberg: A Traditional Cape Dutch home in Cape Town]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Stellenberg is actually larger and nicer than most Cape Dutch residences in Cape Town. It is the family home for Andrew and Sandy Ovenstone, SIKLBUSH Founder, Dave Jefferson's classmates from Stanford in the 1960's. The Ovenstones kindly threw a dinner party for him on his first visit to the Cape and introduced him to several wine industry luminaries, and thus "the hook was planted". The grounds of this Heritage property are truly spectacular.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Penguins at the Boulders]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Just south of Simonstown, on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula, is Boulders Beach, home of a colony of penguins. They are a monagamous species (about 3,000 pairs at the Boulders) and the lifelong partners take turns incubating their eggs and feeding their young. The boulders protect the penguins from the surf and also create a small sunbathing/wading lagoon for families. The parking lot is police patrolled but the tourists and the penguins can get as close together as they choose.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[A Friendly Jackass Penguin]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[They are also called African penguins, but the old name stemmed from the call of the bird which sounded like the bray of a donkey. These little buggers are cute, but if you get too close, they evidently can nip very hard. Their diet consists mainly of squid and shoal fish. They are just fascinating to watch, and reportedly are exceptional good distance swimmers. They swim at an average 7 kilometers/hr, and can stay submerged for up to two minutes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Simonstown and Cape Peninsula]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We took this photo as we were leaving the Cape to show Simonstown (Simonstad in Afrikaans), the former British naval base for almost 150 years, and to illustrate how narrow the peninsula gets south of Cape Town. This is where most tourists go on their way to Cape Point, the most Southwesterly point in Africa, and to the nature preserve adjacent to it. Between there and Simonstown is Boulder Beach, the penguins, and a lot of cold water.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[View from Tygerberg]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[De Grendel is a new, modern winery established"http://www.degrendel.co.za "&gt;www.degrendel.co.za ) Located in Durbanville, the very large farm is directly across a major road from dense residential subdivisions, NE of downtown Cape Town. The majority of the land is maintained as a fynbos conservation area, but 104 hectares are planted to wine grapes. The De Grendel winery itself is perched on the Tygerberg (Tiger Mountain), 350 meters above sea level with an exceptional view of Table Mountain and Lions Head in the distance. The farm has been in the Graff family since 1911, but the tasting room is lined with historic photos of Graff family figures from the Boer War days and afterwards with period luminaries such as Generals Jan Smuts and Louis Botha. David Pieter Graaff was elected Mayor of Cape Town in 1890, at age 31. When "Sir David" purchased the farm, after after a noted career of public service, it was to breed Arabian horses in a dry climate. Later the family used the property to raise champion cattle, sheep, and now wine grapes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[De Grendel Wines]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In addition to being born into a historically prominent Cape family, the current (Baronet) David Graff made an astute selection in 2005 by hiring Charles Hopkins as Cellarmaster of De Grendel ("the housekey"). Charles has been among the top winemakers for many years and was fortunate to be able to work closely with Marius van der Vyver,"http://www.degrendel.co.za"&gt;www.degrendel.co.za) . The hillside vineyard and winery is only 7 kilometers from the sea, making it an exceptional area for growing wine grapes, especially Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Visitor &amp; View Friendly Tasting Room in Durbanville]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Durbanville is a farming town in the Western Cape province area. It is a rural residential suburb and is surrounded by farms producing wine and wheat. De Grendel is located here and even if they did not make excellent wine, this winery would likely have very good patronage due to the stunning setting and proximity to several other well established Durbanville wineries. According to Mia Mangiagalli, De Grendel Tasting Room Manager, the winery has a very loyal and repeat weekend patronage from Cape Town locals, and they plan to add an easy day-trip program with the international downtown hotels. The De Grendel Tasting Room offers visitors the opportunity to taste the full range of De Grendel wines in a setting that Table Mountain "smiles upon". The long glass encased veranda looks out onto the vineyards and the Atlantic Ocean, while the tented section offers a relaxed lounge atmosphere. They also now offer a light seasonal menu to add to the wine tasting experience.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rickety Bridge Winery in Franschhoek Valley (Cape Winelands)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Nestled between towering mountains in the beautiful Cape Winelands lies the magnificent Franschhoek Valley. This is the food and wine heartland of South Africa, where splendid wines are grown and top chefs create international cuisine. In the Franschhoek Valley, you will find breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world class cuisine and the finest wines. We at Silkbush feel especially close to Rickety Bridge Winery which is in the heart of the Franschhoek Valley, as they have been purchasing Shiraz grapes from us for several years to make their award winning wines. We understand we are about 40% of their blend. The Rickety Bridge Winery is completely charming and the restaurant superb; we at SILKBUSH highly recommend a visit www.ricketybridgewinery.com (&lt;a href="http://www.ricketybridgewinery.com"&gt;www.ricketybridgewinery.com&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Wynand Groebbelar, Winemaker, Rickety Bridge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Wynand Groebbelar, the winemaker at Rickety Bridge, is not only movie-star handsome, but he is also bloody smart and charming. That's why we naturally included him in our SILKBUSH video which you can view on our website.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hansie &amp; Ingrid Van Niekerk at Wynhuis Wine Bar]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We at SILKBUSH got to know Hansie &amp; Ingrid van Niekerk (pictured here at Wynhuis Wine Bar http://www.wijnhuis.co.za (&lt;a href="http://www.wijnhuis.co.za"&gt;www.wijnhuis.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) ) in 1997 when consulting for the then Napa-based Beringer Wine Estates. Beringer considered leasing a portion of Knorhoek hillside land for a South African label; they knew what wonderful soils the Van Niekerk's had, which now produce wonderful export wines under their own label. (&lt;a href="http://www.Knorhoek.co.za"&gt;www.Knorhoek.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) . Hansie and his brother James grow the grapes at Knorhoek, and, until 2005, most of the wines were produced off site at various contract wineries; this is how we make our SILKBUSH Mountain Vineyards wine as we do not have fermentation facilities on the farm.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Van Niekerk Home at Knorhoek Wine Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Simonsberg Mountain is in the background, and the farm home of our friends, the Van Neikerks, nestles in the kloof. Alas, Chardonnay and Shiraz, their two very gentle Boerbols, are gone. These dogs were quite large and looked ferocious, but a visitor risked getting more slobbered rather than bitten.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Knorhoek Winery, Country Guest House &amp; Event Center]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Today the Van Niekerk brothers are the 5th generation to own and work this beautiful farm. Following in the footsteps of their father, Hannes, who was awarded the prestigious Smuts Trophy for his wines, they continue the long and honorable family tradition of winemaking. James, in charge of the vineyards, and Hansie, responsible for winemaking and marketing, together with their wives Carol and Ingrid, form a vibrant young team, passionate about wines and delighted to share their heritage with visitors and guests. Situated in peaceful gardens, with a tempting rock pool and rustic outdoor lapa, the country guesthouse spoils visitors with traditional Cape hospitality and fine food. Knorhoek is a popular venue for weddings, conferences and other functions as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Knorhoek's Tasting Room]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[By taking in an American partner in their Two Cubs brand in 2005, the Van Niekerk's gained the capital to rebuild an old winery on the farm and build a very charming "inside &amp; outside" tasting area at Knorhoek. They have done a first rate job and the quality of all their wine rises each year.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Towerbosch Restaurant at Knorhoek]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[What used to be a lapa and pool became a nifty restaurant for the public, and it has developed a great local following. Translated, the restaurant name means "magic woods" and it absolutely is a magical place. Towerbosch has been awarded the "Eat Out - Best Country - Style Restaurant" in South Africa for 2013 Award!! When visiting Towerbosch for a lazy lunch, you can expect a delectable Country Feast.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hansie Van Niekerk]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[One of two brothers who inherited and now runs Knorhoek, Hansie is responsible to the winery and their strategic planning. He's also a good man with the braai and has a great sense of humor.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Hansie at the Braai]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is Hansie van Niekerk at the Braai. His bride Ingrid is the really good looking one in the family.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Knorhoek Baby Owls]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[All sorts of wild birds and animals prowl around on the mountain winery, including several peacocks. These baby owls hung out in an oak tree just outside the the Knorhoekk Guest House. The Van Niekerks welcomed them as any other visitors!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Quoin Rock Winery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Cape Winelands also boast Quoin Rock Winery http://quoinrock.com (&lt;a href="http://quoinrock.com "&gt;quoinrock.com &lt;/a&gt;) . Quoin Rock has done many upgrades of late and there are major improvements planned for the visitor spaces in and around the tasting room soon. Their philosophy is that they don’t want visitors to simply show up, taste wine and head to the next vineyard. The staff wants visitors to stay, relax and enjoy the venue with their wines. Guests may spend time on their deck with a cheese platter, overlooking the dramatic Simonsberg Mountains, or enjoy a romantic Valrhona Chocolate and Wine pairing. Visitors also may venture below ground and have a private tour of the cellar and cave. There is a triangular glass skylight which provides natural light into the underground cellar, making a marvelous effect. The 198 Ha Quoin Rock land was purchased in 1998 from Knorhoek wine estate and construction began on the wine cellar, manor house and farm infrastructure. A replanting program was implemented in 2000 and continued for a two-year period. This involved removing some of the old vineyard and existing pear orchards, in order to establish selected wine grapes that have proven well suited to the soil and climate conditions of the area. Eventually 45 Ha of vines were established, consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Mouvedre and Sauvignon Blanc cultivars.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Quoin Rock Winery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Former owner, Dave King, may not personally know how to farm, but he certainly knows how to spend money for great effect. This winery, located on the road to Knorhoek Vineyards, is well thought out, beautifully executed, and half of its space is under ground, reducing the need for air conditioning. Of course, behind this outside door is a wine cave/roundtable for feasts with the King, an ostentatious touch many think.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Quoin Rock, Vineyard View]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Quoin Rock winery is situated in the foothills of the Simonsberg near Stellenbosch. This region is known for producing more complex and full bodied wines, which is partly due to the high red clay content in the soils that are characteristic of the area, and for which reason it was known as the “Clay Hole” long ago. Although Quoin Rock is a fairly young wine estate, the history of the land on which it is built, and the heritage that goes with it, reaches as far back as the origins of the Cape itself. This land is part of the original Cape Winelands growing region.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Quoin Rock Change in Management]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[On the hill above his new winery Quoin Rock, Dave King built this Cape Dutch bungalow with magnificent views of Table Mountain. But, in 2006, the Republic of South Africa Receiver of Revenue's Scorpion fraud unit went after Mr. King for several billion Rand of unpaid taxes. A sale of Quoin Rock occurred in 2012. There has since been an exciting time of renewal and growth at Quoin Rock. They recently completed a full refurbishment of the cellars, doubling capacity in some areas, and with a variety of new technology which will offer great flexibility in the creation of the wines. For the 2014 harvest, their viticulturist, Nico Walters, has been using micro-management techniques to ensure the best possible quality, health and optimal ripeness of the grapes to be delivered to the cellar. And, with this process now running smoothly, winemaker, Narina Cloete, will get a head start in the new state-of-the-art cellar, where the range of innovative new winemaking equipment will help her to lead the industry in producing balanced wines that will age beautifully.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Flagstone Winery in Somerset West]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While Flagstone is not a Breedekloof neighbor, we feel quite close to Bruce Jack and his winery over the mountains. We send them more SiILKBUSH grapes every year, especially Pinotage, with which he and we are making quite a reputation with ABSA Top Ten Pinotage winners. Bruce expanded his winery into two large historic buildings in Somerset West, close to False Bay. The main building used to be the glycerin factory for Cecil John Rhodes dynamite factory, built about the time of the Anglo-Boer War. The buildings are located"http://flagstonewines.com "&gt;http://flagstonewines.com ) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Punching Down Flagstone's Cap]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Automation usually replaces jobs and this would be one in particuar! This athletic young man at Flagstone Winery, above the open-top fermenter tank, is really earning his pay today! He is using a stainless steel plunger, with two large plates attached near the bottom, to "punch down the cap," which is winery parlance for breaking up the "cap" of floating grape skins, extracting more color and tanins, and exposing the fermenting wine below to additional oxygen. A classic technique entailing a great deal of exertion. (Don't fall in!)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Flagstone Winery's Bruce Jack]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Anne Thistleton (holding the cardboard case insert), Anton Roos (in the background), and Dave Jefferson had a meeting with Bruce Jack, the owner/winemaker of Flagstone Winery in Somerset West. While acknowledged as an exceptional winemaker, Bruce is a real character, noted for his humorous writing and public speaking. Bruce Jack's curiosity and palate has taken him the length and breadth of the globe. Bruce completed his undergrad in Political Science and Literature at UCT and then read his Masters in Literature at St Andrew’s in Scotland. His subsequent winemaking degree came from the Roseworthy Campus at the University of Adelaide, Australia. Bruce is a pioneer, and in many respects a maverick, and what he brings to winemaking is an articulate opinion about his greatest passion.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Warwick Estate Winery With the Ratcliffes]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Stan and Norma Ratcliffe, owners and founders of Warwick Estate winery (&lt;a href="http://warwickwine.com"&gt;http://warwickwine.com&lt;/a&gt;) have been good friends of SILKBUSH since 1994. It was great fun introducing them in 2001 to John Rauck, a Burdell Partner (Silkbush) and the General Manager of the entire vineyard operation in Napa and Sonoma Counties. (Tragically, Stan passed away after the 2004 harvest and all who knew him miss him deeply.) Warwick Estate is still a family-owned and run winery. Managing Director Michael Ratcliffe is the 3rd generation family member to oversee this high quality boutique operation. From 1771 till 1902, Warwick was known as the farm ‘De Goede Sukses’.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mike Ratcliffe, Warwick Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Mike Ratcliffe is the Managing Director at Warwick, founded by his late father, Stan, and his mother, Norma, the first female winemaker of note in the Western Cape. Warwick's wines have attained international recognition in the highest journalistic circles, including Wine Spectator, and Mike's outstanding marketing efforts are as important as the rest of the team behind him.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dave Jefferson and Norma Ratcliffe in Hermanus]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave Jefferson, Founder of Silkbush Mountain Vineyards, considers Norma Ratcliffe his "third sister" since they have been friends from his first trip to the Cape in 1994. Norma, after co-founding Warwick Estate in 1966, is now semi-retired, living in Cape Town, Hermanus (by the sea), and is the Chairperson of the winery her son runs. We finally got Norma out to Silkbush in 2012, and she was quite impressed with both the farm and the wine.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Oak Fermenters at VilaFonte Winery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[These two oak fermenters were built in France for our old friends at Vilafonté Winery, a very small but exclusive winery in Stellenbosch. Meeting over 30 years ago at Robert Mondavi Winery, and now splitting their time between Sonoma and South Africa, Phil Freese and his wife Zelma Long are arguably the most talented and well known grape growing and wine making couple in the world. Therefore, as"http://www.vilafonte.com"&gt;www.vilafonte.com) . Vilafonté is the coming together of great wine experience from California and South Africa. Vilafonté is the culmination of a dream to produce wines which stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the great wines of the world.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Vilafonté Winery: The Soil]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Vilafonté is named after vilafontes, one of the more unique soil types in their vineyard. Vilafontes is one of the oldest recorded soil types in the world and has been defined as being somewhere between 750,000 and 1.5 million years old. The age of the soil is important as it is deeply evolved and has been stripped of much of its inherent capacity, with a low production potential that encourages smaller vines, lower yields and highly concentrated fruit. The state-of-the art Vilafonté Winery is located in Stellenbosch at Bosman’s Crossing, an urban area at the base of the mountains that surround the town. It is one of the most advanced wineries in South Africa purposefully and specifically designed by Zelma Long for the highly specialized art of fine red wine production.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Muratie Estate Just Before Dawn]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Muratie Estate's rich history is captured in every nook and cranny. Wherever you are"http://www.www.muratie.co.za "&gt;www..muratie.co.za ) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Gardens Outside the Guest Cottage at Muratie]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Muratie Estate is a lovely, pastoral winefarm that dates back to the late 1600's. The owners are wonderful and it is a joy to know them. (&lt;a href="http://www.muratie.co.za "&gt;www.muratie.co.za &lt;/a&gt;) . The Guest Cottage, originally used as an art studio by renowned Stellenbosch painter and late farm owner George Paul Canitz, the Muratie Guest Cottage boasts a classic combination of Old World charm, Bohemian aesthetics and exceptional comfort. Guests wake up to spectacular views of the Simonsberg mountain range, taste Muratie’s award winning wines and experience the 300 year old estate and traditional Cape viticulture.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Memories of Ronnie Melck at Muratie Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Rick's dad Ronnie Melk was evidently "larger than life." Rugby player, the MD of Stellenbosch Farmers Winery (SFW) that finally evolved into giant Distell, and a major party animal. Many still miss him.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Leopard's Leap a Must See!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It's not a geographic leap from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek (just the next valley over), but the leap from 300 year old Muratie to virtually brand new Leopard's Leap (LL) could not be greater. This wine business is owned by the same iconic family that owns the historic La Motte winery, which should be on everybody's required tour list. The art museum and the restaurant are two of many reasons to stop at La Motte, and its wine gets better every year. The stylized leopard rendered in iron is your first clue that the sister winery is very different.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Leopard's Leap]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Leopard's Leap could easily be in any other top wine region in world, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendoza, New Zealand, you name it. This stylish facility is for a modern generation of Yuppies, tourists from anywhere, and "ladies who do lunch." Sourcing grapes from selected vineyards in the Western Cape Winelands, Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards produces and markets quality wines under the Leopard’s Leap label, aimed at consumers with a preference for affordable, easy-drinking wines, fit for any occasion.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Leopard's Leap- Teaching Kitchen, Cooking Classes]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[State of the art, and through the plate glass, visitors find a kitchen goods store where you can purchase all the trendy and cutting edge cutlery. Culinary Classes are presented in the state-of-the-art and exceptionally well equipped Leopard’s Leap kitchen, accommodating 22 students per class. Each student has his/her own cooking station, with individual stove and utensils. Large-screen television sets give a clear picture of the chef’s instructions and techniques, while each student receives a printed recipe to apply the newly acquired cooking skills at home.   www.leopardsleap.co.za  (&lt;a href="http://leopardsleap.co.za"&gt;www.leopardsleap.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Leopard's Leap]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Leopard's Leap does not produce a single liter of wine, but buys very good wine in bulk and sells it in large quantities at prices far below most of its neighbors. This entire facility including the covered patio outside, is so comfortable and inviting it is changing the second oldest wine valley in the Cape.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Francois Naude's Kitchen]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Francois Naude had been the acclaimed winemaker at L'Avenir Estate in Stellenbosch but chose retirement in 2005. (Short retirement: he's consulting at numerous wineries now.)  He has been a close friend and wine advisor to us at SILKBUSH for many years. Francois is a remarkable personality, having been a pharmacist in Pretoria until his mid forties, when he and his family completely changed lifestyles and ends of the country. Among other things, Francois was noted as one of the top 10 Pinotage winemakers year after year, a brilliant lecturer, and great fun. Pictured here is Dave Jefferson, SILKBUSH partner, with Francois.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dance Troop at Spier Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Moyo, an outdoor restaurant at Spier Estate, showcases a very large and highly developed multi-use property in Stellenbosch. The cuisine is African, served as essentially an "all you can eat" buffet. The food is quite tasty, but the real draw is a large African dance troop that  comes to town by bus from Johannesberg. Evidently the restaurant owners have a similar operation in Jo'berg and the dancers will perform at both. The music is recorded but the enthusiasm of the dancers is terrific.  www.spier.co.za  (&lt;a href="http://www.spier.co.za"&gt;www.spier.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Spier Estate Women Dancers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[One glance shows these ladies were having a great time performing. While Black African tribes constitute 75% of the population of South Africa, they are only around 10% of the population of the Western Cape. Far and away the dominant local ethnic group are the Cape Coloureds, essentially the product of intermarriage (and less formal arrangements) for hundreds of years of the indigenous San People with early European settlers, sailors, missionaries, and Malayan slaves.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Proud Father and a Happy Daughter]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Both were members of the dance troop, and they were quite excited to be performing. The costumes and makeup were resplendent; the entertainers and audience alike had a grand time.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Murray Boustred, Remhoogte Owner]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A former property developer/engineer from Jo'berg, Murray Boustred is a gentleman farmer deeply involved in producing red wines on the Simonsberg. A professional hunter in prior years, his property also has a large reserve for zebras, bonteboks, springbok, and gnus. His son Chris tends the wines on a daily basis, while the peripatetic French winemaker, Michel Rolland, advises on the final blends.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Remhoogte Tasting &amp; Trophy Room]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[South Africans are very much "outdoors" people and most males still love to hunt for meat, sport, or trophies. While the Boustred's now raise game animals on their property, the animals will never be hunted but just admired by visitors through the wire fences  (&lt;a href="http://www.remhoogte.co.za "&gt;www.remhoogte.co.za &lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fi-Fi, Remhoogte's Boerboel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Boerboel is very popular in South Africa as a guard dog for the home but is quite friendly to the families that own them, especially the smallest of children.  According to our research, the Boerboel ('farmer's dog") is a direct descendant of large dogs brought to the Cape in 1652 by Governor Jan van Riebeek from Holland, and then interbred over the centuries with numerous other breeds.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Asara Wine Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This Stellenbosch Estate history dates back to 1691, when it was first granted as a farm. Its present owner, Markus Rahmann, acquired the property in 2001 and has been expanding and modernizing it in every way possible. Asara www.asarawine.com (&lt;a ref="http://www.asarawine.com"&gt;www.asarawine.com&lt;/a&gt;)   
Today, after systematically analyzing and replanting the whole farm for its maximum potential, Asara produces approximately 75% super premium red wine and about 25% top quality white wine on a 180 ha Estate.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Markus Rahmann, Asara's Visionary Owner]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Markus Rahmann acquired Asara Wine Estate in 1999, with the goal of making the historic winery a world class facility. An international businessman, he brings an intensity, intelligence, and drive that is unsurpassed. Markus has assembled a talented farming, winemaking, and marketing team equally committed to making great wine.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Asara Hotel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Planned as a boutique hotel along with the winery, and incorporating an upscale restaurant and a conference center, Asara's new hospitality facility is gorgeous. The eastern views toward the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains are smashing and the overall quality of the hospitality facililty is second to none.   Check out:  (&lt;a href="http://www.asara.co.za "&gt;www.asara.co.za &lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Winemaking Automation]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Asara Winery, like many other wineries, now has machinery to replace an exhausting job of "punching down the cap" during red wine fermentation. This pneumatic plunger can be positioned over any one of several open topped fermenters; then the grape skin cap floating over the fermenting juice will be pushed below the surface in order to obtain greater skin contact and extraction. Notice, however, the wooden fermentation tank, something seen increasingly in top quality wineries; combinations of old and new techniques frequently mark modern winemaking.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Waterford Winery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Waterford Winery's red tile roofs, rock tower, and stucco walls poke over a citrus orchard, giving it a decided Tuscan appearance. Waterford (www.waterford.com) (&lt;a ref="http://www.waterford.com"&gt;www.waterford.com&lt;/a&gt;)  won a very prestigous award in 2005 for best Cellar Door (Visitor) experience of any winery in the world, and its physical grandeur was certainly a significant part of winning the award.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Waterford Winery Courtyard]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Waterford is a relatively new winery, and one of an increasing number not built in the traditional Cape Dutch style. This winery clearly adopted a Tuscan, or at least Mediterrean style, and brought it off exceptionally well. The courtyard is planted to Plein trees, or as they are more known in America, the Sycamore. Waterford wines are also quite wonderful, and are being imported to the US as well as Europe.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Waterford Barrel Room]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Waterford is owned by Jeremy Ord, a highly successful high tech entrepreneur, and Kevin Arnold, an equally famous winemaker. We first met Kevin in 1996 at Rust en Vrede, where he was making a name for himself and the traditional winery. A few years later, with Jeremy's financial backing, Kevin built a very modern winery, with elevated steel fermentation tanks, and insulated walls. Kevin told me the labor needs of the winery are quite low, due in part to design and gravity flow; but certainly they built a very attractive barrel room to add to the romance of the newest Stellenbosch icon.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dornier, a New &amp; Controversial Winery...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Anytime a new architectural style is introduced in the Cape, the traditionalists, who view anything other than Cape Dutch as heresy, go ballistic. Dornier is owned by a famous Swiss artist, Christoph Dornier, and clearly is making a statement with his new, red brick facility in a great setting, virtually across the road from Waterford. (And by the way, it won an architure award from Great Wine Capitals of the World!) www.dornierwines.co.za (&lt;a ref="http://www.dornierwines.co.za"&gt;www.dornierwines.co.za&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dornier Khoi Pond]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[All visitors to Dornier Winery must walk by a large, rectangular pond reportedly about one meter deep, that is stocked with beautiful and colorful khoi. Beside the art statement, the purpose of the pond is to help cool naturally the barrel maturation cellar located below. (No swimming allowed signs warn in several languages!)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dornier Entrance]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here the glass, metal, and brick themes all come together, as well as the curvilinear roof. Every 8th course of bricks is set out a bit from the rest of the wall. We love the style but it completely ignores the history of the Cape's consistent traditions. We liked the wine blends in the tasting room, but they, like the rest of us, have their work cut out to establish a new brand in the highly competitive international wine world. Their US importer, Vinnovative Imports, can be reached at www.capewine.com .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kleinood Winery]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Kleinood, is a beautiful little (22 total hectares, with 12 planted to grapes and olives) winery which is hard to find, despite being "across the street" from high profile Waterford, and adjacent to ultra modern Dornier. Owned and designed by the highly regarded winery engineer and designer, Gerard de Villiers, the 100 ton cellar is not open to the public, its signage almost nonexistant, and is hidden behind a mature vineyard.  By the way, Kleinood is Afrikaans for "something small and precious," as this quiet and private setting clearly is. The site, looking down into a large canyon, is simply idyllic. (&lt;a href="http://www.kleinood.com"&gt;www.kleinood.com&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kleinood's Reuse of a 200 year old Cape Dutch Barn?]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The external buttresses, the chest-high fieldstone foundation covered with rough plaster, and small, high windows at Kleinood all are indicative of wonderful respect of a bygone era. The grey steel roof is modern, of course, but all else evokes traditional Cape Dutch agriculture, especially the "ringmuur, the low brick wall defining a farmstead's former boundary.   But no, the sly architect and Libby, his designer wife, did this all from scratch in 2004! Bravo for a wonderful deception. Inside, the 6,300 case winery is very modern, stainless steel running everywhere, including a circular ceiling-mounted conveyor system which mechanically hoists and transports small tanks of fruit from destemmer to crusher to stainless steel open-top fermenters. More can be learned at  (&lt;a href="http://www.kleinood.com"&gt;www.kleinood.com&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Kleinood's Classic Brick Lined Drainage]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There is probably a very modern underground pipe system in addition but this is a small attention to classic building detail which helps to transport the winery visitor to an earlier time. The winery owner/architect carries a frequent French Huguenot last name, de Villiers, as do many others in the Cape wine industry. The French Calvinists were run out of France with the repeal of the Edict of Nantes, and the imposition of Catholicism (enforced on pain of death) on all who remained behind. France's loss of early protestants was South Africa's gain of wine-making expertise, when 200 French immigrants showed up in 1688, transported by the Dutch East Indies Company, who knew what they were doing. (Earlier colonial attempts at winemaking were reportedly quite ghastly.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Architect, Winemaker, and Aspiring Winery Developer]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We had met Gunter Schultz on an earlier trip to Kleinood, the vest pocket gem across from Waterford, but we did not become acquainted with the owner, Gerad de Villiers, until our return in October 2008. Gerad's real claim to fame so far is being one of the leading winery designers in the Cape. Having seen his 100 ton Kleinood operation, he took us to lunch at nearby Hidden Valley Wines, a gravity-flow, high tech 220 ton cellar he also designed. Very impressive, glass and stainless steel operation and the restaurant is deservedly popular to boot, despite being quite, yes, hidden. See  (&lt;a href="http://www.hiddenvalleywines.com"&gt;hiddenvalleywines.com&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Neil Ellis Wines]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Neil Ellis is a top flight winemaker who sources almost 100% of his grapes from independent growers in the Cape. Flying in the face of traditional thinking that only Estate wineries (who own their own vineyards) can consistently make great wine, Ellis works hard and produces award winners every year. However, he has built a show-stopper of a winery on the Oude Nektar Estate owned by his partner. (&lt;a href="http://www.www.neilellis.com"&gt;www.neilellis.com&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Neil Ellis- Falling Water and a Grand Entrance]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Located in the Jonkershoek Valley, just east of Stellenbosch, the Neil Ellis facilities are as striking as his labels are plain. Far from the usual Cape Dutch style, the buildings are closer to Tuscan in architecture. The running/falling water feature was restful "white noise" and the entry gateway very impressive.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Haskell Vineyards (Stellenbosch)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Originally know as the Dombeya Wool Farm, this very attractive mountain side winery still sells a very nice range of wines known as Dombeya, while reserving their very best for the Haskell title, as the wine farm is owned by Preston Haskill. Preston is an American who has lived for many years in Moscow and is evidently very successful as a real estate broker in the Russian Federation for Colliers, a large international firm. (&lt;a href="http://www.haskellvineyards.com"&gt;www.haskellvineyards.com&lt;/a&gt;)  .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Avondale's View of Simonsberg Mountains]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Avondale Winery is located on an obscure road off the R303, on the Franschhoek side of the N-1. It has a Paarl Appellation yet a magnificent view of the Simonsberg Mountains in the Stellenbosch district. According to the Platter Guide, the farm has 100 Ha under vine and is producing top quality wine. (&lt;a href="http://www.avondalewine.co.za"&gt;www.avondalewine.co.za&lt;/a&gt;). The picturesque 160-hectare farm that is today known as Avondale has been under cultivation for more than 300 years.  Early records show that the land was one of the first in the Paarl valley to be allocated specifically for the production of wine grapes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Avondale's Entrance]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The building the owners built to host wine tastings is just magnificent, starting with the entrance and its original art. Everything is just in perfect taste. 

Avondale’s logo is a rendition of the Armillary sphere, an ancient astronomical instrument used to show the position of stars around the earth.  It represents Avondale’s holistic approach to life on our farm where, from the minerals in the soil to the stars in the skies, all is combined in an energized, living system.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Avondale Residence]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Their are several Grieve family residences on the property, any one of which could qualify as a Manor house. This was the first one, and likely fairly new, judging from some of the window treatments, but still in keeping with a Cape Dutch motif of the 1800s.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Mobile Bottler at Morgenster Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Nestled next door to the world famous Vergelegen Winery, Morgenster (Morningstar) Estate Winery was established in 1993 by Italian Giulio Bertrand. It produces two classy red blends, one dominated by Cabernet Franc and the other by Merlot. It also produces exceptional olive oils and tapenades. Gerrie Wagener, an old friend and exceptional winery executive, is Managing Director (CEO). Interestingly, Morgenster utilizes a mobile bottling service, as we do as well at White Oak Winery, for their 8,000 annual case production. This is one classy winefarm. (&lt;a href="http://www.morgenster.co.za "&gt;www.morgenster.co.za &lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Black Pearl Friends]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Lance and Martha Nash, and their winemaker daughter, Mary-Lou Nash Sullivan (not pictured), have a small but well regarded red wine farm on the western and very dry side of Paarl Mountain, Black Pearl Wines.  Also making wine with them in 2005 was the younger Jeremy Borg, the sales fundi who put Goats du Roam on the US wine scene as Number One imported brand. Martha and Mary-Lou are Americans, as is Jeremy's wife, and there are very few Yanks living full time in the Cape Winelands. 

Jeremy was with "the company of wine people," the formal name of a very large export winery, but now has Borg Family Wines. Very few generalities apply in the South African wine game, which makes it so intriguing. (&lt;a href="http://www.blackpearlwines.com"&gt;www.blackpearlwines.com&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Paarl, the Pearls, and Windbreaks]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Paarl, the largest city in the Cape Winelands, gets its name from the two large rocks on the ridgeline, which the early settlers called "pearls" (Paarl in Afrikaans). The marine layer (fog) was still burning off when we went over the old Sonstraal pass, so the view was a bit hazy. The windbreaks of beefwood trees are needed in most areas to abate the capricious South Easter winds that can appear anytime during the growing season and really ravage growing grape crops.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[View from Bainskloof toward Wellington Town]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[No matter where you wander in the Cape, the old roads still have the greatest charm. The Bainskloof Pass, just west of Silkbush, was built by the great road builder, Andrew Bains, in the early 1800s, once England had taken over the former Dutch colony for good. The R301 highway retraces the original road fairly well, and is curvy and narrow. You should not be in a hurry returning to SILKBUSH on this route, as the views are stunning; there are also some great turnouts and picnic tables along the way. The vineyard blocks below are separated by beefwood tree plantings that serve as windbreaks. It can really blow around here at times.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[N-1 Bridge approach to DeToitskloof Tunnel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[From the lookout point on the old Sonstraal highway over the mountains, the newer N-1 highway bridge leading to the De Toitskloof Tunnel is very prominent. The interior of South Africa was largely "off limits" to early European settlers from the 1650's until the mid 1800's, due to the steep mountain escarpments that ring the country. However, when the English took over the Dutch colonies from the 1820's, wagon roads were built over the logical pass routes, usually with convict labor, and then railroads, and finally paved highways. Most highways in South Africa are designated as N (national), R (regional), or M (municipal). When this national highway bridge and tunnel were constructed, it reduced the time to get to interior Worcester and beyond by at least 30 minutes. (Our Silkbush neighbor, Earl Buntmann, actually designed and built this massive bridge in 1982.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Franschhoek Valley, Simonsberg and Kanonkop]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[On the flanks of these mountains, about halfway between SILKBUSH and Cape Town, lie several renowned wine farms: Plaiser de Merle, Backsberg and Glen Carlou. Just below the Taal and to the west lies Fairview, Seidelberg and Landskroon which are all very fine wineries. On a clear day, even Table Mountain, far to the west, stands out very clearly.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgenhof Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This columned walk way is just one of many indications the Morgenhof Estate Winery has been around, in one form or another, since 1692. There are a great many structures and buildings on Morgenhof Estate that we would simply refer to as "classic." (&lt;a href="http://www.morgenhof.com"&gt;www.morgenhof.com&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Morgenhof: Part of the Winelands Puzzle]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Beginning in 2007, the wineries of the Stellenbosch Wine Route, came up with the idea of showing each winery's location on these giant jigsaw puzzle pieces mounted outside each of the participating cellars. 

Morgenhof Estate is located just north of Stellenbosch and makes about 35,000 cases per year, most of which are quite spectacular. The owner, Anne Cointreau (yes, THAT Cointreau from France), is a very charming lady with whom Violetta Teetor, from Finland, and Dave Jefferson had lunch with at their first CapeWine show in 2002. Most of the key managers on her Estate are women and it appears they are all doing a bang-up job to show up a male dominated local wine fraternity. Good for them.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Stylish Barrel Furniture]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Check out this creative use of an old wine barrel. Morgenhof is not the only outift to think of an alternative other to making a planter box out of a used barrel. Gary Doty, a good friend of the Silkbush family in Kenwood, California (Sonoma Winey Country), has been making all sorts of nifty furniture, including wine racks and tables, from barrels for some years. The craftsmanship on both continents is quite high and we really admire the end products.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Peacock]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This Peacock was wandering around Morgenhof Estate when we met Pietman for lunch; these birds are often seen at Knorhoek and  many other Cape wineries. They really add to the color of the place, especially the males.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Huguenot Memorial Museum]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The French Huguenots, the protestant Calvinists driven from France in 1688 by the Catholic King Louis IV, were very significant to the development of South African wine. Early Dutch colonists had been attempting to grow grapes and make wine for some 35 years with very limited success. When 200 Huguenots showed up with French wine technology in their heads, an awkward experiment graduated into a full-fledged industry. And the thirsty sailors of the Dutch East India Company were a ready-made market for the new African wines.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[La Couronne Winery (Franschhoek)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The hillside of young vines behind La Couronne Winery, relatively new to Franschhoek, are in plastic "grow tubes," a viticultural technic used extensively in California but seldom seen in South Africa. The tube creates a miniature "hot house" for the vine and assists it in its first year of development. For many years, cardboard milk cartons were used in California around young vines but that was primarilly to keep rabbits from eating the tasty young vines. (Once they are old and knarly, the rabbits lose interest in them as food.)  (&lt;a href="http://www.lacouronne.co.za"&gt;www.lacouronne.co.za&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Approach to Normandy in the Franschhoek Valley]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[A few years ago, Hansie van Niekerk invited SILKBUSH's Dave Jefferson to lunch with one of the other very few Americans to make a home (at least part time) in the Cape Winelands, Herb Korthoff. Herb retired from US business, and after doing his fair share of big game hunting, decided to buy a vineyard and residence in Franschhoek Valley. In 2006, Dave made his way over to Normandy Winery to say hello to Herb. It was an impressive setting and great visit.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Korthoff's Magnificent Digs]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While Dave was 15 minutes late in arriving, Herb Korthoff met him on the verandah with a shotgun which was a little distracting to Dave. Herb quickly explained that a large, poisonous snake was in the bushes and he was going to shoot it so it would not strike one of his small dogs. (Such are the property management responsibilities of the owner of this wonderful home.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Herb's Front Yard ...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Clearly Herb's gardening crew has their hands full, even when the owner is gone, which is frequent. Herb has a separate swimming pool, of course, but the vineyard reservior below would work fine for an afternoon dip on a hot day too. He also has a couple of South African partners doing the grape growing and wine-making, so he is really enjoying his retirement years.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Blue Gum Tree Alley at Meerrust Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The entrance to Meerrust Estate  (&lt;a href="http://www.meerrust.co.za"&gt;www.meerrust.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) is framed with Blue Gum Trees, known in the States as Eucalyptus trees. They are clearly old and very impressive, so the Dauphin family owners decided to call their winery "Allee Bleue", or Blue Alley. Their export agent, Tanja Robinson, is an old friend of ours so we trooped out to take a look, and were glad we did.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cafe Allee Bleue]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[After tasting us through the numerous top end wines she represents, Tanja treated us to lunch at this new restaurant situated at the entrance to the Blue Alley to Meerrust. The food was terrific, and thematically it was very striking: the photo of the sidewalk to the front door indicates this is a very hip place indeed.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Inside the Blue Alley Cafe]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[With ALLÉE BLEUE, the Dauphin family has discovered a wonderfully happy place which will touch the heart of anyone who visits. The historical Franschhoek estate has been brought back to life with great dedication and attention to detail. The result is a fascinating combination of the typical South African farming tradition and contemporary lifestyle as well as art and nature.  See them at (&lt;a href="http://www.alleebleue.co.za"&gt;www.alleebleue.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Seidelberg Estate (Paarl)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Ever since Dave Jefferson stayed at De Leuwen Jagt (the lion hunt) in 1997) when his client, Beringer Wine Estates, was giving serious consideration to buying this classic 1692 cellar, it has held special memories for him. The ultimate buyer of the property, Roland Seidel, however, renamed it after himself, not surprising, and has improved it in many ways. A large restaurant has been added, as well as many activities for visitors, in addition to wine tasting. While the wine quality may be moving upward, their three quality range marketing program strikes us as a bit much for a 40,000 case winery.  See  (&lt;a href="http://www.seidelberg.co.za"&gt;www.seidelberg.co.za&lt;/a&gt;) .]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Glass Blowing Shop at Seidelberg Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In striking contrast with the Proteas at Bergsig, the glass flowers adorning the outside flower boxes at Seidelberg are another form of art altogether. They are just one of the many products from the glass blowing shop next to the restaurant at this winery just off the N-1 highway in "South Paarl" and not far from the Taal Monument. An outing to see both in an afternoon is a natural. The glass products in the shop that are for sale are absolutely beautiful, and reasonably priced. These Agter Paarl road attractions are yet further reasons why the Beloved Country is such a tourist's paradise.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Taal from Below]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Situated on a ridge southwest of the City of Paarl (Pearl), the majestic Taal Monument is impossible to miss as you drive the N1 toward the Huguenot Tunnel (on the way to SILKBUSH). The Taal Monument on Paarl Rock overlooking the town of Paarl commemorates Afrikaans, a South African language with origins in Dutch, Malay, Portuguese, French, German and indigenous Khoi and African languages. It replaced Dutch as an official language in 1925.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Taal: Afrikaans Language Memorial]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Every angle of the Taal is different. You don't have to speak Afrikaans to appreciate the memorial or the rich history of this hardy tribe of Dutch/French settlers. Much like the Washington Monument or the Vietnam War Wall in the US Capitol, the grandeur, simplicity and silence takes your breath away.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Zorgvleit's Restaurant &amp; Wines]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Zorgvleit Wines (&lt;a href="http://www.zorgvleitwines.co.za"&gt;www.zorgvleitwines.co.za&lt;/a&gt;)  was established in 2000 on an old farm dating back to at least 1692. Not particularly large in planted acreage (70 Ha), the place has a lot going on: two restaurants, a deli, a conference center, wine tasting, and, of course, a winery, too. The main draw for Zorgvleit is its 100% location on the mountain highway connecting Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and a stunning view of the Banhoek Valley mountains. The winemaker is fabulous and the wines are very nice, and ... who cares. Look at the view.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Zorgvleit's View of the Helshoogte Pass]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Judging from the fencing at Zorgvleit, we would expect the owners have a few saddle horses around as well. Or perhaps its just part of their Disneyland for adults total charm and attention to detail.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton and Cathy discuss SILKBUSH plantings]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cathy Marshall is the acclaimed winemaker for a small, new Paarl winery, Ridgeback Wines, and managing partner/winemaker for her own well-regarded label BWC (formerly Barefoot Wines), which is run out of the same facility. Despite a very hectic schedule, Cathy gave us a tour, tasted our new wine sample, reviewed our planting plans with Anton Roos, and recommended another new winery that may need our future grapes. Most wine industry professionals are very generous with their time with others, but Cathy's efforts were above and beyond the norm. We owe her and will repay the favors someday.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Riebeek Valley Hotel]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Located in the quaint community of Riebeek West, this 16-room luxury hotel and restaurant looked like a great romantic hideaway. It is only an hour's drive from Cape Town but certainly not on the usual tourist routes. (&lt;a href="http://www.riebeekvalleyhotel.co.za"&gt;www.riebeekvalleyhotel.co.za&lt;/a&gt;)

As many know, the Cape was settled by the Dutch starting in 1652, and supplemented by French Huguenots, commencing in 1688. Almost all early Europeans were Calvinists, and the N.G. Church is the dominant Afrikaaner church in most communities, large and small. Sundays are for families, and even though most farmers in this area are winegrape growers, virtually no winery is open for business on Sundays.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Derek Edwards, a Great Old Colonial]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[What a story: Derek Edwards, from a long line of British constables, comes to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in early 1950s to be a colonial cop. Meets wife to be Pam, and by 1974 determines that South Africa will be healthier place to raise their two children. While attending University of Cape Town, the school spots his talent, and hires Derek as a key administrator. (From Far Right to Far Left environments!). Now recently retired in Somerset West, he starts to develop ministorage warehouse with investor son Gary who lives in States and is CFO of public company. Gary wants to own part of a vineyard so sends Mom and Dad to SILKBUSH to check it out. We all hit it off famously and a week later Dave Jefferson is sleeping in Derek's overseas son's bed. (Strangers are simply friends who you have yet to meet.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Erinvale Golf Estate above Somerset West]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When Dave drove down to see Derek's ministorage and have dinner with the family, Pam Edwards promptly threw him in the golf cart for a proper tour. As anyone who follows PGA golf knows, several of the top money winners are South African, starting with Ernie Els. The Edwards golf every day the weather permits, and their home backs up to a beautiful fairway. 

Life in the Western Cape is very close to life in California, but the cost of living is dramatically lower, the roads are not as crowded, and the people could not be friendlier.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lemberg Wine Estate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Lemberg Wine Estate  (&lt;a href="http://www.lemberg.co.za"&gt;www.lemberg.co.za&lt;/a&gt;)  is in Tulbagh, 30 minutes north of Silkbush. This small boutique cellar lies situated in the heart of the historic Tulbagh valley, surrounded by the views of the majestic Witzenberg and Winterhoek mountains and the Klein Berg river. 

It is a 60 ton cellar where small quantities of Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and other cultivars are produced.

Lemberg Wine Estate is a unique and amazing experience - the small wine estate with a lot of soul.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lemberg Wine Maker Neil Rossouw]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Neil Rossouw did a wonderful job of showing our American visitors around and tasting us through the full lineup of wines. Behind him is one of many works of art featured in the tasting room; original art is also a priority at Lemberg.  (&lt;a href="http://www.lemberg.co.za"&gt;www.lemberg.co.za&lt;/a&gt;)]]></image:caption>
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		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/silkbush-and-the-people-who-run-it/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T09:37:28+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush Dams and Mature Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[April 2014 was late fall, and the harvest was nearing completion. The Wabooms River bisects the center of the photo at the tree line. All the vineyards and property above the river at this point belong to the Marais family (Franci Marais Roos' parents) and other neighbors.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush Mountain Vineyards front gate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here you enter Silkbush Mountain Vineyards! As you pass through this gate, from sunrise to sunset, our high mountain vineyards in South Africa are unforgettably beautiful. We invite you to discover our extended family, our grapes, and the Kingsbury Cottage, our five-star guest house, as you peruse our photo galleries.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[View of Silkbush Mountains]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here we admire the snowy ridge line and the Sybasberg ("Silkbush Mountain" in Afrikaans) peak from a flat land vineyard. While we are within two miles of Silkbush, most of our vineyards face north to northwest, and accordingly cannot be seen even from this nearby perspective.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush General Manager: Anton Roos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Meet Anton Roos, General Manager and Silkbush Co-founder. He is in charge of every aspect of running the farm. He and his family live fulltime on Silkbush Mountain Vineyards.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Assistant Manager: The Exceptional Franci Roos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Franci Roos plays a larger role on Silkbush Mountain Vineyards every vintage. Besides being a wonderful mother of three boys, and a terrific cook and gardener, she is de facto the Assistant Farm Manager to her husband, Anton. She also runs the small store for the workers, gets the weekly payrolls from the bank, and compiles many of the computerized reports we must file with the authorities for VAT and other required items. Franci is exceptional.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton &amp; Franci Roos: A Great Team!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our onsite management team is photogenic, friendly, and bilingual. Their daily language, and that of most of the farm workers, is Afrikaans, but they also speak good English as well. On your stay with us, be sure to have them teach you a few words in Afrikaans each day. They are very patient and have a great sense of humor.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Dave and Catherine Jefferson]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Dave married his long-time partner Catherine in 2013. They make every visit to Silkbush a true South African adventure. Check out our other photo galleries to find some interesting excursions they recommend when visiting Silkbush.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush Winemaker: Bennie Wannenburg]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our Silkbush wines are made at a neighboring winery called Waboomsriver Wine Cellar. The facility is located not far from the banks of the Breede River between Worcester and Ceres. This is our talented winemaker, and Wabooms Cellarmaster, Bennie Wannenburg.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush Wines]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The fruits of our labors of love: the 2009 Lions Drift Pinotage and the 2012 Viognier. Lions Drift may become our "restaurant" brand in regions where the Silkbush label is already in wine shops and liquor stores. Same great wine, however.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Anton Enjoying the Grounds]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is Anton in front of just one of our stunning vistas...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Franci The Gardener]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Franci Roos grew these beautiful roses on our farm! Franci is really a superb gardener. She is responsible for much of the beautiful flowers and plants in our landscaping at Silkbush.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Gardens]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[See here more of Franci's amazing gardening...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Wabooms Tree]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Wabooms Tree is actually a Protea, which is a strong native shrub that was used 200 years ago in wagon building. Nowadays, we are trying to protect and preserve the plant. The Wabooms bloom in South Africa during winter. The Wabooms Tree (or "Wagon Tree" in Afrikaans) grows wild on and above our land and sports beautiful flowers during December. Its wood is very strong and was used in the 1700-1800's for Ox Wagon wheel spokes and brakes because of its durability. Our local (former) cooperative winery is named after this pretty native plant.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[All In The Family: Johann, Francois &amp; Antonie Roos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here are Anton and Franci's three boys, Johann, Francois, and Antonie, who have all grown up on Silkbush farm.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Johann Roos, Eldest Son in 2012]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Johann is a strapping teenager, a competitive swimmer, and a racketball player. During the week he is in boarding school in Worcester, about 30 minutes away, and then home on weekends. Johann is Franci and Anton's eldest son.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Francois Roos, Middle Son in 2012]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Francois is middle son of Anton &amp; Franci Roos, Silkbush Management Team. Francois just loves farming, and is already an expert with many types of equipment.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Antonie Roos, Youngest Son in 2012]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Antonie is the youngest Roos son. While grape vines grow faster and reach maturity earlier, they change far less than children. Watching the Roos family grow up against the backdrop of our vineyard development has been great fun.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Francois Marais]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Francois Marais is our neighbor and Franci's father/Anton's father-in-law. Francois is a noted grape and fruit farmer, and his mature fields are a strong indication of how ours now look as well. Francois and Anton both once sat on the Board of Directors of the Waboomsrivier Wine Cellar where we make our wines. He advises Anton and Franci on a regular basis and his expertise is much appreciated.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Isabelle Marais]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Anton Roos adores his mother-in-law, Isabelle Marais, and well he should. She is mother of four grown children (Franci being one), a day to day partner in the management of the Marais family farm, and a wonderful lady from every standpoint. She has been a super role-model for Franci Marais Roos, and as gracious and friendly as can be. Isabelle looks forward to the day when the Silkbush Manor House is completed and more Americans come to visit!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fine Point in Afrikaans]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[With great amusement, Francois and Isabelle Marais discuss this "Beginning Afrikaans" primer. It appears that they disagree with a contention of the author. Since this is the language they have spoken at home since childhood, they know of what they speak.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Jan: Retired But Still Helping Out]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Technically, dear, old Jan is "retired" and living with his wife in our worker housing. However, he still drives a tractor at harvest, helps out mechanically in multiple ways, and is a steady personality to have around. Anton continues to rely on him in several small but important ways. You can really feel the family atmosphere on our farm and Jan (pronounced Yan) is a great example of this.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Western View from Top]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Silkbush General Manager Anton Roos took this photo in late spring when everything was very green. We planted about 90% of our acreage by 2003, and that is all now mature. We then held off for two years to see what the markets were telling us and to see what seemed to produce the best quality. We are pleased we waited as we then planted the balance of the land to smaller blocks of more exotic vines such as Mouvedre, Grenache, and Viognier. Our terroir is closest to that of the Rhone Valley in France, and we are doing more Rhone varietels than Bordeaux.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sunrise Shadows on Western Mountains]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Breede River Valley is narrow in this area, and the western mountains reflect the shadows of those to the east just at sunrise. Just over these mountains lies the grape growing towns of Paarl and Wellington; about an hour by car further to the west lies Cape Town and Table Mountain. They all have their charms, but we believe SILKBUSH Mountain Vineyards can do well in any beauty contest it desires.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Looking Down from a Neighboring Property]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is another "perspective" shot so a viewer can gain some idea of the scale of the mountains and the proximity of the Kingsbury Cottage, our guest cottage at Silkbush Mountain Vineyards.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manager's House]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is the Manager's House at Silkbush, before renovation. The Roos Family lives here on property. You can see Franci's flower gardens, shrubs, and trees. Of living and raising his family here, Anton Roos says, "we are living our dreams."]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manager's House and Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In this photo, you can see the renovations underway to the Manager's House. The entire roof was replaced and the house extended in both directions. The Roos family was luckily able to reoccupy the house before harvest. You can see beautiful vineyards in the foreground which belong to Anton's father-in-law, Francois Marais.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fenced Pool with Singed Hills in the Background]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Manager's House boasts a beautiful pool for the hard-working Roos family. While the safety fence around the pool was necessary with children running around, the wildfire scared hills in the background in this photo are another sort of danger to be aware of. Luckily, we did not lose any of our vineyards to a big fire in 2006, but some of our neighbors did.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Ah, The Grapes!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Some of the 215 acres of grapes, of which 93% are red. Most of our red grapes (but especially the Cabernet and Shiraz) reach maturity late in the harvest season.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Our Bridge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We built this bridge and will have still higher guard rails drilled into it before we open the Manor house for guests. All visitors going up into the mountains along the River Road easement must cross this bridge.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Traffic Circle Across the Bridge]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The University of Cape Town (UCT) Mountaineering and Ski Club has a limited access easement across our land, and that of several neighbors further up the mountain road. We usually get two or three cars a day coming through, as they drive to a parking area higher on the mountain and then start their ascents on foot. Until 2003 we had a large ugly blue sign at this spot to direct traffic. Then Anton changed out the signs and Franci built this rock garden just across the bridge, complete with native cacti and boulders from our fields. We all think it looks wonderful!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Burying Anchors for End Posts and Trellis Wires]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We dig a trench at the end of each new vine row and bury concrete anchors with iron rebar extensions. The trellis wires will attach to the rebar at the end of each vine row and be drawn taught to support the growing vines and the drip irrigation hose. The water main lines are large PVC pipes buried in the roadways.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Replacing Pinotage Vines]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In April 2014 we removed about 2 Ha of Pinotage vines after the harvest, and prepared the field for replanting in September. This block was below where the old open water ditch ran, and seepage/wet roots were a constant issue. But now those issues are behind us.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Cleared Land Above Bo Dam: PINOTAGE]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Approximately 3 acres (over 1 Ha) are in the process of being prepared for planting to Pinotage which is a cultivar that has performed exceptionally well on our steepest slopes. Finally the vineyard development will be complete.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Upper Reservoir and Reflected Mountains]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The water was glassy smooth, and mirrored the mountain peaks behind. The blue drums serve to float our water intake hose. We always pump from the top of our dams, not the bottom, as we get the cleanest water that way. We have sophisticated filtration systems in our irrigations systems to keep the drip emiters from clogging, but it still helps to start with the cleanest water possible.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Water Weir]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[SILKBUSH is blessed with more water than it needs, as long as it can be efficiently captured in dams. A system was developed to share water with neighboring farms farther away from the mountains. A water weir was built years ago to divide water flows between a ditch to lower farms and then the balance to our lower dam. Water flows strongly into the weir 12 months a year so there is plenty for all.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Water For Our Neighbors Further Down the Mountain]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In 2014, after years of Anton's advocacy, the open ditch from the water weir to the lower farms was replaced with these two blue pipes. There will be much less water lost to evaporation and also less continuous seepage into our adjacent vineyards with this updated system. (Subsequently, the ditch with the pipes in this picture was filled with soil. The entire cost to Silkbush was very modest.) We are thrilled with the improvement.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Weir and Campsite Between the Dams]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Adjacent to the water weir, a stand of mature trees in the center is a very cool and shady spot where a small campsite has been developed. To the lower left is the water weir, which divides water (draining from an uphill kloof) between our lower dam and other farms further below Silkbush. In the heat of the summer, the Roos family frequently invites friends over for an evening braai around a large campfire, and then the families often camp overnight in tents. The stars at night in this area are crystal clear and bright. Lovely, just lovely.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Campsite Ablution Facilities]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In military lingo, "Ablution" refers to a structure that houses both shower and flush toilet facilities; and that is exactly what this little log cabin, with sky for a roof, has for Silkbush campers. Behind the little building is a wading pond for children and then our upper dam rises toward the hillside plantings.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Equipment Barns and Farm Office]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The two former fruit packing sheds now chiefly serve as equipment storage and maintenance barns. Naturally, they are especially useful during rainy winter days and very hot summer periods because there is always something needing repair on a farm. Further, all permanent farm employees are paid weekly salaries, come rain or shine, so we have also built a small office in one barn and everybody keeps on working.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Board of Directors Meeting Room Inside Manager's House]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While it is a reasonably attractive place to work, we have spent many a long day in meetings around this table. (Straight back chairs are supposed to lead to shorter meetings, but it never quite seems to work that way for us.) The rest of the year, this part of Anton's office is used for meetings with the various engineers, suppliers and contractors assisting him in running SILKBUSH Vineyards.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Interior of Equipment Barn]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This large steel barn was part of our purchase of the property back in 2000. While not very glamorous, this shot of two sprayers, our "excavator," and a large truck, is indicative of modern farming. For example, if grape vines are not sprayed with sulphur regularly, powdery or downy mildew or rot can take off and devastate a crop in short order. (Because it was harvest time, all our tractors and gondolas were out in the fields working.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Pine Trees and Eastern Mountains]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While the stone pines and mountain peaks are not on our land, they are in immediate view out the back door of our Manor House. The trees are about 100-150 meters away, standing in the wild veld of the slopes leading to the SILKBUSH Mountains. You may refer to the SILKBUSH Vineyards map (on our Home page) for orientation.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Three Worker Cottages, Looking Westward]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The worker housing has essentially the same westward view as our Manor house: pretty darn nice. Five of our six worker cottages are located a third of a mile downslope from where we built the Kingsbury Guest Cottage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Worker Triplex, Looking North]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We have seasonal workers from Lesotho who are chiefly housed here. The orchards on the hillside behind are those of our neighbor.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Worker Cottages and Boulder Field]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here we look at five of our six worker cottages and a portion of the large rocks that required excavation before we could plant our fields closest to the river. About 75% of our permanent employees live in free housing with provided utilities. Some have satellite television service as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Worker Triplex Amenities]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The housing, including the utilities, is provided at no cost to our permanent employees, and is much higher quality than most farm labor housing in any grape growing country.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush GM Anton Roos]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Anton seems to always have a smile on his face, despite his constant hard work. We really admire and respect him.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Silkbush Founder Dave Jefferson Beams from Wabooms Riverbank]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Chronologically, Dave Jefferson is not be a kid anymore (and his hair has changed color), but on this beautiful May day in 2000 he felt like one; he had actually purchased a farm in South Africa!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Snow on the Mountain Peaks]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[It was early October 2008 and the snow stayed late into a chilly and wet spring. The vineyards seen in this photo are not ours but belong to a neighbor about 2- 3 miles to the north. Our land is chiefly below the Sybasberg peak to the right.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Tom Kingsbury: The Kingsbury Cottage]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is former Silkbush partner Tom Kingsbury, along with highschool chum Lorry Wendland, who came to visit Silkbush in 2001. Tom, Lorry, and Co-founder, Dave Jefferson, were all originally from Minnesota, and had been friends since puberty (John Marshall HS, Class of 1961!).  Lorry was a cheerleader and brilliant to boot; now she is a grandmother and runs class reunions with panache! She and Tom came to South Africa to visit Dave and see what was shaping up at Silkbush Mountain Vineyards. To say the least, they were very impressed. 

Tragically, Tom passed away in August 2007 due to pancreatic cancer at age 64. We decided to name our guest cottage the "Kingsbury Cottage" after this remarkable and enthusiastic man. We informed Tom of our decision shortly before he died and he was honored. Likewise, old friend- you honored us with your manifold contributions during your altogether too brief a stay.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Building Through the Winter]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Construction of our Kingsbury Cottage continued throughout 2007 even into the wet South African winter. The winter rains had slowed construction somewhat but the guest cottage was closing in on completion. The site had also been filled and graded to nearly level in front of the cottage, but the final landscaping would wait until summer, 2008. In the Western Cape, winter is much akin to Northern California- heavy rains for a few days, and then spectacular blue skies. On this day, the snows in the mountains to the east are apparent and our reservoirs are as full as we want them from storm runoff.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[The Kingsbury Cottage in Spring]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The purpose of this photo is not to highlight our guest cottage as much as it is to stress its spectacular setting. The cottage beholds most of our vineyards spread out below and to the left (from the perspective of one enjoying the view from the veranda). We built it chiefly for our partners and ourselves, but we do rent it out to third parties as well.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Landscaping Below the Kingsbury Cottage]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[In this photo, the vibrant red flowers were in full bloom yet the vineyards in the background were still dormant due to a long, cold, and very wet winter that continued into spring.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Fall View From Silkbush]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Beautiful Fall colors with an amazing mountain backdrop. The harvest is complete and the vineyards are approaching their annual dormancy.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Annual Mountain Bike Race Through Silkbush Mountain Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[There is an annual mountain bike race which travels across our vineyards, and makes a "water stop" at our campsite. This photo helps put our Kingsbury Cottage in perspective of the impressive surroundings.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Wilhelm Basson, Silkbush's Manor House Architect]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Wilhelm Basson, a residential architect from Worcester, designed our long-planned Manor House. He and his lady friend were quite impressed with the Kingsbury Cottage and our grounds. (They were married a couple of years later.)]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Manor House Building Site, Looking Southwest]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While it may be a bit difficult to see in this photo, we staked out the actual outside and inside walls of what will be the Manor House so we could be sure it "felt right" as we walked around with the plans. There's not much you can say about a rough graded homesite, other than "what a view!" A 5,167 square foot, four bedroom/four bath house will occupy the foreground.  We started the design effort in 2000, and completed the plan with architect, Wilhelm Basson,  two years later. The buillding site was graded in 2002 and the road to the site completed and decorative trees along the road planted in 2003. When the Manor House is built, guests will then be looking down upon mature Petit Verdot vineyards and our lower reservoir.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[South African Sunset]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is the sort of view that our guest cottage and upcoming Manor House visitors enjoy most nights: absolutely outstanding sundowns. We envy our partners, the Roos family, for the water-painting of the Hawequa mountains they get to judge most evenings.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Finches on the Phone Lines]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The whole flock took off a moment later. Such pretty birds are a common sight at our farm.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rhebok in the Sauvignon Blanc vineyard...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We are always asked what sort of wild animals live on our African farm. Well, we have some baboons in a gully to the south, and reportedly a leopard in the bush above us. There are several mongooses, that smell like skunks, some poisonous snakes like Cobras, and then there a few rheboks, a small member of the antelope family. 

In the middle of this hillside of young Sauvignon Blanc, a rhebok watches our bakkie as we watch him back. This rhebok is such a cute little animal; it did not move an inch as we drove to him. We trust he doesn't eat much of the Sauvignon Blanc....]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Rhebok: Leopard Food]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The "reported" vineyard leopard became a proven reality when it killed this small rhebok.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Sunset from the Backyard]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[If the Silkbush Mountain view is the "front door," this is the view out the "back door," looking west. Late November in the Cape is the equivalent of late May in North America. Late spring weather, with frequent spring showers, and even if it does not rain, clouds pop up almost every day. And they help to make outstanding Western sunsets at nightfall.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Black Southeaster]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[While this shot lacked the colors, it did not lack for drama. A big storm was moving up the Breede River Valley (a black "Southeaster," as they call them in the Cape), and the light fading fast. It blew hard that night, but the rain was light, and harvest continued apace the next morning.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Nightfall]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Not every day is sunny and without rain. A strong wind and rain storm was moving off the south Atlantic and coming up the valley as the sun went down in this photo. Virtually all our crop was still unharvested so it made for a nervous night, but the light rain settled the dust, and the harvest went on for weeks more without any damage to our red grapes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/welcome-to-silkbush-mountain-vineyards//110-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[One Last Colossal Sundown ...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[With mountain vistas to both our east and west, sunsets are sometimes enjoyed simultaneously and in differing colors. This one was reminiscent of Table Mountain (with its "table cloth" cloud) and the shadows of mountains to the west creeping over us. When conditions are right, it simply takes your breath away.]]></image:caption>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/our-guest-house-the-kingsbury-cottage/</loc>
		<lastmod>2016-07-28T09:39:12+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//kingsbury-cottage.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Kingsbury Cottage: Silkbush Guest House]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our beautiful guest house, the Kingsbury Cottage, is available to reserve on your stay in South Africa. You may contact us through this website to inquire about availability or email Franci Roos directly at franci@silkbush.prycision.com.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4775_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[The Kingsbury Cottage]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This two bedroom, two bath home was conceived in 2006 and completed in early 2008. During that building period, one of our earliest SILKBUSH partners, Tom Kingsbury, was stricken with cancer and he never was able to enjoy the end product. But he was proud of Silkbush and honored to be remembered in this fashion, as he knew the Guest Cottage would be named in his honor.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//looking-down-at-neighboring.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Looking Down from a Neighboring Property]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is another "perspective" shot so you can gain some idea of the scale of the mountains and the proximity to the Kingsbury Cottage. The Cottage is at elevation 1,500 feet and the mountain peaks about 6,500 feet. So the differential is close to 5,000 feet! The Silkbush crop map (&lt;a href="https://silkbush.prycision.com/silkbush-vineyards/crop-map/"&gt;https://silkbush.prycision.com/silkbush-vineyards/crop-map//a&gt;) reveals the location of the Cottage on the vineyard.&lt;/a&gt;]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//tom.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Tom Kingsbury in December 2001]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is former Silkbush partner Tom Kingsbury along with hometown chum Lorry Wendland... Tom, Lorry, and Co-founder, Dave Jefferson, were all originally from Rochester, Minnesota. Lorry was a cheerleader and brilliant to boot; now she is a grandmother and runs class reunions with panache! Both she and Tom came to South Africa to visit Dave. To say the least, they were very impressed. Tragically, Tom was taken from us in August 2007 by pancreatic cancer at age 64. We decided to name our guest house the "Kingsbury Cottage" after this remarkable and enthusiastic man; we informed Tom of our decision shortly before he died and he said he would be honored. Likewise, old friend; you honored us with your manifold contributions during your altogether too brief a stay.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//IMG_1423.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Cindy Kingsbury Wollaeger and Tim Wollaeger]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Cindy, the sister of our late partner Tom Kingsbury, and her husband Tim Wollaeger visited Silkbush in April 2014. Here they are enjoying wine at Lemberg Winery which is one of the neighboring cellars that buys Silkbush grapes.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2859_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[The Turnoff ...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is the turnoff when entering and exiting the Kingsbury Cottage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//wrought-iron-gate.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Wrought Iron Gate]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our pretty wrought iron gate provides privacy for guests in the Kingsbury Cottage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4800.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[View of Mountains &amp; Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Kingsbury is located on the NE property corner of SILKBUSH. Everyone who has visited has been flabbergasted at the views, the quality of the property, and the serenity of the setting. This early photo was taken in September when there still was snow on the mountains behind it.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4798_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Front Lawn in Early Spring]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is the front lawn of the cottage.... The vineyards are just coming out of dormancy.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//IMG_1414.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Brick Parking Area]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[When it is rainy and cold in the winter, we don't have a lot of guests. However, our brick parking area means no mud tracked in in any season.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//landscape.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Driveway to and Landscaping Around Cottage]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a view of the land leading up to the cottage..]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4890_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Western View From Carport]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is the Western view from the cottage carport. There really are beautiful views of Silkbush from every direction. Contact us through this website to reserve your stay.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2745_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Should you Choose an Outside Luncheon Spot]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The cottage offers many lovely dining spot choices outdoors.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4793_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Southern Views from the Kingsbury]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Enjoy fascinating shadow patterns on the southern views from the cottage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//IMG_0439.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Lower Dam As Seen in the Fall of 2014]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The mature foliage in the foreground is that of the Kingsbury Cottage. The shadows of the late afternoon are dramatic.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2806_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Big Picture Windows!]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The cottage's big picture windows let in lots of natural light and allow for beautiful views from inside out!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2764_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Not a Typical Dutch Stoep (Stoop)]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Our first Cape Town architects were expressly told we did not want to do Cape Dutch, but their first (and last) design was exactly that. What we prefer is sort of an updated Victorian farmhouse, with a metal roof, lots of windows, and a stoep just inches above the lawn. You may enjoy sitting on this stoep with a glass of wine while taking in the sunset.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//living-room.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Cottage Interior]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is an interior photo of the main living area.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2812_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Comfortable Couches in Living Room]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You will find many comfy couches to curl up with a book or take a catnap.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//living-room-3.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Dining Table and Kitchen]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a photo of the dining area and kitchen which are both very light and bright.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//living-room-2.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Cottage Interior]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This photo shows the cozy dining and living area of our cute cottage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2811_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Satellite TV and Wrought Iron Stove]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Kingsbury Cottage offers the conveniences of a vacation home with many places to wind down, relax, and enjoy a glass of Silkbush Pinotage. You may light a fire in the wrought iron stove as the mood strikes. There is also Satellite TV for your convenience if you crave electronic stimulation. And we of course provide guests with a broadband internet connection as well. Additionally, the cottage offers a separate office for those who want to get some work done while enjoying their stay with us.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2748_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Roof Trusses &amp; Air Conditioning]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The white, rectangular box below the trusses is another important amenity. The air conditioner is controlled by an easy-to-use remote. We offer A/C in both bedrooms, the office, and the living room.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2752_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Another View of the Trusses]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We love the architectural feel of the high ceilings and wooden trusses.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2997_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Living Room Drapes]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The drapes are necessary in late afternoons on sunny days.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//3001_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Well Appointed Kitchen]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You will feel at home in our modern, fully-appointed kitchen with stainless steel appliances, full cupboards, and up-to-date amenities.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//3000_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Kitchen looking Southwest...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a view from the kitchen, looking Southwest.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4888_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[The Scullery with a Washer &amp; Dryer]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[No need to over-pack on your visit with us- we offer a washer &amp; dryer right within the Kingsbury Cottage to make your vacation as carefree as possible.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//bedroom-1-.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Bedroom One]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a photo of one of the bedrooms, with a big cozy bed, sitting area and french doors leading to the outside.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2703_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Backyard View From Bedroom]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You will enjoy waking up to this vista each morning.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//bedroom.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Bedroom Two]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is the second bedroom with two cozy beds, sitting area, and french doors leading outside. Both bedrooms face the mountains.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2707_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Luggage Lockers]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We offer four luggage lockers so the emptied luggage does not have to remain in the bedrooms.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4871_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[First Bathroom With Roomy Shower]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You will enjoy this roomy modern shower in Bathroom one...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//bath-2-.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Bathroom One]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The clean, modern bathroom with roomy shower will make waking up in the Kingsbury Cottage a delight...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2697_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Soaking Tub in the Second Bathroom]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Fantastic Soaking Tub in second Bathroom.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//bath.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Bathroom Two]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a photo of our sleek modern bathroom with soaking tub....]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//hot-tub.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Hot Tub]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Another Kingsbury Cottage amenity is this large garden hot tub.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//hot-tub-and-gardens.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Anther View of the Hot Tub]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Be sure to have an extra bottle of Silkbush Pinotage on hand as you enjoy this view of the gardens while lazing in the hot tub.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:title><![CDATA[Lovely Garden View]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Another lovely garden view, hot tub in the distance...]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//IMG_0447.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sybasberg Peak is on the Left]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The mountains behind the cottage are ever so dramatic throughout the day.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//IMG_0441.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Lone Pine in the "Veld"]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The "veld" is the scrub bushes, plants, and trees of the natural landscape. This is how over two thirds of Silkbush looked before we cleared the land and prepared it for planting.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//IMG_1411.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Most Sunsets are Quite Dramatic at Silkbush]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The cottage is a little under 2,000 sq. ft., but has a wonderful back and side yard, two bedrooms/two baths, and views to compete with any in the Cape.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2802_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Carport and Backyard]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Subsequently, we added folding doors to the carport, to create a large dining/party area with its rainy or otherwise inclement.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2744_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Braai Built Into the Carport]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[If you enjoy a traditional South African barbecue, be sure to use the Braai at the Kingsbury Cottage on your stay with us. The Braai is fully modern and makes for a fantastic evening at Silkbush Mountain Vineyards.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//2749_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[All Paintings Are Original Art]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Throughout the Kingsbury Cottage, enjoy original artwork by local painters. We think you may be inspired to purchase a few of your own original pieces of art to take home when your stay is done.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4874_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Another Painting]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is another painting in the cottage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4877_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Tractor Painting]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[You will likely see a few tractors on your South African winetasting adventure!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4876_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[A Local Scene]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We love the colorful, expressive style of the South African artists!]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4883_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Another Piece of Art]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here's one more painting you can discover at the Kingsbury Cottage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//img_4746_thumb.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Spectacular Evening View...]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[This is a dramatic evening view from the cottage.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//sunset-a.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[The Eastern Cliffs Above The Kingsbury Cottage]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The highest peak is known as Sybasberg (or Silkbush Mountain in Afrikaans), and is directly above our property.  It is the 3rd highest peak in the Breede River Valley, and identified on the map as almost 2,000 meters above sea level. The "shrubs" in the foreground are the Wabooms Proteas, which bloom in December; Waboom means "Wagon Tree" as the early settlers made wagon wheel spokes and brakes from its tough wood. As you can see, the mountains in South Africa are quite daunting and the Voortrekkers had to take their wagons over them to move inland.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//IMG_1397.JPG</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Mountains Across the Valley]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The mountains across the valley may limit the sunset, but it is an extraordinary sight nonetheless.]]></image:caption>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery-10-our-guest-house//sunset-kingsbury.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Sunset at the Kingsbury]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Here is a final view from the Kingsbury Cottage... an absolutely spectacular sunset. We hope you will come visit us at Silkbush Mountain Vineyards soon to experience it yourself soon!]]></image:caption>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/documents-of-interest/</loc>
		<lastmod>2017-07-12T15:25:13+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/hong-kong-flag.jpg</image:loc>
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	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/investors-information/</loc>
		<lastmod>2018-09-07T18:12:26+00:00</lastmod>
	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/our-wines/</loc>
		<lastmod>2019-02-08T13:46:07+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/h-silkbush-wines-wines-1.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/SilkBush-Pinotage.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/SilkBush-Shiraz.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/SilkBush-Viognier-2016.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/icon-pdf.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/SilkBush-Rose-2016.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Silk-Bush-Hillside-Red-2017.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/icon-pdf.jpg</image:loc>
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		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Silk-Bush-Summer-White-2018.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/icon-pdf.jpg</image:loc>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/about-us/</loc>
		<lastmod>2019-02-11T19:05:52+00:00</lastmod>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/h-silkbush-wines-about-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[h-silkbush-wines-about]]></image:title>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/gallery/</loc>
		<lastmod>2019-02-17T08:37:58+00:00</lastmod>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/h-silkbush-wines-gallery-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[h-silkbush-wines-gallery]]></image:title>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/silkbush-vineyards/</loc>
		<lastmod>2019-10-25T06:55:35+00:00</lastmod>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/h-silkbush-wines-our-vineyards-1.jpg</image:loc>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/silkbush-crop-map.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[Graphical map of vineyard blocks at Silkbush]]></image:caption>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Plaaskaart.jpg</image:loc>
		</image:image>
	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/trade-media/</loc>
		<lastmod>2020-11-19T11:59:48+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/h-silkbush-wines-trade-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[h-silkbush-wines-trade]]></image:title>
		</image:image>
	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/visiting-south-africa-silkbush/</loc>
		<lastmod>2021-02-03T05:34:08+00:00</lastmod>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/h-silkbush-wines-visit-sa-1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[h-silkbush-wines-visit-sa]]></image:title>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Visit-South-Africa.jpg</image:loc>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Logo-South-Africa-Tourism.jpg</image:loc>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Logo-Ceres-Tourism.jpg</image:loc>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Logo-Worcester-Tourism.jpg</image:loc>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/maps/map_1.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Western Cape, Cape Town and Cape Winelands]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[We have illustrated the fastest way to drive from Cape Town International Airport (via the N2, R300 and N1) to Worcester/Breede River Valley area. However, once through the Dutoitskloof Tunnel, there are three alternative roads to SILKBUSH, as illustrated on the second and third map.]]></image:caption>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/maps/map_2.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Breede River Valley North: Worcester, Rawsonville and Breerivier]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[IMPORTANT: If you do not make the initial (right) turnoff to Rawsonville, you are unable to take either the first or second route to SILKBUSH. (The N1 has relatively few on/off places and no 'cloverleaf' overpasses.) Your only alternative then is the turnoff to the R43 just before the large Shell station. If you get to the traffic signal (robot), you have missed everything and must do a U turn.]]></image:caption>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/maps/map_3.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[SILKBUSH Vineyards: about 5 miles east of R43 Highway]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[IMPORTANT: Once on the R43, note the indicated distances. When you see the left turn sign for Slanghoek, slow down; the right turn for Breerivier is less than a mile ahead. If you miss it, about 3 miles ahead is the T junction with the R303. Make a U turn and come back to Breerivier and turn left toward nearest mountains. IMPORTANT: Even though you are now about 5 miles from the vineyard, please pay attention to this last map. You must make three more turns on blacktop road to get to the last mile of dirt. Good navigators have fumbled this last 5 miles more times than we like to recall. Anton's cell phone is 083-629-1735 if you blow it and still need help.]]></image:caption>
		</image:image>
		<image:image>
			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/gallery/maps/map_4.jpg</image:loc>
			<image:title><![CDATA[Scenic routes, mountain passes and towns near SILKBUSH Vineyards]]></image:title>
			<image:caption><![CDATA[The Bainskloof and Mitchells passes, and the small towns of Tulbagh and Ceres are spectacular, 'do not miss' sites. This entire region could be deemed a national park in many countries; budget some time and really enjoy it properly. You'll be glad you did.]]></image:caption>
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		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/people/</loc>
		<lastmod>2021-05-20T13:56:29+00:00</lastmod>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/popi/</loc>
		<lastmod>2021-07-26T08:26:07+00:00</lastmod>
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	</url>
	<url>
		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/contact-silkbush-mountain-vineyards/</loc>
		<lastmod>2021-07-26T08:34:10+00:00</lastmod>
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			<image:loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/h-silkbush-wines-contact-1.jpg</image:loc>
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		<loc>https://silkbush.prycision.com/guest-house/</loc>
		<lastmod>2021-10-27T18:29:38+00:00</lastmod>
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