For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Hartebeesport Dam - Part 4

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY MY FRIENDS!!

Hartebeespoort Dam is situated about half and hours drive from where I live and is nestled amongst some medium-sized mountains. The area is lush and green for most of the year with only he grass turning brown in the winter months. Some of the houses there are copies of the old Dutch houses which were put up by or early settlers.
There is a small complex where you can get a bite to eat or drink and has a small souvenier shop for the tourists.
The dam itself is fairly large and man-made, with many water sports on it from fishing, various kinds of boating and sailing, skiing etc.
Across the narrow part near the dam wall which has a hyrdo plant in it to generate elctricity, these houses can be seen but definitely not afforded, by most of our normal mortals.
Of course the area is full of flowers which in turn are full of bugs like this ladybird/bug larvae.
Spiders are everywhere even though most of the species found there are tiny.
It is a good place to go and relax. There is a houseboat which takes you out for lunchtime cruises and a small but lovely little zoo as well. The area has some nice hiking, cycling and horse riding trails so is very popular on a Sunday. The small restuarant is always full of people who come there on moterbikes for their 'breakfast-run'. For the birding enthusiast, it is a paradise.