the-boere-volk

Art Gallery at Riverbend Croc Farm

Riverbend Art Gallery was opened by the late Dennis Cominos the then mayor of Margate on the 17th August 1984. Riverbend Art Gallery is home to works by many of South Africa’s finest artists including, Dino Paravano, Titta Fasciotti, Rob Wareing, Rob McIntosh, John Smith, Kobus Kotze, Peter Hall, Louis Audie, Richard Rennie, Coral Spenser, Isabel Le Roux, Marc Poisson, Tony De Freitas and many others.

Union Buildings in Pretoria

The Union Buildings in Pretoria are home to the form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa, and have always been central to South African history. It is here that Nelson Mandela became the state President in 1994, changing the face of South Africa. The beautiful gardens around the Union Buildings are very well maintained, and offer a lovely garden park to stroll through and relax.




http://www.360cities.net/image/unionsunset

Ou Raadsaal

The Ou Raadsaal (old Council Chamber), served as the first parliament of South Africa. The building was designed by Sytze Wopke Wierda in a classical style of Greek and Roman architecture. Originally supposed to be two storeys high, president Paul Kruger insisted a 3rd storey added so that it would not be shorter than the nearby hotel. The Ou Raadsaal building was restored in 1962, when the British Coat of arms over the entrance was replaced by the South African Republic’s coat of arms, a replica of the one originally sculpted by Anton van Wouw. After many years of planning and research, the Raadsaal was once again restored in 1992, in an effort to return it to its former glory.

The great grey colossus of the massive Voortrekker Monument can be seen from all directions as you approach Pretoria. Built in honour of the Voortrekkers (Pioneers), who left the Cape Colony in their thousands between 1835 and 1854.

The Voortrekker Monument is the biggest monument in Africa, and is a nature reserve.

The Voortrekk Monument's dimentions are 40 meters wide, by 40 meters wide, by 40 meters high. A Cube.

The cornerstone was laid by Mrs. J.C. Muller (granddaughter of Andries Pretorius), Mrs. K.F. Ackerman (great granddaugther of Hendrik Potgieter), and Mrs. J.C. Preller (great granddaughter of Piet Retief) on 16 December 1938. Eleven years later the Monument was inaugurated on 16 December 1949.

The total cost for the construction of the Monument came to £359,600, of which the state contributed the most.Additional funds were obtained through donations, special stamp sales, commemorative envelopes, souvenirs and publications.This image was taken on the north east side of the roof, 60 meters above the ground. Camera was mounted on a 4.5 meter high pole.

Full Virtual Tour of the Voortrekker Monument.

Addo Elephant Park in Port Elizabeth

We recently visited the Addo Elephant Park in Port Elizabeth, home to hundreds of African Elephant. We parked the car at Hapoor Dam for about 2 hours, and sat watching these magnificent animals coming down to the dam to drink, cool down, and play!

In this 360 degree panoramic photo you can get an idea of how close these elephants were to us, and how big they are. Enjoy!

The Hall of Heroes is the main central hall of the Voortrekker Monument. It is a high domed hall, 25x25x41 metres, with marble floors and an impressive marble frieze (92 metres long and 2,3 metres high), depicting historical scenes from the Great Trek.

Four huge arched windows made from yellow Belgian glass flank the hall and give the impression that the area is a revered place, like a temple.

Below the Hall of Heroes is the Cenotaph Hall, and museum.

Full Virtual Tour of the Voortrekker Monument.

The Point Hotel in Mossel Bay

We recently had the pleasure of staying at The Point Hotel Mossel Bay for a few nights while photographing a number of Virtual Tours in the Mossel Bay area (more on that over the next few months). This Hotel Virtual Tour of The Point Hotel shows its wonderful location, situated right on the point of the natural bay of Mossel Bay, below the St Blaize lighthouse, and right on the rocks! Looking out your hotel suite, one almost feels like you are on a ship!