So, you’re sitting behind your computer. (I know the feeling.)
Wouldn’t you rather be in a car, with the windows down, listening to your favourite driving tune?
I don’t know if its the same for everyone, but I think there’s something special about an open road under African skies.
Found this one between the towns of Kirkwood and Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
Absolutely BRILLIANT!
Anyone remember the words to ‘Radar love’?
{Update: Go here for more information on Google Maps of South Africa}
In the same week that the tickets for the 2010 Soccer World Cup went on sale, Google blessed us with a significant update to their coverage of South Africa.
Coincidence? Well, who knows?
We’ve been hearing rumors and seeing some nice updates to the satellite imagery, but rumors are just that and photographic updates do come by once in a while anyway.
The type of updates to the ‘maps’ section of Google Maps (as opposed to the ’satellite’ section), indicates something completely different in terms of Google’s intent.
It paves the way for Streetview, transit maps, and a multitude of very cool mobile applications – all of which we were unable to use in South Africa because of the low detail levels of Google Maps of the country.
The first two improvements we picked up were:
Click on the icons on the map to view the panoramic pictures we took at Lake Fundudzi and zoom out to explore 1500 more such images of South Africa.
If you have a look at the shots we took of the gravel road, you’ll understand why it’s impressive that this road made it to a map at all.
For South Africans who like putting 360º images of interesting places on interactive maps it looks like a very early Christmas indeed.
I’m sure we’ll find some more updates as we play along, but if you find something before we do, please drop us a note in the ‘comments’ section.
I wish a was back in school this year.
I would have had the best answer to the “So, what did you do over the Christmas break?“- question.
It would have sounded like this: “Nothing much, got up early to watch the cricket, got charged by a Black Rhino, survived, got some good pics ….. the usual stuff..”
“Anything else” the teacher might have asked sarcastically - to which I would have been able to reply :”... o yes, the day after I got caught between an Elephant bull and a Buffalo – and I survived that too. Thank you Miss.”
It would have been larny and way kiff – and I would have earned some serious playground credit.
Be that as it may, even if I’m not 10 anymore, it still happened and it was still very cool.
I was at Hlosi Lodge in the Eastern Cape.
Invited by the Lion Roars group to update their virtual tours of both Hlosi and Bukela Lodge.
On the first morning, after 2 or 3 hours of fruitless photography a Black Rhino suddenly appeared near the lodge. Seeing that there are no fences he duly set off towards the lodge pool for a morning drink,
I got a great 360º, which you can get a look at by clicking on this thumbnail.
[flash http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/rhino/rhino%20at%20pool.swf w=800 h=500 preview={http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/rhino/thmbs/rhino%20at%20pool%20tmb.jpg|200|125} mode=3]
After posing for a few pics, he took a leisurely stroll to the nearest chalet, where I was lucky enough to get EXTREMELY close and get some unique shots.
Next stop was the fig tree and the old farm building behind the lodge.
I created a video of how I got the shot – if you want to know what happens when a Black Rhino smells a tripod – check this out:
[flash http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/rhino/rhino%20at%20figtree.swf w=800 h=500 preview={http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/rhino/thmbs/rhino%20at%20figtree.jpg|200|120} mode=3] (you know the drill – click away..)
After this close encounter, I followed him as he grazed further and further away from the lodge until he decided to inspect one of the game viewers. This made for a great shot and I ventured into the open veldt to get it.
Seconds after the shot below, a water pump, located about a meter from the rhino switched itself on.
Now I don’t know if you’ve had the privilege of seeing an angry rhino head on – but I can assure you, it’s exhilarating.
I did my best to keep still, but when he was about 15 m away it became apparent that he was blaming me for the incident with the water pump and that he was not planning to stop.
I made a dash for a rather large bush about 5m to my left, but the rhino kept coming.
Luckily the ranger was quick on his feet and by the time I came hurtling around the bush, he drove the game viewer between me and the sharp end of the galloping dinosaur.
The perfect end to a perfect day at Hlosi Lodge.
The following day I had a similar experience with a huge elephant and a very lazy buffalo, but that’s a story for another time…..
Links to virtual tours:
In this second installment in our Virtual Africa series on the South African World Heritage Sites, we take a brief look at and share a few 360º virtual tours of The Cape Floral Kingdom.
As mentioned before (in “Why South African World Heritage Sites are of importance to you“), this is one of those classic examples of a World Heritage Site many local inhabitants know almost nothing about.
So here are some of the facts :
When you read what the experts say about this part of the world, it is obvious that those in the know view the Cape Floral Kingdom as a little peace of heaven on earth.
They explain how the the type of soil, the climate and regular fires combine to make this part of the world so unique and diverse.
For those of us who don’t understand the difference between a Leucospermum and a Leucadendron, here are a few facts and stats to help explain why the Cape Floral Kingdom is a World Heritage site:
Links to more information:
8 Reasons why the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is MAGIC:
For those of you longing to go back and those who haven’t been to the Kalahari before, here’s some help….
Click on the ‘fullscreen‘ (top left) to see the GOOD STUFF and 8 more reasons why the Kalahari is truly a place of MAGIC.
Summer has truly arrived in sunny South Africa!!
The beaches are packed, the Nedbank Golf Challenge is underway at Sun City and our cricketers are getting ready to whip the Ausies (we hope).
Click on the images below to see 360º virtual tours of Clifton Beach and the Gary Player Golf Course at Sun City in the Pilanesberg.
[flash http://virtualafrica.co.za/mp/gotravel24/360/clifton1.swf w=500 h=300 preview={http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/thumbs/clifton_tmb.jpg|300|200} mode=3] [flash http://www.virtualafrica.co.za/geswffiles/suncity/Gary_Player_Hole_9_Green.swf w=500 h=300 preview={http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/thumbs/suncity_tmb.jpg|300|200} mode=3 caption={Sun City}]
Who cares about economic meltdown and the property market when you can spend Christmas in South Africa.
For those of you following the Nedbank Golf Tournament, here’s an interactive map of Sun City.
You are welcome to explore the course and resort by clicking on the icons.
The Good news: It’s out.
The Bad news: its HUGE!
Six months after Google released their amazing Google Earth plugin for Windows, they have now released the Mac version.
The plugin, for the non-geeks, is a small piece of software that enables your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari etc) to show 3D Google Earth images in a normal 2D website.
In short: Full Google Earth use, without Google Earth having to download and install Google Earth.
There is no way to describe the coolness though – you have to experience it for yourself.
Simply click on the earth button on one of our enabled maps and follow the instructions to install the plugin. Try this map of the Richtersveld World Heritage Site.
The bad news is that while the Windows plugin is about 500 KB the Mac plugin is 47 MB !!!!
That is bigger than the stand-alone Google Earth application and really bad news for South African users who always struggle with bandwidth costs and limitations.
Anyway, it’s a first step.
I’m sure our friends at Google Earth will bring the size down in the coming months, because a 47MB plugin does not really lower the barrier of entry to 3D virtual globes – now does it?
Update:
First experience
After posting above, I’ve spent a few minutes downloading, installing and testing the plugin.
There is some more bad news though. It does not seem to work!
Not even close!
It might be because our maps are at the top-end of complexity, but the Windows plugin (the small one) does work with our maps (with some minor issues).
I’ll keep on testing and get back to you, but at this (very) early stage: it’s a HUGE plugin that doesn’t work.
Anyone else with better luck – let me know….
I’m a bit behind on my World Heritage Site postings, but I’ve been running around with Americans (not the notorious Cape Town gang) and created some quality content to help them show how beautiful this part of South Africa actually is.
So, while you anxiously await our next amazing post on one of South Africa’s World Heritage Sites, here’s some 360º eye candy for your enjoyment.
This is a Full Screen Virtual Tour of the Cape Peninsula which includes shots of Cape Point, Camps Bay, Chapman’s Peak and some very cute penguins at Boulders Beach.
(click on the icon below…)
What do you think:
In a brilliant marketing initiative, the International Marketing Council (IMC) is currently taking a group of high profile bloggers on a short tour of South Africa.
I’ve had the privilege of spending most of today with the group and am looking forward to read their perspectives on this continent we call home.
After the positive feedback from our picture of the cloned winemakers of Vilafonte, I thought we’d return to some normality and simply show (singular) individuals in this group photo.
You can mouse-over each of the bloggers to see who they are. Clicking on a person in the picture will take your to his/her blog.
Most of what they write is posted at www.weblogtheworld.com whichon first impressions seems to be a really well structured aggregation platform.Check it out.
We wish our guests a safe and blessed trip in our magical and complex country.
May you go home with more questions than answers.
And may those questions be the right ones…..
One of the most prestigious awards that can befall a South African winemaker is a 5 star rating in the annual John Platter wine guide.
This year Vilafonté , the first American-South African wine making collaboration, has made the cut with their Vilafonté Series C 2006 red blend.
Most people would understand that a 5 star wine is not made in one year, it is the result of many years of detailed planning and very hard work – the culmination of a series of good decisions and, in this case, some international team work.
From the picture below it is apparent that Vilafonte does have another competitive advantage though: they have been able to clone their winemaker, Bernard le Roux.
Apparently it’s a treat during the busy harvest time, but they have to lock at least 8 of him away during the winter.
Good thing they have those big cold storage rooms…….
Here is Bernard explaining the Vilafonte sorting process.
With this much attention to detail, no wonder their end product is top class.
Well done guys!!
