Boesmanriviermond
Wednesday 16th and the sun is still shining, I took a drive out along the road to Port Elizabeth. Trying to admire the view as you travel is much more difficult when driving at the same time. About 27 km from Port Alfred, having already crossed two rivers, I came across the sight post to 'Boesmanriviermond' (established in 1897) which is africans for Bushmans River Mouth.
After following the road down to the slipway at the river mouth where there is also a very pleasant place to swim, this turned out to be a very attractive spot to venture along. I drove back along the side road parallel with the river through the houses and cottages which were originally a holiday retreat for farmers and people from the towns inland and now appear to be inhabited year round. In the early days farmers would trek to the area in ox drawn wagons carrying everything they would need including fresh water, now it is much more civilized.
Seasoned boaters in the area are still caught out when floods or changes in the tides move the sandbanks as this is the second longest tidal river in South Africa. At high tide reaching 30 km inland. I saw a man in the river net casting for salt water fish in addition to those on boat or bank side with rod and line. An extract from bushmans.org states that:
- a river, rock or beach angling catch may include anything from kabeljou (kob), elf (shad), leerfish (garrick), spotted grunter, steenbras, cape salmon, stumpnose and many other rarer sea species such as gurnard, rock cod, red river snapper and mussel cracker. Sand and rock mussels, perlemoen (abalone), alicrock, oysters, river crab, cuttle fish, prawns, crayfish and octopus also occur plentifully along the coastline and in the river.
Sitting in the restaurant having and excellent meal of garlic mushrooms followed by fresh Hake and coffee I observed the wild birds taking fish from the water, the silvery shine of the fish between its beak is something to behold and no amount of TV footage will ever do justice to seeing nature in close-up.
Seasoned boaters in the area are still caught out when floods or changes in the tides move the sandbanks as this is the second longest tidal river in South Africa. At high tide reaching 30 km inland. I saw a man in the river net casting for salt water fish in addition to those on boat or bank side with rod and line. An extract from bushmans.org states that:- a river, rock or beach angling catch may include anything from kabeljou (kob), elf (shad), leerfish (garrick), spotted grunter, steenbras, cape salmon, stumpnose and many other rarer sea species such as gurnard, rock cod, red river snapper and mussel cracker. Sand and rock mussels, perlemoen (abalone), alicrock, oysters, river crab, cuttle fish, prawns, crayfish and octopus also occur plentifully along the coastline and in the river.
Hence as you travel a short distance upriver you will come across the 'Sandbar' floating restaurant which serves many of these delicacies subject to availability of course. Ah the one that got away! If you wish to go directly to the 'Sandbar' turn right off the main road from Port Alfred rather than left into the town, visa versa coming from Port Elizabeth.
Sitting in the restaurant having and excellent meal of garlic mushrooms followed by fresh Hake and coffee I observed the wild birds taking fish from the water, the silvery shine of the fish between its beak is something to behold and no amount of TV footage will ever do justice to seeing nature in close-up.The sun was starting to set as I left this tranquil haven of natural beauty so vast that the speed boats on the river become insignificant. I managed to photograph another wader catching its dinner though my lens must have misted up as the last shots are not as clear. I departed with a deep red sky overhead as the sun set over the hills in the distance. The drive back to Port Alfred was mostly in darkness and I began to appreciate the vast distances both on land and sky lit by the full moon and no light pollution. Imagine being one of the settlers in 1820, as the sign post says this is 'Frontier Country'.
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