A walk and a whale

The hike from the Kom along the boardwalk, past the lighthouse and through to the end of Soetwater was surprisingly long at just over 6km. A beach walk is very easy and can be accomplished by anyone! Another perfect day for walking, with clouds to shelter us from the sun and a light breeze off the sea to keep us cool. This unspoilt coastline is well worth seeking out, with its abundant birdlife (dikkops, blacksmith plovers, sacred ibis, herons, oyster catchers - some have new names but are the same old birds). Tankers and fishing boats plied back and forth on the horizon, and a pretty yacht passed by beyond the breakers. Promises of rain faded as the morning progressed.
An unexpected treat was an impromptu lecture by a charming young man at the Parmalat environmental centre in the Soetwater coastal conservancy. This is adjacent to the model of a sperm whale that can be seen from the road above, and although it has become slightly weather-beaten over the years, it brings a sense of the immensity of these mammals to the thousands of schoolchildren who are brought here to learn more about nature at this centre. The story of how it arrived there was very entertaining!

Soon there will be a snake section and bird sanctuary for owls and raptors, which sounds well worth a visit and is definitely on our list for our next hike.
Although this walk is unlikely to raise the heart rate via exercising, it certainly raises the levels of happiness and appreciation of life to walk unhindered in such beautiful surroundings!