This lovely old lady spent the night at Impangele on her way back from a vintage car rally in George – her owners are determined that next year – the rally will happen in Swellendam! So it won’t be the last we see of her, I hope.

Lovely old Lady

Staying in the cottage this last week was AC/DC tribute band ‘SA/DC’ who have been performing  at the 2012 Up The Creek Festival Dave has enjoyed having fellow musos with whom to talk all things Rock and Roll…..

Laurence and Edwina, from London, have stayed in Swellendam on every trip they have made to SA. Just for one night.  They have stayed at four or five different guesthouses, and two years ago they stayed at Impangele.  And now…they are back! This time for two nights – because we persuaded them there was far more to do in Swellendam than just spend the night! They booked into La Sosta restaurant for both nights of their stay – and who can blame them: it is a fabulous contemporary Italian restaurant of which Swellendam is extremely proud.

Last night Amanda and Dave were proud to present a Certificate of Appreciation and R2,300, which had been donated by some of their guests, to Meisie Bokwana.  The Mayor of Swellendam attended the event and Meisie was able to explain some of her projects to him.  Entertainment was provided by some of the children who spend their afternoons working on dance and music projects at Meisie’s house in Railton, Swellendam.

Meisie meets the Mayor of Swellendam

Meise's Certificate

There are many good reasons for stopping at Impangele Guest House but the guests who stayed last night had an unusual one. Driving past they noticed our sign with our logo,  a guinea fowl feather. (Impangele is the Xhosa and Zulu word for guinea fowl). One of the group is the director of the only guinea fowl hatchery in Holland – they decided it was fate that had brought them to us and booked in straight away!

Dave the Wildebeeste, wine connoisseur extraordinaire, has plans to visit Van Loveren Wine Estate tomorrow – he has heard a rumour that they are now open on Sundays and offering delicious burgers and pizzas. Dave the W is, of course, vegetarian, but he is more than happy to taste the wine and chill to the live music.  And, of course, pose for his photo to go on the Wine Routes page of this website……

Spectacular pictures of the raging fire are emerging – amazing to think that such devastation can be caused by one careless act – a dropped cigarette, rumour has it.

Beautiful - but deadly

Our beautiful mountain is on fire – hardly suprising with the serious heat and lack of rain we have been experiencing.  Good luck to our fire fighters who are working hard to extinguish it – and hopefully there will not be too much damage to our wildlife.