“The overall goal of Integrated Coastal Management is to improve the quality of life of human communities who d
epend on coastal resources while maintaining the biological diversity and productivity of coastal ecosystems. . . . It is a process that unites government and the community, science and management, sectoral and public interests in preparing and implementing an integrated plan for the protection and development of coastal ecosystems and resources.” (Report on fundamental goals of coastal management via deliberations of the Group of Experts of Marine Protection 1996)
E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y
The national vision sets out the desired future for South Africa’s coast and the people using this valuable resource as follows:
“We, the people of South Africa, celebrate the diversity, beauty and richness of our coast and seek an equitable balance of opportunities and benefits throughout it. We strive for sustainable coastal development involving a balance between material prosperity, social development, cultural values, spiritual fulfilment and ecological integrity, in the interests of all South Africans. We strive for a time when all South Africans recognise that the coast is ours to enjoy in a spirit of community. We look forward to a time when all South Africans assume shared responsibility for maintaining the health, diversity and productivity of coastal ecosystems in a spirit of stewardship and caring.
We seek to guide the management of our coast in a way that benefits current and future generations, and honours our obligations and undertakings from local to global levels”.
How will this affect a small coastal community like Noetzie? The new legislation will protect public access routes to the beach and entrenches the rights of all South Africans to enjoy the coastline for recreation and other purposes and also protects the environment. If you would like to read more and to study the legislation, please click on this link: National Coastal Management Programme.
The turn off to Noetzie is just a few Kilometers from Knysna, on the eastern side, opposite the turn off to Uniondale. Follow the dirt road towards the sea, until you get to the public parking area at the end of the road. The road can be quite bumpy in places, depending on how recently it was graded, or if it has recently had heavy rainfall erode it. So drive slowly and carefully. After parking, be sure to lock your car, and do not leave any valuables in sight. There is usually a self-employed car guard on duty.
Please do not drive down the old wagon road, because there is no parking available for the public and very little turning space- especially since the river mouth has washed away permit holders 4×4 access via road which ends abruptly in the air.
Follow signs to steps to the beach, or you can walk down the Old Wagon Road which is on the far left of parking area. There are public toilets at bottom of the Old Wagon Road- water supplying the toilets is from the lagoon and is not potable, so bring your own refreshments- but take all your litter home with you, please- or dispose of responsibly in primate proof rubbish bins.
Looking through the old family album collections, my husband and I discovered that both our grandfathers had once been in love with the same girl. The details are sketchy but when the same graceful beauty appeared, so often, in both our grandfathers’ bachelor albums, we started to look for, and find more clues.
Herbie North’s album
What we have found out is that her name was Una le F…., maybe le Fleur, her sister, or friend, was Peggy. These photos were taken in 1926, a weekend party to the coast from Oudtshoorn, via Kruisfontein, Prince Albert. Apparently there was a le Fleur family living in Knysna?
Herbie North’s album – Is that Una standing behind the car?
John W. Newdigate album – Here she is again, in the reeds at Noetzie. Is that Herbie on the left? Yes, I think so.
Una & Peggy laughing on the steps at North Cottage, from Herbie North’s album
She never married either of them but the wives they eventually married (our grandmothers) may have ripped photos out of their husband’s bachelor albums at some point – it really looks like photos have been removed deliberately.
Una was chaperoned at all times by her parents, the man who we now assume is her father, we once were convinced was George Bernard Shaw (he did visit Noetzie- but a few years later). You can see Una’s parents and siblings (?) in the watermelon feast pictures, as well as others. I don’t think the chaperones went on the picnics upriver though, that might have been too adventurous.
John W. Newdigate album – picnic with Una at Noetzie River
John followed her or accompanied her on a trip to Europe, or did she post this to him, after her visit to Noetzie?
John W. Newdigate album – sailing on the Knysna Estuary (Una on right)
So, that is all we have really- there are a few more I might add but I am still relying on too much imagination when I look at these lovely faded photographs. I wish they could tell us a bit more! Bruce and I did not know that our grandfathers knew each other that well but it certainly seems that they did. Maybe Herbie was in love with the sister Peggy and Una is behind the lens? Who knows? 5 years later, Herbie called his new baby daughter Peggy. Is that a small clue? Ah, no that is my imagination at it again:)
Herbie’s album, ‘cooling off in the lagoon’
Herbie’s album: Sand witches? Hmm, under her spell perhaps?
Below, Herbie on right with his arm on Una’s knee. John is to the left in dark pants looking very glum. Mysterious GBS look-alike next to him – probably the father keeping an eye on his daughters?
Can you provide any info. I’d love to fill in the gaps!
The old Noetzie castles before demolition and renovation.
I’ve noticed that the words used in the title of this blog post are the most popular search terms bringing traffic to this website. I think people are fascinated by castles because castles take them back to their childhood, fairy tales and stories of pirates and hidden treasures.
I do not want to disappoint you but there are no old buried treasure tales to spice up Noetzie’s history- the more interesting parts of the castles’ history seemed to have happened in the last decade (access battles, protest marches, ancient skeletons and a few other present day issues I don’t want to mention here).
Some of the oldest castles at Noetzie have been demolished and re-built, to bring them into the ‘top dollar’ luxury property market bracket. The last remaining old castle is called Pezula Castle and was built about 75 years ago, and was the inspiration for the name of the neighbouring estate, perhaps? After all, we heard a rumour that the developer arrived at Noetzie by helicopter, landing on the beach in front of the old Pezula Castle. ‘Pezula’ is Zulu word meaning ” up high” or “in the heavens”. This particular castle remains empty and abandoned, not really safe for occupation. I wonder if the castle will eventually be fixed up too, or will it be allowed to slowly go to ruin? As it is over 60 years old it does have heritage status. My husband and a few others who have been there at night, say it is haunted. He used to hang out there with his friends when they were teenagers and the stories about the ghosts pushing them down the stone steps seem to have been exaggerated with each re-telling. So I am not convinced they are true, but nor would I even dream of going there on a stormy, moonless night.
We have watched ordinary people in all shapes and sizes make the trek down the stairs from the car park, wanting to see the castles with their very own eyes. They walk on to the beach in front of the castles, turn around, point and pose for photographs, and immediately leave the beach- back up the 116 steps and a very steep track. That is a real pilgrimage of love for knobbly stone buildings, with not much history to speak of. We never can believe that the castle fans do not walk on the beach, or cool their sweaty toes in the river mouth or just stop to properly enjoy the breathtaking beautiful Nature at Noetzie. The statistics for this website seem to reflect a similar fascination for the Noetzie castles.
Here are some castle photographs for the fans of Noetzie castles. There are more pictures, stories and information about the castles on the History and Gallery pages of this website. Of the six castles at Noetzie, which is your favourite? I think the smaller Perekuil Castle is the nicest one. Tucked around the corner on the far Western end of the beach with it’s own little beach and gulley.
There are plans for another new large castle on the western end of the beach . Maybe that will force the castle fans to explore a bigger area and enjoy the beach more?
Despite all the negative press around baboons, it is quite easy to live in harmony with baboons and monkeys. People who choose to live in areas where baboons forage for food benefit from acquiring a mind-set that supports peaceful co-existence. People who refuse to follow the few basics will suffer baboon problems. It is as simple as all that.
Food is the single crux of all things baboon.
Here are the basics guidelines for living in harmony with the Noetzie baboons
1. Baboons will climb on your house :
Baboons are foragers and will hunt everywhere for food because their lives depend on that success. If your home is in an area where baboons and monkeys roam for food, they are going to climb on your house. You cannot change that. Even electric fencing will let you down over time. You can, however, change outcomes by making your home benign to damage. Choose flush light fittings and set wires and dishes in ways that are not clambering spots onto your roof. Baboons will play on garden furniture. Whether that is a delight or a nightmare is up to you. We have robust stuff that cannot suffer from being chewed or moved. They love playing with cushions. If you leave soft furnishings outdoors, they will get chewed. We chase baboons off our house but not from our garden. It seems that the older baboons understand as they idly watch naughty juveniles being chased, sometimes screaming, from the roof.
2. Educate your fellows:
One weak link can leave you with endless trouble. If a neighbour or tenant allows a baboon to enter a house and steal food, this is the beginning of high stress for both the baboon and the human. And the neighbours ! Homeowners would find huge benefit in educating their fellow humans before any such wildlife destruction occurs. Feeding “cute” baboons, or using food to lure baboons is, in essence, a murderous gesture. And it is illegal.
3. Lock up :
Keeping your house closed is not an option. Its imperative. People who are not prepared to keep their homes closed are not suited to living in wild areas. If baboons were lions, people would not think twice about keeping things closed. It should be the same for all wild animals. Keep them out. Clearbar on all opening windows affords one the luxury of leaving windows open unattended. Leaving doors open unattended, even for a minute, is not smart. Because baboons have opposable thumbs, we do not just close doors but keep all doors locked all the time.
4. Keep food out of view:
Baboons will not stop trying to get at food they can see. Baboons have been known to take sliding doors off their trolleys to get at fruit bowls on tables. They have sheared opening mechanisms off windows with their strong fingers to get to food they could see. The choice is simple. Keep food out of view or be broken in and be raided.
5. Remove access to food :
Leaving food outdoors under any circumstances is the start to your baboon troubles. Do not leave food anywhere, like left-over plates at parties and luncheons. This includes accessible rubbish bins. Even food off your property at so called “feeding stations” is not a good idea since baboons should forage for wild food. Children should never be left with food unattended.
What to do if confronted by a baboon
In your garden or house, stand still and remain calm. Sudden movements will make it act defensively.
Back away slowly and do not block its escape route.
Be determined, decisive and confident when driving a baboon off.
Spray the baboon with a strong stream of water as they hate water. Have a water pistol in the house and a hose pipe ready in the garden.
Keep pets out of the way.
Do not try to snatch back anything from a baboon – it will fight to hold on to food.
Do not threaten infants and juveniles as adults, in particularly the alpha male, will protect them with aggression if necessary.
Following these simple basics will help keep baboon troops in the area as they should be – wild. Wild baboons are not pests but delightful animals one is privileged to observe. I love our wild baboons and they provide me with hours of photographic opportunities.
