One of the best places for bird watching is this region of the south coat of Africa called the Garden Route. Particularly here on today’s stretch of this Route, called Keurbooms lagoon. It’s a really low tide today, and I was able to capture some interesting angles of the water at its lowest.
As a result a lot of the underlying sand was revealed, showing sides of itself not often seen by the world at large. Nevertheless, today you will get to see just what lies under the surface of the water and how it looks when the tide is way out. Since the lagoon is connected to the ocean, the low tide tends to pull the water out with it and thus the sand banks are exposed.
This is s perfect time for the local indigenous birds to come and forage for all the tasty sea creatures that live under the water and, in fact, under the sand too. Certain shrimps and such like, all tend to burrow into the sand, and today they are exposed for the birds to come and forage with relative ease.
You can see all the little holes in the sand normally situated underwater. This is where the crabs and other little sea creatures make their home. Besides that, the setting seems really calm and still today, with the water so low and shallow, and not a breeze to disturb the scene.
All sorts of sea birds as well as fresh water birds tend to nest and breed here along this fertile and prosperous stretch of the South African southern shoreline. The little village of Plettenberg Bay that nestles around this lagoon is one of the secret treasure tourist hotspots in the world. Those in the know come and capture their holidays on the long white empty beaches, while the masses are crowded on some beach somewhere on the other side of the planet.
Beside bird watching, you can also enjoy some epic water sports in this area, with the warm sea and the pleasant lagoon to explore. On good days I get a chance to take the kayak out for a row on the lagoon. Then it becomes possible to paddle all the way up the Keurbooms river that feeds the lagoon. As long as the tide is in your favor, it becomes really easy to paddle for several miles upstream with the aid of the tide to push you along. Then when the tide turns, you can easily float back downstream to the lagoon again.
Why over endeavor when we can simply harness the natural flow and cycles of nature, which can carry us along with the minimum of effort and at the greatest of ease. Minimum effort for maximum results, that’s what you call efficiency. Once you’re in the zone, it becomes easy to tap in to the natural power of nature and to harness it for our benefit and for the benefit of everyone else. There is more than enough energy to go around, if we just learn how to tap into it and let it flow.
If you ever get the chance then please feel inspired to visit these southern shores of Africa so that you too can feel what it’s like to be in paradise on earth. This is one of the most gentle places on earth and it allows for healing and rejuvenation for anyone who makes it to these shores.
(photos my own)