S1 - Ep 296 - Kouga Dam, Gamtoos Valley and Queen Victoria’s Profile! 

The gobblestone hiils is called conglomeraat. It is formed by the river which deposited the small stones. It was then compacted over the centuries to form the mountain. Some of the best examples of conglomeraat in the country.

It's so weird how it rains soooo much every where BUT here at the dam nothing.!! If you look at the vegetation you will never say that we are in a very bad drought! What a sad looking dam😢 Thank you for this. We dont ever go there.

Thank you guys, excellent once again.👏🏻

I will always remember my parents stopping at the Gamtoos Bridge back in the 1970's to buy us a big pocket of juicy Gamtoos oranges. We used to roll them and make them soft , then you stick your thumb in en maak n gatjie, and drink the sweet juice. So lekker !! What beautiful scenery around the Kouga dam. Thanks again for showing us. You two are saving me a long trip to SA.

Loved it! Well said Sonia. Een heerlijke aflevering op de zondag ochtend. Met een kop koffie bij de hand met jullie reizend door het prachtige landschap. Veel fraaie natuur, zoals die kudde springbokken. In Franschhoek kocht ik in 2017 een mooi vel met ‘witte hanekam’ (als je het vel over je arm hangt, is dan prachtig te zien) van een springbok, die volgens de handelaar een mooi vrij leven had genoten. Dat geloof ik graag bij het zien van zulke beelden. En wat de mens doet in en met de natuur is zeker indrukwekkend. Zoals de aanleg en onderhoud van die vele citrus velden. Grappig dat bordje bij de Rooinek farm over smousen niet gewenst, alsof de waakhond al op scherp staat ter ‘verwelkoming’ 😅. Welke andere handel zou een buitenstaander / marskramer hier eventueel proberen te slijten, vraag ik me af? Want kennelijk doet men regelmatig pogingen daartoe. De Dam is zeker indrukwekkend als hoogstaand voorbeeld van knappe ingenieurs. Wat Anna heeft met tunnels, heb ik met hoogte dus hield even mijn adem in toen je camera over het randje ging 😊 Queen Victoria als rots reïncarnatie, het zou zomaar kunnen want in haar tijd verscheen ze all over the place. Wel toepasselijk als ze nu aan ons ‘verschijnt’ in de aanloop naar de coronation 👑

The rose trees are planted as a pest indication control, the pests will manifest on the rose trees first, and then the necessary pest control will be applied

I really enjoyed this episode. Impressive. Thnx Sonja for the commentary

Absolutely LOVE your content! ❤ Just wondering, have you ever considered making a "Top 5" series? Like your top 5 favourite locations, top 5 favourite churches, accommodations, landmarks, etc.? I think it would be quite interesting to see that, knowing that you've visited so many amazing places! Anyway, keep up the great work, have a blessed day ❤

Thanks Dustbugs for taking us along on this surprise adventure, these are the episodes that will make you famous or what you are famous for...off the beaten track to marvel the stunning countryside, the farms, the produce and the dam infrastructure...I noted that truck marked "staff transport", farmers such as this one are not given enough kudos for their endeavors for their staff, to ensure that they are travel safely and securely. An incredible episode, I've watched it three times already. Incredible scenes 👏

The water goers into a pipeline . Port Elizabeth usually gets water from this dam .

Thank you for this video of the drought. So nice to see the Kouga Dam overflowing on 30th September 2023…

Hi you two! Gravel roads, mountains, blue skies! I couldn't ask for more, but I got it! Thank you for taking me along on this wonderful trip. Those seemingly endless citrus farms are amazing. And the other greenery on route and your drone view of the aloe covered hills. The low level of the dam is sad, but at least it is 1% higher than last year this time. Those layered rocks in the valley teach a history of its own, older even than that of HRH Queen Victoria. Thank you again! and keep safe!

Thanks for taking me to my old hometown dam. Today it's overflowing. Absolutely beautiful

Absolutely stunning trip.the scenery the vegetation whatever are all super excellent. Thanks for this trip. You know how to sniff out all the nice places in our country. A trip well done and you gave us so much detail i appreciate it. Well done and till the next one. Glad i have a season ticket and know my seat is booked!

The area is beautifully maintained by staff of the Gamtoos Irrigation Board. Thanks to them for their hard work, because a national treasure like this does not keep itself clean and so well maintained❤

Looks like it is going to be a beautiful drive. My first time in the rural Eastern Cape. The music is so fitting. I can also see a tinge of winter in the sky. Melancholy setting in.

I love Sonia’s wonderment ☺️

Our land gamtoos valley is buotiful and our dams look great as they were before

Hi Everyone @ Dustbugs Travel Thank You So Much For Sharing Your Beautiful Audio And Video Very Interesting Thank You @ Dustbugs Travel 👍👍❤️❤️

I really enjoy Sonia’s contributions and laughs….. very distinctive 🤣😊🥰

Always lovely to see game in its natural habitat!

Thanx for taking us to the Kouga Dam which I have never seen before...but the Queen Victoria's profile I seen loong time ago...very interesting.

Stunningly beautiful, thank you

I loved this video. Very informative. Rose bushes are planted at the end of plantation rows to attract insects away from the plantations. This is why white rose bushes are planted within vineyards

i viewed this episode on 19 November and the Dam level was 100.5 percent . thank goodness for the good rains in the past few months

This was my favorite. Really enjoyed it

Hey you two what a lovely video the lemon and orange orchards too beautiful. Wow and the dam what a lovely surprise. love watching and you sharing your travels. Happy and safe travels👏👏👏🙏🙏

I am so glad to be back... And this video sure gave me chills on how much i have missed out.. Thank you... Really looking forward to many more😇

Beautifil dam, beautifil area - thankyou for sharing.

The second bridge just before Rooinek Farm, is the Groot Rivier. Its catchment area is around Steytlerville area. It does not feed the Kouga Dam.

Dam is over 30% now...God is good!

The views as you go towards the river👌👌👌👌 Sad about the low levels of the water!

Wow I like the background music playing. ❤️❤️❤️

Born in Bloemfontein and whst I see now I wil.very proud

Loved it aswell Sonia.😍

Look great

Hehehe.....love the Rooinek Boerdery

This is one of the main dams supplying Port Elizabeth. It's very wierd that after the good rains in the Karoo, the PE area stays in Drought. The rains from the Cape seem to pass them out at sea while going north along the coast to KZN.

Mooi wereld, thanks guys

How long is that tunnel? Wow👏👏

Being from the gamtoos, i think you need a guide because you keep on speculating in the wrong direction.

Hi guys back on the gravel. I always thought red soil was very fertile .the game lodge loved the entrance also great to see the springbok. Drone footage brilliant over the aloes forest and citrus fields I am from a generation that grew up on OUTSPAN ORANGES beautiful ripple mountains. Then the Rooinek farm it reminds me of driving in my van and the black guy who worked for me kept staring at me after a while I said what are you staring at he said I don't understand you're a white man boss but you have a red neck lol .fantastic scenery and the dam aswell then to top it off the profile of Queen Victoria spot on .I thought. South African scenery at its best. Thanks for taking me along. Its appropriate for Rooinek to be mentioned as today's St George's day. Amazing video cheerio till the next one