OUR BLOG
Stay updated with all our news pertaining to the current and future developments at Val de Vie Estate.
Hover over the stories to see the headline. Click to be taken to the story.
YELLOW-BILLED KITE
Yellow-billed Kite The seasonal migration of birds is a [...]
VAL DE VIE ESTATE UNVEILS VAL DE VIE EVERGREEN LUXURY SUITES
The new Val de Vie Evergreen Luxury Suites deliver [...]
Nature’s Crafty Trickster
A delightful pair of Cape Foxes have made Val de Vie Estate their home. Scientifically known as Vulpes chama
The Majestic Mountains Embracing Val de Vie Estate
It’s impossible not to notice the mountain ranges that make up the backdrop of the views on Val de Vie Estate
Fall into Gardening
Autumn heralds the progression towards winter as the Earth turns in its orbit around the sun. This shift brings about shorter days and longer nights,
The Fierce and Fascinating Cape Polecat
The Cape polecat (Ictonyx striatus), or African Striped Weasel/Zorilla, is a remarkable species found throughout sub-Saharan Africa
A Time for Change
Change and adaptation are natural processes, and as the days get shorter and the nights longer and cooler
Owl-some News
Val de Vie Estate is fortunate to have a healthy population of spotted eagle owls (Bubo africanus) that frequent the area
On the Wings of the Wind
When looking for birds of prey, you need to venture further than the Estate's perimeter. The Paarl-Franschhoek Valley
A Prickly Encounter: Meeting the Cape Crested Porcupine
The quill-covered creature you may have seen around the Estate is the Cape crested porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
Seed-Snatching and Nest-Building: The Secret Life of Red-Billed Queleas
Among the many bird species that call Western Cape home is the small red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea)
Naturally Sustainable
The natural world has been around for a very long time. Every living organism is testament to individual survival
The national animal of South Africa
The national animal of South Africa, and the namesake of our country’s rugby team, the scientific name for the springbok
Nature’s Perfume
For plants, smell is a vital form of communication. Each scent is a combination of complex chemicals
The Cape grey mongoose
The Cape grey mongoose (Herpestes pulverulentus) is a small mammal indigenous to Southern Africa
Mother Nature’s Masterpieces
The orchid family is possibly, after the daisies, one of the most prolific plant families on Earth with around 30,000 species known
Otterly Adorable
The Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) is the second-largest freshwater otter species and is called the groot otter in Afrikaans
Walking and Talking
On the second Saturday of the month, Simon Allen, the Val de Vie Estate Environmental Officer, hosts a walk for our residents
A Tight Squeeze
While working on the irrigation system, Val de Vie Estate's Irrigation Manager, Kobus van Abbo
Slow Motion
South Africa, particularly the Western Cape, has the highest number of Testudines (formerly Chelonia) on Earth.
The Celebrities of the Insect World
We are all familiar with the mounds in our gardens or on the Estate caused by moles and mole rats
Rescuing Baby Birds
While orphaned fledglings exist, it is uncommon for bird parents to abandon their young
A Mole is Not Always a Mole
We are all familiar with the mounds in our gardens or on the Estate caused by moles and mole rats