Leon Nell's Books

This guide to Oudtshoorn reveals the fascinating history of a small Karoo town associated with large, flightless birds and famous mysterious caves; where Ostrich barons built grand homes, Jewish immigrants and Polish refugees settled, and where South Africa’s first national anthem was written. It showcases the austere beauty of the surrounding mountain passes, the area’s wide variety of wildlife, as well as the agriculture and vegetation of the region. Contemporary attractions and activities, such as the increasingly popular arts festival, the KKNK, are comprehensively covered.

'A book that is a joy to pick up and page through – one that will always take me back to where I've been.' Such is the intention behind this book, a description of the lush rainforest area of the Garden Route and the paradox of its proximity with the semi-desert of the Little Karoo. The author explores key areas of the coastal stretch between Mossel Bay and Storms River and of the broad valley, the Little Karoo, on the other side of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains. Both regions are home to a great variety of plants and animals and are opened up and linked by roads built with great skill and massive effort through mountain passes and across rivers. Thousands visit these spectacular areas, heading for the sea or – in the opposite direction – the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees and the Cango Caves. This book will give them a glimpse of the wild and wonderful life along the way in a land steeped in history and natural diversity.

This guide to Knysna traces the history of the town back to its origins in the 18th century to its ongoing development to become South Africa's most beautiful coastal town. Its geology, history, forest, vegetation, wildlife, coast, lagoon, marine life, and special points of interest, such as arts and crafts, are all given coverage.