Rouvanne van den Berg

Danger - snake tube

Safely releasing the puff adder

The puff adder all curled up away from pesky humans

After a call from the community, I had my first catch & release of a beautiful 1.2kg puff adder today. Really special, and pretty chuffed

Stormy night in Cape Town

A braai above the Mother City

Stunning evening to end the weekend, and what's better than a braai.

Cape Town at sunset

Goodnight Cape Town

Haven't seen it - but have read a fair amount about them. I just have more respect for those who face the hardship with the aim of making SA a better place for all.

My family arrived in SA in 1683 and have been a part of the fabric of this country since. Much of it embarrasses me, but they had great strength & resilience. I try hard to make amends for the wrongs of my families past by helping build a strong future for all its people. I am because we are.

This is the second 'Great Tsek'. After the South African war a group of Afrikaaners fled to South America thinking they were going to driven into the sea by the Brits. This group will also be forgotten, they dont have the lion heart & resilience real Afrikaaners have. Tot siens!

Leaving dust behind the Landy

Beautiful Cederberg

The Twee Riviere River playing mirror mirror

Suikerbossie camping

Stunning time in the Cederberg. Family, good food, incredible views, and lots of time to chill #beautifulsouthafrica

Spearfishing in the kelp forest

Cold clear waters

Sunshine below the surface

Sharing the beauty

It's another world below the surface in the kelp forests of the Capes cold Atlantic

A view of Table Mountain and Cape Town

After some wonderful late summer heat there is nothing better than some rain to cool the soil. But does a beach walk view get any better than this? #beautifulcapetown

Tried out some new flippers today, forgetting to walk backwards #clown

Camping on the beach

Nothing better than a beach braai

Friends around the fire

What a view to wake up to

Such incredible places along the west coast of the Cape. Cape Colombine, Tietiesbaai, Paternoster; as they say 'die weskus issie beskus' #beautifulsouthafrica

No home can be wildfire-proof, but these steps can help No home is fireproof, but Steven and Nancy Girmant’s home in the hills of Topanga Canyon is close. “We just want everyone to know that you, as a homeowner, can do this,” Steven told KTLA News. “We …

“No home can be wildfire-proof, but these steps can help” ktla.com/news/califor... - KTLA

#CAFire #PalisadesFire #Wildfire #Wildfires

Everything happens for a reason you make up afterward.

Land of the free... Damn, America is sliding fast...

More than 100 firefighters battle blazes on South Africa's Table Mountain in Cape Town More than 100 firefighters are battling two blazes on the slopes of South Africa’s Table Mountain. National parks authorities said Wednesday they were starting to bring them under control after the fi...

“More than 100 firefighters battle blazes on South Africa’s Table Mountain in Cape Town.” apnews.com/article/sout... - AP

#CapeTown #SouthAfrica #Wildfires

Newlands fire crested Table Mountain and came down the slope towards the city

Resources got a back burn going to meet it

One flank crept towards the saddle of Devil's Peak

Thankfully the wind died down

I fight fire. I teach, learn about, work on, prepare for fire. Wildfire is my life. But its kinda different when it's heading towards your neighbourhood #wildfireready #fireiseveryonesfight

WildfireReady talk in Greyton about how to make communities more wildfire resilient

This Friday I will be talking to the community of Greyton about how to make communities and homes more wildfire resilient #wildfireready #fireiseveryonesfight

Devils Peak, Table Mountain, Lions Head and Signal Hill from Sunset Beach

What a day for walk on the beach with my darling and the dogs, and even getting in a little dip in the cold Atlantic. Sorry if you don't live in Cape Town, you're missing out on paradise... #beautifulcapetown #beautifulsouthafrica

Icebreaker returns from Antarctica with alarming news Scientists aboard the SA Agulhas II have been tracking ocean health

South Africa’s icebreaker ship, the SA Agulhas II, returned to Cape Town on Monday after taking supplies and a relief crew to South Africa’s Antarctic base, but the results the scientists on board brought back are alarming.

Read groundup.org.za/article/iceb... by Steve Kretzmann

YouTube video by Lee Klinger A positive unintended consequence of fire mimicry

Fire clearance (aka #FireMimicry) around oaks has some significant, unexpected consequences. This medley of time-lapse videos, each if which shows several hours of work per oak, when sped up, reveals a noticeable uplifting of the lower canopies, thus presumably aiding photosynthetic gains. 🌎🌲🔥🍁🌳

You've bled enough! Its up to the rest of us to continue and aim to emulate you sir!

Ahh it wasn't too bad. Was painless going in and coming out. It's the cause that is more important anyway

With O Neg blood its my duty to share it

First donation of the year, and every 56 days here after. Having a O Negative blood group means it's vital I share #westerncapebloodservice #donatebloodsavelives

Southern Double-collared Sunbird

A Southern Double-collared Sunbird brightened my morning as it popped onto my balcony for a treat.

VWS crews taking in the view of Table Mountain from Blaauwberg Nature Reserve

Good to get to a prescribed burn in the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve with VWS crews. It was hot, tough, and the 21ha of critically endangered 40 yr + Swartland Shale Renosterveld was stubborn! But we'll be back next week for round six! #volunteers #wildlandfirefighters

This is why its called the Cape Doctor. The south easter wind has been battering us, but at the same time cleaning the air across the peninsula #beautifulcapetown

Standby training with VWS

A patrol sometimes involves ice cream

Dealt with a small flare up above Hangberg, Hout Bay

Previous burn scar

Had a good standby yesterday. Took crews through some extra training, got an ice cream on Signal Hill while on patrol, and then dealt with a small flare up above Hangberg Hout Bay. Volunteer Wildfire Services have got your back #wildfireready

How Trump’s Federal Funding and Hiring Freezes Are Leaving America Vulnerable to Catastrophic Wildfire Uncertainty over funding and hiring stemming from the president’s executive orders has limited wildfire training and postponed work to reduce flammable vegetation. It has also led some firefighters to...

How Trump’s Funding Freeze Undermines Wildfire Season Preparation www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Good job Trump, just let everything burn 🔥

A single Valentines protea

I buy my darling proteas often, so today I asked the Gardens Centre flower lady for just one for her desk - which she offered for free. So technically the flower lady gave my darling a Valentines protea...