Agritourism

The Vaal River used to be one of Abre' J Steyn's favourite fishing spots as a young boy. Back then it was a pristine river brimming with life. But like the Oliphants River, one of the most heavily polluted rivers on the continent, the Vaal is on a slippery downward slope, with mining as its biggest problem.

Strawbale building has gathered much interest from Farmer's Weekly readers. Abre J Steyn answers a few more questions on the technology, and envisions a database through which readers can share their insights.

Many obsolete camera components are still very usable with some modification. And once the modification bug re-emerges, one bite is all it takes to get your creative juices flowing again, writes Abré J Steyn.

If a piece of equipment is to work better, you have to modify it. But once you start modifying, it's difficult to stop, writes Abré J Steyn.

As poaching has threatened almost one rhino a day this year alone, South African farmers have resorted to desperate measures. With this in mind, Abré J Steyn decides to revisit the idea of horn farming.

Strawbale houses aren't as flimsy as many think - some date back 600 years. Plus, they're cheap and easy to build, writes Abre J Steyn.

It's easy to take hearing for granted as most of us know nothing about how the delicate ear interprets sound waves, writes Abré J Steyn.

Namibia is far more successful than South Africa when it comes to guest farm accommodation.

Sound always carries a message in the animal kingdom and the design of an animal's ear tells us something about its habitat, writes Abré J Steyn.

Careful observation and experimentation made theology professor Ben Engelbrecht an expert lure fisherman at a time when nobody knew very much about the art, writes Abré J Steyn.

As the tigerfish is our premier inland gamefish and because its numbers are dwindling, Abré J Steyn feels strongly about the art of catch-and-release. But with this fish, successful release is no easy feat.

Moths are not as popular or admired for their beauty as their cousins the butterflies. However, they have an essential ecological role as pollinators and are essential to life on earth, writes Abré J Steyn

Chameleons may look like mini dinosaurs, but they're a highly evolved kind of lizard with unique abilities, "modifications" and "specs". But their numbers in South Africa are declining, writes Abré J Steyn, with several featuring on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's endangered list.

It was almost midnight. The big crowned eagle was restless and her weight on my heavily gloved left arm was becoming a burden.

The battle between land and sea has taken place since the time the world began. The clash of wave against rock has always fascinated me in a way I can't explain. It has been like that since I was a little boy. Engulfed in the smell of fish and the cries of seagulls circling around me, I was spellbound by the big swell that gently rolled in from afar.

Like claws, my fingers groped in vain to catch something to hang onto. Having lost my balance, I was falling backwards overboard in 10m-deep croc-infested water. I plunged head-first into another world.

'The nets were never designed to keep the sharks away from the beaches but merely to kill them.'

Today Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous artists of all time. But he died in poverty. I can't really judge his art, but recently some of his works sold for several hundred million dollars each. During his lifetime, however, he only managed to sell one painting. There are still people like him around.

Notice has been given that A a referendum will occur in a month's time. A growing number of elderly lions, leopards and hyenas have found it increasingly difficult to hunt successfully.

When you're a child you dream a lot. You live in a world of your own. Much of my own dream time was spent with Tarzan in the jungle. It was inspired by a weekly cartoon in a popular youth magazine that was beautifully illustrated and depicted all the adventures of Tarzan.