South Africa Travel News

Health and Wellness in the Magaliesberg

The SA-Venues Team — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:30 +0000

Send to KindleRelax at Sparkling Waters The Magaliesberg Mountain Range is a place of unrivalled beauty and unique abundance. This makes it the perfect escape for city slickers that need a break. Living and working in an urban area becomes enormously stressful, taxing the body of its natural, healthful resources. Without investing time in your body and mind, you can soon burn out. For this reason, it is essential to seek solace and real relaxation on a regular basis. The Magaliesberg...

Two Olives Restaurant in Port Elizabeth – a review

The SA-Venues Team — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:15:09 +0000

Send to Kindle The Two Olives Restaurant is an authentic culinary experience, immersing diners in the basic pleasures of enjoying excellent quality, coupled with flavours that are worthy of a few audible sighs. Situated in the food Mecca of Stanley Street in Richmond Hill, it is at the very heart of the ‘who’s who’ and ‘what’s what’ of the Friendly City. The menu is a delight to explore. Even simple sounding dishes are presented beautifully and taste heavenly. The tapas options are a great way...

I ♥ Somerset West Because …

The SA-Venues Team — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:15:53 +0000

Send to KindleI ♥ Somerset West Hi, I’m Joerg Streibing from Somerset Villa Guesthouse in Somerset West. Somerset West IS BEST KNOWN FOR for the fantastic accommodation places, value for money and diversity. GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Vergelegen Estate,The gardens are one of the most beautiful in the Western Cape, the Estate had a lot of Head of States and member of the Royal families visiting. Walk along where Nelson Mandela walked. Get a picture taken under one of the unique trees. THE...

Foo Bar Café in George

The SA-Venues Team — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:15:42 +0000

Send to KindleFoo Bar For a trendy spot at which almost nothing is predictable, Foo Bar in George is a definite winner. It is located between the SPAR and Virgin Active in the Heatherpark Centre, just off CJ Langenhoven, tucked away discreetly in the far corner. But, on entering, it is immediately a delight to the senses. It is light and airy, as the doors are all opened up onto the sheltered patio, allowing the sunlight and fresh air to drift inside. The décor is funky and eclectic,...

I Love SA Video

The SA-Venues Team — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:40:39 +0000

Send to Kindle We have some fantastic fans who absolutely love South Africa. One such fan is Annabel Biggar and she made a great short video of how much she loves this beautiful country and she has shared it with us so we can share it with all of you. Her video takes us on a journey of some of the awesome things to do and places to visit. Thank you Annabel! Video © Annabel Biggar Destination Info: Holiday in South Africa Attend an annual Festival Book a Restaurant See Tours and Day...

Getting my Mexican on in Mowbray at Fat Cactus – a review

The SA-Venues Team — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:10:25 +0000

Send to Kindle On the busy Durban Road of Mowbray, somewhat secluded behind trellis work and bright lights, is the Mexican Mecca of the Fat Cactus. We arranged a dinner there, all at the last moment. Fortunately, Bon Jovi was playing live in Cape Town, so the restaurants were fairly empty throughout the city, so we secured a table. Still, there was a very distinct vibe, and only a few tables to spare. The waitresses are relaxed in their approach and attire, so we waited a while for service,...

A Stopover in George at Outeniqua Travel Lodge – a review

The SA-Venues Team — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:30:58 +0000

Send to Kindle George is sometimes nicknamed “Cold and Wet” in reference to its number plate (CAW) and its weather conditions, but that couldn’t be further from the truth when I meandered my way along the Garden Route in May and stopped over at Outeniqua Travel Lodge for the night. It was a glorious sunshiny day, even though this time of year is unpredictable. The stunning Outeniqua Mountain Range towers as the backdrop of the lodge, which is a very homely house situated in the suburbs of...

Monthly Events Lineup and Don’t Forget Christmas in Winter is Coming Up

The SA-Venues Team — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:00:39 +0000

Send to Kindle Who would have thought it would almost be the middle of the year already. If you’re reading this wondering where time has gone this year and what you’ve already done perhaps you need to get out that diary and plan to get to some of these awesome annual events and festivals. Do you have a favourite event in South Africa? If so we’d love to hear what it is … Coming Up From 21 May to 20 June 2013 24 May 2013: The Herald Bridal Fair (Port Elizabeth) 13 June...

6 Essential Activities in South Africa

The SA-Venues Team — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:25:52 +0000

Send to KindleGo on safari There are a few things that every tourist simply has to try if they want to have a real experience of South Africa. These are available across most of the provinces and define, to an extent, the African encounter. Of course, even if you only manage to squeeze a few of these into your vacation itinerary, they will be well worth the experience. The African Safari South Africa is home to an astounding array of fauna and flora. The best way to appreciate the abundance...

We Bust 5 Travel Myths About South Africa

The SA-Venues Team — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:30:31 +0000

Send to KindlePack your bags! There are travel myths that the seasoned around-the-world traveller will encounter: You must have a backpack if you’re visiting more than one country; women shouldn’t travel alone; the plane will crash if you use your cell phone on board; train travel is always cheaper than air travel in Europe… These have been well and truly explored, and most of them debunked. But what about travel myths in South Africa – the type the average visitor...

Pepper Cottages in Plumstead Cape Town – a review

The SA-Venues Team — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:15:52 +0000

Send to Kindle Pepper Cottages is a quiet little retreat, right in the heart of Plumstead. You would hardly know it was there if it were not for the discreet sign at the gate. The self-catering Red Pepper Cottage was to be my home for the night, and I was so glad it was. Tastefully furnished, the ample cottage would be ideal for corporate visitors or a couple needing a great base from which to explore the Mother City for a few days. There is a large lounge with a TV and doors that open onto...

Schoone Oordt Country House – Doesn’t This Look Inviting?

The SA-Venues Team — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:30:27 +0000

Send to Kindle With winter just around the corner it is time to make use of the fantastic spots around the country, one such place is the town of Swellendam. Doesn’t the swimming pool at Schoone Oordt Country House look completely inviting? The gracious dame who has been lovingly restored over time by Richard and Alison Walker welcomes you with open arms. The area itself offers a wide variety of activities from wine tasting to fantastic hiking trails and nature walks and plenty of...

A Coffee Lover’s Guide to Cape Town

The SA-Venues Team — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:40:31 +0000

Send to KindleCappuccino anyone? An ardent lover of coffee, I will always seek out the side-walk cafes, the little nooks with real espresso machines and run in the opposite direction of burnt filter coffee. As a traveller, I fully understand your pain if you land up at a hotel with only lukewarm filter coffee on offer, so when coming to Cape Town, know that you are in good hands and this is where you should go… Origin In Cape Town’s foreshore up the sloping roads of trendy De Waterkant is...

4 Inspiring Road Trip Routes From Cape Town

The SA-Venues Team — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:45:23 +0000

Send to Kindle There is something addictive about road trips. Someone I know once said “There’s nothing like a hundred kilometres between me and the constant chatter in my head” and I think that just about sums it up: road trips put space between you and the mundanity of life; they add perspective, and take you out of yourself. There are two kinds of road trips. The first is the Thelma-and-Louise style that entails throwing your suitcase into the boot and letting the road decide where to...

Biodiversity Showcase Garden – Photographs

The SA-Venues Team — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:00:05 +0000

Send to Kindle We have been lucky enough to receive some fantastic photographs of the Biodiversity Showcase Garden, which you’ll find in the vibey suburb of Green Point. But before we get to the photographs lets find out a little bit more about these gardens. The gardens are situated in the Green Point Urban Park and allows you, the visitor, to enjoy the space that is home to flora that is endemic to Cape Town. If you’re unfamiliar with what endemic means it basically means that the...

Tales From the Township

The SA-Venues Team — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:00:36 +0000

Send to KindleRed Location Museum Lyn and Peter Haller own a tour company in Port Elizabeth called Umzantsi Afrika. As such, they offer a number of fantastic tours that expose the art, culture, history and heritage of Nelson Mandela Bay. The Township Tour is a very special experience; both for those that lived through the Apartheid era and for those that did not. Lyn Haller is a registered tour guide, qualified through THETA (ex-SATOUR). Her passion for the historical homes and buildings of...

Discovering the Riches of the Bay

The SA-Venues Team — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:15:40 +0000

Send to KindleSouth End Museum Port Elizabeth is part of Nelson Mandela Bay and is popular for its stunning swimming beaches. In fact, every summer, its guesthouses and hotels are brimming with visitors from all over the country, who have come to indulge in the pretty surrounds and warm waters of the glittering Indian Ocean. Still, it has plenty more to offer than long, lazy days spent on the pristine white sands. The Historical City Tour on offer by Umzantsi Afrika Tours is made successful...

Drinking Responsibly – Drink ‘Green’ Wine Whilst You Travel

The SA-Venues Team — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:20:37 +0000

Send to KindleStellar Organic Winery Choosing our food responsibly is the whole thrust of the burgeoning local food market scene. We’ve gone from being a solely supermarket-dependent nation, to one where people can make ethical decisions about where they get their food (those who have access to food markets). The story behind food – where it comes from, who grows it, how it’s grown and how it gets to market has become important to a growing group of people who care about...

Meandering from Muizenberg to Simons Town (Southern Cape)

The SA-Venues Team — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:30:04 +0000

Send to KindleMuizenberg Beachfront The strip of land hugging the coastline between the shores of Muizenberg and Simons Town is some of the most visually beautiful land in Cape Town. There are a few ways to explore this: rent a car, a scooter, and bicycle or use the Metrorail train which runs along the coast. If you are coming from the CBD then head towards Cape Town Central and book a ticket along the Simons Town line. They are cheap and have stations at the heart of every suburb you wish to...

Boys’ Weekend in Johannesburg (for the active)

The SA-Venues Team — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:00:20 +0000

Send to KindleObstacles in the Trees There is so much to see and do in Johannesburg, Gauteng, that guys planning a fun weekend will have to prioritise and, maybe, make more than one weekend of it to fit it all in. In this piece, we will explore some of the options for a group of friends that wants to stay active during their time without the girls in their lives. This means fun and adventure, and will require a bit of fitness. Acrobranch This is an obstacle course that is situated in the...

Top 5 Spots for Bird Watching in South Africa

The SA-Venues Team — Thu, 02 May 2013 08:30:54 +0000

Send to KindleIt’s a birds life! South Africa is ranked 25th in the world when it comes to size. But it isn’t area alone that is responsible for the over 900 listed species of birds you are likely to see. Most of the country lies in rather temperate climes, some of it in the subtropics, and the huge diversity of habitat means that birds rather like it here. Whilst you can safely spot them in just about any green space, there are several ‘hot spots’ that you cannot...

Baynesfield Museum In Richmond

The SA-Venues Team — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:30:58 +0000

Send to KindleBaynesfield Estate Museum A few weeks ago my family and I went to Richmond for the weekend and on the way home stopped in at Baynesfield Museum. Set in beautiful grounds, with a Victorian house as its centerpiece, the Museum is a fascinating place with various buildings and sheds housing all sorts of different things. The estate was founded by Joseph Baynes in 1863 and after he died in 1925, leaving no heirs, the estate was left in trust for all South Africans to enjoy. Baynes...

Boys’ Weekend in Johannesburg

The SA-Venues Team — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:30:30 +0000

Send to KindleWorld of Beer With the stresses and strains on the shoulders of so many these days, it is important to break away from the treadmill of life and have a real break. A boys’ weekend may be just what you need to get your mind off your worries, and Johannesburg has plenty to offer a group of guys looking for adventure. Beer It Up at World of Beer Most men do not need too much encouragement, but South African Breweries (SAB) has established the World of Beer to make this golden...

Top picnic spots in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban

The SA-Venues Team — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:45:26 +0000

Send to KindleWhere will you picnic? South Africans are picnic devotees. If you want to find us on a hot, summer’s day, look no further than a green lawn and a shady tree. Add picnic blanket, basket and an array of food and drink, and we’re happy. Our major cities might be concrete-filled but look closer and you’ll find green lungs that are perfect for down time and picnics. Here are our top spots in three major cities: CAPE TOWN Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens It...

Boys’ Weekend in KwaZulu Natal

The SA-Venues Team — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:15:18 +0000

Send to KindleExciting Shark Diving Boys’ weekends are not given nearly enough attention. These are great ways for dads, sons, brothers and friends to get away from the stresses and strains of city living and enjoy some real male bonding time, which (they may be surprised to learn) involves more than cold beers, hot braai and rugby. We have put together some ideas for a fun and exciting boys’ weekend in KwaZulu Natal that promises something that you will always remember, and that the girls...

Worker’s Day (1 May) – South Africa

The SA-Venues Team — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:30:52 +0000

Send to Kindle If you are reading this, there’s a good chance that you form a part of the international working class and are lucky enough to have an eight hour day job. Since the dawn of agriculture, thousands of years ago, the working class has existed, and has been exploited by a wealthier class. In times gone by people like you and I had no choice but to give into the desires of others in return for the bare minimum of living conditions equivalent to slavery. In more recent, “civilised”...

A Taste of Mexico from El Burro in Green Point

The SA-Venues Team — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:00:45 +0000

Send to KindleA Mexican Feast It was a friends birthday and the plan was to meet up at the mexican place, El Burro on Somerset Road in Green Point. I’d heard many good things about this place and so was excited to try it out. Walking in there was an instant buzz of activity and happy hum of voices in the already packed restaurant – note to self booking is probably always a good idea with this one as this was a week night. We were a big table, many of whom were strangers to one...

Eat Greek Sunday Buffet

The SA-Venues Team — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Send to KindleThe Hellenic Centre On the first and last Sundays of every month, the Hellenic Centre in Durban North hosts a Greek buffet lunch. My sister in law had told me about this but in typical fashion we had never managed to get a date in the diary … it was the imminent arrival of her second child that forced us to book a table for four for the first Sunday in March. I’m the first to admit that I love to eat. I mean really, I just love it … and Greek food is no exception to that! The...

Freedom Day (27 April) in South Africa

The SA-Venues Team — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:00:47 +0000

Send to Kindle You have to love the simplicity with which public holidays in countries, the world over, are named. South Africa’s Freedom Day is no exception. Independence and liberty are two words that come soberly to mind when taking a moment to reflect upon what this day means to us as a nation. South Africa, our land, was set free from more than three hundred years of colonialism and more than forty years of the enforced, vicious racial segregation system, Apartheid. It was designed,...

Get to Music in the Mountains this Weekend

The SA-Venues Team — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:00:43 +0000

Send to Kindle If you have no plans this weekend consider yourself booked or if you have already made plans consider them changed because if you are anywhere near Champagne Valley in the Drakensberg you need to ensure you’re at the Music in the Mountains. What is this you ask, why it is a music festival that has been happening for over 20 years and is hosted by the Drakensberg Boys Choir. Come and be entertained with music for all, from classic melodies to the latest chart topping hits....