South Africa Travel News

Say Cheese! – Stories from the road by Ruan Smit

Ruan Smit — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:32 +0000

"Say Cheese!" When I left Johannesburg 4 weeks ago I decided to stop at the first wine farm on route to Cape Town. There’s just no other way, one can’t visit the Western Cape without doing at least one wine tour. So my cycle tour for one day became a wine tour, and it’s quite awesome what one can see doing the tour this way. Obviously tasting is limited but I wouldn’t mind arranging more of these in the near future. On the R60 from Swellendam I travel towards Robertson and...

Lunch with the goats – a gastronomic experience at Fairview

Cape Town Editor — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:32:43 +0000

Fairview Goatshed The temptation to play with the word ‘fair’ when applied to Fairview Wine Estate is great – it more than lives up to its name. The Wine and Cheese farm, just off Suid-Agter Paarl Road, lies in one of the ‘fairest’ settings possible, set behind Paarl’s ubiquitous ‘rock’, its parking area littered with pretty, shady trees and its entrance utterly dominated by a fairly ingenious tower complete with spiral staircase, featuring three of...

Seussical Jr scoops prestigious Naledi Award

SA Events Editor — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:31:41 +0000

The National Children’s Theatre smash hit of 2009, Seussical Jr, won the prestigious Naledi Award for Best Production of a Play or Musical for Children at a glittering ceremony in Pretoria on 7 March. “This was a very special honour for us,” says Joyce Levinsohn, Artistic Director of the NCT, and director of the winning production. “The award for Children’s Theatre was reintroduced this year after a gap of some years. Dawn Lindberg, of the Naledi Awards told us that the standard of children’s...

Kenton on Sea inspires – Stories from the road by Ruan Smit

Ruan Smit — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:15:20 +0000

Kenton On Sea You can’t plan an adventure, I’ve realized that so many times throughout this tour. Adventure has a mind of its own and it’s best just to let it go its way. That’s when the fun really starts. Kenton on Sea however was a planned stop long before I knew where I was going to find a bed on my first night, the reason being that we have some family friends that own a house here and they so willingly gave me the keys to their beautiful holiday getaway spot. So when I left Hamburg, in...

South African Sports News – 10 March

Guy Mortimer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:25:46 +0000

Schalk Burger Schalk leads Stormers to impressive victory The Vodacom Stormers looked very much like potential Super 14 semi-finalists when they demolished the Highlanders 33-0 at Newlands on Saturday evening. The Cape outfit ran in four tries without reply and earned a bonus point in the last minute of the game when they dotted down for the final try to make up for the log point that was missed when they failed to hold on for the draw against the Brumbies the previous week. It was a...

Lets go Fly a Kite …

SA Events Editor — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:55 +0000

Kite Festival ‘Uplifting Mind and Body’ is the theme for the sixteenth Cape Town International Kite Festival, which is happening on 23 and 24 October 2010 in Muizenberg and is proudly hosted by Cape Mental Health. This is Africa’s biggest kite festival and attracts over 20,000 visitors, including some of the biggest names in kiting in South Africa and the world who fly in to show off their magnificent kite creations … With kite-making, kite-flying, food stalls, kiddies’ rides, a full...

Paarl – overlooked pearl of the Western Cape

Cape Town Editor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:25:20 +0000

Quaint houses The town of Paarl is literally on my doorstep. I’ve driven past it on the N1 numerous times and yet not visited. But this weekend was an exception. I needed to right a wrong and take a look at a town that more than met my expectations and, in fact, left me spellbound by its gorgeous architecture, history, perpetual vistas of vineyards, and quaintness. Paarl is but 45 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, yet it might as well be miles away (aside from the fact that you can...

For the ultimate ride of your life try the ‘Big Rush Big Swing’ at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban

SA Travel News Editor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:00:15 +0000

Big Rush Big Swing I couldnt resist – this was submitted to the SA-Venues.com website as a “Thing to Do“, and I thought our readers might like to know about this – I love that all ages are allowed to do this – which means that even I could give it a go next time I visit Durban (there is no age limit – they have apparantly ‘jumped’ people as young as 8 years and as old as 75!). For the ultimate ride of your life the ‘Big Rush Big...

Dinner at The Duchess of Wisbeach in Sea Point

SA Activities Editor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:00:54 +0000

Duchess of Wisbeach The Duchess of Wisbeach is a relative newcomer to the Sea Point Restaurant Scene and she announces herself with a London Double Decker Bus bright red front door and an antelope head of some kind above the bar (keeping a watchful eye over the entrance!) We had a fairly large table with stragglers arriving way after the time the table was booked for. Seeing as the group is quite a rowdy bunch and seemed to spend more time chatting and having a cigarette on the pavement, our...

I ♥ Hluhluwe because …

South Africa Editor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:52 +0000

I ♥ Hluhluwe Hi, we, Louis & Cecillie Nel are from Emdoneni Lodge in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu Natal. HLUHLUWE IS BEST KNOWN FOR its Game Reserves and incredible wildlife, Wetlands, Pine-apples, Fever Trees, hot summers and being close to the most beautiful beaches (Sodwana and Cape Vidal). GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the Animal Care & Rehabilitation Centre with a tame cheetah or in the Game Reserve with a Rhino in the background. THE BEST WILDLIFE PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT the...

A Gonubie affair – Stories from the road by Ruan Smit

Ruan Smit — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:00:35 +0000

Honestly, before I ended up in Gonubie during this cycle tour I was never aware of its existence… let alone that I would be forever smiling after this extraordinary visit. The first of the three whoop whoop girls I meet is Maureen, I’m staying over at her B&B called Porkys. Funny how I ended up here, Michelle who I wrote about in my previous article referred me and from there another story starts. Porky was Maureen’s nickname since school because she used to be chubby, she smiles. And...

Make a childs dream come true – support the Reach For A Dream golf day

SA Events Editor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:30:15 +0000

Reach for a Dream At one point in your life you would have heard the words Reach For A Dream Foundation and perhaps you have brushed them aside or not paid it much attention. Did you know that for the last 21 years the Reach For A Dream Foundation has brought, joy, hope and healing to South African children aged between 3 and 18 years? All of these children have used their dreams to fight life-threatening illnesses such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, cancer, leukaemia and kidney...

New Fugard Theatre in District 6 set to take Cape Town by storm

Cape Town Editor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:00:51 +0000

Fugard Theatre It isn’t often that theatre stops you in your tracks, particularly when it’s something like Magic Flute, which admittedly I’ve seen performed umpteen times in various guises but never to quite the aplomb with which it was being performed at the new Fugard Theatre in Cape Town (the last performance is on Saturday 6 March!) And if you haven’t heard about the Fugard Theatre, named in honour of Athol Fugard, one of our country’s most iconic theatre...

Clarens in photographs

SA Travel News Editor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:30:04 +0000

Between the high sandstone Rooiberge and the Maluti Mountains, the picturesque little town of Clarens is aptly described as “The Jewel of the Free State“. Clarens is situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains in very close proximity to the Golden Gate National Park and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho … view our newest photographs of Clarens and why not start planning a weekend away to this delightful town? Photographs of Clarens © SA-Venues.com Click on the...

The Cape of Good Festivals …

SA Events Editor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:00:32 +0000

Cape Town Festival Festivals, carnivals and fun times are on offer in Cape Town this March. There is so much to do I’m finding it difficult to find a spare minute in my social calendar. So I thought I would share some of the fun and exciting events that are taking place in and around the Mother City this month so you can fill your diaries as well … … Cape Town Carnival The Cape Town Carnival starts everything off from 18-20 March. What is this carnival you might be asking,...

Nieu Bethesda – why it’s worth a visit

Cape Town Editor — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:18 +0000

Nieu Bethesda These days, Nieu Bethesda is described as a charming alternative to Graaff-Reinet. But back when I first paid the little town a visit, it was still ‘in the middle of nowhere’, rather off the beaten track. You went there primarily to visit Helen Martin’s Owl House. In fairness, things were starting to happen even then. There was a little restaurant I remember, called something like the ‘wild fig’ or ‘burning brinjal’, or an equally...

Camping and excitement are not mutually exclusive at Beaverlac

SA Travel News Editor — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:00:48 +0000

Rock Pools Fed up with crowded Cape Town city clubs and even more crowded outdoor parties, we decided to take things down a notch this New Year’s by heading to Beaverlac. Beaverlac, just over the Dasklip Pass near Porterville, is a little gem of a campsite about 2-and-a-half hours outside of Cape Town. Spending New Year’s Eve in the tranquil surrounds of a campsite on the Grootfontein farm might sound too staid for some people. Many people want buzz and excitement to usher in the...

Hidden spots for tea in the southern suburbs of Cape Town

Cape Town Editor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:15:58 +0000

Tea-time in Cape Town It isn’t difficult to hide little tea nooks in the leafy southern suburbs of Cape Town. Many of those listed here are tucked away, off the beaten track, some of them in resuscitated period homes, others not necessarily here for their menu but rather their venue. But each of these is worth a visit for its particular offering, be it the location, the food, the décor, or simply because you need to know about it. Treat each with the respect it deserves, and only tell...

South African Sports News – 3 March

Guy Mortimer — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:30:44 +0000

AB de Villiers Proteas win the war, but lose the battle Although the Proteas thumped India by 90 runs in the third and final One Day International (ODI) in Ahmedabad on Saturday, it was a bittersweet victory for the South Africans who ultimately ended up losing the series 2-1 to go with their 1-1 draw in the Test series. Batting first on a flat wicket, Jacques Kallis’ men posted an imposing 365/2 off their allotted 50 overs with Kallis (104 not out off 94 balls) and man of the match AB de...

Give a Soccer Ball …

SA Travel News Editor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:45:41 +0000

Give a Soccer Ball ... Now before you skim right past this, we’re not asking for a lot … just a soccer ball or two for the youngsters in the Transkei. That’s a R45 donation to put a smile onto the face of a young soccer-wannabe … We’ve been following Ruan’s epic journey across South Africa and this week he’s in the Transkei on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape. Yesterday he came across a group of boys playing soccer in the village of Lusikisiki and started talking with one of the boys...

A hell of a trip to Gamkaskloof

Cape Town Editor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:10:38 +0000

Between Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn runs the Swartberg Pass. It passes through the Swartberg range of mountains, the natural divide between the plains of the Great Karoo and the valleys of the Little Karoo, taking in the Swartberg Nature Reserve. Weather depending the trip isn’t always advisable in an ordinary sedan. But then if you’re anything like me, you give warnings such as this little credance and head off along the pass anyway. Besides, anything you can do in a donkeycart,...

Win a 3 Night Garden Route Big Game Getaway

South Africa Editor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:30:45 +0000

WIN a 3 night stay at the biggest game reserve in the Southern Cape - Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve - and discover an "Out of Africa" experience just outside the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route ...

Not another high tea – stories from the road by Ruan Smit

Ruan Smit — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:36 +0000

From the road ... Most people I meet are people I go looking for or find on my travels, but Michelle found me. On the R61 from Margate I start my day cycling towards the little town of Port St Johns. I don’t have a clue what the road is like or what I’ll find in any of the towns along the way. Half nervous I set off into the unknown. 40km later I reach the little town of Port Edward, I am completely drenched by the rain that has in true coastal fashion washed me until even my bones are wet. I...

Perfect Polana – dine with the crashing waves only a few metres away

SA Activities Editor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:00:11 +0000

Polana I hadn’t been to Polana for a good three years (Ive got no idea why I stayed away for that long!) but a friend had a birthday party here on Saturday night and I was reminded of why it’s such a great spot. The location of this venue could not be closer to the sea – in fact you could probably touch the rocks if you leant far enough out the enormous windows! The view, on a clear day or not, is spectacular – the crashing waves only a few metres away and of course being able to see right...

Showcase of Dance at Artscape Theatre in March

SA Events Editor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:00:38 +0000

What is dance? Dictionary.com has a number of definitions for the word: a) verb (used without object) – “to move one’s feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music.” b) verb (used with object) – “to perform or take part in (a dance): to dance a waltz.” c) Noun – “a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.” These are only a few of the definitions one finds of the word,...

Winner 3 Nights at the exquisite Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro

South Africa Editor — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:44:36 +0000

CONGRATULATIONS to Craig Weitz of South Africa who has won a 3 night stay at Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro, located in the beautiful Waterberg mountain range of the Limpopo Province. The prize includes accommodation for 2 people sharing for 3 consecutive mid-week nights, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily (excluding drinks), 2 x full body massages and 2 rounds of golf (including golf carts). Craig, your voucher is on its way. Please contact Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro to redeem the...

A rose by any other name – how Rosendal steals the show in the Free State

Cape Town Editor — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:00:17 +0000

Rosendal Country Retreat Rosendal has managed to get onto the map. I’m not sure how, because in searching for it you begin to wonder how the average person gets there at all, nevermind how the former farming community managed to find its way into the social whirl of a ‘happening’ little town. Nonetheless, there it is. In the middle of the Free State (see, I told you it was in the middle of nowhere). Getting there from Clarens takes almost two hours because, instead of being...

See the forest from above – Karkloof canopy tours

SA Activities Editor — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:32 +0000

A few weeks ago we booked to go zip lining through the trees in the Karkloof Valley of the Natal Midlands. As opposed to the rainy and cold two or three days we’d already spent in the Midlands, the day of our outing was sunny and gorgeous – perfect to enjoy the spectacular scenery this area has to offer. Canopy tours originated in the rainforests for Costa Rica where biologists, hungry to study the diversity of animal life in the upper canopy level of forests devised a system of cables and...

Golden Gate National Park photographs

SA Travel News Editor — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:00:48 +0000

Photographs taken at the Golden Gate National Park in the Free State. The 11 600 hectares of unique environment is true highland habitat, providing home to a variety of mammals including black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok and Burchell’s zebra – and birds, including the rare bearded vulture (lammergeier) and the equally rare bald ibis, which breed on the ledges in the sandstone cliffs. Ribbokkop, the highest point in the park, reveals a breathtaking tapestry of red,...

8 GREAT spots to buy handmade in the Cape

Cape Town Editor — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:10:08 +0000

Imiso ceramics Nothing has quite the appeal of handmade when it comes to gifts and extraordinary products for around your home. Particularly as these days, handmade no longer means your aunt produced it in wool that she had lying around the house. Nowadays, handmade comes very closely associated with terms like ‘green’, ‘ethical’ and ’sophisticated’, and one is surrounded by slogans that include ‘the handmade pledge!’ and ‘I buy...

I ♥ Berea because …

South Africa Editor — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0000

I ♥ Berea Hi, I’m Sharon Muller from Botanic B&B on the Berea, Durban. BEREA IS BEST KNOWN FOR the friendliness of its people, the interesting range of its culture, and its wide range of tea gardens, coffee shops and restaurants, the latter especially in Florida Road and Davenport Road, where you will find menus from around the world. GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the Botanic Gardens’ Orchard House with its magnificent display of beautiful orchards. THE BEST DURBAN PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT...

A leisurely afternoon at Riebeek Kasteel

SA Activities Editor — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:30:57 +0000

Riebeek Kasteel We spent a weekend camping at Beaverlac at the end of January and decided to detour to Riebeek Kasteel for lunch on the way back to Cape Town. I’d heard so many great things about this area and Riebeek Kasteel in particular (see a previous article), so we took a short left and explored one of the jewels of the Swartland! We started off with lunch at the Clumzy Carrot. Although there are tables both inside and outside, we chose to sit outside under the dappled shade of a...

“Musselling” at Scarborough

SA Activities Editor — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:08:55 +0000

Fresh Mussells I would be perfectly happy spending an afternoon a weekend kicking back on the couch; watching the Isidingo omnibus or reading the latest Fair Lady. My husband on the other hand thinks its complete sacrilege to waste a beautiful, sunny summers day (and let’s face it, there are a lot of those during the Western Cape summer!) being that lazy and so we find ourselves, most Sundays at Scarborough beach picking mussels off the rocks. And I must say, I’ve come to quite enjoy our...

Planning a wedding? Wedding Expos coming up …

SA Events Editor — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:01:38 +0000

Attending a Wedding Exhibition, Fair or Show is a great way to meet many local wedding suppliers, all under one roof. Brides it’s your time to shine, so those of you who are planning your up and coming wedding should take note of the following bridal shows taking place … Bridal Faire Canal Walk Bridal Faire in Century City, Cape Town If you’re in Cape Town from 26-28 February 2010 make your way to Century City for the Canal Walk Bridal Fair. Here you will find ideas to inspire you on...

Rashid had R30 – Stories from Explore SA Cycle Tour

Ruan Smit — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:38:00 +0000

The road between Badplaas and Amsterdam in Mpumalanga is an unforgiving one. One that never really allows you to relax. At every bend there is something to photograph or someone to greet. At every junction you need to make sure that you’re taking it all in. But this road also doesn’t have one single stop for 140km. With the sun making my skin ache and hints of cloud shying away from the sweltering heat I cycle on looking for some place to fill my water bottles, a place that can provide me with...

A holiday in the crater of a once active volcano … Pilanesberg Reserve

SA Travel News Editor — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:36 +0000

When a friend of mine suggested that our next holiday in South Africa should be in the crater of a once active volcano, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. I’ve seen way too many disaster movies to not know that people say “it’s been inactive for millennia” about fifteen minutes before the thing erupts and the main characters spend the rest of the movie fighting for their lives. Turns out the main characters in this adventure (a group of friends and myself) spent our time exploring...

The East Wynberg Walk – history on your doorstep

Cape Town Editor — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:49 +0000

'The Old House' The leaflet for the East Wynberg Walk fell fortuitously into my hands at a recent library visit in Wynberg (great library, by the way). I’ve yet to scrounge up the other maps that are part of the Wynberg historical walks’ series, but it was a surprise to learn that some of the roads that I travel regularly on my way to the Wynberg station are filled with buildings of historical note, and of course, once you begin to take notice, that which you take for...

South African Sports News – 24 February

Guy Mortimer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:00:29 +0000

Wayne Parnell Late rally not enough as South Africa lose by one run The Proteas lost their second consecutive match against India when they went down by a single run to the home side in the first One Day International (ODI) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday. The agonising defeat came just four days after their innings and 57 run loss to the same opponents in the second test match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, and was a bitter pill to swallow for Jacques Kallis’ men. Chasing a...

Yellowwood trail, Kirstenbosch

Cape Town Editor — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Yellowwood Trail If you’re looking for a not-so-taxing, can-do-on-extremely-hot-days kind of hike, then the Yellowwood trail at Kirstenbosch is definitely up there on the list, along with strolls through neighbouring Cecilia forest and Newlands forest. It’s also a great hike to do with children as it’s manageable within a couple of hours, or can extend into a whole morning of it as the delightful pools along the way are invariably filled with tadpoles or pebbles and a litany...

Standard Bank Fine Brandy Festival at the Sandton Sun in May

SA Events Editor — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:41:49 +0000

Borne from the vine, distilled to perfection and crowned by the world, South African brandy has no equal. Celebrating South Africa’s iconic elixir, the Standard Bank Fine Brandy Festival is a unique, all-brandy event taking place from 5 to 7 May 2010 at the Sandton Sun. Now in its third year, the Standard Bank Fine Brandy Festival is an initiative by the South African Brandy Foundation in sponsorship with Standard Bank, providing a sophisticated showcase where visitors can experience the...