South Africa Travel News

Why I’m telling no-one about McGregor

It isn’t easy to find somewhere to stay on a farm that is remote but still close enough to a small town to provide light entertainment when needed and supplies when necessary. I spent quite a bit of time on the internet before I found our little gem on a farm just outside Robertson and McGregor (bonus as we got two quaint towns for the price of one!). The unbelievably beautiful valley that holds Robertson, McGregor, Ashton, Bonnievale and Montagu in its embrace has something magical...

Dwarf Chameleon photograph by Jennifer Peers

This amazing close up of a dwarf chameleon was sent to us by Jennifer Peers as an entry for our November Photography Competition. Jennifer has submitted some of the most beautiful photographs (see previous featured photo here). According to the Wikipedia entry for Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum), it is native to the Western Cape where it is restricted to the region around Cape Town. As with most chameleons, its tongue is twice the length of its body and it can be shot out of its...

It’s the Ficksburg Festival, my cherry!

Cherry Festival Ficksburg didn’t mean that much to me until I visited the pretty little town set on the banks of the Caledon River. It lies at the foot of the beautiful Imperani Mountain in the Free State, for those of you who didn’t know, and I had only heard of it before the festival because a school friend of mine hailed from there (and since we were at school in Durban at the time, you can understand how she was regarded with a fair amount of incredulity). First off let me...

The grand opening of the Cape Quarter’s Square

Cape Quarter This is one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets because it has something for everyone, health, beauty, fashion, lifestyle and food all in one unique venue with typical Cape Malay architecture. This is a place that epitomises cool and if you want to be with the who’s who then you should make your way to the Cape Quarter … This is such a fantastic space that is brought together with the central piazza which in itself is a meeting place for friends and family before they explore...

Mpila Camp, Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve

KwaZulu Natal is a wonderful destination to visit during winter, since its mild temperatures allow you to escape the chill of other parts of the country. As part of our travels, we chose a visit to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, which was established in 1895, and is the oldest game park in Africa … One of the attractions of selecting this reserve, and Mpila camp in particular, was that I could meet my young boys’ desire to camp, without having to sacrifice my need for a little...

A weekend in Franschhoek

Franschhoek Friends got married at Moreson Wine Estate last weekend so we used this as a good excuse to spend the weekend in Franschhoek. It was a lunch time wedding and we live in Cape Town, so strictly speaking two nights in Franschhoek was not really necessary but then again, it’s Franschhoek and it’s always a treat to spend time in this beautiful town! We arrived on Friday evening and there is something quite special about driving through the valley as the sun is setting. We really do...

South African Sports News – 4 November

Francois Hougaard Bulls tame Cheetahs to take Currie Cup It was all smiles for the Loftus Versfeld faithful in Pretoria on Saturday night when their darlings, the mighty Blue Bulls, defeated a stubborn Cheetahs outfit 36-24 to become 2009 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division champions. The Bulls stormed to a 24-0 lead after just 25 minutes courtesy of a try from right wing Francois Hougaard (pictured with ball in hand) and a brace from left wing Bryan Habana, but the Cheetahs, as always, staged a...

Giraffe photograph by Erma Mae Perkins

This beautiful photograph of a Giraffe taken on a game walk in the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve was submitted to our November Photography Competition by Erma Mae Perkins. Established in 1895, this is the oldest game park in South Africa along with nearby St Lucia Reserve. Apart from game viewing drives there are self guided auto trails which provide information on both the management and natural history of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi game reserve. Guided walks can be especially rewarding in the...

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

There’s a secret little world of fantasy and fairy tale, which unfolds every Saturday morning in Constantia, Cape Town. And if you have not treated your children to a visit to the Rainbow Puppet Theatre, at the Michael Oak Waldorf school, then you are missing out! There are few options these days for young children that do not involve a whole load of violence, foul language and adult understanding. In fact many of the so-called children’s shows and movies these days seem to cater more for...

Bashful and Beautiful – Waterbuck by Dror Orbach

Todays photograph of a female Waterbuck was sent to us by Dror Orbach from Israel, taken on a visit to South Africa in 2008. The waterbuck is not aquatic nor much at home in water, but it does take refuge there to escape predators. The waterbuck is a large, robust antelope with large, rounded ears and white patches above the eyes, around the nose and mouth and on the throat. Only the males have horns, which are prominently ringed and as long as 40 inches. Bashful and Beautiful – By and...

Joostenberg Deli – a stop worth making time for

Farm outside Bloekomsbos Saturday was a day filled with new discoveries and interesting stops. We visited a local farmer, Erick, on his farm just outside Bloekomsbos, accidentally discovered one of the Stellenbosch jewels – Joostenberg Deli – and uncovered a gem of a garden centre just next door. Erick Zenzele is the farmer that sends us a bag full of peas, cabbage, mixed lettuce leaves, beetroot, broccoli and spinach every week. His farm (his land has been loaned to him by a...

Pinocchio Pantomime in Johannesburg from 4 November

Adventures of Pinocchio We have all heard of the story of the little wooden boy who was carved from a piece of pine by the woodcarver Geppetto and who was created as a puppet but dreamt of becoming a “real boy” named Pinocchio. This fictional character has been around since 1883 and has become a well loved tale and was certainly a firm favourite of mine whilst I was growing up. And if you are in Johannesburg or its surrounding areas you will be happy to know that Pinocchio will be the biggest...

Yellow-billed Hornbill photographs by Mhairi Kelly

These two fabulous photographs of a group of Yellow-billed Hornbills was sent to us by Mhairi Kelly. The Yellow-billed Hornbill is a medium sized bird, with length between 48 to 60 cm, characterized by a long yellow beak with a casque (only in males). The Yellow-billed Hornbill feed mainly on the ground surface, where they forage for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions. Termites and ants are a preferred food source in the dry season … Yellow-billed Hornbills photographs by and ©...

Winner 2 Night Getaway to the Big 5 Pilanesberg Park

CONGRATULATIONS to Brett Lee of South Africa who has won a 2-night getaway to Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge in the malaria-free, Big 5 Pilanesberg National Park, in the North West Province of South Africa, sponsored by South African Golfing & Safari Tours. The prize includes accommodation in a Family Room for 2 adults AND 2 children (under 18 years) OR accommodation in a Double Room for 2 adults (depending on winner’s preference) for 2 consecutive nights, breakfast and dinner daily and 4 game...

Picnicking at Harold Porter, and sighting penguins …

Botanical Gardens Harold Porter is a really pleasant surprise! In fact, it’s one of the Cape’s best kept secrets … I had forgotten just how gorgeous the drive from Cape Town to Betty’s Bay along Clarence Drive, known also as Route 44, is. We were to visit friends in Somerset West in the evening and, since it looked as though the day would be clear, we ambitiously set off for the Harold Porter Botanical Garden, a long-delayed visit, one we had been meaning to make for...

Groot Constantia Christmas Gift and Garden Fair

I hadn’t managed to get to the Christmas Gift and Garden Fair during the evening this week so popped in during lunch time on its last day. Held at Groot Constantia, the setting itself would have been good enough if the fair had not lived up to expectation. But it did not fail to deliver! For a small R20 entry fee (all proceeds go to The Red Cross Children’s Hospital, and in particular will be used to buy lifesaving equipment for the new Operating Theatre Complex) I gained access to the...

29 Blue Flag Beaches in South Africa

The new season of Blue Flag South Africa was launched at Muizenberg beach in Cape Town yesterday where it was announced that 29 of South Africa’s beaches have achieved Blue Flag status – an increase from 19 to 29 this year … Announced by Marthinus van Schalkwyk (Minister of Tourism), who said that the increase of Blue Flag beaches from 19 last year to 29 this year was extremely good for tourism in South Africa. “In order for South Africa to optimise its tourism potential, it...

African Paradise Flycatcher photo by Janet Bloom

Todays beautiful photograph is of an African Paradise Flycatcher taken by Janet Bloom in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Says Janet: “We saw this mom and dad feeding their chick at a lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve when it started raining. The dad swooped down and sat on the chick until the shower was over. A few days later, the chick had left the nest and was flying with the parents” … Photograph of an African Paradise Flycatcher by and © Janet Bloom (South Africa) Useful...

A hop, skip and a jump to Pilgrim’s Rest

Getting to Pilgrim’s Rest from Johannesburg takes longer than you think it will. It shouldn’t, as the obvious route along the N4 is pretty straight forward – Witbank, Belfast, Waterval Boven – but this is where it starts getting fuzzy, because by this stage not only were we tired, having only left work at around 3pm, but by the time we hit Sabie there was also a not-so-fine mist to contend with. Oncoming traffic became somewhat indistinct, the world took on the ambiance...

The Outeniqua Powervan

Outeniqua Powervan For anyone travelling through the scenic George / Knysna area, one of the attractions is, or always has been, the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, one of the last remaining steam trains in Africa. However, many will be as disappointed as we were to learn that the “Choo-Tjoe”, as she is affectionately known, has not run since June 2009. So what does a family with two train-mad young boys do, to stem the disappointment? We were lucky to learn from the Transport Museum that something...

Meerkat photo by Jennifer Peers

One of the first entries received for our November Photography Competition is this great shot of a Meerkat (also known as suricate) submitted by Jennifer Peers – thanks so much for sharing this with us Jennifer, its very special! Meerkat adults take it in turns to stand on guard finding a convenient spot where they can watch for predators, such as eagles. If danger is sighted, the “guard” gives a warning bark, and the meerkats flee to the safety of their burrows. While...

Win a Weekend Away for 4 Couples in Sandton

WIN a luxurious weekend away for 4 couples to the 5-star graded Tladi Lodge in Sandton. The sprawling thatched lodge is set on 2 acres of well tended tranquil gardens with a tennis court and a swimming pool in the Sandton suburb of Sandown, which lies between Morningside and the Sandton CBD, a prime position in Johannesburg. Just a stone’s throw away from Nelson Mandela Square and Sandton City, this is an ideal location from which to enjoy the multitude of activities available in...

South African Sports News – 28 October

Joseph Henyekane Arrows shoot down hapless Ajax Golden Arrows were crowned MTN8 champions in Soweto on Saturday night when they crushed Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in one-sided MTN8 final at the Orlando Stadium. In the process, Arrows won their first major trophy and a record R8-million winner-takes-all prize. The match was effectively over as a contest after 20 minutes when the KwaZulu Natal outfit took an unbeatable 2-0 lead courtesy of some positive attacking soccer and some shocking defending...

Photographers Competition November 2009

Restore my faith that not all travellers are only interested in the Big 5 … submit your favourite game reserve or nature photo and win! The only spec is that it cannot be a photo of a Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino or an Elephant. Oh, and amateur photographers only please. Your photo will be featured and credited in our January 2010 newsletter and in line with our Theme for November 2009 (Going Wild in South Africa … The Big 5 and Beyond), you’ll win a special something which...

Big 5 or Bust?

Something that always amazes me is the modern day traveller’s overwhelming desire to spot the Big 5. This is not to say that I don’t appreciate such a sighting and relish every moment watching Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and (for me, the as yet unseen) Leopard in the wild, but when lucky enough to spend some time in South African Game Reserves, any sighting fills me with joy … On a game drive in a private Big 5 reserve recently, I was disappointed to find that our game ranger was...

Special Accommodation Offers in November

As we always do this time of the month, we scout around looking for the best accommodation deals to include in our monthly newsletter. And we’ve uncovered some excellent options for you – from top of the range luxury game lodges at discounted rates to deals on accommodation for the budget conscious traveller … check them out and we wish you happy travel planning! Tshukudu Lodge … in the North West Province: 1). For a luxurious game reserve setting try Tshukudu Lodge...

November Events

It’s that time again, the end of the month and you are wondering what you will do next month. The festive season is almost upon us and before you get overwhelmed by all of those end of year functions make some space in your diary for some of these fantastic events happening all around South Africa this November. FNB Whisky Live Western Cape Events Cape Town is the first to host the FNB Whisky Live Festival from 4-6 November 2009 (Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre hosts it from 11-14...

Well Found Welgevonden

After a tiring journey, admittedly just a 3 and a half hour drive from OR Tambo International Airport, we had finally arrived at the West Gate of the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve (near Vaalwater in the Limpopo Province) for a long-awaited game holiday. We happily abandoned our rental car (no private vehicles are allowed in the reserve) and scampered into the back of the open 4×4 safari vehicle, while our game ranger collected and stowed our luggage. Then we were off on our +/- 30...

Open Gardens at The Cellars-Hohenort

Cellars-Hohenort I took myself off to the Open Gardens at The Cellars-Hohenort yesterday afternoon. I must admit the weather was already a bit windy so I was in two minds about going but I’m very pleased I did. The gardens are spectacular and are acknowledged as some of the finest hotel gardens in the world and voted by Garden Design, a top American magazine, as one of the top 30 hotel gardens in the world. On arrival at the hotel I was met by five ducks and it looked as if they were out...

V&A Waterfront Photos

One of Cape Town’s biggest tourist attractions, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront evokes images of the early activities of the harbour. Much of its charm lies in the fact that this busy commercial harbour is set in the midst of a huge entertainment venue with pubs, restaurants, specialty shops, craft markets, theatres and movies … Photographs – Click to view enlargements: Useful Links: V&A Waterfront Attractions Things to Do in V&A...

Bird’s Boutique Café – on its way to becoming iconic in the city bowl

Bird’s Boutique Café A meal at Bird’s Boutique is something of an experience, and if you haven’t already stopped off to taste Mathilde Stegmann and her daughter’s delectable dishes, then I would advise that you do. Set on the corner of Bree and Church Street in a building that is most un-restaurant-like, there isn’t anything quite like this café in Cape Town. The concept defies categorisation, and yet the food is simple, home-cooking. Described as a ‘unique,...

Green Point Stadium in all her lit up glory

Isn’t she beautiful? The new Green Point Stadium was lit up for the first time last week Thursday (22nd October 2009) and Capetonians are proud! The FIFA World Cup™ is the biggest sporting event in the world and all eyes will be on the Green Point Stadium and Cape Town when it hosts five first round matches, one second round, one quarter-final and one semi-final next year … Photographs of Green Point Stadium – By and © Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town More...

Bitten by the whale watching bug

We don’t realise how lucky we are in South Africa, and in particular the Western Cape, to have the mightiest of the marine mammals visit our coastline between August and October every year. Countless visitors to South Africa come to our shores to catch sight of these gentle, but huge beasts, and many of them manage to do so virtually face-to-face. You can imagine the experience of getting close to a whale – longer and definitely wider than the boat on which you find yourself, with...

Lunching at Parks Café in Wynberg

Parks Café in Wynberg We don’t get out much. No seriously, doing lunch is tantamount to a social occasion we manage it so seldom. When one works from home, lunch hour is something you snatch on the run whilst picking up the wee one and sprinting into the local bakery double time for fresh bread! But yesterday we managed to have what definitely qualifies as a civilised lunch time interlude at Parks Café, Wynberg. The address is a little misleading, as Parks Café actually rests on...

Photos of Greyton

Go where the locals go … Well travelled Guest House owners, Pam and Steve Lord (Cape Rose Cottage in Camps Bay), are regular visitors to the charming village of Greyton. Says Pam; “It is so beautiful out there – one of my favourite places in the world”. Pam took a series of photographs on a recent weekend getaway to Greyton which she has kindly allowed us to share … “Greyton is a picture-perfect rendition of an old town with its gravel roads, thatched...

Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts

It is that time again Cape Town – The Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts are right on our doorstep so it is time to phone your friends, dust off that picnic blanket and take the basket off the top shelf and make sure you have tickets for the Sunday concerts … The Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concerts have been taking place for as long as I can remember, they are such a highlight on the Cape Town calendar and it is a fantastic opportunity to wind down the weekend, sitting on the beautiful...

History or horticulture? How about a whole lot of both at Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden?

The Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden is one of the Cape’s most well-known tourism draw cards, as well as being a favourite with locals as a picnic spot. Any Cape Town guide book worth its salt will tell you about the Garden’s 528 hectares of indigenous flora and natural forest (36 of which are cultivated), its restaurants, its hiking trails and its line-up of summer concerts. What they might not tell you about is Kirstenbosch’s very long and interesting history … It’s a common...

La Boheme Restaurant in Sea Point

La Boheme A friend resides in Sea Point and has been raving about a restaurant that has opened up on Main Road so we gave it a try on Tuesday evening. I’m so glad we did! At R85 for a 2 course meal we were off to a good start, and the delicious food cemented La Boheme on one of my new favourite eateries … I tried the grilled polenta with marinated aubergine and a tomato relish as a starter and then had the very tasty lamb, mushroom and rosemary pie as a main course. Both servings...

The Outeniqua Country Hop

Outeniqua Country Hop One could be forgiven for thinking that the ‘country hop’ is some sort of quaint rural dance, but the Outeniqua country hop in the Garden Route is a tourist route, initiated by a group of local women to help put local trade in and around George on the map. The clever play on the term ‘hop’ was inspired by the abundance of hops growing in the area, a plant used in the manufacturing of beer, and unique to this region in South Africa. We picked up signs for the Hop on the...

Bloubergstrand …

Bloubergstrand It is a humbling experience watching a child have their first experience of the beach, something that I as a Capetonian often take for granted. My cousin and her 13 month old son came down to Cape Town from Johannesburg for a visit. The day they arrived was quite a typical summer’s day, hot with a bit of wind and we decided that it would be a great opportunity to go down to the beach, after all the little guy could have his first taste (literally) of the beach sand and see the...