South Africa Blog

Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Nomaindia Mfeketo, says the Mother City is pulling out all the stops to ensure a safe, clean and enjoyable experience for all visitors and residents during the festive season. Briefing the media on the city’s preparedness to host millions of tourists who will converge on Cape Town during the festive season, Ms Mfeketo outlined a number of measures being put in place to ensure visitors feel welcomed.

“An efficient and well-established team of City officials will be on duty at all hours and for all eventualities during the holidays to ensure, with its partners, that the City works for everyone.” She said that as a preferred tourist destination, the City had set up a priority committee which worked continuously throughout the year to ensure a safe and fun holiday season and to deal with the additional demands placed on the City’s infrastructure.

Cape Town, with its 307km long coastline, 72 beaches, mountain range and nature reserves, will bustle with recreational, adventure and leisure outdoor and indoor activities during the next two months. Last year Cape Town received some seven million visitors, of which 1.5 million were overseas tourists and over five million were South Africans. Tourism revenue generated during the period amounted to an estimated R9.2 billion.

Some of the measures being put in place to ensure visitors enjoy their stay include the deployment of over 1 500 uniformed Metro Police officials, a multi-disciplinary disaster management system that will respond to any eventualities and the appointment of more than 100 lifesavers who will be deployed around the City’s beaches. Ms Mfeketo also revealed that nearly R14 million had been set aside for the cleaning teams. “There will be no interruption in refuse removal, even on public holidays,” she said.

Source: BUA News

The issue of obtaining suitable student accommodation that meets the requirements of the student body of a university has been resolved in various ways around the world. The relationship that develops between the university and its surrounds has a direct impact on the university’s ability to attract and retain the best student body possible. Wits University undertook a study in 2000 to research the international precedents for regeneration for universities faced with urban decay on their doorstep. They found that the condition of the universities neighborhood directly impacts on the caliber of students the university is able to attract.

South Point Management Services (Pty) Ltd was incorporated as an entity to acquire properties within the Braamfontein Precinct and to refurbish such properties for student and residential accommodation. South Point is an empowered company with Sifikile Group (Pty) Ltd as our empowerment partners.

South Point in Braamfontein is a special place for students. The management services company that runs this popular place, believes in creating a “home away from home” All the rooms are fully furnished with shared ablution and kitchen facilities. Students are assured of 24 hour security and the buildings are equipped with fingerprint access systems.

Each building also has TV rooms with DSTV, vending machines, pool and soccer tables, coin-operated laundry facilities, intercoms in each room, study rooms and cleaning of common areas too to three times daily.

Each South Point building has a housemother who lives on site to take care of the students. The security provider is ADT and the premises are also linked to NetCare 911.

Five newly refurbished student buildings are centrally located in Braamfontein. South Point can accommodate 1400 students and one of the buildings is dedicated to senior and post-graduate students.

The owners have a working relationship with 50 bursary institutions that have students living in South Point. In addition, they work with Eduloan to secure student funding.

The management company has committed itself to a vision of creating a long-term relationship with their students and actively encourages the establishment of house committees in each building.

Visit http://www.spms.co.za for more information.

Christine’s Beach Cottage: Clifton, Cape Town: Sparkling waters, white sands and a small, elite community of beach houses nestled in the lush amphitheatre of Table Mountain. This is Clifton Beach, Cape Town, South Africa – One of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the perfect place for your holiday.

Clifton is a diamond among all the jewellery that Cape Town offers. While you relax, soak up the sun and gaze across the crystal waters, it is hard to believe that you are just minutes away from the centre of a major cosmopolitan city. The beach-house area of Clifton’s Fourth Beach has a long and gracious history. The architecture of the area is governed by the South African Heritage Resources Agency in order to maintain its atmosphere of a quiet seaside retreat.

Christine’s Beach Cottage is one of these exclusive private houses and offers you comfortable self-catering accommodation for an unforgettable holiday. It has a convenient and attractive split-level design. The lower level holiday apartment (accommodating 4 people) is available for rent from February to November, while the whole house (accommodating 6 people) is available over December and January.

The lower level of the cottage is an apartment with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite) and an open-plan kitchen and living area. It is amply equipped with a stove, oven, crockery, cutlery, utensils and appliances without being cluttered, and has a TV, a DVD player and a Hi-Fi. Both bedrooms have direct access out to the protected sitting area which is perfectly positioned to catch the morning sun for an outdoor breakfast, or to read a book in the afternoon shade of the trees. The sitting area is equipped with a gas barbecue and has views over a lush ravine, beautiful beach-houses and out to sea. The upper level sleeps 2 more people. It has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, separate WC, open-plan kitchen, living area, lounge and a large entertainment deck.

Click to view: Christine’s Beach Cottage
Special Offer for December / January Holiday Season
Cape Town Accommodation
Cape Town Hotels

Special offer available from Ingwe Game Lodge in the Big 5 Edeni Game Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa: This is a special offer not to be missed …

The standard rate per person sharing at Ingwe Game Lodge ranges from R1350.00 per person sharing to R2025.00 per person single, per night, which includes accommodation, all meals, two game drives daily and a bush walk daily. Valid until April 2006, Ingwe Game Lodge is offering a fabulous Special Offer – Only R795.00 per person sharing (R350.00 per child under 12) which includes all meals, 2 game drives and a bush walk daily, teas and coffees. You won’t find a Big 5 Game Lodge experience at a better rate than this!

Ingwe Game Lodge lies in the heart of the wildlife rich Lowveld of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Situated in the Big Five, Edeni Private Game Reserve, Ingwe Game Lodge is home to a wide spectrum of wildlife, over 350 bird species, the Big Five, cheetah and wild dog. Perfect tranquility, superb accommodation and exquisite cuisine are the hallmarks of Ingwe Game Lodge. Ingwe combines African charm and gracious living with the fun of a bush experience to make your South African Safari a dream come true.

Click to view: Ingwe Game Lodge
To Book: Make a booking or contact Ingwe Game Lodge
Related Pages: South African Wildlife
Limpopo Game Lodge
Limpopo Hotels

South Africa is the best holiday destination in Africa:

At the 2005 World Travel Awards ceremony in London on 13the November, South Africa’s airline, hotels, airports and more walked off with 16 of the 17 prize categories for the continent of Africa. The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, Shamwari Game Reserve and Bushman Sands Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape and Rovos Rail were voted the best in the world in their categories ….

AFRICA AWARDS:
Africa’s Leading Airline : South African Airways
Africa’s Leading Airport : Johannesburg International Airport
Africa’s Leading Car Hire : Avis
Africa’s Leading Casino Resort : The Palace of the Lost City
Africa’s Leading Conference Centre International Convention Centre Durban
Africa’s Leading Conference Hotel : Sun City Resort, Sun City
Africa’s Leading Destination : Cape Town, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Golf Resort : Fancourt Hotel & Country Club, George
Africa’s Leading Hotel : Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town
Africa’s Leading Hotel Brand : Protea Hotels
Africa’s Leading Resort : Sun City, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Safari : Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Safari Train : Rovos Rail – The Pride of Africa
Africa’s Leading Spa Resort : Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, Knysna

WORLD AWARDS (won by South Africa)
World’s Leading Boutique Hotel : The Saxon, South Africa
World’s Leading Conservation Company : Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
World’s Leading Luxury Train : Rovos Rail Pride of Africa
World’s Leading Responsible Tourism Project : Bushman Sands – South Africa
World’s Leading Safari & Game Reserve : Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

Dullstroom Arts Festival: 16 – 18 December 2006: Within three hours of Jo’burg, tucked in among the Steenkampsberg, is a little village best known for its pristine pools well stocked with large trout.

It is little known that Dullstroom is also the home of some of South Africa’s greatest cultural talent. Whether it be artisans who produce magnificent works of art in metal or wood, or talented musicians who seek inspiration from the surrounding rolling grasslands, Dullstroom is a plethora of creativity. The local residents have joined forces to provide a platform to showcase this talent. From December 16 to 18, Dullstroom will come alive as locals show visitors that there is more to Dullstroom than meets the fly.

The Dullstroom Festival of Art, Culture and Environment will showcase visual arts, sculpture, pottery, music, the culinary arts and will play host to some knowledgeable environmentalists. “It is quite amazing the scope of the talent and skills of the residents of Dullstroom. Not only are there young artisans working in metal and wood, but there are also highly talented artists who sketch, paint or sculpt, capturing the beauty of our area. “The variety of the so-called crafts created in the village is also astounding and the quality of these crafts is quite something and perhaps they should be reclassified as art,”.

The Dullstroom Festival also has a varied programme of performing artists. Not only will these artists perform on designated stages throughout the village, in the evenings they will provide entertainment to patrons at the different restaurants scattered around town. During the festival each of the many restaurants will have something extraordinary on, which will be complimented by wine tastings from various estates. The variety of cuisine on offer will be extensive and it is advisable to try as many restaurants as possible. The choice on offer ranges from traditional Austrian cuisine and beer, boerekos with wines from Simonsig, and English “grub” complimented with wines from the Swartland Estate.

Dullstroom lies on the Steenkampsberg Plateau, 2076m above sea level. The grasslands and wetlands provide the habitat for a remarkable variety of interesting fauna and flora consequently host to a number of interesting environmental projects. The Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre will be the hub of the environmental programme during the festival. The centre has been in existence since 1996 and in a year up to 200 birds come into the centre. These birds are injured, sick or confiscated and they are rehabilitated at the centre and returned to the wild if possible. There will be daily flying displays at 10:30 and again at 2:30, in which experienced staff handle some of the resident birds of prey, and educate the audience about the particular birds in the display.

The centre has also established various captive breeding projects, which is a resource for gaining knowledge and understanding of raptors. Visitors to the centre are encouraged to walk round before or after the displays and find out about the individual birds in the centre. In addition to their normal displays the centre experts from Highlands Crane Group will be giving talks at the Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre.

Related Sites: Dullstroom Accommodation
Dullstroom Hotels
Mpumalanga, South Africa
South Africa Birdlife

» CHRISTINE’S BEACH COTTAGE – Clifton, Cape Town: Sparkling waters, white sands and a small, elite community of beach houses nestled in the lush amphitheatre of Table Mountain. This is Clifton Beach, Cape Town, South Africa – One of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the perfect place for your holiday. 25% discount on prime-position beach house for 6 people, 23 Dec-5 Jan. Normal price for whole house (lower-level Garden Suite and upper level together) over Christmas / new year is R4000 per night, special at R3000 per night…
» View this offer

» TAMAKWA COUNTRY LODGE, Rosetta, Natal Midlands: Tamakwa Country Lodge is situated in the village of Rosetta in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands with dramatic views of the Drakensberg Mountains. The Mooi River meanders along the boundary, encouraging a variety of bird and wildlife. Tamakwa Country Lodge offers luxurious self-catering as well as bed & breakfast accommodation in an area renowned for trout fishing. Midweek Special: Sundays to Thursdays valid to 15 December 2006: R 275.00 per person per night, Bed and Breakfast or R 230.00 per person per night, Self Catering …
» View this offer

» GREEN TREE GUEST COTTAGE – Greater Addo, Eastern Cape: Special offer until end April 2006, only R490.00 per cottage per night, Bed & Breakfast. The Green Tree Cottage is situated in close vicinity of the Greater Addo Elephant Park and Sunshine Coast …
» View this offer

» THE ROSEBANK HOTEL – Sandton, Johannesburg: Christmas special from 10 Dec to 14 Jan, bed & breakfast or dinner, bed & breakfast options. A tranquil, relaxed atmosphere, combined with friendly efficient service, are all trademarks of our hospitality. The hotel has a 4 star grading along with …
» View this offer

» SHAYAMOYA GAME LODGE, Pongola, KwaZulu Natal: 4 nights or more: R790 per person sharing per night, Dinner Bed and Breakfast. Offer valid all year round. A truly unique lodge in Northern KwaZulu Natal where you are welcomed like an old friend. Privately owned and managed by the …
» View this offer

» DARLINGTON LAKE LODGE, Addo Elephant Park, Eastern Cape: Three special offers available over the holiday season: November Madness, Family Package and New Years Packages. Situated in the Greater Addo Elephant Park, and lying on the shores of the Park’s Darlington Lake is the intimate …
» View this offer

» AFRICA REGENT GUEST HOUSE, Durban North, KwaZulu Natal: Only R4369.00 per person (based on 2 persons sharing) for 7 nights includes: A 4 night stay at the luxury 4-star Africa Regent Guest House, including full English breakfast daily, 3 nights stay at a Private Game Reserve including Dinner, Brunch, a Sundowner Boat Cruise, Game Drive, Rhino Tracking Experience and a Canoe Experience and 7 days car hire (air-conditioned) including insurance….
» View this offer

Article by: Colin Cruywagen, Source: BUA News

Sutherland – Today’s inauguration of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) will provide the sub-continent with a scientific facility with a capability normally associated with the developed world. The SALT will be used to detect planets and study other solar systems.

This massive telescope is located about 15km outside Sutherland in the Northern Cape, a town known for experiencing the coldest nights in South Africa while during the day temperatures soar into the 30s (degrees Celsius).

In using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) as a model, the SALT project team was able to improve on the design by making use of recent technological advances. The 11-metre primary mirror is stationary when observing and is always at a fixed elevation angle of 53 degrees. It has an array of 91 hexagonal mirror segments, each with a spherical surface and an alignment system that was a major area enhancement in the SALT design.

The most significant improvement in SALT was the redesign of the “spherical aberration corrector” needed to correct optical aberrations that arise from the use of spherical mirrors. SALT’s distinct advantage over many other similar telescopes is its ability to observe many different objects in a variety of instrumental configurations, and many different observing programmes can be undertaken efficiently in one night.

The first scientific observations by SALT, with its final complement of mirrors and its first scientific instrument, SALTICAM, began in August. The “first-light” images were officially released worldwide on 1 September. These images taken by SALT demonstrated the huge light-gathering power of the telescope and its enormous potential.

With the inauguration of the SALT, South Africa maintains a proud history of joining with nations around the globe in searching for “buried treasure” of knowledge at the “outposts of the universe”.

Article from Bua News
Related Links The Northern Cape, South Africa
Attractions and Destinations
Northern Cape Accommodation

Standard Bank, the French Embassy and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) have announced an international cultural coup for South Africa: Picasso and Africa, an exhibition of works by the 20th century European master, Pablo Picasso. Picasso and Africa will be shown at the Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg in February and March 2006, and at the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town during April and May, 2006.

With President Mbeki of South Africa and President Chirac of France as patrons, the exhibition has the full support of both governments and reinforces the important cultural ties between the two countries. Previous exhibitions of work by Marc Chagall (2000) and Joan Miró (2002) that were also organised by Standard Bank and IFAS have formed the foundation for this groundbreaking venture. The Picasso Museum in Paris and one of its leading curators, Laurence Madeline, agreed to work with Marilyn Martin, Director of Art Collections at Iziko South African National Gallery, to conceive and develop the exhibition for South Africa.

Picasso and Africa offers, for the first time, a dialogue between Africa and Picasso and explores the influence of African art on his artistic output, in the company of classical African pieces. Says His Excellency Jean Felix-Paganon, Ambassador of France: “Picasso always relied on different cultural traditions which he combined in his unique work. His is a good example of the benefits of cultural diversity that France and South Africa are promoting together.”

The exhibition has three distinct yet interrelated components:
More than 60 paintings, drawings and sculptures dating from 1906 to 1972 that contain and communicate Picasso’s African inspiration
A selection of works that reflect the diversity and rapid changes of which he was capable
A selection of African sculptures, similar to those with which Picasso may have been familiar. These were sourced from various South African holdings, as Picasso’s own collection is dispersed and too fragile to travel.
A prestigious book with in-depth essays by the two curators and other prominent writers will accompany Picasso and Africa. The book will include a detailed biography, an anthology of texts on the exhibition’s theme as well as illustrations of all the exhibited works.

In addition, art education specialists for the Standard Bank Gallery and the Iziko South African National Gallery are developing an extensive workshop and educational programme with the support of Business and Arts South Africa. It includes a published resource for art educators and learners and will also cater for learners with special needs.

When to view Picasso and Africa
Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg: 10 February to 19 March 2006
Iziko National Gallery, Cape Town: 13 April to 21 May 2006

That’s really good news for all South African Robbie Williams fans. Robbie’s long awaited World Tours kicks off in South Africa on Monday 10th April at the ABSA Stadium in Durban. On Thursday 13th he will be at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town and finishes the South Africa leg of his tour on Monday 17th at Pretoria Loftus Stadium. That’s the good news for all Robbie Williams fans …

Online ticket sales started on the Robbie williams website to “exclusive subscribers” today. (To become an ‘Inner Sanctum Member’ just pay £25.00 – then you are allowed to book your ticket online). A limited number of tickets are being made available for purchase online. Ticket sales open at Computicket on the 19th November and online for non-members.

1. The Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in the World. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques.

The southern portion of Kruger Park (in Mpumalanga) is more lush and wooded that the drier central and northern regions, and is where most of the camps are situated, as the largest concentrations of game occur here. This Section of the park is accessed by the southern gates, namely: Malelane, Crocodile Bridge, Numbi, Phabeni, and Paul Kruger….
Click here for additional information about the Kruger Park.

2. Table Mountain: To get to the top of this landmark you can hike or take a 5 minute cable car ride …

3. South Africa’s Game Reserves and National Parks

4. The UkhahLamba Drakensberg Park(KwaZulu Natal)

5. Robben Island (Cape Town)

6. The Garden Route (Plettenberg Bay, George, Knysna …)

7. Sun City Resort

8. Cape Town Waterfront

9. Soweto (Johannesburg)

10. The Cradle of Humankind

View ALL South Africa Attractions

South Africa Bed & Breakfast: With the December Holiday season around the corner, many of us are looking to get away. You might want to consider staying in a Bed & Breakfast this time. Staying at a South Africa Bed and Breakfast provides a number of advantages over staying at an hotel:

Given the same quality/standard of accommodation, the B&B would be less expensive than the hotel.

You might enjoy a better location when staying at a B&B than an hotel charging a higher price.

Bed and Breakfasts often allow guests more flexibility e.g. Extra bedding, access to the kitchen, etc.

Hosts at a South Africa Bed and Breakfast have lived in the area for years and can provide better local knowledge eg. best local deli and offer more personalised service.

Staying at a South African Bed and Breakfast gives you the opportunity to live as a local while enjoying the better price, location, quality, flexibility and local knowledge.

To find a Bed & Breakfast in South Africa, visit the SA-Venues.com web site. The site has thousands of registered Bed & Breakfasts listed all over South Africa, and you get to deal directly with the owners (this is a non-commission web site). So you can deal direct with the owners and SAVE!

Featured Cape Town Bed & Breakfast:
Bergzicht Guest House – Tamboerskloof, Cape Town: Bergzicht takes its name from its spectacular position high on Table Mountain affording it wrap around views of the city bowl and the famous flat top. Spend your holiday at ease in this home away from home on the slopes of South Africa’s most famous landmark. Bergzicht takes its name from its spectacular position high on Table Mountain affording it wrap around views of the city bowl and the famous flat top.
For additional info and to book, visit: Bergzicht Guest House | Tamboerskloof

CHURCH STREET LODGE – Worcester, Breede River Valley: Church Street Lodge is situated in Worcester’s historical Church Street, undoubtedly one of the most picturesque parts of town and within walking distance from the town center. The lodge offers warm hospitality with a roman swimming pool, fountains…
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BLACK EAGLE LODGE – Caledon, Cape Overberg: Escape to a mountain hideaway only 120 kms from Cape Town. This unique stone lodge is totally secluded from the world yet is positioned centrally, giving one the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas of the Overberg …
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GABRIELLA HOUSE – Table View, Blaauwberg: Located in Table View approximately 15 minutes from the major Cape Town tourist attractions such as The Cape Town Waterfront and City Centre, Century City, Grand West casino and Wine route, overlooking the famous Table Mountain …
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The Drakenberg in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa: A thousand kilometres of mountain majesty, the Drakensberg range is the adventure tourist’s playground. It is also perfect for nature photography, easy walking and simple relaxation. Full of game sanctuaries, Bushman rock art sites, challenging peaks and cascading waterfalls, the views in the Drakensberg will compete with anything the rest of the world has to offer …

Special Discounted Rates availavable at The Nest Drakensberg Mountain Resot & Hotel: “The combination of award winning food, spectacular gardens, wonderful facilities, friendly staff, relaxing accommodation and exquisite views over the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage Site together with the availability of just about all leisure and sporting facilities imaginable that make The Nest a unique and much loved destination for so many tourists and families from far flung places.”

The Nest are offering special 5 day packages available for Stays from Sunday to Friday, starting at R1750.00 per person for the 5 day package in a Garden Rondavel to R2250.00 in the Mountain View Suotes.
View this offer at: The Nest – Special Offer

Other Establishments that are highly recommended in the Drakensberg are:
The Alpine Heath Resort | Cathedral Peak Hotel | Cathkin Cottage | The Cavern Berg | Champagne Sports Resort | Eagle’s Rock Mountain Retreat | eKuthuleni | Glenlea Log Cabin.