South Africa Blog

Not having the time, money or other resources required to travel long distances to enjoy a break does not mean that you have to relinquish your family vacation altogether. With a little research and creativity, you will likely find that there are plenty of things to do and see without even leaving your home town. This is important for families with children, as little ones can become bored quite quickly, needing activities and attention to enjoy their time away from school. This is also a great way to spend weekends at any time of year.

Here are 10 popular things to do and places to visit locally:

1. Botanical gardens are usually open to the public and are not open for profit. They are quick, easy and cost-effective for the entire family to visit. They showcase natural beauty and are usually set up to accommodate even young children without posing too many dangers. Enquire about lectures and classes being conducted during the school holidays for those that find this type of place particularly interesting.

2. Find out about local organic farms and take the children on a pre-arranged tour of one (or more) of these to educate them about the origin of their fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products. Young ones will love milking a dairy cow or watching sheep get shorn.

3. If you live close to a regular farmers’ market, visit it as a family. Let the children choose some produce for their week’s meals, involving them more in the process and allowing them to see where their food comes from.

4. Plan a treasure hunt in a grocery store to convert a weekly chore into a fun activity. Give them clues as to what to find and where, and ensure that there is a worthwhile treasure at the end of their quest. This will take plenty of forethought and preparation but will prove to be worth it. Clues can include logos or slogans on the item’s packaging, a certain barcode, or a colour combination, for example.

5. Watch a local sports match, even if it is just at a nearby high school. The vibe and excitement is a fabulous way to pass a few free hours.

6. Incite the child in you and plan a family day at the local games arcade. Instead of ambling around waiting for the kids to finish their games, play along with them. They will love the quality time and be able to enjoy themselves without worrying that you are in a rush to get home.

7. Enjoy a family picnic in a local park, sports field, beach or forest. Pack all sorts of delicious delights and remember to take along an activity (such as a bat and ball or a board game).

8. Find out about local art, craft or music festivals and visit these, even if it is not something you would ordinarily do. A change makes for a valuable break.

9. Find an isolated spot in which you can plant some indigenous trees. This may work best at a local animal shelter or children’s home that needs and approves of your initiative. Teach youngsters about the importance of this vegetation and watch their delight as, year after year, they monitor the growth of “their” trees. Permission will definitely be required.

10. Take classes (art, pottery, jewellery making or cooking are all popular choices). If any or all of you need a boost, join the gym or take fitness classes together.

You can find a huge selection of activities Things to Do in South Africa on SA-Venues.com and to find a kid-friendly place to say, see Family-friendly accommodation where children of ALL ages are welcome or see the all South Africa Accommodation listing pages for other establishments that accept children from 6, 12 or 16 years upwards.

Happy Travelling!

We are so proud that Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar in Longmarket Street, Cape Town, was voted one of the “Best New Bars in 20 Cities” in the Condé Nast Traveler’s list (published in the July 2012 issue of this international magazine). Tjing Tjing ranked fourth on this inclusive list, which is about searching the world for the best drinking and party hubs to have hit the scene since the previous year.

Tjing Tjing describes themselves as “a unique urban rooftop bar.” The eclectic style, set within and atop a building that is almost 200 years old, gives it a retro look that is really different, and makes for a trendy hotspot for drinks, cocktails, snacks and a good dance. Being situated in the City Bowl of the Mother City means that Tjing Tjing is accessible and close to a host of other eateries, guest houses, attractions and activities.

The Condé Nast Traveler’s list included Tjing Tjing for its vibrant ambience, great music and varied menu and wine list. The music that regulars can expect ranges from Indie to electronic, attracting an irresistibly cool crowd. The red, black and white Tokyo-inspired décor provides the perfect ambience in which to enjoy this trendy hub.

The menu is fairly brief, but includes something for everyone. Foody options include cheesy quesadillas, beer-battered angelfish, sticky Asian pork belly sandwiches and a local cheese and charcuterie platter. The wine list is considerably more assorted and ranges from 2009 vintages (at R350 per bottle) to easy-to-drink varieties that cost only R77 per bottle. Lots of cool cocktails are available to refresh you on a balmy summer’s afternoon or warm you up on a chilly winter evening.

Tjing Tjing makes for a fab event venue. Every Wednesday, this award-winning bar is the host of wine tastings. Each tasting showcases wines from suppliers off the wine list; familiarising the tasters with new flavours and traditional favourites and giving these suppliers a platform on which to show their labels off in the best light.

Tjing Tjing is open from Tuesday to Friday from 16h00 to late and on Saturdays from 18h30 to late. If booked in advance, Tjing Tjing takes exclusive bookings for a Monday night.

See more: www.tjingtjing.co.za

A number of top artists from around the country are set to perform at this year’s White Mountain Festival, which is coming up from September 29 to October 2 and once again promises a weekend of great live music in an awesome setting.

Included on the bill for this gem of a festival held at White Mountain Lodge near Giant’s Castle in the scenic Central Drakensberg are melodic rockers aKING, the platinum-selling Jesse Clegg Band, Plush frontman Rory Eliot and SAMA-nominated singer-songwriter Josie Field.

Other must-see acts include Habit To, Margaret’s Daughter, Allan John Band, Naming James, Shotgun Tori, Rooibaardt, The Hinds Brothers, Nate Maingard, Holly, Nosi and The Zulus, The Kickstands, Asleep in Transit, Kaiti Faul, as well as 2010 SA Idols finalist Jess Yallup, among others.

A special treat for guitar enthusiasts is that acoustic fingerstyle guru Guy Buttery and blues maestro Dan Patlansky will also join forces in a rare unplugged collaboration, combining their contrasting styles in what is sure to be a showcase of true guitar wizardry!

Also on offer are fun outdoor activities for the whole family, arts and crafts, assorted food outlets and a beer market featuring several local breweries.  Festival-goers can also make full use of the lodge’s facilities, including a restaurant, rustic 150-year-old pub, children’s playground, swimming pool and satellite TV.

Now in its sixth year, White Mountain is KwaZulu-Natal’s only acoustic music festival and is known for its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, plentiful amenities and beautiful surroundings.  Situated less than 200km from Durban, 400km from Johannesburg and only 25km off the N3 on tarred roads, it makes for the ideal weekend getaway and also provides easy access to a number of nearby tourist attractions, including the Midlands Meander.

Tickets cost R500 at Computicket and include camping for the entire festival.  For more information, visit http://www.whitemountain.co.za or contact 031 563 0824.

Need a place to stay? Find accommodation in the Drakensberg for this event!

The Cape Town Festival’s (CTF) multi-dimensional street festival Night Vision is back by popular demand on Saturday, 12 March from 6pm till midnight.

It will take place at the newly revamped Cape Town Station Forecourt, extending festivities into Adderley Street between Strand Street and the fountain. The CTF, incorporating the One City, Many Cultures (1CMC) Project, is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

After a three-year break, Cape Town’s nocturnal urban street festival, Night Vision, is back with a bang, only this time bigger and better than ever before! Night Vision promises to dominate the city night life with a party-thumping arts and entertainment extravaganza. The event will lead up to a climax of explosive live on-stage performances by iconic bands such as High Voltage Collective featuring EJ Von LYRIK, Theba Shumba and D.form; 340ml; The Dirty Skirts and headline act, 2010 SAMA Award Winners, Big NUZ who will take the party well into midnight. (more…)

The Brightwater Commons, in conjunction with the Chinese Embassy in South Africa will be hosting a celebration of the Chinese New Year on Saturday 12th February 2011. To start at 11am, this event will feature a variety of vibrant cultural performances as well as colourful exhibitions that will allow visitors to experience the beauty and diversity of the Chinese culture.

Whilst the exhibitions and stalls will open at 11am, the entertainment programme will begin at 1pm with an official opening ceremony. This will be followed by the ever popular and spectacular Lion and Dragon dances. Other performances that will dazzle and delight visitors will include an acrobatics, contortion and fire act; traditional Umbrella and Fan dancing, as well as demonstrations of martial arts.

The event’s highlight will be a set of acts by the talented Yunnan Arts Troupe originating from Yunnan, which is regarded as China’s most culturally diverse province. The professional 14 member troupe will reflect the colour and culture of the province through the dances of the region’s different ethnic minorities. They will also present a delightful magic show and Tibetan songs.

Visitors can also see a variety of cultural exhibitions, from arts and crafts all the way to clothing; and enjoy lunch on the commons as there will be numerous food stalls specializing in different kinds of delicious Chinese cuisine ranging from stir-fried dishes to sweet treats. The celebrations will close at 5pm.

According to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. To the Chinese people, speed, strength and kindness of heart are traits associated with the rabbit. They therefore believe that those born in the Year of the Rabbit are clever, romantic, modest and merciful. The rabbit is the 4th animal on the calendar, which dates back to more than 2000 years ago. There are 12 animals on the calendar which works in 12 year cycles. The Chinese believe that these animals appeared before Buddha or the Jade Emperor. The animals are listed on the calendar in their order of arrival, starting with the rat and followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

For more information on the Chinese New Year Celebrations at The Brightwater Commons contact Francois on 011 789 5052.

See Randburg Accommodation to find a place to stay for this event.

Supported by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Splashy Fen will mark its coming of age this Easter from 1-5 April with its most exciting line-up yet, rumours of which have been causing a stir around the country for the last couple of months. Many of the faces who have helped to make Splashy a world-class festival will be there, joined by the cream of South Africa’s rising new talent as over 80 artists play on two stages.

Splashy’s line-up this year is set to raise the bar in its breadth and variety, with the likes of all-girl vamp-rock band Cortina Whiplash, the show-stealing progressive Celtic fusion outfit Haggis and Bong (bagpipes and all), and Joburg rockers The Shadowclub performing on the Grant Erskine Marquee stage. Other acts to look out for are Straatligkinders, the multi-award winning rock powerhouse from Potchefstroom, as well as Indie pop sensations New Holland, ska-punk veterans Hog Hoggidy Hog and fellow Capetonian skankers, Captain Stu.

A must-see is one of Splashy’s favourite sons, world-renowned folk guitarist Syd Kitchen, who was honoured last year for performing at every Splashy since the fest’s inception in 1990. In contrast, Afrikaans comedic rapper Jack Parow, the moustached godfather of zef from Bellville in the Cape whose hit single “Cooler as Ekke” has taken YouTube by storm, will be making his much-anticipated Splashy debut. Also hailing from Bellville and pushing the boundaries of Afrikaans music to new limits are the notorious Fokofpolisiekar and electro-rock outfit Die Heuwels Fantasties, both of which are sure to make their mark on this year’s festival.

For fans of African-influenced roots music, there is plenty on offer as revered Jozi reggae-rock stalwarts Tidal Waves stir it up, and Capetonians Hot Water bring their cross-cultural fusion of funky, bluesy Afro-rock and a dynamic stage show. David Jenkins, hailing from Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, plays a fusion of maskandi and bluegrass, and Bongeziwe and The Fridge offers urban folk music diversely influenced by soul, hip hop and mbaqanga. Splashy also presents the Underberg Community Showcase, featuring local choirs and dancers from the Kwa Sani area.

Tree Houses On The Sea (T.H.O.T.S.) from Durban will also be making an appearance with their engaging experimental hip hop, while acclaimed singer/songwriter Ard Matthews will perform a rare solo set. Also not to be missed are heavyweights Prime Circle, melodic rockers Plush, featuring the talents of front man Rory Eliot and the boys, as well as the wildly popular dance trio Goodluck, who will debut their fusion of sounds at Splashy in a late-night set.

For those who love a bit of blues in their rock, get ready: the Redhand Blues Band, PE’s Jack Rabbit Slims, the Albert Frost Trio and Dan Patlansky will be on hand with some smoking blues to get you grooving. There won’t be any rest for the wicked though, because Southern Gypsy Queen, one of the hardest-working bands in the country, will also be treating the audience to their signature style of rock.

An exciting development at this year’s festival is the expansion of the second stage, dubbed the Splashy Fen Stage, which will now also be covered with a marquee and offer more space for bands and fans. In addition to hosting a selection of musicians’ clubs from around the country during the day, the evenings will offer a blistering line-up that includes Zoe, Sheep Down, funk ‘n soul monsters Voodoo Child, the hard rocking Catlike Thieves, Dimeshift, and pop-punkers Holly and The Woods.

Definitely not to be missed is California-based rock outfit, Horse the Band, performing on Sunday, 4 April as part of their upcoming Reigns in Africa tour. Other bands to watch out for are Dead Cat Bounce, Kissed by Katie, True To Adopted, Nonchalant, Outbreak, and Joburg indie-pop stars The Sick Leaves, hot on the heels of the release of their new album.

Held on a farm near Underberg in KZN, Splashy Fen is geared up to present one of its strongest and most diverse line-ups to date. In addition to awesome music, a wide variety of food and drink outlets, arts and crafts, and a range of outdoor activities for the whole family, it will also feature an Eco Village powered by the elements – all in the midst of the breathtaking natural beauty which makes Splashy Fen so unique. To find a place to stay why not see Drakensberg Accommodation, for those of you who are not into camping.

Tickets cost R425 at Computicket and selected Game stores or R550 at the gate. The price includes camping for the entire festival. For more information, visit www.splashyfen.co.za or contact 031 563 0824.

A spectacle of lights and artistic performances at Spier!

Spier will celebrate the festive season with a dazzling display of lights and a diverse collection of artistic performances in the Festival of White Lights on 4 December 2009. The festival will be a journey across the estate led by an ‘Angel of Light’ on stilts and a penny-whistler.

Before the procession, festival-goers will enjoy award-winning Spier wines and a picnic on the lawns next to the Eerste Rivier to the soothing gospel and Christmas songs of the Abgondisi Brothers (Brothers of Understanding), a ten-member acapella-style music group established in the township of Kayamandi near Stellenbosch.

The journey through the estate will reveal numerous light installations with highlights including a dance piece choreographed by the renowned Jay Pather, a burning sculpture, and a display by FireTribe—a group of spectacular fire-dancers (in)famous for their gatherings on Clifton Beach in Cape Town.

Along the way, each participant will be given a balloon with a light inside it and a piece of paper tied to it. Festival-goers will be encouraged to write a message of goodwill and all the balloons will be released together, creating a spectacular effect, and spreading positive vibes around the area. The Festival of White Light is an annual event, and Spier’s way of celebrating the essence of the festive season.

Venue: Spier Wine Estate
Time: 20h00 – 22h00
When: Friday, 04 December 2009
Bookings: Computicket
Cost R100 for adults (includes glass of Spier wine), R60 for children, under the age of 12
Accommodation: Stellenbosch Accommodation

Come along and be a part of the 21st edition of this jam packed, hot and action filled adventure in George this Summer. Some of the fun sporting activities that everyone can be a part of are beach soccer, touch rugby, surfing and flag sprinting. There will also be children’s competitions, promotions and dancers as well as an after party. And if you are feeling bikini confident why not take part in their Miss Bikini pagent?

Venue: George’s Main Beach
When: Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Contact: Terra Firma Events on +27 (0)44 874-2015 for more information
Accommodation: George Accommodation, Herolds Bay Accommodation

Come and join us at the Durbanville Race Course for a fabulous Summer Festival. Summer is here and what better way to celebrate than to join in the fun. So come on down to the Race Course to celebrate the beginning of a new season. There will be water slides for the adults as well as kids, jumping castles, clowns, live music, food and other stalls such as craft and great food and fun ideas for summer.

Don’t forget to carry your swimming gear and sun block for some fun in the sun.

Venue: Durbanville Rugby Stadium
When: Saturday, 05 December 2009 to Sunday, 06 December 2009
Times: Friday 12h00 to 20h00, Saturday 09h00 to 20h00 and Sunday 09h00 to 19h00
Cost: R5 per person, children under 5 years are free of charge
More info: Telephone Natasha on +27 (0)78 700-6815
Accommodation: Durbanville Accommodation

Ficksburg is known throughout the country as the Cherry Town, and the two have become synonymous with each other. The Ficksburg Cherry Festival takes place during the third week in November. This is the oldest crop festival in South Africa having celebrated its 41st anniversary in 2008.

Every year, festival activities include cherry tours, a golf classic, a half marathon, cherry product competitions, veteran vehicle displays, equestrian events and beer fests. New exhibitions on the list include a food and wine fiesta. A ‘ready, steady, bake’ competition is always a firm favourite to watch as is the making of cherry mampoer (a South African moonshine).

Well-known South African artists provide live entertainment and the festival itself is usually hosted by a national celebrity. Highlights of recent festivals include an appearance by the Soweto String Quartet and the Lipizzaner horses from Johannesburg.

For a first hand review of the Cherry Festival see: It’s the Ficksburg Festival, my cherry!

When: Thursday, 19 November 2009 to Saturday, 21 November 2009
Where: Ficksburg
Categories: Annual Festivals / Food & Wine
Accommodation: Ficksburg Accommodation

It’s time to get creative again at the fourth uShaka Marine World Body Art competition. It all happens at uShaka Village Walk on Saturday September 12. The theme is “Dangerous Creatures” and artists are encouraged to pull out all the stops as they take their inspiration from uShaka’s Dangerous Creatures Exhibition featuring a variety of scary snakes, spiders, scorpions and frogs.

Artists will be competing for the cash prize of R5000 and the chance to go into the uShaka’s hall of fame. Entrants must submit an A4 storyboard illustrating their idea using a medium of their choice with an 80-word concept explanation to uShaka Marine World Management Offices by September 7 at 2pm.

There will be loads of entertainment on the day as well as great prizes to be won and fun for the whole family. And all guests visiting the park on the day sporting a tattoo will get an uShaka Marine World combo ticket for only R10.

For more information contact Merle Bateman at:
mbateman@ushakamarineworld.co.za or 031 328 8013

If you want to escape the city and chill out in a superb mountain setting while listening to acoustic performances by some of the country’s top artists, then look no further than the annual White Mountain Folk Festival.

Coinciding with Heritage Day and the start of the school holidays, this intimate, family-friendly festival runs over four days from September 24 to 27 and is held at White Mountain Lodge near Giant’s Castle in the beautiful Central Drakensberg region of KwaZulu-Natal, only 200km from Durban and 430km from Johannesburg on tarred roads.

Featured acts include Rambling Bones, the alter ego of Jay Bones, frontman for popular ska/punk band Fuzigish; Wonderboom’s Cito, performing songs from his soon-to-be released debut solo album; as well as a rare, acoustic solo performance by Bertie Coetzee, lead vocalist for Afrikaans folk rock outfit Zinkplaat.

Also on the bill are Farryl Purkiss, Josie Field, Larry Amos, Gary Thomas, Laurie Levine, Redhand Blues Band, Joshua Grierson, Andra, Barry Thomson, Flowing Water Band and Catlike Thieves, to name but a few.

Other attractions range from abseiling, paintball and helicopter flips to fishing, boating, hiking and a zip line across a nearby 100m-wide gorge. There’s also a beer market featuring several local breweries, colourful arts and crafts and a variety of food stalls catering for all tastes. Festival-goers can also make full use of the lodge’s facilities, including a restaurant, pub, games room, swimming pool and satellite TV.

Now in its fourth year, White Mountain is KZN’s only acoustic music festival and has quickly become a firm favourite on the events calendar. Tickets are available at Game stores in KZN (R400), Computicket (R450) and at the festival gate (R500). The price includes camping for the entire festival and children under 12 pay R50. For more information and programme updates, visit www.whitemountain.co.za or contact Pedro at 082 892 6176.

To find accommodation for this event see Drakensberg Accommodation.

Cape Town’s instrumental supergroup Sterling Electric Quartet will be performing a free concert at Marimba’s Restaurant on Friday the 10th July 2009. Captivating audiences from all walks of life with their spectacular display of virtuosity and their energetic stage presence, this all-female outfit is fast-becoming one of the most sought after bands on South Africa’s entertainment and event circuits. The launch of their new album this year has catapulted Sterling into the limelight both locally and internationally with performances in Dubai and Portugal.

Their show contains well-known hits as well as strikingly energetic, original compositions. Sterling turns Classical favourites like Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony into contemporary dance hits which, together with their renditions of well-known South African songs and Latin House, Jazz and even disco chart-toppers, never fails to leave their audience wanting more!

Entrance is free and the performance commences at 5:30 PM.

For further information go to http://www.SterlingEQ.co.za
Book Cape Town Accommodation

Top band Prime Circle will lead the pack of homegrown music talent at this year’s Mr Price Pro Ballito music concert which takes place at Salt Rock beach for the first time. Music has always been associated with this world-class surfing event and this year Mr Price, Kwadukuza Municipality and East Coast Radio have teamed up to present an awesome line-up of true-blue South African sound.

On July 2 once the sun sets on another action-packed day of surfing, its time for the rock and pop heroes to take over from the surfing legends who will be in action in Ballito from June 26 to July 5. The good news is that the concert, which features nine varied acts, is completely free. The beach will reverberate to the sound of music from 4.30pm through to when Prime Circle take the stage at around 10.30pm.

It all kicks off with popular Durban band Rise (4.30pm to 4.50pm) which was launched in 2007 with a strong emphasis on vocals, guitar, catchy dance beats and uplifting songs. The song, All We Have Is Now, from their first album is currently play listed on East Coast Radio. From 5.40pm to 6pm Idols finalist Pixie Bennett takes to the stage with her band. The Pixie Bennett Band has played at various gigs in Durban and festivals around the country including Splashy Fen and White Mountain.

Next up is indie rock/disco funk outfit Gonzo Republic (6.10pm to 6.40pm) who sang their way to the top of the 5fm charts with their hit Nothing to fight about off their album I’m OK, You’re OK. Turning “up the beat” from 6.50pm to 7.20pm are the City Bowl Mizers who’ll have you on your feet with their eclectic and catchy blend of early 50s pop and upbeat rock ‘n roll.

Keeping the groove going is melodic pop-rock band aKING (7.30pm to 8.15pm) who claim the title of being “an audio diary of life and survival in the suburbs”. Their songs have already won acclaim with radio stations such as 5fm and MFM – they were rated number one on the MFM Top 10 Artists and Top 10 SA Albums of 2008. Next up is Zebra and Giraffe (8.25pm to 9.10pm), a cleverly-named act which is actually the 12-lettered pseudonym of Johannesburg music wunderkind, Greg Carlin, who is launching an assault on music charts with his album Collected Memories.

Headline act Prime Circle completes the stellar line-up from 9.20pm to 10.20pm. Bouyed by several explosive live performances, a gold-selling album, significant radio play and a prospective jump into the international arena, Prime Circle is one of the country’s leading rock bands. The band’s latest album, All or Nothing, reached gold status just six months after hitting the SA market with its key single, She Always Gets What She Wants, making its mark all over the country’s rock, all hit and adult contemporary radio stations.

Rock the night away on Thursday, July 2 with Mr Price, the KwaDukuza Municipality and East Coast Radio.
Where to Stay? See Ballito accommodation and Ballito Hotels
For Enquiries contact Brad on 031-310 8575

Compiled by an enthusiastic group of trendy Capetonians, we present the Cape Town Coffee Route. From well know and highly acclaimed Coffee Bars to off the beaten track discoveries, if you are looking for a great cuppa in Cape Town you’ll find the best of them in this list.

Cape Town’s Coffee Culture is a thriving one. Our list of favourite places to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat includes local favourites to coffee boutiques for the connoisseur. Included are perennial favourites such as Newport Deli in Mouille Point and Giovanni’s in Green Point and highly acclaimed Jardine on Bree – but the list also offers a few lesser known gems like The Daily Deli in Tamboerskloof and C’est la Vie in Kalk Bay. To view the full list see Cape Town Coffee Route.

Related Pages:
Cape Town Things to Do
Cape Town Accommodation