South Africa Blog

You’ve heard of the Big 5, for which South Africa is famous. These are the leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo. However, the Eastern Cape is home to the Big 7, which adds Great White Sharks and the Southern Right Whale to this already-impressive list.

There are a few game reserves in the Eastern Cape that offer this very exciting combination of nature’s finest, guaranteeing a memorable safari and vacation in this South African province. These include:

Addo Elephant National Park
Addo is just outside of Port Elizabeth or the Nelson Mandela Metro. It is a national park and ranks third in size in the country. It was recently extended to stretch from Sunday’s River towards Alexandria, and includes the marine areas of St Croix Island and Bird Island. It stretches 1 640 square kilometres. In addition to the Big 7, Addo is also home to the famous Flightless Dung Beetle, as well as the Spotted Hyena, warthogs, a vast array of antelope, and an impressive selection of birdlife.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Acclaimed for its luxury, Kwandwe offers award-winning accommodation and safaris that cater to the needs of local visitors and international tourists. Kwandwe stretches for 220 square kilometres, and is also the home of the Cape Grysbok, Knysna Woodpecker, Black-Footed Cat and Crowned Eagle. So, once you have spotted all of the Big 7, there remains plenty to see and do during your special time at Kwandwe.

Kariega Game Reserve and Park
This private game reserve is situated along the renowned Eastern Cape coastline of South Africa. It includes the beautiful Kariega River and the Bushman’s River and stretches down to the magnificent coastline, along which the whales and dolphins frequently play and surf. Thanks to this location and the variety within the reserve, visitors are assured of plenty to do and see, over and above the impressive Big 7. Kariega is situated close to Kenton-on-Sea, which is a tiny village, as well as Port Alfred and the small community of Bushman’s.

Shamwari Game Reserve
Shamwari is just 65 kilometres from the hub of the Friendly City, Port Elizabeth. It is 250 square kilometres in area and is all about the luxurious side of safaris. This area was once under huge threat of total destruction due to generations of farming. However, Shamwari has focused on the rehabilitation and conservation of the land and those that have made it their home. The Cat Sanctuaries and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre are very special and serve to educate the public about the threats facing our precious natural treasures. This is all set within unrivalled natural beauty.

So book yourself into one of these fine South Africa Lodges or find a great South African Hotel and experience wildlife viewing second to none!

Visiting a destination makes you appreciate its beauty and value so much more. However, we all have a part to play in ensuring that destinations around the world are maintained and cared for, so that others may also get to experience them in their natural splendour. Being a responsible tourist doesn’t rob you of any of the joy and excitement of visiting a place. Rather, it adds to the experience and leaves you feeling satisfied that you have contributed to its sustainability.

Modes of Transport
We all know that cars emit harmful gases that destroy our atmosphere, but aeroplanes do much the same. So, for trips that don’t require crossing oceans, consider taking the train. This is a really relaxed, easy way to travel and allows you to stroll around, sleep and play games along the way. Within a destination, try to walk or take bicycles wherever possible. Not only is this environmentally better, but it also gives you the opportunity to experience the landscape in a much more personal, less rushed way. If you have to fly, try to take a direct flight, rather than stopping over. Use public transport, if necessary, rather than renting your own vehicle.

Switch it Off
When leaving your home and office to head for your holiday, make sure that you unplug and switch off all of your appliances, including your geyser, which uses loads of electricity. At your destination, be sure to switch off your lights and the air-conditioning in the hotel room.

Ask About Green Initiatives
Before booking at various accommodation facilities and tourist attractions, enquire about their green initiatives and sustainable practices. Try to book only where there are systems like recycling, grey water usage, solar heating, and so on, in place. The more of a habit this becomes to tourists, the more places will begin implementing sustainable measures. (more…)

The go! Travel South Africa app is a comprehensive map-based source of South African tourism information and a tool for finding and booking accommodation, restaurant meals and events.

The app incorporates content – displayed as pins on a map of South Africa – from go! travel magazine, online travel guide SA-Venues.com and restaurant guide Eat Out. It is integrated with Expedia, gotravel24 and ComeDine’s online booking systems.

Selecting the “Explore map” option takes you to an interactive map that allows you to select various categories, such as Activities, Places of interest, South African hotels, B&Bs and even Wi-Fi hotspots. These are then displayed as pins on the map, which you can tap to read more information, make a booking or plan a trip.

The app includes suggested trips in each of the nine provinces and it provides the tools to plan your own trips by dropping pins for the sights and activities that pique your interest onto the trip planner timeline. (The trip-building feature is only available for the tablet versions of the app, not for the phone version.) The app also offers offline maps for finding your way around the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Kruger National Park, among others, without an Internet connection.

The app recently won a silver Pixel at the 2012 Bookmarks Awards and a bronze Loerie Award.

The go! Travel South Africa app was developed by Touchlab, a division of Media24.

To read more about this app, watch a video tutorial and find out some more info see South Africa Travel News – The go! Travel South Africa app:

By: Helen Palmer – www.TailorMadeSouthAfricaTravel.com 

The West Coast region of the Western Cape is still one of the most unspoilt.  A couple of hours drive out of Cape Town, you’ll find this area hard to beat for sheer peace and quiet. It’s famous for its spring flower displays, bringing people from all over the world to see it’s magnificence during late August, September and early October.  Carpets of daisies and brightly coloured bulbs erupt to create brilliance hard to match with words – superlatives don’t do justice to this magnificent spectacle.

The land could be seen as rather austere and not much appreciated outside of the flower season, but the desert and semi-desert areas do have their own appeal of wide open sky, distant hills and multi-coloured rocks. Of course, there is much more to this region than just the flower season.  Dropping down off the main N7 road, down to the coast, you come to St Helena Bay. 

(more…)

Competition being run by SA-Venues.com

Write your holiday story – submit your experience of your travels in South Africa to www.SA-Venues.com and stand to win a monthly prize. If your story is chosen as the monthly winner you will be eligible to win the grand prize of R15,000.00 in cash which will be awarded in December 2007. Monthly prizes of gift vouchers from Amazon.com (or your choice of Amazon.de, Amazon.uk etc) or Kalahari.net if you are South African. In December 2007 three independent judges will select the best travel story of 2007 from the monthly winners who will receive a R15,000.00 cash prize.

So sharpen your pencils and get writing … submit your South African holiday experience and get in line to win one of these fabulous prizes. Submissions from both overseas and local travellers are welcome. All travel stories received that comply with a few criteria (as set out below) will be published on the site. Photographs are welcome but not essential … Click here for more info and to enter »

With Tailor-Made South Africa Travel even planning your trip is a safari. Find out how you can explore your deepest wishes and make them all come true when you go on the South African safari of a lifetime …

Tailor Made South Africa Travel arrange individual travel itineries for individuals, groups and clubs wishing to visit South Africa.  Each one is tailor made to the clients individual specifications and each is of course very different. South Africa offers so much scope for discovery and it is not easy to know the best ways to have the time of your life if you are visiting for the first time, so Tailor Made South Africa travel really do help you to make the most of your experiences.

We have a wealth of experience to make your trip of a lifetime extra special, with particular care paid to customer service from beginning to end.

If you are planning to take your “Valentine” for a romantic break have a look at some of these fine special offers available throughout February. All specially selected as they offer a romantic ambience, packages range from budget to super luxurious – whatever your style you are sure to find a perfect romantic getaway.

» Grand Kruger Lodge: Marloth Park, Mpumalanga: Special offer valid to April. The perfect base from which to explore the pride of South Africa, the Kruger National Park …
View offer | Visit Grand Kruger Lodge

» Barberton Manor Guest House: Barberton, Mpumalanga: “Relax and discover gold!” a weekend getaway with tour where you can pan for gold after an exclusive 4-course dinner …
View offer | Visit Barberton Manor

» Thunzi Bush Lodge: Port Elizabeth: A perfect destination to spend Valentines with the one you love. Special Valentine’s package valid to end Feb …
View offer | Visit Thunzi Bush Lodge

» Seagetaway: Simonstown, Cape Town: Special rates for the Summer Season. The special rate is R 580.00 for the cottage per night …
View offer | Visit Seagetaway

» Whispering Whale: Cape West Coast: Romantic getaway in Feb and March (20% off). Sea views from all units … watch the waves crash while …
View offer | Visit Whispering Whale

» Nedile Game Lodge: Welgevonden, Limpopo: Only R1250 for the fully inclusive package at this 5 star game lodge in the malaria free Waterberg …
View offer | Visit Nedile Game Lodge

» Zwahili Game Lodge: Modimollie, Limpopo: Let us spoil you with a private dinner, sparkling wine, bubble bath and romantic turndown …
View offer | Visit Zwahili Game Lodge

Related Links:
Special accommodation offers
South Africa Accommodation

The travel and tourism industry in South Africa is an exciting place to be at the moment. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism recently announced the results of the latest tourism review and once again South Africa emerged as a star performer. With just over 2.7 million arrivals from January to April 2006, the country has for the first time broken through the 2.5 million mark for the first four months of the year. There has been a 16% increase in arrivals across all territories compared to the same period last year. In addition, the greatest sporting event in the world promises an even rosier future for this sector.

This dynamic industry demands a vibrant and vigorous online presence that caters for travel and tourism professionals, product owners and tourists. Such a lively online hub is now available in the form of the recently launched TravelWires.com – a dynamic travel and tourism online news resource for the South African industry.

TravelWires offers up-to-the-moment industry news, events, product launches, services information and vacancies, published on the site daily. Designed to help tourism industry players keep their fingers on the pulse of what is happening, the site covers eighteen sectors of the industry including trade associations, tour operators, wildlife, car rentals, airlines, restaurants, accommodation, technology, public relations, reservations, media, suppliers, travel agents, MICE, cruise lines, rail, casinos and luxury coaches.

In addition, TravelWires will serve as an industry platform for debate, opinion and sharing best practice. All stakeholders within the industry are invited to contribute expert content on a wide variety of subjects, take part in the snap online polls and participate in building a vibrant online community providing support and ideas. The site will also allow travellers to provide feedback in the ‘Rant and Rave’ section - allowing the industry to continually improve and adapt to changing traveller needs.

“This is such an exciting industry and these are exciting times,” says Muzi Mohale, founder of TravelWires CC. “There is an urgent need for a platform for the travel industry where players can share their ideas, debate and work together to improve the industry. We realised the need for a fresh approach to online resources for the travel industry and we know that TravelWires.com will become the source of choice for industry news, views and happenings.”

The Garden Route is a coastal corridor on the eastern coast of South Africa, where ancient forests, rivers, wetlands, dunes, stretches of beach, lakes, mountain scenery and indigenous fynbos all merge to form a landscape of restorative beauty. This is a strip of land like no other in the world in terms of beauty, natural attractions and unique flora and fauna – hence its name. Three of the country’ s top hikes take place here. The ” Otter Trail”  and the Tsitsikama and Dolphin trails and man’s footprint has made little impact on the rugged and sometimes inaccessible coastline.

The Garden Route is a paradise for eco-lovers, bird watchers and solitude seekers and one of the most beautiful parts of the Cape. It lies sandwiched between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean and is on every tourist’s itinerary. The route is a popular holiday destination during summer and a tranquil hideaway during the winter months – both seasons are equally beautiful and attractive due to the largely Mediterranean climate.

Peppered along the coastline are a number of coastal villages and seaside resorts set on beautiful beaches and craggy bays. Staying at any of these affords one the time to drive, walk or hike through the Garden Route at one’s own pace, drinking in over 200 km of one of the finest parts of the country.

Garden Route Links:
The Garden Route
Garden Route Attractions & Destinations
Garden Route Hotels
Garden Route Accommodation
Garden Route Guest Houses
Game and Nature Reserves

Mpumalanga-Venues.co.za is an easy to use online directory of Accommodation in Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Accommodation in South Africa. Travellers to this popular South African destination are able to find Hotels, Game Lodges, Guest Houses and Bed & Beakfast accommodation within the various Game Reserves, in the larger Towns and cities and can also search for self catering accommodation options within the province.

Search for your preferred Mpumalanga Accommodation by town name, by establishment name, via A-Z directory or by clickable map and then make a commission-free booking by dealing directly with the Lodge or Hotel you plan to visit.

Popular Site Links:
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga Accommodation
Kruger National Park Accommodation

Source: www.flysaa.com

Johannesburg – Over thirteen million customers around the world have rated South African Airways (SAA) complete Business Class experience and product as one of the best in the world. The airline took second place in the category of Best Business Class during the 2006 World Airline Awards based on a survey conducted by Skytrax between September 2005 and May 2006.

Skytrax are world renowned specialist researchers and airline advisors. British Airways topped the list, while Virgin Atlantic, Qantas Airways and Cathay Pacific came in third, fourth and fifth place respectively.

The outcome of the survey showed customers were highly impressed with SAA’s overall Business Class offering in particular its lie-flat seat. The survey measures over 35 different aspects of passenger satisfaction for each airline’s product and service standards in the airport and on board environment.

“We are grateful to our customers for acknowledging the hard work and dedication that has gone into ensuring we offer them maximum satisfaction. We are geared at improving in all aspects of our service delivery so that we can be recognised as one of the top airlines in the world. This award is just one example proving we are dedicated to excellence,” says Khaya Ngqula, SAA CEO. Meanwhile, the airline’s maintenance facility, SAA Technical received an award of excellence by Airbus for its A340-600 fleet.

The award recognises an Airbus operator who excels in all criteria taken into consideration, including optimal dispatch reliability, delay duration and utilisation of aircraft during the period November 2003 to October 2005.

“We are extremely proud of the exceptional work done by our Technical team, without which we would not have been able to achieve this recognition,” says Jan Blake, CEO SAA Technical.

As Record Numbers of Visitors Pour In, South Africa’s Tourism Industry Leads Nation in Post-Apartied Era:
Cape Town, South Africa — When South Africa ended Apartheid and held democratic elections in 1994, few dreamed the nation would become one of the world’s top vacation destinations. But recently tourism surged, bringing more than 7.4 million tourists to South Africa last year.

“We expect an even bigger increase in awareness as South Africa hosts the FIFA World Cup in 2010. The world’s eyes will be watching us, and I’m confident they’ll be delighted by what they see,” said Christine Searle of SA-Venues.com (the site is a popular directory of vacation choices in South Africa). Tourism is out-performing all other sectors of the local economy, and is set to overtake mining, long the mainstay in the region.

While South Africa has traditionally been a vacation favorite for Europeans, Americans are now arriving in large numbers. “When storms ravaged many warm vacation spots in North America last year, Americans started checking out South Africa and found we have world-class attractions at surprisingly affordable prices,” Searle said.

Kruger Park, one of the world’s great wildlife refuges, is easily reachable for most visitors. The vast park is filled with lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo, along with an impressive assortment of exotic birds. “Visitors can enjoy African wildlife in a safe, comfortable, and politically stable environment. That’s a big plus in the minds of many tourists from Europe and North America,” Searle pointed out.

SA-Venues.com serves as an easy-to-use online guide, designed to help anyone easily plan their trip to South Africa. There are comprehensive, searchable directories of hotels and accommodations, along with instructions on how to rent cars, book safaris, and more. Accommodations range from world-renowned 5 star hotels, to luxurious African game lodges.

Vacationers can travel the region easily, from Cape Town to Cairo, Kruger Park to Kilimanjaro. South African Airways offers regularly-scheduled flights between the major centers, as do many international airlines.

SA-Venues does not take commissions when booking travel plans, so tourists get a welcome break in price. Users of the site are able to communicate directly with hotels and other facilities to get the best possible price and accommodations.

See the site at http://www.SA-Venues.com
Contact: info@sa-venues.com

Hiring a Car in South Africa – To hire a motor vehicle in South Africa you must be in possession of a valid drivers license and carry it with you at all times. Any valid driver’s licence is accepted provided it bears the photograph and signature of the holder and is printed in English. Everyone who is going to drive the car must be named and must show their licence. There are age limitations when renting cars in South Africa. While some rental car companies will accept 18 year olds, many will not rent to anyone under the age of 25.

Planning to hire a car in South Africa?
Make sure you know these important facts about driving in our country …
1. Vehicles are right hand drive and travel on the left hand side of the road.
2. All distances and speed limits are in kilometres.
3. Wearing a seat belt is compulsory.
4. Watch out for animals on the road in rural areas.
5. Petrol stations are not self-help. It is customary to tip the attendant R5.00 – R7.00 (R15.00 on long trips where tyres are inflated, windows washed, oil checked etc. etc).
6. Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal (use a hands-free kit).

In Wake of Storms, U.S. Travelers Look To South Africa As New Vacation Destination: Cape Town, South Africa — After a particularly rough storm season with many traditional vacation destinations rebuilding, Americans are beginning to book travel to South Africa.

“South Africa has some of the best and least crowded beaches in the world,” says Stefani Searle of SA-Venues.com, a site serving as a directory to vacation options in South Africa. “We’ve seen a big upswing in interest from Americans in recent months,” Searle said.

Visitors enjoy renowned wildlife parks such as Kruger Park, beautiful natural scenery, and a stable post-apartheid environment. South Africa, long a vacation favorite for Europeans, has a very well developed tourist industry that offers world class accommodations and an unusually diverse range of natural wonders and cultural activities.

Recently, with storms shutting down many of North America’s key vacation areas, Americans are looking to South Africa in large numbers. Being in the southern hemisphere, South Africa experiences a mild summer while North America is suffering under the snow and ice of winter.

SA-Venues.com serves as an easy-to-use online guide designed to help anyone wisely plan their trip to South Africa. There are comprehensive and easily searchable directories of hotels and accommodations, along with ways to rent cars, book safaris, and more. Many are surprised to discover accommodations range from world-renowned 5 star hotels to luxurious African game lodges.

Favorite activities include wildlife and bird life tours, health resorts and spas, and championship 18 hole golf courses. “For the budget-conscious traveler who really wants to get a feel for South African life, we have a full list of bed and breakfast facilities that offer lower prices and a truly local experience,” Searle said.

Vacationers can travel the region easily, from Cape Town to Cairo or the Kruger Park to Kilimanjaro. South African Airways offers regularly-scheduled flights between the major centers, as do many international airlines.

Travelers are able to get lower prices by booking through SA-Venues.com. Travellers deal directly with the Hotels and service providers and the site does not charge any commissions. A complete set of online maps is provided for each province in South Africa.

See the site at http://www.SA-Venues.com
SA-Venues.com
P.O. Box 56
Sea Point
Cape Town, 8060
South Africa
Contact: info@sa-venues.com