South Africa News, Travel and fun Blog

Not so long ago the sun bronzed our skins and all Capetonians spent time on the lovely Cape Town beaches. Now when you wake up at 6 in the morning, its still dark outside, the nights are chilly and your toes feel like they are freezing off!

Yes, it’s that time of the year again- wintertime!

Many a traveller will ask “What exactly can I do in Cape Town when it’s cold and rainy outside?”.

Well, this Capetonian can vouch that there’s no need to worry! You will have more than enough things to do in and around Cape Town even when the rain is pouring outside.

Here’s some tips:

Shark Cage Diving
You can start by going Shark cage diving! Yes you heard right! Sharks tend to move around, but according to Shark experts, winter is definitely the best time to visit the icy waters. Are you brave enough?

Ten Pin Bowling in Cape Town
Some indoor fun to heat up your hands and feet! Ten Pin Bowling offers fun for both young and old. Best of all it’s cheap to do and you can still go for a nice cuppa hot chocolate afterwards. There are bowling alleys in Claremont (only 12km from Cape Town), Goodwood and Tygervalley (Bellville).

Two Oceans Aquarium
Take a trip down to the V&A Waterfront, but instead of shopping take a turn and head over to the Two Oceans Aquarium. The Aquarium offers visitors a view of more than “3000 living sea animals, including sharks, fishes, seals, turtles and penguins”- definitely a must see! Open every day of the year from 09h30 until 18h00.

Salsa Dancing in Cape Town
Have you ever wanted to learn Salsa Dancing? Well Cape Town gives you this opportunity. Saturdays marks the time for salsa dancing! Come on, be daring and give it a try- 7 Bree Street, Foreshore, Cape Town CBD

Indoor Rock climbing
CityROCK is known as South Africa’s largest 21st century indoor rock-climbing gym and is situated in Observatory, on the corner of Collingwood and Anson Street. One of the advantages of CityROCK is that they welcome kids from the age of 5 and up. Perfect for a family outing on a rainy day in Cape Town!

Win some money
Travel to GrandWest casino and experience an entertainment extravaganza! GrandWest Casino offers fun for the whole family. Ranging from fun for the kids to winning big for adults- GrandWest is a must visit!

Indoor Karting in Kenilworth
Feed your need for speed at the Indoor Karting track in Kenilworth. Expect to find a fully tarred 310 meter track and karts for both kids and adults. Come be a sport and join the fun today!

Ice-skating
There’s nothing better than ice-skating in the winter. Come to the Olympic sized ice rink in GrandWest and have a blast. Be sure to bring your mittens as it might be just a tad cold!

Each year since 2001, local Cape Town radio station 567 Cape Talk have put on this literally star-studded event on Clifton 4th, arguably the most beautiful beach in the Mother City.

While the live band may not consist of household names, their excellent renditions of golden oldies from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s were performed with class and energy this past Saturday night. The temperatures soared to the high-30s on the day and the South Easter which had been fanning veld-fires across the Peninsular for the past 2 weeks dropped, creating a balmy evening on the soft sandy beach.

Young and old, black and white, locals and foreigners all congregated en masse from late afternoon to find themselves a space on the sand, enjoy a sunset picnic and cool off in the icy water. Meanwhile, the band got themselves together and ran through a few practice numbers, giving a melodic hint of what was to follow.

The yachts and catamarans of a local marine club dropped anchor in the bay, creating an off-shore event of their own as their lights reflected on the darkening waves below and echoed the emerging stars above.

The event, sponsored by BP Garages, is in aid of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI). One of their helicopters did a fly-by before the entertainment kicked off at 18h00, with the crowd standing to salute the work of the men and women who save numerous lives in Cape Town each year.

The MC for the night, Aiden Thomas, introduced a marimba band to start the night’s entertainment. The group warmed up the crowds with some traditional African tunes before the main band got many dancing on the sand under the stars with hit after hit, beautifully performed and accompanied by stringed, wind, brass and percussion instruments.

The spectacular sunset stole the crowd’s attention for a few breath-taking minutes, then candles and glow sticks (sold by the NSRI) took on the job of lighting up the relaxed revelers. As no alcohol was allowed, the event was extremely mellow, with no unpleasant incidents to mar the family-friendly fun.

The night drew to a close on schedule at 20h30. We left the beach with happy memories, vowing to return to next year’s Moonstruck.

For a relaxed, free evening with fantastic music and a great Cape Town vibe, look out for Moonstruck 2009 which will be, as always, in the month of February, a perfect way to get into the mood for Valentine’s Day.

If you thought Cape Town was all about wine and wine only, here’s a well-kept secret – the Cape Olive Route! Yes, the Cape produces many of the world’s finest wines, and has a rich heritage of viticulture dating back to the French Huguenots’ arrival in South Africa. And yes, olives are a new-comer to the area, having only been introduced here 80 years ago. But with the change in South Africans’ diet including the increasing popularity of Mediterranean foods, fuelled by television’s international celebrity chef programmes and the mushrooming of delicatessens all over South Africa, the demand for locally grown olives and their by-products has soared.

To date there is not an official Cape Olive Route, but with delightfully appointed farms dotted all around the Western Cape we’ve taken the liberty of drawing up our own itinerary – a culinary meander if you like, for olive-lovers who live in or are visiting Cape Town.

Stellenbosch is a good place to begin your excursion. This historic town is home to the Universtity of Stellenbosch and is brim-full of students during the term time, lending it a lively air. Plenty of good pubs are to be found here, while culture vultures can enjoy visiting galleries. But the main aim of this trip is to find olives, so before you get stuck in ‘Stellies’, head for the Eikendal Vineyards - your your first olive stop. Next drive across to Saxenberg Wine Farm near Kuils River, then back to Somerset West where the famous Morgenster Estate, specialising in olives and related products, is situated. These three establishments can be woven in to a trip around the wine route, and really, there can be few combinations to delight a foodie’s heart more than fruit of the vine and fruit of the grove…

If you want to make a day of it, try the following route: Head off to Riebeek Kasteel and visit the Olive Boutique in the town and the Kloovenburg Estate – home of one of the top 15 olive oils in the world. Their selection of olive-based products will amaze you! The town itself is delightfully bohemian with a winning blend of artists, eccentrics and excellent chefs calling this village home. The vineyards grow between the houses and the church and pub co-habit side by side quite comfortably. At a mere one hours drive out of Cape Town this makes a good day trip.
 
To become completely steeped in the atmosphere of a Cape olive farm, however, you can stay at the Wild Olive Farm between Tulbagh and Ceres. This working wine and olive farm has delightful self catering accommodation in a sprinkling of charming cottages, as well as a lovely camping site. Not only will you enjoy seeing the olive groves being farmed and harvested, you can also fish, swim and canoe on any of the three dams. The views of vines and mountains are exquisite.

If you love olives but don’t want to venture too far out of town, Melissa’s Food Shop is a great deli with branches all over Cape Town. The Olive Station in Muizenberg serves Lebanese dishes and sells olives and olive produce on site.

Lastly, here are four more fabulous olive establishments you may wish to add to your own version of the Cape Olive Route!

•  Drakenstein Olives, Paarl (on De Hoop Farm)
•  Hildebrand Estate, Wellington
•  The Cape Olive Trust (at the foot of the Drakenstein Mountains)
• Blackpear Olives, Paarl

Shamwari is one of SA’s best-loved game reserves. This family-owned park in the Eastern Cape boasts 7 eco-systems.

All of the big five can be viewed in an exclusive-to-guests safari area. Numerous other wildlife species can be seen here as the park has the largest concentration of wildlife in the Eastern and Southern Cape.

Staying at one of Shamwari’s luxuriously decorated lodges goes beyond standard game drives. Unique activities, such as world-class spa treatments, ensure that a 5 star experience is available to each guest.

Shamwari is particularly accessible for tourists not wanting to travel further North to the other big reserves. Its location is not far from the picturesque Garden Route and it has breathtaking beaches nearby. The region is malaria free – another added bonus.

For a top-quality safari break for romantic couples or family groups, you can’t beat Shamwari.

A major attraction for visitors to Southern Africa is the Safari experience. With so many companies offering safaris it can be tough choosing the best. Kalahari Safaris stands out from the rest largely due to their passion for the bush, flora and fauna of the Northern Cape Province where they are located.

Kalahari Safaris offer flexible tours to suit the client – from backpacker to luxury tours. Small groups ensure personalized service.

Accommodation in chalets situated in unfenced camps makes you feel at one with the natural beauty of the surroundings.

Tours can cover the Augrabies Falls National Park the Kalahari Gemsbok Park and the Witsands Nature Reserve. You can also opt for National tours from the Kalahari to the Kruger.

The Web site, www.kalaharisafaris.co.za, is designed to give that safari feeling from the first click.

Living an openly gay lifestyle is still difficult enough in the world’s more ‘progressive’ nations, where even if individuals still suffer a certain amount of ostrasization, at least human rights laws are upheld by the local constitutions.

However this is not the case world wide.

According to the Southern Voice and U.S State Department’s annual human rights report, in the following 10 countries gays suffer incredible abuse often in accordance with the laws of the countries.

Gay rights activists have applauded this report as it highlights the worst cases of foreign government-supported gay rights abuses across the globe. It is hoped that pressure can be exerted on these countries’ leaders to redress the imbalances in their human rights if sufficient attention is drawn to the situation.

Uganda tops the list. Here gay couples ‘caught’ partaking in consensual sex can be imprisoned for the ‘crime’.

Iran. Gay intercourse is punishable by death, while other sexual activity between gays induces 100 lashes. HIV positive individuals are discriminated against both in the work place as well as in education centres.

Egypt. According to Egyptian law, ‘fujur’ – homosexual intercourse and relations between 2 men – is prohibited, and many men are reported to have been arrested and tortured, or subjected to highly abusive anal examinations. Interestingly, despite these documented cases, Egyptian authorities still claim that homosexuality is not illegal in that country.

Saudi Arabia. Here gay men can receive 2000 lashings, or even be beheaded for consensual sex.

Nigeria: It is against both the Nigerian penal law and the Muslim law to practice homosexuality in Nigeria. In the Northern, Muslim states the punishment is death. Elsewhere one can be imprisoned for up to 14 years. Gays may also not petition the government for rights. There is a media ban on promotion of homosexuality, which carries a prison sentence of up to 5 years.

United Arab Emirates: Homosexuality is against both Civil and Muslim law here. Consequential action against ‘offenders’ includes hormone treatment and therapy.

Cameroon: In the Cameroon gay men suspected of homosexual activity are subjected to ‘medical examination’.

Poland: Gay culture may not be promoted in Poland, but activists continue to congregate and speak out against the discrimination they are faced with.

Nepal: While homosexuality is not illegal in Nepal, gay and transgender people are subject to abuse and harassment at the hands of government authorities.

India: Rounding off the list of places you would not choose to live in as a gay person is India, where there is a Sodomy law that allows for ‘offenders’ to be imprisoned for up to 10 years. Gay people are often harassed and AIDS social workers are also harassed and even detained under this law.

 Compared with the same time period last year, research undertaken by the Royal Bank of Scotland reveals that visitors to South Africa will find the country  a whopping  22 %  cheaper!
 
With the current exchange rate, holidaymakers from the UK will find SA the most affordable vacation option this year, the bank reports.

For example, for £500 tourists can now get an extra R1,200, which is enough to add one more night’s luxury accommodation to the tab.

Iceland and Mauritius, at 18% and 16% cheaper this year, come in at second and third place.

When it comes to Europe, Hungary is discounted by 12%, making it the cheapest in Europe and fourth over all.

Finally, completing the top-5 is New Zealand, where visitors get an extra 11% compared with a year ago.
 
The bank also revealed that the exchange rate on both the US Dollar and the Euro have also improved, they have done so at a smaller margin than other currencies compared over the year in the survey. If you’re shopping in the States you’ll be paying 4 % less than a year ago, while the Euro is a negligable 0.4% less expensive.

So if you like to get value for money, come to sunny South Africa - you  can stay for 22% longer at the same price as one year ago!

And considering how much SA has to offer, that’s a real bargain!

1. MOUNT KILIMINJARO – TANZANIA

The highest mountain on the African continent, ‘Kili’ measures an astounding 19,340 feet at her highest point. The challenge to climb this majestic mountain has lured many to scale her heights, a demanding but worthwhile ascent by most accounts. Kili, which has five distinct ecological zones, is an extinct volcano.

2. OKAVANGO DELTA - BOTSWANA  

The champagne-coloured waterways of this famous floodplain form the basis of a pristine Wetland of International Importance (RAMSAR). With some of the most fantastic birding globally and a wild dog population, the largest inland delta in the world is often called Africa’s most beautiful destination. The region can be explored by land, boat and air. Enjoy the spectacular diversity of flora and fauna species.

3. THE EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS

Easily the most recognizable of the 7 Wonders of the World, the Egyptian Pyramids have long held fascination for thousands of people. Recent resurgence of interest Egyptology has made trips to this alluring destination more popular than ever. The majority of visitors view the pyramids at Giza. The origins of these majestic structures continue to be a source of lively debate, while the stories of ancient curses and grave robbers delight us all.

4. PONTA DO OURO – MOZAMBIQUE

With around 100 Bottlenose and Spinner dolphins making the sheltered waters of Ponta du Ouro their home, this region is definitely worth visiting. Dive the reefs to 40 metres in depth; they are teeming with a rainbow of marine life. Dolphin dives are a popular while in winter the haunting call of the humpback whale can be heard.

5. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – SOUTH AFRICA

The oldest, most established reserve in Africa, the Kruger boasts an amazing variety of game and bird life throughout its numerous habitats. The fantastic opportunities to view the Big Five draw many visitors to the park, hoping to spot lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and black rhinoceros. Game drives and guided walking trails offer great animal watching opportunities in the African bush.

6. DJEMAA el FNAA SQUARE – MARRAKESH – MOROCCO

A tapestry of colours, smells, sites and wonderful local characters make a visit to this bustling marketplace an unforgettable experience. Be entertained by fortune tellers, street performers and henna women. The Municipal Market sells local fresh produce. Take a ride in a Horse-drawn carriage and enjoy the spectacular sunset. More performers come out in the evening and entertain till midnight. Enjoy the famous local orange juice or mint tea!

7. THE SERENGETI - TANZANIA

The Serengeti National Park, covering 14,763 sq. km, is named ‘endless plains’ in Masai. Here are 35 species of mammals, including wildebeest, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant and giraffe, and over 200 species of birds.
The annual wildebeest migration is possibly the most spectacular natural event in Africa.

8. THE VICTORIA FALLS – ZIMBABWE

From either Zimbabwe or Zambia you can experience the world’s largest sheet of falling water. The spray can be seen up to 30 kilometres away - hence the local name ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ - “The smoke that thunders”.

Apart from the spectacular views including permanent rainbows arcing across the face of the falls, one can experience the waters along the river at closer quarters with white water rafting.

9. LAKE MALAWI

The 3rd largest lake in Africa is a tropical paradise. The tranquil waters lap against shores lined with palm, mango, banana and avocado trees. Here you can kayak, while snorkeling offers access to the colourful kaleidoscope of endemic cichlids found at this UNESCO world heritage site.

10. TABLE MOUNTAIN – SOUTH AFRICA
 
This iconic landmark stands in the centre of the beautiful city of Cape Town.
Climb, or experience the wonders of the revolving cable car. Either way a visit to one of the most recognizable mountains in the world is a must for your trip around the great African continent. And while you’re there, enjoy the wonders of Cape Town –beaches, winelands, Robben Island – each one a ‘Top 10’ in its own right!

The beautiful Mother City of Cape Town has been honoured at the 13th World Travel Awards, held this year in Turks and Caicos Islands, off Miami, on Thursday night.

The popular coastal South African city was awarded trophies for the following prestigious awards.

‘Africa’s Leading Destination’

‘Africa’s Leading Hotel’ – for the Mount Nelson Hotel

‘Africa’s Leading Airport’ – for Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town was not the only South African nominee to receive kudos at the gala ceremony, known as the ‘Oscars of the Travel World’.

The Shamwari Game Reserve, the Durban International Convention Centre, Sun City Resort and South African Airways all received awards for excellence.

The W.T.A’s are nominated annually by 160 000 professionals in the travel industry, drawn from 120 countries around the globe.

Among the sectors up for nomination are conference centres, travel destinations, airlines, hotels and companies all around the world.
The awards encourage healthy competition across the board. World Travel Awards president Graham Cooke confirms this, saying: “Since the inception of the awards in 1993, we have seen a growing sophistication in the travel and tourism trade, and increased competition.

“Voted for independently by travel professionals worldwide, our award winners are having a major impact and influence on the world’s travel and tourism industry.

“They are true innovators and benchmarks for our trade, especially in the areas of customer service, technology, operational efficiency, product offering and style.”

To those in the know, the name ‘Bloomberg’ is synonymous with the ultimate in luxury self-catering accommodation in Cape Town. With the impressive upgrades they have been working on over the quieter winter months, Bloomberg are taking their profile to even greater heights. 
 
On the eye-catching site, Cape Town Accommodation (which has also had a face-lift to tie in with the re-launch of the properties for the upcoming season) each of the eight stunning accommodation options are showcased with striking photographs and detailed descriptions giving prospective guests an enticing taste of what they can expect.  Congratulations to The Bloomberg Luxury Accommodation Group on their fabulously fresh, upgraded Suites, Villas, Apartments and Penthouses!