Thinking of Africa? The first thing to come to our mind while thinking of Africa is an African Safari, the warm cape beaches, the untamed beauty of Kruger National Park, the roar of an African Lion or the gigantic African Elephants….but 2010 is going to give our thoughts a whole new dimension. As from now on, the thought of Africa will be the thought of spirit, the thought of sports, the thought of fresh cut grass, the smell of pop corns and the sound of yelling and excited crowd Because “South Africa” is becoming “Sports Africa”.
Category Archives: South Africa
Eastern Cape – With African travel becoming a family affair, Shamwari Game Reserve, a property of the prestigious Mantis Collection and Dubai World Africa, will open Sarili, a new luxury lodge exclusively for families on February 16th, 2009.An environmentally friendly private African thatch designed villa with a spacious deck overlooking Bushman’s River with expansive views of the plains, the lodge is positioned in the southern region of the reserve, between Riverdene and Bushmans River Lodge. The décor will emulate an old traditional farmhouse with interiors that reflect an easy-living home lifestyle in a natural environment.
South Africa–> has been given the opportunity to host the world’s greatest event in 2010. Since, South Africa is a country in Africa, many people are skeptic about the prospects of a SA Soccer World Cup. However, South Africa is in MANY respects a developed country with a modern infrastructure and economy. Many areas in SA will match the average American neighborhood. The average South African is far better off than the average African, but the wealth inequality is huge – especially between rich and poor – black and white – although, after apartheid, more than two million black people entered the middle class. It’s good to see that so many black people (although it’s only a small portion of the black population) take now part in the economy. It’s important for the stability of the country. The upcoming black middle class is one of the main reasons why SA has it’s longest run of economic growth in its history in 2006.
There are lion tamers, and then there are lion tamers. Animal behaviorist Kevin Richardson has such an incredible gift with wild animals that he can spend the night curled up with lions without trepidation or fear of being attacked. Cheetahs, leopards and hyenas hold no threat to him.Richardson is based in a wildlife conservation area near Johannesburg in , where he works his unusual gift with wild animals.Animal behaviorists typically study the behavior of social groups of animals and the social structure within them. 
Kevin is so instinctively in tune with these beasts that volatile mother hyenas even allow him to hold their newborn cubs without leaping to the rescue in attack.But lions are his favorite.He lavishes them with unconditional love, he says, treating each individual differently, speaking to them, caressing them, and above all, treating them with respect.Kevin Richardson was a former student of human physiology, working with pre and post-operative human patients. Some people have the ability to connect with beasts and animals better than they do with humans. Kevin turned to animals ten years ago when he decided that he could trust a 
lion over human beings.After a close encounter with an aggressive 4-year-old male in his early days, he learned a lesson he would never forget. The animal pinned him to the ground and started biting him until Kevin’s instinct to display passive behavior stopped the lion in its tracks.
Cooperative behavior in wild animals is often limited to kin and reciprocating partners, and is rarely extended to unfamiliar individuals. Kevin says he is most confident with animals he has known since birth, but claims he can become close friends with any lion less than a year old, when it’s still flexible enough to accept him as part of its own pride.“I have to rely on my own instincts to gauge an animal or a situation, and I will not approach a creature if something doesn’t feel right.” he says.Many modern animal trainers use positive reinforcement — following a desired behavior with something worthwhile to the animal and the behavior will increase — and negative punishment — withdrawing something the animal wants when he performs undesirable behaviors.Kevin states, “I don’t use sticks, whips or chains, just patience. It may be dangerous, but this is a passion for me, not a job.”
The Northern Cape has numerous wonderful places for travelers to visit. It is a sanctuary for lovers of the outdoors, with its limitless wildlife, exclusive flora and striking scenery. It is a land of various ways of life, and has memoirs, stretching back thousands of years. Be sure to visit some of the following places on our Top 10 list.
1. Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
This mysterious desert wilderness situated on the edge of the Kalahari covers some 102 000 ha of land. Tswalu committed to “restoring the Kalahari to itself” is the largest privately owned game reserve in South African and a conservation vision in progress. Some of the highlights include true Kalahari Lions, majestic Cheetah and Desert Black Rhino. Tswalu with more than 250 species of bird is also home to 70 species of mammal, including Sable and Roan Antelope. Tswalu provides unparalleled safari experiences including guided walks, horseback safaris and hot air ballooning over the desert landscape.Being a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux you can be sure that guests are offered luxurious accommodation and splendid cuisine.
2. The Orange River
The River stretching 2340 km is ideal for canoeing and rafting with long stretches of open flat water punctuated by rapids and weather that is warm all year round. For wine lovers the Orange River Wine Route makes up 10% of South Africa’s vineyards. The Cellars are made up of five wineries and the wine grapes of the Oranjerivier Wine Cellars originate from 794 producers along the Orange River.
3. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
This Park is a result of the unification of South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok Park and Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park and a truly unspoiled ecosystem. The park, at 3.7 million hectares, is one of the largest conservation areas in the world.
4. The Kimberley Big Hole
In 1871, diamonds found on a once flat-topped hill resulted in a mad scramble for fame and fortune. The largest hand-dug excavation in the world is now known as the awesome Kimberley Big Hole. Dug by picks, shovels and sheer determination, measuring 215 meters deep with a surface area of 17 hectares – the mine yielded 2722 kilograms of diamonds.
5. Augrabies Falls National Park
The world’s sixth largest waterfall is where the mighty Orange River is at its most impressive. Thundering its way through a ravine and into a pool walled by sheer granite, creating the Augrabies Falls. The name of the falls originated from the Khoi word meaning ‘place of great noise’ which describes the roar as the falls plummet 56m into the ravine.
6. Sutherland
Sutherland is known for its brilliant night skies and the world-renowned Southern African Astronomical Observatory, a site that houses 10 telescopes, one being ‘SALT’ (Southern African Largest Telescope). It can record distant stars and galaxies a billion times too faint to be seen with the unaided eye.
7. Kuruman
This little town is blessed with a permanent and abundant source of water. Commonly known as the Kuruman Eye, the water flows from the Gasegonyana more densely vegetated than most oases. The Eye is a natural fountain delivering approximately 20-30 million litres of crystal clear water daily, which supplies water for the town, feeds the Kuruman River and spills yet more water into two 7km irrigation canal. It was this fresh source of water that led to the establishment of the Moffat Mission Station here in the early 1900th, naming the eye the ‘fountain of Christianity’.
8. Richterveld National Park
The Richtersveld is hauntingly beautiful, with mountains and sandy plains forming Southern Africa’s largest mountain desert park, an area covering 160,000 ha. Although harsh and dry, the Richtersveld is a botanist’s living laboratory, home to around 30% of all South Africa’s succulent plant species. The Richtersveld is an extremely fragile ecosystem, with less than 50 mm of annual rainfall. Suprisingly breathtaking, it offers rarely seen purity of an unspoilt country.
9. Kathu, “the town under the trees”
The name came into being because of Kumba’s iron ore mining activities, one of the world’s largest open-cast iron mines. The mine is also home to one of South Africa’s greatest golfing gems, Sishen Golf Course, a truly unique setting to play a round of golf winding its way through a 500 hectare Camelthorn forest on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. This par 72, 18-hole course is the last masterpiece of Robert Grimsdell and is currently rated in the top 30 best golf courses in . Being situated off the beaten track, the course is blissfully un-congested and visitors are always assured of getting a game here.
10. The Namaqua National Park
Between July and September Namakwa sheds its drab facade and showers the world with a riot of flowers of every hue, offering rich and splendid brilliance. It contains more than 6000 plant species, 250 species of birds, 78 species of mammals, 132 species of reptiles and amphibians and an unknown number of insects, making it the world’s most diverse, arid environment. More than 40% of these species are found nowhere else on Earth.
I don’t know whether or not you have considered not only a vacation in South Africa, or even got as far as the planning stage. For most people a visit to South Africa tends to be in the middle of the European Winter, because of the attractions of blue sky and a much better temperature.
Naturally enough this is high season time in South Africa, and we should all know exactly what that means.
It of course means high prices, and crowds, two things that would put me right off.Going to South Africa has to include at least a few days spent on Safari, so what does that mean in high season?The first thing it means is a 40% hike in hotel room rates, and in the same vein, a substantial rise in air fares especially around the Christmas to New Year period.
In addition why don’t you consider the following thoughts:
For flights to Cape Town , the fares drop sharply in mid August, and hotel rates stay low until September. It is true that the temperature in Cape Town over Christmas are around 25 degrees centigrade, and in August only 18 degrees. There is far more rain in August, but what are the advantages of a low season visit apart from the obvious financial one?
The first thing is, that you don’t hopefully go to South Africa to sit and vegetate on a beach, after all you can go to many other less interesting places and do that.Tehre is more rain so in the Western Cape, The Namaqualand is in full bloom, just for a very short period of time.It is a great time to go whale watching in Hermanus, and a wonderful time to visit Kruger Park, because this is when the animals congregate around water holes.So in conclusion the best time to visit South Africa is not December/January, but August
Durban – KwaZulu-Natal has earned a reputation nationally and internationally as a marine tourism destination bolstered by the Sardine Run – one of the world’s most amazing annual marine spectacles that takes place on the South Coast in June and July.Tourism KwaZulu-Natal chief executive Ndabo Khoza acknowledged this at a high-profile launch of Sardine Festival 2008 together with the premier of the Imax documentary Wild Ocean at Gateway’s Imax theatre last week.
He said research showed that 400 000 tourists visited the South Coast over the Sardine Festival period.
“The Sardine Festival is a large tourism income generator for KwaZulu-Natal, boosting the provincial economy through revenue earned from the provision of accommodation and food as well as the hiring of boats, small planes and helicopters to maximise the sighting of the sardine run.”It has also created a great deal of interest from the media and international marine and environmental experts, and now with Wild Ocean we also have the first Imax film on the ‘greatest shoal on Earth’. All this reinforces the fact that the South Coast is just one of the many areas that make KwaZulu-Natal a prime eco-tourism destination,” said Khoza.
“At least half of the South Coast visitors are from Gauteng, 15% are from the Free State and a further 15% from other parts of KwaZulu-Natal.”A large proportion of the visitors are repeat visitors, who come to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches, and as many as 40% stay for four days to one week.”Khoza said the sardine run had been the province’s biggest and best known natural phenomenon for generations, but until recently, all the excitement was reserved for the lucky few who just happened to be on the beach when thousands of small silvery fish washed up.
Last year Tourism KwaZulu- Natal, the Ugu District Municipality and the Natal Sharks Board launched the Sardine Festival to encourage visitors to enjoy all the attractions of “the country’s best winter beach holiday destination” while waiting for the first sardine sightings.The Sardine Festival 2008 runs until the middle of July, and some of the highlights include the Spear Fishing Open on June 14, the Mercury Mallards Ski Boat festivaland the popular Ugu Jazz Festival on June 21.
The Mercury Mallards Ski Boat Festival, which takes place at Shelly Beach from July 2-5, is the biggest event of its kind in South Africa. It is set to attract about 400 anglers from across the country as well as a host of tourists to the huge marquee at St Michael’s beach for the weigh-in.Michael Bertram, of Ugu South Coast Tourism, said the Sardine Festival’s extensive programme was not so much about fishing as it was about a fun-filled and truly African beach experiences.
“The Sardine Festival offers something for the whole family – marathons, mountain biking, a garden fair, sardine tasting, a colourful jazz festival and a host of other magnificent beach entertainment. If you have not experienced the fever of the Sardine migration, you have not experienced one of life’s truly unforgettable experiences,” he said.Bertram said this year’s Umtamvuna Portuguese Carnival, held at Port Edward, would see 1 000 people seated at a “Table of Unity” where a world record attempt would be made for the world’s biggest open-air fish braai.Khoza said the Sardine Festival, well timed with the winter school holidays, was a perfect catalyst for unlocking the value offered by a multifaceted destination such as the South Coast.
In addition to some of the country’s premier swimming beaches, there are several vantage points along the 120km long Hibiscus coastline for visitors to view the sardines as they migrate northwards. Those wanting to take an even closer look can take advantage of marine charters that operate out of Port Edward, Ramsgate and Shelly Beach or even charter a plane from Margate Airport. The more adventurous can even dive with the sardines – including the reefs, wrecks and sharks – at Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks and Rocky Bay.The Natal Sharks Board monitors the progress of the sardines so it can remove and replace the shark nets that protect bathers at swimming beaches and allow the sardine run to pass by unhindered.
