“Bottoms up” at Addo Elephant Park

We loved this photograph entitled “Bottoms Up” taken by Jo Townend in the Addo Elephant Park. The obvious main attraction of this National Park is the park’s 450 or so African Elephants. The Black Rhino and Cape Buffalo are also notable species, but unlike the elephant, these species are easier to see by night. Continued

The Richtersveld

Richtersveld Landscape

The Richtersveld National Park is arguably one of the most unforgiving landscapes in South Africa. A desert, where rainfall is unheard of for most of the year, and communities are sparsely spread around the vast, sometimes lunar landscapes.

With the park being run by the residents of the area themselves, however, expert experience and advice is on hand, ensuring that any trip to the area will be a memorable one. The Richtersveld is located in Northern Namaqualand, in the Northern Cape, and stretches all the way up to the Orange River, South Africa’s border with Namibia. Continued

Where is Philadelphia?

The Road to Philadelphia

Set amongst rolling green pastures dotted with content livestock, and a swirling river, Philadelphia has come into its own as a creative hub and weekend getaway for the arty, families, friends and for those who appreciate the simple quiet of an evening spent under the willow trees on a river bank. A 20 minute drive north of Cape Town, near Durbanville, the quiet enclave makes for a sweet escape from city life.

A huge church steeple cuts a silhouette against the cerulean blue sky and creates a majestic entrance to the town. Sugary sweet cottages line sandy lanes, the kind that have overgrown creepers cascading down their thick walls, while children amble down to the only supply store for their sweet ration of the day. Continued

Mazeppa Bay Photo

This beautiful photograph was taken in the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape by Lauren Goulding. Mazeppa Bay is one of the most beautiful areas of the Wild Coast and is well known for its excellent fishing. There are a wide variety of game fish to be caught (the biggest ever caught was apparantly a 791 kg Great White Shark). For more info see Mazeppa bay. Continued

Weekending in Prince Albert – a welcome break from wet Cape Town

Road to Prince Albert

The drive alone is worth the four-hour trip from Cape Town to Prince Albert, and that was only the start of a weekend break that more than met expectations.

First off, let me emphasise that Prince Albert, which lies at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains that forms the border between the Little and the Great Karoo, really is one of the best kept secrets of wintering in the Western Cape, and I write with more than a little reservation, so all who read this are sworn to secrecy!

I will not beat around the bush about the Karoo being cold during winter - it was icy – and snow-capped mountains formed the background to much of our trip. But the days were blue, the scenery close to tear-jerking and the derth of visitors to the small Karoo town meant that we could only guess … Continued

St. Lucia Estuary Bull Hippo

We’ve received lots of new, beautiful photographs – choosing a winner is going to be very difficult! Please keep them coming, click here to see how to enter: Photographers Competition July 2009. Today we showcase a fabulous shot of a Bull Hippo taken in the St Lucia Estuary. Stunning! Continued

Celebrate the Good Life at the Knysna Oyster Festival

Knysna Oyster Festival

This year marks the 26th anniversary celebration of one of the most popular annual events in the Garden Route of the Western Cape. The Pick ‘n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival was conceptualised by the late local business man, Dick Ginsberg. Its purpose was to entice visitors to Knysna during winter and it has without a doubt achieved this.

The festival kicks off with the Miss Pearl Beauty Pageant on Thursday 2 July 2009 and runs until Sunday 12 July 2009. These ten days are jam packed with more than 100 events taking place, over 200 000 oysters being consumed and sport and entertainment for everyone. The main sporting events of the festival are the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour. Continued

Big 5 Photo Series

The Big 5 Photo Series gives you a chance to show off your wildlife photos. When last did you take a trip down memory lane to the savannahs of Africa? With the introduction of the digtal camera, so few of us actually print our holiday photos anymore and photo albums are a thing of the past. Take a trip with us now … find that folder (or CD) of your South African holiday and share your experience with our visitors.

Want to contribute? Just go to the appropriate page and upload your photo.

• The Lion
• The Buffalo
• The Rhino
• The Elephant
• The Leopard

The Lion

Enjoy and/or contribute to our photo gallery of the Lion. We asked visitors to share their holiday snaps with us. Below is a gallery and some of the experiences that travellers had while game viewing in our beautiful country. Click on any photo to enlarge and view a slideshow.

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Submitted by South Africa Editor (SA)

To start things off, I thought I'd submit this photograph of a lion taken in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape. Courtesy of SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM.

Submitted by South Africa Editor (SA)

Another picture I thought well worth sharing. This was taken in the Kruger National Park - the largest game reserve in South Africa. Courtesy of SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM.

Submitted by South Africa Editor (SA)

Taken in the Entabeni Game Reserve.

Submitted by Rika Basson (South Africa)

I had a life changing experience between the lions , it was just amazing ! they are truly very proud animals. The earthshaking ROAR left me breathless.

Submitted by Madelein Calligeris (SA)

I had the most wonderful experience, we were so close to it. It was there where I realized how big and mighty lions are, and he was just so lazy nothing could bother him at that moment and time, they were in a group of four.

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The Lion {Panthera Leo}
Lions are the second largest members of the feline family in the world. Lion are tan in colour and have a slightly white under-body, with a tuft of black hair at the end of their tails. Most cat species live a fundamentally solitary existence, but the lion is an exception. It has developed a social system based on teamwork and … read more about The Lion.

The Buffalo

Enjoy and/or contribute to our photo gallery of the Buffalo. We asked visitors to share their holiday snaps with us. Below is a gallery and some of the experiences that travellers had while game viewing in our beautiful country. Click on any photo to enlarge and view a slideshow.

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Submitted by South Africa Editor (SA)

To start this gallery, here's a photo of a buffalo taken in the Kapama Game Reserve in Limpopo Province. Courtesy of SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM.

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The Buffalo {Syncerus Caffer}
Buffalo are extremely large, ox-like animals. Standing approximately 65 inches at the shoulder, adult males have a mass of up to 1760 pounds and females weigh up to 1650 pounds. To support the large body, the legs are very heavy. Front hooves are larger than the hind because of the extra mass they … read more about The Buffalo.

The Rhino

Enjoy and/or contribute to our photo gallery of the Rhino. We asked visitors to share their holiday snaps with us. Below is a gallery and some of the experiences that travellers had while game viewing in our beautiful country. Click on any photo to enlarge and view a slideshow.

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Submitted by South Africa Editor (SA)

Seen while on a game drive in the Entabeni Game Reserve in Limpopo.

Submitted by Stefani (SA)

I went on a few game drives in the Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province, and saw so many rhino. They definitely look prehistoric up close. An awe-inspiring experience.

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The Rhino {Diceros Bicornis or Ceratotherium Simum}
The rhinoceros is a large, primitive looking mammal that in fact dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago. In recent decades rhinos have been relentlessly hunted to the point of near extinction. Since 1970 the world rhino population has declined by 90 percent, with five species remaining in the world today, all of which are … read more about The Rhino.

The Elephant

Enjoy and/or contribute to our photo gallery of the Elephant. We asked visitors to share their holiday snaps with us. Below is a gallery and some of the experiences that travellers had while game viewing in our beautiful country. Click on any photo to enlarge and view a slideshow.

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Submitted by South Africa Editor (SA)

Elephant seen in the Entabeni Game Reserve.

Submitted by Sue (SA)

Elephant family in the Pilanesberg National Park, North West Province

Submitted by Sharon Versfeld (SA)

This photo was taken on Fathers' Day in the Addo Elephant Park, which is the only park in the world offering the "Big 7"!

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The Elephant {Loxodonta Africana}
The African Elephant is the largest living land mammal, one of the most impressive animals on earth. The Elephant’s muscular trunk serves as a nose, hand, extra foot, signaling device and a tool for gathering food, siphoning water, dusting, digging and a variety of other functions. The long trunk permits … read more about The Elephant.

The Leopard

Enjoy and/or contribute to our photo gallery of the highly elusive Leopard. We asked visitors to share their holiday snaps with us. Below is a gallery and some of the experiences that travellers had while game viewing in our beautiful country. Click on any photo to enlarge and view a slideshow.

Add your photo here (easy upload form)

Submitted by South Africa Editor (SA)

Leopard seen in the Mala Mala Game Reserve in Mpumalanga. Courtesy of SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM.

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The Leopard {Panthera Pardus}
The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is also the shrewdest. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of the larger cats and is capable of killing prey far larger than itself. The coloring of the leopard varies from white to bright golden brown, spotted with black spots and rosettes … read more about The Leopard.

Jozi Attractions

Apartheid Museum

A massive city and boasting many ‘firsts’, Johannesburg boasts an impressive number of awesome attractions to suit both young and old. First off, the Apartheid Museum is oddly located next to the fun-park thrills of Gold Reef City. This is an essential South African experience which tells the apartheid story with a confronting sensory verve through large, visually stunning displays and excellent audio visual exhibits. For a trip down memory lane or to experience some of South Africa’s sad history, visit the Apartheid Museum (also see http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/).
 
The Hector Pieterson Memorial is another must visit. Through the use of old photographs and video, this museum tells the chilling story of the 1976 student uprisings against the forced use of Afrikaans in South African schools. The exhibit is stark, haunting and sure to leave you with chills down your spine. Continued

Ostrich on Guard!

We love this photograph of the Ostrich with the slightly blurred background making the Ostrich really stand out. Fabulous photo, thank you Marius for sharing it with us … Continued