Find Accommodation in South Africa
Subscribe to our Feed
Featured
Day Trips and Tour Packages
Wings and Swings TourWings and Swings TourPackage Tour - Wings and Swings Tour - 16 day Cape Town - Garden Route - ...
South Africa Guided Coach TourSouth Africa Guided Coach TourPackage Tour - For local culture excursions, game reserves, craft markets, ...
The South African Explorer (CT - JHB)The South African Explorer (CT - JHB)Package Tour - Simply the best of South Africa! 14 days departing from ...
Sudwala Caves Half Day TripSudwala Caves Half Day TripDay Trip - The Sudwala Caves are the oldest known caves in the world, ...
Kruger Park Fly-In Luxury Game Lodge ExperienceKruger Park Fly-In Luxury Game Lodge ExperiencePackage Tour - Enjoy a two night luxury safari fly-in short break based at ...
Follow us on ...
TwitterFacebook
Monthly Newsletter
Featured in
Activities and Things To Do

Game and Wildlife Encounters

This category includes posts and reviews about game lodges and South Africa’s fabulous national parks, nature and game reserves. South Africa boasts a huge collection of wildlife regions encompassing every possible landscape from deserts to forests … Visit SA-Venues.com for more information about South Africa Game Reserves.

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Birds Eye View by Noula Bouwer (photograph)

Todays photograph was sent to us by Noula Bouwer as is entiled “Bird’s Eye View”. A great photograph of a giraffe, Noula has submitted a number of really great photographs to our current photography competition. You can see more of her entries at November Photography Competition. Giraffe are non-territorial, social animals that travel in large herds that are not organized in any way. They live in the savannas of Africa, where they roam freely among the tall trees, arid land, dense forests and open plains … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: South Africa Editor
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Going Wild

Thanda Private Game Reserve Special Offer

One of South Africa’s most romantic destinations, and winner of Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge in South Africa and South Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge at The World Travel Awards, Thanda Private Game Reserve is situated on a 7800 hectare Big Five private game reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, only an hour away from the Indian Ocean … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: SA Travel News Editor
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Going Wild

Mpila Camp, Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve

KwaZulu Natal is a wonderful destination to visit during winter, since its mild temperatures allow you to escape the chill of other parts of the country.  As part of our travels, we chose a visit to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, which was established in 1895, and is the oldest game park in Africa … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: SA Travel News Editor
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Going Wild

Big 5 or Bust?

Something that always amazes me is the modern day traveller’s overwhelming desire to spot the Big 5. This is not to say that I don’t appreciate such a sighting and relish every moment watching Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and (for me, the as yet unseen) Leopard in the wild, but when lucky enough to spend some time in South African Game Reserves, any sighting fills me with joy … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: South Africa Editor
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Going Wild

Well Found Welgevonden

After a tiring journey, admittedly just a 3 and a half hour drive from OR Tambo International Airport, we had finally arrived at the West Gate of the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve (near Vaalwater in the Limpopo Province) for a long-awaited game holiday.

We happily abandoned our rental car (no private vehicles are allowed in the reserve) and scampered into the back of the open 4×4 safari vehicle, while our game ranger collected and stowed our luggage. Then we were off on our +/- 30 minute “transfer” to the lodge. Within minutes, Welgevonden lived up to the meaning of its name (well found), as we sloughed off the tiredness of the trip and found that sense of peace and the true relaxation that can only be experienced in the bush, with an almost immediate sighting of a Zebra mother and foal … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: South Africa Editor
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Going Wild

Mkuze Game Reserve

Aside from the fact that it feels as though one drives forever from Durban to get to Mkuze Game Reserve along the N2, it was this journey that prepared my mind and soul for the necessary unwind that must first take place before spending any time in a reserve. And by that evening, I could appreciate the transition that took me along the northern coast of KwaZulu Natal into the heart of Zululand for what it was – a journey into stillness countered by the wild and untamed beauty that is the Zulu heartland … Continued

1 comment
Article by: SA Travel News Editor
Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Giraffe in Mkuze Game Reserve photo

Photograph of a Giraffe family in the beautiful Mkuze Game Reserve, KwaZulu Natal. Three game viewing hides have been constructed next to the Kubube, Kamasinga, Kwamalibala pans in the Mkuze Game Reserve. Visitors park their cars and enter the hides on foot. Depending on the surface water in the reserve, but normally during the drier winter months, large concentrations of wildlife may be seen at the waterholes … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: SA Travel News Editor
Friday, 9 October 2009
Going Wild

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve

It’s dusk when we arrive at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, the sun beginning to set beyond the distant purple mountains, the cool air descending. Our welcome at the lodge is warm and comforting and the walk to the reception area full of promise. I’m immediately distracted by the appealing décor, which effortlessly combines colonial grandeur with shabby chic to give a perfect Out of Africa feel.

The beautiful Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge was built in 1822 by Baron von Pletten, an early South African pioneer and conservationist, who used the original, smaller Lodge as his base to explore the then untamed African landscapes.

Built from local stone, the 10-suite lodge has lost little of its original style and is both romantic and luxurious with spectacular views across rolling lawns where zebra and antelope roam freely, to the indigenous forests and majestic Tsitsikamma Mountains in the distance … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: Jeannine
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Going Wild

Interview with a Wildlife Photographer

SA-Venues.com talk to Dave Estment, intrepid wildlife photographer based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Q:
What first inspired you to pick up a camera?

Dave EstmentA:
Racing Superbikes, strangely enough! I raced professionally from 1979 – 1985, so got to know some of South Africa’s top motorsport photographers, from the other side of the lens. Later this led to working with them on test rides for motoring magazines and the odd TV show, eventually being invited to join the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists as a photographer myself. It was a natural progression from there into my other passion, wildlife, and then on into commercial photography.

Q:
I see the need for the caption to that pic! Before moving on, do you have any particular highlights to share with us about racing?
Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: South Africa Editor
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Going Wild

Off to Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe Game Reserve

Said to be the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa, the ever-increasingly popular Madikwe Game Reserve is also the country’s best kept secret. Despite this, the name is increasingly on people’s lips – perhaps because of its close proximity to Johannesburg (it is but a 3.5 hour easy drive on well-tarred road), or the fact that despite being practically on the Botswana border its Big 5 game viewing is in a malaria-free zone.

Whatever the reason, it was with ‘oh, so you’re off to Madikwe!’ ringing in my ears that I hopped on a plane and headed off for Gauteng, the envy of my colleagues. Despite a flight that was anything but effortless, my hired car and I made it with a half hour to spare on the journey to the North West and Impodimo Game LodgeContinued

1 comment
Article by: SA Travel News Editor
Friday, 2 October 2009

Rondevlei – Hippos in the City

One of the serious advantages to living in Plumstead, other than the quick access to just about anywhere in the city, is the close proximity to both the Rondevlei and Seekoevlei nature reserves.

Constantia may lay claim to Kirstenbosch (admittedly gorgeous, but over a weekend it is inundated) but Plumstead (well, okay, Grassy Park) has a unique eco spot in the city where you can see hippos, a part of the world where hippos were once a plenty … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: Cape Town Editor
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Going Wild

Game for a Walk?

Those of you that have investigated a visit to a game reserve, may have come across Game Walks as an optional activity which can be enjoyed when staying at one of South Africa’s luxurious game lodges. What exactly do they mean by this? Well, you get taken deep into the bush and track wildlife by foot (fortunately under the expert guidance of an armed game ranger) … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: South Africa Editor
Monday, 14 September 2009

National Parks week – get in for free

It’s official. This week, starting today 14th September, you can get into any (or at least the majority) of the South African National Parks (SANParks) for free. So, if you’re in Cape Town you have the whole of the Table Mountain National Park at your disposal, and, better still, if you’re up in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the Kruger National Park is yours for free this week … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: SA Travel News Editor
Monday, 14 September 2009

Elephant in Welgevonden Game Reserve (Video and photographs)

Photograph and video of an Elephant in the Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg Area. The Welgevonden Game Reserve is a popular weekend safari destination out of Johannesburg. Only 3 hours drive north of OR Tambo Airport, Welgevonden Game Reserve is a “Big Five”, malaria free Game Reserve situated in the Waterberg DistrictContinued

Leave a comment
Article by: South Africa Editor
Friday, 11 September 2009

King of Madikwe Photos

A gallery of photographs taken in the Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province, South Africa. Madikwe Game Reserve is run as a joint venture between the state, private sector and local communities who live on the borders of the reserve and who benefit too, earning an annual share of the park’s profits. There are day and night game drives within Madikwe Game Reserve, bush walks and over 350 species of birdlife, including a number of interesting raptors … Continued

Leave a comment
Article by: SA Travel News Editor
Afrigator