Family Holidays in South Africa

Family Holidays

Newly launched on SA-Venues.com is our Child-friendly Accommodation section. Catering specifically for families travelling with children from birth (age 0-3 months) to teenagers, the section features over 1,200 establishments catering for children, including family hotels, game lodges that cater for kids, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, self catering holiday suites and apartments that welcome children of all ages.

And whilst you are looking for that perfect family holiday destination in South Africa, visit the Family-friendly Provinces pages for some great ideas on what to do with the little ones in different parts of the country.

Port Elizabeth boasts fantastic beaches, an oceanarium and snake park at which to entertain children, the Garden Route is a wonderful escape for families with children of all ages, particularly for those children who can join you on walks through magical forests where the elusive knysna loerie serves as part of an entertaining diversion. Continued

Stately “Lehututu” may not be around for much longer

Article by: By Fred Katerere, BUA News

Bela Bela – The stately Southern Ground Hornbill or “Lehututu” as it is locally called, may not be around for much longer. These huge black birds with their distinctive beaks and bright red wattles are part of the hornbill family that occurs naturally only in Africa and Asia. However, hornbill numbers are declining due to loss of habitat.

Southern Ground Hornbill

Many species will not survive without human intervention,” says chief executive officer of the Limpopo Tourism and Parks Board, Benny Boshielo. “For any successful conservation effort, the active involvement of provincial authorities, conservation agencies and communities is needed,” said Boshielo.

The world’s 60 species of hornbills are rapidly declining in numbers worldwide. There are less than 1 500 Southern Ground Hornbills left in South Africa. Their numbers have dropped by more than 10 percent in the past three decades. The province has made the Lehututu its avian flagship in the same way it has made the mighty baobab its provincial symbol and flagship of the savannah biome.

Mabula Game Reserve is also the base for the The Ground Hornbill Research and Conservation Project started in 1999.

Article from BUA News

Related Links:
South Africa Birds
Visit Limpopo

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 National 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. Continued

Cape Town December Holiday Bookings

Cape Town Holiday Bookings for December 2005: If you are planning to spend your December January Holiday in Cape Town, South Africa, NOW is definately the time to secure your accommodation, as many areas are already fully booked from 15 December right through January 2006. To avoid dissapointment please do enquire and book now.

To facilitate your search for that perfect place, here are a few direct links to some of Cape Town and the Western Cape’s most popular holiday destinations, with listings of Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, Guest Houses, Self Catering Villas, Holiday Houses, Suites and Apartments … Continued

Featured Destination – The Garden Route

Knysna Loerie

Scattered along the Garden Route, fashionable seaside resorts abound, attracting jet-setters from around the globe. Tiny coastal villages appeal especially to outdoor people who enjoy an unstructured holiday agenda.

Mountains crowd close to the shoreline which is dotted with beaches and bays, and wonderfully coloured wild flowers delight the eye. Between Heidelberg and Storms River, the Garden Route runs parallel to a coastline featuring lakes, mountains, tall indigenous forests, rivers and golden beaches.

Meandering trails are followed by hikers, the forests invite long, leisurely drives, and the lakes and rivers lend themselves to swimming boating and fishing. A wide range of leisure options, spectacular scenery and a mild climate guarantee a truly unforgettable holiday experience … Continued