Photographers Competition November 2009

Restore my faith that not all travellers are only interested in the Big 5 … submit your favourite game reserve or nature photo and win! The only spec is that it cannot be a photo of a Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino or an Elephant. Oh, and amateur photographers only please. Your photo will be featured and credited in our January 2010 newsletter and in line with our Theme for November 2009 (Going Wild in South Africa … The Big 5 and Beyond), you’ll win a special something which will make it that much easier for you to spot game, though they’ll also come in handy at the next rugby match you attend.

Photographs submitted will be featured here for all to admire (so bookmark this page and come back daily to check out your competition). Continued

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

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

Bitten by the whale watching bug

We don’t realise how lucky we are in South Africa, and in particular the Western Cape, to have the mightiest of the marine mammals visit our coastline between August and October every year. Countless visitors to South Africa come to our shores to catch sight of these gentle, but huge beasts, and many of them manage to do so virtually face-to-face.

You can imagine the experience of getting close to a whale – longer and definitely wider than the boat on which you find yourself, with a tail that spans roughly 5 metres, and a body weight of a mere 40 tonnes! Have that mass fling itself into the air alongside you and life is quickly placed into perspective! Continued

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

The Postberg Flower Trail

Hiking isn’t everybody’s thing – it certainly wasn’t mine. While I fully appreciate the beauty of nature, I didn’t think I needed to endure a hot, sweaty uphill slog to get a good look at it  (I can appreciate it just fine from the foot of the mountain thanks, it’s quite pleasant down here, really.) Who knew hiking needn’t be a lesson in physical endurance? Who knew it could literally be a walk in the park.

For me, the turnaround came with a team-building exercise (read: day off work) in the West Coast National Park. We were off to explore the Postberg Flower Trail, a section of the park that is open for only a couple months of the year (August to September) during the spring flowering season. It’s a small window of opportunity that has walking enthusiasts clamouring for the limited number of day or full weekend passes available – and now I know why … Continued

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

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?

A:
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

Rock-hopping in Bainskloof

For more adventurous types who don’t only go camping to sleep off the previous night’s Klipdrift or spend the weekend fantasizing about the return of their hair-dryer, I highly recommend camping at  Tweede Tol in Bainskloof and doing the rock-hopper trail along the Witte River between the campsite and Eerste Tol at the top of the Bainskloof Pass.

Bainskloof is situated in the Limietberg in the Western Cape. The campsite is conveniently located no more than an hour and a half from Cape Town and is about 15 minutes from Wellington … Continued

Off to 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 Lodge … Continued

Discovering the Constantia green belt – city walks with a difference

Constantia Valley

In Constantia’s green belt there are no fewer than nine interwoven trails that provide inner-city walking that is easy to reach but nevertheless manages to give one a sense of getting away from it all, surrounded by the green leafiness of Constantia.

The not very strenuous walks are roughly 30 to 45 minutes each, depending on how many of them you attempt at a time, and provide you with a space in which to don a hat and boots, whilst taking in the beauty of streams, rivers and mountain scenery in the midst of elegance, some of the oldest winelands in the Cape, soaring oak trees, gabled Cape Dutch homesteads and a stretch of stately homes. When the sun slants through the trees, and the lush grass rises to meet one, you can be forgiven for thinking that you’ve stepped for a moment onto the set of a Merchant Ivory production, such is the quality of the light and the beauty of the surrounds … Continued

The Whales are in the Bay – Watch them in Cape Town this Weekend

Bryde's whale

It’s a good weekend, particularly this Saturday (provided the wind holds off), to get out to find the whales who are definitely in False Bay, this weekend. And don’t assume that you need to go all the way to Hermanus to do so, although, admittedly in Hermanus one gets a good deal closer to these gentle beasts, but the price you pay is having to battle the crowds in order to do so – even if it is the best land-based whale watching site around.

The WWF and Greenpeace regard whale watching in Cape Town as one of the top 3 places in the world to get ‘up and personal’ with whales. There are three types of whales usually sighted in False Bay – Southern Right, Humpbacks and Bryde’s. These sea animals that are generally the cumulative size of around 10 African elephants can be pretty elusive and September has had very few days that are conducive to sighting them, because of the wind … Continued

Romantic Special Offers …

Romantic Getaways

If you’re planning a romantic getaway, we have hand-picked a selection of romantic destinations throughout South Africa, offering Special Discounted Rates for the month of October through to mid-December 2009.

From quiet secluded cottages in the country, luxury game lodges in some of South Africa’s game rich areas to luxurious boutique hotels in the heart of our major cities, these great getaways are available at a lower price – just right for those of us watching our budgets … Continued

Tranquillity Cracks

Woody Ravine Sign

Tranquillity Cracks, also known as Yellowwood Cracks takes its name from the forest of Yellowwoods growing from a crack in the skull of Table Mountain.

Start this walk from the Table Mountain Nature Reserve signpost on Theresa Avenue above Camps Bay.  Follow the path beyond the gate to the Pipe Track and then follow the path as it ascends.  You will go past a pump house and five minutes after this you should see a sign for Woody Ravine.  Keep on the path and follow it around the corner to Slangolie Ravine, and then up steep steps.  You will see two signs stating ‘Dangerous Ascent’ – take notice of the newer of the two signs and at this point you should move down to the river bed and cross over to the other side of the ravine.  The path then continues steeply up the slope after passing under a rock face … Continued

October Specials

West Coast in Bloom

In celebration of Spring and all that the coming Summer months offer us, we’ve put together a list of specials in destinations offering something “summery”. All specials listed below are valid for the month of October 2009 (unless otherwise specified) and are subject to availability.

The first thought of Spring brings to mind the Namaqualand Daisies. Traditionally one thinks of the Northern Cape, but the Cape West Coast also plays host to spring’s most magnificent bouquet and it’s just an hour or two outside of Cape Town. Continued