Things to Do with Kids during the School Holidays

On Holiday with Kids

It’s that time again … school holidays … which means it’s time to spend some quality time with your children, nieces, nephews, god-children or any other little ones in your life. But the big question that might be playing on your mind is what are we going to do???

School holidays are quite long over this period and sometimes it’s not all that easy to keep kids entertained for long periods of time, it’s often on the go all the time. So if you are running out of ideas or would like some fresh recommendations of things to do with them over this time, then we have a few suggestions for you … Continued

Festive Season Events

It is almost that time of the year, holiday time for most, family time for many and the shopping centres have Christmas music on repeat. In the words of one of those songs, for me “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”. This is a time for celebration and enjoying time with those people who are important to you. That’s right folks, Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, it’s time to bring out the Christmas decorations and make your plans to see in the New Year. And we’re here to highlight a few of the things happening around the country.

With the countdown to Christmas beginning why not get into the Christmas spirit by attending one of the many carol concerts around the country? Continued

Festive Season Specials

‘Tis the season to be jolly (well soon enough), and the best way to be jolly this year, is to save on your holiday accommodation – means you’ll have more to spend on the important stuff like presents and cocktails. So playing “helper elf”, here are a few special offers that’ll save your budget … Continued

Eastern Cape Festive Season events

Uitenhage Street Carnival

If you are planning to be in the Eastern Cape this festive season let me give you some ideas on how to make your holiday extra special. The Uitenhage Street Carnival from Friday 4 to Saturday 5 December is two days of fun. With music, art, culture, street markets and parades, not to forget the fabulous food stalls and fun times to be shared with family and friends.

With loads of free entertainment which includes musicians, dancers and performers with a Street Parade on Saturday including a float procession, what better way to start off your holidays and get you into the Christmas spirit. The highlight of the event is on Saturday night when the Christmas lights are officially switched on. For more information telephone +27 (0)41 585-0906. Continued

Christmas markets happening around the country

Christmas Markets

The countdown to Christmas has begun and with just over a month to go you are probably wondering what you are going to be filling the family Christmas stockings with or you might want to spend some quality time with your friends browsing around the various Christmas fairs and markets this festive season.

The Gonubie Christmas Fair in East London takes place from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 December and is always a popular event. The venue is the sports fields in Gonubie and you will once again be able to find fantastic gifts and stocking fillers to delight those close to you on Christmas morning … Continued

Festivals and Events in the Garden Route over the Festive Season

Summer Fun Festival

We are heading into the festive season, time to take some time off, spend some quality time with family and friends and a popular holiday destination to do this in is the Garden Route, with many towns and interesting sites to explore.

I thought I’d give you a bit of a head start on your holiday plans and let you know which festivals and events are taking place over the festive season along the Garden Route. For starters, the Summer Sun Festival happens in Mossel Bay and runs from Tuesday 8 December right into the second week of 2010 (8 January 2010). It’s time to sizzle with summer and the Diaz Strand Hotel during this jam packed festival … Continued

Skeleton Gorge hiking trail

For visitors to Cape Town, a trip up the iconic Table Mountain is usually at the top of the to-do list, as obvious an excursion as visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or licking gelato in Rome. But instead of hopping on the Cable Car for a less-than-10-minute ride straight to the top, why not make a day of it? Hiking up may take longer, but it’s well worth the extra effort. So get your sensible shoes and plenty of water, we’re going for a walk … Continued

The Table Mountain Pipe Track

Summertime is a great opportunity to experience the Cape Town surrounds by getting out onto one of the many hiking trails on offer. If you like walking but are not up for a big hike, the Pipe Track is a nice flat walk perfect for afternoon and early evening excursions. The walk faces the Atlantic Ocean and gives a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, taking you high above Cape Town city. The walk is easy and is suitable for all ages as well as for your furry canine friends … Continued

Forget about its name – there’s nothing cute or cuddly about the Otter Trail!

The Otter Trail is one of South Africa’s most well-known hiking trails, popular with both locals and international visitors thanks largely to its incredible scenery. The trail starts at the Storms River mouth and ends at Nature’s Valley in the beautiful Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve on the Garden Route. The Otter Trail meanders mostly along the rocky shoreline, but changes in elevation from sea level to about 150m above, laying out the spectacular Eastern Cape coastline on a platter for your viewing pleasure. Sound good? Don’t underestimate the 41 advertised kilometres – the Otter takes experienced hikers a total of five days to complete. Continued

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

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

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