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Rhino
& Lion Nature Reserve:
Just an hour’s drive
from
Johannesburg, this small private reserve is located in the ‘cradle of
humankind’ world heritage site. The reserve focuses on breeding programmes
with great success: 11 White rhino calves have been born to date, together
with the highly endangered Cape
wild dog, Kruger lion, cheetah, Bengal tiger, Mountain
lion and the exceptionally rare White lion. Incorporating a number of
attractions including a snake house and raptor display area, the Rhino and
Lion Nature Reserve also has a nursery where the cubs (once they are old
enough) can be played with for a short time – an opportunity not to be
missed! This is a great excursion if you have some time to kill in
Johannesburg...
Oribi
Gorge: Oribi Gorge is a natural
paradise with an adrenaline twist: home to the Wild Five activities centre
where abseiling, white water rafting, gorge swing, gorge slide and horse
trails are organised. There are also hiking trails. A great half-day or
full-day trip for those diving at Aliwal Shoal or Protea Banks.
Tala Private Game Reserve:
This small
private reserve is a wildlife conservancy hidden in the hills of a quiet
farming community not far from Durban in
KwaZulu-Natal. The owners see themselves as “guardians of this precious
piece of Africa”
and feel responsible for passing on this sanctuary to future generations. This
small reserve is ideally places for a half-day or full-day trip for divers
in the area of Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal.
The
Blue Train (Cape Town to Pretoria):
The Blue
Train has an aura of mystique about it: Kings and presidents have travelled
on this magnificent moving 5-star hotel. Its very name has become synonymous
with the ultimate in luxury and personal service. As the ever-changing
scenery flashes past the windows, guests can savour exquisite meals freshly
prepared onboard by top chefs. When you choose to travel on the Blue Train,
you choose to travel in a world of grace, elegance and romance.
Choice of luxury suites
and deluxe, each with individual air conditioning and heating controls, en
suite bath or shower rooms, dining car, 2 lounges.
Franschhoek Country House & Villas (Cape
Winelands):
Set in the picturesque wine-producing
valley of Franschhoek, the Franschhoek Country House & Villas offers luxury
and indulgence. This restored manor house and former perfumery dating back
to 1890 is situated on the outskirts of the village in the Cape Winelands
and is surrounded by enchanting vineyards and majestic mountains. An hour’s
drive from Cape Town make it the perfect getaway for anyone visiting the
Western Cape. The Country House
offers 14 luxury rooms with the expected luxuries and amenities including
satellite TV, direct dial telephone. Some also feature fire places, under
carpet heating and air-conditioning. Wine-tasting on the farms in the area,
or in the neighbouring towns of Stellenbosch and Paarl. Award-winning
restaurant; pool and terrace.
Cape Peninsular National
Park incorporating the Table Mountain National Park and Agulhas National Park:
In the south west point
of South Africa
is the country's only urban national park and one of just two in the world:
the Cape Peninsula National Park. Incorporating various sections of the
city of Cape Town as well as Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope, this
unusual patchwork park protects the Cape floral kingdom, commonly known as fynbos. Further south-east you come to the Agulhas National Park which encompasses Agulhas Point, the southern-most tip
of Africa. This area is off the main tourist route which has left it unspoiled, as
nature intended.
Of particular note is the town of Hermanus,
self-styled whale capital of the world. From September Southern right whales come into the bays, resting, mating and breaching. Visitors can view these gentle giants from the shore.
Listen out for Wilson, the town's whale crier, heralding whale activity in
the bay. Jackass penguins are a particular attraction at Boulders Beach,
Simons Town.
Garden Route
incorporating the Wilderness National Park, Knysna National Lake Area and Tsiksikamma National Park:
In the heart of South Africa's famous
Garden Route, a captivating world of lakes, rivers, estuaries and beaches
gently unfolds against a backdrop of lush forest and lofty mountains – all
elements that characterise the Wilderness National Park. Nature trails wind
through densely wooded forest and along tranquil rivers, affording you the
opportunity to encounter the brilliantly coloured Knysna lourie or one of
the five kingfisher species that occur here.
Knysna nestles on the
banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the ‘Garden
Route’. It is
surrounded by a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes
and golden beaches, making it a real natural wonderland. The exceptionally
beautiful Knysna National Lake Area is home to the endangered Knysna
seahorse and a large diversity of marine life. Sandbanks and salt marshes
teem with life and in turn provide food to an immeasurable number of
organisms.
Where the booming
breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky shores, where
temperate high forest and fynbos roll down to the sea in an unspoilt verdant
carpet, where ancient rivers carve their paths to the ocean down rocky
ravines, this, "the place of much water", is the Tsitsikamma
National Park. The heartland of the park stretches some 5 km to sea,
protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish.
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