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17 October 2007 International Air reserved by yourselves. Please advise if there are any schedule changes. On arrival at OR Tambo (Johannesburg) Airport you proceed through passport control to the luggage collection area and then through Customs to regional departures where you board the scheduled flight to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. *********since you have luggage restrictions on the Botswana delta flights, you either have to pack light or use the luggage storage ..we will talk about this Scheduled flight On arrival at Victoria Falls Airport you proceed to the arrivals area. Look out for our representative from ..., they will be holding a name-board with your surname on it. They will then transfer you to the Victoria Falls Hotel for your two night stay. Later this afternoon you are collected from the hotel at 1600 and transferred to the jetty for a cruise along the Upper Zambezi. Victoria Falls HotelVictoria Falls Hotel has the best location in town. Soak up the elegant Edwardian ambience as you sip cocktails on the terrace, which has a spectacular view of the 'smoke that thunders'. A leisurely ten-minute walk through the lush tropical gardens and along a private path brings you to the Falls. Guests enjoy dining at one of three restaurants, reading in the library or by the romantic pool or playing tennis on the floodlit courts. The 181 rooms offer air-conditioning, telephone, and satellite television. Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi RiverEnjoy the sights and sounds of the Zambezi River in relaxation, with local wines, beers, soft drinks and snacks served during the trip. This trip often offers a magnificent chance to witness a spectacular African sunset. Cruise back to the jetty for transfer back to the hotel after sunset. Duration of the tour is approximately 2.5 hours. Victoria FallsThe Victoria Falls is a dramatic scenic contrast and a change of pace from the private game reserves. It is a sight not to be missed - the clouds of spray generated by this thunderous descent have resulted in a lush rain forest full of stunning wild flowers. A host of activities are centred on three separate delights: the Falls, the magnificent Zambezi River and the surrounding Zambezi National Park. To gain an overall impression of the Falls, the helicopter 'Flight of Angels' is essential. A microlight ride and bungee jumping are available for the truly daring. The Zambezi River has two characters - the wide gentle river above the Falls is the perfect place for languorous sunset boat cruises or gentle canoeing, whilst below the Falls, the more adventurous can enjoy serious white-water rafting or jet-boating. Game drives and horse riding are offered in the Zambezi National Park to view elephant and buffalo. Visitors can also sample elephant back safaris and take part in their grooming and feeding activities at the Elephant Camp. 18 October 2007 This morning at 09:30 you are collected from the hotel by .... Tours for your tour of the Falls and Village visit. The tour to the Falls departs daily and lasts about 3 hours. This morning you enjoy an awe-inspiring tour which takes the form of a walk in the natural rainforest to the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls, one of the most spectacular natural sights in the world. A knowledgeable and informative local guide accompanies you. There will be many photographic opportunities. Afterwards you continue to the Traditional Living in Zimbabwe village - a unique reconstructed African village which depicts the way of life of Zimbabwe's six main ethnic groups. Here there is plenty of time for shopping for authentic Zimbabwean crafts before you are collected and taken back to the hotel. 19 October 2007 This morning at 07:30 you are collected from the hotel by .... Tours and transferred across the Botswanan border onto Chobe for your two night stay at Chobe Game Lodge. Chobe Game LodgeChobe Game Lodge is an established luxury game lodge of attractive Moorish architecture. It has a superb location - the only permanent lodge within the Chobe National Park. The lodge and attractive pool surrounded by gardens overlooks the perennial Chobe river and Caprivi floodplain. The 46 twin en suite rooms and four suites, with private plunge pools and sun decks, are supremely comfortable and cooled by overhead fans and air-conditioning. A complimentary minibar is provided for your comfort. Other facilities at the lodge include a well-stocked library, discrete business center for guests who need to keep in touch, a stylish bar and restaurant with terrace overlooking the Chobe River. Unsurpassed wildlife opportunities are offers with guided game-viewing either by vehicle, boat or on foot. Game-viewing on the river is by small shallow and highly maneuverable boats piloted by expert boatmen. You can also enjoy canoeing and sunset riverboat cruises.Star gazing is available from the rooftop of the lodge and talks on the stars are given on request. On arrival at Chobe Game Lodge you usually have time for lunch and relaxation in the heat of the day prior to your first afternoon game drive into the superb Chobe Game Reserve. The pattern for safaris is to take game drives with your ranger in the early morning. This is the time when animals are most likely to be seen. In the afternoon, you usually enjoy boat-based game-viewing on the Chobe River. During your stay, the evening meal is often enjoyed in an open enclosure or 'boma', around an open fire, which many guests feel is a particularly evocative treat. The pattern of game viewingThe following morning you explore the Chobe National Park on early morning and afternoon game drives, in search of the large populations of elephants and other wildlife. The mornings start early as this is the best time to spot the night-time animals looking for sustenance. You are guided by a qualified ranger whose sound bush knowledge, practical skills and love of nature promises you some informative, exciting and rewarding wildlife encounters. The two to three hour drive finishes in time for a late breakfast which will be keenly appreciated after your early morning activity. The middle of the day is taken up with lunch and relaxation around the lodge or pool followed by a late afternoon game activity. You may go on a sundowner river cruise along the Chobe River. This is very much another form of game viewing as you may see herds of elephant and other game coming down to drink at the river. Game-viewing by motor boat and fishing excursions are also on offer. Clothing and equipment on open vehicle game vehiclesCasual bush clothes are the order of the day at the private game reserves and you are not expected to dress for dinner. Please ensure that you have a lightweight shirt and trousers to cover yourself in summer evenings when there are mosquitoes about. Neutral colours are most suitable. A hat with a brim and sunblock is also essential in Summer. In Winter and Spring, it can be very chilly in the early morning and late evening, no matter how warm it has been during the day - please believe us! Bring a warm jacket for the early starts! It is best to dress in layers of clothing so that you can peel off as the sun comes up. By 9am it could be quite hot again! Binoculars are necessary to really appreciate the animals and good mammal and bird books will aid in identification and will boost your own enjoyment and recollection of your safari. Photography on SafariFor close-up photographs of animals, it is essential to have a 300mm or telephoto lens. However much of our bushveld is characterised by wide open spaces, so a 28mm wide angle lens could also be invaluable, especially if you want to emphasize something in the foreground. 100-200 ASA film will be appropriate for most conditions, but some 400 ASA film can be useful for the light conditions at dusk or if you are lucky enough to come across a cheetah in a high speed chase. Make sure you bring some spare batteries, as these may not be readily available and an ultra-violet filter is also useful for reducing glare. A lens hood will prevent light from diffusing an image if you have to shoot towards the sun. If you are not a regular photographer, the following tips may be useful:· The bright sunlight in South Africa means that early morning and late afternoon are generally the best times for photography. · Avoid static pictures of animals - a giraffe drinking is a much better photo than one just calmly looking at you. · Think about your background - if you are at a water hole you can select a spot to wait, which gives you a good background and the right light.· If you don't have a good tele-photo lens, don't be tempted into taking numerous shots of animals in the medium ground. You will end up with lots of photos of green or brown bush! Instead concentrate on taking landscape or scene shots, for example, zebras playing or animals congregated at a water hole. 21 October 2007 On your final morning in the Chobe area, you enjoy an early morning game drive and a hearty breakfast after which you are transferred back to Kasane Airport. At Kasane Airport you are met by a representative from Mack Air Charters and transferred via light aircraft to the Moremi Game Reserve. On arrival at the airstrip you are met by a representative from Camp Moremi and transferred via 4x4 vehicle onto the camp for your two night stay. Luggage allowance The luggage allowance is a maximum of 20kg per person in soft squashy bags including all hand luggage and camera equipment, and preferably closer to 15kg. So if you are travelling with heavy photographic equipment, this must be included in the 20kg luggage allowance. This ruling is very strictly enforced due to safety considerations. The main luggage is stored in a hold compartment either underneath or at the back of the plane. This space is limited and so each bag must not exceed certain dimensions. These maximum dimensions are a width of 25cm (10 inches); height of 30cm (12 inches) and length of 62cm (24 inches). The actual baggage compartment on light aircraft is only 25cm high so the pilots must be able to manipulate your bag into the compartment. If the bag is overstuffed, this becomes difficult and when it cannot be done, it results in frustration and embarrassment all round, not to mention delays at the airstrip while bags are repacked. Remember that all safari camps offer a complimentary laundry service in Botswana, and that the dress code is very casual. Please also note that these charter flights are 'seat in plane' charters which means that the size of plane used for your air transfer varies depending on how many clients are booked on that particular day. You may be in a small 4 seater plane or something much larger. We recommend taking air sickness pills at least one hour prior to the flight if you are susceptible to motion sickness. The charter flight may stop to pick up guests from more than one safari lodge so you may take off and land more than once during your flight. Camp MoremiCamp Moremi is shaded by giant ebony trees and overlooks the Xakanaxa Lagoon, in the heart of what is reputedly Africa's most beautiful reserve - the Moremi Wildlife Reserve. The camp offers a diversity of habitat and animal life, which is unrivalled in Botswana. Here where the Okavango meets up with the vast Kalahari desert, ancient Mopane forests, open grassland and seasonal floodplains have formed. Trained resident naturalist guides will share their knowledge and deep love of the wilderness with you on game drives where sightings of wild dog, cheetah, leopard, lion, elephants and buffalo are possible. The famous elevated Moremi Tree Lodge is the stunning focal point of this camp and houses the luxurious main lounge, a wildlife reference library, dining room and cocktail bar, all cooled overhead by fans. Camp Moremi accommodates only 22 safari guests in beautifully furnished East African-style tents, each with private adjacent facilities connected to the tent by an enclosed "lethaka" (reeded) courtyard accessed through a rear exit to the tent.ie the bathrooms are not completely en suite but your provacy is ensured. Other lodge facilities include a sundeck, plunge pool, covered boma (reeded dining enclosure) and an elevated game-viewing platform at the water's edge, affording magnificent views over the lagoon - the perfect spot for sundowners after the day's game viewing and activities. The Moremi Wildlife ReserveThe Moremi is protected tribal land, which forms the eastern boundary of the Okavango Delta. It is often described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in Africa. It combines mopane woodland and acacia forests, floodplains and lagoons and this great diversity of plant life attracts the abundance of animal life for which Moremi is so well known. It's particularly is famous for its predators, both of the mammal and feathered variety. Please note that night drives and armed game walks are not permitted here (given it is a National Park) but the superb quality of the game-viewing more than makes up for this. Game activities will be mostly land-based in the Moremi. The area was officially designated as a game reserve in 1965 and now it contains approximately twenty percent of the Okavango Delta within its boundaries. Chief's Island, the largest island in the delta, is located within the Moremi, stretching from the southern Okavango to the permanent waters near Mombo. It is an extension of the mainland and, because it is slightly higher than the general level of the Delta, it never floods. It is home to a vast number of animals who benefit from the Kalahari sandveld habitat with its close proximity to water. The arid interior of the island is covered by mopane woodlands and acacia thorn-scrub interspersed with clay pans. This is where the large resident buffalo herds of the Okavango are often to be found as they prefer to drink from the rain-filled pans and give preference to the sweeter grasses of the sandy areas rather than the coarser grasses of the floodplains. 23 October 2007 After a last morning game activity and breakfast you are transferred back to the airstrip where you are collected by Mack Air Charters and transferred via light aircraft to Maun. At Maun Airport you board the scheduled flight to Johannesburg. On arrival at OR Tambo (Johannesburg) Airport you proceed to the Arrivals Hall. Look out for the representative from the Airport Grand Hotel. They will be holding a name board with AIRPORT GRAND HOTEL WELCOMES and then you surname on it. They will then transfer you via shuttle bus to the hotel for your overnight stay. ***** The Grand Hotel has not been very reliable..if after looking you do not see them, go to the South African Tourism stand in the middle of the airport, call them, and see what’s up ..we will talk about this This afternoon at 16:30 your Avis Group D rental car (VW Jetta 5 or similar, with air-conditioning, power-steering, automatic transmission and CD player) is delivered to your hotel. Airport Grand HotelThe 151 bedroom Airport Grand Hotel is situated a mere five minute drive from the Johannesburg International Airport, offering the leisure traveller and business executive convenient access to the airport for early morning flights. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with bath and separate shower, hairdryers, colour television with MNet, air-conditioning, hairdryers, facilities for the disabled, direct-dialling telephones, digital safes and coffee/tea-making facilities. AvisDepending on your routing, there will be various additional charges, which will be put onto your credit card. We are not able to pre-pay these with Avis. Please see the end of your itinerary for the applicable costs. These may include:· Delivery or Collection Charges · Additional Driver - per rental and per driver· One way free - which varies depending on pick-up and drop-off points· Refundable fuel deposit· Young driver surcharge (if the driver is under 21 years of age)· Cross border fees, if applicable You will also be offered various additional services. These will include: · Avis Fuelcard - You can choose to pre-pay a certain amount onto an Avis Fuelcard. This can be used at any Engen garage to purchase petrol or other goods, as no credit cards are accepted for petrol payments in South Africa. There is a R500 minimum pre-payment. This can be topped up at any Avis rental car office. Any credit on the card at the end of the rental will be automatically re-credited to your credit card.· GPS units - These are available for approx R90 per day (subject to change) and are available in 14 languages.· Cellphones - You can hire a South African cellphone for use in South Africa, or simply a sim card to place in your personal phone. There is a nominal daily charge for the insurance and the phone calls are at standard SA cellphone call rates. Please be aware that if you have an accident or receive a speeding fine, there will be a claim administration fee or a traffic fine handling fee levied on your credit card. Please refer to your Car Rental terms and conditions at the end of this itinerary for further details on possible charges. Johannesburg'E'Goli', as it is called by the locals - the City of Gold. Johannesburg is the pulsating heart of South Africa's industrial and commercial life where, more than a mile below the bustling city traffic, miners still dig for the world's most precious metal. Ever since a fateful day in 1886 when George Harrison, a humble prospector, stumbled upon an outcrop of gold-bearing rock, the region's economy and life have been driven by the rhythm of the mining industry. The effects are inescapable. Walk down the avenues of downtown Johannesburg and you find streets, building and museums that evoke vivid memories of the days of 'gold fever' and the 'Randlords'. Harrison's discovery sparked off a gold rush never experienced before. Prospectors and fortune-seekers descended on the area in search of instant wealth. Makeshift shelters and tents were pitched all over the once tranquil veld. A massive, sprawling, rough and raucous shantytown sprang up overnight. Within three years Johannesburg was the largest town in South Africa. A rudimentary stock exchange was established. Hotels and canteens, brothels and music halls were erected everywhere to satisfy the needs of the boisterous community. Soon, however, mining began to get more costly as they had to dig deeper. The major mining corporations moved in to take control of the industry and swallow up many of the small individual claims. The Randlords emerged on the scene, and soon dominated it. Men like Cecil John Rhodes, Barney Barnato, JB Robinson, Alfred Beit and Julius Wehrner quickly accumulated fortunes and imposed some order on the unruly mining town. Less than five minutes drive from the bustling downtown lie the quiet, elegant suburbs of Houghton and Parktown where they built their opulent mansions. The city is not known for its natural beauty but there is certainly enough here to interest the visitor for a couple of days from its botanical gardens and lakes, its museums, theatres and art galleries and the numerous excursions to Soweto, Lesedi, Pretoria or the Cradle of Humanity at Sterkfontein. Johannesburg is also known for its world-class design in gold and diamond jewellery, ethnic fashion, and arts and crafts. Security in JohannesburgThe downtown city centre is not for casual sight-seeing. If you do want to visit central Johannesburg, we recommend that you take an organised tour or a private guide. This is also the case with Soweto, which is badly signposted and confusing to the casual visitor. Shopping in JohannesburgWe are often asked about shopping in Johannesburg and indeed there are many excellent shops for African Art, jewellery and African artefacts. Much of the Northern Suburbs' shopping is done at large shopping malls, the three main ones being the exclusive Hyde Park, Sandton City and its close neighbour, Sandton Square. A pleasant alternative to the shopping mall is Rosebank suburb that, in addition to its own mall, has many sidewalk cafes for alfresco dining aside craft stalls selling wirework, ceramic pots, soapstone sculptures and jewellery. Usual hours of trading are 0830 to 1700 Monday to Saturday, and 1000 to 1400 or longer on Sunday in the shopping malls. 24 October 2007 This morning you get an early start and drive to Swaziland for your overnight stay at Reilly's Rock Lodge. Directions from Johannesburg Airport to Reilly’s Rock Lodge (±5 hours drive):Take the R24 in the direction of Johannesburg City. After approximately 10km, the R24 joins the N12 in the direction of the city. After another 3km, you follow the signs for N3 South to Johannesburg City and Germiston. Follow signs for Germinston and the N17. Take the N17 highway all the way past Bethal onto Ermelo. Continue through Ermelo along the N17 following the signs for Breyton and Amsterdam. Take the N17 for approximately 120km to the border of Swaziland. You enter Swaziland through the Oshoek border post. Continue along this road all the way to Mbabane. Continue past Mbabane in the direction of the Ezulwini Valley. The main road forks and you take the turn off to the right for the Mlilwane Nature Reserve. From here you follow the signs to Reilly’s Rock Lodge in the Mlilwane Nature Reserve. Reilly’s Rock LodgeReilly's Rock Lodge is the utterly captivating former homestead of conservationist Ted Reilly. Enjoying commanding views of Mlilwane's game-studded plains, its atmosphere is one of complete peace and tranquillity. The colonial homestead has a colourful pioneer history and has been sympathetically restored with great attention to period detail. Accommodation consists of six beautifully furnished bedrooms including a charming cottage with two en suite bedrooms, a sitting room with fireplace and wraparound veranda - ideal for two couples travelling together. Breakfast on the veranda, listening to the sounds of the birds, is a magical experience. SwazilandSwaziland is a beautiful, peaceful and relatively prosperous African country. The Swazis have a well-developed sense of their own culture and are open-minded and friendly in their outlook. It is a small country but with several ecological zones from rain forest in the northwest to savannah grassland in the dry eastern parts. The western edge of the kingdom is heavily forested with deep gorges, lush valleys and fast flowing rivers and waterfalls. From Mbabane, you descend to the grassland plateau containing many tropical fruit farms, where the majority of people live whilst the eastern part is generally less attractive, with sugar plantations interspersed with dry scrubby bushveld and fever trees. The Swazis, mainly descended from Sothos and Nguni tribes, are a proud and independent people - over the centuries they have managed to withstand the Zulus who tried to annex their lands. They sought help from white traders and this was almost their downfall. During the 1880's white pioneers began to arrive in search of gold. King Mbandzeni began to sell land concessions and by the time his son inherited the throne, much of Swaziland was owned by the concessionaires. Sobhuza II began a campaign to regain their land and even today no Swazi owns land. It remains the property of the nation. Many visitors are attracted the beauty of Swaziland's homemade crafts. Cottage industries making pottery, leatherwork, candles and fabrics are still thriving. Popular places to buy crafts are Mbabane's Swazi Market (Miller Street) and Tintsaba crafts at the Highland Inn (Piggs Pigg). In the Ezulwini valley, there are several craft shops such as the Mantegna Craft centre just off the main road. However you will see people selling their crafts along the roadside throughout Swaziland. People are generally very friendly and prices exceptionally reasonable. West and North of MbabaneNgwenya Glass Swaziland, and its sister company 'Shades of Africa' are the only glass making factories in Southern Africa. Swazi glassblowers fashion recycled glass into delicate animal shapes, table glassware, ornaments and souvenirs. The basic glass is gathered mainly by school children who are paid according to weight. You can see the glass blowers at work, visit the shop or enjoy a coffee in the coffee shop upstairs. On the road from Oshoek border post to Mbabane, 5km from the border. Shop open daily 0900 to 1600 though factory is closed at weekends. Royal Ezulwini ValleyThis is the general name for the green and beautiful valley which runs east from Mbabane and which plays host to many of Swaziland's hotels and lodges as well as riding stables and craft stalls. There is now a bypass road that runs from Mbabane to Manzini and you need to turn off this road at the sign for the Ezulwini Valley road. The Valley road eventually returns to the highway. · Mantenga Craft centre - is a rustic collection of craft shops usually selling crafts from rural cooperatives. Open daily from 0800 to 1700· Swazi Cultural Village - the cultural village is a living museum of all things traditional and represents a classical Swazi lifestyle during the mid nineteenth century. Here visitors can see traditional dance and song, arts and crafts, food preparation, dress, hairstyling and marriage ceremonies. Open daily· Mantegna Falls - just a few metres away from the Swazi Cultural Village is Swaziland's largest waterfall, the Mantegna Falls.· Further towards Manzini (another 20km) and on the road to Bhunya is the Malkerns Valley, a beautiful rural area of farms, orchards and forest interspersed with craft workshops. · Baobab Batik is a shop and workshop open to visitors. Continue on the road to Manzini and take the second turn off towards Bunya. Shop open daily 0900 to 1700 but workshop is closed at weekends. · Swazi Candle Factory - for candles shaped like mushrooms, birds and animals. Shop open daily 0800 to 1630 but workshop is closed at weekends. General Information· The speed limit is lower in Swaziland (80/km per hour) so please allow more travelling time in Swaziland. This is partly due to the increased likelihood of encountering farm animals, goats and cows along the sides of the roads.· The Swazi currency is Emalangeni (E), which is equivalent to a South African Rand. Though strictly speaking Rands are not official currency in Swaziland you will find that nearly all shops, hotels and craft stalls accept them. However you will usually be given your chance in Swazi currency, though you can ask to have your change in Rands. The Emalangeni is not accepted in South Africa. · Border posts are not open 24 hours a day. Oshoek/Ngwenya (west) - open 0700 to 2200 - try to avoid Friday evening/early Saturday or Sunday afternoon as many Swazis living in South Africa use this border post to travel home at the weekends and there can be long queues. Jeppes Reef/Matsamo (north) is open 0700 to 2000. Bulembu (north) is open 0800 to 1600. Nerston/Sanlane (west) is open 0800 to 1800. Golela/Lavumisa (south) is open 0700 to 2200. There is a small road toll levy payable when you enter the country. 25 October 2007 After breakfast you get and early start and drive to St Lucia and onto Kingfisher Lodge for your overnight stay. Directions from Reilly's Rock Lodge to Kingfisher Lodge (±5 hours drive):Return to the main road and turn right to drive to Manzini, the industrial capital of Swaziland. After Manzini the road forks and you take the road to Siphofaneni and Big Bend. This road leads you down to the Swaziland-South African border post at Lavumisa. Once back in South Africa, you join the main N2 highway and turn left to go south for approximately 97km to Hluhluwe. Continue along the N2 highway past Hluhluwe for approximately 50km to Mtubatuba. Take the R618 turn off on the left towards Mtubatuba and St Lucia. Travel for approximately 25km until you enter the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park via the Bridge. Pass over the bridge linking the town to the Mainland. Keep a watchful eye for hippopotamus - especially when driving at night. Pass through the Security Gate and turn right into McKenzie Road. Now please drive all the way down McKenzie Road, yes, all the way down right into the forest area, which becomes a cul-de-sac - the Kingfisher Lodge is the Last Establishment on the Right Hand Side and is clearly signposted for your convenience. Kingfisher Lodge This attractive homestead, privately owned by the Pugniet family, is situated on the banks of the St Lucia Estuary in the heart of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park - a proclaimed World Heritage Site. Kingfisher Lodge is surrounded by lush tropical gardens and woodlands. The lodge lies on the edge of the town of St Lucia, close enough to enjoy all the facilities of the town, its beaches and its excursions but also pleasantly away from the holiday hustle and bustle. The lodge has seven air-conditioned en suite bedrooms, each with private patios, which lead into the lush tropical gardens. The homestead is attractively furnished in a relaxed, comfortable style with some African artifacts (but certainly not overdone). From the main terrace, where you can have breakfast, the garden slopes down towards the estuary with lovely views. From the garden, you may be lucky enough to see some of the many birds of the area, some small antelope and even some hippo in the water. There's a small swimming pool. St Lucia LakeTurn off at Mtubatuba onto the R618 and drive to St. Lucia Park. The 19th century hunter John Dunn once boasted of a morning's sport shooting 23 hippo in Lake St Lucia before 10 'o clock - a bag that helped his season's tally to 203. Many years later, during the Second World War, Catalina flying boats using the lake as a base for anti-submarine patrols used to 'clear their guns' by shooting up crocodiles basking on sandbanks near the mouth of the Mkuze River. Today, gunfire is a sound of the past; St Lucia is a quiet haven for the nature-lover, birdwatcher, angler and hiker. St Lucia is South Africa's primary wetland complex. It is a mix of lake, lagoon, pan, marshland, papyrus swamp, sand forest and grassland. The wetlands are separated from the tropical coastline by a strip of coastal dunes, which tower 120 metres above the beaches. The centre of the system is St Lucia Lake, a shallow 36,000-hectare lake that averages only one metre in depth. It is home to an estimated 1500 crocodile and 700 hippos, great flocks of pelicans and flamingos as well as many other water birds. The park is divided into several smaller parks each with its own entrance. The variety of birds at Lake St Lucia is astounding, and the complex is justifiably world famous as an area to see spectacular bird life. To date more than 520 species of bird have been recorded - one third of them inhabiting the mud flats, reeds and swamp around the water. Almost half of all the birds recorded in South Africa have been seen at St Lucia. Please Note: The crocodiles are the reason why all paddling and swimming in the lake is banned. You can experience these unique waterways and its residents aboard an 80-seater boat. The cost is R70 per person for a two-hour trip. Departures are at 0900, 1200, 1500 and 1600. Contact Born Free on (035) 5901174. Alternatively you can go on a three-hour trip on a 15-seater ski boat with Shakabarker Tours. Contact them on (035) 5901162.
26 October 2007 Today you drive to the Central Drakensberg region for your two night stay at Cathedral Peak Hotel. Directions from St Lucia to Cathedral Peak Hotel (±6 – 6½ hours drive):Return to the N2 highway, approximately 28km, and turn left and drive onto Empangeni, approximately 50km. At Empangeni you turn right onto the R34 and drive for 46km to Nkwalini where you turn right onto the R66 and drive for another 27km to Melmoth. At Melmoth you turn left onto the R68 and drive for approximately 60km to Babanango. Continue along the R68 through Nquetu onto Dundee. At Dundee we strongly recommend that you visit the fascinating Talana Museum on the outskirts of Dundee, which commemorates the first battle of the Anglo-Boer War, the Battle of Talana on the 20th October 1899, when 4,500 British troops arrived in Dundee to defend the town and its important coalmines. The museum also traces the history of the area from the early San people, the rise of the Zulu Nation in the 19th century, the extermination of the cannibal tribes of Biggarsberg and finally the Anglo-Boer war. There is a teashop and restaurant situated 2km outside Dundee on the R33 to Vryheid. Open Monday to Friday 0800 to 1600, Saturday 1000 to 1600, Sunday 1200 to 1600. Directions continue… From Dundee you travel to Glencoe and then south on the R602 to Elandslaagte where you join the N11 highway. Turn left here and travel through Ladysmith. Ladysmith and the Anglo-Boer WarThis region has many Anglo-Boer war battle sites. At Elandslaagte, the British and Boers clashed on 22nd October 1899 during a severe storm. The British were forced to retreat to Ladysmith where, on the 2nd November, General Piet Joubert laid siege to the British-held town with its 12,000 British troops for 118 days. Ladysmith became famous throughout the world during this period. 20,000 people were trapped as the Boers shelled the town with their Long Tom siege guns. The town’s food supplies steadily dwindled with the townspeople slaughtering starving horses by the end and 28 people dying of starvation and disease each day. The Ladysmith Siege Museum brings the siege to life with photos, electronic mapping and artefacts. Located in Murchison Street, next to the Town Hall. Open Monday to Friday 0800 to 1600, Saturday 1000 to 1200. Much of the early part of the Anglo-Boer war revolved around incompetent attempts by the British Generals, in particular Sir Redvers Buller, to break the Boers’ attack. One such attempt was the Battle of Spioenkop, some 35km south west of Ladysmith en route to Winterton, This was a bloody battle between the Boers and the British and countless graves and memorials are scattered over this mountain’s summit as a grim reminder of the carnage. Still the siege continued. (Spioenkop is now a Nature Reserve off the R600). Open daily 0600 to 1800. Further attempts at Vaalkrans, and Colenso merely resulted in heavy British losses. Finally sheer British numbers defeated the Boers at the Battle of the Tugela Heights and the siege was ended. Directions continue… Continue on the N11 and after another 14km you turn left again onto the R600 to travel to Winterton. At Winterton you turn right at the signpost for the Central Drakensberg (R600) and shortly afterwards you turn right again onto the road for Cathedral Peak. Keep following the signs for Cathedral Peak all the way up to the National Park and follow signs for the hotel. Cathedral Peak HotelCathedral Peak is a classic mountain resort hotel within the World Heritage Site, with stunning panoramic views. The 94 comfortable en suite rooms comprising thatched rondavels, spacious deluxe family rooms and honeymoon suites each have TV and telephone. Unmatched sporting facilities include a heated pool, children's paddling pool, tennis, squash, gym and beauty therapist, 9 hole golf course, horse riding, trout fishing, bowls, 10 metre climbing tower, children's playground and famed daily guided mountain walks. Scenic helicopter flights offer a unique opportunity to view the breathtaking Drakensberg from the air. Ideal for walkers, birders, weddings and families (with trampoline, animal farm and many easy trails available). The DrakensbergThe Drakensberg, also known as the 'Berg' by the locals, is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, reaching 3,482 metres (11,600 feet) at its highest peak in Lesotho. To the Zulu's they are the uKhalamba - the Barrier of Spears, a most apt description as they form a wall of basalt, which effectively acts as a fortress to the mountain kingdom of Lesotho behind. From the northern point of the range, it continues north into Mpumalanga to form the Drakensberg escarpment area, which is less mountainous and more a series of cliffs and canyons. The main pleasure of the mountains is the glorious walking that they offer. If you are staying at one of the traditional mountain hotels, they offer daily walks with the hotel guide. These walks area usually varied with gentle walks on some days and full day hikes offered on others. Note: Temperatures in these high mountains can plummet very quickly. Any walkers should be as prepared as they would be walking in Europe. Rain and the Natal DrakensbergLike many mountain areas, the Natal Drakensberg has a high rainfall. This is very much summer rainfall with virtually no rain from the end of April until October. In summer spectacular thunderstorms are not uncommon. They start to build up around midday and 2pm bring lightning and thunder and driving rain. Then it ends suddenly and by sunset the sky is clear and the air is refreshingly cool. In contrast, the cold dry weather in winter brings heavy frosts, which kills the grass and turns the mountains brown within a few weeks. If you are visiting the Drakensberg during the summer rainy season, please be careful on all gravel roads. After rains try to avoid gravel roads as much as possible as they become very muddy and slippery when wet. Central Drakensberg - Cathedral Peak and Monk's CowlThe R600 from Winterton leads up to Monks Cowl Natal Parks. From here you can enjoy a one-hour walk to Sterkspruit falls or a 3½ hike to the Little Berg past the Sphinx and the Breakfast falls. The park open 0500 to 1900 from October to March and 0600 to 1800 from April to September. En route to Monk's Cowl on the R600, you pass the Ardmore Ceramic Studio and Tea garden. This farm is now a studio for more than 40 Zulu and Sotho artists mainly working in clay. Highly recommended. Contact them on (036) 4681314 for opening times. Another recommended visit is to the superb and deservedly famous Drakensberg Boys' Choir. Their weekly performances are on Wednesdays at 16:00 and sometimes on Saturdays. Bookings are essential on (036) 4681012 If you turn right off the R600 you come to the Cathedral Peak Natal Park. The hotel acts as the information centre for this part of the 'berg' with an excellent booklet outlining the various walks and their difficulty. A sense model of the area in the lobby also gives the walker an idea of what lies ahead. Just a couple of kilometres before you get to the hotel, you may like to visit the San Art Centre at Didima. This centre showcases the history, culture and mythology of the San people through displays and an excellent audio-visual presentation. It is open from 8am to 4pm closing for lunch between 1 and 2pm. The guided tour would take 1 hour, the San stories approx 10 minutes and 15mins for the multimedia presentation. The Royal Natal National ParkThe famous amphitheatre, an 8km stretch of cliff-like mountains some 1 400 metres high is to be found in the northern section of the Drakensberg. The main peak is called Mont-aux-Sources because five of the country's major river systems, including the Tugela and Elands, have their source here. The mighty Tugela River cascades 850 metres over the edge forming the Tugela Falls. A booklet 'Royal Natal National Park' gives descriptions of walks and a sketch-map. It also provides a good 1:20,000 map for walking. The most popular hike is a six-hour walk up the Tugela Gorge, which involves crossing/fording the river a number of times before emerging into the Amphitheatre. There are also some San rock paintings but they are less extensive than in the Giant's Castle National Park. (See below). The Parks visitor centre is 1km from the main gate. Park open 0500 to 1900 from October to March and 0600 to 1800 from April to September. If you are staying in this area, you may also enjoy the scenic drive around to the top of the escarpment with stunning views over the landscape. Take the R74 north for 36km until it joins the R712 at a T-junction. Turn left and travel 33km until you come to another turnoff to the left to Witsiehoek. Turn left here and travel up the Sentinel pass (1 in 7) with several viewpoints en route. Fit and experience hikers can enjoy some spectacular walks from the end of the road. The other main attraction of the area is the extensive collection of San rock art still to be viewed in some of the mountain caves particularly at the Giants Castle and Kamberg Nature Reserves. Southern Drakensberg - Giants Castle and Kamberg Further south is another spectacular area for scenery, walking and San rock paintings - Giants Castle Game Reserve. It has a particularly good plant life with many of the Drakensberg's 800 flower species found here. There are also 12 species of antelope in the reserve together with baboons, hyraxes and jackals. It is considered to be one of the best places to see raptors such as the Cape vulture, the Lanner falcon, the snake eagle and the bearded vulture. As with the Royal Natal National Park, there is a reserve booklet, which details walks with basic maps of the trails. Horse riding is also possible except during July and August due to the possibility of bad weather. However one of the main attractions of the park is a visit to one of the 50 odd San painting sites. It is thought that some San people still lived here at the beginning of this century. The Main Caves are one of the finest collections of San art in the Drakensberg on two huge rock overhangs, which often formed the San's favoured painting sites. The cave is an easy 30 minute walk from the restcamp and guided tours take place from 9am to 3pm daily for a small fee. The camp also has a restaurant and pub for lunches and dinners. Park open 0500 to 1900 from October to March and 0600 to 1800 from April to September. The nearby Kamberg Park is close to Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse and also offers a number of beautiful hikes. One of these is a guided 3 hour hike (there and back) to Game Pass Shelter, which has a beautiful collection of San rock art. The walk departs at 8.30am, 11am and 1.30pm. Bookings can be made by phoning 033 263 7251. There is also a Rock Art Interpretation centre here with a short 20 minute video on the San people, and a small restaurant and shop. 28 October 2007 Today you drive to the Durban Airport where you drop your rental car and board the domestic flight to Port Elizabeth. On arrival at Port Elizabeth you proceed to the arrivals hall. You collect your Group D rental car (VW Jetta 5 or similar, with air-conditioning, power-steering, automatic transmission and CD player) from the Avis rental kiosk and drive to Admiralty Beach House for your overnight stay. AvisDepending on your routing, there will be various additional charges, which will be put onto your credit card. We are not able to pre-pay these with Avis. Please see the end of your itinerary for the applicable costs. These may include:· Delivery or Collection Charges · Additional Driver - per rental and per driver· One way free - which varies depending on pick-up and drop-off points· Refundable fuel deposit· Young driver surcharge (if the driver is under 21 years of age)· Cross border fees, if applicable You will also be offered various additional services. These will include: · Avis Fuelcard - You can choose to pre-pay a certain amount onto an Avis Fuelcard. This can be used at any Engen garage to purchase petrol or other goods, as no credit cards are accepted for petrol payments in South Africa. There is a R500 minimum pre-payment. This can be topped up at any Avis rental car office. Any credit on the card at the end of the rental will be automatically re-credited to your credit card.· GPS units - These are available for approx R90 per day (subject to change) and are available in 14 languages.· Cellphones - You can hire a South African cellphone for use in South Africa, or simply a sim card to place in your personal phone. There is a nominal daily charge for the insurance and the phone calls are at standard SA cellphone call rates. Please be aware that if you have an accident or receive a speeding fine, there will be a claim administration fee or a traffic fine handling fee levied on your credit card. Please refer to your Car Rental terms and conditions at the end of this itinerary for further details on possible charges. Directions from the Port Elizabeth Airport to Admiralty Beach House:As you exit the Airport ground you turn right into Allister Miller Road. Alister Miller becomes La Roche Drive. Turn right into Strandfontein Road and drive until you reach a traffic circle. The road will branch off to the left into Admiralty Way. Look out for Admiralty Beach House, number 9, on your left hand side. Admiralty Beach House The Admiralty Beach House is situated on the beachfront in Summerstrand and offers choice modern accommodation - bed & breakfast and self-catering at affordable rates. Seven unique, luxury units all have full bathrooms, separate entrances, private patios and balconies and some have sea views. All have satellite TV, fridge and tea & coffee trays. Buffet breakfasts are a real treat, served on the pool patio in a secluded English country garden. The guest house has and art gallery specialising in works of top Eastern Cape artists. Candlelit dinners, light lunches and picnic baskets are available. Port ElizabethThe Eastern Cape stretches from Cape St Francis to the Wild Coast. Undulating rolling pastures, bushveld and forested dunes backs its attractive white beaches. However, this gentle beauty belies both the region's bloody history and the drama of its interior, with the grand vistas and majesty of the Great Karoo and superb malaria-free game reserves. British and Irish settlers came in the early 19th century to try to shore up the frontier with the Xhosa people. The gateway to the region is Port Elizabeth, which offers lovely sandy beaches, fascinating cultural tours to the informal settlements and the wonderful links golf course at Humewood. It was founded in 1820, on the site of the British Fort Frederick (1799), just south of the Dutch military town of Uitenhage, to receive the 5000 English settlers sent out to populate the country between Algoa Bay and the Fish River. Port Elizabeth was named by Sir Rufane Donkin, (the acting Cape Governor sent to welcome the 1820 settlers), after his wife, who had died in India. Port Elizabeth did not begin its transition to a major port city until the late 19th century, when farming in the frontier region became sufficiently established to create a regular supply of meat, maize and wool for export to Cape Town and beyond. In particular Angora wool (still a mainstay of the eastern Karoo farmers) helped to establish the town's fortune. In 1920, Port Elizabeth entered big-time commerce when Ford Motors opened a plant there. Today's population is around 800,000. Port Elizabeth marks the coastal transition point between the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape. The third-largest port in South Africa, Port Elizabeth is perhaps one of the country's less attractive towns. Except for a small collection of period buildings in the very centre of town, the town planners have allowed car assembly plants, freeways directly in front of the ocean and ugly concrete buildings to spoil the natural beauty of the bay. Possible sights to visit include:· Port Elizabeth has four beaches with the safest swimming at Kings Beach (where mini-golf, cafes, restaurants and a water-slide are also available). Humewood Beach is popular with swimmers and bodysurfers whilst Hobie beach and Pollock beach are rougher and more suitable for surfing and windsurfing.· Amble along the 5 km Donkin Heritage Trail, which links 47 places of historical interest in the old Hill area of Port Elizabeth (Donkin Heritage Trail booklet sold at Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism's Donkin Information Office).· Port Elizabeth Museum, at Humewood Beach, presents a history of the town and the 1820 Settlers, and has a maritime hall dedicated to shipwrecks and their treasures. There is also a fascinating section on the Xhosa people. Open daily 0900 to 1700. · The Oceanarium next to the museum building at Humewood Beach is part of the same complex, but requires a separate ticket. Trained dolphins, seals and penguins are the main attraction, but there are also sharks, turtles and most local fish in the aquarium. Open daily 0900 to 1700; dolphin shows at 1100 and 1500.· The Snake Park and Tropical House also require a separate ticket. The Snake Park has poisonous snake-handling shows and on view are crocodiles, giant tortoises and other reptiles. Open daily 0900 to 1700.· Happy Valley, along the Beachfront road is a strange piece of high kitsch, and worth visiting, especially in the evening. A sandy underpass connects Humewood Beach and happy Valley. This pleasure garden of lawns, streams, lily ponds and small waterfalls was designed in the 1950's as a kind of family theme park · For cultural tours or Addo Elephant Park tours contact Calabash Tours on 041 585 6162.· Discover the marine life of Algoa Bay in the company of Ocean Safaris, one of South Africa's finest whale and dolphin watching companies. For bookings and info contact them on 072 490 7842. 29 October 2007 Today you drive through the Tsitsikamma region onto the Garden Route and onto Knysna for your two night stay at Falcon’s View Manor. En-route you stop over at the village of Stormsriver where you are booked for a Tree Tops Canopy Tour. Directions from Port Elizabeth to Stormsriver Adventures (±2 hours drive):Return along Strandfontein Road to the junction with La Roche Drive (M11). Turn left onto La Roche Drive, which later becomes Allister Miller Drive. Travel over the level crossing (railway line) until the next traffic light at the junction with the M9. Turn left onto M9 (Heugh Road) and continue along this route for approx 7km. Turn left into the William Moffett Expressway. Continue along this highway (which doesn't appear like a highway as it has many traffic lights) for approx 6km. It becomes Disa Avenue. Continue straight until you see signs for the N2 highway. Turn left onto the N2 highway and stay on the N2 all the way to the Garden Route. Approximately 220km from Port Elizabeth you turn left off the N2 highway and drive to the village of Stormsriver. Follow the signs for Stormsriver Adventures. Tree Tops Canopy TourEnjoy the unequalled beauty of the indigenous Tsitsikamma forest from high up on ten treetop platforms. Gently glide along in a harness on steel cables 30 metres above the forest floor. Birdlife is abundant (including the Knysna Loerie and elusive Narina Trogan) and your guides will explain the ecology of the lush primeval forest. Safety is paramount and the system has been built to the highest civil engineering standards. The tour takes between 2½ and 3 hours and is suitable for all ages from 7 to 70. Directions from Stormsriver to Falcon’s View Manor (±1½ hours drive):Return to the N2 highway and drive through the Tsitsikamma and past Plettenberg Bay onto Knysna. You head into the centre of the town on the Main Road and look out for the sign for Falcon's View Manor. Turn right into Gray Street and then right into Fitchat Street. Turn left again into Voortrekker road. Cross over Hill Street into Thesen Road. Falcon's View Manor is situated on your right hand side. Falcon’s View ManorThe elegant Falcons View Manor has a gorgeous hillside setting, with spectacular views of the Knysna Heads and Knysna Lagoon and yet only minutes away from beaches, galleries and restaurants. The Victorian homestead, with its polished wood floors and high ceilings has a wraparound veranda with views of the lagoon - the ideal spot for relaxing with a book or a drink or both! The original ambience has been enhanced with select use of modern furnishings and colours. The 9 air-conditioned bedrooms are well appointed with locally crafted furniture, fine linen, extra-length beds and telephone, television, tea and coffee facilities, (as well as minibar in the garden rooms). Bathrooms are also now very modern in feel. The standard and superior rooms are in the main Victorian homestead and differ in size and views, the superior rooms having the lagoon views. The 3 garden rooms are luxuriously appointed and furnished with a private terrace leading onto the garden. There's a large swimming pool in the well-established gardens which are backed by woodland. The Chefs Table is a small restaurant serving light gourmet food. Only the freshest local ingredients are used and the menu includes one fish dish per day. The Garden RouteThe Garden Route thoroughly deserves its reputation for enchanting beauty. The 'Garden' refers not to cultivated gardens, but to its captivating, Edenesque qualities with indigenous forests of tall yellowwoods and milkwoods covering the slopes of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains. This region, between Mossel Bay and the Storms River, offers a spectacular coastline of dramatic headlands giving way to white sandy beaches. Behind the sand dunes lie placid lagoons and lakes, with a hinterland of soaring mountains, covered by indigenous rainforest, magnificent twisting passes, waterfalls and wooded ravines. The Garden Route area is perfect both for those wanting to relax in a beautiful area and for those wishing to be more active. There are walking and hiking trails by the lakes, along the coast and in the mountains. Adrenalin-junkies are spoilt for choice with bungee jumping, bridge swinging, blackwater tubing, abseiling and cage diving amongst Great White sharks. Horse-riding, canoeing, mountain biking and excellent golfing are readily arranged. The Tsitsikamma Region This superb area of primeval forest and wild coastline is incredibly beautiful. We recommend that you take a circular drive. First take the N2 toll road which crosses three superb bridges. These span the deep gorges which cut the Tsitsikamma mountains. There are viewpoints at the side of the bridges for photographs. Then you can visit the Tsitsikamma Coastal Park (see below). On your way back, take the R102 old road down into the indigenous forest and follow the Bloukrans river underneath the spectacular Bloukrans Bridge. Then the road rises up again to intersect the N2 before diving back down again to the village of Natures Valley with its lovely beach. From Nature's Valley, the road winds up through the forest to rejoin the N2 highway shortly before the hamlet of The Crags. The Tsitsikamma Coastal Park - stretches for roughly 75km along the southern Cape coast. It comprises a wild, unspoilt and rugged belt of land, much of it blanketed in dense indigenous forest, and fragmented by winding river valleys. The forests are noted for their fine yellowwoods, stinkwoods and many impressive ironwoods. Both the Knysna Loerie and the relatively rare Narina Trogon may be seen. There are numerous walks and trails through the park. We recommend the short boardwalk to the mouth of the Storms River (1km each way). A longer walk (5km) is the Waterfall Trail, along the first section of the famous Otter Trail. Full details are available at the information office. There is a restaurant here and a curio shop. Monkeyland - is especially recommended for families but is enjoyable for all as you see many rare monkey species from the majestic Black lemurs of Madagascar to delightful Squirrel Monkeys, all in an open forest environment. From Plettenberg Bay, travel 16 km east and take the signpost for Kurland Village/Forest Hall (just before the Natures Valley turnoff). Open from 0800 to 1800 daily. Tours are approx every half hour. Tel (044) 5348906. Storms River Village - Storms River Village is the hub of adventure tours in the Tsitsikamma, and here you can choose from many options ranging from laid-back and lazy to extreme and exciting. Stormsriver Adventures is a professional adventure company based here. Tel (042) 2811836 Plettenberg BayPlettenberg bay is a resort town with a stunning location overlooking the beautiful Walker Bay. The Portuguese called it Bahia Formosa (Beautiful bay) when they first saw it in 1497. It's known for its superb beaches, watersports and the spectacular Robberg Nature Reserve. · Visit Robberg Nature Reserve on the peninsula, which offers wonderful walking trails along the cliff tops amongst superb fynbos vegetation. We recommend the short walk to the Gap - this is an easy walk taking 30 to 40 minutes there and back and affords wonderful views of the bay. The more energetic can walk down to the beach for paddling/swimming. There are two longer walks of approximately 2 hours and 4-5 hours however the longest walk is not recommended for children as there are some very narrow ledges in parts. Open daily from 0700 to 1700 and 2000 in Dec and Jan.· Whale watching - From the beaches, you may be lucky to see the Southern Right Whale which comes right into the bay to calf from July to November. Once hunted because of their high oil content, these magnificent giants are still endangered but their annual population in the bay is increasing by over 5% each year. Ocean Blue Adventures offers excellent boat-based whale watching. The boat trip lasts about 1½ hours and circles Plettenberg Bay and around to Robberg Nature Reserve. Dolphins and seals are also often spotted on these trips. The adventure starts in Plettenberg Bay with an exciting beach launch and then heads east past the bird sanctuary and Keurbooms beach to Arch Rock. Cruising back along the inside of Robberg, you see the unique geology from this unusual viewpoint and can observe the growing Cape Fur Seal Colony. Finally you head back along the Robberg beach, while a brief rundown on the history of the area is given. Please remember to take something for sickness if you are prone to seasickness, and something warm to wear if it is a cool day and sunblock if it is warm! Departures vary according to season so book beforehand on (044) 5335088 or 083 701 3583. Tours vary from 1½ to 2½ hours.· African Ramble flights offer a variety of scenic small plane flights over Plettenberg Bay and along the coast. Contact them on (044) 5339006 or 083 3756514.· Keurbooms River Ferries run a beautiful and tranquil 5 km boat cruise up the Keurbooms River giving you a chance to see the unspoilt natural vegetation. There are three cruises a day, at 1100, 1400 and 1700 (sundown). The trip includes an optional 30 minute stroll through the indigenous forest, (alternatively you can relax on the private beach up river), and takes about 2½ hours in total. Highly recommended. Booking is essential on (044) 5327876. Small motorboats, canoes and pedal boats are also available for hire.· Enjoy a 30-minute walk in the Garden of Eden, just off the N2 highway between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna. This boardwalk is suitable for young and old and is a wonderful introduction to the indigenous forest of the Garden Route with informative displays en route. Open daily sunrise to sunset.· Old Nick Village is a creative shopping destination. Housed in a historical Cape settlement surrounded by a magical overgrown garden, an eclectic mix of quality craft and sophisticated fine art is presented. The licensed restaurant, the weaving museum, new feature garden and artists/crafters working in their galleries and studios, make this a memorable visit. Open daily 0900 to 1700.· The Buffalo Hills Game Farm, situated 15 km from Plettenberg Bay, offers early morning and afternoon game drives and game walks to see rhino, leopard, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and kudu, and more than 150 species of birds in this unique malaria-free game farm. The game drive can be combined with breakfast, lunch or dinner. Distillery tours and tastings of mampoer (a double-distilled liquer) are a part of every Buffalo Hills game drive. Bookings are essential on (044) 535 9739. KnysnaKnysna is an attractive little town on the edge of the glorious Knysna lagoon, backed by the magical Knysna forest with its great yellowwood trees and massive ferns some 3 metres high The sea approach to Knysna through the Heads was so hazardous in the 19th century that Knysna never developed as a major port for the region and it was only in the 20th century that it has grown as a resort town. Indeed at the height of the season it can be too busy but at other times it is a charming town full of restaurants, coffee shops, arts and craft shops and galleries.· Drive up to the Heads, two sandstone buttressed cliffs at the mouth of the lagoon. We recommend that you first drive via George Rex Drive to the summit of the heads for a lovely view of the town, the lagoon and the ocean. Then retrace your steps to the mini-roundabout and take the road to the base of the Heads. Here you could have lunch overlooking the lagoon entrance. There is also a small beach here at low tide, which offers delightful bathing. There is a pleasant wooden chalet for changing with clean showers and toilets.· Take a boat cruise on the Knysna Lagoon. You can choose between 1½ hour and longer trips. The John Benn ferry departs at lunchtime and for sundowner cruises. Light meals, oysters and drinks are all available on the boat. Departs at 1230 and 1800 in summer (1700 in winter). Extra departures in high season. Booking is essential on (044) 3821693. Knysna Waterfront Ferries also provide boat cruises on the lagoon, departing every two hours from 1100, as well as sailing through the Heads out to sea on a catamaran (weather permitting). Particularly special is their champagne and oysters sunset cruise. Booking is essential on (044) 3825520. · You can also take the Featherbed ferry across the lagoon to visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve. From the ferry, you are taken by 4x4 up to the top of the reserve and from there you enjoy a 2.2km guided walk down to the lagoon through the reserve. The endangered Knysna Seahorse, an unusual fish that's found only in Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Sedgefield, can be viewed here. Refreshments are available at the reserve's restaurant. Daily at 1000 (4 hour excursion) and also 0900, 1115 and 1230 depending on demand. Booking is essential on (044) 3821693. · Shopping at the many art and craft shops or the factory shops. Over 150 artists and craftspeople live in Knysna. See their wares at Bitou Craft (Knysna Quays), De Ou Fabriek (Main street) and Woodmill Lane amongst others. See the Arts and Crafts Map for specific suggestions such as the Jack Lugg Art Gallery on Queen Street, African Attitude and Zawadi both on Main Road, or Feathers Gallery also on Main Street.· Enjoy lunch at Knysna Quays, Knysna's waterfront with restaurants, curio shops, and marina and lovely views of the lagoon.· Visit the Oyster farm, which has 13ha of the lagoon as its aqua farm. The farm is one of the largest single producers of oysters in the world and packs 300 tons each year. You can taste the oysters and buy some oysters to eat later, and you also learn about the farming process. Open from 0900 to 2200 daily. Contact them on (044) 3826941. · Visit Millwood House on Queen Street, one of the original houses from Millwood gold mining village that was re-erected in Knysna. It houses a collection of unique old photographs of Millwood and Knysna. Open Weekdays 0930 -1230 and 1330 - 1630 and Saturdays 0930 - 1300.· Visit the Old Gaol Complex, built to house convicts, and now houses the Knysna Art Gallery and the Maritime Museum.· Explore the Knysna forest by car (see Suggested Drives below). The felling of the indigenous forest was largely responsible for the decline in numbers of the famous Knysna elephants from 500 elephants in the 1870's to extinction now. (The last remaining elephant was translocated to Shamwari recently).· Visit the Knysna Township and discover African hospitality. You may visit a sangoma, learn a little bit of African history, visit a shebeen, sample some local African beer, visit a local pre-school community project and learn about the impact of the Government housing project. No aspect of the tour is pre-staged so all events are of a spontaneous nature. The tour also involves a 4km off road walk through some spectacular scenery. Booking is essential via The Adventure Centre. Contact them on 083 2698501.· In the centre of Knysna, within a two-minute walk of the Main Street, the 10 hectare Pledge Nature Reserve was developed by the Knysna community. All alien trees were removed and natural fynbos allowed to regenerate. Walk along well defined paths - many of the trees have been marked - or just sit and relax at the pools. Good restaurants in KnysnaWe have given below some of the well-established restaurants. We have also tried to indicate their style of cuisine and whether they are offer fine dining (smart/formal) or more casual. Most hotels and guest houses also recommend good restaurants in their area as well. · Phantom Forest (traditional, fine dining) - Phantom Pass Road, Knysna, 044 386 0046· The Dry Dock Food Company (cosmopolitan & seafood) - Knysna Quays 044 382 7310· 34° South (casual dining) - Knysna Quays 044 382 7331· JJ's Restaurant (casual dining) - Knysna Quays 044 382 3359· La Loerie (informal, popular), Main Street 044 382 1616 · Harry B's (seafood & steaks), Main Street 044 382 5065· Paquitas (family restaurant, popular with locals), Knysna Heads 044 384 0408 WildernessThis quiet village with a gorgeous beach is a nature lover's paradise known for its lakes, placid lagoon and lush indigenous forest. Enjoy a lovely peaceful walk around the lake shore on the boardwalk or stroll along the beach. (The beach is not safe for swimming due to strong undercurrents.) Explore some of the back roads around Wilderness where you can visit the "Map of Africa" deep in the forest. The Wilderness National Park, covers much of the surrounding country and is a wetland paradise for over 230 different bird species. Five different species of kingfisher occur here. Its rivers, lakes and estuaries are also home to the Knysna Loerie, Tauraco corythaix and the elusive Bos-Loerie. Various nature trails traverse the lakes, the beach and the indigenous forest such as the 10km Pied Kingfisher trail. The boardwalk along the Touw river is very good for bird-watching whilst there are also a couple of hides in the park itself. Open daily 0800 to 1700. George This pleasant town, named after George III of England, lies on the coastal plateau below the Outeniqua Mountains, and is the principal town of the Garden Route, a bustling business and farming community, producing vegetables distributed throughout the country, hops for the brewing industry, and dairy products. Initially forestry was its prime industry, but exploitation of the extensive indigenous forest became so rife that in 1936 the government declared a 200-year ban on the felling of indigenous trees. Today large plantations of exotic tree species exist and forestry is still the backbone of the area's economy. Fortunately large tracts of indigenous forest have been saved. · The George Museum is most interesting for its forestry theme and also its collection of memorabilia associated with PW Botha, one of the former Nationalist Presidents during the Apartheid era. · Take the Outeniqua Steam Train (Choo-Tjoe) from George to Hartenbos and/or vice versa. This is the last scheduled steam train service in South Africa. We can arrange for you to be picked up from George or Hartenbos and driven back to your starting point. Booking recommended in high season. Call (044) 801 8288/9. Departs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Departs from George at 10:00 arriving in Hartenbos at 11:40 and departs Hartenbos at 13:00 arriving in George at 14:30. This could be combined with a day visit to Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, contact Chrizelle or Liné (044) 696 6055 for more information. Provisionally the George to Knysna and/or vice versa line is closed until further notice due to the unsafe conditions below the "slip" at Kaaimanspass. · The Outeniqua Transport Museum is open every day and preserves many items of South African railway memorabilia.· The Outeniqua Power Van is a motorised trolley, which offers trips deep into the Outeniqua Mountains from where the most scenic view of the Garden Route can be experienced. Departs from Outeniqua Transport Museum· Experience traditional Xhosa craft and culture at the Khulani Xhosa village. Enjoy a cup of Xhosa beer and bread while feeling the rhythm of Africa through singing, dancing, story telling and traditional rituals. Tel: (044) 880 2250· Botlierskop Game Farm is situated just off the N2 approximately 30 mins drive from George. It is blessed with a great diversity of habitat and wildlife. Visitors have a good chance of close encounters with rhinos, lions, buffalo, giraffe, rare black impala and many more, in an exhilarating 3-hour guided game drive. This unique 4x4 game viewing drive in an open vehicle is a stimulating mix of bush craft and game viewing. Traditional African dinners are served in an elegant thatched roof and volcanic rock restaurant. Tel (044) 696 6055.· The Garden Route Botanical Garden at the top of Caledon Street offers year-round opportunities to view the local flora. 31 October 2007 After breakfast you drive to the Little Karoo and onto the Oudtshoorn area for your overnight stay. Directions from Knysna to La Plume Guest House (±1½ hours drive):Return to the N2 highway and drive past Sedgefield and Wilderness onto George. At George you follow the signs for the N9 which takes you through the town. Continue over the magnificent Outeniqua Mountain Pass and then turn off the N9 highway onto the N12 highway to Oudtshoorn. When you get into the centre of Oudtshoorn you turn left at the main four way stop at the signs for the R62 to Calitzdorp. Approximately 6 km from Oudtshoorn you will see the turnoff for Volmoed on your left. Take this turnoff and continue until you reach Volmoed where you will see the sign for La Plume on your left. Turn left and you will see La Plume immediately on your right. La Plume Guest House La Plume Guest Farm near Oudtshoorn is a working ostrich farm with peaceful views over the Olifants river valley to the Swarberg mountains. The attention to detail really sets La Plume apart: pretty cushions on the outdoor furniture and flowers on your patio table. The attractive Victorian homestead is decorated in period style and all 10 en suite rooms are well-appointed, with telephone, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, complimentary port, television, bar fridge and furnished with Cape antiques. The honeymoon suite is particularly spacious and offers South African antique furniture. The three-bedroom cottage with two bathrooms is ideal for families. Farm tours and Karoo farm-style dinners are available on request, if you don't feel like stirring from this tranquil oasis. There's also a pool in the pleasant garden. The Little KarooThe Little Karoo is much drier country than the Garden Route and less visually appealing. The word Karoo comes from the San word for 'thirst'. However there are a number of interesting things to see and do in the region and it is well worth a visit. It is often dry and sunny inland when the Garden Route is experiencing cloudy conditions. OudtshoornAt the end of the nineteenth century, Oudtshoorn was a boomtown due to its monopoly of a highly prized commodity - ostrich feathers. The Ostrich 'Barons' of Oudtshoorn built large and rather grandiose mansions for themselves. However the First World War and consequent decline in demand for such luxuries in Europe heralded the rapid decline in the fortunes of Oudtshoorn. The mansions fell into disrepair and the town returned to a more humble status, that of a country town. However ostrich farming has returned to the area and it is now possible to visit an ostrich farm once again (see below). |
