Cape St Francis Holiday Resort

This unique and exclusive paradise on the South African Southern Coast draws holiday makers from all over the world to enjoy the glorious beaches lapped by the warm Indian Ocean, excellent water-sport facilities, a leisurely lifestyle and the magical beauty of its unspoilt surroundings.

 The Cape. St Francis Bay characterized by a unique style of thatched architecture and an extensive canal system linked to the Kromme River estuary offers residents and holidaymakers an exotic marina lifestyle. Here, one can experience the pleasures of living right at the water’s edge.

Cape St Francis with its historic lighthouse built in 1878 is a tranquil eco-destination. The pristine beach with mild temperatures and the longest sunshine hours on the South African coast ensure a relaxed all year round destination.

It is surrounded by nature reserves dune fynbos proliferates in the area and many species are endemic to our local region. Cape St Francis Resort borders the beach and provides easy access to a variety of activities. Action or leisure the choices are varied, exciting, and endless. Start by  exploring the canals  by boat or venture  onto the Kromme River,  experience golf at  St Francis Links or St Francis Bay, surf the Endless Summer , charter a fishing vessel , visit the penguin rehabilitation centre or simply relax. Whales can be spotted between June and November but sightings tend to peak in the months of September and October when several Southern Right Whales may be spotted in the bay at any time.

Cape St Francis Resort is the ideal base from which to visit nearby national parks with Tsitsikamma to our west and Addo National Park to our east. The thrill of the bungee jump or canopy tours is just an hour away. On the doorstep lies the wilderness area of the Baviaanskloof  so to the bread basket valley of Patensie.

Woman to woman – a must see!

Buffelsdrift Game Lodge, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

Buffelsdrift is a beautiful game farm in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains. Unspoiled bushveld, lush vegetation and a dam provides a haven for 20 game species and more than 217 bird species.

The Lodge is situated just outside Oudtshoorn, in the heart of ostrich country, and not far from the Swartberg Nature Reserve. This beautiful Nature Reserve became part of the sixth South-African World Heritage Site offering a wealth of endemic plant species.

The Lodge offers 9 superior tents on the water’s edge and 16 luxury tents each one with its own en-suite bathroom and private outdoor shower, air-conditioning, mini-bar, digital safe, tea/coffee facilities and a game viewing deck. The swimming pool is situated in between the tents.

Situated next to reception is a large round stone fireplace in the middle, overlooking the dam with the Swartberg Mountain Range in the distance.

There is a quaint wooden chapel situated on the edge of a natural water hole with a wide wooden deck as entrance to the intimate little chapel. The deck is an extension to the restaurant and this creates a beautiful space for wedding guests to take their seats and witness the couple exchanging their wedding vows.

There is an À La Carte and Buffet Restaurant specialising in local cuisine, fully air-conditioned for those typical hot days of the Klein Karoo.

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15 on Pinehurst, White River, Mpumalanga

15 on Pinehurst is the ultimate golf, game, and leisure getaway for those seeking superior accommodation at reasonable rates. The whole house is designed and equipped to cater for the discerning visitor requiring 5 star amenities.

15 on Pinehurst is ideally situated for exploring forests, lakes, dramatic landscapes, wildlife, game reserves, sophisticated restaurants and historic towns. It also offers a superb all year round climate for exclusive golf estate living. 15 on Pinehurst is located in a malaria free area on a secure country estate which boasts a magnificent 18 hole championship golf course.

This prime spot, with the White River snaking through the African veld, is close to other scenic golf courses and Kruger National Park gates. The warm waters of cosmopolitan Maputo are only a 2-hour drive away, whilst the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is reached in 15 minutes.

The residence comprises of four spacious individually furnished suites with lavish en-suite bathrooms and their own private entrances. All these stylish units have a lounge area and patio with a choice of king sized or twin beds. Suites are available individually or alternatively, the entire house can be rented at a discounted rate.

Breakfast can be ordered as an optional extra to be enjoyed in your suite, on your patio, poolside or in the dining room which features fold-away doors opening onto the pool area with its inviting water cascades.

Guests are welcome to take advantage of the outdoor pool and garden.

Easy to make salads

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White House Lodge, White River, Mpumalanga

The White House Lodge sits among ten hectares of mountaintop with beautiful views of the surrounding farmlands and hills and mountains, mainly “The Lion Head” - a remnant of a long extinct volcanic core.

The indigenous sour bushveld trees and shrubs surround the lodge, as do around one hundred species of bird, which are the only source of sound to disturb your peace.

The White River area’s climate is renowned as one of the most congenial in South Africa, and ensures you of a relaxed time, with the right combination of luxury indoor and outdoor living, with the lovely rock pool in which to keep cool.

The Lodge is situated in South Africa’s province of Mpumalanga - “the place where the sun rises” - just 5 km from the small town of White River and 8km from the new Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport with its unique thatched roofed terminal and you can reach White River’s 18 hole Championship Golf Course in ten minutes.

A little further away is Nelspruit, the provincial capital city with all modern amenities including a casino. The Kingdom of Swaziland is only an hour’s drive away, and a further hour can see you in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique on Africa’s East coast.

There are seven en-suite rooms, one luxury cottage with own lounge and private veranda and one two bedroom cottage with lounge, dining area and kitchen if you wish, all with television,  while the public facilities includes  huge swimming pool, with Lapa and Boma, and two terraces for relaxing. 

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Activities to improve your health

Blyde River Canyon Lodge

Blyde River Canyon Lodge is situated in Mpumalanga along the Panoramic Route.

Nestled between the Drakensberg Mountains, it offers travellers a unique bush experience whilst soaking up the beauty of the natural surrounds. The lodge itself is on an 85 ha fully game fenced, botanical nature reserve.

Accommodation comprises six (6) double / twin rooms with en-suites and one (1) Honeymoon Suite with en-suite. There is also a luxury two bed roomed cottage with two bedrooms and two bathrooms en-suite.

All rooms are tastefully furnished, fully air-conditioned and are equipped with satellite TV, Internet as well as tea and coffee making facilities. Each room leads out onto the tranquil gardens where zebra and wildebeest wander by.

A blend of Victorian and African decor compliments the beauty and majesty of 900 year old Jackelberry trees, whose shade cascades over the pristine lawn areas.

Recreational activities include lazing at the swimming pool or enjoying some of the many adventure excursions on offer. These include white water rafting, mountain bike trails, walking trails, 4x4 trails, abseiling or boat trips on the Blyde Dam and various game drives. Day excursions to the famous Kruger National Park, God's Window and the historic Pilgrim's Rest Village can also be undertaken.

Activities to improve your health

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Dinokeng, Gauteng, South Africa

The Dinokeng area is famous as the place where one of the world’s largest diamonds, the Cullinan diamond, was wrestled from the earth and brought into the light. Situated a few minutes away from Pretoria, Dinokeng is a great destination for people who want to take a look at how people lived at the turn of the 19th century near the early diamond mines.

Dinokeng falls into the catchment zone of the Pienaars and Elands Rivers. This small town is just a few minutes away from Pretoria and is home to the third richest diamond mine in South Africa. Even though the famous Cullinan diamond was found here over a century ago, the mine is still active, bringing out a large number of high quality stones every year. The mine is open to visitors and there are mine tours allowing visitors to see how the mine worked a century ago and how diamonds are mined today with modern technology.

Dinokeng offers visitors the chance to see how people lived at the turn of the 19th century. Perhaps the best example of the old way of living is the Sammy Marks Museum.

South Africa’s first industrialist built a home in Dinokeng that is the very image of the Victorian era. The Sammy Marks House Museum is an impressive mansion with an extensive garden that was once the home of wealthy industrialist Sammy Marks. A tour through the Sammy Marks house gives visitors the chance to see how a wealthy family of the time lived.

The Dinokeng area is also home to many ruins from previous conflicts and inhabitants. Some of the old battlefields and forts are marked while others are semi-forgotten, waiting for visitors to uncover them and to remember.

For an interesting excursion into the diamond country of Gauteng, a journey to Dinokeng is in order. Situated only a short distance from Pretoria or Johannesburg, the area is a great place for visitors to see and learn about the diamond mining enterprises of the turn of the 19th century.

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Bird Island Nature Reserve, Western Cape

The world’s most accessible Cape gannet colony can be found on an island, linked to Lambert’s Bay by a breakwater wall. Bird Island also gives shelter to thousands of cormorants and penguins, whilst Cape fur seals can still be found on the rocks on the seaside of the island.

The three hectare Bird Island Nature Reserve is an important breeding and roosting site for this cacophonous and, on the face of it, unruly bunch of birds that serves as both an environmental educational opportunity, and a tourist attraction of note. Bird Island is one of only six sites where Cape gannets breed in the world.

Bird Island has a fantastic modern bird hide that has transformed the island into something of an educational classroom on the life of these birds.

It also means that visitors are less subject to the incredibly strong smell of guano, collected from the island between 1888 and 1990 for use in fertilisers and known as “white gold.” Because of this regular collecting, the penguin community sharply declined, particularly because their eggs were regarded as a delicacy. Visitors to the island can also explore an aquarium, auditorium, penguin pool, curio shop, and coffee shop, and there is a video on the history of the island available in a number of different languages.

Love and Marriage

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Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa

The gold rush of the 19th Century started after the discovery of the reef here in 1883. This resulted in the haphazard establishment of the rather rough frontier town of Barberton, and not much has changed. A few semi-hermits still pan for gold in the nearby streams, hoping to strike it lucky. And of course, on the heels of the gold came South Africa's first stock exchange.

 The gold in the area became uneconomical and richer reefs were discovered in Johannesburg. The stock exchange followed on the heels of the miners. Barberton is now a quiet and peaceful town with beautiful old buildings and set in stunning surroundings. There are some interesting attractions worth visiting in Barberton, including the nearby Songimvelo and Barberton Nature Reserve, and the Barberton Museum.

Nearby is the site of one of South Africa's least celebrated but most interesting artists - Nukain Mabuza. Mabuza is a self-taught, self-inspired artist who decorated the stones around his dwelling - painting the whole hillside in bright colours. Mabuza died in 1981, but the site, which was restored by the Barberton Museum, is open to visitors.

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South African facts

South Africa is located on the southern tip of Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the Indian Ocean on the south and east. Its neighbouring countries are Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland. The Kingdom of Lesotho is situated in the eastern central plain of the country.

South Africa's total land area is 1 219 912 sq. km (471,011 sq. mi). The country is five times larger than Great Britain and three times the size of Texas.

South Africa is divided into 9 provinces: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, and Mpumalanga.

South Africa boasts three capital cities. These are:

Bloemfontein: The location of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the highest court in non-constitutional matters. 

The Constitutional Court in Johannesburg is the highest court in constitutional matters.

Cape Town: The legislative capital of South Africa and home to the seat of Parliament.

Pretoria: The administrative capital of South Africa.

South Africa is a diverse country filled with a myriad of traditional origins, languages and beliefs, and is home to over 47 million people from all walks of life. The population of South Africa is divided into four ethnic groups, black Africans, whites, coloureds, and Asians.

Officially, the Republic of South Africa, this country is a constitutional democracy with a government and independent judiciary, all operating under a parliamentary system. The national, provincial, and local levels of government all have legislative and executive authority in their own regions. Advisory bodies operate at both national and provincial levels and are drawn from traditional leaders of South Africa.

South Africa is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GTM), one hour ahead of Central European Wintertime, 8 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time and 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Wintertime. There is no daylight saving and no time zone changes between South Africa and its neighbouring countries, or between the 9 provinces of South Africa.

South Africa is a year round holiday destination, but it all depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. Different activities are better suited to different seasons.

For the best game watching, visit during a South African spring (August – October), Whale watching from mid-June to the end of October and for diving and surfing, April to September. The beaches of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban are great and best visited in the peak of summer (November – February), but are often overcrowded.

The unit of currency is the South African Rand, denoted by the symbol R. One hundred cents makes up one Rand (R1). Coins are available in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5, and notes in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200.

The Rand is weaker than the Pound and Dollar, making a visit to South Africa highly affordable by international standards. Accommodation, eating out and shopping in South Africa offers great value for money to the international traveler.

Your foreign currency can be exchanged at most local banks and Bureaux de Change. There are many banks and ATM’s all around South Africa, including airports, petrol stations and malls.

South Africa is generally a very casual country, with warm, windy days and chilly nights. Denims, t-shirts, and skirts are fine for during the day. In summer, the days range from pleasant, to very hot and evenings are balmy. In some areas of South Africa, winter is wet and windy during the day, while in other areas it is dry, hot, and humid.

Winter nights are, however, always cold. Formal to semi-formal attire is worn to work, upper-class restaurants, and clubs. Casual wear is accepted at most restaurants, pubs, and bars. The majority of clubs do not accept guests in running shoes. Bathing suits – full or two pieces - are for the beach.

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South African foods and culinary terms

Here are some of the unique foods of South African and some culinary terms:

Biltong

Biltong is a national delicacy. Similar to American jerky, but very different, it is made from spiced slices of meat that are hung up – out of the sun – to dry in the wind. The most common variety is beef, but game biltong is also available. Connoisseurs claim that ostrich and kudu biltong are the best.

Bobotie is a traditional Cape Malay dish consisting of a fruity mince curry, which is topped with egg custard and lemon or bay leaves, and baked.

Boerewors is essential at a braai. It is a fatty, spicy beef sausage – there are loads of secret recipes all containing quite exotic spices such as coriander, cumin and others.

Bokkoms are definitely an acquired taste. They are small, whole mullet (called harder in South Africa) that are salted and dried. They are a bit tough to just chew on but they can be reconstituted and cooked into something approaching a Portuguese bacalhau, which makes them far more palatable.

Braaivleis

Braais are part of South African life and they are so much more than a barbecue. As well as boerewors, sosaties, pap en sous, and roosterbrood, there may be any other kind of meat and fish. Crayfish braais are very popular.

Bredie is a stew, usually mutton-based and served with rice. The most popular is tamatie bredie (tomato stew).

A bunny chow lunch is an essential part of a visit to Durban. Consisting of curry (either meat or veg) piled into a hollowed out half or quarter loaf of bread it is best eaten with the hands on the street.

Butternut squashes are large, gourd-shaped vegetables which are very similar to pumpkins but with brighter orange, more solid flesh and a more intense taste. They are often cooked over the coals at braais or made into lightly curried soups.

Coastal oysters are wild, as opposed to cultivated oysters.

Crayfish are spiny lobsters. They are delicious.

Gatsby is a form of street food found mainly in Cape Town. Cheap and filling it consists of a whole loaf of bread cut lengthwise and filled with chips (French fries), salad and either meat, curry or fish.

Imifino is a wonderful dish of wild spinach-like greens fried up with onion, spices, and perhaps a bit of chilli, and usually served with pap or putu.

A koeksuster is a sweet, syrupy, plaited confectionary not entirely unlike a doughnut but much richer. Great stuff if you have a very sweet tooth and fantastic with strong coffee.

Konfyt is the term given to any preserve. Two of the most popular are made from a type of otherwise unpalatable melon, and from green figs. With a bit of ginger and other spices, these are actually tasty and not at all cloying although obviously sweet.

Line fish is the term given to fish that has been caught locally that day on a line (as opposed to netted fish). In restaurants, it will often be the 'fish of the day'.

Milk tart is a traditional baked custard tart, sprinkled with cinnamon.

Peppadews are designer vegetables developed and patented in South Africa. A cross between a sweet pepper and a chilli, they are slightly spicy, fruity, and piquant, and are usually found pickled.

Peri-peri hails from neighbouring Mozambique. It is a fiery concoction of mainly, chilies, garlic and tomato (and a few other secret ingredients). It is most commonly used as a basting for fish, chicken, or prawns but can be used for anything. Beware; some varieties are very hot, while others are nicely tasty.

Perlemoen is the local word for abalone. Many locals claim the best way to eat this is braaied  on the beach in a piece of kelp (hollow seaweed), but it is easier to try it as a schnitzel in a restaurant, or cut into strips and stir-fried.

Pot brood is bread made in a cast-iron pot on the top of a fire.

A potjie is a three-legged cast-iron pot and it is the basis of one of our best-loved specialities – potjiekos. It's a stew made by putting in the onions first and then the items which need most cooking, e.g. meat, potatoes and/or hard vegetables. Softer vegetables are added in layers and the pot is never stirred. As it simmers for hours, the flavour permeates the whole dish.

Roosterbrood is bread made on the grill over an open fire.

Rotis are traditional Indian flat bread, which may be quite familiar.

Samosas are an Indian delicacy that has become part of the South African culinary landscape. It's a triangular fried pasty filled with curry – meat, fish or veg.

Samp is whole maize, which is cooked up rather like rice and most often served with beans, which makes it a very nutritious, high protein food highly valued by traditional societies.

Smoorsnoek is a kedgeree-like dish made of flaked smoked snoek cooked up with tomato, onion and spices.

Sosaties are chunks of meat impaled on a skewer. Traditional ones will be marinated in a lightly curried fruity sauce and then cooked over the fire but there are dozens of variations.

Whenever you travel to South Africa, make sure you try at least a couple of our traditional foods.

Kid's Jokes

Badplaas, Mpumalanga, South Africa

The hot mineral waters that filter from a natural spring in Badplaas were popular with travellers in the mid 1870's. However, the powers of the water were known to the local tribesmen long before that, naming the waters 'Emanzana', or 'healing waters'.

This thermal spring is situated in the valley of the Komati River, just 48 kilometres east of Carolina on the Barberton road. According to legends, the spring was presented as a gift to Jacob de Clerq by a Swazi chief, and by 1893, it was declared state property.

The alkaline waters of Badplaas are rich in sodium bicarbonate, and are 50 degrees Celsius when they filter from the earth. This water flows at about 32 000 litres per hour and is pumped into a warm mineral pool, as well as the private pools of the resort.

Many people travel to Badplaas with rheumatic ailments to soak away their aches and pains. They have to, however; vie for space as holiday makers descend onto this gem to enjoy the facilities offered by the large resort and nature reserve nearby.

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Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Aliwal North has been named after a battle which took place at Aliwal in India. As time moved on, Aliwal grew as a health resort location. Today Aliwal North is a farming district; the main products are wool, maize, wheat, beef and dairy. The main assets of the town are the 2 hot mineral water springs.

Some of Aliwal's attractions are: Aliwal North Museum, Aliwal Spa Holiday Resort, Buffelspruit Nature Reserve, De Leon Park, Garden of Remembrance, the Eastern Cape's great bio-diversity, historical places and buildings, Kerkplein Museum and the San rock art.

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Inner beauty

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Old Age jokes

Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Alice is a quaint little town situated 20 kilometres to the east of Fort Beaufort. Alice grew around a military encampment known as Fort Hare. It became well known as a mission centre, with Presbyterian missionaries founding a famous educational centre known as Lovedale.

This small town is well known as it is the site of the University of Fort Hare, the alma mater of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and many other leading political figures in the liberation movement and the government.

Alice is a fascinating and historical place; however, you will get little out of it without the aid of a knowledgeable guide. The University of Fort Hare was established as a place of higher education of black graduates from Lovedale and other schools. It is the repository of the archives of the African National Congress and houses one of the most significant collections of African art on the continent.

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Freelance

Alexander Bay, Northern Cape, South Africa

Alexander Bay takes its name from Sir James Alexander, who dreamed of making a fortune by exporting copper. Because of the copper, the town experienced a brief flush of prosperity until the 1870’s. Unfortunately, this ended and Alexander Bay became something of a ghost town.

The town became rejuvenated once again when in 1926, diamonds were discovered. The resulting 'diamond rush' led to the Diamond Coast rebellion of 1928. Today, the area where the diamonds are mined is quite a high security area.

The company that is in control of this area is happy to receive visitors and will readily issue permits and arrange tours. Visitors are also shown the Seal colony and oyster farm.

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South African Towns: Addo

Addo is a small and charming farming town situated in the Eastern Cape. It is close to the world-renowned Addo Elephant Park and offers a good alternative to staying in the park.

This area is not only renowned for its national park and game farms, it is also well known for its orange growing. Citrus is picked during from April through to September. The annual Citrus Festival is held at the end of May.

Visitors can also take part in the Addo Rose Festival in October, with numerous craft and food stalls. The close by Addo Elephant Park is a definite must-see and offers an array of activities, including game viewing, horse riding, 4X4 trails and so much more.

There are several historical sites that can be visited in Addo, some of which date back as far as 1829. The most well-known site is Drift House, the inn used by most people crossing the Addo drift from the old Cape Colony into the Hinterland.

Addo is beautifully set on the heart of Sunday's Valley and is a less than an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth and the nearest airport. The Sunday's River Valley Route/Addo region is only a scenic hour’s drive from the pristine beaches of the Sunshine Coast and the rich settler history of Grahamstown.

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The Freelancer

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Nedbank Golf Challenge 2011

Will you be there to see who lifts the crystal golf ball trophy?

Get to the ultra green Gary Player Country Club course at Sun City this December. Some of the highest ranked players from around the globe will be striving to claim the $4 385 000 purse. Past events have showcased the world's best golfers. Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Nick Price, Bernhard Langer, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Retief Goosen - the name-dropping list just goes on.

Formerly known as the Million Dollar Challenge, this premier event is the richest golf tournament in South Africa and one of the most popular tournaments on the South African Tour. Scores of spectators are expected at Sun City this year.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge aims to be as environmentally-friendly as possible. The Sun City resort is poised to make this marquee event the first carbon neutral golf tournament in Africa. That alone is worth teeing off for.

The tournament is from 1 to 4 December 2011.

Where to stay?

Amritz Private Lodge and B&B

Driving 29 kilometres from Sun City to the west, you suddenly discover peace and tranquillity in a private environment where the bush was touched with luxury without ruining the natural beauty of the bushveld. Leave the city behind for a 60 minutes’ drive from Pretoria and 90 minute from Johannesburg.

We offer two four bedroom houses, each with their own bathroom (not all en suite), decorated to reflect the African, bushveld style. Each house has a shared lounge area, offering TV. Each house has a shared kitchen area with a fridge and microwave. Each room is furnished with an air-conditioner, tea, and coffee making facilities. We offer one double, one family and six twin rooms in total.

No smoking in buildings, but allowed on all deck areas. Walk out onto the wooden deck to enjoy the peaceful scenery of the bush surrounding and you will enjoy the most beautiful bird life, or just stroll through the bushes and release your soul and find peace in A God’s given bushveld paradise.

At sunset, enjoy a social braai, meeting other guest at the boma, while a camp fire creates an unforgettable atmosphere. Braai-packs and side dishes are available on request at an additional cost, dinner is available with pre arrangement as the kitchen closes at 5 pm.

Wake up to enjoy a memorable real farmhouse breakfast served in our cottage style dining room that leads out onto a wooden deck. As a bonus, you will get to know the real farm life with sheep and goats grazing around the camp. Do not be surprised when a peacock calls from outside your window or guinea fowls surprise you around a bush. There are also Antelope, Bushpigs, Ostrich and Emu.

KwaThabisile Game Lodge

KwaThabisile Game Lodge is situated in the Leeuwkloof Valley Conservancy, a 400 hectare game reserve within 1 hour from Johannesburg and 30 minutes from Pretoria, and offers self catering accommodation in fully equipped units, in an "Out of Africa" environment.

In the heart of Gauteng, Dinokeng ‘a place of rivers’, and Leeuwkloof valley, is a game lodge surrounded by wildlife roaming in a 400 hectare game reserve. This is KwaThabisile Game Lodge where Alexandra welcomes you to her Out of Africa. Wake up in the morning to game grazing peacefully under your bedroom window. Wander over to the pond or laze by the pool and enjoy sunset drinks overlooking the valley and into the bush watching the animals graze.

Enjoy the sounds of birds sing in our valley, see and hear the night come to life. At KwaThabisile you can experience nature even though you are close to many other enriching activities such as nearby Cullinan and experience ‘All of Africa in a day’.

Accommodation

The accommodation is ideal for groups of friends and families, small conferencing, productions and weddings. The old Thabisile farm house was originally built by the Italian Prisoners’ of War. It has since been converted into self catering units, 2 of which can be interlinked. Though it is mainly for self catering, if you would like meals to be included we can pre-arrange a package for you, menu, picnic, or braai.

ANTELOPE
Antelope unit has 2 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms (each with 1 King size bed or 2 Single beds). Fully equipped kitchenette open plan to lounge and dining area and large veranda overlooking the valley and dam, with sunset views. Private, but has interleading double door to the Bushbaby unit.

BUSHBABY
Bushbaby unit has 2 bedrooms, 1 with en-suite bathroom (each with 1 King size bed or 2 Single beds) and the other has its own separate bathroom. Fully equipped kitchenette open plan to lounge, dining room and veranda. Has a large boma with view of the valley and sunset. Has immediate access to swimming pool.

CHAMELEON
Chameleon unit has 2 bedrooms (each with 1 King size bed or 2 Single beds) with 1 bathroom sharing. Fully equipped kitchenette, open plan to lounge, dining room and veranda. View of gardens and bush. The thatch roof house was previously built as dormitories for children. It has since been converted into open plan units that have been tastefully decorated.

DUIKER
Duiker unit is an open plan bedroom (2 double beds), lounge, dining area. There is a separate but fully equipped kitchenette and a separate bathroom with shower and bath. This unit has a view into the bush from the bed itself.

ELAND
Eland unit is interleading with the Duiker unit (must be booked with Duiker). Unit has upstairs,1 king size bed with view into the bush with balcony overlooking swimming pool and sunset view. Downstairs has a large fully equipped kitchen with dining area and lounge with veranda.

FLYCATCHER
Flycatcher unit is an open plan area with 2 double beds, fully equipped kitchenette, dining area and lounge. Unit has a separate bathroom with shower.

GIRAFFE
This is the original barn that has been converted into a cosy but stylish open plan unit. The unit consists of 2 single beds and can be dressed with king size linen bedding for couples. It includes an en-suite bathroom, a fully equipped kitchenette, lounge and dinning room area. The verandah overlooks the giant Monkey Thorn tree, gardens and swimming pool. The private braai facilities, paraffin lamps, torches and open fireplace provide a feeling of complete peace when you need it most.

All units are equipped with fans, hot water bottles, mosquito net, towel, hand towel, torch, paraffin lamps, candles, matches, fire wood, salt and pepper, oil, vinegar, rooibos tea, five roses, Nescafe, Ricoffee, Cremora, and pamphlets of things to do in the area.

Communal area

Swimming pool, deck chairs, and umbrellas, fabulous views overlooking the valley, and into the bush with great sunsets. Versatile function room with DSTV, games (Ping-Pong table, trampoline, darts, petanque, rumicub, crocket, swing ball, frisbee, backgammon, cards, pellet rifle) and mini-library. Boma for group bookings is ideal for evening get-togethers around the fire.

Activities: on and off-site:


Walking and hiking trails viewing game, bird watching, fishing, and identifying trees, shrubs and insects. Game drives, horse riding, 4x4 trail, fishing, canoeing, game drives, observatory, conference, team building, weddings, meals, golfing, rowing, boating and cultural tours. One can visit Cullinan village founded in 1903, Roodeplaat dam, Mandela village, Ndebele village as well as other cultural experiences or places and activities of interest. You may want to try one of the nearby Spas for a relaxing massage.

The game include: 


Over 240 grazers including kudu, zebra, blesbuck, impala, wildebeest, eland, waterbuck, duiker, steenbuck. Also warthog, porcupine, jackals, caracal, mongoose, vervet monkeys, bushbaby, baboon, reptiles, snakes, frogs, and tortoises. One can also see 200 species of birds sighted in our area.

Gillooly’s Farm - Johannesburg

Take a break from the hustle and the bustle of Johannesburg and enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside on your doorstep. Gillooly’s Farm is just what you need after a hectic week in the concrete jungle.

The owner, James Gillooly, sold the farm to the city council in 1944 and it was named after him. Situated in the east of Johannesburg in Bedfordview, it is a 44ha piece of land that is famous for its walking trails, birds, recreational areas and wonderful restaurant.

With more than 50 bird species at the farm like White-breasted Cormorant, Reed Cormorant, African Darter, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, White Stork, Egyptian Goose, Yellow-billed Duck, House Sparrow and Cape Wagtail, Gillooly’s is a must-see for bird lovers and aspiring bird watchers.

Apart from the birds, the farm also has a large man-made lake, which is home to a number of fish species like the Common Carp, Blue Kurper and Sharptooth Catfish (Barbel).

On a sunny South African day, families can enjoy a braai at the farm, which can be arranged by the staff. For those who are into cheese, crackers and champagne, there are a number of picnic spots around the dam where families can relax and watch the birds, while the kids play.

With something for every member of the family, why don’t you take a day off from city life and go for walks on the farm and reconnect with nature, while bonding with your loved ones.

Hours: Every day except Sunday and entrance is free.

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South African food

A delicious way to experience the Rainbow Nation is through its food. Contributions from the cultures that created South Africa make its modern cuisine one of the most exciting in Africa.

Boerewors

For the more daring diner, South Africa offers culinary challenges ranging from crocodile sirloin to fried caterpillars to sheep heads. All three are reputed to be delicious.

For the not-quite so brave, there are myriad indigenous delicacies such as biltong (dried, salted meat), bobotie (a much-improved version of Shepherd's pie) and boerewors (hand-made farm sausages).

Biltong

Umnqusho, a stew of roughly crushed dried maize kernels mixed with sugar or butter beans, is said to be former president Nelson Mandela ’s favourite food. Maize meal porridge, crumbly or soft, accompanies most meals. And fried chicken from fast-food outlets is widely popular.

Those who prefer to play it altogether safe will find that most eateries offer a familiar global menu - anything from hamburgers to sushi to pad thai to spaghetti bolognaise. And you can drink the tap water.

Bobotie

Restaurant guides list close to two dozen national styles, including Vietnamese and Swiss. On a single street in a Johannesburg suburb, one finds Italian restaurants, two or three varieties of Chinese cookery, Japanese, Moroccan, French, Portuguese and Indian food, both Tandoor and Gujarati.

Not far away are Congolese restaurants, Greek, even Brazilian and Korean establishments, and, everywhere, fusion, displaying the fantasies of creative chefs.

But there are niche specialities as well, and not a few surprises. Some of the world’s best curries can be found in Durban; fine French cuisine in Franschhoek; the freshest fish, caught only hours before, in Cape Town and Hermanus. Wine estates in Western Cape province offer meals, often French- or English-themed, along with wine tastings. High tea is on offer at most major hotels throughout the country: high tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town is a traditional treat.

Those in search of authentic South African cuisine have to look harder for those few establishments that specialise in it - like the justly famous Gramadoelas in central Johannesburg, Wandie's Place in Soweto, the Africa Café in central Cape Town or smaller restaurants in that city's Bo-Kaap, in Khayelitsha and Langa.

Meat

Basically, however, South Africans eat meat – and lots of it.

Lamb from the Karoo is highly prized. Game is ubiquitous: restaurants and butchers offer mostly impala or kudu, but springbok, warthog and crocodile are sometimes available. So, for the brave, is the mopani worm, the caterpillar of the emperor moth, which is boiled, then sun-dried. Ostrich goes as guilt-free red meat, low in cholesterol and farmed in the Karoo.

Potjiekos

Whatever the meat chosen, there are braais – or barbecues – everywhere: on the pavement during the week, as fast food for labourers; and in backyards in the suburbs on weekends.

What goes on the backyard grill will almost certainly be boerewors, a spicy sausage and as close to a national food as one can get. Steak houses may specialise in flame-grilled aged sirloin, but they also offer boerewors. Even celebrity chefs become involved in boerewors cookouts.

There are varieties of biltong in every café, in big cities and little dorps. Every weekend there wafts from neighbourhoods rich and poor the smell of spicy sosaties being grilled over the braai.

Rainbow cuisine

It was the search for food that shaped modern South Africa: spices drew the Dutch East India Company to Java in the mid-1600s, and the need for a half-way refreshment stop for its ships rounding the Cape impelled the company to plant a farm at the tip of Africa. There are sections of Commander Jan van Riebeeck's wild almond hedge still standing in the Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town.

That farm changed the region forever. The company discovered it was easier to bring in thousands of hapless slaves from Java to work in the fields than to keep trying to entrap the local people, mostly Khoi and San, who seemed singularly unimpressed with the Dutch and their ways. The Malay slaves brought their cuisine, perhaps the best-known of all South African cooking styles.

The French Huguenots arrived soon after the Dutch, and changed the landscape in wonderful ways with the vines they imported. They soon discovered a need for men and women to work in their vineyards, and turned to the Malay slaves (and the few Khoi and San they could lure into employment).

Much later, sugar farmers brought indentured labourers from India to cut the cane. The British, looking for gold and empire, also brought their customs and cuisine, as did German immigrants.

In the 20th century, Chinese workmen and Japanese entrepreneurs arrived to seek their fortunes.

While all these groups brought new customs and cuisine, black communities continued to eat their traditional foods: beef and game, sorghum, maize, root vegetables and wild greens like morogo.

Today the resultant kaleidoscope - the famous "rainbow" - applies not only to the people but to the food, for one finds in South Africa the most extraordinary range of cuisines.

By Barbara Ludman

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Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

The Nelson Mandela Metro (including Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch) is the gateway to the Eastern Cape Region, its well-equipped airport and harbour linking South Africa with other national and international destinations.

Known as the "Friendly City", Port Elizabeth is located on the south-eastern coast, 763 km east of Cape Town. A superb value-for-money holiday base, Port Elizabeth offers a diverse selection of attractions as a family-fun holiday destination including scenic nature trails, historic heritage, magnificent wildlife, cultural experiences and countless water sport activities. Algoa Bay's 40 km of breathtaking coastline boasts a perfect combination of warm water, protected beaches and is complemented by Port Elizabeth's wonderful climate, which has been rated as having the fourth best weather of any coastal city in the world. The area also supports the most diverse array of vegetation types in South Africa as five of the country's seven terrestrial biogeographic areas are represented in the Eastern Cape.

The Bay, which is a favoured draw-card for beach and watersport enthusiasts is fast becoming known as South Africa's watersport capital and offers activity throughout the year, especially wind-surfing and fishing. In fact, Algoa Bay is regarded as one of the best sailing venues in the world, while scuba diving is of world class quality with beautiful reefs, shipwrecks, fish and colourful coral species.

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Newtown Cultural Hub, Johannesburg

Situated in Johannesburg’s inner-city, Newtown forms the heart of the city’s regeneration and reinvention of itself. Newtown is a fairly large area that lies sandwiched between the railway lines to the north, the M2 highway in the south and bounded in the east and west by West Street and Quinn Street respectively.

Museum Africa, Newtown

What makes Newtown so accessible is the Nelson Mandela Bridge, which links Braamfontein to Newtown, is able to carry some 3000 cars an hour and forms the new gateway into the city from the north. Newtown is now a mixed-use area with a vibrant and unique character, particularly if you take its cultural facilities into account. 

Nelson Mandela Bridge

Newtown is home to the renowned Market Theatre, which played such an important role in South African theatre during the apartheid era, committed as it was to non-racial theatre right from 1974, where a run-down Edwardian market hall was converted into a cultural arena that provided a platform for some of the country’s best actors and playwrights.

Today the complex is home to three theatres and two art galleries, and on Saturday mornings a flea market continues at the theatre. Kippies, located in the former Songwriters’ Club in Newtown, is named after the legendary saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi and serves as a venue to live jazz as it has for years, despite its closure for two years.

Just around the corner from the market complex is the Oriental Plaza where every shopkeeper owns his shop and the vibrant colour of the busy complex is a sheer delight. Rolls of fabric spew out on to tables, pots, pans and crockery, kiosks with hair accessories, electronics, leather goods, fashion and the smell of incense, samoosas and chilli merge charmingly.

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The Famous "Big Five"

Originally used only by hunters, the term 'Big Five' refers to five of Africa's greatest wild animals - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

As during the bygone hunting era the term "Big Five" still conjure up the romance and excitement of Africa's exotic destinations and experiences.

Imagine watching the sun set over the horizon whilst you capture the moment of a pride of lions stalking their prey.

Watching a buffalo strolling to a water hole with strength and size that makes it more likely to kill a human than any other mammal.

The rhino, which is almost extinct, with its extraordinary horns and bad temper. And the leopard with its beauty and remarkable speed and skill to hunt.

Many travellers regard a visit to South Africa as incomplete without having spotted, and perhaps photographed, the Big Five.

The Big Five - legends of the wilderness which have become synonymous with Africa.

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Kagga Kamma Game Reserve

Ceres, Western Cape, South Africa

Escape from the pressures of modern life and retreat to Kagga Kamma, located in the peaceful southern Cederberg Mountains. Away from mobile phones, traffic pollution, highways and city lights you will breathe a sigh and enjoy the silence and starlit skies.

The stunning location of the lodge was once home to the Bushmen, today many of their ancient cave paintings are still clearly visible on the rocks, (some dating back 6,000 years).

This spiritual land offers spectacular scenery, majestic mountains, strange rock formations and phenomenal night skies, where the Milky Way, billions of stars, planets, satellites and shooting stars may be seen by the naked eye.

Outdoor suite

Bushmen Lodge

Bushmen Lodge offers a choice of accommodation; there are five spacious en suite thatched rondavels, suitable for families with children.

There are also ten unique 'cave suites'; these have a private terrace, en suite bathrooms and twin beds. Built against the mountain, the buildings blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape, to the point of almost being invisible.

The canyon

The lodge has a restaurant for breakfast and lunch and an outdoor lapa for dinner under the starlit night skies. There is a cosy bar and an outdoor garden perfect for relaxing and sipping a cool drink.

Interesting rock formations surrounds the sparkling swimming pool. A well-stocked curio shop is available to purchase that essential souvenir of your stay.

Health and Beauty Spa

The Health and Beauty Spa provides the perfect opportunity to take time out and de-stress. They offer a wide range of treatments including deluxe manicures and pedicures, hot stone therapy and luxury facials.

Unique to Kagga Kamma is Fynbos Therapy, incorporating the finest essential oils indigenous to the fynbos area. A fynbos essential oil massage is all you need to take your mind and body on a journey of relaxation.

Dining under the stars

Activities

·         Guided walks and drives

To maximise your experience of this unique land, our expert rangers will interpret the Bushmen paintings and their fascinating ancient culture, on guided walks and drives.

·         Other inclusive activities during your stay include a sundowner drink with breathtaking views and morning and night nature/game drives to spot resident species, such as, Black Wildebeest, Ostrich, Zebra, Springbok, Bontebok, Gemsbok and many other antelope species including the huge Eland.

·         Stargazing

See the stars and planets closer than ever at our Mini-Observatory. Their resident expert will ensure you get the best possible views of the night skies through our 10-inch telescope, including close up views of the moon and planets and other deep space objects.

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Morgan’s Bay

Described as an 'Eastern Cape paradise', Morgan's Bay lies 10 minutes' away from the Kei River mouth and an hour from East London. This is a beautiful part of the coastline that unsurprisingly forms part of the Wild Coast given its dramatic, rugged cliffs, known as Morgan Bay cliffs. A long stretch of sandy beach reportedly offers a mile's worth of walking, beachcombing (look out for Cornelian beads and the odd piece of Ming china along Bead beach where the Santo Espirito is thought to have been wrecked) and swimming.

What makes this part of the world particularly beautiful is the wide diversity of fauna and flora, mainly due to the fact that it lies in a portion of the Eastern Cape in which 5 different biomes meet. This means that you're surrounded by fynbos, grasslands, forests, valley thickets and semi-desert scrub. In turn this supports a myriad animals and just the bird list for Morgan's Bay is 271 species.

Morgan's Bay boasts one of the prettiest lagoons, which allows for protected swimming but also gives one access to an incredible bird life that includes the call of the fish eagle, for this is the seasonal breeding ground for these birds as well as crowned cranes.

On the other side of the beach from the lagoon rise the dolerite cliffs that extend for about 4 kilometres along the beach to the Double Mouth Nature Reserve and provide hours of rock climbing. There are guided walks and eco horse trails among the myriad attractions for the little beachside village and a hikes to Double Mouth. On the other side of Morgans Bay from Kei Mouth lies Haga Haga and the Cape Henderson Nature Reserve.

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Visit the District Six Museum (District Six, Cape Town Central)

District Six was so named as it was literally the Sixth District of the Western Cape in 1867. District Six was so loved as a community of colourful characters.

A friendly mix of artisans, freed slaves, free spirits, labourers and locals living harmoniously were forcefully removed from their rightful city homes and re-settled in barren Cape outskirts during an unthinkable period in South African Apartheid history commencing in 1901. Over 60 000 residents fell victim to the government at the time who reduced homes to rubble without cause or resurrection. An award winning community project the District Six Museum welcomes evicted residents to make a mark in chalk on a map hand painted on the floor to show where their home once stood and what their hearts still mourn.

Storytelling of former residents interacts as a live history recreating the vibrancy that turned to desolation. Tactile images of loss are held in this old church building where slaves once worshipped. Authentic street signs mark 75 roads that labelled paths of diverse religious acceptance. A 300m memory cloth absorbs the ink of ex-residents contributions to memory lane. Built on a fabric of healing so that bare recollections prevent such devastating from repetition, this brush with a haunting past is a moving museum experience.

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