Wild Coast – South Africa

The Wild Coast, as its name suggests is rugged and treacherous, with numerous shipwrecks along its deserted beaches. It is the heart of unspoilt rural South Africa, almost untouched by time and particularly untouched by the infrastructure that the rest of South Africa is accustomed to.

This is because it was a black homeland within apartheid South Africa that was not deemed worthy of development. Today it remains a poor area dotted with villages of traditional mud and thatch huts. Cattle are grazed on the grasslands and the land is toiled by hand and oxen to provide a subsistence living.

The essence of the Wild Coast is that nothing happens in a hurry, which is definitely the case in the small coastal towns of Port St Johns and Coffee Bay. Several lodges have sprung up along this coast to afford visitors a glimpse of the lovely scenery along the rocky coastline interspersed with long empty beaches. There are still patches of thick forest and some remote coastal reserves with unique flora.

A notable resident of this region is the illustrious Nelson Mandela, who comes from the inland village of Qunu near Umtata.

NATURAL HISTORY

Wildlife is sparse along this stretch even though great tracts of the coast are deserted. The reserves have been created mainly to preserve the indigenous flora, such as the endemic Pondo coconut palm in Mkambati.

If you venture along the coast you are certain to see fish eagles as they perch on the skeletons of wrecked ships. In the vegetated and wooded areas the birdlife is prolific.

WILD COAST GAME RESERVE SPECIALITIES

· Remote rural Africa

· Endless coastline

· Shipwrecks

· Fishing

· Hiking or horse riding along coastal trails

South African Beauty

Dominique Piek

Willem Pretorius Game Reserve

The premiere destination of the Northern Free State is the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve. This 12 000 hectare game reserve lives in the northern part of the Free State Province and is one of the most impressive reserves in the country. It is home to a large number of bird and game species and, even better, lies outside the malaria area.

A true African sunset after a long day of game viewing

The centre of the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve is the Allemanskraal Dam that is fed by the Sand River. The river serves as a natural border that splits the reserve into the two distinct northern and southern habitats. The two areas are different in both appearance and the animals that can be seen there.

The northern half of the park is mostly rocky ridges with a rich growth of bushveld, like the rest of the park. The animals most often seen in this part are eland, kudu and the endangered white rhinoceros. The main attraction of the northern part of the park, however, is the Doringberg.

Doringberg is large hill in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve that is the site of an impressive archaeological area. The area has been declared a national monument and visitors are welcome to visit the area. It is the site of a well-preserved Leghoya ruin and much of the original site has been restored to its former glory. The Leghoya were one of the first people in the region and the settlement on Doringberg is thought to be one of their oldest settlements.

The southern part of the reserve is undulating grasslands with thick clumps of trees and bush. This area is home to one of the largest black wildebeest herds in Africa. Other animals frequently seen are springbok, gemsbok, blesbok, kudu, eland, zebra, white rhinoceros, giraffes and many more. The park is too small to allow for any large predators, such as lions or leopard, to make their home here, but caracal and black-backed jackals are common sights.

The Willem Pretorius Game Reserve has an extensive road network making for excellent game viewing. The park also offers some accommodation for visitors. There are ten fully furnished chalets available, as well as caravan and camping grounds with furnished ablution blocks. For the truly adventurous there is also the bush camp, that gives visitors the opportunity to get as close to nature as possible.

The park offers boat tours on the river and dam and, in certain parts of the park, fishing is allowed. Other facilities include a swimming pool, picnic grounds, walking trails and sports facilities.

It is not hard to see why the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve is one of the Free State’s favourite destinations. The reserve’s two distinct regions allow for a variety of African bush experiences as well as the chance to see many of Africa’s more majestic game. Open throughout the year, the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve is a must see destination when visiting the Free State Province.

Jenny Love

HERMANUS

Famous for its champagne air, long stretches of beach, mild climate, rich floral kingdom and friendly environment, Hermanus is within easy reach of Cape Town International Airport. Hermanus, also described as the Riviera of the South, offers the best shore-based whale watching in the world. Nature lovers from all over the world visit Hermanus to view these magnificent creatures from the the cliffs.

Every year around July, locals eagerly await the arrival of special guests of honour, the Southern Right Whales. These visitors are an endless source of delight as they gambol in Walker Bay, in easy view of the cliff paths. They favour the relatively shallow waters of the bay for breeding and mating.

During the summer months the white sandy beaches are filled with holiday makers enjoying the sunny weather and excellent swimming in the sea. Hermanus is the ideal overwintering resort for visitors who wish to escape the cold Northern Hemisphere.

This narrow coastal town, between the fynbos-covered mountains and the waves of the Atlantic is a haven for the outdoor enthusiast. There is golf, tennis, squash, bowls, canoeing, yachting, diving and surfing to enjoy. For those who need the adrenalin rush there are the thrills of hang-gliding and powerboat racing.

And that's not all:

·         Boat-based whale watching

·         Shark cage diving with the Great White Shark in the cold Atlantic.

·         Rock lobster fishing tours during season.

·         Hermanus is regarded as the principal centre of the perlemoen industry. The perlemoen derives its South African name from a corruption of the Dutch perlemoer, meaning mother-of-pearl, from the beautiful pearl-lined interior of its shell. It is known internationally as abalone or Venus ear.

·         Quaint boutiques, markets and shops. Lovers of semi-precious stones can purchase from a wide selection of gifts and jewellery manufactured locally.

·         There are numerous art and craft studios and galleries -mostly managed by the artists themselves.

·         Several of the country's top wine estates will please the wine connoisseur. Various acclaimed wines are being produced in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde valley, and wine lovers can sample some of them by following the Hermanus Wine Route.

·         Kilometres of unspoilt beaches, coves and sheltered bays. Wide open sandy beaches and magnificent lagoons attract all kinds of watersport lovers, from sailing to motor boat enthusiasts and anglers.

·         The unique cliff path, hugging the coast from one side of town to the other.The views of sea and mountains are spectacular, and from July to November the Southern Right Whale may be seen just off-shore, also dolphins and seals.

·         Waler sports on a tranquil lagoon or diving, fishing and boating in the sea.

South African Beauty

South African actress Ilene Hamman

Vaalwater – Limpopo Province

Vaalwater may be just a dot on the map, but once you have experienced its genuine hospitality and the beauty of the surrounding Waterberg you are bound to return!

The Waterberg mountain range, named because of its many streams and springs, provide an ideal environment for wildlife. Vaalwater is known for its exceptional game ranches. Whether it is for hunting, viewing or just relaxing at one of the resorts, your visit will be an extremely satisfying one.

A tiny place of interest in this area is Vier-en-Twintig Riviere where there is a church of John the Baptist, designed by Sir Herbert baker and where church services are still held. It was built using local stone. It's very small, and very beautiful. A smattering of graves reside in the churchyard, which also houses a larger hall (made of the same stone). 

South African Beauty

Miss South Africa 2011

Monkey Bay Backpackers

Monkey Bay Backpackers is situated in the heart of Ballito Village, on the Dolphin Coast in Southern Africa. We are 112.5 m from the main beach and a stone's throw away from all shops, restaurants and nightlife.

The lodge is tastefully decorated in a rustic and artistic way, providing our guests with the true African experience. Thanks to loads of indoor and outdoor space, nothing will cramp your style during your stay.

The relaxed atmosphere is addictive, so do not be surprised if you end up staying longer than planned.


More information . . . . . . .

South African Beauties

Jenna Pietersen

Rustenburg in a nutshell

Rustenburg, a large bushveld town and popular holiday venue, lies at the northern foot of the Magaliesberg range, 1 160m above sea-level.

The climate is very pleasant all year round with cool nights and moderate to hot days. It is ideally situated for visiting the contrasting tourist attractions - the fantasy world of the Lost City, the glamour and glitter of Sun City and the natural beauty of the Pilansberg Nature reserve which lies in a volcanic crater, close to Sun City.

In front of the town hall is a fascinating signpost erected by the Rotary Club, giving the distances between Rustenburg and many international cities such as Berlin, New York, Sidney, Timbuktu, etc.

Boekenhoutfontein is a cultural-history place of interest where President Paul Kruger farmed for more than 40 years. The Rustenburg Kloof Holiday resort and Ananda Hotel are on the west side of the town. The Rustenburg Nature Reserve is situated on the summit and against the northern slopes of the Magaliesberg range. The Peglerae Nature Trail of 4,7km takes about 2 hours to walk. More difficult is the Two Day Rustenburg Hiking Trail with two overnight huts with basic amenities.

Beautiful Women of South Africa

Dhesha Jeram from Constancia, Cape Town has been selected to represent South Africa in the Miss Supranational 2011 beauty pageant to be held on August 27, 2011 in Poland.

Getting hitched in SA

Do you take South Africa to be your wedding destination? "I do!"

The Big Five, golf and Table Mountain. These are some of the reasons people visit our rainbow nation in their droves. I discovered that despite our rather hefty amount of world-class golf courses we boast more wine farms and generate more revenue through wedding tourism than the desire to hit-a-hole-in-one type holiday. Sorry Ernie.

After most wine farms' primary concern, that being the production of wine (fancy that!), there's weddings.

Read the full story . . . .