The most beautiful places of tourism in South Africa
Seychelles seeks to expand tourism and fight piracy
Seychelles is looking to expand it reach in Singapore by treating representatives from four travel agents from Singapore to some of the best food, attractions, accommodation and transport that the Seychelles has to offer. The travel agencies represented included Chan Brothers, HIS, Ramesh Travel and Eco Adventures. Their tour leader was from Air Seychelles.
To kick start the tour, the representatives got a taste of what it’s like to fly in both economy and business class on Air Seychelles. They visited the three major islands: Mahè, Praslin, and La Digue and enjoyed the most recommended activities on each, including Sunset Beach, Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort and Casino and Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove. After being wined and dined (with delicious Creole cuisine) to the extreme it’s not surprising to hear that the group was “blown away” by the experience. Tourism authorities now hope that that experience will translate into more flights booked and rooms reserved.
Seychelles’ drive to boost tourism from Asian markets received a boost from various international communities, especially in the Commonwealth, which have joined forces to combat the scourge of piracy. Seychelles President Michel has commended Commonwealth countries like Australia for taking the matter seriously enough to call for a counter-piracy conference, which will be held in Perth, Australia, next year.
President Michel has said: “The coast states of the Indian Ocean need more support – both in terms of maritime assets, in terms of prisons, and in terms of legislative and human resource capacity building. These coastal states are in the majority Commonwealth states- and we salute the efforts of our partners: Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, The Maldives, and Mozambique. We also thank the government of India for its proactive role in helping our Coast Guard and training our military for appropriate response to piracy at sea. We believe the Commonwealth is ideally situated to bring more support to the member states to provide technical assistance for legal framework for prosecuting pirates.”
Categories:Southern African vacation destinationsTags:beach, beach holidays, best food, Commonwealth, economy, scuba diving, Seychelles, travel
5-Star Meliá Zanzibar Hotel is open for business
Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island and now the world famous Meliá Hotels and Resorts will be adding some spice of its own as it opens its Meliá Zanzibar Hotel. The hotel will be the epitome of luxury with seven 5-star villas, garden rooms, terrace rooms and suites. There are private pools and gardens and, of course, the spectacular beach right on the doorstep.
Melia Zanzibar Hotel and Spa
The hotel covers 40 hectares towards the northeast of the island and offers a wealth of facilities and activities to keep holiday makers with eclectic tastes happy no matter how long their stay.
Villas and suites are practically self-contained with living and dining areas, private balconies, en suite bathrooms and every modern convenience you can think of. Terrace and garden rooms also have private balconies, providing guests with a place in which to savour the peace and quiet and maybe catch a glimpse of some of the local wildlife. Foodies can choose between five restaurants with different specialities, including Arabian and African dishes and Italian influences.
From fine dining to casual pool side restaurants and a restaurant on the jetty, just about anything goes. The Kids Club gives parents some much needed respite and kids some much distraction. Anantara Spa provides some much needed relaxation with options to receive massages outdoors. Of course there are plenty of water sports available.
Waterfalls, gorges and Cape Vultures in Botswana’s Tswapong Hills
Botswana’s central district contains a number of tourist attractions, some of which are off the beaten track – or at least off the radar for the average Botswanan tourist who visits the country primarily for its abundant safari opportunities. One of the prettiest of these attractions is the Tswapong Hills.
The Tswapong Hills, as the name suggests, are not towering peaks. The highest point is around 400m, making hikes and walking trails accessible for anyone. It’s important to note, however, that much of the land in the hills is considered sacred by the locals and in many cases you will need permission from village chiefs before you venture forth.
Botswana
The hills contain a couple of gorges complete with waterfalls and some ancient settlements.
Of particular interest is the Moremi Gorge.
Moremi Gorge is one of those places where you should ask permission from the leader of Moremi Village before setting out. You’ll also find guides at the village if you so require.
You’ll need good walking shoes to climb up to the point of the gorge but once there you’ll find that all the effort was worth it. There are three waterfalls in the gorge, all of which fall into large waterholes. The waterholes are surrounded by thick green vegetation, which lends to the magical atmosphere.
In addition to the waterfalls, Moremi Gorge is a protected conservation area for several breeding pairs of Cape Vultures.
Malaka Gorge is slightly less spectacular than Moremi Gorge and is accessible from Malaka Village. The single waterfall is not very high but the gurgle of bubbling water is very calming and tops off some boulder jumping and any exploratory walks in the nearby valley. Watch out for baboons.
Phothophotho Gorge is easily accessible for all visitors, as well as all animals that come for the steady supply of water. In addition to the thirsty domestic animals – cows and donkeys – you’ll see some rock dassies, baboons and a number of different birds, including Cape Vulture, Blackcollared Barbet and Redwinged Starling.
Tswapong Hills should definitely feature on your travel itinerary.
Gootau is also home to breeding Cape Vultures. In fact, the colony at Gootau is much larger than at Moremi Gorge. As a result, it’s essential to get permission from the chief of Gootau before venturing into the site.
All in all the Tswapong Hills should definitely feature on your travel itinerary.
The Cango Caves, Little Karoo
29km from Oudtshoorn, at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley, lies the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo - the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well knownSwartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations.
The Cango Caves are a series of dripstone caverns that open into vast halls of towering stalagmite formations with names like ‘the bridal couple’, ‘glass flower fantasy’, ‘weird cango candle’ and ‘the hanging shawl’. Not all of the caves are open to the public .The main sections are available for amazing exploratory subterranean walks that include fumbling around on all fours in an effort to see all that is viewable.
The Cango Caves lie in the Swartberg Mountain Range in a limestone belt measuring 0,5km in width and almost 16km in length. The limestone layer was formed by the deposit of ‘oolites’ which are loosely-bound calcium carbonate crystals. Due to the age of the limestone (750 million years) no fossils have been found.
This part of the continent was once below the ocean. As the continent rose and upliftment occurred, the Little Karoo finally found itself above the water level.
The caves only started to form some 20 million years ago, however, when the water level dropped to such an extent that the ground water could start to seep into the limestone. As the water seeped into the ground it absorbed carbon dioxide from the decaying plant and animal matter in the soil and this made it fairly acidic.
As it seeped into the limestone, cavities were created that filled with water. Rivers also formed on the surface and cut deeply enough into the limestone to allow them to reach the level of the water pockets. This caused the water to flow out about 4 million years ago. The cave was then, for the first time, exposed to air and the speleothems or cave formations could begin forming.
For thousands of years, the caves were unknown, except to animals. However, about 10 000 years ago, the Khoisan used the entrance area of the cave as shelter. They never wandered deeper into the cave though due to their superstitious nature. The entrance area to the Caves was originally rich in bushman paintings though with time these have been damaged. The San left this area and their cave approximately 500 years ago.
Multilingual tours :
All tours are offered in English but an Afrikaans, German, French or other language guide may be available (please check availability when booking if you have a preference).
Africa has some of the best scuba diving in the world
Africa is blessed with abundant wildlife. Everyone knows about the Big 5 and the gorillas, but not everyone considers the life that lies off the continent’s coast. There are plenty of world-class scuba diving sites all around Africa.
One of the most popular destinations is Mozambique, which not only has varied scuba diving sites but has the added advantage of being affordable. After exploring wrecks and reefs and gazing in wonder at the vibrant colour beneath the waves, you can sit on the beach and enjoy the freshest, cheapest seafood you’re likely to find anywhere in the world.
Other obvious dive sites are in the Seychelles and Mauritius, but have you thought about scuba diving in Kenya?
Kenya’s coast caters to all kinds of divers. There are numerous centres and qualified instructors offering beginner scuba diving courses; while more experienced divers can book a trip with one of the many tour operators. Special treats include wreck dives, reef dives and abundant marine life, including turtles, eels, sharks, coral fish and tuna. You can dive in Kenya throughout the year but the best time is between October and April.
Zanzibar is also a perennial scuba diving favourite. The best diving sites can be found in the northern parts of the island and the best times to dive is between September and October when divers have the prospect of bumping into some humpback and sperm whales.
Pemba Island is just a little way nort
h of Zanzibar and is an equally awe-inspiring scuba diving destination. Aside from the pristine beaches and friendly folk you can duck beneath the waves and visit giant barracuda, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, manta rays and dolphins.
Madagascar is an under-rated scuba diving destination outshone by its better known rivals –Seychelles, Zanzibar and Mauritius. So many people don’t know that it contains the largest continuous reef in the world. As with its land animals, a great junk of the marine life is endemic to Madagascar’s waters, but you can also see five different turtle species, 56 types of shark, over 1000 species of bony fish and 34 types of cetaceans.
Come to South Africa and do it all
South Africa has a thriving tourism industry and it’s no wonder because the country has an enormous variety of things to see and do. From 5-star seaside accommodation to rugged safaris and mountain resorts South Africa has it all.
When it comes to luxury accommodation it’s hard to top the One&Only at Cape Town’s Waterfront. The One&Only is probably the most luxurious hotel in South Africa bar none. It boasts an idyllic spa and some of South Africa’s most acclaimed restaurants, including Nobu, which is run by Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa. Matsuhisa has the distinction of being one of a few Michelin-starred chefs in the country.
luxury south africa
When comes to fine dining, however, Nobuis topped by Rust en Vrede Estate in Stellenbosch, which won the Restaurant of the Year award from Eat Out, South Africa’s premier restaurant guide.
Of course when it comes to safaris, theKruger National Park is at the top of the list. South Africa has a number of game reserves and national parks, but the Kruger Park is not only the biggest, it also offers the widest range of accommodation, safaris and related activities.
South Africa is a relatively big country and its attractions are spread out from north to south, east and west. You can minimise the distances and travel South Africa by train. The Blue Train is arguably the most luxurious train in South Africa. The train travels from Pretoria to Cape Town with a stopover in Kimberley, and from Cape Town to Pretoria with a stopover in Matjiesfontein, giving you a peak into small town living in South Africa. It boasts de luxe suites, a wood-panelled lounge and club car, fine dining, and a jewellery boutique.
You can book a range of holidays in South Africa, from package tours that include safaris, seaside attractions and a bit of mountaineering to private deals that allow you to set the pace.
South Africa has what ever you want from your holiday destination, and more.
Categories:Southern African vacation destinationsTags:accomodation, activities, attractions, dining, holidays, Hotel, restaurants, safaris, south africa,tours, train travels
There’s more to Maputo than beaches and prawns
There’s more to Maputo than beaches and prawns
Mozambique is a favourite destination for scuba diving and snorkelling, not to mention eating stacks of prawns, which are more affordable in Mozambique than just about anywhere else in the world. Maputo is the country’s capital city. It’s on the coast, so it offers all the traditional Mozambican attractions, but it also has so much more to offer.
Mozambique's beaches
It’s a thriving port city, so its harbour is abuzz with activity. But moving away from ocean-related activities we have the Central Railway Station, which boasts one of the most beautiful old buildings in the city – which may or may not have been built by Gustave Eiffel – he of the famous Paris tower. The station often has live music and assorted entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings and is a good spot to mingle with locals out for a night of fun.
The Iron House, which, common consensus has it, was designed by Eiffel, is also not to be missed. It was supposed to be the Governor’s house but a critical oversight – steel is not a practical building material in a region blessed with a blazing sun and almost constantly hot weather – meant that the governor was unable to live in it.
The Jardim Tunduru Botanical Gardens are worth a visit for its cycad collection and assorted exotic plants. Failing that you can always boast of visiting a garden by one of the most famous landscapers of the 19th century. The gardens were designed by Thomas Honney, who designed gardens for various royalty of the era, including the Sultan of Turkey and the King of Greece.
Not far out of Maputo, about 80km, is the Maputo Elephant Reserve, which is part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, a joint project by conservation authorities in Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland. Obviously, there are plenty of elephants to be seen, but there are also crocodiles, hippos and an awful lot of flamingos.
Categories:Southern African vacation destinationsTags:Botanical Gardens, diving, Elephant, Maputo, Mozambique, snorkelling, south africa, Swaziland
Namibia reigns supreme as a top African tourist destination
Namibia reigns supreme as a top African tourist destination
Namibia Hilton Hotel, Windhoek
The Hilton Hotel chain is arguably the mostwell-known accommodation franchise in the world. It represents the ultimate in luxury and countries know that they’ve made it as prime tourist destinations when they’re chosen for a brand new branch. Namibia is the latest country to be graced with a Hilton Hotel as Hilton Windhoekopened its doors at the beginning of June. Hilton Windhoek is the chain’s 40th hotel in the Middle East and Africa, while Namibiais the 77th country to benefit from the attractions naturally associated with a Hilton Hotel.
Speaking at the grand opening, Dave Horton, who is the global head of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, said: “Namibia is a growing market with tourist arrivals increasing every year; it offers travellers an opportunity to explore the best of Africa with its many conservation parks, wildlife reserves and the untouched Namib Desert.”
The opening of Windhoek Hilton was well-timed as it came just before the annual Namibian Tourism Expo which was held in Windhoek, but not at the Hilton. The expo was well supported by the Northern Cape, South Africa’s immediate neighbouring province with Namibia.
Dianna Martin, marketing manager at the Northern Cape Tourism Authority, described the relationship between the two countries as “symbiotic” and emphasised the importance of marketing the Namaqualand and Green Kalahari in South Africa along with some of the prime attractions in Namibia to encourage trans-border tourism.
The expo coincided with the Namibia Tourism Board’s (NTB) 10th anniversary. Once again the timing was fortuitous as Lonely Planet had only recently named Namibia as the 5th best value holiday destination for 2011. Namibia’s primary attractions, according to Lonely Planet, are the Namib Naukluft National Park for outstanding safaris, Sossusvlei as a travel itinerary essential and Windhoek as a stunning example of a cosmopolitan African city with world class accommodation.
The Namibia Tourism Board was even named as the best tourism board in all of Africa.
Categories:Southern African vacation destinationsTags:accomodation, attractions, Hotel, Namibia, safaris, travel, Windhoek
The Seychelles’ Islands are almost synonymous with honeymoons. For decades newlyweds from all over the world have flocked to the white beaches and topaz waters to celebrate their love. Even royalty honeymoons at the Seychelles.
Seychelles tourism recently received quite a boost when Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge celebrated their honeymoon there. As one would imagine, interest in holiday tours to the Seychelles increased significantly after it was announced as the royal honeymoon destination.
According to TripAdvisor, searches for Seychelles holiday related information increased by 300% in two days. Thousands of people swarmed the internet and picked up their phones to find out about Seychelles travel packages, air fares, and accommodation options.
The heightened interest in the islands has been maintained by two more significant events:
- Seychelles tourism celebrated its 40th year on 4 July. At the celebrations the chief executive of the tourism board, Alain St Ange, revealed a “green paper” or draft paper for the Seychelles’ Master Plan for Tourism. For the past 40 years the board has worked hard to increase the Seychelles’ attraction as a destination. It has been very successful but to ensure that momentum is not only maintained but increased, the green paper aims to concentrate efforts over the next five years.
Seychelle holidays, La Digue Islands - Two of the Seychelle’s most prestigious hotels have been nominated for the international Villegiature Awards in the Grand Prix category of the Best Island Hotels for 2011. The Denis Island and Frégate Island Private will face off against other luxury hotels from Mauritius, Indonesia and Malaysia. The winners will be announced on 14 November.
But perhaps one of the biggestattractions of a holiday in theSeychelles is that you don’t have to be royalty to feel like royalty
