South Africans made 77% of the requests, or 386 300 ticket applications, and the rest of the world 114 237 applications. The US was the foreign country with the highest number of applications, with 22 942 tickets. It is followed by the UK (20 232 tickets), Mexico (7 981), Germany (7 697) , Australia (6 277) and Brazil (4 760).

Applications from a total of 166 countries have been received, excluding the participating football associations’ allocated ticket sales. “In comparison with the previous editions of the Fifa World Cups, the latest ticket applications figures are impressive,” said Horst R. Schmidt, chair of the football body’s ticketing committee.

Applications for individual match tickets or team-specific series can be made at www.FIFA.com/2010. South Africans can also apply for tickets at First National Bank branches across the country.

The current third ticket sales phase, which opened on 5 December, will run until 22 January 2010. About 1-million tickets for the tournament’s 64 matches are available in the third sales phase, including a limited number for the opening match and the final. According to Fifa, all applications in this phase will be treated equally. If matches or price categories are oversubscribed, there will be an electronic random selection draw on 1 February 2010. The prices for group matches range from US$20 to $160 (opening match $70 to $450, final $150 to $900) or, in South African rands, R140 to R1 120 (opening match R490 to R3 150, final R1 050 to R6 300). Category 4 tickets, the most affordable, have been reserved for South African residents.

In addition, all 32 participating member associations have started to sell their allocated team-specific tickets, which make up 12 % of all purchasable tickets in the stadiums for the three group games of the respective team. These tickets will be available on the federations’ websites until 13 January 2010.

For more detailed information, go to https://pmatickets.fifa.com.

from http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com via www.FIFA.com

I have found the perfect solution.

Khoka Moya Camp located in the Manyeleti Conservancy on the border of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. This place has a perfect balance for both adults and children, plus it is educational and awe inspiring being up front and personal with African wildlife.

On arrival at Khoka Moya Camp the friendly staff will assist you in getting settled in and comfortable. Once you are unpacked and ready, you can join the afternoon game drive activity. Once out in the wilds of the reserve, you can feel the stress of life leaving you. Feel the breeze on your cheek, hear the birds calling, relax and witness the raw untamed African bushveld. Searching for the Big Five (Lions, Leopards, Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant) is a thrilling experience, and when you do finally get your first glimpse of natures finest… Wow!

Dinners are always a gastronomic experience weather they are in the Boma (a reed enclosed area) at the camp or under the stars in the middle of the bush.

In the early mornings warm your hands with a hot drink before setting out in search of the wildlife once again. You have the choice of going on a game drive, or walking through the bush on foot with your ranger. Both are incredible experiences and allow you to truly commune with nature.

The afternoons are spent at leisure, reading, rummaging through the books in the library or drifting off into a peaceful sleep. In the late afternoon, the adventure starts all over again! The rangers are experts of the bush and really do want you to be as passionate about wildlife as them, so they are eager to share as much information and fun little facts with you as they can. They really complete the whole experience!

However, the main highlight at Khoka Moya is the children friendly attitude they have. They really have spent a lot of thought and time coming up with the ideal family solution- and to this end they have created a program whereby children can also get the same enjoyment as their parents. While parents enjoy 3 – 4 hour game drives. There are shorter game drives for the young ones – fully accompanied by trained child minders and rangers. Children can go on walks around the camp with the rangers, learning about the wildlife, plants and the ecosystem of the reserve. There are also special “classes” whereby children learn about African bead work (making their own friendship bracelets), cookie making (using a maize meal and mortar grinding process), drawing (animals and trees that they have seen) and reading and learning about the bush. On top of that, fun menus have been created for children so that they may also enjoy their dinner times.

So, definitely some time for parents to relax and de-stress! It is probably one of the best family holidays I have been on for a while…. I can’t wait to go back.

 But there is so much more, a wealth and variety of marine life in the reefs along the country’s coastline. That said, diving in South Africa is not for the faint-hearted. The water can be cold, the visibility poor, the launches wild and the currents fast. But on a good day diving here is as good as it gets. So go on – take the plunge.

The mecca of South African divers is Sodwana Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The warm waters brought down by the Mozambique Current favour coral development, and extensive tropical reefs lie parallel to the shore. These are unimaginatively named for their distance from the launch site at Jesser Point – Quarter-Mile, Two-Mile, Five-Mile, Seven-Mile and Nine-Mile.

This is where most local divers do their first open-water dives, so there’s a multitude of resident dive schools. If you’ve never dived the KwaZulu-Natal coast expect a fairly hair-raising first boat trip. After you’ve pushed the rigid inflatable boat into the shallows it’s all aboard, life jackets on and feet in the straps ready for an exciting ride through the surf.

You can spend hours searching for unusual specimens such as leaf fish and tiny crustaceans on Stringer Reef, admiring the beautiful table corals and shoals of flame goatfish at Coral Gardens or photographing the wonderful rock and coral topography of Arches.

Anton’s Reef is known for its dense shoals of fish while pregnant ragged-tooth sharks often descend on Quarter Mile between May and December, so you can literally sit on the sand and watch these magnificent creatures cruise overhead.

The further reefs are even more spectacular. At Seven-Mile you’ll see dense, colourful shoals of snapper and baitfish, and at Nine-Mile dramatic green tree coral and resident potato and brindle bass.

When conditions are right, “Breaking Waters” on Nine-Mile is outstanding – you shoot over the shallow reef, though caves and pitch-black tunnels until you see a shaft of light that you fin up to. Keep your eyes peeled for the smaller treasures which the dive masters love to locate – beautiful paperfish, frogfish and nudibranchs. You’ll often see dolphins surfing in the backline on the way to these sites, and more than once we’ve seen whale sharks and manta rays.

There are some specialised courses on offer, including Gypsea Centre’s whale shark programme where you learn about the habits of these gentle giants then head out to sea guided by a spotter plane to snorkel with them. Then there’s Reefteach’s environmental specialties course and Sodwana Bay Lodge’s photographic courses.

Further up the coast Rocktail Bay Dive Centre and Thonga Beach Lodge are the only concession holders on a long and pristine section of reef, so they are able to offer boutique diving at its best.

The second most popular dive venue is Aliwal Shoal, five kilometres off Umkomaas. The shoal is famous for its fast drift dives, awesome topography, colourful tropical fish, beautiful corals and ragged tooth sharks. There are also two great shipwrecks, the Produce and the Nebo, where the stars are turtles and big game fish.

My favourite site is the appropriately named Cathedral, with its magnificent arch and ledges under which all manner of tiny critters hide. Between July and November Cathedral is a popular hangout for ragged tooth sharks, so watch for beady eyes in the shadows.

If you want a really close encounter with sharks join African Watersports on one of their specialised, baited tiger shark dives. Drifting along eyeballing tiger and black-tip sharks is an amazing, almost surreal experience.

Protea Banks is for serious adrenalin junkies and advanced divers only. This rocky reef, eight kilometres off the coast at Shelley Beach, has wonderful arches, caves and pinnacles to explore as well as pretty corals and fish life.

But it’s the sharks that most divers come to see. In winter scores of ragged tooth sharks lurk under the overhangs, while Zambezi sharks are regular visitors between October and May, tigers between April and November, and hammerheads are usually in the area in November and December. Of course, like any animal encounter, it’s hit and miss – particularly as the strong current means viewing is at speed.

The Sardine Run is a major marine attraction all along the south coast during June and July, when visiting dive charters join with local dive schools and operators offering surface viewing for non-divers.

The event, cleverly marketed as the Greatest Shoal on Earth, is a spectacle of diving gannets, leaping dolphins and big predators chasing and munching the oily, silver slicks of sardines that move into the shallow waters at this time. If you’re lucky you might be in the water to experience a baitball, a pocket of sardines rounded up by predators into a clustered group near the surface and then greedily devoured. But be careful out there!

The Western Cape coastline offers a range of dive options from wrecks to kelp forests, seals to tiny nudibranchs, many accessible as shore dives.

The water on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula is warmer, and dives on the beautiful boulders reveal wonderful small critters that have macro-photographers snapping away until their lips turn blue. The most famous sites are probably the Smits wrecks, which lie in the picturesque Smitswinkel Bay just outside the Cape Point Reserve. Five vessels, two navy frigates, the SAS Transvaal and SAS Good Hope, a diamond dredger, the Rockeater, and two fishing trawlers the Princess Elizabeth and the Oratava, were scuttled in the 1970s to form artificial reefs covered with psychedelic soft corals, sponges and gorgonian fans.

On the Atlantic side Coral Gardens and Justin’s Caves – underwater wonderlands of bright corals – are great shore dives when conditions are right, while the wreck of the Maori and Vulcan Rock are popular boat dives from Hout Bay. 

Written by Fiona McIntosh -http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com

It seems that this World Cup, the coaches are determined not to hand their opposing teams any chance of twisting words for victory, and they seem to be making a concerted effort not to rush in say exactly what is on their minds – creating a media hey day… no, all the coaches seem to be taking a rather diplomatic approach this year. With everyone keeping quite tight lipped about their real thoughts and relying on the old adages of “we must respect all the teams that have qualified for the World Cup”, “we must not under estimate anyone”

Thank goodness for the local press who really show what the nations thinks!!

In England, the Sun went blazing ahead with a fantastic headline of

England
Algeria
Slovenia
Yanks

This of course was in direct contract to all the talk before the draws about not talking the national team up to much, not being to arrogant  and not setting them so high up so that they have a long way to fall. A classic quote is one from Steven Gerrard who reflected on England v. Germany 2006 “We talked ourselves up too much. Never again. In future tournaments we must learn to be humble. Be calm.” Yes – these words were certainly headed!

 Of course across the oceans, the USA team was most offended by the Sun and was quick to point out that it was “a very favourable draw for the US – certainly not the feared group of death and one that we have a great chance of topping.”

Group C might be “EASY” to the UK, but everyone in the draw was touting their chance to top the table. The Algerian newspaper Al Khabar wrote of Les Fennecs having “a huge chance” to advance, “maybe even at the top of the group”.

Good Luck England! Despite the EASY drawn let’s hope it stays an EASY draw and that we hit the quarter finals! 

With history being made in Africa with its first FIFA World Cup, the mood is euphoric and expectations are high. Nigeria thinks that they have a good chance with their group A draw, South Africa know that their work is certainly cut out for them if they are to have any chance of advancing, while Côte d’Ivoire’s media generally shared their coach’s assessment that the draw had been “terrible”, but expressed belief in Les Elephants’ ability to upset the odds. The one to watch is Ghana who conceded that the Black Stars “face a difficult first round, but that they are good fighters!”

It seems that the general belief is that Group D and Group G this year are the Groups of Death’ 

But, most importantly for The Final Draw itself was the praise from the world press. All South Africa’s hard work and effort and preparations were watched by millions! South Africa’s Sunday Times led with the headline “SA dazzles the World”, while Britain’s Times heaped praise on “an organised draw”, “a huge street party” and “a great night in South Africa’s history”. It shows that South Africa truly is ready for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and that they are going to go out of their way to make sure that this World Cup is the best World Cup ever.

 Everyone will certainly be looking forward to plenty more nights of fun in 2010 and what seems like quite a nail bitting tournament!

But I could think of nothing more exciting than getting up close and personal with the big herds of elephant, buck and other game of the southern African bush. As for seeing lion … we’d be lucky.

I’d signed up for the annual mountain-bike tour that supports the Children in the Wilderness programme. Our route would take us from northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana, through the World Heritage Site of Mapungubwe, finishing up in the Pafuri concession of the Kruger National Park.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – where else in the world can you ride for five days through wilderness, knowing that at any moment you might encounter one of the big five? This was to be a real immersion in Africa yet, outside South Africa, the tour seemed to be a well-kept secret. I suspected a conspiracy – the locals didn’t want foreigners snapping up the limited places!

Previous tours had been held in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, through western Mozambique and the Pafuri concession of northern Kruger, but this route from the Tuli block approached Pafuri from the west, so was entirely new ground even for tour veterans.

Most riders took advantage of the transfers laid on from Johannesburg, hopping on their bikes at the reserve gate to stretch their legs on the final few kilometres to camp. We spent our first night under canvas next to the airstrip and were treated to the impressive sight of a classic aircraft, a shiny DC-3, swooping in to collect some of the reserve’s guests. Our kit bags, numbers and detailed race manifest were waiting on arrival and, once we’d labelled and parked our bikes, we were guided to our tents, all neatly numbered into respective groups.

Then it was time for the pre-race briefing. We were out to have fun, but there were ground rules designed to ensure our safety. I’ll admit to being a bit nervous as we rode to camp, but now my fears about riding through elephant country the next day were allayed.

Each group of 15 or so riders would stick together as a tight unit behind an experienced, rifle-toting front guide. The back guide was also trained in the ways of the bush and was in constant radio contact with the front guide, the other groups and HQ. They carried satellite phones just in case there was no radio contact. I slept well that night. This was one well-organised operation.

Close encounters

The importance of the tight drill was soon evident. After a long, 70-kilometre day in the saddle we were less than five kilometres from the South African border and our camp. The thought of a cold beer was putting new life into my weary legs. Suddenly our lead guide stopped in his tracks.

“Over there,” he whispered. Just about to cross the track we were following was a big breeding herd of elephant – females with tiny calves that looked as if they were going to be stomped upon any minute. It was not a happy group. They’d clearly sensed our presence, and were becoming increasingly anxious.

“There’s another group in the trees to our right,” whispered the guide. “We’ll back off.” Suddenly loud trumpeting and the crashing of branches broke the silence of the bush and we mounted our bikes and fled back to the nearest group of big trees. So close, and yet so far: the herd was between us and camp, so we retraced our route until we found a safe place to cross the sandy riverbed.

Some of the guides from an earlier group were sitting out in a hide on the South African bank as we took off our shoes and carried our bikes across the narrow channel of the Limpopo.

“Was that you the elephant were revving?” they laughed. “We heard all the commotion then saw a load of riders retreating at speed.” I’d been praying for some intimate bush encounters, but that was a trifle too exciting for my liking.

Mountain-bike country

That was our third encounter with elephant that day. We’d also been treated to sightings of giraffe, impala, scuttling warthog and a ridiculously raucous display of snorting and histrionics from the clowns of the bush, a big herd of galloping wildebeest, as we followed the game trails through the mopane forest.

It’s classic mountain-bike country, with wide open spaces and a seemingly endless network of single track – the work of elephant matriarchs carving out paths for their young to follow down to the water sources.

The paths weaved through dense sections of bush, forcing us to bunny-hop over fallen branches and dodge thorn trees. There were a few technical sections – the odd rocky downhill, stretch of sand or loose gravel climb, but on the whole it was easy flowing riding past towering baobabs and over dry, stony riverbeds.

This part of southern Africa is not only famous for its elephant, but is rich in history and home to important paleontological remains such as the dinosaur footprints of Vhembe in South Africa and the dinosaur skeletons of Sentinel in Zimbabwe. Our second night was spent at Mapungubwe – a place as seeped in history as it is prolific in game.

The camp was in an incredible spot high up on an escarpment, and the dramatic rock formations of the park glowed in the late sun as we walked to the viewpoint where a bar had been set up.

We toasted surviving the first day and our unscheduled detour from the route. It was an atmospheric place. Below us was the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers and the point where Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa meet. Now that the day visitors had left we had the park to ourselves, and I began to appreciate the privilege of being part of the tour.

Bush cuisine

Although you ride hard by day, Tour de Kruger is a charity ride to raise funds for Children in the Wilderness, not a race. Groups are arranged according to rider ability and fitness with the speed freaks and the odd professional cyclist breaking the trail and social riders like myself bring up the rear. The emphasis is on enjoying the bush, game sightings and the bush cuisine – a legendary feature of the tour.

You can easily gain weight over the five days despite cycling around 75 kilometres a day in the hot sun. After the first 25 to 35 kilometres of each day there’s a morning tea stop where encouraging Safaris staff hand out copious quantities of fruitcake, muffins, hot-cross buns, biltong and sweets, as well as wetwipes, sunscreen, lube and tender loving care.

Lunch is a proper cooked meal, and then there’s another tea stop before you reach camp, where, if you’re still hungry, another cooked lunch awaits. And the spoiling continues once you’ve finished for the day, with abundant quantities of energy drinks, massage and bike repair services, hot showers, a bar and a slap-up dinner.

Mapungubwe

Day two took us through the impressive koppies of Mapungubwe National Park. The archaeological site of Mapungubwe was discovered in 1932, unearthing a long history of human habitation in the region including the earliest recorded archaeological gold in southern Africa.

Among the human remains were golden ornaments, gold beads and wire jewellery. The most famous find was that of a single-horned golden rhinoceros. All southern African rhinos have two horns, so this find has intrigued archaeologists – some of whom suggest that it’s a representation of a rhino from Asia, where one-horned species exist. As you ride through the park you can’t help being somewhat overawed by this incredible place.

For the second half of the day we cruised the sandy tracks of a privately owned section of the park, the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, a De Beers property which is well stocked with big game and an integral component of the World Heritage Site.

Our camp that night was on the Limpopo River, a truly glorious setting right on the sandy cliff. We sat listening to the soothing sound of running water as we sipped our sundowners then ate out under the stars. The handful of foreign riders couldn’t believe the beauty of the African bush – the tour had exceeded all their expectations.

The next day started with a rollercoaster ride along the river cliff – some of the most demanding riding of the event with steep down- and uphills. The rising sun created a dappled effect in the trees and we flew along, happy, if a trifle saddle-sore. That afternoon we rode into Kruger National Park, through a back gate and into an area that visitors to the park do not see.

We were now in serious big five country. The briefing had been fierce – stick together at all costs and keep moving. The final day through the Pafuri Concession was magnificent. We left our bikes at the tea-stop and climbed up to Lanner Gorge for a view out over the gorge cut in the Luvuvu River. The sight of the great chasm was worth every ounce of energy expended on the 6.4-kilometre sandy trail.

We rode through great forests of glowing fever trees, enjoyed the antics of baboons and saw kudu, impala, warthog as well as some great sightings of tuskers in Elephant Alley.

Our final detour was to Crooks Corner – the point where South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique meet. We watched a breeding herd of elephant come down to the water to drink then, once they’d left, scrambled down onto the sand bank for a team photo keeping a wary eye open for crocs.

Early in the afternoon we arrived at Pafuri Camp where, in the usual slick manner to which we’d been accustomed, our bikes were taken off to be loaded onto the appropriate transfer vehicles – back to the start in Tuli, the offices in Joburg or, for those with flights the following evening, onto the coaches that were taking us back the next day.

Taking leave

Clean and refreshed, we lounged around the camp watching buck graze next to the raised platforms of the tented rooms and elephant drinking in the river. The event ended with a slide show and presentation and we relived the thrills and spills.

It had been a magnificent ride that had brought together people from all walks of life, united in their wish to intimately experience the African bush, to rise to the challenge of the ride and to support Children in the Wilderness. It was hard to leave – after five days together the members of each cycling group and the support staff had become a close-knit family.

So was I mad to sign up? Well, it certainly wasn’t a walk in the park, but anyone who’s reasonably fit and with a bit of mountain-biking experience would enjoy the ride. The distances are manageable for recreational bikers, and the presence of guides and technicians means that you can seek assistance in the event of bike problems, or hop in a back-up vehicle if you’ve had enough for the day.

The organisers go out of their way to make your life as easy and as much fun as possible. But for all that it’s a challenging ride, largely along fairly straightforward single track or dirt road with a few more tricky sections to amuse the downhill addicts – most of which I walked, and felt no shame.

What makes the ride really special is the opportunity to journey through bits of the reserves that most visitors never see. You can’t help but feel privileged that these areas have been opened up for the tour to come through. Makes me want to get on my bike again.

written by fiona McIntosh on http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com

Lying 240 kilometres east of Cape Town, the De Hoop Nature Reserve is known as the jewel in the crown of Cape Nature, the Western Cape’s nature conservation body. The reserve covers around 34 000 hectares, but the offshore marine protected area is just as important. Stretching five kilometres out to sea, it is one of the largest protected ocean areas in Africa and provides a sanctuary for an array of marine life.

Marine life like the whales gambolling just behind the breakers, and the pair of African black oystercatchers that keep me company as I grab a seat on a rock to jot a few notes in my Moleskine.

But let me go back a few days.

Despite its name the Whale Trail starts a dozen kilometres inland in the shadow of the Potberg. It’s here that new arrivals settle into the first night’s hut, get briefed by conservation staff about do’s and don’ts for the trail, and get set to tackle five days of wilderness.

Not that the trail is all about hardship. Each of the five overnight huts is well equipped with bunk beds, hot showers, flush loos and cosy living areas. What’s more, you can pay a little extra to have your luggage portaged from one hut to the next, so you only have to walk with a day-bag for your lunch, camera and raingear.

The trail has rapidly become one of the country’s iconic hikes, so popular you need to book months in advance if you want to walk it during the peak whale season from August to October. Even if you walk out of season, when whales are few, it remains one of South Africa’s most incredible walks.

Day one

If the weather plays ball you’re bound to see one of the trail’s highlights a few minutes into the first day’s walk, as you ascend the slopes of the Potberg. The 611-metre peak will certainly get you puffing, but the sight of endangered Cape vultures – Potberg is home to the last breeding colony in the Western Cape – soaring on the thermals will make you forget all about those aching legs.

The summit is worth the huffing and puffing too, offering magnificent 360° views, with the Breede River and Langeberg Mountains to the north and the dazzling Indian Ocean to the south.

You won’t reach the sea on your first day. From the top the path winds its way through unspoiled fynbos, down into the Melkhout River (a great spot for lunch and a swim) and then over one last hill to the hut at Cupidoskraal. Boots off, shower on (or grab a swim in the nearby dam) and celebrate: the most strenuous day is behind you.

Day two

Not that the second day’s route is a walk in the park. Make an early start, as you’ll have 14.7 kilometres to cover, and the first stretch heads straight up the flanks of the Hamerkop. The fynbos is just as stunning as the Potberg, but luckily it’s only 45 minutes to the top and then a long meandering stretch towards the sea.

Take your time and keep an eye out for some of the reserves smaller beauties. Delicate ericas, rustling restios and colourful watsonias – along with hundreds of other fynbos species ¬– hide among the thick stands of protea.

As you drop off the sandstone mountain onto the limestone cliffs, the changing vegetation is the first clue that you’re approaching the coast. Through a riverbed, past a flock of blue cranes (South Africa’s national bird), around a bend and … there it is, Noetsie, the first of three spectacular coastal huts you’ll call home for the most impressive section of the Whale Trail.

As I arrive and drop down my pack a southern right whale cruises into the small bay, her young calf huddled beside her. Just 50 metres from the shore, they skirt the rocks and linger in the shallows for a minute before moving on. Spectacular.

It’s almost as spectacular as the dolphins that use the bay as a playground that evening. Up to 40 bottlenose dolphins glide, leap and hunt through the stormy waters in a grand show of bravado, either for us or themselves. I brave the chilly waters for a quick swim, but the currents can be swift here so I don’t venture deeper than my waist before heading back to the braai fire at the scenic seaside lapa.

Day three

Day three is perhaps the best of the entire trail. You’ll feel your calves working on the steep climbs up and down the eroded limestone hills, but you can rest them in the calm pools of Stilgat come lunchtime, and long flat sections along the cliff-tops allow ample time for spotting whales, dolphins and birds. Apart from oystercatchers, you’ll see white-breasted cormorants, Hartlaub’s gulls, terns, sandpipers and – bizarrely – Egyptian geese along the trail.

The restless sea has eroded the limestone cliffs into fantastical formations, but it has also claimed its fair share of victims. Apart from countless shipwrecks along this coast, the last steps of the day wander past the small granite memorial to Daniel de Wet, washed off the rocks here in 1933. The pounding surf has carved some lovely rock pools to explore at low tide, but it’s a stark reminder to always keep one eye on the sea.

A kilometre from where De Wet met his end, the Hamerkop hut is perfectly situated just behind the dunes. A wonderful two-story cottage, the second-floor deck is the best spot for sundowner whale-watching. Even after dark you should keep an eye out for wildlife; Hamerkop Hut is home to a curious spotted genet, who regularly visits to see what all the fuss is about.

Day four

The penultimate day dawns and a long beach walk lies ahead. But it’s only 7.8 kilometres to the next hut, so take it easy on the soft sand beaches and enjoy the sensation of a beach with no other footprints but your own. The route wanders past Lekkerwater, once the holiday home of former President FW de Klerk.

Keep an eye out for the camouflaged nests of the oystercatchers: they lay their eggs just above the high-tide mark. From sand and up onto more cliffs, you’ll wander past magnificent blowholes where the high tide blasts up through gaps in the soft limestone.

It’s the same limestone the last night’s hut is perched on. Vaalkrans has the most dramatic position of all the overnight stops, clinging to a cliff some 50 metres above surf crashing onto wave-cut platforms. More spectacular sunset spots are hard to come by.

Day five

It takes no more than three hours to walk the final stretch to Koppie Alleen, but leave plenty of time to explore at Hippo Pools, a wonderful network of rock pools where you can cool off before catching the shuttle-bus back to Potberg.

Whether you walk for the whales or the vultures, the fynbos or the wide open spaces it’s easy to see why hikers from across the globe are flocking to this wonderful trail through the Overberg. Dust off your hiking shoes, book some leave and come and wander with whales.

taken from http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com

Be it an elegant and memorable honeymoon or a romantic weekend escapade in the wild African bush, a relaxing sojourn at the tropical seaside or the mystic of a bustling city, South Africa provides you with idyllic hideaways where charm, romance and tranquillity prevail. It is a country that has it all and caters for every desire! With romance to spare! South Africa strives to provide honeymoon and anniversary couples with an unforgettable experience of a truly superior nature. Experience ultra luxury and pampering, with special features such as special “bush turndowns”, where you return from your game drive to find your suite filled with candlelight, a flower-strewn bubble bath and aperitifs set within easy reach. In the untamed bush, honeymoons are filled with big game experiences, interpretive nature walks with professional rangers, heavenly bush picnics and intimate dinners under the clear starlit African sky. But South Africa’s Honeymoon directory doesn’t end with a bush safari, why not experience the bustling city of Cape Town or on the endless palm lined beaches along the magnificent African coastline, or the tranquil splendour of the dessert!

It truly is the most perfect destination for a romantic honeymoon!

It is well known and reported that South Africa has a high crime rate, however, as a deterrent South Africa is to set up special courts to quickly deal with crime committed during the 2010 World Cup. The government hopes that setting up this fast-track system will enable visitors to give evidence while still in the country and it will therefore act as a disincentive to perpetrators.

A total of 54 courts will operate in the nine World Cup host cities. The justice ministry says if any foreigners are involved in crimes, as victims or perpetrators, their cases will receive priority. South Africa is one of the world’s most violent countries, but since President Jacob Zuma took office in May it has committed itself to making fighting crime a priority as it feels that the tourism industry is the way forward for South Africa and its development. “The experience from previous host countries has shown the influx of foreign nationals in World Cups also potentially increases criminal activities,” a statement from the justice ministry said.

South Africa understands this and wants to make sure that it is fully prepared for every eventuality. The country has said that the courts are there to speed up the conviction process and that there will not be any leniency. The cost of the scheme will be about one million rand ($135,000; £81,250) and judges, lawyers and volunteers will all receive special training.

Here is to a safe and crime free FIFA World Cup 2010 for all fans!

We left Hermanus after breakfast and decided to take a slow and leisurely drive up to Knysna along the coastal route. This journey usually takes about 4 hours by car, but we decied to stop at a few of the lovely little spots on route and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

On arrival at Falcons View Manor, it felt like we were stepping back in time, to a bygone era, a romantic and age old time. Set in a commanding position on a hill top overlooking Knysna village, the whole setting was just perfect!

The house was originally built by Charles Thesen as a testament to his wealth gained through the timber and logging industry which was prominent in Knysna at the turn of the century, it was known as “Hill House” and was a classic example of superb Victoria architecture. With large wrap around verandas, original period fittings, high ceilings, gleaming yellowwood and lounges graced by elegant Victorian fireplaces you feel as though you have just stepped back to the Victoria era. I just needed the big hooped ballgown! I loved it. It certainly invited a feeling of romance in.

 But, with all the “oldy worldy” charm around, there was no way that I was going to compromise on my modern comforts – and again, this Manor came through – all the rooms are beautifully decorated and all have satellite TV and all the other mod cons expected of a luxury hotel. With only 9 bedrooms on the estate – we were treated like royalty.

As we arrived quite late in the afternoon, we spent our time just relaxing in the garden watching the vervet monkeys playing in the trees. We then gathered up enough energy to move into the bar for sundowner cocktails. Cheers! We had dinner at the Chefs Table restaurant, which is a true gourmet dinning experience. It really was a hard day’s work!

The next day, presented with a multitude of options to do in Knysna – including golf  at no less than 4 excellent golf courses and bungi jumping (help!), we decided to cop up for a less active activity and wandered around town exploring the many arts and crafts shops. I was almost tempted to buy one of those little wooden Knysna Loerie birds – they are supposed to bring you good luck! 

Of course, we had to taste the famous “wild Oysters” of Knysna and so we had lunch at the Knysna Quay.  

Late that afternoon, we boarded a ferry for a sundowner cruise around the lagoon. It is a bit touristy, but the views are well worth it. You can sit and sip champagne watching while the sun sets behind the Knysna heads.

 The next day, after a hearty “South African” breakfast and much fond farewelling we set off on the rest of our travels of South Africa, heading for Port Elizabeth.

I had great fun at the Falcons View Manor, and I hope that you do to.

I have recently been to Pumba Private Game Reserve, located about 20 minutes from the quaint college town of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. It is a fabulous Private Game Reserve located in a malaria free area, about 100 km away from Port Elizabeth and is a natural conclusion to any tour along the famed Garden Route.

Overlooking Lake Kariega, Pumba Private Game Reserve offers stunning views of the wilderness and water from every point. Split into 2 camps – Pumba Water Lodge (with 12 cottages) and Pumba Mesenge (with 11 chalets) you are able to enjoy the ultimate essence of Africa’s luxury and style at this 5 star lodge. The staff are extremely friendly and nothing is too much toruble. The game viewing is excellent – we saw 4 of the “Big Five” while we were there – Lions, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo – sadly we missed the Leopard (something to look forward to next time!).

The rooms at both camps are beautifully decorated, and excude sheer opulence. You certainly feel like you are living the high life. While you are at the lodge, you are looked after by the staff and your dedicated game ranger, who, when you arrive has a chat with you and works out how best to fill your days and keep you occupied. With morning and evening gme drives, bush walks and time to relax by the pool or in the library, you will never be bored. This is a place to relax in pure indulgence. Not to mention indulge in your cullinary fantasies as the home cooked food is sheer pleasure.

Children are welcome at the Game Reserve, but only children older than 8 years old can go on the game drives.

With the rates being Full Board – breakfast, lunch and dinner, early morning tea / coffee, late afternoon tea/ coffee and all your game activities – it is money well spent!

So, next time you need a holiday idea – think of Pumba Private Game Reserve.