VOLUME 1 l ISSUE 1
DECEMBER 2019 - MAY 2020
SA
A SOUTH AFRICAN TRAVELLER’S DESTINATION GUIDE
IghNt satay W li -ni
lu at MidLodge Safarlued at va 00 R1P5ag4e 8
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Experience the Kruger Lowveld National Park A beginner’s guide to South African wine
Top safety tips when travelling in South Africa
GETTING TO KNOW THE AFRICAN BIG
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INSIDE: Maps • Adventures • Accommodation • SA Fine Wines
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Bed Linen, Pillows, Duvet Inners Mattress and Pillow Protectors Romatex has been manufacturing goods for the Hospitality sector for many years, and as a result of the popularity of these products we decided to implement a dedicated hospitality division which opened for trading in August 2013. We’ve learnt a lot since then, and have widened our product offering to cater for an expansive clientele offering both natural and synthetic fibre products and a varying range of hotel quality bed linen, as well as other products such as towels, duvets, pillows, gowns, slippers, blankets, mattress protectors, pillow protectors and more. Satin Stitch products as well as bespoke embroidery designs are also available as part of our offering. Institutional Textiles Romatex understands the rigorous quality requirements of the institutional marketplace as well as operating within the local content confines of the preferential procurement policy framework act. We are able to source locally and globally to find a tailor made solution that meets and exceeds your needs, and our SABS ISO9001 quality management systems certification ensures consistency throughout your supply chain.
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24 Ed’s letter
Welcome to the very first edition of ROVE SA! In South Africa, summer is by far the most visited season of the year by international tourists. It’s also a time for local travellers to explore more of our beautiful country. Here is your travel guide for the next six months, to take you places you may never have visited before and experience the hospitality the South African tourism industry has to offer. Where to stay, where to eat, what to do – it’s all here! Unlike most other tourism magazines, we aim to educate both local and international travellers on various topics, such as travel safety tips, province demographics, history and much more. Remember, knowledge only comes with first-hand experience, so we encourage you to visit most of our tourist attractions and experience the different cultures each province has to offer. Each province is unique and has a myriad different things to explore and experience. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our advertisers and contributors for making this first edition of ROVE SA a huge success. It was such a pleasure working on this first edition and I am sure our readers will enjoy and treasure this useful pocket guide. We can only grow stronger from here with your continuous support. The ROVE SA team has asked me to mention that they enjoyed contacting the friendly South Africans who saw the need to be a part of ROVE SA and look forward to a great relationship going forward. We wish you all the best in business growth. Last but not least, travel safe and remember to buckle up. Enjoy your stay and remember to visit again. Best wishes
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NOW?
DID YOU K
cording to the UN 71,011 sq mi), ac (4 2 km 2 91 9, 21 At 1, the 25th-largest ok, South Africa is bo ar Ye ic ph ra og same size as Dem It is about the . rld wo e th in es as big as country of France, three tim the size e siz e th ice tw a, Colombi d five times the size of Italy an Japan, four times dom. of the United King
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Contents
10 Get to know South Africa 12 Arrive Alive road safety tips 14 Top attractions in South Africa 16 SA’s 11 official languages 18 Africa’s Big Five – What they are? 22 South Africa’s World Heritage sites 24 A beginner’s guide to South African wine 32 Editor’s choice – SA fine wines 38 Western Cape 42 Perdeberg Wine Estate 44 Cape Town’s big 6 54 Discover the Garden Route 62 Mpumalanga 66 Mpumalanga – beyond wildlife 74 The Kruger Lowveld National Park experience 80 KwaZulu-Natal
WIN
85 86 90 96 100 106 110 118 124 128 130 134 142 148 154 158
A kingdom of experiences The Ugly Duckling Review – Sugar Bay Holiday Camp Gauteng Review – Bushman’s Rock Country Lodge We punk GP this festive season Free State Eastern Cape Tsitsikamma – Place of sparkling water Amathole Mountain Escape Northern Cape Transfrontier national parks Limpopo North West SA bucket list challenge Emergency numbers
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SMS Cost R1.50, free minute do not apply. By entering this competition you agree to a free digital subscription to Rove SA
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WIN
A 2-NIGHT STAY FOR 2 AT MDLULI SAFARI LODGE VALUED AT R15 400
SMS the word ‘Mdluli’ and your email address to 33903 Competition T’s and C’s: The prize is valid from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, excluding public holidays, local school holidays and peak periods. It’s subject to availability and is not transferable nor redeemable for cash and does not include transport to and from the lodge or reserve entrance fees. Prize includes dinner, bed and breakfast and a game drive daily, but excludes lunch, all beverages and the daily community levy. Competiton closes 31 May 2020. SMS cost R1.50 and free minutes do not apply.
74 66
124 EDITOR
Elroy van Heerden - editor@rovesa.co.za
Hester Kleynhans - hester@rovesa.co.za
AD TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Maurisha Niewenhuys - maurisha@rovesa.co.za Shelly Oxley - shelly@rovesa.co.za Stanley Mwango - stanley@rovesa.co.za
Tessa O’Hara - tessa.ohara@gmail.com
PUBLISHED BY: Tel: +27 21 424 3625 l Fax: +27 86 270 9693 Email: info@rovesa.co.za 6 Carlton Crescent Parklands 7441 www.mediaxpose.co.za Printed by , a division of Novus Holdings Picture Credits: 123rf.com
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publiser or its agents. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, the publisher does not accept responsibility for any error or omission contained herein. Consequently, no person connected with the publication of this journal will be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of action following statements or opinions expressed herein. The publisher will give consideration to all material submitted, but does not take responsibility for damage or its safe return.
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Lifes a beach 7 days a week at Blaauwberg Beach Hotel
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BLAAUWBERG BEACH HOTEL Blaauwberg Beach Hotel is a contemporary 4 star hotel situated on Blouberg Beachfront. Located only 50 steps away from one of the most photographed beaches in South Africa, BBH is the perfect place to break away from the hustle and bustle that comes with the Mother City. With several facilities, including Waves Restaurant, Pebbles Gin and Cocktail Lounge, William Roberts Hair Studio and Juice Bar, Blaauwberg Wellness Spa and three hotel pools, there is no doubt that it is the perfect place for you to get away. The sounds of crashing waves from one of our 140 sea facing rooms will leave you feeling tranquil and rested. Give us a call next time you find yourself in the Western Cape, we’d love to create some exceptional memories with you! Email: info@blaauwbergbeachhotel.co.za Web: www.blaauwbergbeachhotel.co.za
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Tel: +27 21 205 7555 106 Beach Boulevard, Bloubergstrand
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Get to know Before visiting a country, it is always good to know more about it. South Africa has a lot to offer! Did you know that South Africa is one of 17 mega-diverse destinations in the world because of its rich biological diversity? It’s also big! South Africa is approximately twice the size of France, so don’t expect to see it all in a week. Plan your trip by deciding which cities, towns and areas you’d like to visit. 10
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Mediterranean, temperate, subtropical and desert – SA’s weather has it all
South Africa’s weather ranges from Mediterranean in the southwest, to Temperate in the interior plateau, and Subtropical in the northeast, as well as a small area in the northwest that has a desert climate. Most of the country has warm, sunny days and cool nights. The rainy season for most of the country is in the summer, which is November through to March. In the Western Cape, the rainy season comes in the winter months from May to August, and in the Eastern Cape, it is distributed evenly throughout the year. Sutherland is the coldest town in South Africa, with an average yearly temperature of 11.3°C and an average annual minimum temperature of 2.8°C - snowfall is common in winter. If you are in the mood for heat, you will need to visit Letaba in Limpopo Province, just South of Tzaneen. It’s the hottest area of the country, with an average maximum temperature of 35°C. Upington in the Northern Cape can also lay claim to being one of South Africa’s hottest towns with an average maximum temperature of 36°C.
A year-round destination
South Africa is a year-round destination because of its different regional climates. The Cape has hot, dry weather between November and February, while the best time to visit for whale watching is between July and November. The northern areas can experience rain from November to February, but this is also a great time to travel for birding, while the cooler winter months from May to early October bring excellent conditions for viewing big game.
DID YOU KNOW?
South Africa has three capital cities, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pretoria. The largest city in South Africa is Johannesburg.
Kruger National Park will not disappoint – no matter what time of the year
The Kruger Park is a year round destination, with each season bringing its own highlights. Whatever time you decide to safari in the Kruger National Park, you will not be disappointed. Game viewing can be at its best during the dry winter months; however, the wet summer season brings full waterholes, lush bushveld, many newborn wildlife and the summer migrant birds arrive. The Kruger Park has a hot, sub-tropical climate and most of the year temperatures during the day are above 25°C. The best time to visit Kruger National Park is at the beginning or end of the region’s dry season, which falls between April and September. rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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It’s safe if you are sensible, do your homework and come prepared South Africa can be a perfectly safe place to travel in, as long as you are properly prepared. In a nutshell, South Africa is by no means Utopia. Crime is a big concern and incidents do occur, like anywhere else. The country is exciting, vibrant and dynamic - but it also has socio-economic problems, which have left the country with a high crime rate. The good news is that South Africa is safe if you are sensible, do your homework and come prepared. As a tourist, try to avoid dangerous situations by making informed choices. You will still need to take some precautions to make sure you’re not taking any risks: • Stick to places where there are many people. • Don’t hike alone – try to find a partner or group to go with. • Don’t walk around alone after dark and avoid carrying anything of value. • Solo females should wear a cross-body bag or purse to deter bag snatchers. • If you’re planning any adventurous activities like diving with sharks and bungee jumping, make sure you have travel insurance that covers this.
Food and drink is the same high standard you’d expect at home
South African food is the same high standard you would expect at home and the country is one of the world’s biggest wine-producing nations. It is safe to eat at restaurants, fast-food outlets and if you prepare food yourself but be cautious of street food. Tap water in major towns and cities is safe to drink but it’s a good idea to check with locals before doing so. Bottled water is found everywhere, so there is no need to bring water purification tablets.
Is transport safe in South Africa?
Uber, Taxify and other driving apps offer a low-cost way of getting around major cities. Not all local taxis use meters, so be sure to negotiate a price before you jump in. The Gautrain in Johannesburg is a safe way to get to the north of the city from the airport. You might spot locals using a minibus taxi. While certainly an option for the intrepid traveller, it is not recommended because there are no official routes or timetables, no space for luggage and accidents are common. Local public transport can be complicated for first-time visitors and is best avoided. Flying with one of the local air carriers can also be a quick and affordable option to get from one city to another.
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Picture Credit: Arrive Alive
ARRIVE ALIVE road safety tips
Share these suggestions with your family and friends and may you and your family have a happy and safe journey! 1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Obey the rules of the road and carry your driver’s license with you. Plan the route to your holiday destination and allow enough time to reach the destination. Make sure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before departure. All lights and indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes, steering, exhaust system and tyres should be carefully examined for faults. Do not overload your car. Try to avoid driving after dark, if possible. Have a good rest before you embark on your journey. Take safety breaks every two hours, or 200km. Do not drink and drive, and if you do drink, use a designated driver! Try to recognise potentially dangerous drivers on the road and pedestrians alongside the road and keep well clear of them. Be visible – drive with your lights on.
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11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Headlights should be dipped well before an approaching vehicle is within range of the main beam. Always wear your seatbelt and see that everyone in the car is wearing theirs. Drive defensively. Stay within the speed limit at all times. Only overtake when it is absolutely safe to do so. Maintain at least a 2-3 second following distance this distance should be increased at night, in foggy or rainy conditions and when the road is wet. Expect other drivers not to obey the rules of road! Be courteous towards fellow road users - keep your temper and resist the temptation to retaliate. Avoid distractions while driving – be alert at all times! Remember that emergency information is available on your cellular phone at ArriveAlive.mobi or ArriveAlive.co.za. [Advice from www.arrivealive.co.za] rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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Picture Credit: Arrive Alive
DK12183-7
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Top attractions Tsitsikamma National Park Garden Route
l Landscape Richtersveld Botanica Western Cape
yon iver Can Blyde R langa a Mpum
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Kwazulu-Natal
Union Building Gauteng
nd Robben Isla pe Western Ca
Addo Elephant Park Eastern Cape
Pilanesberg National Par k North West
V & A Waterfront Western Cape
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iSimangaliso Wetland Kwazulu-Natal
Park
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in South Africa m
The Cape Floral Kingdo Western Cape
The Apartheid Museum Gauteng
Cape To wn Be Western aches Cape
Kruger National Park Mpumalanga God’s Window Mpumalanga
Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park Kwazulu-Natal
Table Mountain Western Cape
Cradle of Humankind Gauteng
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on Desolati Valley of Cape Eastern
Robberg
Nature R eserve Garden Route
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11 official SA’s
languages
DID YOU KNOW?
South Africa’s Constitution recognises 11 official languages: Sepedi (also known as Sesotho sa Leboa), Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu. For centuries South Africa’s official languages were European – Dutch, English, and Afrikaans.
Afrikaans
Goeie dag
Hoe gaan dit?
Dankie
English
Good day
How are you?
Thank you
isiNdebele
Lotjha
Nivukile?
Ngiyabonga
Sesotho
Dumela (singular) Dumelang (plural)
Le Kae?
Ke a leboha
Sepedi
Dumela / Thobela (singlular) Dumelang / Thobelang (plural)
O kae?
Ke a leboha
siSwati
Sawubona
Unjani?
Ngiyabonga kakhulu
Xitsonga
I nhlekanhi
Ku njhani?
Inkomu
Setswana
Dumela
O kae?
Ke a leboga
Tshivenda
Ndi masiari
Vho vuwa hani?
Ro livhuwa / Ndo livhuwa
isiXhosa
Mholweni emini nje
Unjani? (singular) Kunjani? (plural)
Enkosi
isiZulu
Sawubona (singular) Sanibonani (plural)
Unjani? (singular) Ninjani? (plural)
Ngiyabonga
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Africa’s Big Five – what are they?
Visitors to South Africa typically want to cross the Big Five off their bucket list – but what are the Big Five? Tour operators have borrowed the term from the game hunting industry and adapted it for their own marketing efforts. Originally, the term Big Five meant the five animals that gave their hunters most difficulty because of their unpredictable behaviour. Thankfully, hunting is falling out of favour, but the Big Five tag has stuck, so let’s explore them - the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.
King of the grasslands - the lion
Living in the grasslands, scrub and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, the lion is the second largest cat in the world (behind tigers). African lions are the most social of all big cats and live together in groups or prides. Although extremely large prides, consisting of up to 30 individuals, have been seen, the average pride consists of five or six females, their cubs of both sexes, and one or two males who mate with the adult females. 18
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Lions live for about 10-14 years in the wild. While in captivity, they live for as long as 20-25 years old. The average male lion weighs around 180kg, while the average female lion weighs around 130kg. The heaviest lion on record weighed an amazing 375kg. Lions can reach speeds of up to 81kph, but only in short bursts because of a lack of stamina. An adult male’s roar can be heard up to 8 kilometres away. African lions eat large animals they find in the grasslands, including antelopes, zebras and wildebeest. A female lion needs 5kg of meat a day, while a male needs 7kg or more a day. Lions have astounding night vision. They are six times more sensitive to light than humans, which give them a distinct advantage over some prey species when hunting at night. Lions enjoy relaxing and lazing around and can spend between 16 and 20 hours each day resting and sleeping. They have few sweat glands so they wisely tend to conserve their energy by resting during the day and become more active at night when it is cooler. They are intelligent animals and use body language by rubbing their heads against one another to exchange scents and convey information about their intentions and feelings. While females do all the hunting, males get to eat first even if there are cubs in the pride. Females also remain in the same pride for life and share a very strong bond with their pride.
Did you know? Lions are symbols of strength and
courage. They are also common symbols for royalty and stateliness, hence the phrase ‘king of the jungle’.
An anti-social beauty – the leopard
Leopards are the least social - and perhaps the most beautiful - of the African big cats. They usually keep to rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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themselves, lurking in dense riverine bush or around rocky outcrops, emerging to hunt late in the afternoon or at night. The least visible of the Big-Five, the leopard is nocturnal, solitary and very secretive, keeping under cover during the day. They are also very anti-social with
antelope. Strangely, they are very good swimmers and occasionally consume fish and crabs from rivers. Leopards are highly adaptable creatures, capable of living in semi-desert conditions as well as dense subtropical bush. Their territories can also vary in size from 10 square kilometres, to several hundred square kilometres. The animals scratch trees and use urine to mark their turf. A male will defend his territory against other males, but will share territory with females. Leopards can survive for long periods without drinking, satisfying all their moisture needs from their prey.
Did
you know? Leopards communicate with each other through distinctive calls. When a male wants to make another leopard aware of his presence, he will make a hoarse, raspy cough. They also growl when angry and, like domestic cats, purr when happy and relaxed.
Endangered and ancient - the rhino
each other beyond mating and raising their cubs. Male and female leopards spend only a brief time together while they are mating and then go their separate ways. The female will then raise the cubs on her own. After the lion, the leopard is the next-biggest African cat with an average body mass of between 60kg and 70kg, standing about two-thirds of a metre tall at the shoulder. Leopards in the wild may live up to 15 years. Unlike the lion, the leopard is a silent creature, only occasionally emitting a cough-like call. They are most often found in trees and are excellent tree climbers. They will safeguard their kill in a tree to prevent other predators from stealing it. This tree ‘lardering’ protects the carcass against scavengers and allows a few days of undisturbed feeding. Interestingly, a leopard can drag its prey, weighing up to three times more than its own body weight, up into trees over six metres tall. These big cats eat a variety of food, from wildebeest to fish, but most of their diet comes in the form of rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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The rhinoceros is the most endangered species of the Big Five. Rhinos are one of South Africa’s biggest draw cards as the country is home to the largest remaining population of these ancient animals. They are also one of the largest land mammals alive after elephants. They have existed on Earth for over 50 million years; their prehistoric features and the horns on their forehead make them easily recognisable. There are two species of rhinoceros - the white and black rhino. White rhino are not white but grey, and the name is thought to be a misinterpretation of the Afrikaans word ‘weit’ meaning wide, in reference to their square shaped mouth that helps them graze. The mouth of the Black rhino is hooked. The White rhino is a grazer and the Black rhino is a browser, hence the shapes of their mouths. There is also a difference in size with the White rhino the bigger of the two. The rhino is a very aggressive mammal, possibly because of its poor vision - and will sometimes attack trees and rocks by accident. However, they have excellent hearing and a strong sense of smell. Poachers are tragically responsible for the decreasing rhino population in South Africa. The horn is sold mainly in Eastern countries such as Japan where they are used in traditional medicine to cure headaches, fever and food poisoning and even snake bites. A common myth is that 19
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rhino horn is used as an aphrodisiac, but this is not true.
— the Savanna (or bush) elephant, which is the larger, and the Forest elephant. Savanna elephant family units usually consist of around 10 females and their calves, and the bulls associate with these herds only during mating. Several family units often join together to form a clan consisting of up to several hundred members led by a female matriarch. Savanna elephants are often found grazing on grasses, but they also browse on a wide variety of plants and fruits. This selection varies depending on the time of year; during the rainy season the elephant will feed more on grass than during the dry season. They are extremely intelligent creatures and show a wide range of social behaviour, including complex communication techniques and emotional displays. The most well-known, of course, is trumpeting. Elephants trumpet to signal distress or excitement. They also make roaring sounds when charging. Elephants use infrasonic sound for communication as well, at frequencies too low for humans to hear. These sounds are capable of travelling very large distances through the ground and are usually for signalling something to the whole herd. Elephants also use many other touch and visual signals for communication. A mother and baby use their trunks to touch each other to communicate. Calves, for example, will touch their
Did you know? A rhino’s horn is
not attached to its skull. If it breaks off, it will grow again. Rhino horn is not made up of compressed hair as once thought but rather keratin (the same material that makes nails, claws and hooves). The horn is sought after for its supposed medicinal purposes.
Massive and intelligent - the elephant
The largest animal in Africa is the elephant, with herds wandering through 37 countries on the continent. Their trunk is used for communication and handling objects. And their large ears allow them to radiate excess heat. Upper incisor teeth develop into tusks in African elephants and grow throughout their lifetime. There are two subspecies of African elephants 20
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mother’s teat with their trunk to indicate that they want to suckle. Mothers are known to slap calves with their trunks to discipline them. And just like human babies, some baby elephants suck their trunks.
Death’ and ‘Widow Maker’. It is said that buffalo look at you as if you owe them money, and this is an appropriate description if you should ever come across them on foot in the bush!
Did you know? Elephants can get sunburnt under the scorching African sun. So, they throw sand on their backs and heads to prevent sunburn and also to keep insects off their skin. Even though they have very tough skin, they can still feel small insects walking on them.
Moody and gregarious - the buffalo
The African buffalo made its way into the Big Five ranking because of their size, moody behaviour and their ability to charge with no warning. A large and powerful bovine that has a lifespan of around 23 years, the African buffalo reaches shoulder heights of up to 1.5 metres and weighs about 750kg. Buffalo are gregarious and live in mixed herds, often numbering hundreds of individuals. They are not territorial because they are bulk grazers and need to find suitable grazing and water continuously. Buffalo protect their own! They are mainly preyed upon by lions but often when a herd member is attacked, others will rush to its defence. Working together, buffalo are more than capable of driving off an attack by an entire pride of lions. In some cases, they have been observed killing lions that have killed a member of their herd. The African buffalo is very dangerous and has never been domesticated, unlike the water buffalo that has an uncanny resemblance to the African buffalo. A wounded buffalo bull is regarded as extremely dangerous by hunters and is one of the reasons why this trait is the origin of many hunting adventures, myths and legends. Buffalos are said to have killed more hunters in Africa than any other species. Buffalo are ranked in their herds by their fighting capabilities and will often have head-on clashes to determine rank in the herd.
Did you know? With their killer instinct, African buffalo have earned the reputation and nicknames of ‘Black rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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Where can you see the Big Five?
In South Africa you can see the Big Five at the Kruger National Park and several private reserves. Long a stronghold of the Big 5, South Africa offers perhaps Africa’s most reliable Big Five sightings in the private reserves that border the Kruger National Park, itself a famous Big Five hotspot. The Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve is exceptional: leopards are relatively common there and the reserve generally delivers all the Big Five within a couple of days. Private game reserves in the Eastern Cape as well as the far northern Madikwe Private Game Reserve, offer superb Big Five game viewing in a malaria-free, family-friendly environment, though it should be noted that leopards are extremely elusive in these reserves.
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South Africa’’’s World Heritage Sites
Richtersveld Cultural & Botanical Landscape - Northern Cape
iSimangaliso Wetland Park - KwaZulu Natal
Cape Floral Region - Western Cape
Cradle of Humankind - Gauteng
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape - Limpopo
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Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park - KwaZulu Natal
Vredefort Dome - Free State
Khomani Cultural Landscape - Northern Cape
Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains - Mpumalanga
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South Africa’’s World Heritage Sites
Robben Island - Western Cape
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A beginner’s guide to South African wine People come from all over the world to sample South African wine, for good reason. Many of the best wines in the world are made right here in Cape Town. If you haven’t done a lot of wine tasting before, it might be a little daunting to explore the South African wine scene. If you need a little intro to get you going, look no further than this handy guide. Take a few minutes to read this article and nobody would ever guess that you’re a beginner!
What to expect when you go wine tasting
Wine-tasting can be a great experience for seasoned connoisseurs and total beginners alike. Many wine estates offer other activities, like picnics, kids’ playgrounds, amazing restaurants, cellar tours, pairings, and much more. Most are located in stunning surrounds, and many (like Groot Constantia) contain beautiful examples of the unique Cape Dutch architecture. Depending where you go, you’ll find gorgeous white-washed manor houses, incredible views, local artwork and a rich history. Even if you’re not a big wine drinker, or have kids in tow, there’s something for everyone on a day exploring Cape Town’s wine farms. Research the wine route you would like to visit, and plan your day to include a great lunch and other activities. You’re likely to drink a bit of wine on your outing, so it’s a good idea to arrange transport. The Red Bus (Cape Town’s) sightseeing bus connects to both the Franschhoek
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Wine Tram and Constantia wine route, and is a comfortable and convenient option. Wine tasting usually happens in the estate’s tasting room. Here, you’ll find knowledgeable staff to guide you through the process, telling you all you need to know about the wines you’re drinking. There is usually a small tasting fee, although many estates waive it if you purchase wines from them. Many estates ship internationally, so you can place an order and your wine will meet you at home. The only good sweet wines you’ll find are dessert wines and muscat, which are delicious but too heavy for casual drinking and better kept to pair with a dessert. If you prefer sweet wines, think of this as an opportunity to branch out and find a high quality, world-class dry wine that you like.
Your tasting vocabulary
Before we get into a great deal of detail, here is a helpful little cheat sheet. Learn these few words and what they mean,and you’re about halfway tounderstanding wine tasting. It’ll also make wine tasting more enjoyable for you, because you’ll understand what the staff are talking about when introducing the wines. Remember that the staff at wine estates are there to help you, and they are accustomed to guiding everyone—from rookie to veteran—through the wine tasting experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! They’re there to help you learn and have a good time. Varietal simply refers to the type of grape used to make the wine. Tannins are a compound that occurs in wine. They are responsible for the dry taste of red wines. It’s the same kind of taste that you’ll find in strong tea. The word is typically only used to describe the dry mouthfeel of a red wine: most white wines don’t have noticeable tannins on the palate. Wood - Some wine matures in oak barrels. In white wines, this is responsible for a richer flavour, and will bring out caramel, vanilla, straw, and buttery flavours. It also makes the wine a deeper yellow colour. Not all white wines are matured in wood, but almost all red wines are matured in barrels. The longer the wine is wooded for, the more complex the flavour: you’ll detect spice, smoke, and other rich, deep notes. South African wine is matured in French oak. Terroir and climate - wines are affected by the kind of climate the vines grow in. Rainfall and temperature can make a big difference. Terroir refers to all the environmental factors that go into the grape, including the soil type, geological factors, climate, elevation, and even which other organisms are growing nearby. Colour - pay attention to the colour of the wine: it can tell you a lot. In red wines, it is a clear indication of age. Younger reds are a bright red or purple, while aged rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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reds take on a brownish hue. In whites, it can indicate whether the wine was matured in wood or not. The wood gives white wine a yellower colour. Rosé wine colour is affected by how long the skins of the red grape are left on before the liquid is separated. A subtle, pale pink might only have had under an hour of skin contact, while a deeper pink indicates a longer skin contact time. Nose - the “nose” of a wine refers to the scent you can pick up – florals, spices, wood, and any other elements. Once you refine your nose, it’ll tell you a lot about what you’re drinking before you even take a sip.
Types of South African wine Red wines
There are many kinds of red grape grown in Cape Town, and you might find some more unusual varietals on some estates. Red wines are most often (but not always) matured in oak barrels, and the skins are left on. The result is a lovely red colouring from the skin, and a richness from the wood. Here are some of the red wines you’re most likely to come across on your wine tasting adventures. Pinotage: Pinotage holds a special place in local hearts - it is the only grape that is unique to South Africa. It was invented at Stellenbosch University in 1925. It is a hybrid of pinot noir and cinsault. Pinotage is a bold and complex wine with a deep red colour. Depending on the age of the wine, you may taste notes of red berries, spice, and chocolate or coffee.
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Cabernet Sauvignon: Many estates in Cape Town make great “cab sav”. It is a darker, deeper red than pinotage and often has a more complex flavour. It has bold tannins, and you’ll often pick up black fruits, along with peppery notes and even a tobacco flavour. Merlot: This is a little softer on the palate than “cab sav”. It has gentle tannins and loads of delicious fruity flavours. It used to be mostly used in blends, but you’ll find 100% merlot at a lot of estates these days. Shiraz/Syrah: Most South African producers call this wine “Shiraz”, but it’s the same thing as Syrah. It’s quite a versatile grape, so the wines vary from place to place. It’s a rich, deep wine with a distinct spiciness, and often a nice chocolate or coffee finish. Cape Blend: This is, as the name dictates, a blend of different types of grape. It is local to the Western Cape region. It must have at least 30% pinotage to be a Cape Blend. Other grapes used include merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, Shiraz, or other less common varietals.
White wines
White wines ferment in stainless steel tanks, but some are later matured in wood barrels. One of the most notable differences between white wines is the woodiness. Wooded whites are usually yellower and rich, while those bottled straight out of steel tanks are clearer, with a crisp finish. Here are a few of the white wines you’ll find most often. Sauvignon Blanc: South African Sauvignon Blanc is world famous. It’s light and crisp, with that distinctive 26
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summery acidity that makes it the perfect drink on a sunny day. Chardonnay: Chardonnay is usually (but not always) wooded. It’s usually rich, yellow, and has notes of caramel, vanilla, and butter. Many estates these days produce unwooded chardonnays, which have a lighter colour and flavour. Chenin Blanc: Chenin is another great wine to sip on a sunny day. It usually has some wood contact, giving it more complexity than a “sauv blanc”, but it isn’t as rich as a Chardonnay. It’s often a great food wine. White blends: Don’t skip the South African white wine blends! They are incredibly diverse, but usually delicious.
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Bubbles
Bubbles are an essential element of any celebration. MCC stands for “Méthode Cap Classique”, and it is the South African equivalent of champagne. Sparkling wines are carbonated, while MCC develops its own bubbles in the bottle naturally. MCC is usually a little pricier, but it’s well worth it for the soft bubbly texture and complex flavour palate.
Rosé
Many estates produce fantastic Rosé, although it is not as common as red and white wine. It’s often inexpensive and makes for great summertime drinking.
Dessert wines
Dessert wines are the only high-quality sweet wines you’ll taste while exploring the vineyards of Cape Town and its surrounds. There are a few methods of rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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production. Late Harvest wines are made by allowing the grapes to become almost raisin-like on the vines before they are picked. The grapes produce tiny amounts of juice, but the little bit they do offer is honey-sweet. Another method is Noble Late Harvest. This refers to as “noble rot”: the presence of a fungus called botrytis, which infects grapes in moist conditions. The ripe grapes are exposed to the fungus, which causes them to become raisin-like and produce a very sweet nectar. Straw wine is another type, which involves drying the grapes once already picked, typically on straw mats. Whichever the method, these wines are delicious and pair beautifully with desserts. In fact, it was a very special dessert wine made right here in Cape Town that first made South African wines famous. Groot Constantia‘s Grande Constance is the oldest wine in the country, and it was famously served to Napoleon Bonaparte while exiled in St Helena. Add a taste of Grande Constance to your bucket list!
Where to taste wine
The best South African wine is made right here in Cape Town. There are five main wine routes in or close to Cape Town: Constantia, Durbanville and Helderberg are also within the city borders, and Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are within 30 minutes to an hour’s drive of the city centre. Your best option is to choose a route that’s convenient for you and select four or five estates that tickle your fancy. There are also a number of operators such as Wine Flies Tours, City Sightseeing‘s Purple Route, and the Franschhoek Wine Tram if you would like a more guided or curated experience.
How to taste wine
Once you have a glass of wine in your hand, what next? Here’s your step-by-step guide to getting the most out of your sip. First, swirl it around to release the aromas, and look at the colour. Then, take a deep sniff and smell what flavours you notice the nose. Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for: take a sip. To make sure you get the full impact and all the flavours, try swishing it around in your mouth. And then, the final question: spit or swallow? If you’d prefer to pace your alcohol intake, or you’re driving, little buckets are usually available to spit into. It’s widely acceptable (as is chucking the rest of the tasting glass after a small sip). Do whatever suits you best: the most important thing is to have a great time.
History of South African wine
South African wine has a complex and fascinating history. Take a few minutes to explore the history and your wine tasting experience will be even more interesting. 28
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Ask anyone you meet what they know about Cape Town, and you’re likely to hear “wine” among the first few responses. Cape Town is rightly famous for its wine production, with a viticulture history dating back to the 1650s. Cape Town’s Mediterranean climate, with its rainy winters and long, dry summers, provides the perfect growing conditions for grapes. Of course, the history wasn’t always as glamorous as the rolling valleys, modern tasting rooms, and charming manor houses we see today.
Constantia vineyards
In the early 1650s, Cape Town was established as a refreshment station along the Spice Route between Europe and Asia, and the Dutch governor, Jan van Riebeeck, planted the first vines. Old Jan didn’t know the first thing about notes of gooseberry or tannins or oak. He believed that the wine would prevent scurvy for those starving, sickly sailors rounding the Cape. Jan’s humble vineyard fell out of use after this blunder, but 30 years later, another Dutch governor named Simon van der Stel was granted 2 500 hectares of land in Constantia. Van der Stel fancied himself something of a winemaker, and he had the good sense to bring in some reinforcements who actually knew a thing or two about the process. The French farmers he recruited had the first drinkable Cape wines bottled by the 1680s. However, “drinkable” wasn’t good enough for Simon’s tastes. He issued official decrees that made it legally necessary to produce high quality wine in the Cape. Harvesting grapes before they were fully ripe or fermenting wine in dirty barrels could earn winemakers a hefty fine. After Simon van der Stel died in 1712, his estate was split into three parts — today known as Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, and Bergvliet respectively—and sold. The Bergvliet vines were ripped up to make way for livestock. Groot Constantia, where Simon’s house stood, fell into disrepair, and eventually the vines gave way to unkempt fields. With him, the culture of winemaking had almost died too. Most Cape cultivators at the time thought of wine like any other crop; if it wasn’t going to turn a profit, what was the point? A few lost interest entirely and pulled up the vines to plant orchards and other more valuable crops. Klein Constantia, however, fell into the hands of Johannes Colijn, the son of a wealthy freed slave of West African descent. Colijn set to work tending the vines, keeping the Constantia name alive with his wine. Colijn negotiated the first shipment of Constantia wines to Europe, bringing the Cape’s wine to the continent for the first time. As the wines of the Cape made their way onto the dinner tables of more and more wealthy Europeans, demand was off the charts. Colijn took out a rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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Clos Mal the wine of only a way of us since 200 Nadia Lo food with the elabo flavour, t
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Clos Malverne practices a careful “handmade” style of winemaking,with minimum interference by the winemaking staff, resulting in elegant wines, which are expressive of their terroir. We are one of only a handful of wineries in the world that remain true to the traditional and time-honoured way of using a Basket Press. Our popular Winelands destination has developed a devoted following since 2009 for its fresh, seasonal and easy, contemporary cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Nadia Louw-Smith and her team of expert chefs. Nadia, who describes her own cuisine as ‘world food with an earthy sophistication, cooked from the heart and presented with perfection’eschews the elaborate and creates sumptuous yet unpretentious food, simple in structure yet complex in flavour, texture and colour. At Clos Malverne Accommodation, you will experience a distinct atmosphere, an air of tranquillity and charm not readily found today. We offer quality accommodation, ensuring the comfort and wellbeing of all our guests. Enjoy the beautiful vistas all around and wake to the sound of the fish eagle.
021 865 2022
info@closmalverne.co.za
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loan and purchased the next-door Groot Constantia farm for his sister, Johanna and her husband. The siblings produced the famed Constantia wines together until the 1740s, and the Colijns continued the family business after they passed away.
barrelling and fermenting and bottling. So much wine was produced, in fact, that there were simply not enough people to buy and drink it. Winemakers were left to tip barrels into streams, letting the wine flow in rivers off their farms and out to sea.
Constantia wine route
Wine in Cape Town
In 1779, a portion of the estate was sold to the far more famous Cloete family, who lived in the manor house, and planted still more vines. The Constantia sweet wine grew in fame, notoriously landing even in the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte and Louis XVI, and ending up in the works of both Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Napoleon Bonaparte had as much as 1 126 litres of the stuff shipped to him while exiled at St Helena. It seemed there was nowhere to go but up for the wine industry in Cape Town. However, what goes up must come down - and it came down hard in the late 1800s. First, the export industry took a hit when preferential tariffs where removed. Then, in 1886, almost all the vineyards where decimated by phylloxera, a microscopic pest that eats the plants. The industry ground to a complete halt and when it came to replanting, those who were bold enough to continue the trade grew grapes with a high yield, like Cinsault. The yield was indeed high; by the early 1900s, vines were groaning under the weight of grapes and farms were hard at work pressing juice from the berries,
Demand dropped and with it, so did the prices. It was this imbalance that prompted the South African government to form KWV (KoÜperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt), a co-operative that grew to set policies and prices for the wine industry. These policies had the knock-on effect of paving way for fortified wines and brandy production, for which KWV is still famous. The apartheid era ushered in sanctions and boycotts, and exports dried up. This was a dark time for the country as a whole, affecting every aspect of daily life, the economy, and the cultural and political landscape of South Africa. It lasted for the better part of 50 years, until finally in 1994, the first democratic elections took place. Nelson Mandela was elected president, and apartheid was over. Winemakers finally had all the pieces in place to grow, bottle, and sell the Cape wine, and it began a kind of renaissance. Within 10 years, Cape Town’s wine was served across the globe, and today you’ll find fine local wines at every restaurant and bar in town.
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Editor’s Choice - SA Fine Wines Lanzerac Wine Estate Le Général 2015
The Lanzerac Le Général 2015 is a classical Medoc style blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. The grapes for each variety used in this blend came from the estate’s best vineyards. All harvesting and pruning was done by hand with extreme care taken to not damage the grapes resulting in only healthy grapes being picked.
Mrs English 2017
The Chardonnay grapes for the Mrs English come from a single vineyard 0.78 hectares in size and 375 metres above sea level. In 2017 the age of the vines were 22 years and the crop yield was 7.35 tons/ha. All harvesting and pruning are done by hand to ensure that only healthy grapes are picked whilst extreme care is taken not to damage the grapes.
Swartland Winery Swartland Winery Bush Vine
Our premium, single varietal ranges are produced exclusively from characterful bush vines grown in the heart of the Swartland, yielding wines of distinctive depth and concentration. Discover the true character and complexity of each variety and the story of its terroir as the wine develops in your glass.
Oak Valley Groenlandberg Pinot Noir 2018
Even though the 2018 vintage is considered to be a relatively hot and dry vintage accross the Cape, Elgin experienced one of the best vintages in the last few years. The dry conditions gave balanced canopies and more exposed fruit which created very good concentration and ripe flavours. The clay soils and cold nights of Elgin made sure that the vines did not endure too much stress though. The result was Chardonnay with ripe flavor profiles at low pH and high acidities and Pinots with ripe and supple tannins but freshness on the finish. A vintage that is both accessible early on but with the typical Elgin ageing potential.
Redford Dale BLACK ROCK 2017
Earlier picking means lower alcohol and bright, fresh expression of the fruit. the nose shows complexity through interesting spice and fynbos aromas and a prominent dark fruit note. On the palate, the wine delights with generous concentration and refinded, smooth texture. The vintage is a bit bolder than in 2016 and this is driven by the spiciness from the old vine Syrah yet it is still delicate because of the warmth of fruit that comes from Cinsault and Carignan, which also adds a savoury element to the wine. 32
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Editor’s Choice - SA Fine Wines MÊthode Cap Classique Pinot noir Rose 2015
Perdeberg
Tones of fresh strawberries, watermelon, cherries and sweets on the nose. The palate is crisp, rich and well defined. Complexity will increase over time with biscuit and fresh dough aromas becoming prominent.
Classic Collection Pinotage
An intense dark Pinotage with a typical plum, spicy and black berry nose. Juicy tannins with mint undertones on the palate. The aftertaste is long, fruity and very elegant.
The Vineyard Collection Cinsault
The grapes are harvested from 32-year-old vineyards in the Perdeberg area. The soils are mainly decomposed granite and glenrosa. Cinsault is a very drought resistant grape varietal and grows best in dry climates producing elegant wines. Known locally as Hermitage, it was a key component in creating the Pinotage
Courageous Barrel Famented Chenin Blanc 2018
Citrus, pear, peach and pineapple notes are only some of the aromas evident in the aromatics of this wine. The palate boasts hints of citrus, litchi and vanilla, while the finish is crisp with a well-defined acidity. Enjoy now or cellar for up to 5 years.
Slanghoek Slanghoek Private Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Unwooded and fruity, with layered ripe fig and gooseberry flavours on nose. Perfectly balanced and well-rounded with a lingering, refreshing finish.
Slanghoek Private Selection Chardonnay 2019
Delicate oak nuances on the nose followed by fresh citrus and crisp apple flavours on the palate. Full-bodied with a complex and fruity finish.
Slanghoek Legends Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2017
This Chenin Blanc showcases the effort we make both in the vineyard and in the cellar to craft an elegant and perfectly balanced wine. You will experience a wine that is full bodied and shows refined fruit expressions of pineapple, lime and apricots, interlaced with nuances of butterscotch on the nose. Fermented and aged in oak barrels that complement the fruit characters with a lingering velvety finish on the palate.
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Editor’s Choice - SA Fine Wines Avondale Wines Armilla Blanc de Blanc Méthode Cap Classique 2012
Handcrafted using 100% healthy, organically-grown Chardonnay grapes, and graciously given seven years on the lees, Armilla has had the time to develop an exceptional character and outstanding elegance.
La Luna Bordeaux Blend 2013
A classic Bordeaux Blend with a velvety suppleness, La Luna was made of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot grapes, and lightly filtered after ageing in oak.
Beau Constantia Aiden 2016
The Aidan 2016 is extremely expressive with powerful aromas of cassis, clove, plum and blackberry. The grapes were hand harvested, destemmed and sorted down to berry level before being batch vinified in small fermentation vessels. The wine was matured in 225-litre French oak barrels (50% new, 35% second fill and the remainder third fill) for 18 months prior to bottling, producing a wine with bold, yet palate-gripping tannins that unwind into a lingering finish that demands a sip more. Drink now till 2030.
Nuy Winery Nuy Legacy Celine MCC
(Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend) is fruity, flinty and nutty with creamy notes brioche tones coming through on the nose. It’s fresh, dry, lingering and well structured.
Nuy Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
16 months barrel matured in new oak. It has a dark ruby colour, fresh berries on the nose and pallet with a lingering finish.
Painted Wolf Wines Guillermo Pinotage 2017
From organically-certified Swartland grapes. Made using traditional methods and wild yeast only. With rich, spicy red berry flavours this wine pairs well with exotic dishes such as Peking duck or ossobucco.
Pictus VI 2017
Named after the African wild dog, Lycaon Pictus. A premium blend of the best barrels of the vintage. Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Viognier. Rich, textured stone fruit and spice.
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Editor’s Choice - SA Fine Wines Vrede en Lust Boet Erasmus 2015
This is Vrede en Lust’s flagship red wine. The Boet Erasmus is an elegant new-world style Bordeaux blend. This blend incorporates the classic varietals and showcases abundant fruit that is well-balanced with oak. The 2019 National Wine Challenge awarded Boet Erasmus 2015 as a Double Gold Winner.
White Mischief 2018
The name ‘White Mischief’ comes from the winemakers who were playing around with white wines from Elgin and creating this very unique white blend! This 6-cultivar white blend won a Grand Cru and Best in its Class at the 2019 National Wine Challenge. It also received Double Gold in the 2019 Six Nations Wine Challenge.
Doolhof Wine Estate
Doolhof Bloedklip Malbec 2016
The nose of this wine is richly dense and savoury with hints of plum, black truffle and appears slightly rustic, almost reminiscent of an old world classic. The fruit remains pure and concentrated and follows through with well rounded and well balanced tannins.
TDoolhof Riviersteen Chenin Blanc 2017
The vibrant nose of this wine reveals aromas of peaches, citrus, pears and slight hints of sweet oak derived vanilla charcters. These all pull together and follows through beautifully on the palate and ensures a long and well balanced finish.
Kleinood Tamboerskloof Syrah 2016
A bright ruby colour. Complex 2015 fruit develop into cranberry and blackberry exquisitely opening the violets and jasmine notes. The entry is elegant with well-rounded tannin and the fruitful follow-through from the nose causes the finish to linger.
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Editor’s Choice - SA Fine Wines Spier Wine Estate Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Dark ruby red with a vibrant, youthful rim. An abundance of cassis and black cherry with concentrated oak aromas of toast and pencil lead. A full-bodied wine with a concentrated structure and opulent finish.
Spier Creative Block 2 2018
Pale straw in colour with hints of lime on the edge. Gooseberries, limes and white peaches reveal its tropical character, while underlying notes of fynbos and a touch of white asparagus deliver serious depth. The palate is young and tropical, leading to a long, mineral tail that is tight and structured.
Vilafonte Seriously Old Dirt
Seriously Old Dirt by Vilafonte is the second label from the iconic VilafontĂŠ cellars. This wine is named in honour of the ancient soils on which the vines grow. Enjoy this delicious red wine with good friends.
ZoRGvliet Gabernet Franc 2017
Grapes were harvested by hand and berries sorted into stainless steel fermenters. Fermentation commenced spontaneously and was finished with a pure strain. Extraction was done with a combination of punch-down, rack-and-return and pumpover methods. Batches were gently pressed and immediately racked to small French oak barrels where they completed malolactic fermentation. The components were racked three times to enhance clarification and development. Blending took place after 14 months aging, after which the composed blend was aged in barrels for another four months. The wine was bottled after a total of 22 months.
Warwick Wine Professor Black 2018
Complex and intense, the wine has a broad bouquet of flavours. Notes of kiwi fruit and freshly cut grass are emboldened with intense aromas of blackcurrant leaf, yellow apple granadilla and lemon grass. Opens into a mouth filling creamy mid palate and a lingering dry finish with a pleasant fynbos herbaceous aromatic.
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Western Cape Camps Bay Beach
African Queen
34°26’13.3” S
19°27’31.6” E
ATKV Hartenbos
34°07’38.4” S
22°07’02.4” E
Barrs Pharmacy
33°55’09.9” S
18°25’19.2” E
Build It - Cape Gate
33°51’02.1” S
18°41’34.8” E
Built It - Cape Town
33°54’50.3” S
18°24’59.7” E
Cape Oasis Guesthouse
33°50’10.0” S
18°29’43.6” E
Day Night Late
33°55’52.0” S
18°25’01.3” E
Dream Coast Tours
34°01’39.7” S
18°30’24.3” E
Ferreiras Leisure
34°03’10.0” S
24°55’27.0” E
Flamingo Tours and Disabled Ventures
33°49’53.8” S
18°29’29.6” E
George Golf Club
33°57’12.8” S
22°26’42.6” E
GunFun
33°55’15.8” S
18°25’11.0” E
Inn-Addition
33°52’41.5” S
18°30’49.4” E
Masiuv Find
33°52’41.5” S
18°30’49.4” E
Meerlust Estate
34°01’00.6” S
18°45’25.9” E
Monkey Valley Resort
34°05’47.9” S
18°21’34.5” E
Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore
33°55’07.0” S
18°25’32.5” E
Park Inn by Radisson CT Newlands
33°58’34.5” S
18°27’56.0” E
Perdeberg Wines
33°39’28.4” S
18°49’34.9” E
Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence Cape Town
33°55’06.8” S
18°25’20.6” E
Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront
33°53’57.8” S
18°24’43.2” E
San Parks - Garden Route National Park
33°50’02.1” S
23°27’13.6” E
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
33°51’58.2” S
20°31’42.3” E
Shark and Marine Research Institute
33°57’18.7” S
18°27’42.4” E
Sign Carver
34°01’49.1” S
18°26’00.9” E
Tour SA
33°52’39.4” S
18°38’10.9” E
Wild Horizons Adventures
33°54’11.9” S
18°25’14.9” E
Wine Valley Safaris
33°51’33.9” S
19°45’25.9” E
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Western Cape Route 62
Protea flower
Situated on the south-western tip of Africa, the Western Cape, with its wide beaches and breath-taking scenery, complemented by a rich variety of cultures, historical landmarks, world-class restaurants and entertainment, is a world-renowned tourist destination. Table Mountain, the Cape winelands, Robben Island and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are among the province’s most popular tourist attractions. The Western Cape is also known for its floral diversity. The Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site, comprising eight separate protected areas, covers an area of more than 553 000 hectares, stretching from the Cape Peninsula to the Eastern Cape. The KnysnaTsitsikamma region has the country’s biggest indigenous forests. Cape Town is the legislative capital and is where the country’s Parliament is found. In 1652, the first European settlement occurred in the Cape of Good Hope, to establish a supply station for the Dutch East Indian Company. 40
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Wind surfing
Cape P
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Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Table Mountain - Cape Town CBD
Did you know? Capital city: Principle languages: Population: Share of the total population: Area:
Cape Town Afrikaans, 46,6% isiXhosa, 31,1% English, 19,6% 6 621 100 11,5% 129 462km2
Cape winelands
Known for • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Table Mountain Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site Cape winelands Robben Island Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Cape Point Walker Bay whale watching Boulders Beach penguin colony Cederberg Mountains Swartberg Mountains Cape Agulhas Route 62 Garden Route Cango Caves Bloukrans bungy jump site Castle of Good Hope Rhodes Memorial
Camps Bay beach
Cape Point
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Cape Town’s ‘BIG 6’
Cape Town is a city with unrivalled culture and diversity, boasting a heady mix of old and new. Nothing speaks to this more than the iconic ‘Big 6’ attractions - Cape Point, Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch, Robben Island Museum, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and the V&A Waterfront. By Cape Town Tourism l www.capetown.travel These six spectacular Cape Town attractions are the city’s backbone. They represent the beautiful natural surroundings, rich history, diverse culture and incredible cuisine and wine that make Cape Town a top destination for travellers the world over. Your trip will not be complete without a visit to each iconic location.
1. Cape Point
The Cape Point Nature Reserve is all about natural splendour. You will be treated to some spectacular views of the Atlantic and False Bay coastlines. While you are there, spend some time in the nature reserve where you are likely to encounter baboons, Cape Mountain Zebras, buck, and at least some of the 250 species of bird that call this reserve home. Don’t miss a ride up to the lighthouse on the Flying Dutchman Funicular for some truly spectacular panoramic views! www.capepoint.co.za
2. Groot Constantia
The oldest wine farm in South Africa offers up more than just fine wine and delicious food; at Groot Constantia, you can also brush up on your Cape Town history at the museum housed in the old Manor House. While you are there, be sure to sample some of the estate’s dessert wine – Grand Constance. It was so famous in the 19th Century (then known as Constantia Wyn) that it even found its way into the works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. www.grootconstantia.co.za
3. Table Mountain
One of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Table Mountain is Cape Town’s centrepiece. If you are relatively fit and feeling energetic, there are some amazing hikes to try. For those pressed for time, the Aerial Cableway offers a quick and convenient ascent. Cable cars depart from the cable station every 10 to 15 minutes and the journey up the mountain takes about five minutes. The cars rotate through 360 degrees during the trip, giving you spectacular views of the mountain below. www.tablemountain.net
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4. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Situated on the slopes of Table Mountain, a mere 13km from the city centre, Kirstenbosch is regarded as one of the great botanical gardens of the world. The 528-hectare estate contains over 7 000 species of plants from Southern Africa. Spend the day picnicking on the lawns, strolling through the Protea garden, or discovering interesting plant species in the Botanical Society Conservatory. While you are there, be sure to check out the 130m Centenary Tree Canopy – affectionately known as the “Boomslang” – that snakes its way through the trees of the Arboretum. www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch
5. V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront is South Africa’s most-visited destination: it attracts roughly 24 million visitors a year. There are five shopping districts where you’ll find everything from local designs to international brands, but there’s more to this destination than shopping. There are many coffee shops, restaurants and bars, most with spectacular harbour views. Kids will love the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Scratch Patch and the chance to ride the Cape Wheel, along with many other events and attractions to keep the little ones busy for days. There’s also the new Canal District with its gorgeous city, harbour and mountain views. Here, you’ll find a range of water activities, from standup paddling to kayaking and swimming. There’s also Battery Park, where you can revel in the sunshine on a summer’s day on expansive lawns and landscaped indigenous gardens, interwoven with footpaths and benches. www.waterfront.co.za
6. Robben Island
Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has come to symbolise the oppression of the apartheid government. It was here that Nelson Mandela, alongside many other political prisoners, spent 18 years of his 27 years in prison. However, the island’s history predates the apartheid regime. Over the centuries, it has acted as a prison, a military base and a leper colony. Ferries depart for the island daily from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront, and the tours (including the ferry trips) usually last about three-and-a-half hours. www.robben-island.org.za
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Fully Loaded- HALFPAGE.pdf
Learn
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to
SHOOT REAL FIREARMS
Cape Town
Johannesburg
FULLY LOADED Kruger National Park
Drakensberg
For bookings contact us at +27 21 813 5868 or visit the websites below
www.toursa.com / www.kznparks.com / www.saparks.com
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CMY
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ROXY 14 Wandel street Cape Town
Since its inception in 1990, people of every walk of life have frequented and loved this intimate venue. We may each have our own story but we share a love for good food, cheap drinks, and great friends. Join our Roxy family!
2-4-1 BEER & TEQUILA Daily 4-6pm 1kg WINGS - R99 Every Monday from 6pm
/roxylatenight @roxylatenight The younger sister of the three restaurants under the Roxy umbrella brand, Roxy All Day is situated in Woodstock, Cape Town. Surrounded by colleges, studios, and design workshops, Roxy All Day has become a hub for creatives to 216 Albert Rd, Woodstock
2-4-1 BEER & TEQUILA & WINE, Daily 4-6pm /RoxyAllDayRAD @roxyalldayrad /ATouchOfMadness.Obs
@ATouchOfMadness.Obs
12 Nuttall Road, Observatory, Cape Town
Nestled in the heart of Observatory, this Victorian home, converted into a quaint bar, and restaurant is your home away from home. With a relaxed atmosphere, wholesome food and drink specials daily, A Touch of Madness is perfect space to chill, host corporate functions in our private rooms, celebrate with good friends,or make new ones! Not to mention 2-4-1 specials from 4-6pm daily!
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ve ave
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RADISSON BLU HOTEL Located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean our Premium rooms offer a private balcony and stunning views. Enjoy the sea breeze at Tobago's Restaurant, as you dine al fresco on the terrace.
WATERFRONT Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront Beach Road, Granger Bay, Cape Town 8002 T +27 (0)21 441 3000 capetown.reservations@radissonblu.com
radissonblu.com/hotel-capetown
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TBWA\ Hunt \ Lascaris \ Durban\83694
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BOOK NOW!
T: +27(0)82 732 1284 l www.africanqueenstanford.co.za
T O U R S & T R A N S F E R S
BREATHTAKING PRIVATE DAY TOURS •AIRPORT AND POINT TO POINT TRANSFERS •DAY TOURS•CHAUFFEUR DRIVES •LUXURY TAILOR-MADE ACCOMMODATION & TOUR PACKAGES (KRUGER & CAPE TOWN)
T:+27 (0)76 597 2827 / +27 (0)21 7071349 E: info@dreamcoasttours.com www.dreamcoasttours.com
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These gogetter business partners come with a wealth of experience, having worked together at the Western Cape Build it head office - Chris, as New Business Manager and Glenn as Project Manager. They’re passionate about the industry, and having developed and revamped many stores throughout the Western Cape and Namibia, they’re now ready to combine their skills and product knowledge in their own business. “No
Cape Gate Build it offers superior service, competitive pricing and product range. The store is a onestop destination for whatever the customer needs: hardware, plumbing, paint or electrical items.
ew owners Chris Moragemos and Glenn Gericke promise their customers the best shopping experience – from homeowner to small bakkie builder to developer.
The staff complement has been increased to maintain service levels, ensuring you find what you need.
The recent revamp of the store entailed cleaning, moving shelves, adding a sales counter and the information desk that welcomes you. The shop floor is 1850 m2, and the backyard storage area nearly double this size. Range and stock were increased substantially. A kitchen showroom and a bathroom department have also been added. A specialised designer is on hand to offer 3D designs for kitchens, bathroom cabinets and bedroom cupboards. Another benefit for the customer is the introduction of REAL People, who offer credit facilities.
Customers will find Chris and Glenn proactively involved, always on the floor and ready to offer advice.
job is too small. We tend not to stress. If there’s a problem, we fix it,” says Glenn.
Whether it’s delivering gas, mixing paint or customizing wallpaper, rest assured that Cape Gate Build it – owners and staff – will do it with a smile, underpinning a core vision for the business: to make Cape Gate Build it the number one hardware destination. “We are grateful to our staff for their commitment, and our customers for their loyalty,” agree Chris and Glenn. “We invite the public to come on in: let us show you that Cape Gate Build it has what it takes!”
Cape Gate Build it has three reps on the road servicing customers. Chris and Glenn are also very hands on and visit contractors’ sites, checking on progress to ensure they offer the best service, even after the product has left their premises. It’s important for them to have a relationship of trust with their customers.
You’ll find the staff friendly and wellinformed: they undergo regular training to keep up with trends and product development.
CAPE GATE
GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!
NEW OWNERS BUILD ON
New owners Glenn Gericke and Chris Moragemos
TBWA\76292L
TBWA\76292L
CAPE OASIS GUESTHOUSE T: +27 (0)82 342 8214 l E: info@capeoasis.com 32 Sandpiper Crescent, Table View, Cape Town
PAM & JEFF TAYLOR
MEERLUST ESTATE
• • • • •
Specialist in Touring for the Disabled & the Mature Private Tours only in Adapted Vehicles Self-drive itineraries Personalised Accommodation & Car Hire arranged Arrange-Dialysis & Equipment Hire
T: +27 (0)21 557 4496 l E: info@flamingotours.co.za M: 082 450 2031 (Pam) l 082 920 0901 (Jeff) www.flamingotours.co.za
ready to combine their skills and product knowledge in their own business. “No
ensuring you find what you need.
“We invite the public to come on in: let us show you that Cape Gate Build it has what it takes!”
FLAMINGO
TOURS & DISABLED VENTURES
FOR ALL YOUR MEDICATION & HEALTH NEEDS! 14 Long Street, Cape Town CBD Deliveries in & around CBD Tel: +27 (0)21 421 6756 l Email: rx.barrs@gmail.com WhatsApp: 079 965 3450
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DISCOVER THE GARDEN ROUTE The Garden Route is renowned for its pristine natural beauty and has become a mecca for adventure seekers. Here, in the warm heart of the Garden Route, majestic mountains tumble down to meet the cool blue of the Indian Ocean. George and Wilderness host a wealth of unspoiled beaches, forest trails, surging canyons and tranquil rivers. This nature-lovers playground is home to a number of reputable companies specialising in outdoor adventure tours for fearless individuals and laid back families. Independent explorers will enjoy the opportunity to discover our National Park, golden beaches and waterways.
Wild rides
The upper reaches of Kaaiman’s River are a paradise for adrenalin junkies, thrill seekers and nature lovers. Professional guide, Marthinus Esmeyer, from Paradise Adventures offers one of the most popular, raw and thrilling ventures in the area. The rip-roaring “Adrenaline Tour” involves over four wild hours of kloofing, a local term for canyoning, through some mind-blowing scenery. Explorers descend the soaring and spectacular Kaaiman’s Gorge, scramble over boulders, abseil down thundering waterfalls, jump off ravine cliffs and swim through icy water. Esmeyer, a professional mountain biker, has over 25 years’ white water experience and prides himself on offering an authentic once in a lifetime experience. This is a relatively remote trip, in completely untouched wilderness. It is ideally suited to small groups of nimble daredevils. Look out for the local leopards and tree snakes that can fall into the ravine and hitch a ride. Paradise Adventures also offers tailor-made mountaineering, rock climbing and abseiling trips to suit all abilities. For aerial adventurers, Deon Borrett from Dolphin Paragliding, offers exhilarating tandem paragliding tours of the Wilderness skies. Soar over the National Park, sparkling lakes and 18 kilometres of golden beach. Keep an eye out for dolphins, whales and even the Great White shark in the surf below.
Water World
Total immersion in nature is offered by Fearless Adventures. The man at the helm is Roche Schoeman, an endurance adventurer, medic and extreme sports lover. Fearless offer an exceptional three-hour StandUp-Paddle boarding tour of the glorious and secluded Kaaiman’s estuary. Water lovers will be in their element gliding on the glass-smooth river mouth. Steep forest clad slopes enclose the canyon. The green cliffs are mirrored on the river’s smooth surface, from the “Map 54
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of Africa” curve all the way to the iconic Kaaiman’s Train Bridge. Experienced guides from Fearless Adventures relay the fascinating history of Khoisan habitation, early ox-wagon traverses and the sensitive ecology of the Kaaiman’s estuary. This is a quintessential Garden Route experience and an ideal trip for families. Skilled teenagers will enjoy the challenge of balancing and paddling the SUP boards and smaller children can be catered for in canoes. Snorkel, float, swim, paddle, laze and enjoy the majestic waterfall. Fearless aims to educate guests about their footprint and minimise environmental impact, thereby preserving the unspoilt nature of the valley. They offer zero-waste packed lunches, as well as homebrewed Kombucha and filtered water in recycled glass bottles. This company also boasts the highest abseil in the Garden Route as well as local surfing lessons, exhilarating rock climbing, canyoning and slack-packing tours for the lazy back-packer.
e
e . d
Eden Adventures in the peaceful village of Wilderness, offer a mellowed experience, including canoe hire from the Fairy Knowe Hotel. This is ideal for exploring the extensive network of rivers, lakes and estuaries in the Garden Route National Park. The stable two-seater canoes can also accommodate small children on an extra wooden seat and are perfect for paddling the Touw River Rock Pool Route. Nature seekers can pack a picnic and swimming gear in Eden’s waterproof buckets and head up the serene Touw River through placid reed beds and splendid indigenous forest. Bask in the sun and snap pictures of Half-Collared Kingfishers, Fish Eagles and brightly coloured Knysna Turacos. Watch the shy Red Knobbed Coot nest in the reeds. An easy 40-minute paddle takes you to a beautiful swimming and picnic spot. An alternative canoe route traces a longer path along the Serpentine River to Island Lake. Eden’s experienced guides also offer local canyoning and abseiling tours.
Forest rambles
Naturalists will love the Garden Route National Park. The Wilderness section of the park contains the Ebb and Flow camp with its immaculate campgrounds and chalet accommodation, gentle waterways and scenic forest hikes. The Half Collard and Giant Kingfisher Trails are a popular option for able walkers and families. The trail head is accessed adjacent to the campsite. Hikers pay their SANParks fee and immediately enter a vast cathedral of mature forest. The 7km path winds its way alongside the Touw River, offering glimpses of sparkling still water. Walkers can propel themselves across the rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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river at the rope and barrel pontoon, a brilliant experience for young adventurers. This trail isn’t suitable for baby strollers, but fit families can easily carry toddlers in backpacks. Much of the trail consists of wooden boardwalks with numerous stairs, and many picnic sites are available. The top of the trail boasts a roaring waterfall, magnificent boulders and unbeatable swimming pools. Early mornings offer the best chance of glimpsing the shy forest bushbuck. The National Park also offers more strenuous multi-day hikes along the Outeniqua Trail, as well as bird hides and canoeing trips. An easier option is the 2.2km Forest Buzzard Trail that starts from the Witfontein forestry station outside George. Located in the Outeniqua Nature Reserve, beneath the mighty Outeniqua Mountains, this circular trail winds through pine plantations and indigenous forest and takes in a cascading waterfall. This is a relatively easy walk on gravel road, jeep track, footbridges and forest paths. Look out for cyclists on adjacent busy biking trails.
Mellow strolls and scenic sundowners
with Wilderness River Safaris. Guide and skipper, Mike Raubenheimer, has an extensive knowledge of the ecology and bird-life on the Touw River and Island Lake. Cruise the lagoon on a purpose-built shallow draft boat. Photograph the bird life, encounter magnificent scenery, take a picnic or bring a bottle of bubbles on their sunset tour. This relaxing hour-and-a-half eco-safari is suitable for all ages and abilities. Raubenheimer picks up guests at various guesthouses and picnic points along the river. The Garden Route Botanical Gardens on Caledon Street in George has a wealth of activities for families with children of all ages. A stroll around the dam is ideal for families with pushchairs or bicycles and will pass the bird hide where you can watch the Cape Weaver Birds build their nests. Attentive strollers will spot the Striped Mouse as they dart across the path and terrapins sunning themselves on the banks of the dam. The Mushroom Meander is a short stroll which crisscrosses the stream and has a beautiful picnic spot under the leafy canopy. A fun and exciting Geocache Treasure Hunt in the gardens allows kids with smart phones to navigate to a number of secret treasure chests.
Birding enthusiasts can enjoy a truly tranquil experience
Garden Route Tourism E: info@george.gov.za W: www.georgetourism.org.za
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SECLUDED LUXURY IN THE CAPE
UNTA M E D
UNTOUCHED
UN F O R G E T TA B L E
The Western Cape’s Premier wildlife destination, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is malaria-free and a mere three-hour scenic drive from Cape Town in the heart of the Little Karoo. More than a Big 5 wilderness reserve, it’s the vastness of the landscape, the alluring stillness and isolation amid raw beauty and boundless plains that make Sanbona unique.
T +27 (0) 21 010 0028
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E reservations@sanbona.com
www.sanbona.com
A PROPERTY OF THE CALEO FOUNDATION
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Die b
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KON 044 6 www.
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Begin die pret by Hartenbos Seefront en ervaar avontuur soos nog nooit tevore nie. Met ’n verskeidenheid aktiwiteite en doendinge is jy verseker dat ’n ieder en ’n elk met ’n glimlag sal uitstap.
Die pret hoef nie op te hou nie – bederf jouself met luuksheid by Seefront Solders!
ERVAAR WARE LUUKSHEID EN
UIT-DIE-MAAG-UIT-LAG-PRET
BY HARTENBOS SEEFRONT EN SEEFRONT SOLDERS. Geniet luukse verblyf met bed-en-ontbyt – ideaal vir paartjies, sakelui, en konferensiegangers.
Die pret begin hier! KONTAK ONS GERUS: 044 601 7200 | hartenbos@atkv.org.za www.hartenbos-seefront.co.za
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Mpumalanga
Blyde River Canyon
Baberton Adventures Blue Mountain Lodge Casambo Exclusive Guest Lodge Cradle Health Spa Goma Goma Game Lodge Hops Hollow Country House and Brewery Izizwe Rainbow Tours Jock Safari Lodge Mdluli Safari Lodge River Camp Queens Lodge Spring Valley Retreat Stille Woning Kruger Pride Safaris Twalumba
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31°03’25.7” E 30°57’30.2” E 31°06’03.1” E 27°46’17.2” E 31°14’34.3” E 30°37’01.2” E 31°16’33.7” E 31°33’51.1” E 31°13’44.5” E 30°45’50.0” E 30°07’44.4” E 31°01’04.0” E 31°45’41.4” E 31°48’11.4” E
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Mpumalanga with wildlife and birds. Among them, the Kruger National Park is world renowned, as are several of the luxurious private reserves on its western boundary. Large-scale manufacturing occurs especially in the northern Highveld area, particularly chrome-alloy and steel manufacturing. God’s Window
Mpumalanga means “Place where the sun rises”. Mpumalanga is considered to be one of the most geographically diverse and beautiful places in South Africa. The province lies in the east of South Africa, north of KwaZulu Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. In the northeast, the land rises towards mountain peaks and then terminates in an immense escarpment. In some places this escarpment plunges hundreds of metres down to the low-lying area known as the Lowveld. Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s top tourist destinations. People are drawn to Mpumalanga by the magnificent scenery, by the fauna and flora and by the saga of the 1870s gold rush era and a wealth of fascinating tribal legends. Aptly known as “Paradise Country”, few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the Mpumalanga Lowveld and escarpment. Mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests characterise the landscape. This is also big game country, the setting for dozens of sanctuaries teeming 64
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Kruger National Park
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Blyde River Canyon
Three Rondavels
Did you know?
Capital city: Principal languages:
Population: Share of total population: Area:
Nelspruit siSwati, 29.1% isiZulu, 28.8% Xitsonga, 9,6% isiNdebele, 10.1% 4 523 900 7,8% 76 495km2
Impala
Known for • • • • • • • • • • •
Kruger National Park Sabi Sands Game Reserve Blyde River Canyon, now officially known as the Motlatse Canyon. God’s Window Bourke’s Luck Potholes, hewn by centuries of water, mark the start of the Blyde River Canyon. Echo Caves, situated just outside Ohrigstad. Mac Mac Falls Three Rondavels The Horseshoe Falls along the Sabie River Fly fishing in Dullstroom Sudwala Caves are the oldest known caves in the world. Located in the dolomite rock of the Mankelekele Mountain range.
Warthog
The Lone Creek Falls
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Mpumalanga - beyond wildlife
Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s provinces endowed with natural attractions and experiences bound to astound any traveller.
Expediently dubbed South Africa’s adventure capital, Mpumalanga offers an array of activities ranging from, abseiling, white water river rafting, fly-fishing, paragliding, mountain biking, bungee jumping, hiking and 4x4 trails, to name a few. The province is undoubtedly the ultimate in terms of wildlife experience. The Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands private game reserve and other game reserves dotted throughout the province, offer an exhilarating and unequalled experience that brings visitors in close proximity to nature. The Kruger Park boasts a conservancy area spanning two million hectares rich with flora and fauna. The Lowveld escarpment (Panorama Route) offers spectacular landscapes with attractions like the Blyde River Canyon (the third largest in the world), majestic waterfalls and high-altitude scenic drives leading to attractions like God’s Window, the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels. The province also boasts a rich heritage, which is greatly unexplored. The myriad heritage sites include 66
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the Samora Machel monument near Mbuzini, and the Makhonjwa Mountains in Barberton boasting rock formations dating back to more than 3,5 billion years. Other sites not to be missed are the mining village of Pilgrim’s Rest, the Highveld Heritage Route abound with adventurous tales into history, the stone circles of Mpumalanga, and Goliath’s Footprint, to name just a few. Bird watchers can glimpse more than 500 different birds endemic in the Kruger Park or the Chrissiesmeer areas in the southern part of the province. The midveld offers trout fishing opportunities in pristine rivers and dams, with Dullstroom referred to as South Africa’s trout-fishing Mecca. The Ndebele culture in the Highveld region boasts icons like artist Sarah Mahlangu who have managed to preserve, package and export the colourful culture to international countries. Mpumalanga is also an ideal golf destination with numerous world-class golf estates and courses that provide sheer enjoyment of the game in complete serenity. Get off the beaten track and explore the wonderful
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sights and experiences on offer. Visit www.mpumalanga. com for more information.
Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains were inscribed as a World Heritage site on 2 July 2018. The site comprises 40% of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, one of the world’s oldest geological structures. It represents the best-preserved succession of volcanic and sedimentary rock dating back 3.6 to 3.25 billion years, when the first continents were starting to form on the primitive earth. It also features meteor-impact fallback breccia’s resulting from the impact of meteorites formed just after the Great Bombardment (4.6 to 3.8 billion years ago). Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains are South Africa’s 10th World Heritage site, and the first for Mpumalanga.
Geotrail - explore the surface of Earth 3.5 billion years ago. The Geotrail allows you to step back in time and explore what the surface of our planet would have looked like 3.5 billion years ago. Before man, before the dinosaurs, when the first life forms were only beginning to appear, and the planet was a far more hostile place. Along the route, you will see evidence of the first life visible to the naked eye, of superhot volcanoes, ancient tsunami’s and what could be the first land! It is impossible to overstate the importance of the Geotrail, as these rocks only occur in two places on earth and the other is totally inaccessible. So, come and let the Geotrail reveal its secrets, take in the spectacular scenery and wildlife along the route and learn about life 3.5 billion years ago. The Geotrail starts just outside of Barberton at the intersection between the R40 and R38 and continues all the way along the R40 to the Swaziland border. There are 11 stops along the route, each with information boards. The route takes around five hours to do, so pack a picnic and make use of the picnic sites along the way. It is free for those doing a self-drive tour, the cost of guided tours varies. rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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Explore Mpumalanga’s routes to independence – the Liberation Heritage route The Liberation Heritage routes form part of the Mpumalanga chapter of the National Liberation Heritage Route, spearheaded by the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation, to map out, document and preserve Mpumalanga routes to independence. It highlights the key freedom fighters who fought against racial segregation as well as the destinations that featured prominently during the liberation struggle. The Nkangala District Resistance and Liberation Route highlights four key towns and sites that were extensively involved in the anti-apartheid liberation struggle, which resulted in a peaceful transition to democracy in 1994. These include Delmas, Emalahleni, Botshabelo and Mapoch caves. The Gert Sibande District Liberation and Heritage Route highlights six towns like Bethal, Daggakraal, Ermelo, Saul Mkhizeville (formerly Driefontein), Secunda and Volksrust. Although these are not the only sites within the province that were home to various freedom fighters involved in the grassroots liberation struggle. As more research continues to be conducted, other towns may be added within the route. Detailed content highlighting each town and the various offerings in each place has been developed. This provides comprehensive information about the route, accommodation, attractions, maps and cities. The information will assist in planning your trip when visiting the attractions on these routes. More information is available on www.mpumalanga. com, or you can download information from the Mpumalanga Travel Guide App available on Apple and Android phones.
Visit the birthplace of renowned Ndebele artist, Dr Esther Mahlangu Known as the country’s national treasure for her incredible work, renowned artist Dr Esther Mahlangu was born in 1935 on a farm outside Middleburg, in what is now the Mpumalanga province. She was the first of nine children: six boys and three girls. Following traditions passed down from her mother and grandmother, she learned traditional Ndebele wall painting and beadwork as a child. She became an expert in executing murals as a teenager, using a widening range of paint colours that emerged in the 1940s. She married and had three sons but lost her husband and two of her children. Between 1980 and 1991, she lived and worked at the Botshabelo 68
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Historical Village, an open-air museum of Ndebele culture. After researchers from Paris saw the paintings on Mahlangu’s house in 1986, they invited her to create murals for an exhibition of international contemporary art called the Magicians of the World. In 1989, she flew
to France and lived there for two months and painted a house in front of thousands of spectators. In February 2019, Mahlangu’s Ndebele Patterns sold for a whopping R91 040. She had previously donated her 2008 acrylic-on-canvas work for the benefit of a Soweto art project which was then valued at R35 000.
Have you ever … in Mpumalanga? • • • • • • • • • •
Hiked the Blyde River Canyon trails, through the deepest green canyon in the world? Visited the cultural villages at Loopspruit, Botshabelo, Matsamo, Ebutsini and Shangana? Visited the Samora Machel monument and museum at Mbuzini? Birdwatched at Wakkerstroom, Chrissiesmere and the Southern Grasslands? Rock climbed at Waterval Boven? Explored the southern grasslands’ archaeological sites in Ermelo? Photographed the sculptural wonder of the Bourke’s Luck Potholes? Taken a historical gold mining tour of Pilgrim’s Rest and Barberton, or panned for gold? Played golf at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, or many other Mpumalanga golf courses? Explored the Sudwala Caves, the oldest dolomite caves in the world?
Top 10 things you may not know about Mpumalanga
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South Africa’s first Stock Exchange was built in Barberton in 1884 during the gold rush. The world-renowned artist, Gerald Sekoto, was born at Botshabelo near Middelburg, on 9 December 1913. Makhonjwa Mountains in Barberton boast the oldest rock formations in the world dating back 3,5 billion years. By far the world’s largest underground coalmining complex is in Secunda, making Mpumalanga South Africa’s powerhouse. The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world and the largest green canyon. The Kruger National Park is 2 million hectares in size. South African icons, Ray Phiri, Marriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Zakes Nkosi, Lucky Dube and Rebecca Malope all hail from Mpumalanga. The Sudwala Caves are the oldest known dolomite caves in the world. The caves are approximately 2000 million years old. Pilgrim’s Rest was the second town in South Africa after Kimberly to be electrified. The electricity was generated from a hydro electrical plant in the Blyde River Canyon built in 1911. The giant footprint, otherwise known as the Goliath’s Footprint, embossed on a rock on a farm near Ermelo, is 1.8 metres long.
Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency T: +27 (0)13 759 5300 E: info@mtpa.co.za W: www.mpumalanga.com Reservations: reservations@mtpa.co.za rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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twalumbamarloth@gmail.com
Aliza - 072 881 9031
Marloth Park Your Holiday in the Bush! • • • • • • •
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Selfcatering accommodation 12 Sleeper - 4 per house Swimming pool Braai area Each house has a kitchenette Fully equiped communal kitchen Walking distance from Kruger Park fence
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AN AUTHENTIC, LUXURY AFRICAN SAFARI EXPERIENCE Mdluli is an affordable luxury tented experience inside the incomparably beautiful Kruger National Park, developed in partnership with the Mdluli Royal Family and Community. The Lodge is on the south-western side of the Park, which is often a hotspot for spotters of the Big Five. It’s easily accessed through a private road near Numbi Gate, which is a four-hour drive from Gauteng. The Lodge offers 50 luxury air-conditioned, en-suite tents, which can sleep a family of four. Each tent has a private patio and both an indoor and outdoor shower.
BOOK YOUR STAY +27 13 750 0552 | cro@echoafrica.co.za | www.aha.co.za A MEMBER OF
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Sawubona! You are Welcome We’ll not lead things towards you,with you we’ll find a lead towards things
WE DO:
Explore Kruger National Park with
Panorama tours l Kruger safari tours l Culture and villages tours l Trails, traces and heritage tours
Kruger Pride Safaris
Awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the last 5 years For more information visit us at www.krugerpridesafaris.com or phone +27 83 285 0517 Quote ‘RoveSA’ to receive a 5% discount Marloth Park . Malelane . Komatipoort
Contact E: bookings@izizwerainbowtours.co.za info@izizwerainbowtours.co.za T: +27 (0)81 711 8750 (Calls & WhatsApp) www.izizwerainbowtours.co.za
Situated on the Longtom Pass, Mpumalanga. Hops Hollow is the ideal place for families, beer drinkers, nature lovers and peace seekers to stay over or just stop for a good beer, grab some lunch or just enjoy great company. Contact Us T: +27 (0)13 235 8910 l M: 076 151 1939 www.hopshollow.com
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Nestled in the foothills of the Majestic Magalies Mountains, in the picturesque village of Hartbeespoort Dam, Cradle Health Spa – Conference and Wellness Centre is the ideal oasis for a holistic healing experience.
Contact Us 0860 272 353 076 660 4025 info@cradlehealthspa.co.za www.cradlehealthspa.co.za
Gomo Gomo Game Lodge is a private and intimate camp situated in the prestigious Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, offering you excellent game viewing. The Klaserie now forms part of the Greater Kruger Nation Park with a common unfenced boundary.
RESERVATION AND MARKETING OFFICE T: +27 (0)13 752 3954 l F: +27 (0)13 752 3002 E: gomo@netafrive.co.za l W: www.gomogomo.co.za 062-079_ROVE SA_Issue 1.indd 73
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The Kruger Lowveld National Park experience Welcome to the Kruger lowveld were great outdoors gives way to the natural splendour of whispering forests, magical waterfalls and leafy gorges all waiting to be explored. Teeming with magnificent wildlife and undulating landscapes, this is every hiker’s dream. Dramatic gorges and passes beckon to those seeking a reprieve. Get lost in the spectacular scenery or try one of the many thrilling activities. Be brave! Take a leap! While in the Lowveld, meet the locals and immerse yourself in fascinating cultures and signature festivals. Indulge in exotic foods. Visit unconventional township eateries. Explore the distinctive roadside crafts and curios. Discover the alluring history of a bygone era. Look for ghosts, pan for gold, go fishing, go rafting! Create picture perfect moments in the air or with your feet firmly on the ground. With wide ranging accommodation options, a truly memorable experience awaits you.
Unspoiled, natural beauty, expansive vistas & diversity is the Kruger National Park
Very few places on earth can beat the unspoiled, natural beauty, expansive vistas and diversity offered by the Kruger National Park. Covering an area of close to 20 000 square kilometres and extending 360km from north to south, the park is the flagship of South Africa’s national parks and is considered one of the largest and most diverse wildlife reserves on the African continent. 74
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Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man’s interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries – from San rock paintings to majestic iron age archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela – is evident in the park. These treasures represent the cultures, people and events that played a role in the history of the park. With an extensive and excellent road network, supported by an almost endless supply of publications, most visitors can explore the park on their own easily and safely. For the not so adventurous and Africa novices, guided tours on open-sided safari vehicles are available. They are also available for visitors staying outside the park. For the more outdoors types, wilderness trails, back-pack trails and a guided 4x4 trail along the entire eastern boundary of the park are available. There are numerous accommodation options scattered through the park to suit the needs of every class of visitor. There are 11 large national park-run rest camps, rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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offering self-catering bungalows, permanent tents and campsites. Most of these have a shop, restaurant and swimming pool, and offer the guest guided drives, including night drives, and guided walks. The park also has seven smaller bushveld camps, which forgo the larger camp amenities for greater peace and tranquillity. Most of these camps are situated at the end of roads reserved for use by camp residents only. For those seeking the ultimate luxury, there are several privately-run, award-winning game lodges situated in exclusive-use, traversing areas within the Kruger National Park. Here your every desire is catered for, from privately-guided safaris and sumptuous food prepared by leading chefs, to an extensive wine selection and spa treatments.
The Panorama Route
The town of Lydenburg/Mashishing is the gateway from the west into this famous and iconic South African tourism destination – the Panorama Route. Renowned for its dramatic scenery and breath-taking views, the Panorama Route is a must visit for both domestic and international visitors. For South African visitors, the region represents an intrinsic element of our heritage – an essential part of learning about and discovering our country. As an international visitor, it is simply an essential and not-tobe-missed component of any meaningful explore South Africa itinerary. The essence of the Panorama Route is to drive the route and stop along the way at view sites and unique natural wonders. From Lydenburg/Mashishing you can enter the route from two roads: either the R36 via
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Ohrigstad and then right onto the R532, or via the R37 and Long Tom Pass, one of South Africa’s renowned mountain passes. Taking the R36, you will pass the turnoff to Robbers Pass and Ohrigstad Dam and Nature Reserve. Just after Echo Caves, turn right onto the prime section of the route. Here you can stop and see several iconic attractions - Blyde River Canyon and Blydepoort Dam, the Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Lowveld View, Berlin Falls, Lisbon Falls, Wonder View, God’s Window and the Pinnacle. It is for these natural attractions that the Panorama Route is famous. If you take the R37, you can enjoy a prelude of the town of Sabie and its landmark waterfalls: Bridal Veil Falls and Lone Creek Falls. Then on to Graskop (perhaps for a pancake?) or visit the Lowveld’s newest attraction, the Graskop Gorge Lift. Proceed to follow the route from the lower side, starting at the Pinnacle and ending at the junction of the R532 and R36. An interesting loop on the Panorama Route is Vaalhoek Road – a well-maintained gravel road suitable for almost all vehicles that run from Bourke’s Luck Potholes to Pilgrim’s Rest – a gem of a trip!
The Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail
One cannot visit the Kruger Lowveld without visiting what is the oldest mountain range on earth, the Barberton Mokhanjwa, which has recently been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rugged Makhonjwa Mountains are perhaps the most complete portrait of the earth approximately 3.2 to 3.5 billion years ago. The Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail tells an astonishing story of the earth soon after it cooled sufficiently to have
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a crust and liquid water, but an earth unrecognisable to us – wholly different to the blue planet we inhabit today. The 3.2 to 3.5 billion-year-old beach deposit is so well defined you can see tidal intervals; trace fossilised bio mats in sandstone, the first signs of life on earth that you can see with the naked eye; piles of volcanic pillows formed by lava extruding on an ocean floor, or volcanic hailstones preserved in dove-grey chert sediments. All of these and more can be found at geosites along the scenic road to Bulembu, and on to Piggs Peak. Striking and informative roadside panels have been installed along the 40km of tarred road between Barberton and Swaziland. A dozen attractively landscaped geological laybys and viewpoints have been built, illustrating how the earth evolved from a lifeless, hot steaming planet, to an environment that supports life. The geotrail provides visitors of all ages with an enjoyable and educational outdoor experience, guaranteed to provide new and fascinating insights into how life on earth began.
dolomite rock and dissolving over time to create massive chambers and narrow passages. While only opened to the public in the 1960s, the caves offered shelter to Homo habalis, an early ancestor of modern humans. In the mid-1800s the caves played a role in sheltering Somquba (brother to Swazi King Mswati II) and his followers during the struggle for power of the Swazi Kingdom. The caves were named after Sudwala, one of Somquba’s indunas (a Zulu title meaning advisor, great leader, ambassador, headman or commander of a group of warriors) and the appointed guardian of the caves. More recently, during the second South African War (1899-1902), the Boer army stored ammunition, including shells for the “Long Tom Cannon”, in the caves. It has also long been believed that the mystical missing Kruger millions were hidden in the caves. Exploring the caves on the one-hour cave tour is relatively easy, with no special skills or extreme fitness required. You will venture about 600m into the central chamber, 75m in diameter and 35m high, as large as a 500-seater concert hall, a purpose for which it is occasionally used. The chamber is naturally ventilated with its temperature a constant 17oC from an unknown source. The caves are open daily from 08h30 to 16h30.
The Sudwala Caves
The Sudwala Caves, situated 35km outside Nelspruit/ Mbombela, is a popular tourist attraction in the earth’s oldest known cave system. Dating back over 3 000 million years, the Sudwala Caves were formed by natural acid in groundwater, seeping through faults in the 76
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MUST SEE ... in Kruger Lowveld • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The Big 5 – Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo and the Little 5 - Elephant Shrew, Buffalo Weaver Bird, Rhinoceros Beetle, Leopard Tortoise and Antlion The Graskop Gorge Lift Company, God’s Window, Wonder View and the Pinnacle outside Graskop, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Blyde River Canyon, the Three Rondavels The quaint historic mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest The Herbert Baker-designed St Peter’s Anglican Church in Sabie The replica of the Long Tom canon on the Long Tom Pass The Voortrekker School (1851) opposite the Voortrekker Church (1852) in Lydenburg The wild horses, the magnificent rock fields and the splendour of the flowering aloes in winter at Kaapschehoop The Lowveld National Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit – one of only eight such gardens in South Africa The “sentinel of the Lowveld” – Legogote – the mountain shaped like a sleeping lion The unique geology of the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site The Jock of the Bushveld statue in front of the town hall in Barberton The vast, undulating sugar cane fields between Malalane and Komatipoort The Samora Machel Monument – a monument to the leader of the struggle against colonial rule in Mozambique and that county’s first president The Old Car Museum at Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre in White River
MUST DO ... in Kruger Lowveld • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Shopping with the curio-sellers stationed the length of the Panorama Route Drive the scenic Vaalhoek road following one of the world’s oldest power lines Visit the museums and pan for gold in Pilgrim’s Rest Eat a pancake in Graskop where, for some unknown reason, they are endemic! Go down the Graskop Gorge in a glass lift or on the Big Swing Throw yourself off a mountain or into a river in the Sabie River Valley Contemporary country shopping from boutiques to bathtubs in White River Ride a motorbike on the winding loops of the road from Sabie to Hazyview Mountain bike on one of the dozens of challenging trails in and around Sabie Trout fishing in and around Lydenburg The Barberton Heritage Walk, starting at the museum – a glimpse of the gold rush Play golf in the Kruger National Park where you may encounter some interesting wildlife Try your hand at tiger fishing in the Komati River Stand on the bridge at Malalane Gate and spot the Elephants, Hippos and Crocodiles Visit the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s most iconic game reserve Take a hike on one of the numerous mountain and forest trails around Graskop and Sabie State of the art retail therapy, entertainment and gaming in Nelspruit/Mbombela Indulge in an authentic, close-up safari experience at a private game reserve Eat and drink at one of the many quirky restaurants around Hoedspruit, while enjoying magnificent views of the Drakensberg Mountains. Walk on the wild side on one of the Kruger National Park’s wilderness trails
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Queens River Adventure Camp is suited for: Veldschool Camps • Team Building Leadership Development • Adventure Trails Hiking Trails
Jackie 072 604 9600 l jackie@queensrivier.co.za Pieter 076 825 5794 l pieter@queensriver.co.za Please note we have almost no cellphone reception on the trail. Send WhatsApp or email for a quick response
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LEGENDARY EXPERIENCES IN THE KRUGER
UNTA M E D
UNTOUCHED
UN F O R G E T TA B L E
Nestled amidst the lush vegetation in the South-Western corner of the majestic beauty that is the Kruger National Park, Jock Safari Lodge emerges at the pinnacle where the Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers flow as one – a space for breath-taking wildlife sightings.
T +27 (0) 13 010 0019
E reservations@jocksafarilodge.com
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www.jocksafarilodge.com
A PROPERTY OF THE CALEO FOUNDATION
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KwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Anew Hotels Artizen Restaurant and Lounge Bronze Grove Farm & Chalets Caza Beach Guest House House at Glengariff Lions River Country Cottages Little India Restaurant Mushamplanes Lounge Sanmor Travel & Tours Sugar Bay Resorts Sugar Hill Manor The Ugly Duckling TM Tours Toad Hall Self Catering Cottages Umlilo Lodge Umphafa Berg Tours
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KwaZulu-Natal
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KwaZulu-Natal is the province with the second largest population and is also one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations. This fertile region includes South Africa’s lush subtropical east coast. Washed by the warm Indian Ocean, it stretches from Port Edward in the south, and northwards to the Mozambique boundary. The province also has sweeping savanna in the east, and the majestic Drakensberg mountain range in the west, that offers some of the country’s most aweinspiring landscapes. Known as the Kingdom of the Zulu, KwaZulu-Natal is a melting pot of African, European and Indian cultures. This province boasts two World Heritage Sites – the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park - a vast 243 000 hectare sweep of basalt summits and buttresses. There province has two major harbours – the port of Durban, which is one the busiest in Africa, and Richards Bay, which is an important coal-export harbour. KwaZulu-Natal is the only province with a monarchy specifically provided for in the Constitution, Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, based in Ulundi. 82 080-095_ROVE SA_Issue 1.indd 82
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Ushaka Marine - Durban
Did you know? Capital city:
Pietermaritzburg
Principal languages:
isiZulu, 82.5% English, 12.5% Afrikaans, 1%
Population:
11 384 700
Share of total population:
19,7%
Area:
94 361km2
Surfing
Known for •
The World Heritage-listed Drakensberg mountains
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Durban’s golden beaches and surf breaks
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A thriving Zulu culture
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The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
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Sodwana Bay National Park
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The iSimangaliso Wetland Park
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The Kwa Cheetah Breeding Project
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Nambiti Private Game Reserve
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Sani Pass
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The KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields Route
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Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve
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The Nelson Mandela Capture Site (the spot where
St. Lucia Wetland Park
Mandela was arrested on 5 August 1962) White Rhino at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
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Over the years Mashamplane’s Lounge have demonstrated that it is able to attract visitors and host impeccable events that puts the host municipality in a positive spotlight, as well as provide an ethnic township experience as part of offering visitors unique experiences that go beyond the beach and into the realm of Durban’s cultural and scenic diversity. Our successful past events featuring record-breaking artists from across the country and distinct wine, whiskey, gin & tonic tasting events right in the middle of the township is demonstrable evidence that we are capable of creatively managing and coordinating “bourgeoisie events” in the context of township lifestyle, thereby attracting a market often reserved for establishments in upper middle-class suburbs
Owner: Bonga Shange l Operational Manager: Derrick Shange M: +27 (0)72 757 6858 l F: 086 619 6708 l E: bshange4@gmail.com 98 Dennis Shepstone Road, Extension 1, Chesterville, 4091
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KwaZulu-Natal – a kingdom of experiences More than just sunshine and golden beaches, the Zulu Kingdom is the ultimate traveller’s destination. Whether you’re seeking an epic road trip, a romantic getaway, extreme adventure, a safari escape, a family beach holiday, sumptuous luxury, artisan culture, a heritage tour or much more… you have got to visit KZN!
Adventure
Visit the awesome Oribi Gorge on the south coast of KZN and experience the adrenaline rush of the highest gorge swing in the world. Other activities nearby include ziplining, abseiling, horse riding and more. T +27 (0)82 566 7424 W www.wild5adventures.co.za
Heritage
Visit the Nelson Mandela Capture site. This is the site of one of South Africa’s historic events, which has enormous significance as it’s where Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom was interrupted for 27 years. The old main road (R103), 5km from Howick, is where Mandela was ‘captured‘ on his return journey to Johannesburg. T +27 (0)33 330 8195 W www.thecapturesite.co.za
Beach
Visit uShaka Marine World in Durban, the biggest attraction on Durban’s Golden Mile, offering world-class entertainment and interest with the largest aquarium in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, underground viewing galleries allow you to get up close and personal with all types of marine life, including the aquarium’s famous dolphins. T +27 (0)31 328 8000 W www.ushakamarineworld.co.za
280 kilometres north of Durban in central KwaZulu-Natal and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts. The park is the only state-run park in KZN where each of the big five game animals can be found. T +27 (0)33 845 1999 W www.kznwildlife.com/hluhluwe-game-reserve.html
Romance
Go hot air ballooning in the KZN Midlands and enjoy the scenery while floating through the clouds. The hot air balloons fly from various locations; Tala Valley, Champagne Valley and the Midlands, close to Hartford House. W www.skyadventures.co.za/hot-air-balloon-flights-kzn
Luxury
The SOUTH COAST, in addition to beautiful beaches and balmy weather, offers a variety of activities for visitors including scuba diving with ragged tooth sharks, zip-lining and bungee swing off the edge of the spectacular Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, white water rafting, a round of golf or timeout at a spa. Head to The Gorge Private Game Lodge and Spa, located on the edge of the Oribi Gorge – enjoy the spectacular view from your suite,private dining at the pool and spa-time in abundance. Or Selborne Golf Estate, Hotel and Spa where rounds of golf, beach time and relaxing at the spa blend with KZN’s history and verdant coastal forests. To find out more about the exceptional experiences you can enjoy in KZN, go to www.zulu.org.za
Safari
Visit Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, formerly Hluhluwe– Umfolozi Game Reserve, the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa. It consists of 960km² of hilly topography rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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The Ugly Duckling – the fun shop that’s worth a stop
If you have ever driven on the old R103 on your way to Giant’s Castle in KwaZulu-Natal, then you would have either visited The Ugly Duckling, or driven past its big, blue rustic building boasting a massive wooden elephant in the front to welcome you, or maybe just heard of this quirky shop that sells just about anything. Wander into The Ugly Duckling and you are immediately greeted by the friendly staff and the sound of music jamming in the background. It doesn’t get any better than browsing through all of the unique items for sale and listening to some epic, retro upbeat classics like The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, The Beatles and many, many more. As you immerse yourself in this fun shop you cannot help but be in awe of the vast amount and huge variety of items for sale. The Ugly Duckling is a décor, gifting and furniture store like none you have ever seen before. The Ugly Duckling specialises in unique imported handicrafts from India and Indonesia, and also local crafters. You will find the most beautiful and unique wooden furniture, locally made sleeper wood furniture, ornate mirrors, word sign boards, metal art paintings, décor bowls, handicrafts, chimes, bamboo gongs, retro antiques, unique clothing from the East, jewellery, embellished bling pens, leather wallets, antique replica gramophones (and they work!), antique replica brass nautical goods, fun wooden toys, 100% cotton throws in almost every colour, jute carpets, a massive selection of atlas globes, handmade and hand-painted musical instruments that will blow your socks off, ceramic doorknobs and much, much more!
up those kitchen cupboards, bedroom cupboards or that little dresser that you have been itching to tackle one weekend with some chalk paint. However, let us go back 30 years and start at the beginning. The Ugly Duckling is a family run business. In 1998, Rolfe Bettison saw the potential to open a handicraft shop in what was a dilapidated building in Rosetta, which was trading as a community trading store, post office and scrap yard. With the help of his wife, Susan, they started working on creating the Ugly Duckling in Rosetta and opened their doors in September 1998. What started out as one shop in Rosetta on the Midlands Meander, has expanded to more branches scattered across South Africa. All of The Ugly Duckling shops are situated in tranquil, lifestyle areas away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Let’s focus on the ceramic doorknobs a little more…
You can now find The Ugly Duckling in tourist destinations like Parys (Free State), Clarens (Free State), Central Drakensberg (opposite Champagne Sports Resort), two branches in Hartbeespoort (in Chameleon Village and opposite The Snake Park), and three branches in the beautiful Midlands Meander at Rosetta, The Junction (Nottingham Road), and Balgowan (opposite Granny Mouse).
The Ugly Duckling is arguably the one shop that stocks the biggest selection of ceramic doorknobs in the country. With over 350 different designs and patterns to choose from, you are bound to find something to spruce
There is something for everyone, so we invite you to waddle on out to any of The Ugly Duckling stores to be amazed. It really lives up to its slogan - “The Fun Shop That’s Worth a Stop”.
The Ugly Duckling 84 Main Road R103 Rosetta Kwazulu-Natal T: +27 (0)33 267 7263 E: sales@theuglyduckling.co.za W: www.theuglyduckling.co.za
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Treasure trove of unique trinkets & curiosities A must-see for all travellers
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Artizen Restaurant and Lounge, is a lively KZN establishment known for its nightlife. Situated in the heart of Kwa Mashu, North of Durban, it boasts state of the art audio & visual equipment, premium bar, a restaurant & shisanyama. Take in the breath-taking views with a chilled beer or chilled glass of wine. This vibrant establishment is open for corporate & private functions.
TM
TOURS GUESTLODGE
18 Globe Road, Scottsville Ext Pietermaritzburg, 3201
TM TEL: 033 386 9139
2 Moon Road, Signhill, Newcastle TEL: 082 202 3820
63/69 New England Road, Scottsville Pietermaritzberg 3201 TEL: 033 346 0177 l FAX: 086 667 5314
Thembi: CELL +27 (0)81 370 5795 Mafika: CELL +27 (0)82 202 3820
T: +27 (0)82 970 7475 l E: artizenlounge@gmail.com 47106353 Street, P47 Ivovo Road, Kwa Mashu, 4360
EMAIL: info@tmtours.co.za
www.tmtours.co.za
W LIONS RIVER COUNTRY COTTAGES
Lions River Country Cottages offers you a perfect escape into the countryside. Our fully-equipped, self-catering cottages are private and free-standing for a peaceful getaway. We are conveniently situated to many of the KZN Midlands Meander attractions.
T: +27 (0)82 488 0209 l E: info@lrcc.co.za www.lrcc.co.za
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
We offer: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Spacious en suite rooms Swimming pool Air-conditioning/heater Honesty bar Free WiFi Transfer bookings Free parking Mosquito nets Hair dryer Traditional dinners Laundry service Coffee/Tea facilities Amenities Activity packages
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Umlilo is a family run establishment -
Your home away from home! Contact Information T: +27 (0)35 590 1717 E: info@umlilolodge.co.za A: 9 Dolfyn Avenue St Lucia KZN GPS: -28.377752, 32.412049 www.umlilolodge.co.za 2019/11/19 12:47 PM
Sugar Bay Holiday Camp -
a world of entertainment for kids South Africa’s first and only American-style summer camp, Sugar Bay, has been providing children between the ages of seven and seventeen with the most fun and memorable holiday imaginable for over 18 years.
Sugar Bay, on Zinkwazi Beach on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal, attracts children from around the world, including France, America, The United Kingdom and much more, with an airport shuttle service which collects kids to and from their international flights. Sugar Bay offers something for every child - whether introvert, extrovert, creative or sporty - with complete freedom to choose from over 100 activities, which they can enjoy within a safe and secure holiday environment. Some activities include paintball, waterslides, dance lessons, kayaking, surfing, a four-station bungee trampoline, stand-up paddle boarding, zip lining, body boarding and bicycle rides. All equipment is provided.
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Camp counsellors are positive role models and mentors
The camp counsellors are the heart and soul of Sugar Bay – they are the young adults who supervise the children, but more than that, they act as positive role models and mentors to the children. Sugar Bay’s staff include a highly experienced management team, camp counsellors trained in emergency first response and qualified lifeguards. The camp’s counsellors are truly remarkable and their impeccable training, sheer delight in working with children, their empathy, sense of fun and attention to safety protocols are evident, no matter what activity is underway or what time of day it is. rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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Bungee Trampoline
Friendship, advice and encouragement are offered in abundance by Sugar Bay’s staff. The friendly staff always offer a helping hand, a welcoming smile, patience and encouragement to inspire children to excel at the activities they are involved with. An enormous and infectious sense of fun is what each camper can expect. Every week has a new theme, new activities are introduced and an extravagant themed dinner is held to ensure that every camp experience is different.
Activities are entertaining
safe,
engaging
and
Daily schedules are jam-packed with fun activities for all campers, and the camp’s counsellors ensure that learning is safe, engaging and entertaining. The camp has very strict safety protocols which include a 24-hour supervision policy and a maximum staff to child ratio of 1:3. Besides the day-time activities, night-time activities are also hosted by the counsellors, which include camp fires, party nights, fire shows and games like Fear Factor and Minute to Win It. Sugar Bay stretches over 16 acres of fun-filled playgrounds, which includes a soccer field, swimming pool, obstacle courses, climbing wall, paintball arena, indoor sport halls, theatre, health centre and a grand hall, dining area and tuck shop. The waterfront has private access to the lagoon and beach, and is stocked with kayaks, boards and a boat.
Spacious accommodation in cabins under canopied trees Campers sleep in spacious wooden cabins which are nestled under large canopy trees with covered verandas.
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Each cabin is equipped with en-suite bathroom facilities and linen, and boys and girls are separated in secured areas. Two or more counsellors are assigned to each cabin for night-time supervision. Children are housed in cabins according to their age, and counsellors are specially trained and experienced in the growth and development needs of the children’s different age groups. Counsellors in junior cabins provide comfort, love and security for those who seldom sleep away from home and especially for those who are experiencing their first sleepover. Senior campers have special privileges, like late wake-ups, but are also under supervision to ensure there is no misbehaving and to make sure they get enough rest for the next day.
Delicious food – nothing like boarding school meals!
Meals are freshly prepared by chefs, which are nothing like boarding school meals. Children can expect bacon and eggs, flapjacks, lasagna and homemade bread, as well as fresh fruit or vegetables at every meal. And there is always more than enough to eat. Three large meals, two smaller snacks and a tuck shop visit a day to ensure energy levels are maintained. Sugar Bay is so much more than just holiday fun. The camp specialises in the growth and emotional development of each child. Improved self-esteem and independence are just some of the life skills each child will learn. Each of the camp’s activities provides specific and invaluable personal development opportunities, and the freedom of choice ensures that each child is fully committed to the experience. Each child leaves the camp fitter, stronger and with greater maturity and a sense of responsibility. Sugar Bay is also a world without digital devices and where kids make a whole new group of friends from different cultures and backgrounds. T: +27 (0)32 485 3778 E: holidays@sugarbay.co.za W: www.sugarbay.co.za
Special offer: Book and quote RoveSA2020, and you will automatically qualify for a R500 discount. This offer is valid until 31 December 2020.
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We welcome kids and teens 7-17 years old from all over the world. Airport transfers are available. Over 100 activities for kids to choose from. 24/7 Supervision by trained caretakers. Staff-to-child ratio never exceeds 1:3. Cost includes accommodation, 3 meals per day, activities and 24/7 supervision. We offer 5, 6 and 7-day holiday packages.
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TCOTTAGES OAD H ALL Toad Hall offers you a wonderful getaway with beautiful self-catering accommodation. Country style rural cottages – child and pet friendly – set in the splendour of the Natal Midlands. Standby Generator available.
Gracious 5 bedroom, self-catering farmhouse in spectacular settings, Underberg area, troutfishing, hikes, mountain biking, birding and airstrip.
T:+27(0) 76 093 0857 l E: lizdudley29@gmail.com
T: +27(0)72 916 1512 or +27(0)73 419 4375 E: info@houseatglengariff.com www.houseatglengariff.com
LUXURY ACCOMMODATION 50 METRES FROM THE BEACH
T: +27 (0)31 562 8235 l www.cazabeach.com 2 Trevor Place Umhlanga
Authentic Zulu Cultural Experiences Experience Zulu village life today Various tours with a Zulu guide Weekend Ceremonies . Schools . Creches . Upliftment Projects
Contact: Graham Chenells Tel: +27 (0)35 474 2894 l Cell: +27 (0)60 665 8833 36 Pearson Avenue, Eshowe, 3815 BG advert_FA.pdf 1 11/14/19 11:50 AM info@eshowe.com l www.eshowe.com
Live your best life! Africa’s dawning!
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BARRYDALE FARM CHALETS Y
We do fully inclusive tours in Africa and South Africa. Catering for all taste buds including Halaal and Jain.
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WWW.BRONZEGROVE.CO.ZA
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ADVENTURE AWAITS Set in some of South Africa’s most naturally beautiful settings, our hotels & resorts awaken the spirit of adventure in guests and visitors alike. Central Reservations +27 (0) 10 007 0000 www.anewhotels.com | reservations@anewhotels.co.za
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Gauteng
Apartheid Museum
African Game Lodge Bushmans rock Country Lodge Dlala Nje Tours Ideal Travel JB Train Tours Joemadie Adventures Pumbas Backpackers Radisson Blu – Gautrain Hotel Sandton Services Golf Club Travel Doctor Voortrekker Monument
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20°21’08.2” E 28°18’31.6” E 28°03’23.7” E 28°19’40.1” E 28°14’57.1” E 28°30’54.1” E 28°14’30.0” E 28°03’30.6” E 28°09’40.9” E 27°58’35.2” E 28°10’32.7” E
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Gauteng the administrative capital of South Africa and home to the Union Buildings. Johannesburg was established in 1886 following the discovery of gold on a farm. The city is commonly interpreted as the modern-day El Dorado or “City of Gold” because of the extremely large gold deposits found along the Witwatersrand. Orlando Towers - Soweto
Gauteng is the economic centre of South Africa and the continent, responsible for over 34,8% of the country’s total gross domestic product. Although it is the smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces, Gauteng comprises the largest share of the South African population. Financial and business services, logistics, manufacturing, property, telecommunications and trade are some of the most important economic sectors. The province is an integrated industrial complex with major areas of economic activity in three sub-regional areas, namely the Vaal Triangle; the East, West and Central Rand, and Pretoria. The province’s capital city, Johannesburg, informally known as Jozi or Jo’burg, is the largest city in South Africa and one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world. It is the provincial capital and largest city of Gauteng province, which is the wealthiest province in South Africa. It is also the seat of the Constitutional Court. Johannesburg houses the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Limited, the largest securities exchange in Africa. Some 50 km north of Johannesburg lies Pretoria, 98
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Cradle of Humankind Entrance
Voortrekker Monument
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Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Did you know?
Capital city: Principal languages:
Population: Share of total population: Area:
Known for • • • • • •
• • • • •
Johannesburg isiZulu, 23.0% English, 11.3% Afrikaans, 10.1% Sesotho, 12,7% 14 717 000 25,5% 18 178km2
Lion & Safari Park
Gold Reef City The Hector Pieterson Museum The Union Buildings The Voortrekker Monument Constitution The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens The Cradle of Humankind, one of South Africa’s eight World Heritage Sites and the world’s richest hominid site. The series of dolomitic caves, contained in the 47 000 hectare reserve, have produced 40% of the world’s fossils of our human ancestors over the last 50 years The Apartheid Museum Rietvlei Nature Reserve Dinokeng Game Reserve Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve Tswaing Crater, 40km north-west of Pretoria is an impact crater that is 1.13 km in diameter, 100 metres deep and one of the most accessible craters in the world.
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Picture Credit: Shaun Mays
A little piece of heaven Bushman’s Rock Country Lodge, a four-star luxury accommodation beside the beautiful Hartebeesspruit, and close to Pretoria and other tourist attractions, is an ideal getaway for leisure, pleasure or a corporate breakaway.
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Picture Credit: Shaun Mays
Apart from luxurious accommodation, the lodge offers a variety of activities for the entire family, including the Crazy Bushman Restaurant, the Bushman’s Rock Spa, conference facilities, a wedding venue, swimming pools, putt-putt and a children’s play park. It is an ideal venue for bridal showers, baby showers, kids’ birthday parties, team building and year-end functions. The lodge’s name and architecture mirror its surroundings; featuring thatch roofs, Stone Age brick walls and rock art. The rooms cater for singles and families of up to four in luxurious family rooms equipped with either one or two single beds, or a kingsize bed with an en-suite shower or bath, a basin and toilet. All junior suites and family rooms are equipped with a mini bar fridge, microwave, tea and coffeemaking facilities and a television with selected DSTV channels. The Crazy Bushman Restaurant is a little piece of heaven and is the ideal setting to relax in with friends or celebrate a special occasion. The restaurant specialises in pizzas, pastas, grills and seafood dishes, with their spare ribs and Eisbein a favourite among guests. The food is superb and the staff is friendly and efficient service is a plus! Relaxing in the afternoon on the veranda is exceptionally peaceful, overlooking the enormous fishpond and listening to soul-soothing music after a long and busy day. The lodge’s food and beverage prices are competitive and worth every cent. Should your busy schedule not allow you to relax at the restaurant, you can request a takeaway. Another highlight is an intimate spa experience at the Bushman’s Rock Spa, where welcoming and professional staff offer a range of massage treatments and packages for couples, families and friends.
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The children’s play area is equipped with a variety of fun equipment for outside and inside entertainment, including jungle gyms and video games. Parents can enjoy their stay at the lodge and restaurant experience knowing that their children are safe. The restaurant is also very popular for children’s birthday parties. Don’t delay; book in advance to avoid disappointment! Accommodation can be booked directly, or via various online booking agencies, including Airbnb, Lekkeslaap, SafariNow, Booking.com and Trivago. Visit the lodge’s website for more information at www.bushmansrock.co.za, or call them on +27 (0)12 808 2113.
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CONTACT INFORMATION T: 012 808 2888 / 012 808 2113 F: 086 666 515 47 E: bushmansrock@telkomsa.net W: www.bushmansrock.co.za GPRS CO-ORDINATES: S25°39’23.64” E28°18’32.16”
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Ponte citу events EXPERIENCE 5101 → A journey through an icon’s undulating history
→ Joburg in the clouds... A tailor-made experience!
This is hiLLbrow
→ A stroll through a misunderstood neighbourood
The term originates from the French word for "raw" in the term used by Le Corbusier to describe his choice of material béton brut (raw concrete)
Come and see why this brutalist icon dominating Johannesburg's skyline, has attracted its current reputation. Allow us to challenge your perception by taking a tour through this highly misunderstood residential building.
Located on the 51st floor of Ponte tower, 5101 is an upmarket but very casual shebeen on the Joburg skyline. We cater for out-of-office work sessions, art exhibitions, sundowners and dinner parties. All events are complimented with a Ponte tour detailing it’s undulating history and jaw-dropping views.
Explore the streets of Hillbrow and Berea and discover more about one of the city’s most notorious and misunderstood districts. Hillbrow supported the 1st South African LGBTIQ community
Monday to Saturday
To book your event
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
from 11 to 12am / R300
contact info@dlalanje.org
from 11am to 2pm / R400
Book your experience on www.dlalanje.org
All tours start from our community center, on the groundfloor of Ponte City (the big “Vodacom” building)
Unpacking Ponte city politics chaLLenge
→ Monthly conversations on South African politics
→ Run 900 stairs to the top of Ponte
urban hike
→ A trek through a valley in the concrete jungle
Mo
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Join o
Brin
Current undisputed record is held by Jesdel Kayembe. Want your name printed here? Can you smash it?
Dlala Nje hosts monthly conversations on contemporary South African politics and the connected socio-economic issues directly affecting the country’s people.
Are you fit enough to beat our record time of 05’47’’ running up 900 + stairs to the 54th floor of Ponte City?
TALKS RUN MONTHLY Go check our website to book your spot!
RACES RUN QUARTERLY Go check our website to book your next challenge!
HIKES RUN FORTNIGHTLY Go check our website to join our next outing!
from 18.30 to 21pm / R270
from 7 to 10am / R180
from 10.30am to 1pm / R380
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Explore Johannesburg’s biodiversity and rich history with this epic trip through Doornfontein ridge. Traversing some of Johannesburg’s earliest history gazing at stupendous views and surrounded by nature.
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JoeMadie Adventures LET US TAKE YOU AWAY
+27 (0)71 323 7496 l +27 (0)71 908 3973
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diversity pic trip dge. sburg’s pendous nature.
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info@joumadie-adventures.co.za
www.joemadie-advenuters.co.za
Holiday Packages Book your favourite destination
3 & 6 Months Payment Plans Available
Operating Hours Monday - Thursday: 9AM - 5PM l Friday: 9AM-1PM l Saturday/Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed
JB TRAIN TOURS
Since 1975
Our 2020 year program is available & bookings are open
Join our tours to Cape Town, Mozambique, Durban, Cape Town Jazz Festival, Cherry Festival, Namibia, and more...
GROUPS GET DISCOUNT!
Bring your Stokvel, Church, School, Family and Friends and qualify for a groups discount. Various dates to choose from. When last have you been on a well organised Train, Flight or Bus Tour?
OUR NEW & EXCITING TOUR PACKAGE OPTIONS Package 1
Package 2
Package 3
Train & Flight Tour
Return Flight Tour
Bus Tour
INCLUDED IN MOST TOURS:
Transport by Train, Bus and Flight; certain meals; accommodation; tour guide; entrance fees to tourist destinations; fun; safety; security. TEL - 011 913 2442 | FAX - 086 687 7344 or 011 913 0552 | WHATSAPP - 060 859 7670 WEB - www.jbtours.co.za | EMAIL - info@jbtours.co.za
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We P u n k G P t h i s f e s t i v e s e a s o n !
The festive season is upon us and summer calls to one and all to enjoy the vibrant energy only Gauteng has to offer. As the curtain comes down on another year, the Gauteng city region promises to be buzzing this festive season with fun activities catering for every age and taste going into the New Year. Gauteng has a host of summer travel deals, spectacular attractions and exciting events set to happen at every corner of the province. In true #GPLifestyle form, the Festive Summer Drive will bring a calendar of bumper events. Makhelwane Festival from 14-15 December also promises another exciting and entertaining installment of what’s grown to be a proudly #GPLifestyle event at Poka Street, Orlando West in Soweto. The globally renowned AfroPunk Festival wraps up the year as the city’s preeminent festive event on 30 and 31 December at Constitution Hill. The festival is an exuberant, creative and diverse outpouring of live music, film, fashion, art and craft and a variety of food stalls produced by locals. It is attended by tens of thousands of international and local festival goers. Gautengers can also make the most of family time on the
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open-top City Sightseeing Red Bus and take a tour of some of Johannesburg’s most famous landmarks. You can also take the kids to cool off at the newly opened Happy Island Waterpark in Muldersdrift, then get out into the countryside and have an adventure at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Foodies and those keen for a vibrant atmosphere or a buzzing nightlife, rest assured, there’s no shortage of both dining and hangout spots in Gauteng – so much so that you might have difficulty deciding which ones to go to. Make sure you’re geared up for the summer, visit www.gauteng.net and discover why WE PUNK GP this festive season! TOURISM
Gauteng Tourism T: +27 (0)11 085 2511 E: info@gauteng.net W: www.gauteng.net
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We Punk Punk GP GP this this Festive Festive Summer Summer We
www.gauteng.net
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visitgauteng
visitgauteng
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Service Golf Club Most golfer friendly course in Pretoria
Services Golf Club, the home of Military Golf and friendliest golf club in Pretoria with the best prices for membership, golf days and social play.
Quality Motorhome and 4x4 Camper Rental Solutions in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. www.idealtravel.co.za /idealtravelza /ideal_travel_adventure info@idealtravel.co.za
“Set in the heart of the Klein Karoo, and a 2½ hour drive from Cape Town, experience the heartbeat of Africa”
T: +27 (0)23 614 3176 l E: info@africangamelodge.co.za www.africangamelodge.co.za
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T: +27 (0)12 651 4411 www.servicesgc.co.za
It’s like a little holiday village, but in the city! 1232 Arcadia Street, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0083 GPS: -25.746599,28.241609 Email: info@pumbas.co.za Tell: +27 (0)123625343 l Cell: +27 (0)814673348
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Free State
Landscape
Be Human Bistro Lounge and Cocktail Kitchen De Oude Kraal Lemon & Lime Luzury Guesthouse Sangiro Game Lodge Thanda Tau Westline Aviation Weltevreden Game Lodge
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26°19’33.8” E 26°11’14.6” E 26°04’56.4” E 26°12’01.8” E 26°13’40.4” E 28°50’26.2” E 26°09’50.3” E 26°23’33.2” E
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Free State
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Birdhide in the Botanical Gardens
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Golden Gate National Park
K The Free State, a province of wide horizons and blue skies, farmland, mountains, goldfields and widely dispersed towns, lies in the heart of South Africa. Between the Vaal River in the north and the Orange River in the south, this immense rolling prairie stretches as far as the eye can see. Mining, particularly gold, is the biggest employer, followed by manufacturing. The Free State also produces high-quality diamonds from its kimberlite pipes and fissures, and the country’s largest deposit of bentonite is found in here too. The capital, Bloemfontein, houses the Supreme Court of Appeals.
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• • •
• •
•
The Womens Momorial - Bloemfontein
Mountain
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6.5m bronze statue of Nelson Mandela on Naval Hill
Did you know? Capital city:
Bloemfontein
Principal languages:
Sesotho, 71.9% Afrikaans, 10,9% isiXhosa, 5,7%
Population:
2 954 300
Share of total population:
5,1%
Area:
129 825km2
Cheetah Experience
Known for • • • • • •
Golden Gate National Park Cherry Festival in Ficksburg Fauresmith International Endurance Ride equestrian event San rock art The 10km diameter Vredefort Dome which is on the United Nations’ World Heritage Site List The annual Mangaung African Cultural Festival Windmill
Mountain landscape
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A PLACE TO EAT, DRINK AND CHILL WITH FRIENDS LISTENING TO GOOD MUSIC
Shop 25, Bloemgate Shopping Centre, 197 Mandela Drive Bloemfontein, Free State 9301
Tel: 051 444 0924
Not For Sale To Persons Under The Age Of 18.
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Eastern Cape
Valley of Desolation
Amathole Mountain Escape Bloukrans Bookings & Info Centre Dikkopvlakte Gasteplaas Haga Haga Hotel Isandlwana Lodge Kakuli Safaris SA Radison Blu Port Elizabeth Fynbos Golf and Country Estate
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32°37’48.7” S 33°57’56.9” S 33°06’29.3” S 32°45’50.4” S 28°20’16.4” S 33°18’50.4” S 33°59’13.3” S 34°04’13.5” S
26°57’27.6” E 23°38’57.3” E 26°15’08.7” E 28°14’55.9” E 30°40’02.5” E 25°11’11.7” E 25°40’16.0” E 24°13’56.2” E
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Eastern Cape Eddo Elephant Park 4 x 4 Routs
The Eastern Cape, lying on the south-eastern South African coast, is a region of great natural beauty, particularly the rugged cliffs, rough seas and dense green bush of the stretch known as the Wild Coast. In the Eastern Cape, various floral habitats meet. Along the coast, the northern tropical forests intermingle with the more temperate woods of the south. The Eastern Cape province was established in 1994, after the first democratic election in South Africa and incorporates areas from the former Xhosa homelands of the Transkei and Ciskei, together with what was previously part of the Cape Province.
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Town hall tower - Port Elizabeth
Tsitsikam
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The Hole in the Wall - Eastern Cape
Did you know?
Capital city: Principal languages: Population: Share of total population: Area:
Bhisho isiXhosa, 82.7% Afrikaans, 10,3% English, 3,9% 6 522 700 11,3% 168 966km2
Known for •
• • • • • • • •
Birth and resting place of former South African president and Nobel Prize winner, Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela Museum Addo Elephant Park Valley of Desolation Tsitsikamma National Park Mountain Zebra National Park Shamwari Game Reserve Makana Botanical Gardens Bird Island Marine Protected Area
Tsitsikamma National Park
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Birth and resting place of Nelson Mandela
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Position, Position, Position With it’s sweeping panoramic views of the rural Zululand plains and the famous Battlefield site of 1879 and birds-eye views from every vantage point... Isandlwana Lodge is an unforgettable experience.
Specia excell the pa of To 2018 We of requir Join u 5 and requir
Email: lodge@isandlwana.co.za Tel: +27(0)34 271 8301
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GPS: -28.338246, 30.667374 www.isandlwana.co.za
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...
DIKKOPVLAKTE IS A UNIQUE FARM, COUNTRY GUESTHOUSE, EVENT AND FUNCTION VENUE
EXQUISITE WEDDING CHAPEL & VENUE SELF CATERING & CATERED ACCOMMODATION Nestled in the heart of the beautiful and unspoilt Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, DikkopVlakte lies conveniently on route between Grahamstown and Bedford on the R350 and is only 160km from Port Elizabeth in a malaria-free area.
M: +27 (0)83 306 8388 carine@dikkopvlakte.co.za www.dikkopvlakte.co.za
pre Inter
BREATHTAKING GOLF COURSE WITH SEAVIEW
CONTACT US: 042 285 0321 events@fynbosgolf.co.za • bookings@fynbosgolf.co.za www.fynbosgolf.co.za • follow us on
ting Addo’s Wildernes s
KAKULI SAFARIS SA (PTY) LTD
Specialising in safaris to the Addo Elephant National Park, Kakuli Safaris pride themselves on service excellence. Our passionate, well-qualified guides have won Lilizela Awards for excellence in tourism for the past two years, with first runner-up three years ago. Kakuli Safaris has won the international acclaim of Tour Operator of the Year and Safari Experience of the Year with Luxury Travel Guide in 2017, 2018 and 2019 Africa & Middle East Awards, as well as the GAP Travel Guide award in 2017. We offer full day safaris with a two-course braai (BBQ) lunch, as well as half day tours. All local legal requirements for tour operators are in place, including excellent liability insurance and operating licence. Join us on safari for the most amazing elephant encounters and photographic opportunities of the Big 5 and the small stuff. Enjoy traditional South African cuisine with beer and wine - all special dietary requirements well catered for.
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info@kakulisafaris.co.za
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Tsitsikamma -
Place of sparkling water
“Tsitsikamma” is a Khoi word meaning “place of abundant or sparkling water”. The region, which sits on a 200m high plateau, stretches from the Bloukrans River in the west to the Tsitsikamma River in the east, is bordered on the north by the imposing Tsitsikamma Mountains and in the south by the Indian Ocean. The Tsitsikamma Mountains form an east-west range in the southern region of the South African coast in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. Stretching just over 80km from the Keurbooms River in the west just north of Plettenberg Bay, to Kareedouw Pass in the east, near the town of Kareedouw, forming a continuous range with the Outeniqua Mountains to the west. The range consists almost exclusively of Table Mountain sandstone which is extremely erosionresistant. Peak Formosa is the highest point in the range at 1 675m. Snow sometimes occurs on the highest peaks in winter. The topography of the mountains is interesting, in that the range rises abruptly from the south at a very defined line that runs almost due east-west at the 34º south latitude. Forest, pine plantations, fynbos and mild weather The area is covered in large tracts of indigenous forest, commercial pine plantations and fynbos. Deep river gorges cleft the plateau as they make their way down to the sea, creating spectacular waterfalls and deep kloofs (ravines). The water in the rivers is a characteristic dark brown because of its high tannin content leached from
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the surrounding vegetation. A mild all year round climate (temperature varies between 10 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius generally) allows one to make the most of all the outdoor activities that are on offer, whilst a high rainfall in excess of 1 200mm per year ensures the lushness of the vegetation that the area is renowned for. Three bridges and the world’s highest bungy jump The region is accessed directly from the N2 national road that passes through the area on an east to west line. Baboons can frequently be seen when travelling along the N2. This section of the road is one of only a few highways in the world to have three bridges higher than 152m. These are the Groot River Bridge, Paul Sauer (Storms River) Bridge and the famous Bloukrans River Bridge, which is also the home of the world’s highest commercial bungy jump. The Bloukrans arch bridge is the highest on the entire continent of Africa, with a deck 216m above the bottom of the gorge. When it opened in 1984, the Bloukrans also held the record for being the world’s highest concrete arch bridge.
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Traveling through the eastern Tsitsikamma, the R102 provincial road offers a scenic alternative to the N2 through the countryside, passing Witels Peak, Witelsbos Forestry Station, Oudebosch and Eersterivier. Descend into Natures Valley’s paradise On the western border, the Groot Rivier Pass leads off the N2 at the Tsitsikamma Toll Gate and meanders through the fynbos plateau before descending through enchanting indigenous forest down to Natures Valley, well-known for its lagoon and golden beach. The De Vasselot rest camp of the Garden Route National Park is also the start of many trails – most notably the Tsitsikamma multi-day hike. The Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park was declared in 1964 and encompasses a marine reserve made up of over 80km of coastline.
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Storms River Mouth offers magnificent scenery The Storms River Mouth Rest Camp of the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park is very scenic and a must-visit. A number of short trails allow you to explore the coastal bush and rocky shoreline. Storms River Mouth offers visitors magnificent scenery, a small beach, restaurant and shop. The famous Storms River Suspension Bridge spans the river mouth and this walk is most popular. The worldrenowned Otter Trail starts at the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp and ends at Natures Valley. The park conserves a considerable portion of the
natural biota (all living organisms) of the Garden Route. The primary vegetation biomes consist of Mountain Fynbos, Coastal Fynbos, Afro-Montane Forest and the Marine herb-land-, inter-tidal- and sub-tidal zones. This is one of the largest single unit “no take” (including fishing) Marine Protected Areas in the world, conserving 11% of South Africa’s temperate south coast rocky shoreline and provides a “laboratory” for fisheries baseline research on endangered line fish species. It was the first Marine National Park to be proclaimed in Africa.
Tsitsikamma Tourism E: info@tsitsikamma.net W: www.tsitsikamma.info
ENJOY THE BEST OF THE WILD COAST AT HAGA HAGA. HOTEL & SELF CATERING AVAILABLE. GREAT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY OR JUST TO ESCAPE. Contact Details: T: +27 (0)43 841 1670 • E: haga@telkomsa.net FB: HagaHagaHotel • www.hagahagahotel.co.za
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BLOUKRANS BOOKINGS & INFO CENTRE ACCOMMODATION l ACTIVITIES l TOURS l CONFERENCES l SHUTTLE
Conden
Khoisan Village Plot 401 +27 (0)84 790 9040 +27 (0)64 765 5182
info@bloukransbookings.co.za
wwww.bloukransbookings.co.za
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Picture Credit: Wikipedia
Amathole Mountain Escape Where the rolling green hills of the Eastern Cape give way to the impressive mountains of the Amathole Mountain range lies a place as cool and mysterious as a hidden garden. The very name invites you to break away to its ancient forests, mountains and valleys – the Amathole Mountain Escape. The Amathole Route, located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, stretches from Hogsback and Stutterheim in the north to the Great Fish River in the south, and holds a bouquet full of treasures just waiting to be discovered amongst the wild orchids, towering trees and forest ferns of the indigenous Afromontane forest. The region is rich in biodiversity with five of South Africa’s nine biomes represented as well as the critically endangered Cape Parrot. This diversity is reflected in the cultures that have come together to form the region. It’s a place where many historic battles have taken place, leaving behind nothing more than stories passed down through generations and more forts than anywhere else in the country.
Village life
The villages of the Amathole Mountain Escape are your gateways to its natural attractions and offer some of the warmest welcomes in a province already famous for its hospitality. Best known is the endlessly charming Hogsback, named for three flat-topped mountains which resemble a hog’s back. The town of Hogsback is home to a bouquet of talented artists who take their inspiration from the misty mountain air. It’s home to a vast array of gardens, both 128
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public and private, celebrating the green environment, an intricate cliff side labyrinth, potters, artists and an exquisite, award-winning eco shrine – all within easy walking distance around town. Hogsback is accessed via a climbing mountain pass and overlooks the rivers and plains of the Tyume Valley. The village is a delightful combination of sport and art in nature with many hikes and mountain biking trails, abseiling, fly fishing and climbing, alongside artist’s workshops and studios. This may be the tourism capital of the route but it’s certainly not the only rose in the garden; Stutterheim and Cata offer two unique slices of Amathole life: Stutterheim is the outdoors person’s dream with superb hiking trails, abseiling, water sports and fly-fishing competing for time with the rock art museum, stationary engine museum and vintage car museum. Cata is a heartfelt walk through South Africa’s recent history, highlighting the struggle of forced removals during apartheid and celebrating the joy of a village fully integrated and thriving. Families will enjoy the Old Thomas River Historical Village; restored in 2003, offering visitors a piece of nostalgia complete with wagon museum, cultural museum, vintage car museum, private library and, of course, a pub museum!
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R
Picture Credit: Wikipedia
A season for everything
There are few places in South Africa where the change of seasons is more noticeable (and appreciated) than Amathole. During the winter months, Hogsback is a mecca for snow-chasers and home to the Hogsback Winter Festival. In spring, the village celebrates the renewal of bountiful gardens during the Hogsback Spring Festival. Throughout the year, the village hosts a number of trailruns and mountain bike races. Hogback’s Arboretum is exceptional; established in 1884; the garden features trees from across the globe including Monterey Pine, Wattle, English Oak, Japanese Cedar and enormous California Redwoods – a living tree museum. A walk through the Arboretum will lead you to the 39 Steps and Madonna & Child waterfalls – two of Hogsback’s most popular attractions. The very jewel of the region is the Amathole Hiking Trail, rumoured to be the toughest, and certainly one of the most beautiful, in
all the land. This six-day, 106 km trail (no slackpacking here) begins at Maden Dam near King William’s Town and traverses the countryside taking in majestic vistas, magical forests, tumbling waterfalls and mountain pools. And you’ll climb, and climb. But it’s worth it.
The very essence of Amathole
History, art and culture are the very essence of what differentiates the Amathole from other regions with exceptional natural attractions. The region is the location of the final South African Frontier Wars that raged off and on for 98 years, leaving behind many old military forts and delicately blended cultures representing the Xhosa, English, San, German and Dutch. Today, in Stutterheim, Cata and Old Thomas River museums pay homage to a by-gone era. When all is cut and dried, Amathole Mountain Escape will work its way into your heart. So, with a little of that mountain magic in mind, start planning your next escape.
Amathole Mountain Escape T: +27 (0)83 458 3414 W: www.mountainescape.co.za
Rove the ESCAPE ROUTE of the Amathole Mountains and discover many hidden gems
T: +27 (0)83 458 3414 www.mountainescape.co.za
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Northern Cape
Meerkats
Gannage Lodge Kalahari Trails M & E Jewellers San Parks - Namaqua Skilpad Rest Camp Sterland Guesthouse and Stargazing Voetbaai Self Catering Cottages William Humphreys Art Gallery
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20°07’17.7” E 20°38’02.0” E 24°45’24.2” E 17°34’44.0” E 20°39’31.5” E 16°52’45.4” E 24°46’09.3” E
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Northern Cape Kimberley Diamond Mine
Bushman (San) rock painting
The Northern Cape is the largest province in South Africa, covering 31% of the country’s surface area (slightly bigger than Germany). However, the Northern Cape remains the province with the smallest population. The province is renowned for its spectacular display of spring flowers which, for a short period every year, attracts thousands of tourists. The town, Sutherland, hosts the southern hemisphere’s largest astronomical observatory, the multinationalsponsored Southern African Large Telescope. The Northern Cape is one of two sites to host the Square Kilometre Array radio-telescope (better known as the SKA Project), the largest and most advanced radio telescope in the world.
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Nama
Meerkats
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Gemsbok
Did you know?
Capital city: Principal languages: Population: Share of total population: Area:
Kimberley Afrikaans, 56,8% Setswana, 33,4% 1 225 600 2,1% 372 889km2
Augrabies Falls
Known for • • • • •
The “Big Hole” diamond diggings in Kimberley San rock art Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Kalahari Gemsbok National Park Augrabies Falls
Namaqualand Daisies
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Transfrontier national parks, massive rivers & legendary deserts – this is the Northern Cape Discover the heart of the Northern Cape as you travel along its many routes and experience numerous experiences; five different regions, each with interesting stop overs and family friendly activities, six national parks, including two Transfrontier parks and five provincial nature reserves, two of the largest rivers in South Africa and three legendary deserts. Each region also features a route experience that will capture the imagination of those who dare to explore it. The incredible year-round experiences coupled with the warm hospitality, the peace and tranquillity offered by offthe-beaten track towns and villages, and space as far as the eye can see allow you to re-discover life changing encounters and ensure unforgettable summer holiday memories. Whether you are stopping or passing through, we wish you safe travels and many happy returns to this truly unique destination. 134
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Explore the routes Northern Cape
of
the
The eight Northern Cape routes are specifically packaged to give visitors an easy, do-it-yourself option to explore the province. Incredible year-round experiences coupled with warm hospitality, the peace and tranquillity offered by off-the-beaten track towns and villages as well as uninterrupted spaces, allow visitors to recharge and reconnect with loved ones.
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Quiver Tree Route
Named after the indigenous quiver tree, the Quiver Tree Route stretches along the Gariep River and includes towns like Upington, Kakamas, Keimoes, Augrabies, Marchand, Kanoneiland, Kenhardt and Riemvasmaak. The route will appeal to families as well as adventure and adrenaline seekers. Highlights include Augrabies Falls, Riemvasmaak hot springs, the Orange River, numerous 4x4 routes, hiking and mountain bike trails, as well as excellent bird watching. Foodies will appreciate the typical Northern Cape fare and produce, as well as wine tasting at cellars along the route.
Kalahari Red Dune Route
Discover the essence of the province in the heart of the Kalahari. Golden dunes, wide-open skies and flat-topped acacia trees epitomise the Kalahari Red Dune Route. Stretching from Upington to the Namibian border, visitors traverse the villages of Askham, Groot and Klein Mier and Rietfontein. Adventure-loving families can enjoy rovesa.co.za VOL 1 ISSUE 1
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dune hikes at dawn, eagle-owl encounters, sand duning and surfing in the red sand, and close encounters with meerkats. Be sure to visit the newest world heritage site, ‥Khomani Cultural Landscape Heritage Site, for guided walks with the ‥Khomani San (Bushmen) to rediscover the wisdom, customs and folklore of this ancient tribe.
Go Ghaap Route
The Northern Cape has a fascinating new heritage route, covering everything from famous archaeological sites, historic towns, amazing architecture and an excellent selection of nature and game reserves. Visitors will be drawn to fascinating historical and geological sites in and around towns such as Postmasburg, Griquatown, Campbell, Olifantshoek, Dibeng (Deben), Kathu, DaniĂŤlskuil and Kuruman. Visitors can look forward to marvelling at the hidden heritage gems that include an early geological history (from 3 billion years ago) which created vast mineral wealth like iron, manganese, diamonds and limestone. 135
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Explore the Wonderwerk Caves between Kuruman and Danielskuil and the Khoisan history in Wildebeest Kuil near Barkly West. For the early war enthusiasts, there are a wealth of things to explore - the 1914 Rebellion, including the Truce Tree in Seodin Street, Kuruman; the Anglo-Tswana wars in the Langberg near Olifantshoek; and the 1870s and 1890s Anglo-Boer War at the Blockhouse in Danielskuil and Kimberley. Kuruman Eye in Kuruman is a natural spring delivering about 20-million litres of clean, clear water daily to Kuruman. Enjoy real Kalahari hospitality at DoringDraad Deben Kontrei, just 25km outside Kathu on the R380 route to the small town of Dibeng/Deben. Donkey cart rides, great food and unhurried wining and dining are still a reality here. There is also the historical Moffat Mission station in Kuruman for history buffs. In Griquatown, visit the grave of early-1800s Griqua leader, Andries Waterboer, that features two cannons that were gifts from Queen Victoria guarding his final resting place. And last, but not least, visit the Mary Moffat Museum in Griquatown and the Witsand Nature Reserve between Postmasburg and Kuruman and witness the famed roaring sands of the Kalahari.
Richtersveld Route
The Richtersveld is South Africa’s only mountain desert and the route travels along rugged gravel roads to quaint towns such as Eksteensfontein, Sendelingsdrift, Lekkersing, Kuboes and Sandrift. The Orange River offers visitors a more leisurely pace, with river rafting and the best wilderness fly-fishing in South Africa, while the entire Richtersveld is a mountain biker’s dream. Follow in the footsteps of a traditional goat herder at the Richtersveld World Heritage Site and learn about the lives of the Nama nomads. In the villages, the locals will entertain guests with storytelling and traditional Nama step dancing upon request. Springtime is also an excellent time to visit and view the desert transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour.
Namaqua Coastal Route
This route includes hidden gems like Garies, Kamieskroon, Hondeklip Bay, Koiingnaas and Kleinzee. Dozens of adventure and leisure options are available: Namaqua National Park, nature reserves, hidden coastal hamlets, and some of the most remote hiking and 4x4 trails imaginable. Go succulent sleuthing with a botanical guide or explore the countless shipwrecks along the coastline on a five-day slow packing guided trip. Breathtaking scenes of the Atlantic Ocean with sightings of dolphins and whales, combined with great vistas of mountains and veld with endemic wildlife, and off course the floral splendour during August and September, makes 136
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travelling in this area unforgettable.
Karoo Highlands Route
This route travels through the small Karoo towns of Calvinia, Williston, Sutherland, Fraserburg, Carnarvon, Loxton and Victoria West - the heart of the Great Karoo. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Karoo with its wide-open plains. The area was named by the Khoi and San people, who left their legacy as art on the rocks. Karoo architecture and corbelled houses, Anglo-Boer War sites, rock art, ancient Palaeo surfaces, farm stays and great Karoo cuisine and hospitality are all at the heart of this magical experience.
Astro tourism
The vast expanse of the star-studded Northern Cape Karoo skies offers unarguably the best stargazing in the world. Explore the many unique Astro tourism experiences, such as stargazing at the world’s largest astronomical observatory at Sutherland or visit the SKA radio telescopes in Carnarvon. Night and day tours are available at SALT in Sutherland.
Karoo Oasis Route
The route traverses through the towns of Warrenton, Kimberley, Hopetown, Britstown and Victoria West along the N12, and is the perfect stopover for travellers between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Guests can stop at various towns for an exciting number of leisure activities and accommodation facilities. There is a variety of food stalls that travellers can enjoy and stock up on, with delectable produce such as home-made rusks, ginger beer to quench your thirst and a taste of local food.
Cape to Namibia Route
The route meanders up from the N7 and include small towns, each with its own local flavour and a story to tell. The N7 highway stretches from Cape Town all the way through the Northern Cape, before heading into neighbouring country Namibia. Crossing from the Western Cape into the Northern Cape, visitors will encounter towns which capture the Nama heritage of the province. Slow down and appreciate the unique stories of the people of Garies, Kamieskroon, Springbok, Okiep, Steinkopf and Vioolsdrift. During springtime, this route takes visitors into the core of the floral kaleidoscope that is the Namakwa floral season. Northern Cape Tourism T: +27 (0)53 832 2657 E: marketing@experiencenortherncape.com W: www.experiencenortherncape.com
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www.experiencenortherncape.com
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Vo e t b a a i
GANNAGA lodge
SELFSORT-CHALETS
‘n Klipgooi weg van die strand op die Richtersveld se rand. Voetbaai chalets bied jou 3 volledige toegeruste, luukse selfsorg eenhede. Elke chalet bevat ‘n platskerm-TV met volledige DSTV, linne, handdoeke en toiletware soos seep en sjampoe word met aankoms voorsien. WiFi ook beskikbaar.
DISCOVER THE KAROO LIKE NEVER BEFORE
Gannaga Lodge is situated in 20 hectares of its own ground within the Tankwa National Park. It is located in the Roggeveld Karoo, in some of the most spectacular countryside in the Northern Cape, at the summit of the breathtaking Gannaga Pass.
Mcdougallsbaai - Port Nolloth
T: +27(0)87 150 4045 l 27(0)79 922 1688 E: gannaga@hantam.co.za Region: Tankwa
Kontak nr. +27 (0)82 578 3387 Epos: info@voetbaai.com www.voetbaai.com
www.gannagalodge.co.za
&E M Jewellers SALES & REPAIRS
Sterland Sutherland where star dust meets earth dust. Spectacular stargazing, accommodation, geological veld walks and camping sites.
Rinus Weenink Tel: +27 (0)53 832 9653 Cell: +27 (0)84 460 8446 Email: rinusw@absamail.co.za Shop 5A, Monument Spa Monument Road, Kimberley
M: +27 (0)82 556 9589 l T: +27 (0)23 571 1481 F2E: +27 (0)86 650 8939 l E: info@sutherlandinfo.co.za www.sutherlandinfo.co.za
Watches l Jewellery l Body Piercing l Tattoos
William Humphreys Art Gallery
Mee t our resc ued mee rka ts!
- Self-catering Guesthouse Chalets and Camping Sites - Morning and night walks or drives - Sundowners with stargazing. PO Box 77 l Upington l 8800 T. 054 511 0900 l M: 072 277 2377 E: annerasa1@gmail.com l www.kalahari-trails.co.za
www.whag.co.za info@whag.co.za
A Untitled-1 1
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an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture
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Weltevreden Gam
eltevreden game
lodge
Weltevreden Game Lodge Bloemfontein Cell: +27 82 8563952 Fax: 086 6051310 e-mail: Info@weltevredengamelodge.co.za www.weltevredengamelodge.co.za
Accommodation • Conferences • Fun Activities Weltevreden Game Lodge Ad.indd 1
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SANParks: Arid Region Augrabies Falls National Park: The 56 meters high main falls that cascade into the granite abyss of the Orange River Gorge are unmistakably the top attraction here. Easily accessed through an extensive network of boardwalks (some are wheelchair friendly) the falls are now illuminated at night. Few sights are as awesome or sound as deafening as water thundering down the 56m Augrabies Waterfall when the Orange River is in full flood. Take time to explore the rest of the park by driving to scenic viewpoints with descriptive names of this rocky region like Moon Rock,Ararat and Echo Corner. Although not prolific, giraffe, klipspringer and Hartmann’s mountain zebra can be seen scattered across the Park. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: The large mammals, especially the predators, are always a major drawcard at Kgalagadi, the powerful black maned Kalahari lions, solitary leopard, sleek cheetah, majestic gemsbok, massive herds of wildebeest, graceful giraffe, hyaena, foxes, springbok and many others. To this glorious collection of large mammals, one can add the smaller animals, such as the mischievous suricates, ground squirrels (shading themselves with their tails), whistling rats, luminous blue headed ground agama and barking geckos. Put all of these wonderful creatures in amongst endless waves of red dunes and dry riverbeds with majestic camelthorn and shepherd trees and you have the magic that is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Ais/Ais – Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: The rugged landscape and diversity of arid plant species are undoubtedly the biggest attractions of the Richtersveld. Additionally, there is the challenge of the ‘offroad’ driving, the seclusion of the wilderness camps and the contrast between the Orange River and its surrounds. Fly-fishing and river rafting are very popular activities here. There is a 4 day guided canoe adventure from the Namibian side of the Park and also on the Namibian side of the Fish River Canyon is the always popular /Ai /Ais hot springs. For those fit enough, you can enjoy the 5 day Fish River Canyon hiking trail. Mokala National Park: Mokala is SANParks’ newest park. It is situated approximately 80km southsouthwest of Kimberley, and west of the N12 freeway to Cape Town. Nestled in the hills, Mokala’s landscape boasts a variety of koppieveld (hills) and large open plains. The isolated dolerite hills give the place a calming feeling of seclusion. A big surprise awaits you when you pass through the hills and are confronted by the large open sandy plains towards the north and west of the Park. Drainage lines from the hills form little tributaries that run into the plains and drain into the Riet River. Mokala is an important area for the regeneration of valuable species and is home to, amongst other species,Black Rhino, White Rhino, Buffalo, Tsessebe, Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope, Giraffe, Gemsbok, Eland, Zebra, Red Hartebeest,Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Kudu, Ostrich, Steenbok, Duiker and Springbok. Namaqua National Park: The Park is still in a development phase, but has a lot to offer its visitors. During early August and September, seemingly overnight, the dusty valleys of Namaqualand are transformed into a wonderland, carpeted with wildflowers. Every turn in the road paints an unforgettable picture: valleys filled with Namaqualand daisies and other spring flowers that pulse with sheer energy and joy. The pristine coastline from Groen River mouth to the Spoeg River mouth is a fairly recent and valuable addition to Namaqua Park offering rustic campsites.
Central Reservations: +27(0) 12 428 9111
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Experience the beauty and diversity of SANParks: Arid Region For more information visit: www.sanparks.org
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Limpopo
Kruger National Park
Blyde Canyon Safaris Bombela Camp Africa Gemco Arts, Crafts & Curios Centre Park Inn by Radisson Polokwane
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Limpopo as “upside-down trees” due to their shortened branches that look more like roots. These trees grow very slowly and can live thousands of years. The Baobabs have hollow trunks providing homes for many animals. Some of the Baobabs in Limpopo are rumoured to be more than 3 000 years old. The name “Limpopo” has its etymological origin in the Ndebele language, the original inhabitants of the area, meaning “strong gushing waterfalls”. Venda Village
Limpopo, South Africa’s northernmost province, borders onto Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Named after the Limpopo River that flows along its northern border, the province is rich in wildlife, spectacular scenery and a wealth of historical and cultural treasures. This province is in the Savanna Biome, an area of mixed grassland and trees, which is generally known as bushveld. The province’s natural resources include more than 50 provincial reserves, as well as several private game reserves. The largest section of the Kruger National Park is situated along the eastern boundary of Limpopo with Mozambique. South of Limpopo is the Soutpansberg mountains where there is a diverse network of habitats with over 300 indigenous tree species. This area is known to have the highest concentration of leopard to be found anywhere in the world. Limpopo is famous for its Baobab trees, with the biggest one in the world situated here. Baobab trees are extremely large African trees sometimes described 144
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Rhino Museum
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Baobab Tree
Did you know?
Capital city: Principal languages: Population: Share of total population: Area:
Polokwane Sepedi, 56.0% Xitsonga, 16,6% Tshivenda, 17.1% 5 797 300 10,0% 125 755km2
Leopard
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Fossil-rich caves and wildlife the Olifant’s Circle Route (for big game enthusiasts) Historical sites such as the relics of the Stone Age San The myth and legend of the Venda culture the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, as part of the Mapungubwe National Park, features San rock paintings and fossilised dinosaur footprints Makapansgat Valley, linked to the history of the Cradle of Humankind Modjadji Cycad Nature Reserve in the Lobedu Mountains near Duiwelskloof, has some of the oldest and largest cycads Kruger National Park Bela-Bela hot mineral springs Rhino Museum, the world’s only dedicated Rhino Museum
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Kruger National Park
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CAMP AFRICA
Only 7km from Louis Trichardt CBD. Next to an indigenous forest on the Soutpansberg. Five Huts, ablutions, campsites. Licensed Bar. Popular with birders, mountain bikers, hikers and 4x4 enthusiasts. Contact Dean / Carol 079 722 0968 info@campafrica.co.za Pub Menu Available
Boat Trips on the Blyde Dam Daily Trips Departing At 7am 9am 11am 1pm 3pm BOOKING ESSENTIAL
+27 82 472 1828
bookings@blydecanyonsafaris.com www.blydecanyonsafaris.com
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good stay good people good price stress-free experiences, great food and upbeat environments. feel good
radissonhotels.com/parkinn Park Inn by Radisson Polokwane Dorp Street, Portion 274 of the Farm Sterkloop, Polokwane, 0700, Limpopo, South Africa t +27 15 495-0969 info.polokwane@parkinn.com
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North West
Pilanesberg National Park
Elephant Sanctuary Hodge Podge Lodge Backpackers The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre
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North West Cattle
Wildlife Safari
The North West province lies in the north of South Africa, on the Botswana border, fringed by the Kalahari desert in the west, Gauteng to the east, and the Free State to the south. Some of the largest cattle herds in the world are found at Stellaland near Vryburg, which explains why this area is often referred to as the Texas of South Africa. Marico is also cattle country. North West is South Africa’s major producer of white maize. Mining contributes 23,3% to North West’s economy and makes up 22,5% of the South African mining industry. It is known as the “Platinum Province” due to its abundant mineral riches of platinum, chrome and the platinum group metals. It is also home to a strong dimension stone sector, due to the riches of its slate, marble and granite deposits. The Rustenburg and Brits districts produce 94% of the country’s platinum. In addition to granite, marble, fluorspar and diamonds, the province also produces a quarter of South Africa’s gold. 150
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Hardebeespoort Dam
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Elephants - Pilanesberg
Did you know?
Capital city: Principal languages: Population: Share of total population: Area:
Mahikeng Setswana, 71,5% Afrikaans, 8,96% isiXhosa, 5,51% 3 979 000 6,9% 104 882km2
Pilansberg Giraffs
Known for • • • • • • •
Platinum mining Sun City Pilanesberg National Park Madikwe Game Reserve Taung Heritage Site De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust Lesedi Cultural Village
Lesedi Cultural Village
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Sun City
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URBAN LEATHER DESIGN
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Manapools.com
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Depots in Harare & Vic Falls, Support Nationwide Fully Insured & ZTA Registered MVH112 Zim +263 77 842 2185 / Whatsapp +27 83 302 1708 ant@manapools.com
www.manapools.com
The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre Known in the past as the De Wildt Cheetah Centre, the name has been changed to the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre as a tribute to the woman who has devoted her life to the survival of the cheetahs. The Centre offers guided tours, with the opportunity of seeing cheetah, African wild dog as well as other species up close. Booking is essential
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Picture credit: Adwait Aphale and Wildlifestories
HODGE PODGE LODGE BACKPAKERS
WE CATER MOSTLY FOR HUGE GROUPS AND CAMPS Plot 66 Kommiesdrift Rustenburg C: 084 698 0417 l 084 555 1513 E: antoinette@magaliesburgbackpackers.co.za www.hodgepodgebackpackers.co.za
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Contact us on: T: +27 (0)12 504 9906/7/8 E: bookings@dewildt.co.za W: www.dewildt.co.za 2019/11/19 12:42 PM
South Africa BUCKET LIST CHALLENGE HOW MANY THINGS HAVE YOU SEEN, BEEN TO OR DONE? SANDTON CITY
CAPE TOWN
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
STELLENBOSCH
VICTORIA & ALFRED WATERFRONT
ROBBEN ISLAND
KIRSTENBOSCH NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
LION’S HEAD
TSITSIKAMA NATIONAL PARK APARTHEID MUSEUM CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE VOORTREKKER MONUMENT ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK DURBAN’S GOLDEN MILE CONSTITUTION HILL PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM CRADLE OF HUMANKIND UNION BUILDING ADDO ELEPHANT PARK SUDWALA CAVES
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MONTECASINO BOULDERS BEACH THE GARDEN ROUTE CAPE PENINSULA SUN CITY CANGO CAVES BLYDE RIVER CANYON CAPE POINT RICHTERSVELD CULTURAL & BOTANICAL LANDSCAPE
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TE_2020_Launch_PrintAd_PRINTREADY_9.10.19.pdf
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Emergency contact numbers in
South Africa
South African Police Services – 10111 Bloemfontein Emergency Numbers Emergency Call Centre - 051 405 8911 Fire - 051 406 6666 Ambulance - 051 407 6000 Metro Police - 051 407 3940 Water - 051 405 8191 Electricity - 051 409 2345
Cape Town Emergency Numbers ALL EMERGENCIES - 021 480 7700
Durban Emergency Numbers Emergency Call Centre - 031 311 1111 Fire / Ambulance - 031 361 0000 Metro Police - 031 361 0000 Water - 080 131 3013 Electricity - 080 131 3111
East London Emergency Numbers Emergency Call Centre - 043 705 2000 Fire / Ambulance - 043 705 9000 Metro Police - 043 705 2111
Water - 043 705 9200 Electricity - 043 705 9234 or a/h 043 705 9200
Johannesburg Emergency Numbers Fire / Ambulance - 011 375 5911 St John’s Ambulance - 011 403 4227 Metro Police - 011 490 1510 Water - 011 6881500 Electricity - 011 375 5555
Port Elizabeth Emergency Numbers Emergency Call Centre - 041 506 5555 Fire / Ambulance - 041 585 1555 Metro Police - 041 402 1002 Water - 041 360 7811 Electricity - 041 374 4434
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Pretoria / Tshwane Emergency Numbers Emergency Call Centre - 012 368 2111 Fire / Ambulance - 012 310 6300 Metro Police - 012 358 7095 Water - 012 358 2111 Electricity - 080 111 1556
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For furth Fax +27
Nexa Travel contains: Vit This medicin
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Travel Companion A5 AD.pdf
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For further product information contact PHARMA DYNAMICS P O Box 30958 Tokai Cape Town 7966 Tel +27 21 707 7000 Fax +27 21 701 5898 Email info@pharmadynamics.co.za CUSTOMER CARE LINE 0860 PHARMA (742 762) www.pharmadynamics.co.za Nexa TravelShieldâ„¢: Suitable for children from 3 years. For further information, kindly refer to the instructions for use, approved June 2018. EFFERFLU-C IMMUNE BOOSTER. Each effervescent tablet contains: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 1 000 mg, Zinc lactate trihydrate 22,71 mg, Echinacea purpurea 50,00 mg. Suitable for adults & children over 12 years. This medicine has not been evaluated by SAHPRA. This medicine is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. ECXA47/09/2019.
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www.perdeberg.co.za
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www.revix.com
Can you afford not to invest?
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