South Africa An Unforgetable Experience

 

South Africa is a unique country that offers experiences that leave an indelible mark on anyone who visits here. Renowned for its great weather, friendly hospitality, good infrastructure, wildlife, culture, adventure and scenic beauty - these are some aspects that keep incentive travellers coming back for more.

An incentive tour in South Africa will entice and excite even the best-heeled traveller. We have a flair for the unusual; a penchant for the decidedly different. Many of South Africa's unforgettable experiences you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world.

Here, you can walk with elephants, swim with dolphins, dive with great white sharks, cruise among whales, share your stretch of beach with a colony of penguins, be a game ranger for a day, or learn business lessons from nature.

 

Whether it’s at a bushveld breakaway, a wilderness team building experience or an overnight stay in a luxury game lodge, no visit to South Africa is complete without a brush with the wild.

For adrenalin junkies, hardcore adventure options include abseiling, paragliding, microlighting, kloofing and diving with predators. For softer options there’s horse riding on the beach, hot air ballooning, fishing, angling, and surfing and cycling. For those who enjoy the water, there are thousands of kilometres of coastline to explore.

Breathtaking wildlife of South Africa

South Africa is one of the world's natural gems, a treasure nestled at the southern tip of the abundant African continent. Visitors from all around the world descend on the country to take advantage of the stunning climate, accommodation, game reserves, natural attractions and of course, the huge variety of wildlife.

 

South Africa's big 5

 Elephant

 The African Elephant is the largest living land mammal, one of the most impressive animals on earth.

Buffalo

 Buffalo are extremely large, ox-like animals. Standing approximately 65 inches at the shoulder.

Lion

 Lions are the second largest members of the feline family in the world. Lion are tan in colour and have a slightly white under-body, with a tuft of black hair at the end of their tails

Rhino

 The rhinoceros is a large, primitive looking mammal that in fact dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago. In recent decades rhinos have been relentlessly hunted to the point of near extinction.

Leopard 

The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is also the shrewdest. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of the larger cats and is capable of killing prey far larger than itself.

The landscapes of South Africa offer the full spectrum of habitat types (from dense green forests to arid deserts, and everything in-between), making them ideal for thousands of species. These include exciting predators, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and a huge variety of fascinating insects. These different species are found in plentiful abundance in the game reserves and national parks of the country, as well as in the wild and natural countryside, where they live free.

 

Camping Tips For Camping with Children

Camping can be a wonderful way to introduce children to the beauty of South Africa national parks and nature reserves. They key to a good camping holiday lies in planning for every eventuality.

What is the right age to take them camping:

One of the biggest factors to take into account when taking children camping is their age. If they are young it is probably better to stay in a resort near civilization rather than a very remote area. That way if there is an emergency you can get help quickly. Keep in mind your child’s attention span and capabilities – you cannot expect a toddler to do gruelling hikes.
If you have small children, it’s probably not a good idea to go camping for more than a few days, as the chances are good that they will get bored and the novelty will wear off. Once this happens, they will become irritable and things can go downhill from there and you’ll have a disastrous camping holiday.

Planning

 Pack a comforting item such as a teddy, blanket, mug etcetera – a little something of home that will comfort them and calm them down if they get scared.

•     Packing is important. Remember to check what the weather is going to be like and pack accordingly. Always pack for both hot and cold weather as it can change quickly.

•     Pack lots of snacks. All the running around in the open air is likely to give the children a good appetite.

•     Pack extra clothing as the children are sure to get wet and dirty and will need a change of clothes.

•     Pack hats, sunscreen, insect repellent and don’t forget to pack water bottles and most importantly – the toilet paper!

•     Pack a basic first aid kit and check that none of the medicines inside it have expired. It is also a good idea for someone in the group to have knowledge of first aid as medical help is often a long way off.

 

 

General Safety Tips

•   Teach your child not to stray from camp and always stay within eyesight. Pick a boundary and make sure that your child knows not to wander beyond that point. For toddlers, make sure that they are within eyesight. Older children should be told to keep within hearing distance. In a new campsite the most dangerous time for a child is the first few hours after you arrive, as they have not yet got their bearings. This is why it is good to assign them tasks and let them help set-up camp.

•     Children get cold faster than adults and it is a good idea to dress them in several layers of clothing that can be removed or added as the day heats up and cools down.

•     Teach your child that if they get lost they should stay where they are. They can find a tree to sit under, but they will be easier to find if they do not try to find their own way home.

•     A good idea is to give them a whistle and teach them to blow it three times when they are lost and in trouble.

•     Give your child a flashlight. If there is more than one child, give each of the children their own flashlight as this will prevent fights. This will help them feel safer and find their way at night. The lights can be fun for reading by before bed or making shadow puppets on the wall of the tent.

•     Always pack a little extra water and food in the vehicle so that if you have an emergency, get stuck or stranded you will have some supplies.

 

The Amazing Balancing Rocks of Zimbabwe

Anywhere else you will go in in the world you would surely find some amazing rock formations. Balancing rocks are fascinating geological formations and are a popular tourist attractions.These fascinating formations can be man made or natural . There are several of these rock formation around the world and one of the amazing balancing rock formations is THE BALANCING ROCKS OF ZIMBABWE.

Africa is perceived by many as a wide area of jungle and forest because of the existenceof safari jungle in the continent.

But not known to many there are plenty of beautiful tourist attractions in Africa such as the Victoria Falls,Table Mountain, Kilimanjaro and many others.

• The Balancing Rocks are geomorphological features of igneous rocks found in many parts of Zimbabwe, and are particularly noteworthy in Matopos National Park and near the township of Epworth to the southeast of Harare.
  
• The formations are of natural occurrence in a perfectly balanced state without other support. Their popularity grew when the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe featured the formations on the last series of Zimbabwean banknotes
  
• The Balancing Rocks have been used as a metaphorical theme to explain the importance of development coupled with preserving the fragile environment of Zimbabwe as similar to that of the Balancing Rocks found in Epworth, Matopos and in other areas

The Robertson Hotel in South Africa

Situated in the heart of Robertson, a favorite tourist attraction spot that’s located along the longest wine route in the world, Route 62, resides the chicly quaint Robertson Small Hotel providing luxury accommodation and fine cuisine all year round.
The Robertson Small Hotel prides itself on its tranquil picturesque sceneries from the property's simple, yet contemporary architecture.  This recently established boutique hotel comprises of ten luxurious guest suites, each rich with character and yet ever so modest making up the perfect home away from home.

Accommodation:

Manor House Suites - The Manor House, with veranda around the perimeter houses three spacious, elegant en-suite bedrooms with high, intricately–embossed ceilings with attention to detail which is synonymous with the Victorian genre. The Manor House also houses the establishment poised to be a ‘must do’ on the gastronome’s culinary calendar, Reuben’s at The Robertson Small Hotel, the stylish chrome-pewter marble and glass bar and the modern, high-tech Cellar.

 

Stable Suites - The Stables comprise three state of the art fully equipped suites, two downstairs and one honeymoon suite upstairs, under the eaves, with reclining lounge area, and spacious bathroom. The asymmetrical, scattered, and horizontal headboards reflect a modern-contemporary style with a brown- and satin white-colour combination, with a suite specifically catering for a disabled person.

Poolside suites- The Poolside suites demonstrate a further step along the trajectory of old to new, progressing from the casual-contemporary of the Stables to a more definitive and clean-contemporary crispness. White doors contrast with chrome and textures ‘speak’ to each other in a tactile, multi-layered, ultimately serious interior. These four luxurious suites spill out onto an expanse of a shimmering, extra-elongated, pool with a spacious deck. Again, the neutral and natural wood and mottled water juxtaposes smooth metallic-elements.

Activities:

 Robertson is an ideal destination for golf, horse-riding, game drives, river cruises, art, 4x4 trails, paragliding ... to name but a few popular recreations the Valley caters for. 

Face to Face with the Great White Sharks - Cage Diving

Few things compare to the adrenalin rush and exhilaration one gets from being face to face with a 3 m Great White, especially when they curiously cruise right up to the cage and eye you within kissing range!

 

 

Sharks are quite possibly the world's most feared animals. From the smallest sand shark to the enormous whale shark, they are sleek, muscled, and some are almost as agile as a dolphin. There is no doubt that they are the most evolved predators in the ocean. Row upon row of teeth and capable of sensing the blood of an injured animal from over a kilometre away, its not surprising that they are the most feared creature beneath the waves. And of them all, the Great White is the most awesome.

 

 

 Shark diving with White Shark Projects can provide you with a unique opportunity to witness the wonder of the Great White Shark in a safe and professional environment.
White Shark Projects is totally dedicated to the conservation of these magnificent ocean predators.

 

South Africa Hotspots for tourists

South Africa is diverse and beautiful country, about the size of France and Spain combined or roughly twice the size of Texas. Its varied cultures, intriguing wildlife, stunning scenery, and remarkable beaches make it a haven for travelers from around the world. Visitors quickly discover that the rich history and colorful inhabitants ideally complement the top tourist attractions in South Africa, which creates an unforgettable experience. 

Sun City Resort

Known regionally as Africa’s Kingdom of Pleasure, Sun City Resort is a luxury casino and resort, situated about two hours’ drive from Johannesburg

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve

 

Wildlife enthusiasts may enjoy the vast expanses of native plants and native animals during guided walks, self-guided drives, or opt for a thrilling viewing experience by boat along the Hluhluwe dam 

 

Blyde River Canyon 

 Blyde River Canyon is the second largest canyon in Africa, after the Fish River Canyon, although it is much greener due to its lush subtropical foliage. Walking treks through the rich diversity of flora and fauna filled canyon offer views of magnificent escarpments, waterfalls and ancient geological phenomenon.

Cape Winelands 

 

The fertile valleys of the Cape Winelands are surrounded by majestic mountains, sleepy villages, brilliant monuments, fruitful orchards and some of the lushest scenery in South Africa.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

 Situated within an entertainment mecca filled with restaurants, specialty shops, pubs, and theaters, there is something here for everyone to enjoy 

Knysna 

 

 Extensive opportunities for outdoor adventure are easily accessible in Knysna, as well as plenty of leisurely strolling paths filled with authentic dining and shopping venues

Durban Beaches

 Boasting balmy weather year round and sporting a genuine beach culture, Durban beaches are lively areas that are remarkably clean and safe, and many of the beaches offer varietal entertainments throughout the day.

Amphitheatre, Drakensberg

The name is derived from the dutch and means “dragons mountain”. The Amphitheatre is one of the geographical features of the Northern Drakensberg, and is widely regarded as one of the most impressive cliff faces on earth.  

Table Mountain 

 Situated within a national park, reaching the pinnacle of the Table Mountain is an thrilling experience that offers phenomenal, birds-eye views overlooking the city of Cape Town, Robben Island to the north, and the Atlantic seaboard to the west and south. 

Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve on the continent and one the main tourist attractions in South Africa. The park boasts more species of mammals than any other African game reserve which includes the Big Five, cheetahs, giraffes and more. Unlike most other safari parks, Kruger is a self-drive destination with an excellent infrastructure and many places to stay inside the park, from tented camps to luxury lodges.