Makgadikgadi Pans National Park - Botswana

Meno A Kwena Tented Camp

Camp Kalahari 

Jack's Camp 

The not-to-be-missed Namaqualand flowers!

Seeing the flowers!!

Visitors can enjoy self-catering accommodation at the Skilpad Rest Camp or enjoy various camping options along the coast. The main entrance, reception, administrative offices and prime accommodation are all at Skilpad. During the flower season, in spring, they host a temporary luxury camp at the coast that is run by a private operator.

Part of the semi-desert Succulent Karoo biome, Namaqualand is home to the richest bulb flora of any arid region in the world and more than 1 000 of its estimated 3 500 plant species are found nowhere else on earth. When compared to regions with similar semi-arid environments, the richness of this biome is exceptional.

During early August and September, seemingly overnight, the dusty valleys of Namaqualand are transformed in to a wonderland, carpeted with wildflowers that draw visitors from around the country and from abroad. 

The Breath Taking Augrabies Falls!

Augrabies Falls National Park is a national park located around the Augrabies Falls, about 120 km west of Upington in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. It was established in 1966.

The Park covers an area of 820 km² and stretches along the Orange River. The area is very arid. The waterfall is about 60 metres high and is awe-inspiring when the river is in flood. The gorge below the falls averages about 240 m deep and runs for 18 kilometres. The gorge provides an impressive example of erosion into a granitic basement.

At the Augrabies National Park there is camping, chalets and family cottages availabl... and activities!

The Klipspringer Hiking Trail consists of three days of hiking. The first day is 14.4km long; the second day, 9.9km and the third and last day 11.5km. Even though the first day is the longest, the second day is probably the most difficult regarding the heat, while the third day is the least demanding. As the hike is quite demanding, it is necessary to plan for quit a rigorous trip.

The Dassie Trail is approximately 5km in length and does require a certain level

of fitness as it includes climbing over slippery rocks. 

 

 

Tragedy in Knysna!

Fires Was Contained Luckily..

Knysna Hollow Country Estate

The  Knysna Hollow was completely destroyed in the fire and will not be in operation in the foreseeable future.

The Knysna Hollow Country Estate is closed down completely and permanently.

The Spier Hotel

The Spier hotel, in Stellenbosch, Western Cape will be remodelling their restaurant area and wine bar. The remodel is set to take place from July-September.

The restaurant and wine bar of the hotel will be temporarily unavailable to guests during this time. All other guest areas will remain available, and disruption will be kept to a minimum.

Tau Game Lodge 

The Tau Game Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve, North West, was affected by fire.

The main lodge burned down, however rooms have not been affected. The lodge is not operational, as the kitchen and reception area have been affected.

Coral Tree Cottages

These cottages were not affected by the fires in the region and are open for business!!

The Plettenberg Park Hotel & Spa

Hotel and Spa did not survive the Garden Route fires.

The hotel was situated in a private nature reserve, on Robberg Road, Plettenberg, Western Cape.

Note-worthy visitors who visited the hotel include Nelson Mandela and Richard Branson.

Updates On Botswana!

A new boutique guest house has opened in Gaborone, Botswana.

Opened in early May this year, Bannerloft Guest House offers nine rooms, accommodating a maximum of 18 guests.

Ed Bannerman, GM, says five of the rooms are deluxe rooms with queen-size beds, while four twin rooms have two three-quarter beds.

The guest house has free WiFi for guests and facilities include a conference room for 20 delegates.

The guest house is located 12 kilometers northeast of Sir Seretse Khama International airport, about 15 minutes’ drive in Maruapula. It is in close proximity to malls and central business district.

Big Tree Valley Hotel in Maun, Botswana, has been revamped.

“The revamp has added life, colour and quality creating a better experience overall for guests,” says GM Keneo Sebati.

Ceramic tiles has replaced carpets, while the interiors of all rooms has been refurbished. The reception and restaurant have also been revamped.

The hotel has a total of 13 rooms, which can accommodate 29 guests. Additional facilities include a conference room for 100 delegates.

Chobe Princess

With only a small number of guests per boat staying in one of the three Chobe Princesses is like being on your very own houseboat. The entire boat can also be booked exclusively, giving you your very own private villa on the water. As you drift down the Chobe River and spot incredible wildlife scenes, you'll be able to completely relax in an intimate river safari experience.

Each houseboat has a minimum of three smaller "tender" boats for use on daily excursions that take your fancy: mark off over 450 bird species found in this wetland paradise, try your hand at landing a tiger fish, or capture Africa's unique beauty on a photographic safari. Whatever you choose to do, your day trips will be personal and flexible because you’ll be sharing the tender boats with a small number of guests. Alternatively, simply laze on a deck chair with an ice-cold drink in hand as you soak up the tranquility that surrounds you.

Each cabin on board the Chobe Princesses is tastefully decorated in a contemporary style, and each has its own private view onto the ever-changing landscapes beyond. As you lie on your king-sized bed, spot an elephant grazing on the riverbank nearby, or see a fish eagle diving for its prey. On the upper entertainment deck, a spacious lounge and bar area encourages you to take time out while there’s also a plunge pool that's perfect for a refreshing dip. After a day spent doing as you please, fall asleep with the calls of hyena or even a lion drifting through the open doors of your cabin.

The Devon Hotel - South Africa

Devon detour

Devon Valley is one of Stellenbosch’s best-kept secrets, both scenically and viticulturally. Vines have flourished here since the 18th century and it has an enviable reputation, not only for the red wines produced here, but also as a source of premium grapes.

The Devon Valley Detour offers an unforgettable journey through the picturesque Devon Valley. Experience the abundance of flavours and renowned wines of the Vintners of Devon Valley, read more here.

Whiskey, Wine and food pairings

The Devon Valley Hotel is surrounded by its own working SylvanVale Vineyards that produce handmade boutique style wines that are only available for sale to guests to the property. Gourmet Food and SylvanVale wine pairing are available all year round either in Flavours Restaurant or on a smaller sample tasting scale of Flavours food canapés and a flight of three SylvanVale wines.

The Cedarwood Lounge & Bar is home to one of the most definitive collections of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies in South Africa and is frequented by self-confessed Whisky lovers from all over the globe. Whisky tastings and pairing menus are also available and presents the perfect opportunity for Whisky and food lovers to indulge in these simple pleasures while visiting the Stellenbosch Winelands.

Golfing in the fields

From its location in a beautiful and peaceful corner of the Devon Valley, just outside Stellenbosch, The Devon Valley Hotel offers golfers the ideal home-base from which to explore the surrounding area and play some of the best golf courses in the Western Cape. Within an easy driving distance radius of 10 to 30 minutes from the hotel, golfers can enjoy a choice of at least eight excellent golf estates. The options within this radius are DevonVale, De Zalze, Pearl Valley and Erinvale to name a few.

Visit the wine route

Wine lover or not, a visit to the Cape Winelands is an absolute must as the region is one of breathtaking vistas and majestic mountain backdrops while being steeped in rich culture and history. Rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads await you, as well as award-winning wine farms offering some of the country’s best wines.

The Winelands are divided into various regions, each offering their own ‘wine route’. The most popular and well-known are Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington and Paarl. Not to be forgotten are the highly acclaimed wine estates in the Constantia Valley. Also located in beautiful surroundings with stunning mountain backdrops, the Constantia Valley boasts some of the oldest estates and homesteads along with award-winning wines.

Sun, Surf and sand

As The Devon Valley Hotel is situated in the very heart of the Winelands region and uniquely positioned in its own working SylvanVale Vineyard, guests find themselves surrounded by lush gardens and vineyards and basically everything that celebrates the fine art of wine making. If however, they wish to enjoy a day out on the beach, it is only an easy 20 kilometre’s drive to the nearest beach at Strand (about 20-25 minutes’ drive).

A further 5 kilometres along the coast is Gordon’s Bay and the ever popular Bikini Beach, adjacent to the harbour and yacht club. Boating and fishing can be done from the harbour and swimming in Gordon’s Bay’s beach area is probably the safest of all the False Bay beaches. Guests can enjoy long, leisurely walks along the Strand beach or opt for the more active beach activity options of swimming, boogie-boarding, surfing, paddle-skiing, kite-surfing and sailing.

Whale watching in Hermanus

Approximately an hour and a half from Devon Valley is the seaside town of Hermanus. Hermanus is hailed as offering the best land-based whale watching in the world. From May onwards Southern Right Whales pay homage to these warm, shallow waters in order to calf their young and to mate. The best time for whale watching is between August and November and at this time the bay is dotted with whales.