Friends of Zimbabwe – Travel

Besides malaria, there are other insect-borne diseases such as dengue and sleeping sickness. However, these are less common and using the same precautions as you would against mosquito bites, namely long-sleeved clothes and trousers, repellents and mosquito nets, will help prevent them.

In countries where drinking water isn’t properly regulated, stick to bottled or boiled water and avoid tap water, water fountains and ice cubes. Ask your travel consultant about the safety of drinking water in the areas you’ll be visiting.

Use common sense when it comes to food and beverages. If you’re unsure of their origin, don’t touch them.

If you’re walking, it’s best to wear shoes at all times.

AIDS is rife throughout Africa, so if you’re planning to have intimate contact with the locals always use condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Avoid handling strange animals, especially monkeys, dogs and cats.

Avoid swimming in stagnant water.

The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following vaccines. See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for them to take effect:

Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)

Hepatitis B if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through medical treatment

Rabies, if you come into direct contact with wild or domestic animals

Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries

Booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults, as needed

A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required for entry into certain African countries, particularly if you are coming from a country in tropical South America or elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is no risk for of yellow fever in Southern Africa.

By: Gerald Crawford

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The town of Worcester in South Africa was founded in 1822. The town today is mainly the service centre for the surrounding wine and fruit growing areas in the Breede River Valley. Worcester lies at the N1 freeway connecting Cape Town and Johannesburg and is an ideal place for a stopover, since it has some interesting tourist attractions to offer.

At the Kleinplasie open-air museum one can gain an insight into the living conditions of the first settlers. A farm from the 18th century, a hut of the Trekboers and a Khoikhoi camp have been rebuilt and furnished true to detail. Actors in historical dresses reinvoke the rural life of the old days. Visitors can watch how they manufactured soap, rolled tobacco, forged horseshoes, milled wheat, spun wool and much more.

To the wine lover, Worcester offers a big Wine Tasting Centre, where one can savor the excellent Breede River wines. Definitely worth a visit is the KWV Brandy Cellar, where one can gain an insight into art of brandy distillation.

Another attraction is the Karoo National Botanical Garden, about one kilometer north of Worcester. In this 144 hectare semi-desert nature reserve one can find a whole spectrum of Karoo plants.

Glider-flying enthusiasts find the only glider flying airfield in the Cape in Worcester. The Cape Gliding Club owns a whole range of one or two-seater glider planes, a towing aircraft and a tarred runway. Flying activities are usually limited to the weekends only. Visitors are welcome and can, under the supervision of a teacher, try flying themselves. Thermal winds and weather conditions in the Breede River Valley are excellent most of the year.

Worcester lies on the main route to and from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. With its wide range of services and commercial facilities, it has become the business and shopping centre for the entire valley and surrounding towns.

Things to See and Do:

Kleinplasie:

The Complex (next to the Robertson Road) comprises the agricultural showground’s, an Open Air Living Museum, restaurant and wine cellar, as well as the Reptile World.

Kleinplasie Open Air Living Museum:

The unique open air museum depicts the lifestyle of the early pioneer farmers. Throughout the year a variety of activities are presented.

Karoo National Botanical Garden:

This jewel of a garden with 144ha of natural semi-desert vegetation and 10ha of landscaped gardens, features the unique plants of the drier parts of the country. Its greenhouse boast world famous collections of stone plants.

Brandy Route:

During the 325th brandy producing year in South Africa in 1997, the world’s first Brandy Route was introduced, causing a stir amongst the world media. Public awareness was roused and brandy-lovers set about finding out more about the production and finer side of this noble fruit of the vine, by visiting the cellars along the Brandy Route.

The KWV Cellar, the largest of its kind in the world, is one of eight cellars on the Brandy Route. It’s uniqueness lies in the 120 Woudberg potstills, huge maturation cellar and demonstrations of the ancient craft of barrel-making by the coopers.

The Olof Bergh Solera Cellar, at Goudine, is the other cellar in the Worcester region. Small but prolific, it accommodates 22 Woudberg copper potstills, similiar to those used in Cognac, France, for the distillation of high quality colombar wines. It is the only cellar in South Africa to practice the famous Spanish Solera method of maturation and blending.

Institute for the Blind:

Visitors are invited to come and see how the visually impaired are trained and how they work.

Institute for the Deaf:

Visitors are invited to come and see how the hearing impaired are trained and how they work.

Nuwe Hoop Centre for the Hearing Impaired:

A centre where children between the ages of three and twenty one years receive formal and technical training. Visitors are welcome.

Architectural Walking Routes:

Worcester was laid out according to a definite plan with parallel streets. This enables the visitor to take an easy walk through town and visit some prime examples of early architecture. Brochures are available at the Tourism Bureau.

Gift and Antique Shops:

Several interesting shops are dotted around town.

By: Gerald Crawford

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There are very few places in the country that can boast such a diversity of natural places of beauty as the Western Cape. The Garden Route follows the coastline of the Indian Ocean on the Eastern Cape Coast, between a belt of mountain ranges, the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains inland. The Garden Route enjoys one of the mildest and most equable climates, with unspoiled golden beaches, beautiful lagoons and estuaries and boasts in excess of 250 species of birds.

The West Coast

The West Coast offers some of the greatest of small town experiences in South Africa. This is a region that needs to be savored, slowly, and therefore road trips along the West Coast are a firm favorite with locals and international visitors. Not only does the area offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the world mountains, oceans and views that go on forever, this coast is also a haven for the finest South African hospitality.

The West Coast has two official wine routes, the Swartland Wine Route and the Olifants River Wine Region. West Coast seas also produce a bounty of quality seafood and line fish to accompany the fruit of the vine and some of the countrys finest restaurants are found along this coastline.

The Winelands

Just a 45-minute drive from Cape Town and youre in the mountains and valleys of the Winelands all gracious gabled Cape Dutch homesteads, cask-lined cellars, oak-treed towns and ultra fine restaurants. The towns of Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl are delightful and beg to be explored and savored very slowly, like good wine.

The Garden Route

This land of lakes, bays, mountains and forests languishes on the southern coast from Heidelberg to the Eastern Cape’s Tsitsikamma Forest and Storms River. Its a nook of the country that offers inspiration to writers and artists whose presence gives the Garden Route a trendy flavour. It is also a top priority of many a foreign visitor.

This coastal drive links a series of charming towns interspersed with natural wonder. Along the way, every kind of adventure activity is possible scuba diving, abseiling, fishing and more.

The Klein Karoo

One of the most geologically interesting parts of South Africa is the Klein Karoo, with its towering mountains and sheer gorges. A notable geological feature is the Cango Caves, a series of caverns and chambers naturally hewn out of limestone, outside of the city of Oudtshoorn. These caves are among the top ten most visited South African attractions.

Oudtshoorn itself, the heart of the ostrich feather industry when it was at its zenith in the late 1800′s early 1900′s, is worth a visit. The grandiose, old feather palaces are still to be seen, while ostrich farms, now involved in the commercial production of meat, leather, eggs and feathers, can be toured, with the possibility of riding an ostrich. The town also hosts an annual music and theatre fest the Klein Karoo Kunstefees.

The Central Karoo

The semi-arid Karoo derives its name from an indigenous word meaning [thirstland], but the starkness this implies is deceptive. Dig a little below the surface and you find fossil-rich terrain, fascinating rock art, ancient stone-age sites, one of the largest varieties of succulents on the planet and star-filled skies to thrill the astronomer, no matter how amateur.

Peaceful Prince Albert at the foot of the spectacular Swartberg Pass makes a convenient base from which to venture out and explore. Its close to Gamkaskloof or Die Hel (The Hell), once home to an isolated farming community that for a century was accessible only by foot or horseback. The Karoo National Park, as the largest ecosystem in South Africa, reveals how fauna and flora have adapted to their harsh environment.

The Breede River Valley

Some 15 attractive small towns have the good fortune to nestle in the fertile Breede River Valley, wall-to-wall in orchards and vineyards.

Theres Ceres, aptly named for the Roman goddess of fertility; Tulbagh with 32 historical buildings making for the largest concentration of national monuments in the country; Montagu, home of hot mineral springs famed for curative powers; Worcester and Robertson – known for their noble vintages.

The Overberg

An hour east of Cape town ‘over the mountains’ is the Overberg, marked by a coastline of holiday-friendly beaches, picturesque seaside towns, an ancient lighthouse that has witnessed many a shipwreck (at Cape Agulhus) and a whale route that draws more whales and more watchers each year. Between June and November crowds flock to Hermanus and its surrounds to watch the great mammals court and cavort.

Inland, over the Outeniqua Mountains you will find the Klein Karoo with Oudtshoorn, which is the capital of ostrich land, and is the heart of Ostrich farming worldwide. Undoubtedly the most popular attraction of the area is the subterranean wonderland of the Cango Caves. The caves with its own museum form the tourist hub of the Klein Karoo and are a must to visit.

Attractions:

Robben Island

Table Mountain

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Two Oceans Aquarium

Ratanga Junction

Tygerberg Zoo

Stellenbosch

Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve

Drakenstein Lion Park

Cedarberg Wilderness Area

West Coast Fossil Park

Hex River Valley

Kleinplaasie Living Open-Air Museum

Cape Agulhas

Agulhas National Park

Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe

Blaukrantz Bunjy Jumping

Wilderness National Park

Knysna Elephant Park

Suggested Travel Route

Day 1: Stellenbosch

Bergplaas Resort

Tel: 021 887 5331 Fax: 021 887 5331

Mountain Breeze Caravan Park

Tel: 021 880 0200 Fax: 021 880 0200

Day 2: Paarl

Berg River Resort

Tel: 021 863 1650 Fax: 021 863 2583

Orleans Caravan Parks

Tel: 021 862 3520 Fax: 021 862 3520

Day 3: Clanwilliam

Bulshoekdam Leisure Resort

Tel: 027 482 2635 Fax: 027 482 2635

Clanwilliam Dam Resort

Tel: 027 482 8000 Fax: 027 482 1933

Driehoek Caravan & Camping

Tel: 027 482 2828 Fax: 027 482 2828

Day 4: Worcester

Nekkies Municipal Resort

Tel: 023 343 2909 Fax: 023 343 2911

Day 5: Swellendam

Kambati River Resort

Tel: 028 514 3999 Fax: 086 627 3528

Day 6: Still Bay

Ellensrust Caravan Park

Tel: 028 754 1034 Fax: 028 754 1140

Stilbaai Municipal Caravan Park

Tel: 028 754 1034 Fax: 028 754 1034

Day 7: George

George Tourist Resort

Tel: 044 874 5205 Fax: 044 874 4255

George-East Caravan Park

Tel: 044 889 0034 Fax: 044 889 0034

Herolds Bay Municipal Caravan Park

Tel: 044 801 9262 Fax: 044 873 3862

Day 8: Knysna

Buffelskop Caravan Park

Tel: 044 384 1314 Fax: 044 384 1314

Lake Brenton Resort

Tel: 044 381 0060 Fax: 044 381 0065

Monks Holiday Resort

Tel: 044 382 2609 Fax: 044 382 2609

Distances in km from Cape Town

Beaufort West 463 km

Bredasdorp 207 km

Hermanus 109 km

Knysna 465 km

Oudtshoorn 422 km

Roberton 165 km

Vredenburg 162 km

Vredendal 297 km

By: Gerald Crawford

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Algeria is the second largest country on the African continent. Most of the coastal area is hilly, sometimes even mountainous, and there are a few natural harbors. Algeria is famous for its of strong cultural identity, Sahara desert, beautiful oasis and mountains.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS:
Most famous cities of Algeria are Oran, Algiers, In Salah, El golea, Constantine, Bejaia, Tamanrasset, Laghouat, Taghit, Tlemcen, Annaba and Boghni.

Algers, the capital city, has a maze of pretty small alleys and whitewashed houses.Constantine has some museums and deep gorge protects the city on almost all sides. Taghit is popular among tourists for its oasis and dunes. Oran is an important city and a busy port. Tlemcen has nice mixture of Islamic and French architecture.

Natural attractions in Algeria include Kabylia and the Chiffa Gorges. Boghni is located next to the enormous and magnificent Jurjura mountains. Laghouat is an oasis town, it is where the Sahara desert really starts. The holy town of Beni-Isguen with its well-guarded gate and auction market, makes for an interesting stop.

Tassili n’Ajjer is a famous archaeological site, erosion in the area has resulted in nearly 300 natural rock arches being formed. The M’zab is a limestone plateau, centered around the Wad M’zab and also a world heritage site.

SAFETY CHECK:

Algeria, has been battered by violence and civil unrest over the past half-century. It is IMPORTANT to check the travel.state.gov website for most current safety warnings and which areas have been declared safe for travel. You should also check the Algerian tourism authority and consulate for travel and safety recommendations.

POPULAR THINGS TO BUY:

Dates, leather goods, carpets, jewelry, pottery and paintings.

CLIMATE:

Arid to semi-arid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer.

CULTURE:

The majority religion is Islam and the normal Islamic ethics apply in most of the country. Keep in mind to only drink at home or in a bar, never on the street.

By: Swati A

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Kansieo.com

Local tourism has been on the up with the introduction of more budget airlines over the past few years, and these days it is easier than ever to work national flights into your holiday budget. So, while airfare to South Africa may have been on the rise recently, budget airlines in South Africa are making sure that travel in South Africa is affordable to airline users.

There are a couple of airlines competing to offer the cheapest flights to Johannesburg, and it is now possible to find cheap flights to Durban, cheap flights to JHB and cheap flights to Cape Town from one of the budget airlines in South Africa.

Mango Airways, Kulula Airline and Nationwide are probably the three cheapest options when flying in South Africa, although it may be worthwhile checking 1Time, SAA and British Airways to see if there are specials available.

Each airline has its own quirks and benefits, so make sure of the services provided and what is included in your ticket price. You may need to buy lunch on the flight, or it may be included. If you think you will need to eat on the flight you may want to make sure of this detail.

Whichever airline you choose to fly with when traveling in South Africa, make sure to get to the airport in time, double check your boarding time and when you should check in your luggage. There are a variety of car rental agents available at each of the major South African airports, but you may find it easier to call the rental agency in advance if you are planning to rent a car in your destination city.

By: Marius Bezuidenhout

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Welcome to South Africa.

We want your visit to South Africa to be special and filled with great memories; and we hope that you will visit again and again.

The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern end of the vast African continent, flanked by the Indian Ocean on the east and the Atlantic on the west. It is bordered by Namibia to the north-west, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, and by Mozambique to the north-east. South Africa’s area is one eighth the size of the United States and more than 5 times larger than Great Britain.

The various population groups of South Africa have combined to create a society of diverse historical and cultural backgrounds, which has often been described as a fascinating ethnic mosaic. Our country has a lot to offer. From wide-open spaces to a variety of modern cities. From wildlife to tribal life.

We access the situation as follows:

* Stay clear of the center of major cities at night and should you wish to go somewhere, please get the accommodation to get a taxi.

* Do not tour the Wild Coast of Transkei on your own.

* Talk to the local people before venturing into those unknown areas on your own.

* There is a great deal of goodwill to foreigner visitors.

The following hints to make your stay enjoyable and safe.

There are a few basic precautions you should take to ensure that your stay is as pleasant and safe as possible.

You could reduce the possibility of becoming a victim of crime.

Taking the following precautions:

At The Hotel:

* Never leave your luggage unattended.

* Hand the keys in at the desk whenever you depart the hotel.

* Carry a certified copy of your passport and travel documents with you at all times.

* Keep your room locked.

* Check who it is before opening the door in the hotel.

* Store all valuables in the hotel’s safety deposit box, including cash, jewellery and cameras.

* Be observant when entering parking or unlit areas.

In The Street:

* Carry your camera in a shoulder bag.

* It’s definitely not advisable to carry large amounts of money around.

* Whenever possible, do not walk alone.

* Explore our country in groups and stay in well-lit, busy streets.

* At night, steer clear of dark, isolated areas.

* A police or traffic officer will gladly direct you if you get lost.

* If you want to call a taxi, your hotel can recommend a good reliable service.

* When walking in the street be observant and guard against snatchers, pick-pockets.

* Carry your bag close to your body.

* Keep your change in your wallet, and credit cards and notes in an inside pocket.

In The Car:

* Keep the car doors locked at all times and wind the windows up.

* Plan your route in advance, and be sure of sufficient fuel.

* Make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical order.

* Use maps, and when in doubt as to the safety of specific areas, or which route to take, ask the police.

* Do not leave packages or personal items on the seats of the car.

* Park in well-lit areas at night.

* Never pick up any hitchhiker.

General:

* Keep a list of emergency numbers close at hand in case of an emergency.

* Be alert at all times.

* When using an elevator, always make sure that you are at ease with fellow users before entering.

* Avoid displays of expensive jewellery.

* Do not show large amounts of money.

* Should you possess a firearm, hand it in at your bank for safe keeping, unless you plan on carrying it on your person the whole time.

If you see any suspect activity, or experience an emergency please call the South African police emergency number: 10111

By: Gerald Crawford

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Once upon a time a river took a journey and lost its way in the desert. Instead of drowning in despair, it luxuriated in its solitude, spread its liquid resource into a delta and created nature’s greatest kaleidoscope. It became known by the mokoro boatmen as Okavango. It became known by conservationists as the jewel of the Kalahari.

The Okavango, however, is only one facet of the wilderness we parcel up for you. For the optimum wildlife experience, we annex the other great gameviewing areas: the drylands of the Okavango in the Moremi; Chobe National Park including Savute – the kingdom of the lion; the endless stretches of the wild Kalahari and Makgadikgadi; the big tusker country of the Tuli.

This is a country of adventure, challenge and discovery: mokoro trails up secret waterways; overnight camping on islands and highlands; fighting the mighty Tiger Fish; surveying the vastness from elephant and horse back; admiring the abundant bird and wildlife; discovery of weird and wonderful plant and tree species on bush walks; sampling the Okavango bream, the sweetest eating fish of the realm.

Most of all, it’s a unique experience just being there.

Welcome Tourism Services has extensive knowledge and experience resulting in a comprehensive offering ranging from mobile safaris to tailor made fly-ins and special interest adventures. Our close association with Air Botswana, working directly with the internal charter companies, and product knowledge, affords us the flexibility to link lodges from different operators, ensuring innovative itineraries based on clients’ preferences.

Our approach to customising safaris is to give clients an intense experience of the areas visited. This means concentrating on the highlights. In Botswana there are 4 wildlife and wilderness highlight experiences. A stay in a water camp to explore the wetlands of the famed Okavango Delta by motorised craft or mokoro (dug out canoe).

A stay in a dual or land camp to view a great variety of game and bird life from an open safari vehicle. A venture into the Chobe area including Savute, a harsh land where the battle for survival is desperate and prides of African lion are dominant. On a mobile safari tracking migratory herds of game through the endless vistas of the wild Kalahari.

In addition, some of our special interest safaris will take you to lesser-known areas and add a special touch to your Botswana sojourn.

Welcome Tourism Services represents all accommodation establishments in Botswana, from hotels suitable for groups to luxury tented camps and lodges and old-style rustic safari camps. The emphasis is on personal service, comfort, convenience and good food, all within the spirit of wilderness life.

With a population of about 1.5 million people and covering almost 582 000 square kilometres, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa. Having scarcely been developed under a British colonial administration between 1885 and 1966, the discovery of diamonds, a year after independence, has allowed Botswana to develop rapidly.

Sir Seretse Khama, the country’s first post-independence president, being one of the most remarkable and far future thinking leaders that any nation could wish for, laid the foundations for a free and uncompromisingly democratic society, which with continuing political stability and economic growth, truly makes Botswana a role model for success in Africa.

With the exception of the eastern part of the country, which receives slightly higher summer rainfall and hence is the most densely populated region, most of Botswana is technically desert. This makes the Okavango Delta, situated in the north-west of the country, particularly unique. At around 17 000 square kilometres the Okavango is the world’s largest inland delta and is an extraordinary wetland environment surrounded by the strikingly flat and arid Kalahari Desert, the world’s largest expanse of sand.

The northern portion of the Okavango Delta is known as the ‘panhandle’. Here, the river is mostly still confined to its banks with seemingly limitless beds of papyrus. The area is attractive to birdwatchers and those hoping to glimpse the rare and elusive Sitatunga antelope. It is also popular with sport fishermen for the renowned Tiger Fish.

The Okavango Delta is a labyrinth of islands, secret lagoons and hidden water channels. It varies in size throughout the year, being dependant largely on the rains which fall in the Angolan Highlands, 1 000 kilometres to the north. Although the flood arrives in the panhandle in March, it doesn’t reach Maun at the southerly end of the delta until August.

The Moremi Wildlife Reserve occupies a large portion of the Okavango Delta. It contains diverse habitat, ranging from permanent swamp to floodplains, islands and large areas of dry land including ‘Chiefs Island’ and the ‘Mopane Tongue’ of dry scrub and Kalahari sands, which results in prolific bird and animal life.

The Chobe National Park in the north of Botswana is noted for the superb game viewing year round along the river front and famous for the heaviest concentrations of elephant to be found anywhere in Africa today.

The Kwando, Selinda and Linyanti areas do not perhaps symbolise Botswana in the same way that the Okavango and Chobe do, yet tucked along the border with Namibia’s Caprivi Strip these areas remain Africa in its most untouched form. Those who have visited the area, speak of it with reverence and awe.

The complex of salt pans found in eastern Botswana are a striking feature and some of the largest in the world. The Makgadikgadi Pans cover nearly 12 000 square kilometres. The remains of an ancient super lake rich in archaeological evidence, undergoes a radical transformation in the rainy summer months from a landscape offering nothing but sand, salt and sky to one teeming with tens of thousands of migrating zebra and wildebeest and countless water and wading birds.

More than 17% of Botswana is set aside for national parks and a further 15% devoted to private reserves and game is prolific both inside and outside the boundaries thereof. More than 160 species of mammals and nearly 600 species of birds can be found. With its pristine wilderness and policy of exclusivity, Botswana provides an authentic safari experience for the discerning traveller.

By: Gerald Crawford

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