Friends of Zimbabwe – Travel

For a holiday with a difference why not try South Africa?

Renowned for its wild life and desert plains you will have to travel quite a distance to take in all of South Africa’s finest points.

To make your travels a little more interesting between destinations why not use car hire in South Africa, venture slightly off the beaten track and pay a visit to some of South Africa’s supposedly haunted hot spots?

Visit the Pretoria branch of car hire to pick up your vehicle and make Gerhard Moerdyk Street your first stop for entertainment. Only a small street, this is home to one of the liveliest, happiest communities you will find.

Historic houses and buildings along with creative shops can help you fill the daylight hours but night time is when this place comes into its own. Jazz haunts, beat bars and ethnic restaurants spill all types of music onto the street including house, reggae and alternative rock. You will feel compelled to join in when every building brings a feeling of festivity.

Breytenbach theatre is a must see for a visit of this kind. It began life as a German club but was taken over in 1907 by Emily Hobhouse, a famous Boer war heroine. Originally used by Emily as a weaving school and craft centre to assist destitute Boer widows, it was later used as a temporary hospital to cater for victims of the 1918 flu epidemic.

Legend has it that the basement beneath the stage was used as a morgue and a nurse Heather that attended the hospital’s sick children before succumbing herself, is said to be seen and heard here on occasion.

If you have no luck with the supernatural here, use car hire to escape to Kempton Park where you may have more joy at Avion Park Recreation Centre. A vision of a young man wearing a cricketers uniform is often seen roaming the corridors. It is said that he died after being struck by lightening and has never moved on.

South Africans, in the main, do not believe in ghosts. Any unexplained phenomena is said to be dead people who do not realise they have died and they use a ritual to explain to the dead that they have gone. All this comes despite their reputation for witchcraft and sorcery, which belongs to a few extreme groups around the country.

Making your way down the country, your hired car will serve you well when you visit the famous Golden Gate National Park. With 11,600 hectares of amazing scenery and wildlife, keep a look out for black wildebeest and an assortment of antelope including the springbok which is the emblem of South African rugby.

Bearded vulture and bald ibis are very rare birds but you stand a good chance of seeing them in this part of the world. Ensure your visit keeps you until sunset when you will be struck by the most amazing sight of rainbow colours where the blue and purple hues of the mountain shadows at the parks highest peak of Ribboktop meet the suns last rays bouncing shades of red and yellow from the sandstone walls of the park.

Drive your hired car across to Bloemfontein. This is a city otherwise known as the ‘city of roses’ due to its ability to grow the most amazing roses everywhere despite the arid conditions. Maybe it is these conditions which discourage many of its inhabitants form moving on after death!

In 1961, a young girl disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Six years later the body of a girl was discovered beneath a newly built swimming pool at Jim Fouche High School. Since the discovery, many unexplained things have occurred including the opening and shutting of doors, lights flickering and the occasional sound of a girl singing sometimes accompanied by a sighting of her.

The Old Presidency is a place to visit for those of rather fainter heart where the feeling of being watched is overbearing and described by many visitors.
Use car hire to then get you down to Gansbaai on the south coast where the white shark cage diving is a must. Shark sightings are almost guaranteed during shark mating season but sea sickness medication is an absolute must!

A short car ride from here is Simonstown. In the Old Residency is housed The Simonstown Musem. This is home to a veritable ghost challenge. This building contains a haunted painting that, when photographed, will never develop. There’s only one way to find out.

At Cape Town you will be spoilt for choice when ghost hunting. Cape Town Mine Quarry is said to be most beautiful during the day but at night takes on a whole other-worldly feel with audible sounds of deep, abusive voices and an overwhelming sense of foreboding. Cape Town Castle, built in the 1600′s to protect the harbour, is apparently haunted by the slaves and captives held and tortured to death there.

Cape Town harbour hosts the most famous ghost sighting in the world – that of The flying Dutchman. The Royal Navy have, over the years, documented numerous sighting of this ghost ship, said to have gone down around 1640. Stories abound that the captain of the phantom ship will try to pass letters to any sailors it encounters. If accepted, this will mean certain doom.

Car hire South Africa has outlets in Cape Town where you can return your vehicle before making the flight home to develop that film and see what appears, or not.

By: Catherine Harvey

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While you are in the city you could visit attractions like the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which is a huge shopping and entertainment area located between the harbour and Table Mountain. Also within the V&A Waterfront you will find an exciting Aquarium and a Marine Museum.

Table Mountain overlooks the whole city. Though the top is frequently cloud covered on a clear day the view from the top makes the gruelling climb worth it, of course if gruelling doesn’t sound like your cup of tea then you can always just hop-on the Cable Car to the top! The area also has a number of walking trails which can also be very rewarding.

Located 7kms off the coast and 12kms from the city is Robben Island, which was a famous prison during the Apartheid era and it is where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years here as prisoner 46664. This number is now the name of a series of concerts in support of AIDS Charities. Please bear in mind that there is actually a two week waiting list to visit the island so you can either put your name on the list as soon as you arrive, join a tour group or you could try booking ahead.

Some other attractions within the city include The Castle of Good Hope, the South African Parliament, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the District Six Museum and the Galleria Gibello Photographic Gallery.

What’s to see in the Cape Town Area?

Cape Town has much to offer the curious tourist, both in and outside of the city.

Heading out of the city there is much to explore in the Western Cape Province. Why not take a drive to the Cape Peninsula. At the end of the Cape you will find the Cape of Good Hope which is often, though wrongly, stated as being the most southerly point of Africa (It is in fact Cape Agulhas, 150kms away). Also on the Cape Peninsula is Chapman’s Peak Drive, a coastal road that offers many spectacular vistas over the Atlantic Ocean. Don’t forget to visit Boulders Beach during your drive and see the Penguins definitely a favourite with the kids.

North of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands is the West Coast region of the Western Cape Province. This is a less touristy area and probably all the better because of it. Travelling up the coast along the R27 you will find the West Coast National Park after about 120kms. Though not as impressive as some of the other parks in South Africa this one has some interesting features of its own including such fauna as Cape Gannet, Jackass (African) Penguin, Flamingos, Waders and Black Harriers. If you are travelling in the Yzerfontein area, at the southern end of the West Coast National Park, during the spring time then you will be amazed by the fields upon fields of multicoloured flowers that sprout at this time of year. Also you will find the 16 Mile Beach which is a perfect place to do a little sunbathing or Whale Watching.

The Cape Winelands lie directly to the east of Cape Town. Stellenbosch, at about 50kms from Cape Town, is the gateway city to the whole Cape Winelands. It is the second oldest European settlement in South Africa after Cape Town. It is a University city and it is also the prime location of viticulture and viticulture research for the Winelands. The other main wine regions within the Cape Winelands are Constantia, Franschhoek, Paarl, Robertson and Wellington. Each has its own history and unique qualities that help make their wine distinctive and popular throughout the world. Many of the vineyards can offer tours, so be sure to visit at least one during your visit, just remember to take it easy on the wine tasting!

South of the Cape Winelands and the N2 road to Swellendam is the Overberg. You will probably pass close to Hermanus on your trip and if you are there at the right time of year (roughly the end of September) you could get involved in some Whale Watching. This region also includes Cape Agulhas, the most southern point of Africa and the associated Agulhas National Park. This park is fairly small compared to others but it has its share of beautiful nature trails and all the while you are overlooking two oceans, the South Atlantic and the Indian and next stop south is Antarctica! A little further east is the De Hoop Nature Reserve; this is one of the largest marine reserves in Africa. You will however need a snorkel and goggles to appreciate the wondrous beauty of the land under the sea. Just to the east of the Overberg is the Garden Route and beautiful road journey towards Port Elizabeth.

Some other attractions within driving distance of Cape Town include Swellendam (just 240kms on the N2) and the nearby Montagu. These towns offer you a fantastic opportunity to check out some examples of the early Dutch-Cape architecture.

By: Mairead Foley

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If you’re planning to travel to the United States this year, you may be given a green option with your car hire. Some of the largest rental companies are buying in hybrid cars in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

Hertz is planning to take delivery of 2400 hybrid cars this year, whereas Enterprise currently operates 5000, the largest hybrid fleet in the US. Avis currently owns 2500 hybrids, and it’s predicted that the other major car hire companies will be following suit and buying in their own stock of the gas/electric fuel sippers.

Another benefit of these cars is that they are more economical on fuel. With current US gasoline prices at just $3 a gallon (working out at roughly 30p per litre), fuel economy may not sound all that important, but the majority of standard US cars are quite fuel-thirsty. But bear in mind that if you only plan on driving short distances then the standard car may work out better cost-wise as some car rental firms charge extra for their hybrid cars.

These extra charges can be as high as $24 per day, depending on the company, the length of hire, and where the rental firm is located. You may not always be able to specify a hybrid car, but it’s always worth mentioning one when you book and then following it up with a phone call to the pick-up branch to check availability.

It may seem an unimportant part of car rentals, but for the environmentally conscious, the choice of a hybrid hire car couldn’t come too soon.

By: Jay Tillotson

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Austria is an outstanding country, with a wealth of natural and historical beauty on offer. With a car, you can explore its stunning landscape at leisure, without the constraints of timetables, spending as much or as little time in any spot.

Driving around the rugged mountain peaks, peaceful valleys, small towns and never-ending green forests is a truly unique experience. There are also a number of architectural hotspots throughout Austria, most notable of which can be found in Vienna, the countries capital.

Salzkammergut has been noted as a particularly beautiful area of the country, recommended for new-comers to explore. With its gorgeous lakes, mountainous peaks, small towns and villages, ice caves and salt mines it proves an exciting adventure.

Although the beauty of Austria can be enjoyed all year round, its best to avoid driving in the colder seasons, as snow often blocks some of the higher roads of the country. Driving laws throughout Austria are governed by EU rules and are obeyed and often strictly enforced.

The main dissimilarity to driving in the UK is of course that motorists in Austria drive on the right and overtake on the left. Headlights must also be used at all times and priority given to ascending vehicles.

When in Vienna, horns cannot be used. There are a great deals of rules that govern where you can and cannot park, the most important of which include not parking wherever you see a sign reading “Halten Verboten” and in front of any entrance.

Failure to comply with the parking rules can make you subject to heavy fines and you could have your vehicle towed. As is the case in Germany and France it is compulsory to carry a warning triangle with you at all times, visibility vests are also required in Austria.

By: Liam Gerken

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Young people love South Africa! Students, interns and tourists visit this beautiful land each year. Many require independent transport, but find it tough to hire cars due to their age. We cater for all the car rental needs of under-21s (yes that includes individuals under-20 and under-19) visiting South Africa as bonfide international travelers.

You have read and heard that drivers 18 years old or under 21 have difficulties with the insurance for rental cars, our rental package includes a full comprehensive insurance which covers the entire insurance and there is no excess to be paid. The only restrictions in place for young drivers is that they refrain from drinking alcohol whilst using the car and that they drive carefully and when planning a trip to neighboring countries that they leave enough time to get to their planned destination and back.

This means if you are a foreigner and have turned 18 and you have a valid driver’s license, We can supply you with a suitable car! Therefore, there is no need to stress anymore! Even though your 18, 19 or 20 we believe in your driving ability and will fulfill all your car hire needs.

* See our current Under-19, 20 and 21 Special Deals!

Your main requirements are affordability, reliability and a car that is economical to run. We are committed to meeting these requirements and providing you with great service.

The minimum age for car rental in South Africa, however, is 21 with most car rental and car hire agencies. We believe in our younger drivers. If you are under-21, under-20 or even under-19, but at least 18 years of age with a clean, valid unendorsed driver’s license for at least 2 full years you can hire a car. If you wish to do so for an extended period of time you need to look at maxi-rental, (perfect for 6 to 8 weeks) or for a full Gap Year, the Rental Purchase / Buyback option is ideal for students. The car buyback option is also ideal, if you have had your driver’s licence for under 2 years, as you can still buy a car and we can insure you. Increased excess amounts do apply for under 22, 24, 25 year olds buying a car in South Africa.

Student cars are supplied by the biggest car rental network in South Africa. We are a broker for several renowned local rental companies including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Starcar, Europcar and Thrifty. Through the relationships we have established with these companies we are able to offer a wide choice of modern rental cars for age 18 car hire students throughout South Africa, at rates that are realistic and affordable.

Other conditions of service are also favorable. You are able to collect and drop off vehicles at most cities and airports around the country- or even have them delivered to your door. Unlimited kilometers, insurance (fully comprehensive cover) and border crossing to neighboring countries are included.

Our special ‘under-21′, ‘under-20′ and ‘under-19′ student package is available in South Africa and also to the following countries: Namibia, Zambia, from Botswana to Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique.

For longer stays in Cape Town, the rental purchase option is well worth considering. From a period of 3 months on, rental purchase (buying a car) makes far more financial sense than standard car rental. Long-term rental for students or interns and the rental purchase option make stress-free transport and traveling in South Africa possible.

Want to incorporate a stint of voluntary work into your internship in Cape Town?

Simply select the organisation of your choice, and once you have signed up and found out the location of the project, your dates and times of arrival and departure- let us know your transport requirements. We will work out the most suitable student car rental offer and email you a quote.

Quick, uncomplicated and free of charge. Compare the quotations and rent your desired car. The following question often pops up.

Why do car renters under 25 have to pay more with rental companies?

Why do car rental companies charge an extra fee for renting to a driver under 25 years or under 22 years for that matter? Some car hiring companies even decline renting to under age renters or have an inflated extra charge per day for the under 24 years 23, 22 or 20 year old. Is this not age discrimination when an “underage” driver has a surcharge on top of his normal daily car rental costs?

The answer is purely the risk to the rental companies. The reason is that young drivers are more susceptible to damage and accidents – it is the same reason why young people pay higher car insurance rates, the world over. To state it bluntly the Rental car agencies incur more risk with young drivers. They would charge the renter the underage charge even if he wants to take the car on his own insurance.

We have developed a package together with the major car rental companies that offer car hire exclusively to foreign underage drivers right down to 18 or 19 years old. The reason being that our foreign travellers have far more stringent laws for their driving licence in their respective countries and do far more practical driving hours at night, during the day on highways and secondary roads and actually clock up a number of required hours of driving before they are allowed to take up a driving licence.

So with our rental package the insurance for the student car rental in Cape Town, South Africa is already included and even drivers looking for 18 year old car hire or under age of 22, 23 or 24 are able to drive a rental car with fully comprehensive cover.

In conclusion, if you hold a foreign passport and are under 21 and have held a clean, valid unendorsed driver’s license for at least 2 years, plus have an adventurous spirit, this package is ideal for you! You won’t have to pay any underage surcharge as required by many other companies and your overall costs will be much lower.

Enjoy a trouble free time in South Africa with a car supplied.

By: Linda Vika

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The following criteria must be met when hiring a car in South Africa:

Full driving license: Your driving license must be a Full Driving License. It can NOT be a provisional or probationary license (or equivalent).

Clean driving license: The licence must be endorsement free. If your country has a penalty points system you may not rent a car if you have points on your license.

Held license for 2 years: Having a Full and un-Endorsed license isn’t enough, you will have to have had your license for a minimum of 2 years before you get a rental in South Africa. This is to ensure you have enough driving experience prior to renting the car.

Licence must be in an official language of South Africa: You’ll need an International Driving License or an original licence in one of the official languages of South Africa. English is one of these so if your license is in English then you’ll not need the International License. The other official languages in South Africa are: Afrikaans, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.

You must be over 21: You have to be over-21 to rent a car in South Africa. In addition, some rental companies may charge a ‘young drivers’ fee if you’re under 25.

Restrictions also apply to all additional drivers: All of the above restrictions will apply to any and all additional drivers who wish to drive the rental car in South Africa.

Most obviously you (and your additional drivers) will have to have your license with you when you go to collect your car rental and you’ll have to keep it with you throughout your trip.

By: Mairead Foley

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When planning your holiday abroad it is often a popular choice to hire a vehicle from the country you are travelling in so you get to see the country and sights independently from buses, taxis and any organised trips. The benefit of hiring a car is you get to plan your itinerary exactly to suit yourself and can enjoy your holiday at your own pace. When you chose to hire a car in the UK, Ireland, Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia and most of the Middle and Far East there is always an excess (also referred to as Super CDW, Non Waiver or Deductible), which means in the event of a collision, theft or damage to the hired car you will be required to pay the first portion of the cost. Whilst this isn’t a surprise to any UK car owner who will have their own excess to pay on their regular car insurance, a hire car can end up costing anything up to