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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People travel to Bhutan for many reasons. For some it is the lure of an ancient culture steeped in spiritual history; for others it is the challenge of entering the interior of a country which is still much of a mystery to the outside world; and for those with adventure in their hearts, it is an opportunity to trek through the spectacular mountains and valleys of Bhutan. Tours to this country can be as diverse as the travellers themselves, but the one common thread running through all the reasons which draw people to Bhutan, is the people.

Known as an extremely spiritual race, the Bhutanese place happiness above all else. Bhutan’s leaders head the only government in the world which makes its policy decisions based on their impact on GNH – Gross National Happiness. This policy means that Bhutan’s decisions are often at extreme odds to other countries which base their decisions and actions on monetary and power-seeking opportunities. Bhutan tours will take you into the heart of a country where time and technology have not yet sullied the minds of its people, and where television was not even introduced until 1999. Even now it is not wholeheartedly embraced and many TV programmes, which are not deemed to contribute to the happiness of the people, are banned.

Many throughout the world expound that the Bhutanese have found the ‘formula for happiness’, but it appears that, in fact, it is a quality so spiritually entrenched that it needs no teaching. While the government nurtures Bhutan’s spiritual development by placing it above the importance of material gain, anyone who has spent time in Bhutan will vouch for its people’s natural warmth and spirituality.

Canadian-American actor and Parkinson’s disease sufferer Michael J Fox, undertook several of his own Bhutan tours whilst producing his documentary, “Adventures of an Incurable Optimist”. Returning several times to Bhutan in his search for the reasons that make people happy, Fox expressed his fascination with the country’s commitment to the happiness and spiritual well-being of its people.

The GNH is based on the Buddhist premise of taking ‘the middle path’. Instead of striving, as most western societies do, towards the cultivation of economic and social progression as their ultimate goals, Bhutan believes that true enlightenment and happiness arises when “spiritual and material development occur side-by-side to complement and reinforce each other”. Michael J Fox said that, although not a Buddhist himself, his Bhutan tours had strengthened his own personal philosophies on staying positive and being optimistic regarding the future.

With its reputation as a destination for healing and happiness, it seems that word may be spreading to the rest of the world about the wisdom of the policies of Bhutan. Tours to the country have become more popular over the past few years and, of course, its location in the foothills of the majestic Himalaya only enhances its attraction. Although tourism is regulated to limit damage to the environment, Bhutan welcomes foreigners. The people live out their principles of kindness, compassion and respect for all living things and you will be embraced into a culture of real and sincere happiness. Perhaps you will take a little of the formula away with you…

By: Jude Limburn Turner

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Want to catch the ultimate fun and pleasure of seeing wild beasts in their natural life? Well, you need to channalize your holiday destination towards Namibia, which is considered as the gem of the Southern Africa. In other words, Namibia is a true destination for people who have a desire to feel wildlife and wilderness in their lives. However the country id hot and humid but you can be assured of real enjoyment and fun activities in Namibia and get the fullest pleasure of your trip and cherish best memories with your friends and family. So, in your next vacation planning Namibia safari can help you gain your senses lost in everyday life and world.

Holiday Namibia can be a refreshing and challenging experience capable of giving ultimate excitement and exuberance. Holiday in Namibia can give you a chance to feel the harsh life of Africa and give you the best opportunity to hobnob with local people and vegetation of Namibia. Moreover, you can see the unique culture, breathtaking landscapes and exquisite silences of the country to give you the most rejuvenating sense of your life.

Precautions to be kept in Mind before Taking a Namibia Trip

Safari holiday in Namibia can be a golden chance to enjoy the varied life of Namibia. However there are few precautions that need to be taken into consideration before finalizing your trip to Namibia. To get the full enjoyment of your trip, you must register yourself with registered safari agencies. It is advised to carry essential medicines and bandages in your jungle trip. Also, it is better to stay with your group till the end of the trip, so that you cannot get lost your route. If you want to click pictures of monsters, you should keep extra film rolls not to miss any action.

By: Anirban Bhattacharya

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With ‘modern life’ continually encroaching upon nature, it’s only natural (pun intended) to want to reconnect with the wilder side of the planet. What better way is there to do that than with a safari? Large expanses of wilderness teaming with wildlife lie barely a few kilometres outside of Cape Town, South Africa. These reserves put safari tourists within viewing distance of buffalo, rhino, giraffes, leopards, and karakul (also known as the lynx).

One interesting safari tour begins a short distance away from Cape Town, taking visitors across the Hex River Valley to the Aquila reserve. Aquila verreauxii (a rare Black Eagle) are found in abundance in the southern Karoo highlands. You can catch a glimpse of rhinos, lions, and giraffes on these game drives or spot herds of zebras, black wildebeest, klipspringers, duikers, greybucks and ostriches. Keep a close eye out for the resident troops of baboons as well. As part of the game drives, visitors are shown a number of bushman rock art sites that are thousands of years old. Game drives are offered by the Aquila Private Game Reserve for morning, sunset, or night time in an open Land Rover. For the truly adventurous, two hour long horse safaris for groups of up to nine people are also available in the evening and early morning. These have a minimum age requirement of nine years. Those aged 16 and above can opt for a quad bike safari in a group of up to 10 people.

Accommodation is available in the form of cottages that feature en-suite bathrooms, outdoor showers, ceiling fans, fireplaces and mini bars. The Aquila Private Game Reserve offers a luxury honeymoon suite (equipped with a private Jacuzzi), a Conference Centre that can support 40 to 80 delegates, a Cigar Bar, and the popular Boma Restaurant, which offers indigenous cuisine. Luxury chalets are also available. These are equipped with all the amenities of the cottages as well as tea and coffee facilities and high quality linens.

One or two day wildlife safari tours are also offered at the Inverdoorn Game Reserve. Luxurious en-suite chalets and guesthouses are offered, inclusive of full breakfasts, buffet lunches and five course dinners. Their tour packages include one or two two-hour game drives in an open four wheel drive vehicle as well as a trip through the wine regions and fruit regions near Cape Town. In addition to the game drives, guided nature walks can also be requested.

The Kagga Kamma private game reserve near Ceres is located about 40 minutes (by air) from Cape Town. The region is rich in culture and history as evidenced by the numerous Bushman/San rock paintings found here, some of which are as much as 6,000 years old. Experienced field rangers guide safari tourists, explaining the significance of these icons of South Africa’s cultural heritage.

By: Orson Johnson

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Finding cheap flights to South Africa is easy when you have access to the Internet. The Internet makes it possible for you to find travel packages, great deals, discounts, coupons, and other savings. In addition, you can view the images online to decide what area of South Africa you would like to visit. It is nice to have a visual image of the places you want to go. It is becoming one of the most popular travel attractions. Most airlines today are making it possible for anyone to visit the country.

In Africa, you will enjoy various scenes and attractions, as well as fine hotels. Around Cape Town, you can enjoy fabulous scenery. Johannesburg has some nice area to visit as well. Many of the local airports are located in various areas around South Africa, including East London, Bloemfontein, Uprington, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth, Kimberly, and so forth. Having the airports so close makes it easier to return home when your vacation is over. On the clearest days in Cape Town, you will enjoy magnificent views of the lovely False Bay. Along this area is the Atlantic Seaboard, which the most popular landmark for Africa is the Table Mountain region. Along this area are plentiful views of gold mines, foundations, and more that you will enjoy. To find cheap flights to South Africa, visit the Internet today.

When you shop online for cheap flights to South Africa, you save time and money by becoming your own travel agent. Shopping online enables you to find low service fees, and tickets without hidden costs. You can also search and compare the different rates.

When you shop online for cheap flights to South Africa, be sure to check out some of the guidelines online to save money. Some of the guidelines will help you to make the best choices in purchasing airfare. The most important thing you want to keep in mind is to stay flexible. The flexibility will help you find the best deals, since low airfare rates are usually offered during the middle of the week, or Monday through Thursday. If you are willing to travel on these days, you can save a fortune.

It is smart to learn the best times to book your flights. If you give most airports a seven day notice, the often will give you better rates on airfare. The last minutes deals often are a waste of time. Since people are increasingly traveling to various parts of the world, often the last minute deals are hard to find. A last word of advice — if possible fly to Africa on the holidays. Most airlines consider this the off-peak time. You can save big money on cheap flights to South Africa during this time.

By: Tom Houser

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A trip to a foreign land can be an exciting and memorable experience. However, before you pack your bags and head off to the international airport, there are critical matters that need to be addressed before you venture beyond the sanctuary of the friendly United States boarders.

Many of the privileges and securities you enjoy in the United States are immediately left behind once you leave the boarders of American soil. While in the United States, we sometimes take for granted the liberties, freedoms and protections we have as US citizens. When we venture to a third world country, or even an industrialized European nation, many matters we take for granted in the US change dramatically when we travel to this foreign land.

So before you head merrily off to your foreign country with your favorite travel hat and travel bag, you need to make sure you are aware of how to prepare for any unplanned medical, personal or legal emergencies. You need to understand how your medical insurance coverage will change or even disappear. You need to have a basic understanding of the laws of the country you are visiting and who to contact when matters arise that you did not foresee.

YOU MAY LOSE MEDICAL COVERAGE

If you go to a foreign country, the medical care will most likely be sub-standard to the US. If you have a serious condition subject to the need of immediate medical attention, find out about the location and the quality of the medical facilities available at the locale you will be visiting. Make sure you have with you sufficient prescription medication and refill prescriptions from your doctor. In addition, you will need a letter from your doctor summarizing your condition and the medications he has prescribed. And most important, carry your medication in the pharmacy labeled container.

Your group medical coverage may or may not cover unexpected medical needs or offer limited coverage. Most medical insurance policies will cover your medical cost while you are out of the country. However, few in any will cover the cost of transporting a medical patient back to the United States, and the actual cost would be well over ten thousand dollars. If you are depending on medicare or medicaid coverage, unfortunately, once you leave the United States your medical coverage will cease. If you are going to be without coverage, then the only alternative is to purchase supplemental travel insurance and the cost normally runs between five and ten percent of the cost of your trip. For a list of reliable supplemental insurance carriers check the state departments website at: http://travel.state.gov or check with an established medical insurance agent.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS WILL CHANGE

Also, remember, once in a foreign land you are subject to their laws, and can be prosecuted in that country, if their laws are deemed violated. A violation that may be considered a misdemeanor in the US may be a major crime in a foreign land. For example, consider certain drug possession offenses. Foreign due process rights are quite different than due process rights in the US. In many countries you have no guaranteed right to counsel and may be deemed guilty until you prove your innocence. The United States has embassies in almost all countries and it is best to have the phone number, address and email of the US embassy in any country you enter, and be sure to contact the local US embassy immediately, even if you suspect problems with the local authorities. See the state department website above to locate the various foreign embassies, and keep a copy of the contact details in your pocket at all times.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERMENT HELPS ITS CITIZENS ABROAD

Lastly, the United States wants to protect and insure the safety of US citizens abroad. Be sure to register the details of your trip with the US State Department at: https://travelregistration.state.gov, and note their toll free number accessible twenty-four hours a day at: 1-888-407-4747. If you register with the state department, then in the event of an emergency your relatives can call the above number and you will be contacted pursuant to your registration details. Also, there is a page on your passport to leave critical medical and contact information and takes just a minute to record.

The vast majority of foreign travelers rarely have significant problems abroad, however, it is more than wise to plan ahead in the event an unfortunate medical or legal emergency develops.And, hopefully, the most you will have to deal with on your next foreign trip is just a little sunburn.

By: David Burlison

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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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Many European people go to Africa to enjoy all there is to see. There are five star resorts and great entertainment and most hotels have access to some of the best safari companies in Africa. In America, people are beginning to catch on to the idea of visiting Africa. A lot of the people that would like to go on a safari want to save money because the cost for Americans is substantially higher than for Europeans because of the cost of flight. Cheap African safari tours can be found however with a little searching and good decision making.

One way to look for different safari tours is by talking with a tour guide company. They are usually aware of any deals that are available. Sometimes people might cancel and a company tries to get new customers at the last minute. This saves the company money and it allows for cheap African safari tours for people who may be ready to book a trip at the last minute. The limitations of booking a cheap African safari tour will already be determined by the people who booked the trip originally. This is a great way to go on safari.

Options For Cheap African Safari Tours

For those people who will be booking a cheap African safari tour, consider all of the ways to cut costs that will allow for a great safari at a lower price. The easiest way to have a cheap African safari tour is to limit the length of the safari. Most safaris will last from as short of one day and can go as long as twelve days. The opportunity to see most of the wildlife is greater with a longer trip but booking a shorter trip doesn’t mean that people will see fewer animals, and the money saved on the cheap African safari tours means that there is more spending money available for other options while in Africa.

Another way to defray costs is to book safaris that will specialize in looking for only certain animals. An example would be the safari company who along with full safaris also has safaris to see valley animals. They may offer a safari that concentrates on the big cats of Africa. This is a great way to see a lot in a shorter period of time making the vacation for cheap African safari tours a lifetime experience.

When people decide to go to Africa and see the wonders that are there to see, the costs of the safari shouldn’t always be in the back of ones mind. Enjoy the beauty of the continent and save money and memories. Take a little piece of Africa home for the rest of ones life.

By: Low Jeremy

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