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BEACHES
The perfect place to relax during your South African holiday.
White soft sand beaches. Tidal pools. Crashing waves. Warm
or cold seawater. Depending on whether you are on the west
coast or the south coast, you will have a different beach
experience. Water temperature can vary 10'c depending on which
side you visit. This is due to the cold water current coming
up the west coast from the Antarctic and the warm Mozambique
current coming down the east coast. You will discover beaches
that go on for miles, where only your footprints disturb the
sand, or popular spots where it seems all of Cape Town are
having fun. The Atlantic & Indian Oceans meet at Cape
Agulhas, the Southern most tip of the Africa. |
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WHALE
WATCHING and WHALE TOURS on THE WHALE ROUTE
A must see on your South African seaside holiday. The Southern
Right Whale, so named because it was "the right whale
to catch". usually arrive in June and stay until late
November. The peak season when whale sightings are virtually
guaranteed, is July to October. Calving season is between
August and September and the whale population peaks in October.
Due to the close proximity to the shore where the whales swim,
the Cape coast is considered to have one of the best land
based whale viewing sites in the world. Reproduced with
permission of the Centre for Dolphin Studies |
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WHITE
SHARK DIVING
Dive within the safety of a cage and visit the ultimate predators
of the sea - great white sharks so close you can touch them
!! The rows of awesome razor edged teeth are but centimetres
away. The huge gaping jaws reveal the true danger of this
exciting adrenaline encounter - all from the safety of your
cage. An experience during your South African Adrenaline
Holiday Tour. |
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TABLE
MOUNTAIN Tours
Probably the most popular sight in South Africa, overlooking
the city of Cape Town. 1051meters above sea level. Famous
for the Cableway. Take a trip to the top and view the entire
peninsula. See the city of Cape Town in front of you, Robben
Island in Table Bay, Lions Head and Devils Peak on either
side, with the Twelve Apostles sitting majestically behind
you. This range of mountains overlooks the famous beaches
of Clifton and Camps Bay, with a view extending down to Cape
Point. At night Table Mountain is floodlit. This attraction
is a must-see on your Cape Town Holiday. |
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TABLE MOUNTAIN CABLEWAY
Recently updated, the cableway operates every day. During
the summer, times are extended. The interior of the
Table Mountain Cableway car makes one full revolution on each
trip, allowing everyone an opportunity to marvel at the
breathtaking view. Add this to your things to do in Cape Town
Why not use the Topless Bus
which stops at the cable way station - see below |
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TOPLESS
BUS TOURS IN AND AROUND CAPE TOWN
What better
way to see Cape Town than relaxing aboard a topless bus touring
the city and surrounds? Two routes are available, the short city
Red Route and the longer Blue Route going as far
as Kirstenbosch Gardens and Hout Bay. Buy a day pass and
hop-on and hop-off as many times as you want.
An excellent day excursion, see Cape Town and the Cape
Peninsular. Red Route departs every 15minutes, Blue Route
every 30 minutes. Main depot at the Aquarium in the V&A
Waterfront, though you can jump on at any of the many stops the
buses make - speak to
SELFTOURS and have one of these excursions
built into your tour package - save on a days car hire!
.......... Highly recommended. |
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CAPE AGULHAS -
southern most tip of Africa
Take a drive down to the lighthouse and stroll around
the southern most tip of Africa. The place where the
warm Indian Ocean meets with the colder Atlantic Ocean, the
area once named by ancient marinas as, The Cape of Storms.
A point where many overland adventures start when crossing
across Africa and many south bound adventures end. On
the Agulhas east side it boasts of the longest uninterrupted
sandy beach in South Africa.
A
'must see' if you are travelling along the Cape Garden Route
eastwards from Cape Town. |
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MALGAS PONTOON FERRY
Travel
the scenic route via Malgas on a gravel road, where
you will cross the Breede River on the country's last hand-pulled
pontoon ferry and get the feel of timeless Africa.
The Malgas pontoon ferry
crosses the Breede river and has been in existence for more
than 172 years. The current ferry has been operating
since 1952. |
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THE BLUE TRAIN
Voted
"The World's Leading Luxury Train" at the World
Travel Awards, for four consecutive years.
Travel between Johannesburg and Cape Town by Blue Train and
various other destinations. The Blue Train is unique - it
is not merely a train but combines the luxury of the world's
leading hotels with the charm of South African Rail Travel.
Think of it as an inclusive holiday with the opportunity to
view South Africa's spectacular landscape and visit interesting
attractions along the way. The Blue Train cuisine puts sheer
good taste on a plate while butler personal attention puts
you on a pedestal. It's a journey of a lifetime for those
who appreciate the finer things in life. Pretoria to Cape
Town or vice versa (1 600 kilometres or 994 miles), with guests
spending one night on the train. |
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VISIT
AN OSTRICH PALACE & RIDE AN OSTRICH
Visit an Ostrich Palace from a bygone era, when the famous
ostrich feathers were the height of fashion amongst the noble
ladies of the major capitals of the world. The palaces are
reminders of the riches once associated with the "feather
boom". Visit the curio shops and purchase fine ostrich
leather goods as a memento of your South African visit. You
will also have the opportunity to ride an ostrich and learn
about these strange birds. Try an ostrich steak and some dried
ostrich meat called "biltong". Another winner on
your Garden Route Tour. |
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CANGO CAVES
The caves are one of South Africa's 10 most visited tourist
attractions. The two largest chambers spread over an easy
kilometre of spell-binding beauty. Marvel at the stalagmites
and stalactites. Regular conducted tours are operated
daily at the Cango Caves. We can include this into your Garden
Route holiday |
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SWARTBERG & MEERINGSPOORT
MOUNTAIN PASSES
The 27 km Swartberg Pass is considered one
of the finest mountain passes in the world: an untarred earthen
road that winds to the summit 1583 metres above sea level
in the steep zigzags and sudden switchbacks with breathtaking
views at every turn. Built in the 1880s with 240 local prisoners.
A
very interesting piece of civil engineering for its time with
embankments built much like the Romans did years ago with
NO cement.
The road is supported in places by hand-packed
stone walls, a trademark of brilliant road engineer Thomas
Charles Bain. Along the way there are relics of an old prison,
toll hut and other interesting historical sites. Often covered
with snow in winter. Have lunch in the little Karoo
town of Prince Albert and return
through the shear red
granite cliffs of the Meiringspoort Pass to Oudtshoorn for
the evening. An excellent days activity while on holiday
in South Africa. |
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TREE
TOP TOURS
An experience you may not have the chance to experience anywhere else.
Enjoy
the unequalled experience of travelling 30 meters above the
forest floor through the tree top forest canopy gliding along
on a steel cable. A view once only seen by the many
exotic birds of the indigenous forest. At each platform
spend a few minutes relaxing, as your guide enthusiastically
explains the ecology of the forest around you, pointing out
magnificent giant ferns and the many different exotic trees.
About three hours later you emerge from the forest
having undertaken a rare journey of a lifetime. This
is an unusual experience which you are likely to remember
forever. Pre-booking is essential during busy periods.
Recommended age groups 7 to 70 years. One of the many
popular family activities you can enjoy on your self drive
garden route holiday. |
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QUAD BIKE ADVENTURE TOURS
Whether you have only
an hour or a few days we can offer an exciting
quad bike tour, no experience required, no age
limit.
Our tours range
from an introductory route through beautiful
valleys with incredible vistas of the Garden Route
to overnight adventure expeditions where we
camp in the wild and wind through narrow Mountain
Passes.
Some our day-tours include: Riding on a quad to
Oudtshoorn or enjoying the incredible Historical
Montague Pass Adventure Tour. Only five minutes
from George in the Garden Route you can experience
the thrill of driving your own quad bike through
beautiful scenery while having the adventure of a
lifetime.
Another must do for adventurous holiday seekers in South Africa. |
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BARTHOLOMEW
DIAZ MUSEUM
Bartholomew Diaz was the first European navigator whose discovery
in 1488 of the Cape of Good Hope showed Europeans there was
a feasible route to India around the storm-driven southern
tip of Africa. Visit the museum and be amazed at the true
life-size replica of his original Caravel boat that sailed
from Portugal to the Cape. Discover the mystery of the Post
Office tree still growing outside the museum all these years
later. Next door watch craftsmen hand crafting model
sailing ships of yesteryear. Take in some history in Mossel
Bay, en-route from Cape Town to Knysna. |
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ROBBEN
ISLAND
Take the luxury half hour cruise to the island and learn of
the mysteries dating back to when the Dutch first start using
the island as a prison colony over 400 years ago. Unwilling
inhabitants included slaves from various parts of Africa and
Asia, political and religious Muslim leaders who opposed Dutch
colonialism in East Asia. Lepers, the sick, the mentally disturbed
and during World War ll, French Vichy prisoners. The most
famous prisoner was undoubtedly, our first President of the
New South Africa, Mr. Nelson Mandela, who was interned here.
Find out about Plaatjies, a mental patient - every time he
built a boat to escape, the hospital attendants destroyed
it. Add this to your list on exploring Cape Town. |
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ZULU
KRAAL
Imagine being transported in an ox drawn cart up to a
Zulu Kraal, being entertained by the Zulu Warriors and Zulu
maidens, savouring their meals and home brewed beer, all to
the rhythm of the Zulu drums - and then join in with the dancers
around the open fire under the stars of the African sky.
This is truly experiencing the real Africa. As sleep
takes over you slump into you own hut for the night under
the protection of the warriors of the Royal House. In
the morning you enjoy breakfast and a short talk on Zulu
culture. Get to know a 'Sangoma' (witch doctor) let
them throw the bones for you and tell you your fortune. Experience
real African culture on your self-drive tour of South Africa. |
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BUNGY JUMPING
For those who wish to really pump up their adrenalin, the
southern Cape coastline offers some exhilarating bridge jumps.
Bloukranz Bridge is listed in the Guinness Book of Records
as the highest bungee jump in the world at 216 meters.
(Note the size of the lorry crossing the bridge). Even
if it is not for you, it is well worth holding your breath
and watching others. On your selfdrive tour of South
Africa you can stop off for as long as you want and watch
these adrenalin seeking daredevils
Some
stats - the free fall takes 5 seconds, the stretching of the
Bungy rope takes another 2 seconds. The first rebound
is higher than the Victoria Falls Bridge jump and the second
rebound is higher then the Gouritz Bridge, which is 65 meters.
Your body accelerates to around 120mph before decelerating
- Awesome stuff!! - Another highlight on the Garden Route.
An adventure holiday highlight. |
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SEAL ISLAND BOAT TOURS
Seal Island boat tours have been
operating since 1989 and are based in the famous fishing
village of Hout Bay offering daily scenic cruises to one of
Cape Town's main attractions. Join the boat cruise to Duiker
Island to see thousands of Cape Fur Seals in their natural
environment and some of the most spectacular scenery the Cape
Peninsula has to offer. While aboard you are surrounded
with breath-taking scenery of the famous Chapmans Peak Drive
and the Sentinel Mountain. Join us on a longer cruise to view
the seals and the Shipwreck in Maori Bay.
Why not use the Topless Bus
which stops at Marinas Wharf, Hout Bay - see above |
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WINE
FARMS
Treat yourself to a wine tasting experience. Savour the fruits
of some of South Africa's world renowned wines. You can purchase
wines and have them shipped directly back to your home. Either
explore the farms at your own pace in your self-drive car,
or we will organise a guided wine tour of the winelands for
you. |
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HOUSE
BOATING
The perfect way to relax in peace and tranquillity.
We do not have many navigable rivers or suitable waterways,
however, there are a few opportunities available to
you. We would recommend a few nights on an unspoilt river
to really get the feel of being in Africa. The large tidal
Knysna lagoon is a popular house boating area. The sea
water is warm and clean and a little fishing could produce
an excellent meal on the BBQ for the evening.
See also accommodation pages. A pleasurable
break on your relaxing selfdrive holiday. |
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NATURE
TRAILS & HIKING
From a gentle 1 hr stroll to a strenuous 3 day hike through
unspoilt territory with magnificent views, there is something
for everyone in every age group. How much closer can you get
to nature? Enjoy
real splendour on your South African holiday. |
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FISHING
Trout fishing in the country's rivers, surf fishing from the
beaches, or from harbour walls - we have it all. Deep sea
fishing is popular for the keen big game fisherman. Our fish
are some of the finest in the world and the varieties are
vast, due to the warm ocean current on one coast and the cold
current on the other. |
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PLANNING
A SELF DRIVE SAFARI
Africa is the continent associated with a wide variety of
wildlife and South Africa boasts some of the finest wild game
parks in Africa. These vary from state owned to privately
owned parks, and range from the Kruger Park in the north,
to the Addo Elephant Park and Shamwari Game Park in
the south. View the Big Five. You have a wide
choice and you will find something for everyone. Self
drive Kruger tours or guided 4x4 game drive safaris to guided
bush walks - we cater for all your needs. During your
travels in the country areas you are still likely to spot
a variety of buck, eagles and other birds of prey near the
roadside. |
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PADDLE CRUISER
Enjoy a romantic evening dinning aboard the Knysna Paddle
Cruiser while paddling across the
Knysna Lagoon .
There are a few cruises available on the Knysna lagoon
including sailing, ferries to the Featherbed nature reserve an
to floating mobile restaurants catering for all occasions.
Enjoy relaxing day while on holiday in South Africa |
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MONKEYLAND
See a wide variety of primate species
in their natural habitat. Monkeyland offers you a gentle
guided one hour walking safari through the forest conducted
by experienced game rangers where you can expect to see many
species of monkeys and forest dwelling birds. You will
not only find the tour very interesting and informative, but
educational as well. A day very well spent. Afterwards
enjoy refreshments and light meals on the sun deck of the
lodge while the monkeys swing between the trees around you.
A living forest experience for every age group that will stay
with you forever. If you are enjoying a South
African children's holiday then this is a must the little
ones will be as fascinated as will the parents. Monkeys for
Africa! |
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BIRDS of EDEN
Considered the
worlds largest free flying aviary in the world covering
an area of over 2 hectares (5 acres) with 80 tons of wire
mesh suspended 35 meters above the forest floor. The
aviary houses approximately 3000 birds of 220 different species
of some of the most beautiful birds in the world. Idea
day excursion for the entire family of all age groups.
The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates
a walk-behind waterfall. Another feature is its amphitheatre,
which has the ability to seat over 200 visitors. The sanctuary’s
dome incorporates the ability to synthesise thunder and create
short spells of rain from an irrigation system in the dome
structure. Roofed viewpoints within the gorge have been erected
for use during these brief rain storms. Truly a bird
lovers paradise and certainly something not to be missed while
touring South Africa. |
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WALK
WITH THE CHEETAHS AND OTHER WILD CATS
Wildlife Awareness Centre offers a close encounter with
South Africa’s smaller indigenous cats, cheetah, leopard
and other endangered wildlife, whilst supporting our wildlife
rehabilitation programme. Guests are taken on a guided tour
to meet captive-bred furry felines, living in a semi-natural
environment. So close, you can hear them purr ........
Another great activity to enjoy in the Garden Route
while enjoying your South African Holiday
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HORSE
RIDING
Organised horse trails can be arranged in most areas with
trails along the beaches and through the forests being the
most popular. You do not have to be an expert, novices are
catered for too. You can incorporate seeing some of South
Africa from the saddle during your South African holiday tour.
Horse trails in Knysna are a very popular family activity. |
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SCUBA
DIVING
The "Cape of Storms" is well known for its many
shipwrecks and coral reefs. Ships have floundered on the coast,
from the earliest explorers to modern times. The north east
of South Africa has many beautiful reefs for Scuba Diving.
Day trips can be arranged for Scuba adventure enthusiasts. |
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SURFING
Any surfer knows that South Africa offers some of the world's
top surfing beaches. The entire coastline offers the ultimate
in waves. J Bay, Victory Bay, and Durban, thunder with
the sound of Surf. At some locations surf board hire
is available. Learn to Kite Surf in Cape Town, or ride
the perfect wave in J-Bay (Jefferys Bay). |
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SAILING
Yachts and powerboats can be hired at certain locations.
Charters and short daily cruises, down to excursions and hourly
cruises are offered at most harbours with public waterfront
activities. Popular venues are Cape Town Waterfront and Knysna
Waterfront for various cruises. Add a romantic cruise
to your honeymoon tour of South Africa. |
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MEET THE PEOPLE - people at peace with their existence
Meet the people of South Africa in places few have visited
before. This off the beaten track tour is fully guided
and gives you a unique opportunity to meeting some of our
communities and see how they have built a life for themselves
doing a wide variety of crafts and little businesses.
In the Outeniqua foothills you will travel with your guide
down back roads and byways of this beautiful and historical
area. Meet the real people in their homes and in their
villages. See demonstrations of their craft handed down
over generations. From a carpenter, a brick maker, a
paraplegic making leather goods, artwork, coffee roasting
, ladies with their hand embroidery, traditional Spaza shop.....
All very interesting and fascinating. |
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GOLF
COURSES
Golf is a very popular pastime in SA. There are many
beautiful golf courses and golfing estates where several famous
golfers live and enjoy year- round golfing. Many golf
courses have magnificent views of the sea and mountains.
Some world renowned courses are - The Gary Player at Sun City,
Pezula in Knysna (so large an electric golf cart is a must),
Fancourt at George (venue for the Presidents Cup in 2003),
the Royal Cape in Cape Town to name but a few. Self
drive golf holiday tours and safaris are popular - book yours
now. |
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CASINOS
Gambling at casinos was illegal in South Africa before 1994.
There are now many spectacular casinos across South Africa.
Sun City being the biggest casino complex in Africa,
based around a Las Vegas theme in the middle of darkest Africa.
High rollers or families - our casinos cater for everyone. |
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RESTAURANTS
Restaurants are of a high standard and cater for every possible
taste from fast food to sumptuous five star dining. European,
Italian and Oriental restaurants can be found in all cities.
Whether you like Steakhouses or popular fast-food outlets
like Wimpy, McDonalds or KFC, they are abundant. A Big Mac
will cost you R35.00 (Less than US$5.00) and a 3 course restaurant
meal can cost around R100.00 (Less than US$15.00) including
an excellent bottle of local wine. Try the local fish dishes,
or something more exotic, like venison or ostrich - whatever
your tastes are, delicious meals and great dining experiences
are a taste away. |
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ADD-ON SOMETHING EXTRA TO YOUR
SOUTH AFRICAN HOLIDAY |
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VICTORIA FALLS
Mosi-oa-Tunya - 'The Smoke that Thunders' on the Zambezi River
between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Here the river is more
than 1.6 km wide (1 mile) and plunges about 108m (354 feet)
into the gorge below. The first European to discover
them was the Scottish missionary, David Livingston in 1855
who was so inspired by what he saw that he called them after
his Queen; Queen Victoria. His gigantic statue still
stands above Devils cataract today. We recommend a Victoria
Falls fly in package from Johannesburg.
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MADAGASCAR
Round off
your South African holiday with a visit to the mystical island
of Madagascar and enjoy a tropical island beach holiday.
A couple of popular islands include
Nosy Be Island &
Sainte Marie Island
Since most of the plants and animals are found nowhere else in
the world Madagascar can make for a fascinating & exciting
Island holiday.
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SPICE ISLAND of ZANZIBAR
HOLIDAY PACKAGES
A Zanzibar Holiday packages,
are
better suited to those who want to
do more than just spend an entire holiday on the beach.
So much more to do, explore the history of Stone Town,
the Sultans of Zanzibar,
the Sultans palace, the House of Wonders and the Slave Trade
market. Enjoy a fascinating guided spice island tour while
bargaining for some interesting tropical island mementos.
Enjoy swimming with Dolphins,
visit and snorkel Prison Island see the giant Tortoises and
fearsome looking Coconut Crabs. Needless to say the list
of water sports are comprehensive,
Snorkel or Scuba Diving Zanzibar
many coral reefs, deep sea fish in the Pemba channel
Finally
relax on your tropical paradise island beach, soak up the sun,
making your perfect island holiday.
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MOUNTAIN GORILLAS OF RWANDA AND UGANDA
An hour spent with a Mountain Gorilla family is
a very tranquil & relaxing form of therapy, allowing you to
realise how simple life really can be.
Silverback
Mountain Gorillas are the largest of the primates. They
are ground-dwelling and predominantly herbivorous. They
inhabit the forests of central Africa and
are divided into two species and either four or five
subspecies. A great add on to your South African holiday
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