2010 FIFA World Cup

And so after only hearing of the hype surrounding football, the time has arrived! It’s official. South Africans are ready for the Beautiful Game. All around the country, stadia are being opened officially, vuvuzelas are being sold and football Friday has become the norm instead of casual Friday.

But what will we do after the month is over? What will we wear on Fridays and how will we use our new vuvuzelas?

At least we have the pleasure of hosting an international spectacle and teaching the world about the REAL South Africa. They get to experience our famous friendliness. They get to eat pap en vleis. They see how you really have a barbeque. They take home a plastic trumpet which is not easy to use.

Pretoria Zoo Night Walk

The Pretoria Zoo offers a fun experience in the form of an overnight stay. For only R100 per person, you get to go on a two hour guided walk, enjoy overnight camping facilities and all day access to the Zoo the next day. There is secure parking and the camp site is well equipped with a lapa, ablution facilities and even a play area (if the kids can't fall asleep). You need to be a group of minimum 8 people, but the facility can handle 120 people.

http://www.zoo.ac.za/

The walk itself is interesting in the sense that you get to see animals which are normally active at night. Bring your own torch though, because the guide won't necessarily point at something you want to see. It is also a good idea to wear good walking shoes. Flash photography is allowed but it is very difficult if you don't have an external light source. So if you are a keen photographer, bring your own spot light.

Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro

The team from Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro invited us to visit the estate and join in the golfing fun. We took the R101 - the old Warmbaths road - which spared us a lot of toll gate money and which also cared for a lovely scenic drive. Once you are through Hammanskraal - which is an informal settlement - you drive a short distance to Warmbaths. The new name is Bela Bela. Here you will find a few restaurants; curio shops and supermarkets. There are also many accommodation option in and around Bela Bela. It was however the hottest part of our journey.

Travelling through Bela Bela we head for Nylstroom - the new name is Modimole. The road is single and has a dodgy shoulder - but there are also fruit stands on the side of the road and a few fruit farms. When you reach Nylstroom, head straight through the town towards Naboomspruit or Mookgopong. Follow the signs towards this town and look out for the Euphoria entrance on your left.

http://www.euphoriaestate.co.za/

The estate has been open for just one year but it seems settled and roads are well maintained and suitable for even the smallest car. Be sure to bring you golf clubs as this has a course designed by Annika Sorenstam - a ladies golf champion.

http://www.annikasorenstam.com/home.htm

The estate boasts a cable car of which it is second of its kind in South Africa - after the cable car in Cape Town. It is a beautiful ride to the top where one can enjoy meals.

Conferencing and weddings are made special with views of the golf course and natural lighting in the conference venues.

Euphoria also has a unique golfing academy, aimed at children from 8 years old.

The name is said to come from the word euphorbia, which is a tree called the Naboom. Hence the next town Naboomspruit which directly translated means Naboom River.

There are also 4 spa villas which in essence are 4 separate treatment rooms, watch with a plunge pool, outside shower, treatment room overlooking the bush, changing room and bathroom. The therapists are very professional and a wide range of treatments are available at a good price. While hubby is on the golf course, luvvy can enjoy a massage and manicure.

For any bookings please contact info@hftmce.co.za and label your email with Euphoria.

Hatfield Conferences NEW WEBSITE

Please have a look at Hatfield Conferences at http://www.hftmce.co.za/. They provide a range of services including accommodation in South Africa!!

Three Cities Winter Specials

The Three Cities Group introduced their winter specials which are available from June to August 2009. All the deals include breakfast, but please phone Hatfield Travel (012 430 6100 - Anton) for the room specifications of the specific deals!

RESORTS

Greenway Woods – Mpumalanga – R190 per person per night sharing
David Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spa – Zambia – R1680 per person per night sharing (including dinner)
Chobe Marina Lodge – Botswana – R1710 per person per night sharing (including three meals and two game activities)
Phakalane Golf Estate – Botswana – R1940 4 bedroom chalet (4 people)
Alpine Heath Resort – KZN – R1130 per chalet per night (max 6 guests)
Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort – Garden Route – R1340 2 bedroom lodge (for 2 people)

CITY HOTELS

The Riverside Hotel and Spa – KZN – R530 per person per night sharing
The Westville Hotel – KZN – R310 per person per night sharing
The Royal Hotel – KZN – R560 per person per night sharing
Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel and Spa – Cape Town – R540 per room per night (for 2 people)
Royal Palm Hotel – KZN – R410 per person per night sharing
Golden Horse Casino Hotel – Pietermaritzburg – R710 per person per night sharing
The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel – Cape Town – R620 per person per night sharing
The Cape Milner Hotel – Cape Town – R600 per person per night sharing
Lagoon Beach Hotel – Cape Town – R440 per person per night sharing

What to pack?

My sister lives in the USA and when she came to visit, bringing along her American husband and their child, they packed 9 suitcases! For some reason she had forgotten that EVERYTHING is readily available in South Africa. When packing, do remember the following things:

1. Toiletries: Don’t pack litres of shampoo and conditioner! Bring no more than 100ml (small travel packs). Every litre of fluid means you are carrying a kilogram of weight. Our leading chain pharmacy, Clicks, sells all the shampoos and toiletries you will find in other countries. Things include shampoo, conditioner, body wash/soap, toothpaste, hairspray, mouth wash, body lotion, sun screen, lip balm, disposal razors etc. If you are thinking about your budget and saying “these things are expensive” think again! You would have bought them anyway and paid in your own currency! The South African Rand will give you value for money. If you haven’t used all you products by the end of the holiday, don’t pack them in, rather give them to hotel staff and put souvenirs in your luggage.
2. Warm clothes: Don’t think that because you are visiting Africa, you won’t need a warm jacket! Cape Town is known for having all 4 seasons in one day. Even in the South African summer, you will find that the wind can be very cold. So do pack a jacket or jumper especially for your kids. If you forget these items, at least you can buy them anywhere in the country. Other parts of the country reach minus four in winter, so think about the season!
3. Bring a pen! You may not think that a pen is an essential travel item but it really is. You will use it on the plane, when using your credit card, when writing down directions, when making notes about your holiday etc.
4. The sun can kill you! When coming from Europe you might not think that a sunny day will come again. The sun shines most of the year in South Africa and you will wish for a little rain by your third day! So don’t rely on a factor 8 or 10 sunscreen! Buy one in South Africa no less than a factor 30 and where it daily! DON’T LIE IN THE SUN. Make sure you re-apply after swimming or sweating! AVOID THE SUN BETWEEN 11:00 AND 15:00. Wear a hat and sunglasses as glare from the ocean can make sunburn even worse! The sun shines even more during the winter months and you should where sunscreen even during this season.
5. Currency: Try and change your currency at the airport. It will cost you less commission and you will be sure to be able to change your money much later than normal banks. Don’t carry all of your money in cash. Only change to a few Rands, no more than R500 at a time, because you can use your credit card almost everywhere. It is much safer and you will save on the long run. Be careful with your credit card! Don’t give out your details, not even the hotel. Always be the one using the card! Don’t let an attendant swipe your card without you being next to him/her.
6. Water: Drink loads of water! Water is safe to drink from the tap in hotels and guest houses unless otherwise indicated. Fill up a water bottle at the beginning of your day. It’s no fun dehydrating in the middle of you holiday! If you are still nervous about tap water, you will find many varieties of bottled water in any shop. Do think about the environment though…please don’t litter!
7. Souvenirs: People have packed sand in their luggage to take home. I mean rally! A piece of Africa going home! Don’t be stupid! That puts a lot of extra weight on that you have to carry to the airport – and possibly pay extra for. Make sure what you are allowed to take home with you. You can find a list on the South African Home Affairs website or even from you travel agent. Obviously you are not allowed to take any flora and fauna (plants and animal), rocks (tempting when visiting Table Mountain), food products (cheese, meat, non-sealed products) etc. Be very sure before you buy souvenirs because you may have to get rid of these gifts at the airport because of strict rules!
   

Myths

1. Flu: You can’t catch any type of flu by eating any meat. You won’t get mad cow disease from beef; you won’t get bird flu from chicken; you won’t get swine flu from pork; and you can’t get anything from lamb! Follow the normal rules when eating! Chicken and pork should be cooked! Fish shouldn’t smell off! Don’t eat cooked food which has been left in a car for an hour (or longer).
2. Oxtail and Monkey gland: Contrary to some beliefs, Oxtail is the actual tail of an Ox, therefore it’s just beef. It’s the most expensive part of the Ox because it is tender and tasty! Monkey gland isn’t actually monkey glands! It’s a name of a barbeque type sauce. I have no idea where the name comes from – probably just to put foreigners off.

Mondazur at San Lameer

If you need a holiday and you have some extra cash, have a look at the Mondazur Resort at San Lameer on the South African South Coast. We were lucky to be able to stay there during a conference we organized. They have 40 hotel rooms and more than 500 villas. These villas have from one bedroom to 4 en suite luxury bedrooms.

The resort is one of the only beach resorts who still have the “blue flag status”. This means the beach is clean, safe and manned by lifeguards. The world class San Lameer golf course is also worth a try if you must pull yourself away from the beach.

The resort has a restaurant, pool and some river activities as well as a conference centre – but who wants to work if you can play, right?

I reccommend you do your grocery shopping on the way there - they do have a small shop but it has limited stock. Also, do rent a golf cart - some of the villas are far away from the beach - plus it's fun to drive one around - but don't get lost :)

Contact me for a booking: mariette@hftmce.co.za

Rates are from R1670 per person per night ($167)

Day with African Elephants!

Our family had a fun day at the Hartebeespoort Elephant Sanctuary.

http://elephantsanctuary.co.za/magalies.htm. Our day started with a cold drink and a piece of banana bread. Our guide took us to a spot under the trees where 3 elephants suddenly emerged. They gave us a demonstration of a few commands and then the fun began. We took turns to touch these magnificent animals. We had a look inside their mouths and we could touch their feet and tails – which in the wild wouldn’t be possible at all.

After a short walk back to the deck we could listen to the guide talking about the anatomy of the animals as well as the different species found around the world and of course the sub species in South Africa.

We then had a chance to feed an elephant. Here too the guide explained how the skull looks like and where the teeth grow.

We then finally had a chance to walk with the ellies trunk in hand!
Do yourself a favour and book a day with the elephants. You can’t have the same experience in the zoo!! Contact me if you need to make a booking!! mariette@hftmce.co.za.

Magaliesburg and Surrounds

We spent our New Year’s Weekend at Lover’s Rock Family Resort. Lover’s Rock is not really a resort but rather a camp site, although there are cabins. The camp sites have loads of shade and grass and as long as it doesn’t rain, you can even settle on a site with only a little grass. There is a pool with a small water slide and a 200m hiking trail. So for activities, I suggest you go look for it! The ablution facilities are a bit disappointing so don’t expect The Ritz! But still, it’s a safe area, close to the surrounding sights with low prices.
http://www.loversrock.co.za/

The top attraction, for me, was the Magaliesberg Canpy Tours. It is situated at the Sparkling Waters Hotel and Spa not far from Rustenburg. The activities keep you busy for about 2 to 3 hours and it includes use of the hotel pool after a day of hanging in the air. This activity is suited for young and old scared and brave! You just can’t join in the fun if you are pregnant! I am a real ninny regarding these type of activities and I loved it!
http://www.magaliescanopytour.co.za/

The other fun thing to do is visit the Blaauwbank Gold Mine. It’s a tour through an historic gold mine including a demonstration of gold panning. And yes, you get to see real gold with that excersise!

http://www.wilparkgroup.co.za/blaauwbank/index.htm

You can also go to Maropeng, which I didn’t get to see, but I hear it’s really interesting, especially if you are open to the thought of evolution.
http://www.maropeng.co.za/

There are lots of hiking trails for the nature enthusiasts and shops and tea gardens for the shop-a-holics amongst us.
http://www.magaliesburg.co.za/

Cheap holiday: South Africa

Thanks to the global financial situation, South Africa is one of the most affordable destinations to visit. Today’s Exchange rate is US$1 = ZAR9.8. You will get a lot for your money here. But do take time and go to a local grocery shop on your first day. I have taken a few things from the Pick ‘n Pay online shopping list to give you an idea of what things cost. Pick ‘n Pay is a good quality food market. Some outlets have clothing and home wear as well as toys and outdoor and DIY products.

1 Kg Steak – R70 (you can pay up to R100 for a steak in a restaurant – and if you stay at an expensive hotel you will pay even R300!!)
Cigarettes (Camel 20s) – R20.80
Jumbo eggs (6) – R8.99
1 Kg Apples – R12.99

Even though South African eat relatively healthy, we are slowly but surely following the USA to obesity. People prefer fast foods due to our hectic life styles. If you do visit South Africa, try our fresh foods, but if you do need some comfort from home, here is what you will pay:

Big Mac – R15.50
Coke – R4.29 (330 ml/can)

If you like a drink every now and again, local beers and wines are very well priced. But do look out for LOCAL beers and wines. You will pay a little more in bars, and a lot more in hotel bars. Have the locals tell you about bars in the vicinity!

Millar – R5.69 (330 ml/bottle)
Windhoek Lager (from Namibia but surely one of the best – R5.29 (340ml/bottle)
Jack Daniels – R149.99 (750 ml bottle)

You also need to shop around for accommodation. Don’t go to the very famous names like Hilton and Holiday Inn. Have a look at these websites:

http://www.threecities.co.za/
http://www.legacyhotels.co.za/NeedFlash.htm
http://www.premierhotels.co.za/

And if you budget is tight, search online for guesthouses. They are affordable and the food is always good.

It is rather safe to rent a car but be aware that we drive on the left side of the road; our speed limit is in kilometers and our taxis don’t follow the rules of the road. Also, don’t leave anything in your car. While you are driving, put handbags/cameras/laptops etc under you seat, or in the boot. “Smash and Grab” is very common at intersections.

You can enjoy loads of activities and most info is available online. You just need to know where to look!

We hope to see you here!

Resources:
https://www.pnponline.co.za/default.aspx

Cape Town: Departure

Our final day started by going to the V&A Waterfront for the morning. Our instructions were to hand the car over to the rental company at 13:00, so we really did not have that much time. We had a quick brunch at the harbour while watching seagulls eat anything possible.

http://www.waterfront.co.za/Pages/Welcome.aspx

If you have time there are many things to do, from Heli-Flips (which are totally overpriced for the average South African) to a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium. We went for a quick visit to the old fort! It is worth it if you know a little about South AFrican History!

http://www.aquarium.co.za/

Many tour operators depart from the waterfront on fun activities such as shark diving, whale watching, sand boarding and harbour boat trips. Just be sure to dress for all seasons because the weather can change in 30 minutes, especially next to the water. It can either be freezing cold, or you could sustain serious sunburn!

After handing in our little Corsa keys, the rental company gave us a lift to the Airport – so much time is wasted at airports waiting… and Cape Town Airport is awful. There is not much to do so bring a book or magazine to keep yourself busy – and maybe some toys if you have kids.

Getting back to Johannesburg was much less painless than going to Cape Town. The flight was smooth and the view was great!

Cape Town Day 3

After the previous day's excitement we got out of bed a bit late. Seeing that it was such a beautiful day, we charged off to Table Mountain. For R130 or so for a return ticket, the trip is more than worth while. Stepping into a revolving cable car is quite an experience. It can take 60 people and you hardly feel any shaking.

On top of the mountain you can have a lovely walk on safe walk ways. Apart from bumping into the odd tourist it is very enjoyable. Beautiful views of the city and the ocean are in abundance. One would think the restaurant is exclusively for international tourists but funnily enough the pricing is reasonable. All products are bio degradable even plates and cups. They have a great buffet breakfast which you can have outside with the view of the ocean.

You can also hike up the side of the mountain but I suggest you do one way with the Cable Car and hike the other way. Also let people know you are planning a hike because many people have gotten lost on the mountain – especially in the winter when the weather can change in 30 minutes from sunny to misty.

After Table Mountain we drove down to Hout Bay, which is a lovely drive along the coast, passing beach areas and shops.

Hout Bay is a small harbour town with a few fabulous restaurants but we opted to braai a snoek which you can buy in the harbour from the fishing boat. You can also feed the seals in the harbour at R5 per fish head. Look out for the “Soap Girls” next to the harbour. They are quite entertaining!

http://www.790tv.co.za/index.php
http://www.myvideo.co.za/video/hout-bay-soap-girls-ep1

Our day ended off with a visit to Blouwberg Beach with the most famous view of Table Mountain. Being hungry once again a pizza had to suffice and then bed!

Day 2 Cape Town

Saturday was AIRSHOW day! We really wanted to leave the house by 06:00 but we just couldn't get up! What a pity because getting a good spot is essential. We found parking and rushed to find a spot to get comfy... but the mud from the previous 7 cold fronts (and that means rain) cause wet feet and cold toes!

The show started with a bang and it really carried on until 16:00. There was always something to look at! Have a look on Youtube and search for AAD 2008 - you'll see a few videos!

The toilets were extremely clean - thousends of people flocked to the airshow and the toilets were asif they were never used! There were enough coldrink stands, food stands and safe parking.

I would reccommend this to anybody - except is you really dont like noise or mud :)

Cape Town Day 1

We got up on Friday morning, hoping for sunshine... and thank goodness it was the case - if only for a short while. It was cold though but nothing we couldn't handle. We had some light breakfast and went to the Waterfront to get tickets for the Airshow. Running up and down for a while, we finally got tickets, rushed to the car and set our GPS for Vergelegen Wine Estate.

After driving about 30 minutes we drove into a beautiful piece of the earth. Suddenly we didn't care about the rain and the cold. We dove straight in for some wine and even bought a Cabernet! They charge R30 per tasting (3 white wines and 3 red) and R10 extra per glass. We then went for a walk through the gardens, strolled trhough the museum and then we saw the big trees.

http://www.vergelegen.co.za/Content_1010000000_heritage.htm

This wine farm apparently has the oldest trees in the country... so do yourself a favour and go see this wine farm. There are so many to choose from but this one is special.

Second on our list was lunch! We didn't really know the route to Stellenbosch but we found our way into town. We had a lovely lunch at a restaurant I don't know the name of but it is situated next to a Mopanie Silk Shop. There are also a few nice things but really not for my small budget.

We then decided to go to Die Bergkelder. http://www.bergkelder.co.za/index2.html. This is not a wine farm but a cellar where wine is matured and stored. The tour consist of a walk through the cellar and a tasting of about 6 or 7 wines for only R20. The guide was very informative and she engaged with the group.

We really wanted to visit more farms but there was no time - seeing that the GPS was not working as it should have.

Next we drove down to a new farm called Asara. http://www.asara.co.za/. we were too late for a tasting but instead had drinks in the bar with friends. This estate has a lovely view of the mountains and such a nice, warm atmosphere!

After our long day we crawled back to our little flat. We ate a little dinner and went to bed. Saturday was the big Airshow day so we had to get up EARLY!!!

Day 2 will follow soon.....

Cape Town: Arrival

And so we decide to go to Cape Town for the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo at Ysterplaat Air Force Base. I booked a great little guesthouse come backpackers in Table View called Elements. Our Mango flight would depart at 18:40 on Thursday. Thank goodness we did an online check in so we had great seats! Due to very bad weather in Cape Town we could only arrive at 23:30!!!!

On arrival we accepted all the car rental terms and conditions and tried to find our way to Table View. Tired and cold we just passed out!

http://ww6.flymango.com/
http://www.elements-capetown.com/
http://cybercapetown.com/AroundAboutCars/

Watch this space for Day 1!!

Conferencing and Events

Have a look at this company. They render a great service and are not expensive at all. They will keep to YOUR budget and they can organise basically anything you require. Their website is not functional yet, but will hopefully be online soon!

Tswaing Crater

After sleeping very late on Sunday, we decided to get some good ol' O2 by visiting the Tswaing Crater. I must say, directions to this site is not good at all. Once we found the visitor centre it was empty - due to the fact that they had just moved in :) we were directed to the crater trail.

http://www.hartrao.ac.za/other/tswaing/tswaing.html

First of all, TAKE WATER! We thought that we might find a tuck shop at the venue - to our disapointment we had to take on the 7.2 km walk without a drop to drink. None the less, it was an enjoyable 3 hours. The path is safe and not difficult at all. It is not marked off very well, but this made our 7.2 km journey about 8km :)

http://www.footprint.co.za/tswaing.htm

I would definitely make a whole day of it next time. The fees are very much affordable and one can easily take the whole family - between 7 years and 60 years. There is ample space for picknicking and you could take a mountain bike on a certain stage of the trail.

Sterkfontein Caves - Cradle of Humankind

We recently went to The Cradle of Humankind, the former Sterkfontein Caves. Apart from the fact that I wasnt dressed warmly it was very insightful! I suggest you take a warm jacket - the cave stays around 12 degrees Celsius year round. Oh and It might be a good idea to take a torch. The guide has one but you may see something in a dark corner. Also, try to get there early, before the bigger groups arrive. When the groups are too big you cant really see very well.

Do yourself a favour and also visit the Wonder Caves, which are a short drive away. These caves are worth the cold damp darkness. Amazing Stalagmites make their appearance around every corner. The guides are well informed and engage with visitors.

Gaboon Adder

So our weekend at the Maphelane nature reserve was great. We took a hike along a very beautiful trail through the forest. I would suggest to weare ankle high hiking boots. WHY? We saw - and nearly stepped on - a Gaboon Adder/Gaboon Viper.

This is a deadly snake but thank goodness we saw it in time. It was not aggresive at all, in fact, it was just lying there. We could moce it out of the way and carefully proceeded with our hike.

The trail is very dense and there are many insects including large spiders. Take water along, and maybe something to nibble on.

This pic I grabbed from Google.

Pilanesberg

GOING ON SAFARI! well; with our sedan and with normal camreas - no fancy lenses! To be honest; I expected more animals. The park is really not that big and we saw elephant and one giraffe. What happened to the days were South Africa looked like the Serengeti? Animals used to roam the whole country! Now your chances of seeing the big five is limited to the curtains in you accommodation!

YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HANG OUT OF THE CAR!!!