The Best Of Both In South Africa

THE BEST OF BOTH IN SOUTH AFRICA

Most Memorable Safari.

A holiday in South Africa often starts with a trip to the bush in search of the Big Five. A Safari is an amazing experience and a real treat for the whole family. Choose from exclusive lodges with luxury tents or thatched chalets with private splash pools and additional outside showers.  Then there are safari-rooms in larger complexes with additional facilities for family activities.  Some lodges do not take children under 12 or 16 so it is best to check with your agent or the lodge directly. Game viewing is in large open overland vehicles so even if younger children are allowed at the lodge, they may not be allowed to take part in game drives.

Good Morning Africa!

Your ranger will wake you before the sun rises and you will be out looking for animals as they too are just waking up like zebras or antelope or, in the case of the jackals, just on their way home after a night of hunting. The early mornings will be cold but as soon as the African sun is up the day will become gradually warmer and jackets can be discarded. After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, relax and soak up the sounds and scents of the bush, take a nap or a dip, check your photographs, recharge your camera batteries and prepare for the afternoon game drive.

Magical Bush Nights.

In the evening the bush takes on a whole new dimension. The animals rest too in the midday heat but as the day gradually cools, their instincts fire up and it is time to go in search of supper. As the sun sets, enjoy a safari sun-downer in the wilds of the bush and see the sky take on a whole new hue. Keep your binoculars at the ready. Look out for an owl or a bush baby on a tree branch as you make your way back to the lodge for supper.

The nights in the bush are magical, stars fill the sky, the moon may reflect on a waterhole and there is an all-consuming darkness and calm. Yet not all is quiet, branches crack as an animal passes, leaves rustle as a mouse or lizard hurry along. In the distance, the bark of a baboon alerts the troupe to danger and a lion’s roar calls out his return to his territory.

It is night but the bush never sleeps.

Head for the Beach!

After usually 3 nights enjoying the wonders of nature and the bush, head back to the city and on to the coast to experience another side of marvellous South Africa, Cape Town. Spend a week to take in the sights, but the pristine, white sandy beaches are reason enough to come to Cape Town

With the Atlantic Ocean on your doorstep, a stay at Ocean View House puts you in the ideal location to explore this corner of the country.

The Best Beach in Town.

Perhaps the most famous of beaches is Camps Bay. Drive along the ‘strip’ with a wide array of restaurants and bars on one side and a wide expanse of white soft sand on the other. Protected by the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain you will not find a beach like this anywhere else in the world. Take a seat in the sand and watch a game of volleyball, buy a cool drink or an ice cream from a beach vendor or go for the day and hire your loungers and umbrella right there on the beach.

If you are brave enough take a quick dip, beware the sea is very cold but you can surely manage a splash and a paddle or skim the shallow water on a flat board.

Pretty as a Picture.

A little further along are the picturesque small beaches and coves of Clifton. Little pathways of steps lead down past residential homes from the road to the four beaches and the crystal clear water. The four Clifton beaches are linked like pearls along the coast but are only really visible as such from the sea. Yachts throw anchor near the Clifton beaches and add to the flair of the surroundings, which house some of the most expensive real estate in the country.

Surf’s Up!

If you are a surfer then Muizenberg Beach is a must.  At Surfers Corner there is also a surfing school for those wanting to learn this exhilarating ocean sport. The frequently photographed row of colourful changing huts has become the key image of Muizenberg. The preserved facades of the old seaside buildings and hotels are a testimony to the historical importance of Muizenberg as the weekend retreat for Cape Town’s city dwellers. Today it is better known as Surfers Paradise.

Hidden Secret.

Sandy Bay in Llandudno is a real gem. Small and private this beach has only a very small parking area and a one road access. No shops or cafes just a natural beach setting and the start of a hike to an old shipwreck. It is well worth the drive down and the ideal spot for private sunbathing on the beach or on the rocks.

Long Sandy Walks.

Kick off your shoes and off you go. The beaches of Milnerton and Noordhoek lend themselves to a really long beach walk.  Milnerton Beach to the north offers the most splendid view of Table Mountain and is popular with kite surfers who enjoy the strong winds along this part of the coast. Noordhoek beach stretches for 8 kilometres below Chapman’s Peak breath-taking scenic coastal drive.

South Africa is a country where the sun will warm your skin and your heart and you will need to return. Relax and enjoy the glow as you sit on the balcony of your ocean view room and plan your next bush and beach holiday.