Luxury Southern African Travel

Few things are as exhilarating as riding a horse through foamy white waves, with the sun in your face, and the wind in your hair. The Garden Route is famous for its long, golden beaches which may be explored by horseback under the trained eye of a tour guide.

Or you can enjoy scenic horse riding trails around Plettenberg Bay with wonderful forest trails and outrides through indigenous forests. Trails vary from one day affairs to 4 day safaris. Stay over at some of the Garden Route’s finest hotels and guest houses, or rough it by sleeping in a tee-pee where you can relax next to a campfire and enjoy a delicious braaivleis (barbeque). Speak to our consultants that are just waiting to arrange your personalised experience. Or fill in our query form on the website, www.diyatravel.com and we will get right back to you.

Tags: Travel and Tourism News by Astrid Stark
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There is something that stirs deep within you when you look an African elephant square in the eye. The ancient beast’s leathery skin reads like a road map and all you want to do is stroke its enormous ears and tug playfully at the wiggling trunk.

Along South Africa’s Garden Route there is a wealth of sanctuaries and parks where you can have the most wonderful one-on-one experience with these gentle giants. Stay over at a 5 star lodge and listen as the elephants eat, play, sleep, and snore… all night long. What a lovely sight when you step out onto your balcony in the morning and watch the Ellies go about their morning routines.

Some venues have very tame elephants that you may feed and stroke. Or you can choose to go for an elephant ride through the spectacular African bush. The biggest fun is walking the elephants down to the river and watching them play in the water; just like children – dunking each others’ head under the water.

Finish the day with an elephant picnic in the middle of the veld as you watch the beasts graze under a setting sun.

Most of the organisations have an eco-friendly and holistic approach; the animals are well-loved, and happy.

Tags: Travel and Tourism News by Astrid Stark
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The Garden Route is just heaven for kids.

Monkeyland in Plettenberg Bay is only a few kilometres from Knysna and it’s the world’s first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary; which means you walk underneath monkeys that are jumping around your head, pelting you with sticks and leaves. It’s a sanctuary for a large variety of monkeys and birds; many of them endangered. Here you will find the gorgeous black and white ruffed Lemurs, Gibbons, Capuchins, the naughty little Marmosets and the Cottontop Tamarin - with its ridiculous hair-do.

A unique walk with Cheetah cubs, wrapping yourself in a python, or a wander through the free-flight aviary is a pretty special experience for kids of all ages. There is even a wolf sanctuary with a diverse collection of wildlife and farmyard animals.

Bigger kids, like dad, can experience the awesome ecological spectacular of the Tsitsikamma Forest, suspended 30m above the forest floor in a full body harness on a steel cable pulley system. Awesome! Move silently from one giant Yellow Wood to the next, taking in the green wonders of the indigenous forest canopy.

Tags: Travel and Tourism News by Astrid Stark
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Two of our favourite luxury Cape Town winter restaurants are Belthazar, situated at the V&A Waterfront and Beluga, (yes the one where Prince Harry took Chelsey for her 21^st birthday).

The Waterfront’s Belthazar serves up to 196 of the finest wines by the glass. It has a dream selection from over a hundred of the Cape’s finest cellars, featuring hundreds of fine wines, auction wines and rare vintages displayed in the specially designed vinoteque. Only export quality seafood and A grade Karan Beef is served. Belthazar has been voted Best Steakhouse in South Africa.

Steak at Belthazar

Beluga Restaurant, situated in Greenpoint, just a stone throw from the V&A Waterfront, has a wine attic which houses around 7000 of South Africa’s finest wines and they invite diners to take a tour and select their favourite drink to suit the occasion.

Their menu is quite varied; mouthwatering steaks; delicious linefish and finely crafted sushi. The owner, Oscar Kotzé, has a special talent for making guests feel at home. At Beluga’s you are in good hands.

Tags: Travel and Tourism News by Admin
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You’d be crazy to miss the Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend coming up at the beginning of June.  Just purchase a passport for R60, which gives you free tasting (25ml samples) for the duration of the festival. It is a great way to learn more about SA’s wines and to stock up the cellar with your favourite tipple. 

Image courtesy of Sylvanvale

Most farms in the Robertson area play along and many add to the fun by hosting live music, events, arts and craft exhibits, kiddies fun events, animal petting farms and plenty more. Go for the day, or stay over at a variety of accommodations.  But book early!  4-7 June 2009.

Bottoms up!

Tags: Travel and Tourism News by Astrid Stark
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