As well as some of our more popular day tours in Cape Town, we also have some fun special interest options for you – such as our unique Surfing and wine-tasting day tour.

Surfing and wine tasting may sound like an unusual combination but this is one of our most popular tours for the adventurous and young at heart. You head to one of Cape Town’s many beautiful beaches, depending on where the surf is best that day – it could be Muizenberg on the False Bay side of Cape Town or it could be Long Beach on the Atlantic ocean. You start with a surfing lesson in the water. The surf lessons are conducted at a beach break that has ideal waves for beginners as well as intermediates. The instructors have had many years of surfing experience and have helped hundreds of people find their surfing feet in South Africa.

After a morning of surfing you have earned a keenly awaited lunch, after which you head to the beautiful Constantia Valley Wine route where you will enjoy wine tasting at the world renowned wineries there such as Steenberg and Klein Constantia.

Such a tour costs R940 per person (if 4 people) in 2010 and more if you are only 2 people.

See our Special Interest Tours in Cape Town for more info or contact us…

I recently stayed at the brand new Taj Cape Town just as it opened. This looks to be a very impressive addition to Cape Town’s array of five star hotels.  Its location, in the heart of the old part of Cape Town, is really one of its major USPs. I have never been a great fan of the V&A Waterfront which, though very convenient with its array of shops and restaurants, is a rather glitzy commercialised experience which could be in any one of many waterside cities around the world.

In contrast the Taj is in the heart of Cape Town with the Anglican cathedral opposite, the historic Company gardens, where the new settler grew vegetables for the passing ships and the vibey pedestrian St Georges Mall on your door step, with art galleries, museums, restaurants, street cafes and street markets all within a couple of minutes walk.

The other big plus is the impressive interior of this 110 year old building with its high vaulted ceiling. It offers a winning combination of rich history and elegant contemporary architecture and really does feel like one of the grand old city hotels of Europe.

I didn’t get to sample an evening meal but I liked the eclectic mix of its exquisitely furnished Indian restaurant, the Bombay Brasserie, with its ornate chandeliers and table settings, and the more casual and modern Mint restaurant, where I had breakfast. This has tables flowing out onto the streets enclosed by partitions of greenery a la Paris.

My bedroom, a Heritage room, was very spacious with understated elegance and soft colours in the bedroom area and a sleek modern bathroom.  The bathroom has a glass wall onto the bedroom which can be closed off behind a blind for additional privacy – a feature which I really liked as I think its really important that people who want privacy in their bathrooms are able to get it – a fact that many modern hotel architects seem to ignore! Check it out when you are next in Cape Town.

The FIFA football World Cup Draw was announced in Cape Town yesterday!
The Soccer World Cup 2010 is taking place in South Africa from Friday 11th June to Sunday 11th July 2010. The World Cup is taking place at 10 football stadiums throughout South Africa with the focus being on Johannesburg/Pretoria, Durban & Cape Town.

The football world cup draw was announced on Friday

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
So now begins the real world cup booking process. Now that people know where ‘their’ team is playing, we are receiving plenty of enquiries for world cup bookings and soccer world cup packages. Have a look at our indepth article on the Soccer World Cup in South Africa in 2010…
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
This all depends on whether you have purchased your football match tickets yet.In the third of our World Cup articles, we outline all your options, both for if:
a) You have NOT yet purchased your tickets for the World Cup
b) If you HAVE purchased your tickets already

We are already receiving lots of enquiries and know where there is current hotel availability and where there is very little accommodation…. Contact us for more information

This unusual tour is perfect if you want get to know and savour the more off the beaten track vineyards, villages and farms of the Cape Town area. There are two options. You can head to the Cape Winelands region and head to the award-winning Morgenster wine estate for an olive oil, olive and wine tasting. Morgenster is rated as one of the top olive oil estates in the world and the tour is a little gem. This is followed by a visit to Vergelegen, one of the oldest Cape Dutch homesteads, for a walk in their beautiful gardens, a visit to the homestead and a taste of their award winning wines. An optional extra is to pre-book a fascinating tour of their spectacular gravity-fed cellar. This wine and olive-tasting is complemented by a short historical tour of beautiful Stellenbosch – the second oldest town in South Africa.

An alternative is to visit the stunning off-the-beaten track wine region of the Riebeeck valley in the swartland north of Cape Town where you enjoy some warm country hospitality. This small secluded valley is mad about olives and olive oil and you participate in two olive and olive oil tastings as well as wine and port tasting at the famous Allesverloren Wine estate. This is all washed down with a delicious and relaxed country lunch (at an additional cost)

These tours costs R940 per person (if 4 people) in 2010 and more if you are only 2 people.

See our Cape Town Country and Gourmet Tours for more info or contact us…

In these turbulent economic times, we see that people are searching for good value options which still offer extraordinary experiences in South Africa. They don’t just want to book the cheapest hotel or game lodge because -  especially in South Africa -  you get what you pay for.

But they are naturally keen to ensure that their dollar or pound or euro is spent in the best possible way. Thus on our website, www.cedarberg-travel.com, we make a point of outlining all the long stay and safari offers available at our preferred lodges so that you can perhaps enjoy an extra night on the house or a lower price per night. We also summarise some of the key offers in a series of articles.

In the next few blog posts, I’ll outline which ones I think are most attractive…

Summer Madness with Mantis until 15th May 2010

We have put together this luxury safari holiday to introduce the incomparable Nkomazi Private Game Reserve. Stay 2 nights at Nkomazi Game Lodge near Barberton and 3 nights at either The Bishopscourt or The Constantia boutique hotel in Cape Town and receive two complimentary nights at the superlative five star Grande Roche Hotel in the Winelands as well as a complimentary gourmet dinner for two at Bosmans restaurant at the Grande Roche and a back and shoulder massage whilst at Nkomazi Game Lodge.

This equates to a saving of at least R3700 per person (approx £300 or $495 per person) depending on time of travel. This offer is exclusive to Cedarberg African Travel is valid for travel until 14 May 2010.

See here for the full itinerary or contact us to check availability…

Cedarberg African Travel is a tailormade safari specialist based in the Cape of South Africa and also in London. As our name suggests, our Cape office is based in the Cederberg mountains. This unspoilt mountainous area lies only two hours north of Cape Town and yet has been little marketed to date…

However this is changing and I am proud to be able to blog about a brand new website which markets the Cederberg region which is www.cederberg.com

The website has some stunning photography as well as plenty of information about what to do, where to go and where to stay.
If you are looking for a new destination in South Africa, why not consider the Cederberg? If you are keen on walking, adventure sports, ancient history such as Bushmans Rock Art or simply chilling out in an unspoilt and very tranquil part of South Africa which has a largely sunny and dry climate, then the Cederberg could be for you!
Cedarberg Travel can arrange any tours or accommodation of course, but most importantly we simply want our beautiful area to be more widely known. The Cederberg is also the home of Rooibos tea with tea farm safaris on offer…

PS: You might have wondered why the Cederberg is spelt with two ‘e’s and we spell our name as Cedarberg? This is an accident of history. The Cederberg region used to be called either Cedarberg in english or Sederberg in Afrikaans. Then Cape Nature Conservation, which runs the Cederberg Wilderness Area, decided to promote the ‘hybrid’ name of Cederberg. However many people still use the old English spelling hence the slight confusion.

We decided not to change our name as we offer safaris to the whole of Southern Africa and not just the Cederberg and we are known by this spelling!

There are plenty of interesting day tours in enjoy in Cape Town, many of which we outline on our website. We also have some articles which identifies both the popular and the more unusual ones.

Today I thought I would focus on the differences between three winelands tours that we offer.

We offer a popular Cape Winelands tour which is really a general interest tour of the winelands. You explore two of the most attractive towns in the Winelands, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and enjoy some of the stunning winelands scenery and you also visit a wine estate for a cellar tour followed by some wine-tasting – always a popular part of the tour. As it’s a popular tour we can offer this on a scheduled or a private basis.

However if people are really into their wines, they might find some a generalist tour a little on the light side which is why we also offer our Wine Connoisseur Tour which is a private tour. This is ideal if you want a greater emphasis on wine-tasting and buying, perhaps meeting the winemaker at an estate and enjoying a vineyard tour. You are collected by our private wine guide (who holds a Cape Masters Wine Certificate) and taken to some of the best wine estates in the country. The wine estates visited change regularly both to retain the intimate atmosphere and also to ensure that we visit the sort of wine estates which suit you.  You’ll get to taste wines at several different estates and meet some of the wine-makers. Ideally you should let us know what you are interested in ahead of time.

Another option, if you are a bit of a foodie is to take our private Cheese, Wine & Chocolate Tour. You celebrate the culinary delights of the Cape’s oldest wine region with a delicious, wicked mix of cheese, wine and chocolate tasting. Highlights include cheese tasting at two estates that produce delicious premium cheeses; chocolate tasting at a specialist chocolatier in Franschhoek and some wine-tasting at a couple of the Cape’s top wine estates. Enjoy a relaxed gourmet lunch at a top Winelands restaurant (included at an additional cost) as well as a scenic meander through the picturesque winelands.

The above three tours on a private basis are R940 per person if you are four people, (approx $125), more if you are only 2 people. The scheduled Cape Winelands tour is R775 per person (approx $100).

Click here for more on our Cape Town Day Tours or contact us to book…

I recently visited Leroo La Tau camp on the Boteti River near the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana. Personally I think this is a must for any Botswana safari – either at the beginning or the end of the safari but please consider it. The views are amazing from just about everywhere in the lodge.

Leroo La Tau is situated on the banks of the Boteti river which has not run since 1989.  With all the good summer rains the underground water levels have risen and the river has started to flow. It hasn’t yet reached this lodge, but they believe that, assuming good summer rains, the river will be flowing past the lodge in 2010 which would be miraculous and amazing for the wildlife in the area which have been surviving in near drought conditions for a while.

Leroo La Tau is in a private concession so they offer night drives and can go off road for key sightings.  The game viewing is good with the highlight being the lioness that appears in the camp from time to time.  This lodge is also a great place to experience the Zebra Migration. There is a herd of approx 2000 zebra that migrate between the Boteti river area and the Makgadikgadi pans. Leroo Le Tau has a resident professor, Prof. James Bradley who is doing research on the zebra and who’s available to tell you about the zebra migration. Prof. Bradley has a tracking system so they can tell where the zebra are heading

One of the other draw cards is the fact that you can go out to the Makgadikgadi salt pans for a day trip.  This would need to be arranged ahead of time at an additional cost.  This is good news for people who want to see the Makgadikgadi pans. It also means that you could see the zebra herd even if they  had moved into the pans during your stay at Leroo La Tau.

The rooms at Leroo La Tau camp are large each with magnificent views.  Throughout our safari we had the most amazing sunset views from our rooms but here at Leroo La Tau we saw superb sunrises as you are facing east. Your room also overlooks the dry Boteti river as well as the watering hole. Leroo La Tau is fenced only to keep elephants out and they do have a resident lioness that checks in on everyone from time to time.  She thought it good to look in on us during dinner one night!

I was visiting Botswana as a guest of Desert & Delta Safaris and had enjoyed a Botswana safari through Chobe, Savute and Okavango Delta. I’ll give my feedback on some of the other safari camps I visited in future posts.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are keen to plan a Botswana safari…

One of our preferred safari partners, Londolozi Game Reserve, in the Sabi Sands of South Africa, has always been at the forefront of developing the African safari experience and their innovation continues. Their latest endeavour, specialist photographic safaris using adapted landrovers, combine ancient wisdom and nature with the latest in modern technology. Through sight and sound these vehicles promise to magnify the African safari experience by simulating the experiences of the great African wildlife documentaries of National Geographic and such like.

The standard Landrover has been modified with comfortable adjustable seats that can swivel 180 degrees allowing up to four people the maximum flexibility to get those unusual camera angles and create exceptional images. Equipment for your use includes a stills and video camera, night vision goggles, individual ultra-violet torches, an e-reference book (loaded with reference books on birds, trees, mammals & stars), a star laser pointer for an informed understanding of the African skies and ‘sound safari’ equipment designed to amplify the sounds of the African bush.

“Imagine sitting in the dark with a pride of lion hunting adjacent to the Land Rover. The lights are off but you are seeing and hearing just like the lions.”

Vital to the success of this photographic safari is the quality and experience of your ranger and tracker. To guide a Specialised Photographic Safari at Londolozi Game Reserve the rangers will have a minimum of 5 years guiding experience, and a deep knowledge of all the latest digital, sound, editing and photographic equipment. The specialist ranger will be both a game ranger and photographic instructor and his objective is to deliver an enjoyable safari adventure that challenges his guests to take great wildlife pictures.

Your specialist tracker is an important member of the team and brings with him a deep ancestry connected to the wildlife of the area. Seemingly built into his DNA are all the skills needed to seek out the elusive cats and get you into position to make that heroic shot. The tracker’s role is to read the language of the land and guided you to the action. He is a vital link in achieving a successful photographic safari.

Londolozi and the Sabi Sands, in the Greater Kruger National Park, is known across the world as a destination which offers remarkable photographic wildlife opportunities and so it is fitting that this is the setting for a new frontier in wildlife specialist photography.

I am always a sucker for train travel and so I was very happy to hear about the launch of Premier Classe’s luxury train service from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit adjacent to the Kruger National Park. It will make a great alternative to flying from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit and is also very affordable at R850 per person one way (current price). As it’s an overnight train journey you can compare it with staying overnight at a Johannesburg hotel.

Facilities on the Premier Classe trains include two dining cars seating up to 38 people each offering a full dinner service, a lounge car offering the ultimate after-dinner place to relax with complimentary tea and coffee, or drinks from the bar. The cabins are spacious, with a selection of cabins accommodating from one to four guests.  The train will also be fitted with spa and wellness facilities run by Amani African Spas, which operate spas at a variety of the private Kruger game lodges. Treatments range from full body massages, facials and body treatments to manicures and pedicures.

From Hoedspruit, you have easy access by road (between 30 and 60 minutes) to all the private game lodges in the Thornybush Game Reserve such as Thornybush Main Lodge, Timbavati Game Reserve such as Simbavati River Lodge and Kings Camp, Kapama as well as the game lodges in the northern Sabi Sand Game Reserve such as Arathusa Game Lodge and Elephant Plains Game Lodge.

Initially the train is only running once a week, but they have plans to increase the service to three times a week. For international visitors arriving at OR Tambo International (Johannesburg Airport) in the afternoon, you can head off immediately on your safari experience, saving a night’s accommodation in Johannesburg and getting your holiday under way immediately…

We can book this train journey for you alongside your safari accommodation.