Travel

Sticks and Bones

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:30:12 +0100

As South Africans we are fortunate to be able to hop, skip and jump into the footsteps of our ancestors who lived more than three million years ago! A mere 40-minute drive from the bustling metropolis that is Johannesburg lies the Cradle of Humankind, home to 40% of all the world’s human fossils. In the 19th Century, Charles Darwin predicted that the origins of humankind would be traced back to Africa because that's where the great apes live. He was so right, and in 1999 The Cradle was rec...

When in Rome…

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:18:40 +0100

Yes, we know that visiting the Colosseum is so expected and that the vast crowds through this ancient stadium mimic that of a Loftus crowd during a Bulls game, but the Colosseum is the height of history — a monument of epic proportions and a necessity if you’re a connoisseur of history. The vast arena, which dates back to AD 72, was the entertainment hotspot of the day — a place where gladiators faced slaves and wild animals, and slaves, well… they faced everything! There was no plac...

HAVE A BLAST BUT DON’T BECOME A MEMORY FROM THE PAST

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:13:42 +0100

Nobody wants to put a damper on your road trip, but knowing the facts may save your life. Fact, more than 15 000 people die on South Africa’s roads every year. Let’s put that in perspective: if the average sports stadium holds 60 000 people, then a quarter of a full stadium is wiped out annually. That’s scary. What are the toll concessionaires doing? Road safety is a combination of engineering, education and law enforcement. The safety of road users is of utmost importance to the ...

It's All Greek To Us!

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:50:36 +0100

When considering evolution, there is no place in the world quite like Greece, with all its myths and ancient history on display for modern man (and woman) to discover. Ancient Greece was home to the ‘whose who’ of mythological greats, such as Hercules, Zeus, Poseidon and Athena. As legend has it, Athena won the naming rights to the city when she beat out Poseidon’s offer to the Gods with the gift of a simple olive tree — and a great triumph it was too! Today Athens is consid...

The Best Beyond Our Borders - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:14:11 +0100

In 2011 mailboxes across South Africa were bombarded with pleas from locals to vote for Table Mountain to be included on the New7Wonders of Nature list. After 100 million votes were cast worldwide Cape Town, and it’s rocky pride and glory, was selected — to the many cheers from Helen Zilla. This is big news for worldwide travellers who plan their adventures by lists. These are the people who have to visit the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Seven Man-Made Wonders of the World and now...

The Best Beyond Our Borders - Skeleton Coast - Namibia

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:06:14 +0100

The Bushmen called it The Land God Made in Anger and the Portuguese said it was The Gates of Hell. Sounds pretty harsh but when you consider an ocean so unforgiving it crushed ships against its hidden rocks and a desert so deadly it wore the bones of its victims, human and not, with pride. This is Namibia’s Skeleton Coast — a tragic yet breathtakingly beautiful place! What is most interesting about the area is that from all the death and despair has emerged an abundance of life. Old wrecks p...

The Best Beyond Our Borders - Matemo Island – Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:53:40 +0100

A jewel in the crown that is Africa, the Quirimibas Archipelago is a unique string of 32 unspoiled, tropical islands that wallow lazily in the bright azure of the Indian Ocean. These tropical islands contain some of the richest coral reefs in the world and provide habitat for an abundant array of marine life… move over Great Barrier Reef. It is here, off the northern coast of Mozambique, that Matemo Island exists — a place where time seems to have stood still. Of all the islands in the area,...

The Best Beyond Our Borders - Jao Camp — Okavango Delta, Botswana

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:22:41 +0100

Thanks to Hollywood, our children perceive a swamp to be a muddy place that belches toxic gasses from its murky depths. It’s a place where green beasts, Shrek in particular, emerge irritable and anti-social.

And then there’s reality, where swamps actually make up some of the most beautiful places on earth and where the locals are only too happy to welcome you in.

Holi Cow – India’s Festival of Colours

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:59:02 +0100

When CNN photojournalist Steve McCurry was sent to India on a two-week assignment to cover the annual Holi Festival or Festival of Colours, he had no idea that he would lose his heart and not return home for more than two years. India is indeed an enchanting country, but with the added “holi spirit”, it is nothing less than captivating.There are three stories behind Holi, none of which stands above the others and all of which are celebrated annually in March with bonfires and smearing of fell...

Red Sea Riviera

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:45:37 +0100

When you think Egypt, you immediately think of Cleopatra, the Nile River, the Pyramids of Giza, and, of course… social uprisings inspired by Facebook.Earlier this year, history was made when, through the power of social media, the people of Egypt were able to overthrow their president, Hosni Mubarak, thus ending a 36-year tyrannical reign. As the political and social unrest unfolded in Cairo, desperate tour operators rallied to assure booked holiday makers that the freedom of the Egyptian peopl...

The not so Orange River

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:37:20 +0100

You have to really be lacking in rods and cones if you looked at the Orange River and thought it was named after the colour of the water. Sure, the water is muddy, but as far as we know it’s more an ochre colour.The river was actually first named the Nu Gariep by the indigenous Nama (or Namaqualand) people, but when Colonel Robert Gordon, commander of the Dutch East India Company garrison in Cape Town, made a trip to the interior in 1779 and “discovered” the river, he named it after the Net...

The Blue Lagoon

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:24:16 +0100

Welcome to the Blue Lagoon. Not the Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins Blue Lagoon of the tropical island variety but rather the chillier Iceland version set amongst black volcanic rock. While one would think the latter location would deter even the die-hardiest of Speedo wearers, the lagoon – the country’s top tourist attraction – is a magnet for minimally attired bodies from all over the world....

Nando’s Comedy Festival

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:50:00 +0100

Johannesburg, Montecasino: 22 – 31 JulyDurban, ICC: 4 – 6 AugustCape Town, Artscape: 9 – 15 AugustWhat you laughing at? If it’s the Nandos Comedy Festival then get ready to pa-aaa-rty! To date the Nando’s Comedy Festival has presented more than 180 international acts to at least 100,000 audiences — making it the fifth largest comedy event in the world and certainly the largest on the African continent. And the best part about it? This festival travels....

Biltong Festival

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:44:36 +0100

15 – 16 July

At the foot of a breath-taking mountain, in the heart of the Blue Crane Route, lies a little town with a gentle spirit. Somerset East is an area known for its lush gardens, historic buildings and, of course, The Annual Biltong Festival.

National Arts Festival

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:39:51 +0100

30 June - 10 July

Grahamstown is usually a laid back kind of a place, but for 11 days in July the town goes through a complete transformation. Town halls become theatres and sports fields become bustling flea markets and the legendary festival attracts more than 50 000 vistors seeking a feast of arts, crafts and entertainment.

Tramonto Wedding Run

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:17:48 +0100

20 August There’s no such thing as cold feet for these brides! Last year the Tramonto Wedding Run attracted more than 300 running brides who all traded their sports gear for their not-so-practical white satin, chiffon and silk wedding dresses — complete with veils and tiaras. Past and present brides, brides-to-be and even wannabes all line up looking aisle-ready to run the 1km Bride’s Dash....

Rastafarian Earth Festival

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:05:43 +0100

Rastafarian Earth Festival
23 July - 1 August

There are no words in the “Dread Dictionary” that can adequately describe this amazing celebration in Knysna — the biggest Rastafarian event in South Africa. Not only does it attract Rastas from all over the world, but it has also been rated 300 on ‘The World’s Best Festivals’ list.

Travel: The Sports Bucket List - Brazil

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:31:12 +0100

Pole PositionEntry # 4: Pay homage to a legendDestination: Sao Paulo, BrazilIdeal tour guide: Alain Prost*It was a macabre weekend in Formula 1 history. In May, 1994 at the circuit of Imola, San Marino, the best driver in the world crashed into a wall at top speed and died. That man was Ayrton Senna. A day earlier, Roland Ratzenberger lost his life on the same circuit. Seventeen years later people from all over the world still mourn for Senna and thousands visit his grave in Sao Paulo — in fact...

Travel: The Sports Bucket List - Qatar

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:20:12 +0100

Qatar the Star?Entry #3: Check up on FIFA Destination: Doha, QatarWow! What a furor over FIFA’s decision to award the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar. Since the little country with the bulging gross domestic profit was announced as the winning bidder, there has been a tsunami of “concerns”. First was the ‘health risk’ of running a tournament where temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius. Then, women and Jews became concerned that they would not be welcome, not to mention the alcoholics w...

Travel: The Sports Bucket List - London

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:11:27 +0100

Centre Courts and Finish LinesEntry #2: Get Wimbledon Centre Court and Olympic 100 metre final tickets!Destination: London, United Kingdom2012 Is a big year for the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Not only will it be hosting the annual Wimbledon tournament, and supplying the usual 23 tones of strawberries, but this year it will host the Olympic tennis too! And this means a double sporting whammy for you. Not only can you watch the 100 metre Olympic sprint live — an event that lasts only 10 second...

Travel: The Sports Bucket List - France

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:19:36 +0100

Tour De LanceEntry #1: Cycle a part of Le Tour De FranceUltimate tour guide: Lance Armstrong* Destination: Loire Valley, FranceIt’s been said that there’s nothing quite like a cycle through the French countryside — but alongside 200 professional cyclists? Well that depends if your bucket listing is all about kicking it up a gear or rather kicking back.If you’re going for maximum energy, then you can take part in the l’Etap Tour, the public version of the Tour De France, which takes plac...

Into the spider's web

Tue, 24 May 2011 14:31:05 +0100

You want to find Spider-Man? Then here’s a hint. In his normal form Spider-Man is known as Peter Parker, a freelance photographer at the Daily Bugle. Finding the Daily Bugle in itself may be a hell of a task, so we recommend you base yourself at Spidey’s favourite digs, the Ace Hotel – New York’s most “original” new hotel. We’re not sure if it’s because the hotel has an excellent view of the Empire State Building – a perfect spot to snap pictures of Spidey (as if we don�...

A cave fit for a bat

Tue, 24 May 2011 14:28:27 +0100

When picturing the Bat Cave, images of blackness and guano emerge. But this is not that kind of a cave. Set in the lush tropics of Thailand, Rayavadee Hotel is a palace fit for a king, and of course a bat!Bruce Wayne aka Batman may look a little pasty in real life, but who can blame him? He has, after all, an affinity for dark and dingy places, the kind nobody should ever visit. And having to keep Gotham City safe from penguins, Jokers and Poison Ivy can only take its toll on any superhero. So wh...

Up where Thor belongs

Tue, 24 May 2011 14:08:51 +0100

Now as far as we know, there are no hotels close to where Thor lives, like, in a cloud – but it’s just a matter of time. In the mean time, we found the most awe-inspiring alternative as far off the ground as we could. Welcome to the luxury Tsala Treetop Lodge and Villas in the heart of the South African Garden Route.The phrase “tree house” conjures up images of a semi-clothed jungle boy swinging from vine to vine or a shipwrecked family singing cheesy songs in their living room situated i...

A home for Hulk

Tue, 24 May 2011 14:04:05 +0100

In his rippling green form, the Incredible Hulk has no home. He’s a roamer of the earth, lost to the world and a perfect candidate for camping – but not just any camping. We’re talking the most exclusive tented experience on earth. Welcome to Wolwedans.So you had a bad day. Your blood pressure is sky high, all your clothes are ripped to shreds – and now you’re a bulging mass of green. It’s time for you to get away. It’s time to roam. And when you’re a roamer, you sleep on Mother E...