So the pressure is on and the local tourism industry is gearing itself for the Soccer Word Cup in 2010 and the opportunity to score big points and make lots of money, but will anyone come?   Some say that our European friends are going to stay in Europe and watch the games on big screens in specially designed uber-cool ‘entertainment stadiums’  and that people in the East will prefer to watch the games on their cell phones, wristwatches and iPods.   What about Americans?  Will soccer have more of a following in the USA by 2010?   Do Americans attend big international sporting events if they are not in their own country? (Isn’t going to Atlanta if you live in Spokane a bit like traveling to another country? )  Perhaps the African-ness of our World Cup will be a draw card as Americans come here to support the cultural aspect of the event, to feel the vibe and the rhythm and experience the warmth of ‘ubuntu’ (collective unity). One thing is certain, there will be a lot of drumming and dancing and chest beating !  Combine that mental image with the fact that I predict a southern hemisphere World Cup with gyrating South Americans and whooping Australians swamping our streets, bars and beaches, and I think we are in for momentous carnival parade !

With this, my very FIRST blog cast, I’m excited to announce that I’m busy planning a marketing trip to America. I leave Cape Town on the 6^th Sept,  and after a long haul flight from JHB – DC and then a trans-America flight (window seat so that I can see all the State of America ) I get to San Francisco on the 6^th Sept -  Time zones are mind bloggling!   My main destination is the WINESONG auction in Mendocino County.   I have packaged a Cape winelands tour and safari which will be on the auction.  I’m also going to be representing cousin Mike Ratcliffe’s Warwick Wines.
I would really appreciate it if anyone could put me in touch with folks in the Mendocino, Napa, San Francisco areas who might be interested in meeting me…
Professionals in the wine industry  ie: a winery owner / distributor /wine club co-ordinator / restauranteur who is interested in SA wines and would like to visit the Cape winelands or perhaps envisages bringing a group of people on a wine and gourmet trip to South Africa.    Private individuals and collectors who like to incorporate excellent food and wine when they travel.     I’m also going to be promoting the fact that we facilitate golf tours, honeymoons, family safaris etc.  Another trend we are seeing that some of you will relate to is multi-generational family travel (family reunions!)   We can also handle small corporate incentive groups.   

South Africa has so much to offer!

Dort

 

Namibia Safari 

For those of you looking for a good quality lodge in Etosha that won’t break the bank, look no further. Onguma Lodge is situated on the eastern gate of Etosha within its own game reserve. This brand new luxury lodge has only 7 large East Africa style tents, making it intimate and personal. The tents are huge and have open plan bathroms as well as a lovely veranda looking over the bush. Each tent is completely private.

What I really liked about Onguma is that while you aren’t sleeping in the Etosha (only the 3 rest camps are inside the park) you still are within a game reserve and need to watch out for the lion! And if you don’t feel like going on a game drive, you can sip cocktails at the lovely pool all day long.

If you are on a shoe string budget then Onguma has a couple of other options as well such as camping and rustinc family chalets. And all at a good price.

 

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Guest stayed at Tinga Lodge which is inside the Kruger National Park proper - perfect for a romantic pampering safari.

 We were fortunate enough to stay for 4 days in June 2006 at Tinga Narina Lodge on the Sabie River and I can just say: this was more than heaven on earth! 

Being so close to nature, luxury, exclusiveness, pampering, wonderful cuisine and weather couldn’t be more fantastic! It’s hard to explain in words how you feel in those romantic, extremely spacious and comfortable suites with perfect service and all those lovely staff. We were interrupted during almost every meal: breakfast was interrupted by 4 lionesses on the river bank; lunch by a rhino and elephant, and dinner by the sounds of hippo’s. Game drives had been overwhelming (although terribly cold after sunset and in the early morning) and really worth every cent! 

Never in my life I’ll forget this amazing experience! I hope, we will see you all again some day!

Vanessa and I are feeling a little rough this morning after a fantastic wine tasting at the Bay Hotel in Camps Bay. The annual Cape Winemakers Guild pre-auction tasting is the place to be seen for all self proclaimed wine snobs.

There were some spectacular wines on show this year, with Giles Webb from Thelema  topping the list with his elegant cabernet which offerd pronounced eucalyptus flavours and a smooth finish.

Vanessa got chatting to the assistant winemaker at Boekenhoutskloof, Rudiger Gretschel,  maker of the delicious Chocolate Block blend. She was rather flattered that he remembered her from a tasting that she booked at the farm a while back!

Warwick wine estate was sporting a fruity sauvignon blanc with full mouth guava and paw paw flavours and a hint of mango. Perfect for a nice hot thai stirfry.

Jeff Grier from Villiera was his charming self and offered us a large taste of his blanc de blanc bubbly. Made purely from chardonnay grapes this sparkling wine is big and rich and has you longing for more.

Glen Carlou, famous for their chardonnay and pinot noir mentioned that they are busy opening a brand new tasting room with state of the art features and an art gallery featuring part of the Hess collection. Definitely worth a visit in the near future.

Tried the Luddite Shiraz, a big, bold and showy wine - just my kind of thing. Niels Verburg only makes shiraz on his farm in Hoew Hoek but has a finger in the making of the Iona and South Hill wines.

Ahhh time to stop dreaming of fruity sauvignons and minty merlots and get back to the serious business of booking dream vacations!

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Are you going on Safari in South Africa? Then you should consider Singita Private Game Reserve. They have just been placed on the Forbes “Most expensive hotels in the world” list for 2006 - so don’t expect to get by on a shoe string. But if you are out to impress a girlfriend or scrape together browney points with the wife, then Singita will do just fine!!

A NEW guest house has opened in Cape Town’s Camps Bay, targeting the high-end traveller.
There is a brand new luxury hotel in Camps Bay, Cape Town called Eleven Sedgemoor Road. We haven’t been to visit it yet, but watch this space for an update.

Eleven Sedgemoor Road offers four suites set on two levels, with a gourmet kitchen, two lounge areas, an open-plan dining room, deck and patio, pool and 24-hour on-site management service.

The property offers two luxury suites, a superior suite and a penthouse suite.
Additional facilities include Internet access, and fax and telephone facilities. Two large indoor public areas are available for business meetings or small conferences.

Direct booking or travel agent South Africa?

Will booking directly with a hotel or lodge get you a better price? Many people seem to think so. The talk on many web blogs is that you can save money by booking directly and bypassing the agent. However that isn’t necessarily the truth.

If you book your holiday through a local internet based tour operator such as Southern Destinations, then you can be assured that you will never pay more than if you book direct, but you could also pay less. The reason for this is that an operator like Southern destinations has built up strong relationships with the hotels over the years. In return for business we receive better rates that we can then pass on to our clients. So by using us for a travel package you could save a lot of money.

An added bonus is that an agent can take the stress out of your holiday by giving you valuable tips and information. And of course you don’t have to worry about making bookings!

So why not do the test, give Southern Destinations a package to quote on, and contact the hotels directly for rates as well. I can assure you that you will be pleasantly surprised!!

Romantic Vacation

The Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town has just been refurbished so I went along to have a look. I will admit that this was never my favorite hotel because it was always very stuffy and old fashioned. What a change! The hotel is now decorated in light colours and makes fabulous use of the amazing views of mountain and gardens. The hotel is now perfect for a romantic honeymoon with its stunning spa facility that has double treatment rooms. The two restaurants, Au Jardin and the Courtyard Restaurant are two of Cape Towns finest. After all that food, you will be glad for the gym and a personal trainer!!

Visit the Sabi Sands for your Lion Safari

Animal behavior is never set in stone and animals frequently surprise one by doing things contrary to what is considered normal behavior. Recently we were surprised by some peculiar lion behavior.

Whilst on an anti-poaching patrol one of the wardens witnessed the coalition of six males which have recently taken up residence in our area of the park kill a lioness. It was reported that two lionesses had killed an impala; the commotion of the hunt and the lionesses fighting over the carcass attracted the coalition, who were obviously within earshot. The one lioness took off whilst the other stayed with the males which had obviously alleviated the females of the kill. These two females were part of a pride we know as 2 and 6, meaning two females and six cubs.
The cubs are now sub-adults of about twenty months. The female began to perform lordosis with one of the males; i.e: showing signs of being sexually receptive. The female will pass by the male several times rubbing against the males’ head before lying in front of him.
This female could not however be in eostrus as she had not yet raised her previous litter. This is sometimes done in order to distract the males from killing their young after a territorial takeover by new males. The male usually with 2 and 6 has not been seen for months and has in all likelihood been killed by the coalition of six. The female then suddenly leapt up and fled.
A male had given chase and killed her!!

After receiving the report the next day several rangers and trackers went to investigate. We found a male lion which moved off as we approached on foot. We discovered the partially eaten carcass of the female where he had been lying.There was no sign of the other males. Later in the day the lion dragged the carcass several hundred yards from the original site possibly to conceal it from us.

This male was observed with the carcass for two days, which he consumed entirely. Later in the month the coalition caught up to the pride (which we were now funnily enough referring to as 1 and 5) again and killed one of the sub-adult males. However, they did not consume him.The remaining adult lioness was later seen with the coalition without any of the sub-adults.

The youngsters will most likely perish from starvation without her, if they are not killed by the males. The female could of course return to her related offspring and try to raise these by eluding the males when necessary. If she has abandoned them or they are killed she will come into eostrus again and mate with the dominant male in the coalition, starting the process again.