Travel in South Africa

Colours of Cape Town

2010-12-28T17:14:00.000+02:00

Join Barry and Patricia Van Der Helm at their new backpackers lodge to discover all the colours of Cape Town. There are eight rooms to choose in a variety of configurations, and also a stand alone apartment with on suite bathroom and kitchen facilities. This unit is perfect for families and other traveling groups wanting accommodation within the same unit. Check out their very competitive rates, last seen in the 70's!

Don't miss out on the best views of Cape Town from Milnerton and Sunset beach. The golf club and Century City are within 5 minutes drive. Kite surfers will find this venue very close to the Kite beaches of the West coast with plenty of storage area for their equipment.

You can choose to have a room only, or add breakfast options on a pay as you go basis! Patricia is a great cook and you will certainly be well looked after. Long stay options also available

Barry is the local braai meester who will point the way to the pool, Boma and bar! The Pool is large enough to house a small army.

Amtrak to Premier Classe in RSA

2010-08-05T13:42:00.000+02:00

Recently, during June 2010, I traveled extensively on Amtrak to Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and finally down the coast to West Palm Beach. There is a lot to be said for train travel in the United Sates, both good and bad, but it is nevertheless a great way to travel when you have time. I can think of many positives of train travel including;
1. No road rage to deal with.
2. No rude airport security and long lines or procedures to cope with.
3. There is ample space for stretching and walking.
4. You have more time to work or think in a fairly relaxing environment.

South Africa is a relatively well known country, especially after the world cup, and my individual efforts in rural Michigan. Our great tourist train services are not that well known, and it is the reason for the article.

A 26 hour overnight journey in the US is not very comfortable when compared to a similar distance between Johannesburg and Cape Town - 2 major destinations in South Africa.

The cost in the US for this type of journey is about $205 for a seat in coach where you share germs with a whole lot of strangers. Make sure you stock up on lots of Vitamin C to boost the immune system before you do this! I learnt by default as we are not accustomed to coach class train travel in South Africa. There is none of that on the major routes in South Africa. All trains have sleeper cars and they cost a tad more than coach on Amtrak. Currently a 26 hour journey in 4 star luxury, with 3 meals, and a comfortable sleeper compartment cost $40 more!

I would say, without hesitation that South African train travel is a fantastic deal by far! Amtrak has a lot of catching up to do in terms of tourist trains. I also understand why it gets a bad rap from the US public. Their image can do with a bit of polishing and their train staff can take some lessons from our Premier Classe , Blue Train or Rovos Rail.

I will encourage all to add 2 days to your trip in South Africa to experience the beauty of train travel. It is one of the best ways to see our beautiful country, and one of the two days required is wasted at airports anyway. The airlines are high on profit margin and low on personal comfort, so why not give trains a chance? The world is running on steroids at the moment with all the frenetic pace causing a lot of illness and grief.

Chill a bit and take the train; you will be so much better for the experience!

New Fusion

RSA TO USA

2010-07-13T21:43:00.000+02:00

US PHOTOS

Recent travel in the United States provided a lot of insight to the similarities between South Africans and Americans. Good friends are curious how one perceives the reality of life on different continents. Normally my stock answer is that we are all very similar with slightly varying subcultures, and sound a little different - it is no fault of ours that the Queen wanted our gold!

On a more serious note it was really encouraging to find that people from New York, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, West Palm Beach, Key West, Tampa to Michigan all share one thing! No matter how much they all differ the vast majority are fierce patriots! So are we after a very successful soccer world cup, but we have a long way to go to reach your high standards. Although we had a lot of flags for the world cup it is nothing like the sea of stars and stripes displayed in the US! Like you we have a beautiful country that is appreciated by everyone I met and observed! Strong family values set the US apart from a lot of areas around the world, and in my opinion, the reason for continued stability and success. Great hospitality everywhere was overwhelming although South Africa is known for this trait!

The US is the land of plenty, and something for all of us in Africa to aspire to! Perhaps less choice is not all that bad when you are looking to reduce huge overhead. Law and order reigns supreme in the United Sates and also puts down a marker for the world to follow! Although you have a changing and challenging landscape in the south, it is the problem of the modern world shared equally! Boundaries will never restrict those who wish to improve their lives for better or worse. The key to prosperity lies in finding good balance! Quality of life in the US is fantastic compared to anywhere else!

South Africans love sport as much as Americans, and you will really love our twenty twenty cricket if you got the email from the Queen spelling out the rules! We too have people that love chasing after and swimming with White Sharks (must be a Pepsi thing)!

Then there are those who love wine that discovered the nectar of the Western Cape. Our wines are already well known for its quality and value! Californian wines are excellent and the lesser known Michigan Riesling quite easy on the palate and tasteful!

We share a sense of adventure which is probably down to our the wanderlust of our pioneering forefathers! New York and Cape Town share some similarities; both have the Dutch to thank for establishing a settlement only 25 years apart! You got rid of the Queens tea and we are still drinking it, although some of us have discovered a better source of caffeine!

Your middle class is huge and provides great prospects for continued prosperity - something developing countries should aim for! Our good friends from the United States contribute much to our prosperity; your generosity in every sense of the way is noticed and appreciated.

The United States supplied the largest number of foreign visitors during the soccer world cup - Thank you! Ninety Two percent of visitors recommend South Africa as a destination.

SA is a lekker place

Addo Day Trip

2010-01-06T14:13:00.000+02:00

A lot of people want to have a Safari experience when visiting South Africa, but do not always fancy paying 700 Dollars a day to have 2 game drives supplemented by lots of food and pampering. Some people are more interested in viewing the animals in their own time and spend a lot of time at a waterhole waiting for that perfect sighting.

Addo Elephant park is a good case in point; add it to your Garden Route package as an extension to your trip. Visiting this park is an easy drive from Port Elizabeth if you do not want to spend all of your time staying in the Park. Alternatively rent one of the chalets from SANPARKS. The main camp has an excellent hide and deck overlooking a waterhole where you can spend a lot of time, 24/7.

There is plenty on offer in terms of game viewing for the patient traveler. Although Lions are not always on offer during the day you may be rewarded at one of the waterholes. This park is in one of the dry regions of the country and being patient will pay off handsomely!

Getting into the park is also not an expensive exercise; International visitors currently pay R130 to enter the park for the day. The good thing with this park is that you can enter the park more than once from the main reception area. Also exit the Matholweni gate in the South for easy access to Port Elizabeth. There are restaurant and shopping facilities at the main entrance, and you can also make use of the Park's scheduled game drives if you do not want to drive in the Park. The best of both worlds really!

View my photos taken that day on Picasa.

Enjoy your game viewing

Oudtshoorn value during World Cup 2010

2009-12-09T14:43:00.000+02:00

The FIFA draw has taken place in Cape Town this last weekend with much fanfare! Everyone now knows where their team will be playing, and for those who are visiting South Africa without accommodation read on!

I will urge small travel parties to who are getting their own tickets to take advantage of the many smaller town accommodation offers. The Western and Eastern Cape is a case in point where there are many smaller towns surrounding Cape Town and Port Elizabeth(Nelson Mandela Bay).

The Garden Route covers the coastal route between Port Elizabeth and Mosselbay with loads of beautiful scenery; crossing the Outeniqua mountain at George leads to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo. Only an hours drive from the coast, but well worth it to get to some of the best scenery and country hospitality. Soccer fans will also have enough time between games to do site seeing at Cango Caves, Cango Wildlife ranch Tiger and Cheetah cubs, and Ostrich farm visits. The route across the Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert is one of the most scenic routes to do when you have a day to spare. Travel the circular route from Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert, Klaarstroom, the very scenic Meiringspoort, De Rust and back to Oudtshoorn.

Value for money accommodation
There are many good venues in the region, but for value you do not have to look much beyond De Poort country Lodge managed by the Groenewald Family. The rooms are clean, rates are very affordable, serice is good and there is no better pan fried Ostrich fillet made to their special recipe. Every guest is treated like a VIP at this lodge

Oudsthoorn is and easy 1/2 day drive from both Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. You can easily use this town as a base for your time spent in the Southern parts of the country.

The world cup is going to be a spectacular event based on the opening ceremony bells and whistles. The dominant teams may well find the vuvzelas a bit much to bear, and who knows, what door will be opened for some of the lesser teams.

Manny Goals

New Fusion

2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER - TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION

2009-06-12T09:29:00.000+02:00

Today, it is exactly 364 days to go to the next soccer world cup to be hosted in South Africa. There is a lot of excitement as we lead up to this historic moment, but unfortunately there are, as always, profits of doom with negative and incorrect reporting. I want to assure all people traveling to South Africa that it is safe and affordable.

Why South Africa
This is the economic powerhouse on the African continent; an investment in South Africa provides a further antidote to poverty and underdevelopment, and reduces the amount of future aid required. You visit Africa to explore its scenic beauty, wildlife and cultural diversity that is rivaled by very few around the globe. The exchange rate is around R8 to the US Dollar and accommodation, food and travel is cheap compared to the rest of the world. Prices will be higher during June and July as the world cup is a peak season event, but there are good deals if you get in early. Do some homework on this [see accommodation and travel below].

Infrastructure
I have been overseas on numerous occasions and have not really found better roads, sports stadiums or accommodation venues. Sure, our national rail network is not the best in terms of equipment and service, but there are luxury trains - Premier Classe ; Rovos Rail and the Blue Train. These trains run between Johannesburg , Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. The new bus rapid transport systems will be rolled out to be operational in Johannesburg and Cape Town. There are also a host of private operators who will be involved with transport. Johannesburg will also have the 1st leg of the Gautrain link operating from the International airport to the financial district in Sandton. The new stadiums are very close to completion and a number of them are upgraded already.

Safety
This is a very contentious issue, and depending on the person behind the pen, can differ widely. People often overreact to any situation. South Africa has more crime than any other developed country. It is when you analyze this information that you find how it is skewed - the developed area of South Africa is close to International standards, and this is where 99.9% of the people with GPS will find themselves; a much bigger than normal police contingent will be deployed in all major areas. I mention GPS for those who are going to drive themselves around South Africa to ensure they do not end up in rural South Africa where it is underdeveloped. The chance of running into problems is higher in these areas. If you are not sure travel with organized groups. You can be mugged in any large International city if you find yourself in the wrong area, so why do it here! You should have someone help you with the preparation and route if you are not familiar with the country. There are many specialists in South Africa who can do this for you. They know conditions better than any person overseas.

Travel & Accommodation
There are thousands of Guest houses and furnished apartments (condos) in South Africa; this is the most cost effective method for accommodation as hotels have all sold their inventory to FIFA and affiliated hospitality companies. This article is meant to provide information for smaller groups traveling to South Africa. Once your have your tickets secured (match & flights) it is important to find the right people to help you. Unfortunately there are establishments in South Africa who are trying to charge R6000 per room for a 4 star guesthouse (Cycad Lodge in Polekwane) ; there is no need to overpay as there are lots of places charging R2000-R2500 per room on a B & B basis for 2 people. That is less than US$160 per person including breakfast. Furnished apartments are cheaper and sleep up to 6 people generally. The average price for a 4 bed apartment is R900 per day ; 6 bed apartments are from R1350-R2000 depending on locations and level of luxury. Renting of apartments should be directly from the owner or manager; try to avoid intermediates if you can to ensure that what you buy is what you get!

Rent a car and drive yourself between Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Rustenburg, Nelspruit, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Polekwane. Our freeways are very good and easy to navigate.

The final bit of information I wish to share is that it pays to be contrarian - do not use the high density, or popular, areas for the bulk of your stay. The town next door is often well geared to receive people and do not overcharge. Use this event as your annual vacation for a Safari and beach holiday in South Africa. This is when you will find best value.

There are many of us who want to make this event an African success!

Tertius - info@newfusion.co.za

Madikwe Safari

2009-03-11T10:01:00.005+02:00

Madikwe Game Reserve is the 4 th largest game reserve in South Africa; a 75 000 hectare malaria free reserve in the North West Province that borders on Botswana. A lot of travelers researching possible venues know a lot more about Kruger National Park, and rightly so. I need to actually set the record straight that a lot of so called Kruger Park Safaris are smaller private reserves bordering on KNP. There is of course nothing wrong with any of these reserves other than being a lot smaller when compared to national parks such as Kruger and Madikwe.

The reason I like Madikwe is that I have personally experienced the game experience on a few occasions; there is an equal chance to see the Big 5 when compared to other reserves when reviewed objectively. Too many people are hung up on individual Trip advisor comments and do not bother to get the proper information. It is dangerous to take individual comments to rate any one place. We are all different and it is not clever to use single comments to make decisions about Safari venues.

The real good thing about Madikwe, according to me, is that no more than 3 game drive vehicles are allowed to converge in any area of interest. I really enjoyed sighting Lions this way without being crowed by millions of people. This often happens in other reserves where there are none of these restrictions.

Personally I have never experienced 4 of the Big 5 in less than 15 minutes in any park before visiting Madikwe. The wild dogs sightings are also good according to fellow guests at Masethla camp. This camp is the closest you will get to nature - no boundary fences, irritating electronic interference, telephones, electricity and any other spoils of modern life. My stay there was actually very refreshing, including using the V.I.P. loo and the bush shower. Not every bodies cup of tea, but certainly very good value for money.

There are a wide variety of 4 and 5 Star Lodges for the comfort connoisseurs at very good rates when compared with the cream of the crop in Mpumalanga. Jaci's Safari Lodge and Thakadu really offers good food, service and accommodation.

I will happily assist with more specific information.

Happy sightings

Global Travel possible amidst credit crunch

2008-12-07T07:57:00.003+02:00

The world is indeed going through some significant change to shed the excesses of the past, and there are lot of doomsday profits jumping on the bandwagon. The communists are having a field day on their soap boxes ridiculing the global capitalist failures ; well I say hindsight is an exact science! There is no perfect system and the world economy will recover from this temporary setback. People will adapt because they have to; it is as simple as that, but they will certainly not stop smelling the flowers! South Africa is such a great and affordable destination that I have to spread the ''gospel''

Where else can you have a great Kudu steak and top quality wine for less than $10 each! There is a package for every conceivable budget! All travel professionals will sharpen their pencils during the next 12-18 months. I can guarantee they will offer you better deals! Every market operates on supply and demand, and this oversupply of tourism products will decrease prices significantly. Five star hotels in South Africa are dropping their prices! If you have a burning desire to experience an African Safari it is the time to start planning your trip. Most people outside the industry do not know that it is possible to have a great Safari at 5 star lodges that charge a 1/3 less than the so-called high end establishments. Select your vacation months carefully to get the best deals. Peak season travel is not necessary when visiting South Africa, where you have great weather for 10 months of the year. The period between peak and winters months are best for good deals. The northern Safari regions are even accessible during the colder months of winter - May, June and July. Day time temperatures are quite good!

The best advise I can give is to do more homework before you travel to a destination; speak to someone who has been there and don't leave it all to the local travel agent. They often do not know a particular market and then find a local expert to prepare a travel package. Guess how many layers of commission you are paying for then? Local experts will put a complete tailored(4*+) package together for as little as $200 -250 per person (including accommodation, transport, taxes, services of a driver and some meals). Your dollar buys a lot more in this emerging market where the currency weakened significantly as a result of the credit crunch fallout!

The Internet is a great tool for research and there are millions of honest business people advertising their services. Doing a quick credibility check is also easy when finding a South African travel service provider. The best tour operators will give you detailed feedback without expecting anything in return. Only when conditions of sale have been met will they expect a small deposit, which will leave you with months to save for the rest of your vacation. Plan your trip at least 6-12 months in advance. That way you are able to find the best possible deal while putting money away on a monthly basis for your trip.

Happy Travels

Tertius - New Fusion

Garden Route Hiking & Adventure

2008-10-21T12:47:00.008+02:00

I recently hiked the area where the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe steam train used to run, on the George - Wilderness and Knysna line. What an awesome experience it was to cross the Kaaiman's river bridge on foot. Views from this bridge over the river and Indian Ocean, with the hillside as backdrop, is absolutely spectacular.

This is a nice hike to combine with the Robberg Peninsula in Plettenberg Bay. Stay in any one of George, Wilderness, Knysna or Plettenberg Bay while touring the Garden Route to do these hikes. It is not very difficult to do and people of moderate fitness can easily do this if they take some precautions.

Take sufficient water, wear a good sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and have good walking shoes for the slippery and sliding surfaces. Do not wear sandals like so many uninformed I have seen here if you want to come back without grazes.

These activities mentioned will give you two half day adventures that will not cost an absolute fortune. The cave guy at Kaaimans grotto may even show you his abode for a small donation.

New Fusion

Steam Train Travel on the Garden Route

2008-08-28T16:51:00.011+02:00

There are not many steam trains left in the world and enthusiasts have to travel far and wide to indulge in some of yesteryear's pleasures. A lot of people are aware of the Quteniqua Choo Tjoe as it is affectionately known, but not too many know that it is operational. The rail link to Knysna was badly damaged in 2006, and the service did not operate for quite a while as a result. Although that line is not repaired yet due to huge repair bills and a healthy dose of red tape, there is a good alternative.

The train runs on the George to Mossel Bay rail link daily(excluding Sundays) from November to April and on Monday,Wednesday and Friday for the rest of the time. It is always good though to check before going to the transport museum in George. The telephone number is +27 (0)44 801 8288/89/02

I have personally traveled on this train and give it the thumbs up; Only warning is to be prepared for a day's outing and do understand that these puffing billy's sometimes require a little TLC along the way. After decades of absence from this form of travel I was mortified at the slow pace, but, as a lover of trains, enjoyed it tremendously nonetheless. It is a good way to see the region between George and Mosselbay without driving on the busy highways. A good travel plan always create some time away from planes and cars. The visit to Diaz Museum in Mosselbay is very interesting if you are not familiar with South Africa's maritime history, and also a good time to eat lunch at one of the town restaurants. There is a drink and snack service on the train as well. I recommend taking the return trip and making a day trip out of this.

The Garden Route has many secrets for the unfamiliar, but hopefully, there are a few more people in the know after this post. At R100(app. $13) return per person this is a real treat.

Go blow off some steam!

New Fusion

Finding private guides in South Africa

2008-06-07T16:49:00.001+02:00

There are some of us who want to see exotic destinations around the globe, but do not want to be part of the sausage machine! Sitting on a bus full of strangers and sharing accommodation, if you are single, certainly does not appeal to everyone. A lot of people also do not want to travel alone to a distant country!

Well if that country is South Africa, or Southern Africa you will be happy to know there are a host of specialists who are able to take care of all your land arrangements, and find you a good guide! Although this probably sounds too good to be true, it is certainly available.

The information age bring information (a load of it) to your screen, so it is possible to plan your own trip to South Africa. Travelers from the United States are not always comfortable to drive on the left (wrong side) of the road. Whether you are using a travel agent for some services, doing it yourself, or need an in-country destination specialist to do it - Help is at hand.

Destination marketing specialist do have a list of accredited guides on their books who have very good track records. Although there are literally thousands of guides around it is like everything else. They have to be screened in service. The good ones will stay with you for a long time while the not so good will slowly but surely have less and less work!

Southern Africa offers fantastic destinations to visit; It is absolutely essential to take a few road trips in order to see the diverse landscapes and friendly people!

Tertius - New Fusion

Liberated travel Industry provides huge scope for individual planning

2008-05-05T14:23:00.005+02:00

Planning a Southern African, and any other trip has never been this easy. The right amount of planning and net surfing will truly liberate you! Your child could even do this providing there are some checks and balances of course. This only comes with the benefit of hindsight and life experience.

A lot of people are quite weary of the Internet due to fraudulent activities and do prefer to visit the good old travel agent around the corner. This is fine too - Everyone has their own preference and is normally referred to a good travel professional by friends or colleagues. Travel has become a very segmented business of niche products with a lot of destination specialists. As with everything in life, do your homework to find the right person. A couple of calls or emails will quickly confirm whether you connect with this person. It is good to have qualifications, but customer service is King by a long way!

It can be a combined effort too - Using an agent in close proximity for ticketing etc. and a destination marketing specialist for the rest. This is certainly the best way for niche travel nowadays, as there is an increasing need to deal with someone who will be there when you arrive!

The world is becoming a lot smaller, and although there are scams, the Internet has a lot of good to offer.

Tertius - New Fusion

Storms River

2008-03-07T22:06:00.005+02:00

Storms River must be one of the most beautiful and relatively unspoilt areas on the South African coast, and Garden route . Tsitsikamma is one of the remaining indigenous forests regions with spectacular gorges stretching from the nearby mountains to the Indian ocean. Wild waves crash against the rocks mystify millions of visitors each year. Knysna and Plettenberg Bay are both beautiful parts of the Garden Route, yet this wild and natural area features very high on the tourist barometer. They are 100% correct - South Africans love this place too! We generally think there is no better natural place along the coast to relax for a day or two. Any South African Holiday without a visit to this section of the Garden Route will be incomplete. There are lots of furnished log cabins and camping spots for hire from S.A. National Park(SANPARKS). They have a shop for supplies if you do not want fast food from the restaurant. Take comfortable walking gear as it is a hikers paradise, or snorkel if hiking is not your thing. Photographers spend hours trying to capture the spectacular waves as it crashed into the rocks. There are no beaches of note along the Tsitsikamma coastline, and the result is quite dramatic creating awesome wave action with changing tides.

This is also the start of another Garden Route favorite, The Otter Trail and now also the newer Dolphin Trail. Take note that the Otter Trail is booked out for months on end. Reservations can be made with South African National Parks. It is a strenuous 4 day hike!

Day-trip adventure activities include boat rides; forest walks; snorkling and scuba diving. The Dassies (Rock Hyrax) enjoy sunning themselves up on the verge, before the road travel up to the gate. These little creatures are strangely related to the Elephant, believe it or not!

This beautiful oasis of the Garden Route is certainly not only for the fit and healthy as there are many benches placed in areas with great views. Take your time to enjoy this jewel of the Garden Route, and have fun!

New Fusion

6 Hours in and around vibrant Jozi

2008-01-20T09:35:00.001+02:00

Johannesburg, affectionately known as Jozi has always been a vibrant place since its inception more than a hundred years ago. The City of gold is not normally the number one South African tourist attraction, but it is the number port of entry!

Lots of people use it as a transit venue en-route to a Safari or Cape Town trip. People are often ''trapped'' in Jozi while waiting for local and International connecting flights. What do you do in Jozi during this time do you ask?

Well there are quite a few places to visit in this supposed concrete jungle (Psst....this is the city in the world with the highest number of trees per area of measurement)! Personally I love Johannesburg pulsating beat and lifestyle. Start with a trip to Soweto to see the biggest township (what african areas were called during apartheid rule) ; visit Gold Reef city and go down this old mine to see how gold was mined here decades back.

The Cradle of Human Kind is situated in the North Western area of Gauteng near Sterkfontein caves, where you can trace the origin of our early human ancestors. See the skull of Mrs. Pless at Maropeng.

The Magalies Meander is a ''locals'' route that can keep one occupied for a whole day, but added to the visit to Maropeng, there will be ample time to try the cheese board at Van Gaalen's original Dutch Cheese Farm. The Rhino & Lion Park will provide enough of a thrill for those with a few hours to spare, wishing to escape busy airports and city areas.

Top the day off with a visit to Lesedi traditional village for a dose of African culture, food and dancing. Visit the sample Basotho, Ndebele, Pedi, Xhosa and Zulu villages. Do try the tribal dances!

Alternatively start the morning drifting high above the Magaliesburg area in one of Bill Harrop's original balloon Safaris.

I can certainly recommend the friendly folk at Go Safari to arrange, or accompany you on one of these trips.

New Fusion Times

Paternoster - A little piece of Heaven

2008-01-14T07:02:00.002+02:00

Cape Town is a great place to visit, but certainly not the only place to be for a nice relaxing break! There are so many hip and happening places to visit according to many travel aficionados that they barely have time to mention Paternoster! This sleepy village is just over an hour's drive from Cape Town, and perfect place to spend 2 - 3 nights before heading to the Cederberg and Karukareb,s peaceful surroundings. There is a lot more to the west coast than the once a year wildflower spectacle (more about this in a separate article).

Patre Nostre(our Father) or more commonly known as Paternoster in Afrikaans is a great little village where time slows down quite a bit. Fishing is a way of life in this village; The local fishing fleet adds a dollop of color to the beach that provides the perfect foreground for a decent photo. Names like Danillo and Sophi adorn these cute little boats. The hardworking fishermen launch their boats very early in search of crayfish and other treasures of the ocean in their quest to make a living. Those of you who fancy themselves as a good cook can buy their catch directly from the boats when they arrive back around 2pm.

A great place to sleep and eat, if you are not the type to self cater, is Paternoster Lodge with beautiful ocean views, great food, and friendly people to serve your needs. Having just experienced this as a paying customer I can certainly give it the Fusion seal of approval. My personal favorite is the oven baked snoek with a apricot and butter basting. Simple delicious!
Snoek, for those of you not familiar with local fish is a ''Baracuda'' type game fish that hunts sardines in the plankton-rich west coast ocean

Seafood lovers will have a great feast at Paternoster Lodge and other restaurants in the vicinity. It really makes for a very relaxed gettaway for anyone in search of a laid-back oceanside venue in close proximity to Cape Town, and other West Coast venues.

Prices are also very reasonable when compared to Metropolitan areas.

Mailto:info@newfusion.co.za for more information on the West Coast of South Africa

Mozzie Helpline

2007-12-14T05:34:00.000+02:00

Malaria Helpline

IGNORANCE and misinformation about malaria as well as delays in seeking appropriate treatment inspired GlaxoSmithKline, a leading pharmaceutical and healthcare company, to fund an independent Malaria Helpline –
0861 MOZZIE (0861 66 99 43) for local travellers or +27 861 MOZZIE for international travellers.
The launch of 0861 MOZZIE is aimed at providing information about malaria based on current local and international malaria recommendations. “It's not only tourists and visitors to the African continent who need information about malaria, it's the vast majority of travelling South Africans as well”, said Elvis Mokoena, corporate affairs manager at GSK.
Says Dr Jaco Folmer, medical director at SAA Netcare Travel Clinics: “The hotline will provide a platform to travellers from where they can get the correct information and take the necessary precautions or alternatively seek the correct medical advice when showing symptoms”, said Folmer

Tailored travel packages to Southern Africa

2007-11-12T03:34:00.000+02:00

Niche Tourism in South Africa

The world has become a global village with the advent of the Internet and modern jetliners. Consumers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and have more disposable income than a few decades ago.

What does this mean for the Travel Industry?

It means no more ‘’one size fits all packages’’, or ‘’you can have any color as long as it is black’’ made famous by Henry Ford with the Model T Ford in the 20’s

The world population can be segmented in lots of different categories according to lifestyle choices and interests. These travel interests are becoming more diverse and consumers demand tailored travel packages. The Internet has made it possible to find a niche travel service provider in South Africa while sitting behind a personal computer in the United States. This will eventually constitute a large portion of travel market demand forcing compliance on the part of Industry.

Tailored Honeymoon Options

We provide a niche honeymoon travel service to our clients that involve extensive consultation before recommending at least 3 different options to choose from. The end product is a full turnkey solution that includes every service from entry to exit in South Africa.

Photographic Trips and Safaris

Landscape photography trips around the Western Cape and Karoo is offered to the amateur photographer who wants to combine their hobby while seeing the country as well.

Special Interest trips

Friends of the Meerkat can be hosted in a choice of different regions before or after Garden Route and Cape Town excursions. Anniversaries and celebrations of any kind are easy to arrange for small groups requiring specialist care.

These are a sample of the Niche tourism products offered around Southern Africa.

New Fusion

SA THE KING OF BOEREWORS

2007-10-15T08:58:00.000+02:00

There are many forms of sausage around the world, but few as juicy and tasty as our very own Boerewors. The tongue twister leaving many people around the globe gob-smacked at their inability to pronounce it. Translated it literally means farmer's sausage!

Pronouncing it is a more difficult prospect for every non-South African. Break it down into 3 syllables boe-(boo) -re( ruh)-wors (vors) Then practise it in the bath or shower, or wherever you fancy to say it a bit faster. Why?

Great Tasting South African Sausage
Once you have tasted it in South Africa, while on Safari, or just enjoying the spectacular views and great service at Plettenberg Park you would want more. There are many ex-pat South Africans living around the globe, and a few butchers among them too! The important thing here is to be able to spell the word at least when you google your local boerewors butcher!

Boerewors in South Africa
There are literally thousands of variations, each according to their own secret recipe. Some passed down from generation to generation while other evolved through experimentation. Many butchers claim that they have the very best wors in the country, but this, I think, is a personal taste experience. Very much like wine tasting, we each have a different taste experience. Variety is good and most butchers produce excellent wors! My personal favorite is Grabouw boerewors and Ostrich wors. We take it so seriously, there are even national competitions sponsored by large retail stores.

Boerewors in the United States

There are probably quite a few places to find boerewors in the United States and Canada. Try this butcher in Texas for a couple of pounds of the good stuff. Eat it on Wednesdays though! There is a Harvard study that found cholesterol effects are virtually zero on Wednesdays!

http://www.biltong.net/

Cederberg Leopard tiptoes around Karukareb Wilderness Reserve

2007-09-17T09:06:00.000+02:00

Clanwilliam is an easy two and a halve hour drive from Cape Town on the Copper Way, a great overnight stop for Namibian travelers, weekend warriors, and Safari buffs. The saffire waters of the man-made lake provides a perfect place to go for a sunset cruise. Water and mountains create the perfect environment to rest a weary soul. The Fish eagles at the bottom-end of the lake nest around smoky Island, a name given to a small island by the barbeque brigade. Also the perfect spot to cast a line in search of a nice plump bream.Photographers will never have a dull moment in this beautiful area!

Cederberg Mountains.

Thirteen Kilometres on the Eastern side of the town, a dirt route snakes for 13 kilometres (1.6km=1mile) past citrus orchards before reaching the end of the road. Well, in this case it is only the end of the dirt road but the start of a magnicent journey into the Cederberg Wilderness area. Karukareb is a Nama word meaning Leopard on the ridge. This is where conservationist tagged a large male Leopard for future research purposes. The staff witnessed the capture and regularly spot him in the area. Beautiful mountains, Leopards, wild flowers in a renowned fynbos biome are all in close proximity to Cape Town.

Create your own safari using this mountain wilderness as a 2-3 day base and stay in the luxury safari tents that provides the ultimate in scenery and privacy. A 4-5 day day Cape Town grape escape can be combined with a 3 day Cederberg and West coast package for those travelers with one week vacation. Take a gentle horseback ride into the wilderness area, hosted by the owners.

Safari Gear needed

Pack good walking shoes, light safari gear with wicking quality for harsh African summers from December to February. A good hat goes without saying as well as sunscreen and insect repellents. A water canteen will be a useful accessory to put in you knapsack. Contact me for more assistance with an area specific list of Safari gear needed in Africa.

The locals, in Clanwilliam, are very friendly and hospitable with very nice local fare available at Emile's restaurant.

Just what the doctor ordered for a weary soul!

New Fusion

African Honeymoon

2007-09-05T08:53:00.000+02:00

Different, beautiful, discerning, top notch, high-end, fantastic, great, life changing are all words used by our clients. If these words fit into your personal vision, an African honeymoon is for you!

Southern Africa provides diverse landscapes with beautiful scenery spreading from the sub-tropical Indian Ocean to the Atlantic in the West. Cape Town is a beautiful top 10 destination, located at the most southwestern tip of the African continent with beautiful beaches and awesome Table Mountain. There are in excess of one hundred wine estates in close proximity, producing award winning wines. South Africa is blessed with 1800 miles of coastline, great climate, majestic mountains, natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and friendly people. The selection of luxury Safari lodges spread from Cape Town in the south west to the world famous Kruger National Park in the North-east of the country, some 1200 miles. Bordering on South Africa, and Kruger National Park, is Mozambique with beautiful Islands and beaches. Namibia is on the opposite end, flanking the colder Atlantic Ocean, with beautiful dessert scenery around Sossuvlei. Botswana borders Namibia and South Africa, with abundant wildlife in the Okavango Delta and the lower Tuli block at Mashatu. Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, separating Zambia from Zimbabwe, all in close proximity to the Okavango. Johannesburg, or Jozi as it is affectionately known, is a bustling metropolis of 8 million people, and cultural melting pot of African, Western, and Eastern cultures. This city is the financial and logistical hub of southern Africa, in close proximity to the best Safari venues and world heritage sites. Leading airlines use this hub to connect to regional centers. European partners fly directly to Cape Town. Average maximum South African summer temperatures range from 77 to 96 in January during mid summer and 63 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit in July during mid winter. This continent is a great year-round destination, and perfect for a US winter vacation destination.

Luxury Five star travel packages start from $420 per person per day and ten to twelve days are perfect. Fusion Accommodation & Travel offers a turnkey vacation planning service, focusing on tailor-made solutions for discerning guests. Your honeymoon planning receives top priority and individual attention. Sit back and enjoy the animals, beaches, wine and scenery. All travel and accommodation arrangements are taken care off.

New National Park in South Africa

2007-08-11T02:10:00.000+02:00

"Where Endangered Species Roam..."

Mokala is SANParks newest park, situated approximately 80km south-southwest of Kimberley, and west of the N12 freeway to Cape Town. Nestled in the hills, Mokala is in a unique position to offer your guests a SANParks experience like no other.

The unique landscape and abundance of rare game include:

Black Rhino
Tsessebe
Roan Antelope
White Rhino
Black Wildebeest.
Black Backed Jackal
Large Variety of Raptors

Current facilities include two lodges; a restaurant and conferencing facilities. There is also a small rustic camping area as well as a private landing strip at the park.

As the park prospers under the wide Northern Cape skies, a number of activities such as mountain biking, day walks, sunset and night drives, cultural excursions, star gazing activities and bush braais will become available.

The park has a well established road network and future plans include the development of some self catering accommodation, as well as day visitor facilities.

Please visit www.SANParks.org for more information on accommodation and tariffs.

Keep in mind that this park is well placed as alternative accommodation when en-route to The Kalahari, Augrabies Falls, Namibia, or planning to visit the Anglo-Boer war sites of the Cape. Alternatively I will help you with information as required.

Tertius - www.newfusion.co.za

Wildflower Power in close proximity to Cape Town

2007-08-11T00:54:00.000+02:00

Hey Bloggers, are you aware that you do not have to travel into the heartland of Namaqualand to experience the beautiful spring flowers, starting around August. Yebo(yes), the Southern hemisphere is different - Wildflowers start blooming around the dry West Coast regions after the early spring rains. This natural phenomenon occurs at different times every year between August and October, making it difficult to plan. This year the rains are a bit early and the flowers have started blooming already.

Planning

Unless you want to go a a scheduled tour of the region costing around R5000 per person for a Monday to Friday package, there are alternatives. Use Cape Town as a base to explore the West Coast Region, which is in easy driving distance. The first stop is the West Coast National Park. Postberg reserve, inside the West Coast National Park, opens for a short period every year to allow tourist access to the flowers. Within 45 minutes drive, from Cape Town, you will reach this little jewel that also forms part of the Langebaan estuary.

Type of Transport

Those of you who do not feel challenged by driving on the left side of the road can rent a car, while in Cape Town to take a trip to Langebaan, West Coast National Park & Paternoster (Cape Columbine). Alternatively it is possible to rent any other conceivable type of transport with a driver - Luxury schaffeur driven vehicles to scheduled day trip costing around R500 per person.

Time Required

Day trips are exactly that, more or less 9am - 5pm. Your own type of transport is up to you really, whether you want to spend 2 hours, or the whole day. Knock yourself out with a wildflower extravaganza, eat seafood in Paternoster or Langebaan, and even overnight at one of the cosy guest houses in the region.

You will be pleasantly surprized when bumping into free ranging Zebra, Blesbok or even a wild ostrich in the West Coast National Park. This area is also one of the best places to view a large variety of water and other birds. Only 45 minutes from Cape Town

Contact me if you need more information.

Tertius - www.newfusion.co.za ; mailto:info@newfusion.co.za

Behind The Cape Grape Curtain

2007-08-11T00:52:00.000+02:00

Cape Town is famous for its beautiful scenery, lovely beaches, good restaurants and surrounding wine lands to name a few. It is definitely a top world destination well worth the investment. Use it as a base to explore the surrounding wine lands before heading down the Garden Route to Storms River National Park, before ending in Port Elizabeth(base for malaria-free safaris).

The areas most visited, around Cape Town, includes Paarl, Wellington, Franschoek, Stellenbosch, and Somerset West. Many beautiful estates are to be found in these districts, with a host of diverse offers, other than the traditional wine

Seidelberg is one of the estates with something for everyone:

Established in 1692 under the name ''De Leeuwen Jagt'' Dutch for ''The lion Hunt'' , Seidelberg builds on more than 300 years of tradition. Renamed to Seidelberg, after owner Roland Seidel who originates from Germany. The original owner arrived in 1680, also from Germany.Main red varieties, accounting for 78% of the vineyards, include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Mouverdre, Pinotage, and Shiraz. White varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, and Chennin Blanc.

One of the most striking features, Of Seidelberg, for me, is its setting and photographic value! This is without doubt one of the best settings to enjoy wine and awesome mountain scenery at the same time. Red Hot Glass is one of the few Venetian-style glass studios where visitors can view one of the oldest crafts on earth.

New Fusion Barometer = 9/10

Not everyone enjoys wine; This is why many wine estates differentiate their offer with art, chocolates, cheese, and olive produce. A fine Cape Brandy is like a nectar from the Gods, and every bit as good as the best Cognac. The same method is used to produce these fine products. Recommended estates to taste estate Brandies are:

Nederburg - Award winning wines & Top Potstil Brandy = 9.5/10
Tokara - Wines, Brandy, Wines & Great Restaurant = 9/10
Van Rhyn - 5,10 & 15 year old Brandies; Angels Share Liqueur to die for = 8.5/10

There are many good estates not listed here ; Currently, the above listed estates have the New Fusion stamp of approval.

Take note that there are 9 wine regions in total, each with their own unique offer. This article is aimed at the Cape Town visitor doing a day visit. Overnight trips are necessary to visit Route 62, Olifant River Valley, Orange River Wine area, and Overberg. Combine these areas with the Garden Route, river Rafting on the Orange (Gariep), Whale Watching and Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai.

No visit to Cape Town is complete before sampling the good food on offer at many fine restaurants in Franschoek. My current recommendation, for that special event, or honeymoon, is Grand Provence (9.5/10).

There are too many great places to mention in one article - Feel free to contact me for more specific information.

Tertius

Mailto:info@newfusion.co.za

www.newfusion.co.za

Safari & Beach options in Southern Africa

2007-08-06T09:27:00.000+02:00

On the north eastern border with Mozambique, Kruger National Park is the oldest and largest game reserve in South Africa. This is the holy grail in terms of South African Safaris, with many private and parks board camps.

It is roughly the same size as Wales. It covers 18,989 square km (7,332 sq mi) and extends 350 km (217 mi) from north to south and 60 km (37 mi) from east to west. To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are two South African Provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

The Panorama route, through Mpumalanga, features Blyde river canyon and the potholes. Limpopo borders on Botswana and North West province where you find the 60 000 hectare Madikwe game reserve.

Northern Parts of South Africa

Madikwe Game Reserve is home to 66 large mammal species including the Big Five and approximately 300 resident and migrant bird species. It is one of South Africa's largest game reserves.

Madikwe has the distinction of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be proclaimed purely on the grounds of being the most appropriate and sustainable land use for an area. This represents a joint venture between local communities, private sector and government - A great job creating initiative to support.

Southern Kalahari - North western part of South Africa

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is an exclusive luxury, malaria free reserve situated in the heart of the Southern Kalahari. No other part of the world have this interesting mix of beautiful red sand dunes, savannah, wildlife and diamond night skies.

Western Cape

There are various options within easy driving distance from Cape Town. Those people struggling with a very tight travel shcedule can opt for a day Safari at Aquila. More luxurious options are also within 2-3 hours from Cape Town at Sanbona. One of the places in South Africa to see white Lions.

South Africa is blessed with >3000km (1875 miles) of coast line - Starting in Cape Town there are some great sprawling white sandy beaches such as Noordhoek's 8 mile beach & Blaauwberg's famous kite surfing beach. The fashion police will be very happy visiting one of the Clifton beaches, or Camps Bay cafe strip.

Eastern Cape

The eastern cape is the new Safari frontier with some exciting new lodges. There are a variety to choose from to suit every budget. The 1st meaningful project in this part of the country was started in close proximity to Addo Elephant Park. Shamwari is a luxury game reserve that will not disappoint the discerning traveler. Addo Elephant Park has the densest elephant population in the world. You are virtually guarannteed a sighting in this smaller park where you can self-drive and rent a nice overnight bungalow. Across the main road dissecting the main park from the newer Nyati concession their are two luxury lodges. Nguni is my personal favorite with huge luxury Xhosa-style rondavels (homes). You do not need to take Malaria medication to visit the Eastern Cape, and it is quite feasible to do Cape Town, Garden Route, and a 2 night Safari package in 7 days!

Wilderness and Plettenberg Bay probably have some of the best beaches on the Garden Route, and Port Elizabeth's Kings Beach and Humewood beach are great.

Kwazulu - North Coast bordering Mozambique

Kwazulu Natal is the traditional home of the Zulu and former British enclave, with rich history on Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu battles. This sub-tropical procince of South Africa has both beach and safari options in close proximity to each other.

Thanda is an ideal beach and bush destination, with Sodwana Bay located merely an hour away. A day at the beach can be arranged where guests have the possibility to dive with sharks, snorkel above coral reefs, ride horses on the beach or just enjoy the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Durban, Margate, and Ballito are just some of the great places to visit the warm water beaches of the Indian Ocean. North coast Safari lodges and beach resorts are in close proximity to Ponta Do Ouro in Mozambique. Here you can swim with wild Dolpins to epxerience that special life-changing interaction between marine mammals and man!

There are a host of different options that New Fusion can combine in your South African travel package.

Tertius - New Fusion - www.newfusion.co.za

Hermanus

2007-07-25T03:08:00.000+02:00

The cute little town on the edge of Walker Bay has become world-famous as a great venue to watch southern right whales from the cliffs around town. There is no need to take a boat or a plane to see the gentle giants. The best time to visit this town is between May and November when the whales are in town! Some interesting town information:

· The town is named after a local shepherd and teacher Hermanus Pieters.

· Originally knows as Hermanuspietersfontein (fontein = spring)

· The name was shortened to Hermanus in 1904 when municipal status was achieved.

· The bay was named after a Royal Naval Officer called Walker.

· The farmers discovered Hermanus but the Fishermen settled there.

· By the early 1900s word of the excellent fishing, outstanding beauty and “healing” air had spread across the world.

· It even became fashionable for Harley Street doctors in London to prescribe visits to Hermanus’ “champagne air” to their patients.

· Hermanus has grown from a old fisherman's village to being acknowledged by the World Wildlife Foundation as one of the best places in the world to view whales.

There are much to know about these giants of the deep visiting these shores; Some of the more interesting information you may want to know:-

Southern Right Whales

§ The right whales are baleen whales with bow-shaped lower jaw and a head that is up to one-quarter of the body length.

§ The head is hairier than most whales; up to 300 hairs are found on the tip of the lower jaw and 100 are on the upper jaw.

§ There are also callosities (a series of horny growths) behind the blowhole, on the chin, above the eyes, on the lower lip, and on the rostrum (the beak-like upper jaw).

§ They were named by whalers who considered them the "right" whales to hunt, since they were rich in blubber, they were easy to catch (they are relatively slow swimmers) and they floated after being killed.

§ Southern right whale females are about 54 feet (16.5 m) long; males are about 50 feet (15.2 m) long. The females are slightly larger than males, as with all baleen whales.

§ The right whale's skin is usually black with white and/or brown patches.

§ Calves are blue to gray colored.

§ Right whales (like all baleen whales) are seasonal feeders and carnivores that filter feed zooplankton (tiny crustaceans like copepods, krill, pteropods, etc.) from the water.

§ Right whales are skimmers, filter feeders that swim slowly with their mouth open, constantly eating.

§ On occasion, they are also bottom feeders, eating benthic prey from the mud on the ocean floor.

§ The fine baleen hairs can filter out very tiny prey including copepods, steropods, euphasiids and mysids (tiny crustaceans).

§ Right whales breathe air at the surface of the water through 2 blowholes located near the top of the head.

Have an unforgettable Shark cage diving experience in Gansbaai, not 30 min from Hermanus

www.newfusion.co.za

Cape Town - The Mother of all South African Cities

2007-07-08T01:51:00.000+02:00

Cape Town is indeed a top 5 destination as rated by BBC travel, best African city as rated by Conde Naste readers and Travel and Leisure magazine. Enjoy the scenic wonder of Chapman’s peak and Cape Point Nature reserve before sharing Boulders beach with the African penguin.

Uncork some of the finest wines in the world and visit some fine shopping centers. Enjoy the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront before embarking on a journey to Robben Island.

Peninsula Route

This is one of the most spectacular routes in the world, and certainly rates in the top 10 of the most scenic. The stunning views of the Sentinel, guarding Hout Bay’s harbor entrance, changes shape and contrast as the road winds past the various viewing sites on Chapman’s Peak drive. Even on a cloudy day there is much to enjoy and photograph. Noordhoek’s 8 mile beach is perfect for sunset horse rides or walks past the wreck of the Kakapo. Cape Point is simply without equal from a scenic point of view. The awe inspiring views from the 1^st lighthouse over the southern Atlantic and False Bay occupies the mid for long periods.

Wine Lands

Franschoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch are all in close proximity to Cape Town, host to some of the best wine producing estates in the world. The Dutch have contributed heavily to the Cape-Dutch old world charm, but it is the French who have left their mark on our wine industry. Franschoek is the gourmet capital of South Africa with some exquisite food at Grande Provence, Haute Rubens, and Haute Cabriere to name a few.

Alternatives places to visit in Cape Town are:

Ø Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

Ø Constantia Wine Valley.

Ø Canal Walk & Ratanga Junction amusement park.

Ø City Centre & Bo-Kaap

Ø Blaauwberg Beach for wind & Kite surfing.

Ø Camps Bay Beach & Restaurant Strip.

Ø Artscape for the latest theatre productions.

Ø Great Hiking & climbing areas around Table Mountain & Lions Head.

Within in a short drive from Cape Town is Langebaan lagoon with beautiful wildflowers in spring. Hermanus is one of the best land based whale viewing sites in the world. Cape Agulhas (real meeting place of the 2 oceans) is another good day trip option. The scenery and activities around Cape Town require at least 5 – 7 days if you have never been there before.

www.newfusion.co.za

Honeymoon Mania from Kruger to Cape Town

2007-07-05T07:14:00.001+02:00

Let's face it, this is one of those times that needs to be near-perfect. As close as possible to zero defect to culminate months of careful planning into pure bliss! Sounds too good to be true?

Well it is well worth the time to research your favorite destinations and find a like-minded partner willing to assist with the planning process. Someone who understands your needs! Normally you can tell after the 3rd email whether you are on the same page or not! Thankfully not all people are alike, so finding Mr/s. Right may be a bit more challenging.

Trusted friends who had a nice experience is a good place to start although you will never re-create their experience. Perception is a funny thing so be careful not to ask for the exact ''burger'' Stacey had! It is quite OK to use Internet and email as only medium of communication. This is the information age and honest people use this great media forum too!

How to do it
Start with a wish list and number of days available to allow your honeymoon planners creative juices to start flowing. A good one will present you with at least three choices according to your brief. Specialist companies focusing on this type of niche is the best choice to avoid some off-the -shelf product that has been dusted slightly. Naturally this person will have good references. Somewhere in the number of emails (be prepared for quite a few) you would have mentioned type of accommodation or budget. We will get to this in a while, as it is important to give you something workable. After all the mixture in your dough and proper baking will present the perfect croissant. Patience is required to find a selection of probable packages, and this takes around 2 weeks to get to, from 1st contact. Anything much longer than that and the alarm bells should ring!

Once you have discussed it with your significant other it will get closer to the actual product. Only then is it possible to start working on budget. Up to this point you have ball park figures to work with. Maximum cost scenarios if you like, and before I forget, an itemised spreadsheet with broken down costs will guide you. No lump sum figure without any explanation! That is dangerous, unless you are related to Donald Trump. Any planner worth his/her salt will be professional and not be over the top. That is why your initial brief is important!

Check and Balances
The right person will always be open and honest in their dealings. This will be easy to spot early on and some of the following may help if you are not sure:

Do they walk the talk?
Do they offer more than you have asked for?
Are they attentive to every need?
Even the smallest detail?
Professional format for travel plan?
Proof of deposit payments from accommodation venues will be on offer from the real deal.

There are numerous ways to check credibility, but none more important than good common sense and gut-feel. The right package will knock your socks off quite frankly, and if does not, keep working on it until you have it! The right person will never mind if you take 2 weeks or 2 months to create your perfect package.

This takes a lot of time so please be a nice guy and reward this person for their expertise. Nothing is free in life, so the difference between all costs and total fee will be payment for the planners time. Putting a decent package together can be anything from 2 weeks full time work or more! A decent planner will be worth it though.

Make huge prints on one of the white sandy beaches along the 2000 mile coast line, and tame a Lion on your way!

New Fusion

Lekker South African Slang

2007-07-02T10:07:00.000+02:00

Visiting South Africa will expose you to a host of cultures and different languages, but there are some universal words most locals will respond to. They will also have a good laugh and offer to teach you some more words, or help you find your way.

Lekker is most probably one of the most universal meaning nice in Afrikaans or Dutch.

· Aikona – never, not on your life

· Babbalas – Hangover

· Bafana Bafana – ‘the boys’ – the national football team

· Baie Dankie – Thank you very much

· Bakkie – A Light delivery vehicle

· Biltong – Dried meat

· Bobotie – A traditional Cape dish of spiced meat

· Boerewors – a spicy sausage

· Bosberaad – A conference in the bush

· Braai – Barbeque

· Hau – expression of astonishment.

· Eina – Ouch!

· Dorp – a country town

· Howzit? – How are you?

· Indaba – a conference

· Just now – recently, in a while, could refer to past or present.

· Kwaito – African pop music

· Lekker – nice, enjoyable

· Sies – exclamation of disgust

· Shebeen – a township drinking place

· Sosatie – kebab

· Toyi toyi – a dance of protest or celebration

· Yebo – yes

Enjoy your travel and have a great, I mean Lekker time!

New Fusion

Gee guys it is snowing in Jozi

2007-06-27T00:41:00.000+02:00

Those of you thinking sunny R.S.A is all about braai(barbeque), beach, rugby, sunshine and Chevrolet must think again! I thought it was freezing in Cape Town, with very cold tootsies, when a friend sent me this photo of her home in Jozi!

Well, well you have to be older than a teenager to remember the last time it snowed in Johannesburg(Jozi), as it is not a frequent ocurrence. I know all you snowbirds will think this is a breeze, but just to let you know we have snow too! June & July are not really the best months to visit unless you go on Safari! The climate information below will help to plan better.

Climate information provided by SA Weather service.

Using average temperatures measured between 1961 and 1990, Johanneburg's average minimum winter temperature is 4 degrees Celcius and maximum of 17 degrees. For those propellor heads the formula for degrees Celcius to Farenheit is;

Farenheit = 9 x Celcius/5 + 32,

so the minimum winter temperature for Jozi is thus 39.2 Degrees and maximum 62.6 (take note these are averages for winter).

Not bad at all for daytime travel!

Closer to the Kruger National Park proximity it is even better during winter with figures of
minimum 6 degrees and maximum 26 degrees Celcius. The Farenheit for this is 42.8 & 78.8, so you can imagine the great vacation temperatures outside the odd cold spell.

Normally it is a bit chilly during early morning and evening temperatures, but nothing a blanket and some port cannot sort out on the game drive while spotting the Tigers!!

Come and experience the little chill in sunny South Africa.

Summer temperatures are not for the faint hearted, or sissies, as we call them back at the ranch!

Tertius - New Fusion

Rands makes cents in South Africa

2007-06-26T08:09:00.000+02:00

The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the
Witwatersrand (White-waters-ridge in Afrikaans), the ridge upon which
Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were
found. It was first introduced in 1961, coinciding with the establishment
of the Republic of South Africa. It replaced the South African pound as
legal tender, at the rate of two rand per pound or ten shillings to the
rand. The rand has the symbol 'R' and is divided into 100 cents, symbol
'c', and is available in denominations of five notes (R10, R20, R50, R100
and R200) and seven coins (5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5). One and two
cent coins were also available until their discontinuation in April 2002,
primarily due to inflation devaluing them. All prices are now rounded to
the nearest 5c and the coins are no longer in circulation.

The first series of rand banknotes bore the image of Jan van Riebeek, the
first V.O.C. administrator of Cape Town. In the 1990s, the notes were
redesigned with images of the Big Five wildlife species. The new notes and
coins are also printed in all eleven official languages of South Africa.

In an effort to curb counterfeiting, a new R5 coin was released in August
2004 as well as new banknotes in February 2005. Security features
introduced on the coin include a bi-metal design (similar to the €1 and €2
coins, and the British £2 coin), a specially-serrated security groove along
the rim and micro-lettering. The new notes also feature a number of new
security features.

The latest indicators are:

Indicators

Rand/$	7.1800
Rand/£	14.2900
Rand/€	9.6600
Gold/oz	$642.70
Gold Mining	2537.99 -1.84%
All-share index	28746.43 -0.58%

Source: fin24

Happy Travels & Full Wallets! - New Fusion

Premier Classe - Luxury Train Travel

2007-06-21T10:52:00.000+02:00

Luxury train travel in South Africa has undergone a complete metamorphosis in terms of a cost and benefit analyses. Gone are the days where luxury train travel is reserved for Royalty! Transnet’s new Premier Classe package between Cape Town and Johannesburg is reminiscent of the Grande old days of travel when time was of little concern. New air-conditioned trains will be deployed to other routes soon!

Enjoying welcome drinks in the lounge car is the perfect way to enter the scenic area of the wine lands. The views of the beautiful mountains and valleys all seem so romantic which is a better antidote for stress than Prozac.

This is a safe method to travel where the biggest concern is falling of the couch after a few glasses of bubbly. Staffs are all very eager to please their clients on this short overnight journey, yet long enough to let your hair down and relax. South Africa is a land of stark contrast and extreme beauty. None more striking than the mosaic of colour offered by a carpet of autumn vine leaves in the Hex River Valley.

History buffs will have a great time viewing quite a number of Anglo-Boer war block houses en route to Beaufort West. The Lord Milner Hotel reminds of an era of enterprise and Karoo development in Matjesfontein. A sumptuous 4-course lunch while traveling through big sky country is just what the doctor ordered. The freshly prepared food is served by a friendly team of waiters who leave no stone untouched to please a wide variety of palates. Birders may be pleasantly surprised to learn that the Blue crane, and national bird of South Africa, now dines in the Karoo fields as well.

Compartments are well appointed with all necessary trimming befitting a train of this class. Topped with gowns and slippers. Beds are comfortable and have sufficient width not to feel squashed for the star gazing journey into dreamland! Nothing tops the night skies of the Karoo. Do take care to fast, or exercise vigorously before your trip, as it is a necessary requirement to consume all the food on offer. The lamb chops are particularly tender and tasty!

The lounge car is the place to be if you enjoy sharing a few stories with fellow passengers and friends. A selection of local wines, beer, sparkling wine, as well as a good representation of the house of Walker!

Coffee in bed is a great way to start the day and getting set for yet another meal! Breakfast is served in the well appointed dining car decorated in soft pastel coloured fabrics.

The outlying districts of the North West Province disappear quickly after breakfast setting the stage for entry to Jozi and City of Gold as Johannesburg is affectionaly known. A personal transfer service, waiting on the platform, is a good choice to get to your next African experience!

This is a great way to travel between Cape Town and Johannesburg, in either direction, when you have 26 hours to spare! Including this package in your itinerary reduces the amount of time on tar and in airport lounges – What a pleasure at a very good rate!

See you in the lounge car!

Tertius - New Fusion

Safari Gear needed for South Africa

2007-06-20T05:40:00.001+02:00

Before going into the nuts and bolts of Safari Gear, there is no better time to travel than right now, after the global financial crises. Click for some great packages.

Packing the right clothes for an African Safari can be quite challenging at the best of times. Have a look at the list of 6 classic mistakes not to make, followed by some clothing hints. This will assist in having the right amount of luggage and avoid traveling like Dr. Livingstone.

Classic Mistakes

#1: Wearing "Hollywood style" and/or camouflage outfits. Normal non-synthetic, comfortable fitting, neutral colored clothes are what you need to be taking with.

#2: Bright colored clothing should be avoided and white clothes will show up dust and dirt. Red makes you very conspicuous to the wildlife especially on a walking safari. Khaki, brown and olive colors are ideal.
#3: Not packing something warm. Although the days in Africa can be blisteringly hot the temperature will sometimes drop sharply at nights. Pack a jersey, pullover or safari jacket.

#4: Don't go without a safari hat. Safari hats are essential to ward of the African sun and protect you from sunburn.

#5: Packing in your heavy walking boots is unnecessary (unless you are doing a walking safari). Simple lightweight safari shoes/trainers (non white) or sandals/sports sandals are more sensible.

#6: Packing too much clothing. You will not need more than 2 or 3 comfortable non-synthetic short sleeved safari shirts and the same amount of long sleeved safari tops.

Also pack 2 or 3 (each) comfortable non-synthetic shorts and long trousers. Long trousers and a long sleeved safari shirt can be worn at night to stay warm and protect from mosquito bites and safari vests are great to carry all the essential gear with you.

Where to get the best safari clothing

This is a pretty specialized niche and there are less than a handful of safari wear companies that have got it right.

If you live in the USA try...

The essential thing to remember is to travel light &

Be Certain to have with you!

· Valid visa

· One other picture Valid passport (Be sure to have at least 1-2 blank pages!) identification (e.g. driver's license)

· Photocopy of passport page to carry in wallet

· Air tickets

· Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy

Dressing for Safaris

On safari, most people wear shorts and a T-shirt during the day and put on long sleeved shirts and long pants in the evening for warmth as well as protection from mosquitoes. Should you be particularly sensitive to the sun a loose cotton shirt is essential during the day.

White is not a suitable colour for these activities, as it increases your visibility to wildlife you want to get a closer look at and it will get dirty very quickly. Fleece or sweater and a windbreaker for game drives, because it is highly possible that you may go out on a hot day, but be faced with a chill evening on your return. Remember that layering your clothing will keep you warmer than relying on one thick item.

Clothing to Pack for Safaris

· 2 pairs khaki cotton pants

· 2 pairs khaki shorts

· 2 long sleeved shirts/ blouses (for sun protection as well as warmth)

· 1 light sweater or sweatshirt

· 1 lightweight, waterproof windbreaker

· Swimming costume

· Sturdy walking shoes

· Sandals (preferably with straps)

· 3-5 short-sleeved shirts or T-shirts

· Hat with a brim (baseball caps might cover your nose but not your ears and neck)

· Gloves (if you really feel the cold)

· Down vest or jacket (if you really feel the cold)

· A sarong or kikoi type garment
Most lodges and safari camps offer laundry as part of their service. Hotels all offer laundry, at additional cost.

Essentials:

· Toilet kit including shampoo and soap

· Insect repellent (mosquito repellent can be purchased locally); Malaria tablets can be purchased in S.A. and be taken a day before!

· Good quality sunglasses plus protective case

· Hand wipes or 'Baby wipes'

· Stuff-sacks or plastic packets; to compartmentalize items within your travel bag

· Camera, film or memory card

· Spare batteries. Film and batteries can generally be obtained at lodges, but at a price of course, so please be sure to have sufficient supplies for your needs

· Binoculars

· Paperback reading, writing material (keep weight at a minimum)

· Sunscreen or block

· Moisturizer, lip balm

· Personal first-aid kit (headache pills, antihistamine cream etc)

· Large towel and washcloth (thin, quick-drying) – if required for camping/overland safari

If you take prescription medication, be sure to bring a sufficient supply with you. If you are on a lengthy holiday, we suggest that you carry a copy of your prescription with you.

Luggage for a Mobile Safari

For Safari travel, the best type of luggage to bring is a soft bag, or backpack with an internal frame. As packing space in Safari vehicles is limited, only one bag is allowed, but you should also have a day pack for all of your personal items/camera/binoculars. Hard suitcases are usually scuffed or damaged in transit and are inappropriate for a game safari.

In closing, if you leave anything at home as invariably happens, don't be concerned. You can buy everything you need at Cape Union Mart.

There is never a better time to travel than right after the global financial crises; prices are at an all time low - http://www.newfusion.co.za/_mgxroot/page_10751.html for more details.

New Fusion

Cape Mountains & Canola Fields

2007-06-19T11:05:00.000+02:00

Route 62

2007-06-17T09:59:00.000+02:00

Route 62 – Passport to the Little Karoo

The longest wine route in the world has a lot more to offer tourists than Ostriches, Caves, award winning Port and estate brandy from Boplaas in Calitzdorp. Route 62 exhibits some of the most spectacular scenery in South Africa around Meringspoort, all within a 100 km radius from an Oudtshoorn base. The world famous Garden Route is a good combination with this gateway to heaven in the Little Karoo. After visiting the lakes around Knysna and Tsitsikamma forests, a great overnight stop is at the peaceful Schoeman’s Kloof valley, 10 km from the Cango Caves. A great variety of travel combinations are possible using Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Oudtshoorn as a base. Visiting South Africa without a Garden route and Route 62 excursion is incomplete, although being a diverse country with many travel options. More than one visit is required to appreciate the true beauty of South Africa.

Meirings Poort remains one of the most romantic of all road passes in Southern Africa with beautiful red sandstone formations and diverse botany. This hidden Cinderella joins the dry semi dessert area of the Central Karoo and the diverse Little Karoo. Wild Geranium found around Europe and America has its origin in Merings Poort. Animals vary from tiny field mice to the shy and rarely seen Cape mountain leopard, while kudu, grysbok, baboon and jackal run freely in the field and readily seen on farm roads. The Swartberg circular route includes Oudtshoorn, Meirings Poort, De Rust, Klaarstroom, Prince Albert, Swarberg Pass, Gamkas Kloof(The Hell) and Rust & Vreugde Waterfall on the Oude Muragie Route.

Plan sufficient time to include this great gift of nature in your Cape Town and Garden Route trip, or it will indeed be disappointing not to see everything on offer. The Western and Eastern Cape can be assimilated to different sides of a coin that belongs in the same wallet. Similarly it is essential to include all of it on your travel itineraries. Setting 10 - 14 days aside to take in the best of Cape Town, Garden Route and Route 62 will not be wasted at all, and comparable to the best package on offer in the world. The difference is how people experience it and the exact reason for exclusive travel design.

Oudsthoorn may well have been established due to the booming ostrich feather industry in the early 1900’s but is a far cry from being limited to ostrich farming. Within a 100km radius all the beautiful scenery will captivate souls for days on end - A nature lover’s dream indeed! The Cango Caves is an enormous complex of caves where strange and wonderful shapes are formed by stalactites and stalagmites stretching deep into the Swarberg Mountains. This is a great way to start your first day in the area after taking in the wonderful sights of the Garden Route. Two or three days in the area will not be wasted before continuing via Route 62 to Cape Town. The more adventurous can ride an ostrich while shopaholics will have a choice of ostrich leather products to die for! A meal at Jemimas will certainly exceed expectations of distinguished palates – Home cooked local fare is equally enticing while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and great star-lit skies of Schoemans Kloof.

Swartberg nature reserve includes the pass and entry to the hidden valley of Gamkas Kloof, or The Hell as it is better known. The journey into Gamkas Kloof takes at least two hours down the windy and spectacular road, definitely not for the faint hearted. Swartberg Pass is without doubt one of the most sensational passes in Africa to be explored. This is one of the engineering marvels of Thomas Bain with dry walling in place after 118 years! Reserve at least 8 - 12 hours to do justice to this spectacular marvel of nature, including the mysterious Gamkas Kloof where civilization slowly caught up with a hidden world in the sixties. Bushmen paintings are abundant in the area with local resident experts living in the Prince Albert district.

Rietfontein Ostrich palace is the oldest working farm in close proximity to Calitzdorp and well worth a stop to ingest architectural wonders of the early twentieth century. The red stone hills in the vicinity are spectacular and well worth exploring before entering the Port capital of South Africa. There are quite a few wines on offer at the leading cellars and brandy has been distilled an exported since 1880. This town is also the area where the most abundant numbers of pale chanting goshawks are to be found. Naturally, without making special mention, the whole of the Cape Karoo (Little Karoo) and Garden route is rich in photographic material worth capturing.

Seven Weeks Poort is another beautifully coloured sandstone gorge linking the Central and Little Karoo worth exploring en route to Ladismith. Prometheus must have passed this way trough the Swartberg and split the range apart with a breath of fire. Glowing coals of red, orange and yellow forms towering cliffs topped with dark-green algae growth. It is the ideal place to walk or cycle without taxing physical limits associated with Swartberg Pass excursions. Towerkop´s majestic peak was split in two by an angry witch who struck the peak with her wand because it obstructed her passage over the mountain, as rumour goes! Ladismith and the surrounding vicinity are best explored outdoors while being one with nature. Night skies, as in the rest of the Karoo expanse, is simply breath taking.

Barrydale is a quaint little village in close proximity to Cape Town and the N1 route linking Cape Town to the Eastern Cape. Stopping there for a visit to craft shops, Mud art gallery browsing, or lunching at Clarke of the Karoo is recommended. A final stop on the trek back to Cape Town has to be Mimosa Lodge in Montagu whose sumptuous food and art deco furniture creates visions of the roaring fifties.

To conclude it should be noted that this is a sample of many travel options & varieties down this wonderful valley hemmed in by the Swartberg Mountain range and the coastal belt.

Tertius – New Fusion

Tour Southern Africa

2007-06-13T04:47:00.000+02:00

There are a host of benefits in coming to Africa, but none as important
as job creation that will close the gap between the haves and have nots. Every new tourist can create up to 8 direct and in-direct entry-level jobs. This is exactly what is needed to level the playing fields. Value for money, from a personal perspective, is the best reason to consider this beautiful ''world in one country''. Your dollar(US) buys you at least R7.20, euro buys R9.60, and UK Pound buys R14.30

A 12-day five star safari package that includes Kruger National Park, Cape Town, Garden Route , internal flights & all road transport arrangements costs as little as 422 US$ per day per person. Top Restaurant meals are around 30 -50 US$ (including a nice bottle of wine)! Can you believe such good value while in paradise. The diverse scenery around South Africa coupled with the wild life element makes it a winning destination. Those football fans planning to visit in 2010 for the world cup will be well advised to do a test run and pre-book your favorite venue early.

I have already mentioned 12 days as a package and there is a good reason for that! Getting value for money when you visit this long-haul destination is essential, as well as getting a good North and South perspective. South Africa is rather large with many great places to visit, so it is important to spend 50% of the time in Johannesburg, Sun City, Pilanesberg Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, or one of the many luxury reserves surrounding Kruger before heading to beautiful Cape Town. A well balanced itinerary can fit all of these, as well as a 2 day trip down the Garden Route. There are many different ways to do it, even for the person with 7 days only! Cape Town, Garden Route & Eastern Cape malaria free safaris can be done in 7 days.

South Africa is virtually a year-round destination with a window of August - May as the best selection. The north has a summer rainfall period from October to January with mainly short but powerful afternoon thunder showers. Winter days are perfect for game viewing although a bit cooler during early morning and evenings. Safari venues are perfectly geared towards making your stay pleasant with roaring camp fires and ponchos/blankets for game drives. Southern hemisphere winters are the opposite to Northern hemisphere. May, June, July & August are the colder months. It is however mild in comparison with Northern hemisphere winters, and of course, quite hot in summer. The south-western and coastal areas have winter rainfall and certain sections in the center have a mixture.

South Africa is a great outdoor destination with a host of adventure activities, safaris, great birding, overland off-road destinations, good wines and excellent star gazing areas. Long distance carriers fly direct to South Africa from the US and Europe, and around peak seasons there are great packages. March, April, August and September should provide you with good opportunties. Individual airlines have special deals all the time too! Dealing direct with the in-country operator, who will be handling the complete package, is the way to go in terms of optimal efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Happy Travelling - New Fusion

Twenty Cool Reasons to visit South Africa

2007-06-12T06:05:00.000+02:00

South Africa has been described as a world in one country that you must visit, and rated by Conde Naste Traveler as a top 10 destination. Cape Town is the recipient of that award, and a perfect place to start a journey in this beautiful country before heading north to Kruger National Park, best wildlife destination in Southern Africa.

Twenty Reasons:

Great value for money destination.
11 Different cultures including the famous Zulu nation.
Good food & wine - Franschoek valley is tops for both!
Great weather - Mosselbay, on the southern coast, has the highest recorded days of sunshine per year according to the guiness book of records!
Virtually an all year destination - Travel from August - April.
Springboard to Namibia, Okanvango Delta & Victoria Falls.
Swim with the Dolphins at Ponta Du Ouro, after Mpumalanga Safari.
Great beaches - A lot of these beaches have blue flag status.
White Shark adventures - Cage diving & breaching (White Sharks breach in False Bay)!
Very friendly people!
Lots of wildlife destinations.
Great Kite surfing at Blaauwberg Beach!
Accommodation for every requirement.
Good road infrastructure.
Luxury Trains between Cape Town and Johannesburg (Also other great destinations).
Hermanus has the best land-based whale watching in the world from June - November.
Spectacular wild flowers during September & October in Namaqualand!
Great shopping in Johannesburg, City of Gold & best transit point to Sun City & Pilanesberg Game Reserve.
Lots of adventure activities available - Kayaking, Cycling, Surfing, Para-gliding & too many to list here.
Good flight training for aspirant pilots.

Despite some negative press, South Africa is safer than most high density areas of the world, with a lot of tolerance for all cultures. Foreigners are welcomed with open arms - people realize that it is a way to improve their lives!

See you on the beach!

Tertius - New Fusion