South African Travel Digest

A view of Mossel Bay from the airplane. No visit to Mossel Bay is complete without experiencing the Diaz Museum complex. This complex is the middle of town not far from the beach, shops, seaside restaurants and the Tourist information Centre. Inside the complex is also the Maritime Museum to buy some postcards, souvenirs and to experience the life-size replica of Bartolomeu Dias' caravel ship in which he arrived in 1488. Several miniature boats are also on display throughout the museum. The maritime museum has a wealth of information on Mossel Bay's history and an aquarium. The museum grounds is another interesting visit with some mountain tortoises, ducks, the museum cat and the famous Post Office Tree. This post office is still in operation and mail is collected twice a day from the shoe. The large tree (a Milkwood) is now a national museum itself. The complex interestingly was built on the exact same site where the Portuguese explorers met the indigenous Khoi pe...

South African landscape.  Image credit: TpsDave. Because there are thousands of information to read about travel to South Africa  it can sometimes be hard to decide which ones to use. It is important to go prepared to South Africa as it has such a rich history, culture and diverse population.  Many visitors download information from the Internet but I would suggest to buy some books which you can  keep to remind you of your visit.  Before you travel to South Africa it is important to at least obtain some background on its history, culture, politics, most important attractions and wines.  My suggestion of five books can all be bought on Amazon and are thus easily accessible.  South African history and culture For all the essential background information on South African history and culture, I recommend: The South Africa Reader: History, Culture, Politics (The World Readers) [Kindle Edition]  Clifton Crais (Editor),...

 T he Susan Kruger ferry. A visit to Cape Town is half-finished without experiencing Robben Island, about 7 kilometres from the mainland.  Robben Island is very much part of the culture and complexities of South Africans and a rich part of our history and heritage.  Permitting weather conditions, tours depart daily from the Nelson Gateway at the Cape Town Waterfront.  It is best to purchase tickets online in advance as these tours are popular and tend to become fully booked  rather quickly.  The trip with the Susan Kruger ferry takes about 30 minutes with splendid views of Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town.  After disembarking on Robben Island, a bus with a tour guide awaits which will take you to various places of interest on the island.   The tour guide is very well-informed about the island and will entertain you with various real-life tales.  The bus stops at the following places of interest: The Moturu Kram...

Enjoy a cocktail while you enjoy your cruise. South Africans love their cruises. MSC Cruises South Africa, which has been offering cruises from South Africa for many years,  offers a fun way of exploring the South African and African coastlines.  Cruises usually depart from either the Durban or Cape Town harbours and can last anything from three days to two weeks, depending on your chosen itinerary and destination.  Interesting ports of call include some islands in Mozambique (Portuguese and Bazaruto islands) and in the Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius).   The South African cruise calendar usually starts in November each year. The well-known MSC Opera cruise liner will be used for the 2014/2015 South African cruise season.  The MSC Opera is a luxurious cruise liner  with eight decks and a capacity of  20 55 passengers in 856 cabins.  While cruising to interesting South African and African destinations, life on board t...

View of Mossel Bay from Klein Brakrivier, a nearby coastal town . Life-size replica of Bartolomeu Diaz's caravel in the  Maritime museum. Mossel Bay, a historic coastal town in the Western Cape, is definitely a favourite of mine and also of many South Africans. Not only is it rich in culture, but its more than 60 kilometres of white beaches along the Indian Ocean and its mild climate makes it a sought-after destiny during both summer and winter times.   For the tourist, there are many things to do apart from spending some time at the beach. Known as the historical capital of the Garden route, the town boasts many historical buildings. Its harbour is visited by many pleasure boats and other   international seafarers. It is also an important export harbour for wool, ochre and ostrich feathers. Here is my list of favourite things to do whenever I am in Mossel Bay: Diaz beach is well-known for its white sand and whale spotting. View of the St Blaise Li...

A view of Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand . Bloubergstrand (Blaauwberg - literally translated as Blue Mountain Beach) is one of my favourite areas in and around Cape Town, not only because of the spectacular views of Table Mountain, but also because of its scenic beach with long white sand. It is a very popular tourist destination and usually attracts large numbers of local and foreign visitors and is only 20 km away from Cape Town city centre. On a clear day one can even see  Robben Island in the far distance (Robben Island is best known for its most legendary prisoner, former president Mr Nelson Mandela). Numerous and affordable self-catering accommodation is available in this area via   wheretostay   and we usually try to stay close to the beach with unspoiled views of the surrounding area.  The only downside is that the seawater is very cold because of the cold Benguela current but the area is very popular for kitesurfing. View from Big Bay, a ...

Gordon's Bay harbour . Are you planning a trip to Cape Town, South Africa and wonder whether Gordon's Bay is worth a visit?  I would definitely recommend at least a couple of days in Gordon's Bay since there are so many things to entertain the visitor.  This small seaside town with its beautiful harbour just 25 km from Cape Town,  is a scenic paradise and a visit will never be forgotten. It is also the ideal place to visit if you have small children. Here are my top five places to visit in Gordon's Bay: Bikini Beach View of False Bay from Bikini Beach. Although there are many  other better beaches around Cape Town to visit, Bikini Beach has Blue Flag status, meaning it is safe and clean to swim (an international quality award).  The water is also a bit warmer than the other beaches around Cape Town. The scenic view of False Bay alone makes this a must visit beach. Go for a swim at Pringle Bay. Drive to Betty's Bay to watch the Afr...

The farm house at Vergelegen Wine Estate. Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West about 40 km from Cape Town offers an ideal day trip which the visitor will not easily forget.   Apart from being a top wine producer, the history of the estate is also captivating while the surroundings will take your breath away. The estate boasts a Wine Tasting Centre, a Stables bistro and fine dining at The Camphors restaurant.  Visitors can also organise for a picnic in its beautiful and tranquil gardens.  Vergelegen  when translated means "situated far away" is well-known for its fine wines.  It was already built in 1685 by Simon Van der Stel and later further expanded by William his son.  It has since then had many owners who restored and refurbished the house and the gardens.  It is currently owned by the company Anglo American and has seen many heads of states entertained here, including former President Nelson Mandela. I have visited V...

S ince Table Mountain was nominated as one of the seven new Wonders in the World, there is even more reason for you to visit this magnificent city. Cape Town remains my favorite city in South Africa. As the oldest city in South Africa, to me it is also the most beautiful and my family and I visit here at least once a year. The city has such diverse cultures with a fascinating history. There is always something to do and to experience in Cape Town. It boasts many tourist attractions and is also a child friendly city. Here is my own personal top list of why you should include Cape Town in your list of travels whenever traveling to South Africa. Table Mountain Of course Table Mountain should be on any list of favorites. Table Mountain, a national museum, is a beautiful sight and is Cape Town's pride. This majestic mountain can be reached by cable car and is visited by thousands of tourists each year. The views from the top are spectacular when skies are clear...

About 30 kilometres from Gordon's Bay in Cape Town, is Bettys Bay,  a small, tranquil seaside village which is home to a penguin colony at Stony Point which was declared a municipal nature reserve in July 2002.  There are currently about 4 000 penguins at Stony Point. To enter visitors have to pay a small R10 (1,25 USD) entrance fee each which is used to maintain the reserve.  To reach Bettys Bay from Gordon's Bay, visitors have to drive along the R44 scenic ocean  route which also passes the Rooi Els and Pringle Bay beaches.  This route is by far one of the most beautiful ocean  routes which will take any visitor's breath away and will make the trip to Bettys Bay even more interesting. Stony Point at Bettys Bay. To watch the African penguin colony in their natural environment in Bettys Bay is quite an experience.  The penguins are used to the daily stream of visitors and go their own way, undisturbed and oblivious to the people who are watc...