| I have wanted to visit South Africa for | | | | Moving further East along the |
| some years as I am passionate about | | | | traditional 'Garden Route' with scenic |
| wildlife, wine and horticulture so it | | | | views of the Drakensburg Mountains |
| was an obvious choice. Most travellers I | | | | created a carefree environment, I felt |
| spoke to, like myself, had booked their | | | | like a back packer. Making use of a |
| flight separate to accommodation | | | | number of local guest houses all found |
| allowing more freedom. Many internet | | | | in my 'Portfolio Guide' book I was |
| travel providers will allow you to | | | | touched by the hospitality and warmth |
| tailor a flight and a few nights | | | | that I received. Travelling at the |
| accommodation to get you started off, I | | | | busiest time of year I found no |
| would of course advise pre-arranging a | | | | difficulty in finding a luxurious haven |
| hire car for the whole trip. | | | | booking late on each afternoon. I stayed |
| The flight to Cape Town is a manageable | | | | in a number of wonderful annexes with |
| 11 hours to start such a trek. The city | | | | their own swimming pool for £30 to £40 |
| itself is ultra modern, stylish, buzzing | | | | a night. Welcomed into the heart of the |
| and affluent with a marina surrounded by | | | | family every cooked breakfast was a work |
| lively boardwalks. The botanical gardens | | | | of art, all this for B&B prices makes it |
| are full with species of flowers and | | | | hard to leave this amazing trail. In |
| birds that you would only expect in a | | | | September and early October you are able |
| children's fairytale. The whole city is | | | | to see frolicking Whales all along the |
| backed by the geological miracle that is | | | | coast from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth |
| Table Mountain which can be travelled by | | | | that will take your breath away. |
| cable car to breath in the view of the | | | | If you are privileged enough to extend |
| city and vicious Atlantic waves. | | | | your stay for more than two weeks you |
| Starting in the west is a good ice | | | | will have an opportunity to see a bit |
| breaker as it feels quite European with | | | | more 'real Africa'. I worked my way in |
| plentiful Dutch influence in a much | | | | this relaxing manor all the way around |
| warmer atmosphere. | | | | the Eastern Cape to Durban. There was |
| The Dutch wine-lands of Stellenbosch are | | | | never any shortage of breathtaking |
| within striking distance of the city | | | | scenery or fantastic guest houses and |
| feeling like a clean university town | | | | every town had a different charm. Port |
| with great elegance. Each vineyard has | | | | St Johns and Port Shepstone seemed like |
| something special to offer and you will | | | | much poorer townships with bizarre |
| be impressed by 5 star meals served in | | | | mixtures of Dutch, African and 1950's |
| courtyards accompanying afternoons of | | | | architecture; I'm told this is much more |
| wine tasting. The Cape of Good Hope | | | | like the majority of the country. Durban |
| nature reserve is also a wonderful day | | | | itself is much more of an industrial |
| trip while residing in the City. Sugar | | | | city so passing along the coastal road |
| birds, sun birds and swee wax bills are | | | | to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is |
| all species that Bill Oddie advises to | | | | your best bet. It is an enormous |
| look out for… I wasn't disappointed. | | | | national park that takes all day to |
| You can also fill hours pottering around | | | | drive around it with an abundance of |
| beautiful white sandy coves finishing | | | | Hippopotamus, zebra and giraffe to name |
| your day visiting the bizarre African | | | | but a few. |
| Jackass Penguins at Boulder. | | | | |