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