So lots of people think that a safari is set being within the bush seeing as many large animals as you’re able to.  Yet there are such a lot of stunning little places which don’t into that mould. White Elephant Safari Lodge in northern KwaZulu Natal is one such place.

i latterly visited the lodge with my family after spending time in Cape Vidal (see recent post below).  It’s quite your time since I had visited White Elephant and that i was keen to determine what had changed.

In a nutshell, all that I had initially loved concerning the lodge remains: the glorious friendly staff, the stunning settler homestead carefully restored to its colonial glory, a number of historical mementos and old photographs, great food and naturally the attractive panoramic vistas over Lake Jozini (which isn’t actually a lake because it was damed within the mid 20th century).

But as I said, this was not a ‘tick off the large Five’ kind of safari experience, which such a lot of everyone is searching for, or think that they’re searching for…So where does a lodge like White Elephant Safari Lodge slot in? If you’re planning your first safari in Africa, then i’d definitely combine  somewhere like White Elephant with a another safari lodge, both of the non-public game lodges of the Greater Kruger Park and even some of the ‘Big Five’ KwaZulu Natal lodges.

So why would do have two safari experiences in a single trip? Because then you definately get a more holistic bush experience and at White Elephant Lodge,  you can even relax and feel that you’re on a vacation and never only a safari.

Yes, it has elephant (in good quantities), white rhino in addition to plentiful general game reminiscent of giraffe, zebra, impala, warthog, waterbuck, however doesn’t have predators akin to lion or cheetah. (It does have leopard but then leopard are notoriously elusive to identify…) So your game drives are relaxed experiences enjoying being out within the bush, the beautiful scenery, the good birding and the overall game. It won’t be the adrenalin rush of witnessing a lion kill or wild dogs at the hunt (see a number of my other posts for that!)

But when you have time to spend 3 or 4 nights here (and their year-round special of four nights for the cost of 3 makes this easier to do), then you definitely will really enjoy an intimate bush experience, and feel like you’ve had a vacation.

What White Elephant might lack in predators, it greater than makes up for in its varied activities. In addition to morning and afternoon game drives, you can too prefer to take a game walk, to trace rhino taking walks , to head ‘elephanting’ – more on that later – canoeing on Lake Jozini or enjoy a languorous sunset cruise at the lake. In between, you may relax on your beautifully appointed tented suite or round the rimflow pool with its views over the lake below. You may also take a picnic lunch to their hide and spend a number of hours reading your book and sorting out what involves drink from the waterhole. So there’s good enough to maintain you happily occupied for several days.

My suggested itinerary could be to begin with a safari inside the Kruger for say 3 nights after which head south through Swaziland (staying overnight) to White Elephant Lodge for three-4 nights. From there you may head to the beach either to Thonga Beach Lodge or to St Lucia/Cape Vidal before heading south to Durban and maybe onto Cape Town?   

Elephanting & the distance for Elephants Project

We much enjoyed spending the morning doing their ‘elephanting’ activity with their resident elephant researcher. It was fascinating to get the research perspective on elephants – to be told how they do their research and to hitch them on a monitoring drive. We also visited their research centre and watched an extraordinarily inspiring film in regards to the translocation of the elephants to White Elephant Lodge from the Kruger National Park back inside the late 1990’s. It was immensely interesting to determine how much work this sort of translocation involved. It was also gratifying to peer that from the initial 17 elephants that have been relocated back in 1997, there at the moment are about 50+ elephants within the 14,000ha Pongola Game Reserve. Elephanting just isn’t a game activity for everybody because it is pretty in-depth but my family of teenagers and one 10 year old certainly enjoyed it.

In Summary: Who would prefer White Elephant Lodge?

•    People wanting yet another variety of wildlife experience after the relative rush of game drives within the Kruger – here the emphasis is on slowing down, assimilating the entire new information and gaining a broad appreciation of the bush.
•    People desirous to combine “bush” and “beach” as from White Elephant Lodge, it’s only 2-3 hours and you’ll be at a beach lodge at the Indian Ocean
•    Keen birders because the birding on this far northern portion of sub-tropical KwaZulu Natal is superb
•    People that enjoy learning about hands-on conservation
•    Finally those who wish to enjoy a vacation inside the bush, and never only a safari. At White Elephant Lodge you’ll be able to combine game drives with sunset boat cruises. You are able to do as much or as low as you adore without feeling the pressure to head on every game drive.

Check out a number of my other related posts on KwaZulu Natal
Thonga Beach Lodge
Turtle Tracking
Cape Vidal – Bush & Beach in a single day

Contact us if you want us to devise a safari with you…

Kruger Safaris:  Private Lodges inside the National Park or Private Concessions?

i’m aware that choosing Kruger safaris is known as a confusing issue. A lot of persons desire to visit the Kruger Park after which find themselves bewildered by the options. Do they stay at a rest camp or opt one of the crucial Kruger private lodges which might be private concessions throughout the Kruger National Park? Or do they opt for among the private game reserves which can be adjacent to the park reminiscent of one of the crucial Sabi Sands lodges or Timbavati?

There are such a lot of options in your Kruger Safari that it really is where i feel a consultant tour operator that knows the assorted areas and camps can really prove their worth. But then i’d think that, wouldn’t I?

One question we’re often asked is the variation between Kruger safaris where you stay at one the Kruger private lodges inside the park itself and the lodges within the Sabi Sands or Timbavati private game reserves? Having just been on a kruger safari with MY family and stayed at both types, i believed it’d be worth demonstrating the variations using actual examples.

I first stayed at Simbavati River Lodge, a personal game lodge within the Timbavati Game Reserve which has open borders with the Kruger National Park. (Which means that the wildlife is free to wander inside and outside between the Kruger Park and the reserve taking into consideration natural animal movement.)

Simbavati River Lodge is a superb little lodge, well priced with friendly staff and great food. Being well in the midst of the Timbavati, it offers great game viewing and on our short two night stay we saw loads: several sightings of lion, buffalo, elephant obviously, white rhino or even a leopard up a tree carefully preserving its impala kill from the waiting hyenas below. But the ‘piece de resistance’ was the pack of untamed dog at the move clearly searching for their next meal.

For all of those sightings, we went off road – the 4×4 vehicle left the gravel track and headed into the bush to catch up with to the sightings. We were in an open vehicle and so everyone had a superb opportunity to get photos and since lets burst off road, we had more flexibility to place the vehicle (if the animals were stationary, as lions often are), in order that people on all sides of the vehicle could see the action.

Furthermore as you would know, the non-public lodges in South Africa strictly limit the choice of vehicles at a sighting to two or 3 at any time so that you never feel that you’re crowding the wildlife.

Finally the entire lodges within the immediate area interact (using radio contact) to speak their sightings. Because of this visitors get to work out so much more as you’ve got several ears and eyes within the bush searching out the wildlife.

All in all an amazing short stay within the bush ! As we left, I did wonder how our Kruger safari at some of the Kruger private lodges could top that? It didn’t exactly beat it, nevertheless it did provide a fabulous contrast and that’s always enjoyable on a vacation, especially if that is your first time on safari in South Africa and also you like to see up to possible.

We next headed to Rhino Post Safari Lodge that is one of several Kruger luxury lodges within the southern portion of the Kruger National Park itself about 30 mins drive north of Skukuza. Private concessions are allowed to conduct game drives all alone concessions and likewise at the public roads of the Park. They must abide by the foundations of the park – with some notable exceptions. They’re allowed to remain out inside the Park after the self-drive visitors should be out of the Park or back of their restcamp grounds (which ranges from 5.30pm to six.30pm reckoning on season.) They’re allowed to forestall for sundowner drinks and get out of the vehicle and, within their concessions, they could burst off road for high sightings (though this can be highly regulated and so doesn’t happen quite often in any respect.)

Rhino Post was another super little camp with only 8 rooms, 4 on either side of the most important lodge which overlooked a dry riverbed. The rooms are well-appointed with ball and claw bath, outdoor shower and personal deck. The food was excellent of their stylish dining room. Recommended!

With the exception of Singita Lebombo & Sweni, and The Outpost inside the far north of the Kruger, which are inclined to stay of their own concessions for game-viewing, staying at among the Kruger private lodges is simply not an exclusive experience. Some of the private concessions will use the general public roads for game-viewing because that’s where the sport is! (There’s a the reason is, the roads were built where they were many decades ago..) So in your game drive in an open vehicle you are going to see people driving around of their own vehicles and if there’s something good to work out, quickly several cars might be there – as though by magic.

So what’s the attraction? It feels like the sport lodges inside the Timbavati and Sabi Sands will always have the brink?

The reply lies inside the history of the Kruger National Park. This Park was established back within the early 1920’s back when the non-public game reserves were still private ranches and farms. The Kruger is very large and has a large choice of terrain which in turn attracts different wildlife to its diverse areas. The southern and central Kruger is blessed with broad beautiful rivers that are the lifeblood of the Park and essential for the wildlife because the winter dry season continues. When the park was created, they were ready to build roads which run alongside these rivers for kilometres and kilometres. (Rather than the patchwork of personal farms which comprise the personal reserves where everyone builds their very own network of roads and tracks.)

So Kruger safaris may be marvelous indeed with large herds of elephant and buffalo grazing by the rivers and plentiful game. Unlike the non-public game reserves which have a tendency to be bushier, the eastern Kruger has large open tracts of land ideal for cheetah that are extremely rare to work out.

Yes it’s not exclusive as there are such a lot of vehicles. But there’s a wicked savor finding one of the crucial few black rhino still within the wild (Only 450 left on the earth!) because the sun was setting and due to the fact that the poor self-drive visitors only had time to glance at it before heading back to their restcamps because the gates were closing at 5.30pm. Leaving us to enjoy this magnificent creature at our leisure.

After 5.30pm the park became serenely quiet as two vehicles from Rhino Post were the one vehicles left (baring the odd park ranger vehicle). We stopped in enjoy our sundowners and admire the view after which began our night drive. The Rhino Post vehicles were also on radio communication and so after we happened along an impressive lion strolling along the street roaring in a blood-chilling manner right by the vehicle, we were ready to let the alternative vehicle learn about it. Stunning!

Right here morning we were treated to a different memorable and lengthy sighting of a giant pack of untamed dog hunting using probably the most park’s side roads. Sightings of untamed dog like this are immensely rare and we had seen two packs within 2 days – almost exceptional… We stopped for morning coffee at a wonderful picnic spot in a remote area of the park overlooking an incredible hippo filled lake. I even have to admit that I rather liked the camaderie amongst the park’s visitors as peope wind down their windows to inform you desire that they had just seen on a selected road. Though there have been no radios, the bush telegraph looked as if it would work almost besides at communicating the great sightings.

I hope that this personal view of the diversities between the lodges within the private game reserves and the Kruger private lodges helps?

Of course the perfect will be to have 2-3 nights in both sorts of camp. You then get the right of both worlds! Contact us if you need assistance planning your Kruger Safaris….

We all love the tantalising notion of having ‘off the beaten track’, exploring places that make you’re feeling that you’re only ones around, that you’ve stripped off the scales of life’s trials and tribulations and emerged revitalized and invigorated – ready to see for miles and miles, literally and figuratively.

But then reality sets in. Off the beaten track sometimes means just that: no ‘track ‘ means it takes ages to get for your chosen hideaway. And infrequently we just don’t have the  time. If the adventure to a lodge seriously starts to eat into your precious holiday, you then begin to question the alternative.

So with this in mind, listed below are some ‘off the beaten track’ places within 3-4 hours driving of Cape Town. Some are considerably closer!

De Hoop Collection

The De Hoop Collection, with its richly varied fynbos floral kingdom, lies within the little-known and untouched De Hoop Nature Reserve at the Southern coast east of cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. Here the key highway has headed inland leaving this stunning coastal reserve to its indigenous wildlife of bontebok, zebra, eland, red hartebeest and ostrich. Even within this already remote setting  you could have a call of small cottages , manor house rooms, or the aptly named ‘Koppie Alleen’ house (meaning lonely hill) standing in serene isolation in a separate portion of the reserve. The various activities include endless miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, horse riding or just enjoying the definitely empty sandy beaches.

Time from Cape Town: 3 hours

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve

This one is almost our hearts and to our home within the Cederberg Mountains. It is just about 260 km from Cape Town on a great tarred road, however the two mountain passes in between suggests that it sounds like yet another world! You permit the Mediterranean climate of the Cape and enter a rugged African wilderness with endless views of the folded mountains that reach into the gap. Here, on this unexpected setting, you discover a five star retreat with supremely comfortable rooms and suites, excellent cuisine and an inviting spa. Nevertheless it is the staggeringly beautiful surrounds which draw you there with glorious tranquillity guaranteed. Mountain biking, walking trails, guided rock art walks and sunset nature drives all make sure that humdrum lifestyle is left firmly at home. A South African natural heritage site, Bushmans Kloof Reserve also offers Africa’s largest outdoors art gallery with greater than 130 pristine San (Bushmen) rock art sites.

Time from Cape Town: 3+ hours

Tintswalo Atlantic

Tintswalo Atlantic still lies (just) throughout the city limits of Cape Town but when you weren’t staying here, you wouldn’t even are aware of it existed. It lies hidden away within the Cape of fine Hope Nature Reserve slightly below the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive. You can’t even get there in a regular car and wish to be collected from their gates. This exquisite, luxurious beach lodge is tucked away right at the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean giving glorious views across Hout Bay. Indeed whenever you are ensconced to your beachside suite, you are going to hardly know you were so as regards to the town. Only the twinkly lights around the bay at night would provide you with any clue. 

Time from Cape Town: 30-40 minutes

Bartholomeus Klip

An alternative choice which won’t wear out the rubber of your tyres is Bartholomeus Klip which lies between the Cape Winelands and the picturesque village of Tulbagh. This beautifully restored Victorian country homestead is ready in its own private nature reserve with walking, nature drives, canoeing and mountain biking on offer. Otherwise you can just park out by its tranquil farm dam with a ripping read in hand. Bartholomeus Klip is a winning smorgasbord of fine cuisine, charming accommodation and utter tranquillity.  

Time from Cape Town: 1½ hours

Sanbona Game Reserve

There are other game lodges that are toward Cape Town but this one is the $64000 McCoy. As a result of its location off the street less travelled, the scenic R62, in addition to the sheer size of Sanbona Game Reserve, you truly do feel such as you are far from all civilization. Sanbona offers 54,000 ha of undulating mountains and plains, indigenous wild flowers and San (Bushman) rock art in addition to surprisingly good game-viewing. This includes all the ‘Big Five’ and is unquestionably the right wildlife reserve within the Western Cape. There’s a decision of 3 lodges but for a real sense of wilderness, we advise Dwyka Tented Camp , an opulent tented camp set in a remote rocky kloof.

Time from Cape Town: 3-4 hours

Abalone House

Abalone House is absolutely not ‘off the beaten track’ in itself, however the picturesque fishing village of Paternoster certainly is. This can be where to absolutely relax either in the beginning, or the tip, of a Cape holiday. There’s not a myriad things ‘to do’ so that you will feel no guilt for not doing them. A lonely walk along the 7 km of sandy beach, a trip to Columbine nature reserve for its glorious spring flowers and fynbos, a bracing swim inside the waves of the Atlantic ocean or a quiet seafood lunch at an area restaurant – that’s about all that’s on offer here. What a hardship! Abalone Home is a small luxury retreat with just ten rooms, an exuberantly furnished main lodge and a good little restaurant.

Time from Cape Town: 2 hours

Oudrif Farm

Yes i do know – another lodge within the Cederberg mountains. What am i able to say; i’m biased and happy with it! Oudrif Farm is an actual gem. The best attraction of Oudrif should be its complete isolation within a hidden kloof (valley) offering complete relaxation for weary city slickers and adventurers alike. Even their directions provide you with a feeling of this as you’re instructed to ‘turn right on the large painted rock after which left at an old wheel’…However Oudrif has lots to entice guests: natural rock pools for swimming year round, spring flowers, the odd spot of fishing, rock art sites amongst indigenous fynbos, walking, star-gazing and delicious meals rustled up by your host Bill in his seemingly effortless manner.

Time from Cape Town: 3 hours

As well as all of the common-or-garden Cape Town day tours corresponding to city and Table Mountain tours, winelands tours and tours of the Cape Peninsula, we also attempt to cater for plenty of interests. (If in case you have a totally specific interest, discuss your needs with us and we shall source a consultant guide for you.)

Here is a summary of a few of our ‘off the beaten track’ Cape Town day tours. Nearly all are offered as private tours. Be warned that these are fairly expensive for two people but becomes more reasonable if there are 4 or 6 people. 

As they’re private tours, that you may adapt the tours to some extent to fit your own interests. Needless to say when you add something to the tour, you will have less time elsewhere, so discuss what’s possible together with your private guide at the day…

COUNTRY & GOURMET Cape Town day tours

Cheese, Wine & Chocolate full day tour

Enjoy an afternoon that celebrates the culinary delights of the Cape’s oldest wine region with a delicious, wicked mixture of cheese, wine and chocolate tasting. a mix of the favourable effects of both major ocean currents meeting off the Cape makes the climate within the area perfect for the acres of vineyards. Add to this the beautiful backdrop of the mountains, the tree-lined streets and the white gabled Cape Dutch homesteads and you’ve a
 really enjoyable scenic tour.  

We collect you out of your hotel and head to the Cape Winelands region. First possible visit Fairview Estate which produces quite a number cheeses from Goats milk in addition to Jersey cow milk. They’ve scooped up numerous awards at local and international competitions.  Then you definitely move directly to Tokara for some wine tasting.  Last but not least you’ll visit Bilton. Rare in distinction and rare in character, Bilton uses fine dark Belgian chocolates to enrich and accentuate the flavor in their wines. Here the wine-maker has collaborated with a Belgian chocolatier to concoct the appropriate chocolates to enrich his wines. Enjoy a calm gourmet lunch at a top Winelands restaurant (on your own account, unless you request it to be included) in addition scenic meanders during the picturesque wine regions of the Cape.

As it is a private tour, you may have the liberty to conform this tour by adding optional excursions comparable to horse-riding or walking in the course of the vineyards, visiting the Franschhoek Motor Museum or Spier Wine estate with its Eagle Encounters tour and humanities & crafts market. Alternatively you may benefit from the Cheetah Encounters programme.  Keep in mind that in the event you add an excessive amount of, you might have to hurry. All additional entrances or excursions are in your own account.

Green Winelands full day tour

This can be a full day private winelands tour with a difference. Yes we enjoy the stunning backdrop of the mountains, the tree-lined streets and the white gabled Cape Dutch homesteads however the Green Winelands tour incorporates The golf green Mountain Eco Route (GMER). The route which meanders in the course of the beautiful Elgin Valley and Bot River region is the world’s first biodiversity wine route i.e. a wine route that’s marketed at the biodiversity, wine and the eco-tourism merits of the world.

This tour will offer breathtaking views, majestic mountain backdrops and is filled with rich culture and history. Rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads await you. You may visit award winning wine estates and taste the superior wine within the country. You could find out about the history, environment/terroir and bio-diversity as each wine estate has both a special history and a special management approach. It is a unique opportunity to get behind the ‘brand’ of the winelands and to be informed more concerning the intricacies of wine farming and its marketing.

This area can also be known for its soft adventure activities. So in case you just like the sound of mixing a tour of the wine estates with something a touch more active, add on various optional activities together with quad biking during the vineyards, 4×4 tours, clay pigeon shooting and mountain biking. All additional entrances or excursions are to your own account.

Olive & Vine full day tour

It is another unusual private tour combining glorious winelands country with both wine and olive tasting. It’s a bit known undeniable fact that South African olive oil has all over again walked off as winner of the foremost prestigious olive oil awards in Italy. This tour is ideal in case you have just a little more time to get to grasp the more off-the-beaten-track vineyards, villages and farms of the Cape.

After you’re collected out of your hotel at 9am, we head for Morgenster for an olive oil, olive and wine tasting. Morgenster is rated one of the most top olive oil estates on the earth, and the tour is slightly gem.  Then you definately travel just a short distance to Vergelegen, some of the oldest Cape Dutch homesteads in South Africa, for a walk of their beautiful gardens, a trip to the homestead and a taste in their award winning wines. An optional extra is to pre-book for an engaging tour in their spectacular gravity fed cellar.

All that is washed down with a gourmet lunch at one of several top Winelands restaurants (on your own account, unless you request it to be included). After lunch, the wine and olive-tasting is complemented by a quick historical tour of Stellenbosch – the second one oldest town in South Africa. One could see why Simon Van Der Stel decided to construct a village in such an idyllic spot.  The Cape Dutch architecture, the oak-lined streets and the numerous alfresco cafes give Stellenbosch a charm that won’t be quickly forgotten.  You’ve the chance to explore a few of the little shops and do a little shopping.

As this can be a private tour, you’ve the liberty to evolve this tour by adding optional excursions which include visiting the Spier Wine estate with its Eagle Encounters tour and humanities & crafts market, or Cheetah Encounters programme.  Keep in mind that in the event you add an excessive amount of, you have got to hurry. All additional entrances or excursions are on your own account.

Private Champagne Crazy full day tour

That’s another unusual private tour – mellow and sybaritic combining glorious scenic countryside with the champagne and characters of the Winelands.  Generally this tour is barely available on Saturdays. When you are collected out of your hotel at 9am, we travel to 1 of the unique estates granted to the French Huguenots for a memorable champagne cellar tour given by the eccentric globe-trotting owner and winemaker, Achim von Arnim, if he’s available, at Haute Cabriere wine estate. Achim’s passion for his region, his farm and his champagne are infectious. You’ll not escape without experiencing the full fountain of house ‘bubblies’.

Every Saturday Achim demands volunteers to help him with sabrage when the champagne bottles are elaborately opened with a sabre! After the tour you enjoy a leisurely gourmet lunch (on your own account) at one of the most spectacular award-winning winelands restaurants. After lunch, we meander to 1 or two other wine tastings at nearby wine estates looking on your preferences in wine.  We return to Cape Town within the late afternoon.

As this can be a private tour, you’ve the liberty to evolve this tour inside the afternoon by adding optional excursions equivalent to horse-riding or cycling in the course of the vineyards or visiting the Franschhoek Motor Museum. At the long ago you could visit Spier Wine estate with its Eagle Encounters tour and humanities & crafts market.  Do not forget that in the event you add an excessive amount of, you’ve got to hurry, and you’ll probably must miss the second one wine estate. All additional entrances or excursions are to your own account.

 
SPECIAL INTEREST Cape Town day tours

Sunday Gospel Half Day tour

This is an unusual religious tour which supplies you the original opportunity to wait a church service within the Townships.  When we collect you out of your hotel, we head to a Church service in either Langa or Khayelitsha.  You may witness the real role these churches play inside the community’s lives and listen to the stunning and moving sounds of gospel choirs.

If you would like you’re welcome to bring any supplies which you like to donate. Particularly appreciated are school supplies for youngsters (stationery, pens etc) or old clothes/blankets. You could hand these over to the church which you visit who will distribute them. However please note that this isn’t expected of you and is entirely voluntary.

 
Private Surfing & Wine-tasting full day tour

Surfing and wine tasting may sound like an unusual combination but it is one in every of our foremost tours for the adventurous and young at heart.  When you are collected out of your hotel, we head straight to Muizenberg, one in every of Cape Town’s many beautiful beaches.

Your day starts on the beach with a surfing lesson.  Your surf lesson could be conducted at a beach break that has ideal waves for beginners in addition to intermediate surfers.  The experienced instructors have helped plenty of people to locate their surfing feet. After a couple of hours hopefully learning the way to master the waves, you will need some lunch at one of the vital beachside deli’s (in your own account). After lunch, we’ll head to the lovely Constantia Valley Wine route where one could enjoy wine tasting on the world renowned wineries comparable to Klein Constantia and Steenberg.

Table Mountain Walk – Half to Full Day

We transfer our intrepid guests to the start line of our walk up Table Mountain.   

The Platteklip Gorge Trail is a personal guided walk up Cape Town’s most famed landmark, Table Mountain.  It is a steep walk but involves no rock scrambling (You might want to have a pretty good fitness level because it is a 2½ hour hike up steep paths and along uneven steps.  We ascend the mountain stopping en path to admire the view, forests, flowers, rock formations, rivers and lakes. The walk may be led by a guide who has intimate knowledge of the mountain: its paths, its famous fynbos vegetation and its fauna.On the summit, you have got the choice of walking directly to Maclear’s Beacon, at 1 086 m, the very best point on Table Mountain.  This will take another 1 hour to 1½ hours in total. From there, one can retrace your footsteps to the end cable car station where you may enjoy absolutely spectacular views towards Robben Island, over Camps Bay and the beach and along the Twelve Apostles mountain range, towards Hout Bay.  The path ends by you descending by cable car (The only way cable car ticket is included) as is return transfers out of your hotel.

Other walking trails equivalent to Skeleton Gorge to Maclears Beacon or Constania Nek to the higher Cable Car also are possible.

Private Shopping and Sightseeing Tour – Half or Full Day

Cape Town is a shopping Mecca with something to fit everybody’s taste and grace.  Whether you’ll want to shop for clothing, fabric, furniture, diamonds, spices, African art or crafts,Cape Town will attract all lovers of shopping. Our guide combines some serious shopping with some gentler sight-seeing round the city today. She’s extremely acquainted with where to locate probably the most interesting African artifacts, fabrics and furnishings at good prices. She will also introduce you to a few of our innovative South African fashion designers. (We now have included a small amount for entrances if you want to take a break from shopping.) Half or Full Day Tours are possible.

Thailand is a wonderful country and there’s plenty to do once you get there for a summer holiday. If you’re a big fan of Thai food, there’s going to be plenty of it and its remarkably cheap compared to prices here in the UK.

Wildlife is another brilliant feature of holidays in Thailand, and you can ride an elephant, see tigers and visit safaris. Don’t always expect the weather to be good with holidays in Thailand, there are certainly some showers around, but they can actually be rather enjoyable.

Its not a cold spray like we have in England, it can actually be quite revitalising, especially if you’re out exploring. If you’ve never considered a holiday in Thailand make sure you do, because it could be one that you never forget.