Tourism, Wildlife and Safaris

Aquila Safari Private Game Reserve

Experience A Big-5 Safari Under 2 Hours From Cape Town Day Trip Safari: Hotel Pick-up & transfer 2-3 hour game drive with ranger guide Visit San Rock Art site Lunch in an African boma restaurant Free visit to the Karoo Ostrich Farm Browse Our African curio shop Return to Cape Town.

Lightley’s Holiday Houseboats

A delightfully different way to experience Knysna is from the water on a self-catering little houseboat available with from 2 to 6 berths. They’re fully equipped – just bring the rations! No skipper’s licence is required to captain through these tranquil waters where you can swim, snorkel and fish or just kick back as you take in the luscious scenery. Rates:R1025 (sleeps...

The Knysna Waterfront

A leisurely walk around will reveal the same sort of stuff you’ll find in town – African crafts, touristy knick-knacks and by-the-sea sorts of apparel. But the boats do float close enough to touch, so browse around, enjoy an ice-cream cone and watch the kiddies attempt the climbing wall. Carries a good selection of deli items including wine. Worth a look, especially if...

Boat cruises on the Klein River

River cruises are a great way to get up close and personal with Stanford’s natural surrounds taking you from the wide upper reaches of the river down to the narrow waterways closer to the estuary. The African Queen: R100 per person/minimum 20 people) has space for 40 people and is the biggest riverboat offering cruises, and you can braai as the world drifts by (fires,...

Halfaampieskraal

You’ll be forgiven for not wanting to leave this picture-perfect rural retreat situated on a working farm. Not only is your host Jan Georg Solm an utterly charming individual, he is also a superb cook and since the rate includes a three- course meal, more’s the pleasure! The homestead has been in Jan’s family for generations and his decorating talent extends to mixing...

Stony Point Penguin Colony

Apart from Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, this is the only other shore-based breeding colony in South Africa. At Stony Point early last century, 300 whales were killed each year for their oil, but when the whaling station closed in 1930, the penguins started to breed at the abandoned station. Best viewing times: early morning or late afternoon when they return from their...

Harold Porter Botanical Garden

This particularly pretty botanical gem inside the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is the perfect place for a picnic (get a picnic basket from their new deli). The garden is open every day of the year, and is at the centre of one of the first-ever UNESCO- protected areas in South Africa due to the abundance of coastal fynbos here. Take a hike along mountain slopes with...

Heritage Square

Dating back to the late 18th century, this cluster of Dutch and Edwardian structures is about as close as it comes to Cape Town's first shopping centre. Back in the day it housed everything from all manner of businesses including a rope warehouse, tobacconist, snuff maker, baker and even an undertaker. Today, the only reminder of this time is the solitary vine, which was...

Waenhuiskrans Cave

The Waenhuiskrans Cave, (the name translates to ‘barn’ – specifically a barn big enough to house an ox wagon – and ‘cliff’, referring to the cave’s size and position) is the main attraction of the Waenhuiskrans Nature Reserve, which is an extended area of sand dunes. There are some lovely, peaceful walks through the reserve. The cave is only accessible at low tide, but a...

Southern tip of Africa

You’ll have to generate your own enthusiasm for the geological significance of standing at the southernmost tip of the continent, but it’s still worth putting on your traveller’s CV. Just east of the tip are fish traps created by Khoikhoi inhabitants of the area thousands of years ago – they were made by building dams across shallow gullies so that fish would be stranded...

Coastal Tours & Safaris

Take a guided eco-tour along the coast and through the scenic Agulhas National Park. Take in any of the CapeNature reserves in the area, and you’ll get to enjoy the hospitality of the locals at some of the historic farmyards and villages. Coastal Tours has a government permit to drive along the coast to visit historic archaeological sites – a perfect opportunity to learn...

Matroosberg Nature Reserve

This is the one-stop destination for all those strenuous outdoor activities – hiking, bird-watching, mountain bike trails, bass-fishing and a shooting range are all available for day visitors. The reserve contains a popular 4x4 trail as well as quad bike trails. Also available are snow safaris, water- skiing on request and kloofing excursions. A variety of overnight...

Klondyke Cherry Farm

Cherry-picking in summer, snow in winter – Klondyke is hugely popular with day trippers who come to pick their own cherries between mid November and the end of December. There are well-equipped self-catering cottages and a campsite. Admission R15. No credit cards are accepted.

Inverdoorn Game Reserve & Safari Lodge

About 60km outside Ceres, Inverdoorn covers about 11 000 hectares of bushveld, with free-roaming game including cheetah, hippos, rhinos, giraffe, blue and black wildebeest and various buck. Lions rescued from illegal canned hunting operations are kept in a sepa-rate enclosure as are cheetahs, which are part of a breeding and rehabilitation programme. Overnight guests...

University of Stellenbosch Botanical Garden

Scaling the gates of the US Botanical Garden in the black of night is practically a rite of passage for Stellenbosch students, but this green retreat is really best viewed by the light of day. Established in 1923, it’s any aspiring botanist’s living encyclopedia, housing rare flora from across the globe. Lead yourself up the garden path past exotic ferns, succulents...