Happier days were ahead. It was decided to establish a national park at Addo and this was proclaimed in 1931. A major step forward was taken in 1954 when a very strong fence made with tram lines and lift cable, was erected around the park. An area of 2270 hectares was fenced.
The area of the park has grown dramatically:
* 1978: 7 735 hectares
* 1989: 8 879 hectares
* 2010: 164 000 hectares
There are plans to expand into a 360 000 hectares megapark to which will be added a 120 000 hectare marine reserve including several islands close offshore.
Facilities in the Addo Park and an Excellent Website
The roads in the park are good. A good way to get to the park is to take the N2 national road out of Port Elizabeth towards Grahamstown. Very soon after the Sundays river bridge, turn left. The N2 is usually in good condition
The 2010 park contains many good facilities. Have a look at the park’s website (accessed 8 Jan 2009) which is excellent. On it is all sorts of useful information about accommodation, lodges, activities, reservations, facilities, climate, history, maps and tariffs.
In the park’s main restaurant is the mounted head of the mighty Hapoor who was the dominant bull elephant in the park from 1944 to 1964. The story of Hapoor must wait for another day.
The website has special pages with information about the park’s biodiversity covering birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, vegetation and geology.
The site contains much more information.
Visitors to Port Elizabeth for the 2010 Soccer World Cup should not miss a visit to the park. A day trip is most enjoyable but the keen game viewer should spend a night there and so enjoy early morning and night game drives.
In South Africa, animals are not the only inhabitants of game parks! Get to know about birds as well. Buy a good bird book. You sometimes may have difficulty spotting game at a water hole but usually the birds will be there. Birds (smaller ones) are often in the camps.
Planning Your Cape Town Vacation
Cape Town is one of the world’s top travel destinations. There’s plenty to do, and tons to see, so it makes sense that people from across the world would flock to the area for their holidays. When planning your Cape Town vacation, you should go through a company you can trust to give you the best options when it comes to accommodations, dining, and other activities. You should trust Western Cape Accommodation.
Western Cape Accommodation knows the area inside out. All of the company’s accommodations have been officially approved, and they meet the standards of the South African Tourism Grading Council and Local Tourism Organizations. Every accommodation that you read about on Western Cape Accommodation’s website is top notch, and you can expect to enjoy your stay to the fullest by going through them.
Not only can Western Cape Accommodation help you find a place to stay during your vacation, they can also help to plan your entire trip. This includes any adventure trips, attractions, and dining experiences that you wish to take part in. There are plenty of things to choose from. Cape Grace is a five star small hotel that lies on the waterfront and offers exquisite dining and gorgeous views of Table Mountain. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway, Cape Grace would be a fantastic choice. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a local favorite for shopping and eating. The Waterfront is also a great place to stay, and it has museums for you to visit during your days.
When you’re planning a trip to Cape Town and its surrounding areas, go through someone you can trust. Western Cape Accommodation has your best interest in mind. They know the area very well and will only recommend the best to their customers.
After taking a steep dip in 2009, house prices in Cape Town are slowly on the increase, statistics from Absa Home Loans show.
While house prices declined in all provinces, metropolitan areas and coastal regions in real terms in 2009, the Western Cape experienced one of the sharpest declines with a 7.6% decrease in real terms during the year, according to Absa’s latest statistics.
In Capetown, house prices were down 0.7% in nominal terms, and 7.3% in real terms. Of all metropolitan areas in the country, only the greater Johannesburg area performed better than the Cape Town property market with nominal house price growth of 2.8% last year.
In the last quarter of 2009 – the latest available statistics – an average house in Capetown cost R1.11 million, indicating an increase of 1.4% on the last quarter of 2008. This is showing that the housing market is slowly getting out of the doldrums, with banks’ forecasting growth for 2010 of between 6% and 8%.
In the middle segment, or houses between 80 and 400 square metres, the average CapeTown house cost nearly R1.7 million by the end of 2009, and improvement of 6.1% compared to the end of 2008.
Investors are also returning to the Cape Town property market to buy prime property at good prices before the market takes off again. In addition, increased lending from banks and relatively low interest rates are also expected to boost the market this year.
Cape Town, with a reputation for being extremely well managed compared to South Africa’s other metros, is also an award-winning tourist destination. Some estate agents believe that World Cup fever will provide additional impetus in the Cape Town property market, especially in popular tourist areas like the city centre and along the Atlantic Seaboard.
Planning a trip to Cape Town, but tired of hotels, nosy B&B owners or the same old guesthouse? The answer is simple – pick rental apartments. Cape Town offers something for every taste and budget.
There are a few things to consider before you book. Firstly, decide on location. When it comes to rental apartments, Cape Town leads the pack – you can find something for any budget and taste in almost any area.
Whether you are looking for New York-style living in a fancy studio apartment in the city centre, luxury pampering on the beach in Clifton or a village-feel in Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek or Kommetjie, Cape Town offers this and much more.
Boasting some of the most luxurious rental apartments Cape Town has to offer, the V&A Waterfront – one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations – hosts a number of apartments fit for a king. While the apartments are fully equipped, they often come with full five-star services, giving you a luxury stay without the usual hotel frustrations. Of course, spectacular views of Table Mountain and the harbour come standard!
Other popular areas to consider include the popular Atlantic Seaboard, with Sea Point and Green Point a stone’s throw from the city centre and the golden beaches at Clifton and Camp’s Bay. For those who want to be close to the city but enjoy some peace and quiet, beach towns like Melkbosstrand, Somerset West and Gordon’s Bay are a stone’s throw away and also offers various rental apartment options.
Not everything should cost a fortune, however. When it comes to rental apartments, Cape Town really caters for the budget traveler too, offering a host of convenient options that won’t break the bank.
When you book, make sure you use a reputable agent and know what to expect. Ask to see pictures or references of previous visitors, and enjoy the trip!
South Africa is definitely one of the up and coming top destinations in Africa. With the Soccer World Cup being held there in 2010, it will definitely be on the world stage. So to help you learn more about South Africa we have made this list of interesting facts that you may not have known about this country before.
1. South Africa is home to some of the oldest rocks in the world! The rocks around Barberton in Mpumalanga have been dated to over 3 billion years old, which is pretty old considering the Earth is just 4.5 billion years old.
2. South Africa is also home to the worlds largest confirmed meteorite impact crater. Some 2 billion years ago, an alien rock came crashing to the ground and rendered a huge mark on the Earth. You can find this meteorite scar, Vredefort Dome, close to the Vaal River near Parys.
3. The second Highest Waterfall in the world is located in South Africa. The Tugela Falls is found in the Drakensberg Mountains in the Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The waterfall has a total drop of about 950 metres, not much shorter than the Angels Falls in Venezuela, but much easier to access as you have to fly in to see Angel Fall and you can drive to an observation point for Tugela Falls.
4. South Africa has the third largest canyon in the world – and the largest green one. Blyde River Canyon, in Mpumalanga, is just a little smaller than the Grand Canyon (in America) and the Fish River Canyon (in Namibia), but unlike those two Blyde River Canyon is home to a lot of lush vegetation.
5. South Africa is reputed to have the third highest level of biodiversity in the world including 18000 indigenous vascular plant species, of which 80% are uniquely South African!
6. Most of the world’s proto-mammalian fossils are found in the Karoo. The Therapsids were some of our earliest mammalian ancestors and there is a lot of evidence of their presence that dates back some 200 million years. There is also a 280 million year old fossilized shark!
7. Sutherland in the Northern Cape is one of the most geologically stable places on Earth. And yet strangely it is located very close to a 66-million year old volcano which isn’t fully extinct. The area also enjoys some of the clearest and darkest night skies in the world, which make it prefer for stargazers so it is home to the South African Astronomical Observatory.
8. Jagersfontein Mine is the biggest man-made hole in the world. It was hand dug, produced 1900kgs of diamonds including one of the biggest diamonds ever discovered (The Excelsior Diamond which weighed in at a hefty 194.2g). The Big Hole in Kimberley is just slightly smaller than Jagersfontein. By 1914 it had excavated almost 3 metric tonnes of Diamonds!
9. The township of Soweto, close to Jo’Burg, has the unique honour of having been home to two Noble Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They both had houses on Vilakazi Street.
10. If you ever visit Animal Kingdom Lodge in the United States, you will be surprised to learn that all the wine served there is South Africa in origin.
11. The R62 wine route in South Africa is one of the longest wine route in the world. The route passes through Wellington, Tulbagh, Worcester, Robertson and the Klein Karoo, which makes it about 850 km.
12. South Africa used to be the world’s largest producer of macadamia nuts, though Australia now holds that record.
13. South Africa also has the highest consumption of kingklip (aka Cusk-Eel) in the world. The kingklip is a species of eel that are a deep water fish that can grow to about 180cms long. When you visit be sure to give a taste as it can be quite delicious if you like seafood.
14. In 1967, Dr Chris Barnard performed the worlds first successful heart transplant. It took a team of 30 people 9 hours to perform the surgery. He also did the first Kidney transplant, though that occurred in America.
15. South Africa’s Dr Selig Percy Amoils invented the Cryoprobe, which refined the cryoextraction method of cataract surgery.
16. The Quagga, a type of Zebra that only has stripes around its neck, was hunted to extinction in the 19th century. However, today they have been reintroduced through the use of a careful breeding program using Burchell’s zebra which has almost identical DNA.
17. South Africa, along with Zimbabwe and Mozambique, have been taking down the fences between their adjacent game parks to make one large 35 000km², which will form the largest conservation area in the world!
18. Unlike much of the rest of the continent, South Africa has some of the finest water quality in the world! There has been ambitious and progressive water legislation brought in that has given over 4 million extra poor people in South Africa access to clean water.
19. It addition to its tap water quality, South Africa has been working hard on improving the quality of its coastal areas. They have done such a good job they have become the first country outside of Europe to gain Blue Flag status.
20. South Africa is the world leader when it comes to producing the first and most viable oil-from-coal refinery. This petrol and diesel is produced by Sasol and it accounts for about 40% of the petrol used in the country.
South Africa is a large country and you will definitely require a car to see the best of it including exploring some of the more interesting facts discovered here.
There are some things every soccer fan needs to know if they are attending a match at the Cape Town Stadium. We have tried to source them from all over to give you all the info.
Use Public Transport Options
During the tournament fans are encouraged to use the various public transport options as well as tournament specific transport such as the park and rides and park and walks in each of the host cities.
However we want to encourage fans to not rely solely on the park and rides. They should travel to the transport hubs in each host city and use the array of buses, taxis, shuttles and commuter rail options that will be available.
No Private Vehicles near Stadium Precincts
Spectators should be aware of the fact that no private vehicles will be allowed within the stadium precincts and only people with valid, official tickets for the match will be admitted to the immediate surrounding areas. Private vehicles will also not be allowed to park close to the stadiums due to the exclusion zones which will be put in place.
Cape Town – Variety of Transport
Cape Town will offer visitors and residents safe and easily accessible public transport during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Rail, bus and other existing services, that is, metered taxis and car rental will cater for a wide variety of transport requirements, and will ensure that the Cape Town Stadium, the Fifa Fan Fest and the public viewing areas are adequately served.
Event-related public transport will be added to the regular public transport system, that is, an airport shuttle to the Cape Town International Airport, a stadium shuttle to the Cape Town Stadium and Bus & Rail Park and Ride services.
Travel around the city will be served by an inner city transport service.
Public Transport Hub
The Cape Town public transport hub will be based in the city centre in Hertzog Boulevard outside the Civic Centre in central Cape Town. This is within easy walking distance of Cape Town Station, the Golden Acre bus terminus, station deck minibus taxi rank, metered-taxi ranks, long-distance bus terminal; FIFA Fan Fest and the Fan walk to Cape Town Stadium.
There will be a transport information kiosk at the transport hub, as well as volunteers to assist visitors.
Airport Shuttle Service
A 24 hour service from the Cape Town Airport to the main transport hub which is next to Cape Town Station in the city centre will operate throughout the event. An airport-to-city service will run from the bus station at the airport, via the N2 and Eastern Boulevard, to the main transport hub. This service will operate 24 hours a day for the duration of the event.
Stadium Match Shuttle
A free shuttle bus service for match ticket holders will run from the main transport hub to Cape Town Stadium in Green Point. This service will operate from six hours before kick-off, until four hours after the final whistle. Buses will depart every three to five minutes, depending on demand.
Inner City Service
The inner-city bus service, which will run 24 hours a day, will travel from the main transport hub and around the city’s main streets, that is, Heerengracht, Coen Steytler, Long and Loop Street and back to the main transport hub.
This route is supplemented by the Queens Beach and Hout Bay services that serve a wider city area providing convenient access to the Waterfront and the Atlantic Seaboard.
Park and Ride Sites
A free (match ticket holders only) shuttle service to the Main Transport Hub will run from the University of Cape Town, which is one of the three park and ride sites provided by the city.
This service will operate during the same time as the stadium shuttle allowing spectators from UCT to transfer and proceed to the stadium.
The other two park and ride sites :
* Camps Bay High School
* Kronendal Primary School in Hout Bay.
These sites will be served by the Hout Bay Service which is a paid service and will operate from four hours before kick-off until 02:00.
Commuter Rail
Rail forms the backbone of the entire metropole’s transport system consisting of 14 service lines and 119 stations connecting Cape Town to neighbouring district municipalities.
Cape Metrorail will extend its existing services to operate until 02:00 daily for the duration of the World Cup event.
Major stations have been identified as convenient park and ride locations, giving access to more than 7 000 remote parking bays.
These stations will have additional security, and will offer event-related activities.
For detailed schedules and the list of park-and-ride stations visit www.capemetrorail.co.za.
For more information on Cape Town’s match day transport plans please visit: www.capetown.gov.za/ or www.findyourway.co.za
Source
If you are looking for transport in Cape Town ckeck out Cheap Cape Town Car Hire.
If you are going to be traveling around South Africa check out car rental South Africa
Having Fun With Less Money in Cape Town
If you’re lucky enough to be heading off on your holidays to Cape Town with a full wallet and an empty credit card, looking forward to treating yourself to a luxurious getaway and a few weeks of pampering – don’t read on. If, however, you’re like many people who save all year for your annual holidays and have to keep an eye on your spending whilst abroad, then this article is for you. Cape Town is an eclectic destination with the ubiquitous “something for everyone”. It really is a place where you can splurge or save and, depending on your circumstances, you may find a few of these ideas suit your pocket perfectly.
Camps Bay Beach
In summer at least, the beaches are definitely the best place to be in Cape Town. With many to choose from, Camps Bay Beach is definitely rated amongst the best. The palm-fringed beaches create a picturesque contrast to the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain. Whether you want to engage in some of the many water sports available, swim lazily in the shallows, sunbathe, or simply sit in a pavement cafe; Camps Bay Beach is a wonderful place to pass some time without having to spend a lot of money.
Greenmarket Square Flea Market
Whilst you certainly will have to pay for any purchases which tempt you, it doesn’t cost anything to wander around these wonderful markets and soak up the history. Located centrally in Cape Town, Greenmarket Square has a long and chequered history, starting out as a slave market. Through incarnations as a fruit and vegetable market and a parking lot, in the 80′s it was transformed into a small flea market. Today it has evolved into a thriving hub of craft and creativity. As well as the many stalls and shops which line the square, there is an abundance of cafes and restaurants ideal for watching the passing parade of Cape Town – all for the price of a coffee.
Breakfast in the Kirstenbosch Gardens
Surely one of the most relaxing places in Cape Town, the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens do have an entry fee but, at what is equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee in some cities around the world, you certainly get a lot more bang for your buck here. Treat yourself to a budget-busting breakfast in one of the most sublime settings you will ever find. Over 500 hectares are devoted to the propagation and maintenance of indigenous South African plants and flowers and, after a full English breakfast to give you strength, you can spend the rest of a lazy morning exploring the gardens at your leisure.
Enter the Dragons
If you head down to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront any Monday to Thursday evening, you can witness the practice sessions of Cape Town’s Dragon Boat rowers. If you’re even luckier, your visit will coincide with an official race. This spectacular sport commemorates the death of an ancient Chinese poet and the boats are beautifully decorated to represent a dragon. Each boat is crewed by 22 rowers, a steersman and a drummer to keep the beat of the stroke. Watching both the practice sessions and the actual races is free and it is easy to get swept up in the exciting atmosphere.
Cape Town is a wonderful place to visit for a few days or a few weeks. How much you spend is up to you but, for those with a small budget but a big imagination, the sky’s the limit.
Source: ezine articles
If you are traveling to Cape Town on a budget check out Cheap Car Hire Cape Town.
Top Tourist Attractions in Cape Town
If someone asked you to name a city in South Africa, the chances are that Cape Town would be one of the first ones that would come to mind.
But it may not be even close to the top of your list of possible holiday destinations for this year. That could change however when you discover just what it has in store for you.
For starters there are plenty of beaches to enjoy if you like soaking up the sun. There are basically three areas to focus your attention. The first is called False Bay, which contains a number of different beaches to explore. You can also the beaches on the Atlantic Seaboard as well as three others on the West Coast. Needless to say you really are spoilt for choice here.
But it isn’t just the sea that attracts holiday makers. Other naturally occurring sights are just as desirable to visit during your stay in Cape Town. Perhaps the most famous one of all is called Table Mountain. This is so called because of its appearance, as it has a flat top which is very unusual for any type of mountain.
There is a cable car system that can take you to the top of the mountain, but if you are up for some hard work then consider hiking instead. It is very enjoyable provided it isn’t too hot, and it is a wonderful way to spend a day enjoying the fresh air and scenery. You will definitely be impressed when you reach the top and take a look out over Cape Town itself.
If you would prefer a more sedate day ahead of you, make sure you don’t miss the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. As the name would suggest, this is very close to the water – literally right on it in fact, as it was constructed on a portion of the docks in the area. It isn’t too far from Table Mountain either, so once again the views are spectacular.
One of the most telling facts about this particular destination is that it is very popular with people who live locally too. There are plenty of shops available here, so you can spend some of your holiday money on some local delights to take back home with you. In addition to that you’ll find plenty of places to stop and relax and grab a bite to eat. While you do you can watch the docks working just as they do every day.
It’s clear that Cape Town has a lot to offer. Flights to Cape Town are readily available, and with lots of accommodation to choose from you can’t fail to have a great stay in this part of South Africa.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Tourist-Attractions-in-Cape-Town&id=2477679
With a wide range of national parks and open plains, the southern plateaus of Africa attract thousands of tourists eager to catch glimpses of rare and dangerous creatures on safari tours.
But there are also a variety of different routes for those looking to head off the beaten path and explore more of the continents’ picturesque and unpredictable landscape. Fly-drive and self-drive packages to countries such as Namibia, Botswana and South Africa are widely available. Flights and car rental are usually included in the price, but it’s always best to double check. Such tours can take you through national parks to scenic coastal drives.
Such tours usually fly to cities such as Cape Town and Windhoek, with a set itinerary for the journey – such trips are usually spread around a timescale – usually a fortnight – so you can make best use of your car hire service.
For those wanting to embark on fly-drive holidays, the time you are on the road varies depending on the itinerary you select – although such timescales are usually provided as guides, giving you the freedom to choose what to see and do along the way to your stop for the night.
As well as the vast countryside and variety of wildlife on the open plains and plateaus, safari tours can be included along the route – usually involving stopovers in national parks or game reserves.
Accommodation can vary from tour to tour, there are a number of reserves along the way which include basic hotel facilities, as well as the opportunity to camp under the night sky, listening to the sounds of the night wildlife passing through camp. Be wary however, for many of the stops along the way operate a camping-only basis, although many packages offer hire of equipment as well as car rental.
Looking for car hire? Compare a wide range of car rental companies to find a car hire deal that suits you.
Source: Ezine Articles
World-class is the best word to describe Cape Town Waterfront. The busy Victoria and Alfred harbors add to the hectic but fun pace in Cape Town. Situated Right between Robben Island and Table Mountain, the Waterfront pulsates with shoppers, tourists, holidaymakers, students, and business people getting into the groove of Cape Town’s beat.
Transformation
The Waterfront also known as the V&A Waterfront has always been the scene of harbor construction and land development since the 1850s. It is still undergoing development on land with the addition of buildings around the two basins—Victoria and Alfred.
The marvelous transformation made the place the no.1 tourist destination in this spot of the world, a perfect gateway to safari adventures, rock climbing, and other activities that make anybody’s holiday here spectacular and unforgettable.
Getting Around
There is no lack of Cape Town hotels in this busy port. There are old but grand hotels, apartments for groups and families, villas for romantic getaways, and cul-de-sacs for the budget-conscious backpackers.
If you plan to tour the city on foot, forget it. The place is so large, and you cannot see all the sights in a day. As a warning, do not venture out alone and use a belt bag instead of your usual shoulder bag or backpack. Go out in groups or get a local escort to stay safe. As much as the place is a tourist’s paradise, it is also teeming with undesirable elements.
There are sedan taxis and buses that will take you to the heartland of V&A. Car rentals are also available, but do not take a quaff of your favorite wine before driving because driving under the influence is strictly prohibited.
Places to See
There are many places to feast your eyes on but do not miss these two:
• Historic Clock Tower. You cannot miss the Victorian-Gothic-style tower that faces the old docks. The red and white building housed the Port Captain’s office. Inside, there is a decorative mirror room that provided a view of the harbor. The old tide-gauge mechanism on the bottom floor is a curiosity for tourists so do not forget your digicam when you go a visiting. Catch some seals resting in seal landing ground within the Historic Clock Tower grounds.
• Two Oceans Aquarium. if you are ready for a dive to get up close to the resident sharks the place is for you. You can go down in a cage or if you have a PADI Open Water Certificate, you can go and dive with the sharks. It is also here that you will see the Kelp Forest Exhibit. Get a kick from feeding the fishes and seeing real giant kelps waving in the 8000,000 liters of seawater.
Where to Eat
Baia Seafood Restaurant. The place is the best seafood restaurant around that tickles the adventurous taste buds. Dine at the balcony and enjoy the view. For R100 or R200 you enjoy a meal fit for a king sans the wine.
Salero Tapas Bar is in the hip part of V&A Waterfront. Indulge your Spanish Tapa appetite here with a glass of sparkling champagne.
There is much to see and do in Cape Town Waterfront and do not miss the best part of the holiday—great eats.
Source: Article Base
Cape Town Car Hire
