Things I love about South Africa

Having moved to South Africa last year I thought it was time I shared my top 03 things that I love about living here. Living very close to the Indian Ocean on the Eastern Cape the deep sea fishing is fantastic. Sadly I cant go as often as I would like because of work but every time I go its always great fun. Generally there are three or four of us that go deep sea fishing off of the Port Alfred Coast. We normally leave early around about 6h30am and fish for about 6 hours or so depending upon how lucky we are at catching ! Of course there is nothing better than the taste of freshly caught fish cooked that evening.

Second on my list is walking our dogs on the endless sandy beaches. Our miniature schnauzers absolutely love running up and down the enormous sand dunes and then playing in the waves. Dudley, the grey one in the photo, generally tires himself out so much that we some times have to pick him up on the way back. The best time of day for a walk is first thing in the morning or late afternoon. You can't beat paddling along in the waves while your dogs wears themselves out. Walking back home watching the sunset infront of you is just pure delight and a perfect end to any day.

Third on my list is the view from our offices which overlooks Port Alfred Marina. You never tire of staring out across the marina on a sunny day watching the boats come and go. The marina even has its very own seal - Sammy the Seal - which can be seen frequently playing in the marina. Just the other week a dolphin was even spotted swimming around the waters. The marina is a real tourist attraction in Port Alfred with a number of charter boats taking people up the Kowie River or out to sea to fish.

Next up is the traditional Braai - of course where I came from it was known as a BBQ but to be honest a Braai is a very traditional and social activity in South Africa. We often get together with family or friends to enjoy a Braai. I have to say that the quality of meat on offer here is of a much higher quality than I was used to in the UK and our local butcher supplies excellent steaks, sausages, boerwors and ribs. Its just lovely to sit together outside enjoying a few drinks and the amazing smells coming from the Braai.

South Africa is a country rich in wildlife with an abundance of Game Reserves with a range of accommodation options. There are Game Reserves to be found all over South Africa and not just in provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The Eastern Cape now has some of the best private Game Reserves in South Africa. Its great to be able to just plan a short trip to stay on one of these as we did recently at Pumba Private Game Reserve situated between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth. I never seem to tire of seeing the magnificent Big 5 in their natural surroundings and feel very lucky to be able to do so.

South Africa is a country full of natural wonders such as Table Mountain, the Drakensberg Mountains, Cape Point, the Garden Route, Cape Winelands and many more. Its a joy and a pleasure to be able to visit these wonders and to share these with friends and family that visit us. There are many great hiking trails and walks that pass through some of the most beautiful countryside and include some spectacular views.



For more travel advice on where to stay, what to do and what to see in South Africa visit Where2Stay-SouthAfrica.

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Kosi Bay in the St. Lucia Wetlands

Traditional Old Fishing Nets still be used today in the lakes of Kosi Bay

The name Kosi Bay is actually quite misleading as there isn’t a ‘bay’ here. Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, is made up from an intricate system of rivers, lakes, an estuary and mouth, running parallel to the beach. The entire Kosi Bay area, falls under the protected St Lucia Wetlands area which forms part of a World Heritage Site.

The beach at Kosi Bay is considered to be one of the most pristine estuarine lake systems in Africa. There are actually four inter-connected lakes that are fed by the Siyadla and Nswamanzi Rivers from the south and west respectively. The “aManzamnyama” or “Black Water” Lake is also known as Fourth Lake, and is home to many hippos and crocodiles.  This lake drains into Nhlanga Lake which is also the largest lake in the system. .The four lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.  Kosi Bay estuary is actually only 2 kilometres from the border of Mozambique.

Kosi Bay beach is amazingly quiet and the River Mouth is referred to locally as ‘the Aquarium’ due to the clear waters and the wide variety of fish living here. One of the reasons Kosi Bay is famous is because of the traditional fish-traps that are still used today to catch fish as they swim in and out of the estuary. The mouth of the estuary is a popular spot to snorkel at and where you can often see a variety of tropical fish including the Moray Eel and Stone Fish.

Many people come to the area to experience the diversity of wildlife that lives here including the loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles that come here annually to lay their eggs on the beach. The waters here are also home to crocodiles, duiker and Bull sharks.

In order to preserve this largely unspoilt and beautiful area it is important to understand how to get about. Many of the roads are pure sand and become very rough during dry conditions, while others are filled with building rubble or gravel by the community and surrounding lodges in order to provide easier access for most 2 wheel drive vehicles. Cars that are low to the ground are not recommended, as the 2 wheel tracks on the sandy roads often leave a centre bump in the road that can damage the underneath of your vehicle. The use of 4x4 vehicles on roads here is recommended as the sand can often be very thick in places. Getting to the Kosi Bay Mouth, Black Rock and other beaches, including driving around in Mozambique are best explored in a 4x4 or 4WD vehicle.

Quad Bikes are not allowed as they are off road vehicles and not licensed to be driven on a public road.  The roads that lead to the lakes, the lodges and private dwellings in Kosi Bay are accessed by the public and are therefore considered a public road.

KwaZulu-Natal is a popular hosliday destination in South Africa both for locals and for international visitors. The wonderful beaches along the coastline of KZN as well the wide range of KwaZulu-Natal holiday accommodation has people coming back year after year.

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Weekend away at Oceana Beach & Wildlife Reserve - Port Alfred

This weekend we spent a night at Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve which is located just 5 minutes outside of Port Alfred on the Eastern Cape Sunshine Coast. Oceana is situated in an elevated position overlooking 7km of private beachfront in the maleria-free Eastern Cape. It opened its doors for business approximately
4 years ago and has established itself as a 5 Star Game Reserve and Spa Retreat.

The location is extremely private and has a really romatic feel about it. The main lodge has a lovely bar with seating around a log fire and separate dining rooms. It would make an ideal setting for a wedding function or to just getaway and pamper yourself for a few days. We arrived early evening and enjoyed some pre-dinner drinks on the patio overlooking the Indian Ocean whilst gazing at the amazing star-filled sky.

As we were celebrating a special occasion our hosts had organised us a private table for 2 in one of their lounges with a lovely fire going next to us. The food was of a very high standard and the service was excellent. After dinner we enjoyed our superb cappuccinos by the open log fire by the bar. Next to the bar area there is a very nice patio with steps leading up to the swimming pool and boma. If you are having your wedding here then Oceana have a large Bedouin-style tent that covers this area and makes for a wonderful setting.




That evening we stayed in a lovely chalet with large balcony overlooking the Reserve and Indian Ocean. Our room had a wonderful double bed with TV at the end of it. There was also a his'n'hers bathrooms with a bath with views outside in one of them. The rooms are extremely well appointed and very spacious.

In the morning we sat outside with our coffee and watch the sunrise and the animals roam around just a short distance away. Oceana is not a Big 5 Game Reserve but it still has Giraffe, Rhino, Zebra, Buffalo, Wildebeest and many other animals. There is a lovely fitness room near the Lodge with magnificent views plus an excellent Spa with a range of treatments available. Other activities on offer at Oceana include; Surf and Rock Fishing, Game Drives, Bush Picnic and Sundowners, 5 hole putting green on the Heli Pad, Steam Room and Games Room.

Visit Where2Stay-SouthAfrica for more South Africa Accommodation ideas. 

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Jeffreys Bay the surf capital of South Africa

The Jeffreys Bay region is renowned for its gorgeous beaches, endless summers, plentiful shells and is best known as “the Surf Mecca of the World”. The beautiful beaches are safe for bathing and provide endless excitement for water sport enthusiasts. Nestled in the Eastern Cape Province, Jeffreys Bay is located just 90km from Port Elizabeth Airport and is a short stop off the famous Garden Route, a place like no other in the world in terms of beauty, natural attractions and unique flora and fauna.

Jeffreys Bay is also home to the only World Championship Surfing Tour event in South Africa. The Billabong Pro J-Bay is the biggest and richest surfing event in Africa attracting the top 45 surfers in the world to challenge for over $400,000 in prize money. The event in Jeffreys Bay in July each year attracts 30,000 daily visitors. The crowds really get into the event with lots of cheering and of course those famous vuvuzelas.

Jeffreys Bay was also the recent location for the sequel to the movie Blue Crush II. The perfect conditions and superb beaches brought the cast over from the USA to film this during 2003. Cast members included Sasha Jackson from One Tree Hill, Sharna Vinson from Step Up 3D and Ben Millikin. We were especially pleased to hear that one of our clients "On the Beach Guest House" had the pleasure of hosting the film's director and cast members as well as the Vice President of Universal Studios. The film is due for release in 2014. This fabulous Guest House is located right on the beach with views to die for.

Jeffreys Bay is a very popular destination in the December Festive season attracting local and international visitors who come to enjoy the golden beaches and sunshine along with the many festive activities.  For other accommodation ideas for South Africa visit www.where2stay-southafrica.com .

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