For the month of July 2008 only, guests booking their stay through Travel Butlers will pay just R1,000 per person per night at the Lodge, including breakfast and dinner, and at the Guest House only R750 per person per night.

Fugitive’s Drift is one of the outstanding destinations in South Africa. The Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal offer an incredible insight into the history of South Africa, and the best way to really appreciate this bloody and fiercely-fought history is to go on one of the mesmerising and theatrical tours of the key areas, which will move you to tears and stay in your memory forever.

Visitors who wish to use this facility should be advised that advanced bookings can be made no less than one day prior to date of arrival at the Kruger National Park and that using this facility will come at a minimal and non-refundable cost per person of R20 per adult and R10 per child entering the Park. This fee will be payable (in advance) by all who wish to make a day visitor booking in advance. Guests with day visitor bookings will also be expected to arrive at the booked gate by not later than 1 pm on the date of booking, after which time the booking lapses. Advanced day-visitor bookings will only constitute 60% of the gate’s day visitor quota, with 40% being kept open for visitors to enter on a first-come first-served basis. The gate quotas are limits per gate on the number of day visitors that the area and infrastructure adjacent to each gate is able to support to ensure a good visitor experience.

The area is world renowned as one of the best places anywhere to see the the Southern Right Whale, and with an early start to the season more visitors will have the chance to join one of the very interesting, exciting, and educational boat trips run by Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics.

The area is also well known for it’s excellent sightings of Great White Sharks, and was recently named as the number one place in the world to go cage diving with sharks by the Rough Guide TV series.

Whilst it is possible to do the trips as a day trip from Cape Town, it really is well worth adding a couple of nights in Hermanus or Gaansbaai to your South African Holiday for guests looking to make the most of the exceptional wildlife experience on offer in this area.

Clients must carry cash on them in either U$ or Rand, and in small denominations as places are unable to give change in foreign currency.

For some, however, the real thrill of visiting the Falls during September through to December comes from swimming right up to the very edge of the Falls themselves …
Known as “The Devil’s Swimming Pool”, this naturally formed safe pool, accessed via Livingstone Island, offers visitors the adrenelin-pumping opportunity to swim in shallow water literally within a couple of inches from the edge of the gorge.

This spot is becoming well known amongst the “radical tourist” industry as more and more people search for the ultimate experience.

 The Good Safari Guide is an independent directory of the top safari lodges, hotels and camps in Africa.  It is the travel professional’s definitive selection of the most professionally run, independently selected and vetted safari properties.

Amied at travel professionals globally, the guide cuts through the clutter of the many thousands of safari products, focusing on those that are established and managed by the most professional ’safari’ hoteliers.

The independent Awards honour the best in the safari industry.  Nominations in the 13 categories are accepted only from qualified travel professionals, with a panel of distinguished industry judges making the final tough decisions.

The news comes just 6 months after Thanda was voted ‘luxury individual hotel, lodge or resort offering best overall product and service’ in the Selling Long Haul awards for 2007 by readers of the trade publication. Thanda, which means ‘love’ in Zulu, won the Leading Safari in South Africa award in 2006 and Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge in 2007.  

The only private game reserve in the world to hold exclusive membership with the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World, Thanda’s world-class facilities include the opulent main lodge, authentic safari-style tented camp and award-winning wellness centre.

Vistors travelling in the next 3 months can save 25% vs the published price, and stay at this outstanding lodge for only R2650 per person per night.

There are no minimum stay requirements for this offer, however this special rate cannot be combined with the Lion Sands and Cape Town Special Offer.

There are a number of outstanding photos taken from many different parts of the region, and as you might expect there are many fantastic photos of wildlife taken in different areas.  One of the questions we are most frequently asked is “what will we see on safari?”, and whilst it is impossible to guarantee any sightings (these are wild animals after all) the links below will take you through to some of the guest photos we have received from visitors to two of the most popular game reserves:

Sabi Sand Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Shamwari Game Reserve (Eastern Cape)

Nationwide tickets will unfortunately not be honoured by other airlines.

Anyone travelling in South Africa currently or within the next couple of days and who have flights booked on Nationwide Airlines are requested to arrive very early at all airports in order to make alternative arrangements with other airlines.

Should anyone request a refund for their Nationwide Flights, the airline has advised that paperwork will need to be completed and this will be followed up by the airline directly.