Table Mountain has made it onto the first shortlist for the new 7 Wonders of Nature.

It is possible that there will be changes between the currentprovisional winners and the eventual finally confirmed winners, but the confirmed winners will be announced early 2012.

The World Heritage Site of Table Mountain rises over 1,000m above Cape Town, and can be seen from 150 km out to sea. Its flattened peak makes it one of the most recognisable mountains in the world, and you simply can’t visit Cape Town without making a trip to the top.

One of 2 cable cars, each capable of holding up to 65 passengers, whisks you up the mountain to the top in less than 5 minutes. The 360 degree rotating floor adds to the excitement, giving everyone on board the opportunity to look out over the spectacular scenery, including the neighbouring Devil’s Peak, Lions Head and Signal Hill (whose name is taken from when flags were flown to warn ofapproaching ships, and from where the Noon Day Gun is fired at midday every day apart from Sundays), as well as views along the jagged peaks of the Twelve Apostles mountain range, and Robben Island out in the bay.

Many trails wind across the rocky flattened ‘tabletop’ summit, each leading to different viewpoints.

Cape Town, who previously really didn’t have any form of public transport service, have recently introduced the MyCiTi rapid public transport service, which has just seen the 200 new buses being added to the ‘fleet’ this week.

This will certainly make it easier for tourists to get around this beautiful city without the need to hire a car for their entire stay here. The service has already grown from transporting 200 to 9000 people daily.

The current routes include :

* Cape Town International Airport (4.20 am until 9.50 pm) to the City
* Table View – to be extended as far as Melkbosstrand
* Gardens – Civic Centre – V&A Waterfront (6 am until 8 pm). This is an interim service to be replaced by n9 new permanent central city routes by next year. These will include services to the Bo Kaap, Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Vredehoek, the Atlantic Seabord, the V&A Waterfront, Walmer Estate, Woodstock, Salt River and Hout Bay.

To celebrate the new direct 3 hour flight between Cape Town and Livingstone, this offer includes a 3 night stay at the luxurious David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa, as well as a sunset cruise on the Lady Livingstone, a tour of the Falls on the Livingstone side, return flights from Cape Town to Livingstone, and return transfers from Livingstone Airport to lodge.

All this for just R8,050 per person per night if you book with us. Valid for travel from now until the end of December 2011. Airline taxes and Park fees are excluded – rates on request.

Situated on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, and just 7 km from the Victoria Falls, the David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa is an exclusive property, offering world class facilities for guests enjoyment. There are 77 rooms in total, all en-suite. All rooms have a mini bar, air-conditioning, TV with satellite, and tea / coffee making facilities. Most rooms look out over the mighty Zambezi River and a leisurely sundowner can be enjoyed from your private balcony.

The Lady Livingstone is a 144 seater river cruiser comprising of 3 decks, enabling guests to experience Africa in a unique style on the Zambezi River.

The direct flights from Cape Town to Livingstone depart 8 am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and coming back they depart Livingstone at 2 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Book 3 nights on safari at the following safari lodges, and receive 2 FREE nights at either the Cape Cadogan or More Quarters, in the buzzy and beautiful city of Cape Town – the perfect way start or end your safari trip of a lifetime.

Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, in the exclusive Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Tinga Legends and Tinga Narina lodges, in Big 5 Kruger Park

Madikwe Safari Lodge, in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve

• Valid from 1 October 2011 – 30 April 2013.
• Free accommodation will be either in a Standard Room at Cape Cadogan or a luxury apartment at More Quarters. If 3 nights are reserved at Ivory Lodge then a luxury room will be reserved at Cape Cadogan.

Restrictions of Offer: May NOT be booked over the peak periods of 23 December 2011 – 3 January 2012 and 23 December 2012 – 3 January 2013 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion.

STAY 4 NIGHTS AND ONLY PAY FOR 3

• Valid from 1 October 2011 – 30 April 2013.
• Valid for all room categories at the following properties :

Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, in the exclusive Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Tinga Legends and Tinga Narina lodges, in Big 5 Kruger Park

Madikwe Safari Lodge, in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve

and Cape Cadogan and More Quarters, in the buzzy and beautiful city of Cape Town.

Restrictions of Offer: May NOT be booked over the peak periods of 23 December 2011 – 3 January 2012 and 23 December 2012 – 3 January 2013.

O On Kloof is set on the slopes of Signal Hill with views over the Atlantic Ocean.

This exclusive boutique hotel offers warm hospitality, superior service and a strong sense of style and luxury, and is just minutes from the city centre, V&A Waterfront and Table Mountain and close to Camps Bay and Clifton’s famous beaches. There are 8 suites, all individually decorated, offering sumptious accommodation.

BUT the best part of all this story is the truly FANTASTIC rates that are being offered here from now until the end of September …. for example, Room 1 is called the O’ Suite – it has its own balcony with sea view, a hammock to laze away the hours in, and a jacuzzi. You can get ALL this, including breakfast, for just R1,500 per suite per night. If you don’t want to pay that much, Standard Rooms are just R1,000 per room per night, or Luxury Rooms R1,200 per room per night.

Not the most exciting blog ever to have been written, but it is a ‘need to know’ thing for anyone who is travelling to Cape Town over the next few weeks.

As happens every year, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway will close for annual maintenance between July 18th and July 31st and the cableway will reopen for business on August 1st, weather permitting.

But don’t let that stop you going up Table Mountain … there are walking trails ….

Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the Western Cape, and Hermanus and Gansbaai are the 2 main areas for whale watching, either boat-based or land-based.

The first Southern Right whale has been spotted in Walker Bay at Hermanus, so this is now officially the start of the whale watching season !

Having been whale watching myself at Hermanus, I would definately recommend including this in your itinerary if you are in this area. I would also recommend actually staying in Hermanus for at least one or 2 nights if time permits, especially if you want to go out on a boat. The boats tend to leave early in the morning, as they go out with first tides, so this would mean a VERY early start from Cape Town (around the 5.30 am time) to ensure you arrive in time – and let’s be honest, unless you are on safari do you really want to get up that early ??

You can read more about whale watching in Hermanus, and check out the hotels and guest houses that we recommend by clicking here.

We also recommend Dyer Island Cruises or Southern Right Charters if you are looking for an operator to go out with.

If it is, then don’t worry, take advantage of one or more of these Stay for 3 Nights, Only Pay for 2 at the following Hollow Hotels properties, valid from 1st June until the end of September :

Hippo Hollow Country Estate or Perry’s Bridge Hollow, both in Hazyview – perfect either to explore the Kruger Park from or as a place to stay before / after a safari here

Knysna Hollow Country Estate – great for a stay along the beautiful Garden Route (not valid however during the famous Knysna Oyster Festival at the beginning of July)

Cape Town Hollow or Hollow in the Square – and we really don’t need to sell the highlights or a reason to stay in Cape Town !!

At last !! Now it is possible to fly directly from Cape Town to Livingstone and Victoria Falls !

Zambezi Airlines have just announced their new direct flights – the planned schedule (due to be launched at the end of June) will be as follows :

From 30 Jun 11 until 31 Dec 12, flights will depart on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Cape Town at 8 am, arriving into Livingstone at 11.10 am – so you can then spend the rest of the afternoon at the Falls !

On the way back, the flights depart Livingstone on a Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 2 pm, arriving back into Cape Town at 5.10 pm – so just in time for a sundowner !