Occasionally we find that it can be difficult to get accommodation in some parts of South Africa during the South African School holidays….after all, it is not only visitors from overseas who want to visit Kruger, Durban or the Garden Route!

Given this, we thought it might be useful for people from other countries to know when the South African School holidays will fall in 2012. We realise that sometimes it will be unavoidable to travel at these times, however it might be worth keeping in mind just in case you do have some flexability on your dates. For example,  whilst 23 June to 15 July is holiday time across SA and it is very likely that every SANParks camp in Kruger is already fully booked, things will be a lot quieter from 16th July t0 28th September when the kids are back at school.

2012 SA School Holidays are:

• 29 March – 10 April 2012
• 23 June – 15 July 2012
• 29 September – 7 October 2012
• 8 December – 7 January 2013

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 !!

For anyone who wants to do something a little different, and really be able to tell people back home that they had a close encounter with a lion, check out the new ‘Walk with Lions’ programme that has recently been launched on the Zorgfontein Eco and Wildlife Reserve at Great Brak River, just outside Mossel Bay on the Garden Route.

Up to 8 visitors at a time get the chance to walk with 3 young cubs and their mothers, for about 90 minutes in a strictly controlled environment (which also means no petting of the animals). The walks take place twice a day, and anyone can go on the walks as long as they are older than 10 years and over 1.5 meters tall.

The cubs all come from different litters, and are currently 6 months old. The mothers were rescued from potential hunting programmes, and have been raised by hand by the reserve’s owner, Mariné Neethling.

Families can stay any time between 1st December 2010 and 30th January 2011 at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club, along the Garden Route, for only R1,890 per room per night, including breakfast (subject to availability at the time of booking).

The Garden Route is an ideal holiday destination for families. There is also plenty of things to do to keep children amused – and parents too!

Take a peek at all the things to do and see :

Family Fun on the Garden Route

Now this is a REAL turn up for the books !!

Gondwana Game Reserve are running a Special Offer during the World Cup period … one of the very few places, indeed, it may be the ONLY place, to do this ! Hats off to them for recognising this great marketing opportunity !

Anyway, between 1st June 2010 and 31st July 2010, guests can stay at Gondwana for 3 nights, and only pay for 2 !

The Gondwana Game Reserve is one of the first and only authentic Big 5 private game reserves in the Western Cape, located 15 km west of Mossel Bay. Set on 10,000 hectares of dramatic terrain consisting of open grass plains, indigenous fynbos and undulating valleys surrounded by the Outeniqua Mountains, the Gondwana Game Reserve will be uniquely different to any other safari destination in South Africa.

The setting is remote yet easily accessible to the Garden Route, with its beautiful beaches and some of the best golf courses in the world, and only 3.5 hours from Cape Town. The area is also well known for its moderate year-round climate.

Safaris are conducted in open game viewing vehicles in the Big 5 malaria-free reserve, and horse-back safaris will be possible in a fenced off area of the reserve.

Looking for somewhere stunning to get married ? Somewhere not only you, but your guests, will remember for a lifetime ?

Then why not consider celebrating your special day by hosting your wedding ceremony at the luxurious Kurland Country Hotel, located near Plettenberg Bay on the famous Garden Route .

Situated on a beautiful country estate, Kurland are happy to cater for any size of wedding up to a maximum of 30 guests, and you can hire the entire hotel purely for your own use.

You can have your actual wedding ceremony in the gorgeous hotel gardens, and then enjoy your wedding breakfast with your guests in the elegant restaurant, alfresco Courtyard or The Homestead Verandah.

Kurland also offers brides-to-be the services of their in-house wedding planner Marius Barnard, who will ensure everything runs smoothly and is completely stress-free.

Stay for 3 nights for the price of 2 at Fynbos Camp, situated in the 10,000 hectare Gondwana Game Reserve – one of the first and only authentic Big 5 private game reserves in the Western Cape, located 15 km west of Mossel Bay.

The setting is remote yet easily accessible to the Garden Route, with its beautiful beaches and some of the best golf courses in the world, and only 3.5 hours from Cape Town. The area is also well known for its moderate year-round climate.

Safaris in search of the Big 5 are conducted in open game viewing vehicles in the Big 5 malaria-free reserve, and horse-back safaris will be possible in a fenced off area of the reserve.

All meals, local beverages, and 2 game drives per day are included.

Children under 12 years are welcome.

Valid for travel between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010. This offer is only applicable on bookings which are confirmed BEFORE 1st June 2010.

AS us to check availability now !

The famous Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, the steam train that trundles along the Garden Route, will be returning to service on October 19. The train journey was stopped for a while to allow maintenance work to be carried out.

The plans for the new service is that it will be run 3 times a week in the low season, and once a day in the high season.

The new timetable will be published on www.visitmosselbay.co.za as soon as it is published.

Dolphin’s Playground offers you luxury beachfront B&B accommodation, situated just a 50m stroll to the magnificent Robberg Beach in Plettenberg Bay. It is an ideal setting from which to explore the beauty of the Garden Route.

All the rooms are spacious and en-suite, and each one opens onto a magnificent sun deck, which looks down onto the beach.

Enjoy delicious home-cooked breakfasts while dolphins play in the waves below you, or even look out for whales during the whale watching season.

Aquavit is a charming guest house situated in Plettenberg Bay, offering stunning panoramic views of the Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua Mountains and the coastal beaches lapped by the Indian Ocean.

For the real romantics, Aquavit are offering a 3 night special package, including a private helicopter trip to a deserted beach, and overflowing picnic basket.

Click here to read more about this and to ask us to make a booking for you !