We recently had a presentation from the owner of Grootbos, and I have to say, what a simply stunning property.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is spectacularly situated on the fynbos and forest clad hills overlooking the whale-watching haven of Walker Bay. Guests here stay in absolute comfort in either the Forest Lodge, or families are welcome at the Garden Lodge, and everyone has a wide range of activities that they can choose to enjoy during a 2 or 3 night stay here – including horse back riding, nature drives and walks, whale watching, shark cage diving, helicopter flips, and bird watching.

We are also very pleased to announce that from 7th January through to 15th April 2011, anyone who books to stay here with Travel Butlers can also take advantage of the Stay for 3 Nights and Only Pay for 2 that we are offering over this period.

Contact us today to check availability and make a booking here.

The second episode of ‘Cheetah Kingdom’ will be screened on ITV1 at 8pm this evening.

An ITV film crew has spent much of 2010 at Okonjima following the daily work of the AfriCat Foundation. The series provides a glimpse at the conservation work undertaken by the foundation and provides a great overview of life at Okonjima.

The series tracks the largest cheetah release programme attempted in Namibia, a country that is home to roughly a quarter of the world’s cheetah population, where they’re routinely trapped by farmers protecting their land. This episode follows the fortunes of the group of cheetahs being prepared for life in the wild and viewers get to see the next stage of their release as the gates are opened to their new 40,000 acre home.

If you missed the first episode or do not have access to UK TV you can catch up on the ITV Player site.

The Buffalo Thorn tree is also known locally as the Tree of Life.

It is quite distinctive, in that it has a zig zag branch structure with hooks and thorns in pairs together, along the branch.

Locals believe that the branch reflects life, which is never a straight line; the hooks (which face backwards towards the trunk) symbolise the past; and the thorns (which face away from the trunk) represent the future.

The eighth folklore story … just a couple more to go !

Why the Warthog is so Ugly

In the Beginning, the Warthog was the most handsome animal. He knew this, and unfortunately became very vain.

As a result, none of the other animals liked Warthog very much.

One morning, Warthog left his burrow, and wandered off with his tail proudly sticking up in search of food.

He passed Porcupine, who had been up all night foraging for food. Porcupine was extremely tired, and wanted to go to sleep, but he still had a long way to go before he reached his home.

Porcupine had an idea. Why not nip into Warthog’s burrow and have a quick nap before Warthog returned? So Porcupine went down the burrow and promptly fell asleep.

Meantime, Warthog found a waterhole, and wallowed in the mud, and then found some good grass to graze on.

Nearby, lying under a tree, was Lion. Warthog couldn’t resist showing off how handsome he was, all covered in mud.

Lion was in a particularly bad mood this morning, and having the Warthog parade around him was just too much to bear. With a great roar he charged Warthog.

Warthog, realising that he had pushed Lion too far this time, panicked, and ran as fast as he could back towards his burrow, with the angry Lion very close behind.

Warthog ran headfirst straight into his burrow, knowing that Lion could not follow him in. Lion stopped outside the burrow entrance and roared angrily.

Porcupine, who had been sleeping soundly, awoke with a start. Thinking that he was being attacked, he stood up and spread his quills ready to fend off anyone.

Warthog was running so fast into his burrow, he was unable to slow down when he saw Porcupine, and ran straight into him.

Warthog cried out in pain, because many quills became stuck in his face and nose.

In haste, Warthog backed quickly out of the burrow again.

Lion, seeing the Warthog coming out with a face full of quills, laughed gleefully.

“Serves you right,” said Lion. “That will teach you to be so vain.”

When the other animals heard what had happened to Warthog, they all came to laugh too, and no one helped to pull out the quills.

Poor Warthog’s face swelled up, and his once handsome features disappeared.

He was very upset, but realised that he had learnt a hard lesson for being so vain. And still, to this day, the Warthog is still ugly – and also always enters his burrow backwards – just in case.

Discover Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa’s largest privately owned game reserve (100,000 hectares), situated in the heart of the Northern Cape Province, and enjoy a 4 night stay here in the Motse village, and combine this with 3 night completely free at the exclusive One&Only, in magical Cape Town.

Valid for travel from 1 September 2010 to 20 December 2010.

Click here to read more and make an enquiry today.

Is this you ? Are you looking for a fabulous deal that combines a stay in the beautiful Cape Town with an exciting safari adventure in one of South Africa’s premier private game reserves ?

Then if so, you need look no further than here.

In conjunction with the 5* Cape Grace and AndBeyond, we are delighted to offer the following superb deals :

Cape Grace and Safari Combo – 6 nights for price of 4

Cape Grace and Kruger Safari Combo

Cape Grace and Eastern Cape Safari Combo

Cape Grace and Madikwe Safari Lodge Combo

Cape Grace and Phinda Safari Combo

Check out the new photo gallery just uploaded for this property by following the link below :

Fairview House

Stunning !

Augusta Bay is a beautiful guest house, nestled against the Eastern Head of the Knysna lagoon, in the heart of the famous Garden Route. The 8 beautifully appointed suites are perfect for guests with discerning taste and who enjoy the natural beauty of their surroundings.

From now until 15th December 2010, stay in a Standard Suite here for only R600 per person per night, including a generous English and continental breakfast served in the sun-splashed central atrium, which overlooks the pool deck and lagoon.

Vamizi Island Lodge has a great pre and post Christmas special to tempt you away from the cold to the sunny Mozambique beaches.

Not only can you stay for 4 nights and receive 2 complimentary nights, but you will also be able to enjoy 1 complimentary introductory dive (normally worth U$75 per person) as well as 1 complimentary spa treatment of your choice (normally worth U$60 per person).

This offer is only valid between 1 – 15 December 2010 and 15 – 31 January 2011, as the lodge is already fully booked over Christmas and New Year itself.

A slender coral island just off Mozambique’s remote northern coast, Vamizi Island is part of the Quirimbas Archipelago, sometimes called the new Maldives. The island’s near perfect white coral beaches and breathtakingly beautiful shallows are just the tip of the tropical iceberg. Beneath the surface of the Vamizi seas is an outstanding reefscape – mountains, valleys, plateaux and cliffs, teeming with a bewildering amount of sea life – from whales, dolphins, turtles and reef sharks to Gregorian corals and giant clams. Some of the dives here are said to be the best in the world.

For an early Christmas treat, why not take advantage of this new offer that will be running for just the first 2 weeks only at the beginning of December.

This superb offer gives visitors to South Africa the opportunity to experience a fantastic 3 day safari in the Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa’s Eastern Cape for the cost of only 2 nights. This offer is applicable only for stays at Bush Lodge, Safari Lodge, Leeuwenbosch and Woodbury Lodge.