http://www.southafrica.com/blog/ en 2013-05-15T00:09:35-05:00 hourly 6 2013-05-15T00:09:35-05:00 http://www.southafrica.com/blog/loads-of-edutainment-at-pretoria-zoo 2013-05-15T00:09:35-05:00 en Editor Out and About The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, better known as Pretoria Zoo, was in the news recently when one of its residents was thought to have been stolen. Dubbed by the press as 'Houdini', the zoo’s two-meter long black mamba was found almost a month later in the Reptile Park service area, and how he escaped from his enclosure, and remained undetected despite an extensive search, remains a mystery. After a period of observation to ensure he was not traumatized or injured in any way, Houdini was returned to his terrarium where he got more than his usual share of attention, no doubt due to his new celebrity status. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/explore-the-klein-karoo-wine-route 2013-05-01T04:11:17-05:00 en Editor Travel As the easternmost wine producing region in South Africa, the Klein Karoo Wine Route includes the area along Route 62 from the Langkloof in the East to Montagu in the west, with spectacular mountain ranges and fertile riverbanks creating conditions favourable for the cultivation of vineyards and production of an interesting variety of wines. Fortified wines such as Port and Muscadel are among the world-class products produced by wineries in the Klein Karoo, as well as a range of red and white wines to suit varied tastes. Quaint historic towns and legendary hospitality are additional reasons for wine-lovers to explore the Klein Karoo Wine Route of South Africa. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/take-time-to-meander-through-magaliesberg 2013-04-17T01:39:12-05:00 en Editor Out and About The Magaliesberg region offers a host of leisure-time options just an hour or so beyond the city limits of both Pretoria and Johannesburg. Established in 1998, the Magalies Meander is designed to make the most of this spectacularly beautiful region, no matter what your interests are. Adventure options include canopy tours, microlighting, quad biking, gliding, mountain biking, go-karting and hot air ballooning, while nature lovers can enjoy horseback riding, hiking, birding and safari tours. Visitors with an appreciation for arts and crafts will find a wide range of home crafted items and artworks at the Magalies Meander's galleries and coffee shops, and wellness and health spas offer an extensive range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments in pristine surroundings. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/migratory-birds-in-south-africa 2013-04-03T04:24:32-05:00 en Editor Features South Africa is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world to enjoy the country's spectacular wildlife, scenery and culture. Humans are not the only visitors attracted to South Africa by its natural bounty. Every year thousands of birds migrate to this beautiful country on the southern tip of the African continent to enjoy the spring and summer months. The majority of migrating bird species are insect-eaters and/or seed eaters that need to seek out available food sources and will often travel in large flocks over thousands of kilometers to meet their needs. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/eastern-cape-to-get-national-botanical-garden 2013-03-19T06:16:30-05:00 en Editor Features Opened to the public on July 1, 1913, the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens will be celebrating its centenary this year. A function was held in Cape Town in January 2013 to officially release a new publication entitled Kirstenbosch: The Most Beautiful Garden in Africa, written by respected ecologist Professor Brian Huntley and richly illustrated with full colour photographs. With more than 750,000 people visiting Kirstenbosch each year, the book will no doubt take pride of place in many a personal library as a memento of these spectacular gardens. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/albertinia-home-of-the-aloe 2013-03-06T00:24:25-06:00 en Editor Travel Named in honour of the first Dutch Reformed Minister to serve the community – Johannes Rudolph Albertyn – Albertinia is a tranquil little town located at the foot of the majestic Langeberg Mountain range around 50 km west of Mossel Bay on the Garden Route of South Africa. Laid out on a farm named Grootfontein in 1900, Albertinia received municipality status in 1920 and today is part of the Eden District Municipality of the Western Cape. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/freeme-wildlife-rehabilitation-centre 2013-02-20T01:25:10-06:00 en Editor Features Located in Johannesburg, the FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre was founded in 1997 to care for suburban indigenous wildlife in distress. FreeMe offers a service that most veterinarians do not have the facilities for – caring for the hundreds of suburban birds, reptiles and mammals that suffer injury, get ill or become orphans. With the motto of 'rescue, rehabilitate and release', the dedicated workers of FreeMe aim to return their patients to the wild wherever possible. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/enjoy-the-therapeutic-springs-of-caledon 2013-02-06T02:00:33-06:00 en Editor Travel Set in picturesque surroundings in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, the town of Caledon is located on the N2 national road around 100 kilometers east of Cape Town, making it an ideal getaway spot for visitors from the Mother City. Originally known in Dutch as Bad agter de Berg, meaning Bath Behind the Mountain, and later named Klein Zwarteberg before being renamed Caledon in honor of a Governor of the Cape Du Pré Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon, the therapeutic mineral springs nearby – six hot and one cold – are thought to be the main reason behind the establishment of the town. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/explore-the-walter-sisulu-botanical-gardens-in-gauteng 2013-01-23T00:10:58-06:00 en Editor Features With the spectacular Witpoortjie waterfall as a major attraction, the area in which the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens is situated has been popular with leisure-seeking visitors since the 1800s. It was established as a Botanical Garden in 1982 and in recent years has been voted as Gauteng's best picnic spot no less than five times. With the primary natural vegetation classified as Rocky Highveld Grassland, the 300 hectare garden includes a variety of habitats supporting more than 600 indigenous plant species. http://www.southafrica.com/blog/hiking-and-kloofing-in-the-hottentots-holland-nature-reserve 2013-01-09T01:06:58-06:00 en Editor Travel Named by early Dutch colonists as the 'Holland' of the indigenous Hottentots living there, the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountains separate the Overberg region of South Africa from the coastline. Early pioneers had to make their arduous journey over these mountains in their ox-drawn wagons, evidence of which can be seen in the deep wagon tracks etched on the rock, but today visitors to the spectacular Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve can choose how challenging their exploration of the area will be.