Botswana
Setswana: Ke a go rata

Kenya
Swahili: Nakupenda

Madagascar
Malagasy: tiako ianao
French: Je t’aime

Malawi
Chichewa: Ndimakukonda

Mozambique
Portuguese: Eu amo-te

Namibia
Damara/Nama: INam tsi ta ge a (from Female to Male)/ INam si ta ge a (From Male to Female)
Herero: Mbeku suvera
Oshivambo: Ondiku hole
Afrikaans: Ek is lief vir jou
German: Ich liebe dich

Rwanda
French: Je t’aime

South Africa
Zulu: Mena tanda wena
Xhosa: ndiyakuthanda
Afrikaans: Ek is lief vir jou

Swaziland
Swati: Ngiyakutsandza

Tanzania
Swahili: Nakupenda

Uganda
Swahili: Nakupenda
Luganda: Nkwagala
English: I love you

Zambia
Nyanja: Ndikufuna
Bemba: ni nkutemwa

Zimbabwe
Shona: Ndinokuda
Ndebele: Ngiyakuthanda

Did You Know

The love birds in the header image are native to the African continent, with the Grey-headed Lovebird being native to Madagascar particularly. They are social and affectionate little parrots and their name originates from their strong, monogamous pair bonding and the long periods the birds spend sitting together. They could teach us a thing or two about love…

Our Favourite African Films

Out of Africa 

Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in Africa, this is the film to watch before setting off on an African safari. Released in 1985, this romantic drama is based on the autobiographical book Out of Africa by Karen Blixen, a Danish baroness. She and her husband moved to a plantation in Nairobi in 20th century colonial Kenya. Karen’s husband goes off womanizing and drinking, while she has her own passionate love affair with a game hunter. The film’s stunning location photography makes you wish you were there – it’s no wonder the film won so many Academy Awards. Blixen endures several upheavals, as well as incredible, ‘only-in-Africa’ encounters. She eventually heads back home – but not without great stories to tell! As with every African adventure…

The Gods Must Be Crazy

Directed by Jamie Uys and released in 1980, this was a smash hit that tells the famous story of Xi, a bushman from southern Africa whose tribe has no knowledge of the world beyond South Africa and Botswana, where the film is set. It’s a comedic take on cultural miscommunication, with that popular scene when Xi discovers a coke bottle that had been dropped from a plane and takes it back to his village where it’s seen as a gift from the gods. It ends up causing trouble, as the tribe, who beforehand had no concept of “property”, begins to fight over it. Xi travels to the edge of the world to throw it off. The film covers the people he encounters along the way. The product is hilarious and informative as well as an often referenced piece in many philosophical discourses.

Dirkie – Lost in the Desert

Another classic from South African director Jamie Uys, this one is about a young boy and his dog who are in a plane crash and land in the Kalahari Desert. It follows Dirkie as he wanders through the desert and has various adventures, such as an encounter with the Bushmen, all while trying to survive the harsh desert conditions. Dirkie’s father goes to find and rescue his son. We won’t tell you exactly how the film ends but it’s happy. It’s a great tale of adventure and human bonding in the desert of southern Africa – kind of makes you want to crash a plane somewhere exotic too. Kind of…

Tsotsi

This 2005 film is based on the novel of the same name by literary great Athol Fugard. It’s typically South African in many ways, with Kwaito music performed by popular South African artist Zola on the soundtrack as well as a score featuring South African protest singer/poet Vusi Mahlasela. It’s not a pretty film but definitely moving. Set amid the notoriously crime-ridden township of Soweto near Johannesburg,  it tells the story of Tsotsi, a young, orphaned street kid who steals a car only to discover a baby in the back seat. He inadvertently has to look after the kid. It’s a very real depiction of how many live in South Africa but with the edge and thrill of any Hollywood action flick.

District 9

Released in 2009 and set in South Africa, this is another action-packed film but this time it’s sci-fi in genre. Its message though, is very pertinent and significant to Africa. The film tells the story of aliens landing in Johannesburg causing tensions with the humans. Unlike the humans, the aliens are forced to live in numbered shacks, resembling the racial segregation of Apartheid. There are several clashes between the two groups, particularly when one human is infected by an alien – a “prawn” – and the lines between them blur. The film is laugh-out-loud funny and had everyone reciting lines from it for months afterwards.

The Endless Summer

It’s the film that made the then-unknown break off Cape St. Francis in South Africa one of the world’s most famous surfing sites, so we thought it was worth a mention even though it’s not purely set in Africa. It became a cult surf movie, released in 1996, and follows two surfers on a surf trip around the world – including the coasts of Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii. If you like the water and plan to one day explore the coasts of South Africa, surfboard in hand, slip this one into the DVD player.

Invictus

The last lines of the film quote the poem of the same name by William Ernest Henley and stand out starkly, “I thank whatever gods may be. For my unconquerable soul. I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” They’re memorable, and so if the movie. Released in 2009, it is a biographical sports drama directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. It’s based on the John Carlin book “Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation” about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, hosted in the country after the fall of apartheid. The film depicts this important moment in history.

The Lion King

It’s a classic! Released in 1994, this American animated musical-adventure film from Walt Disney takes place in a kingdom of lions in Africa. The visuals and music are so romantically African, making you want to hop on a hot air balloon and fly over the Serengeti to Elton John’s “Circle of Life”. It tells the tale of Simba, a lion cub who is tricked by his uncle Scar into thinking he killed his father and so flees into exile and abandons his identity as the future King. The film follows his antics thereafter, with lovable Rafiki (who popularised the Swahili phrase “Hakuna Mutata“) and Timon and Pumba. If you didn’t shed a tear when Mufasa died, you’re not human. We know you’re itching to see it again. Why not see it for real this time… in Africa.

Sing it…

Madagascar

If you’ve ever heard people referring to King Julien and had no idea what they were on about, best watch the film that made the little guy famous. Four animals in a New York Central Zoo escape, with no notion of what living in the wild is really like. They find themselves in Madagascar, among a troop of jolly lemurs. Released in 2005, this computer-animated film produced by DreamWorks was a great hit with young and old and introduced us to the crazy creatures that lemurs are.

Check out our own videos on the Rhino Africa YouTube Channel. Such as this Madagascar video, filmed by David Ryan:

Keen for your own African experience? In 3D rather than 2? Contact us and we’ll help you plan just the adventure you’re looking for. From Cape Town to Botswana or from Namibia to Kenya, it’s time to push ‘Play’ on your African adventure!

Best be careful who you take to some of these places because many are so romantic that you might just end up proposing. Here is a list of some of our favourite, most romantic destinations, lodges and experiences in Africa. What are you planning for Valentine’s Day?

If you’re planning on a proposal – see how one of our Rhino Africans, Craig Harding, did it in his blog, “How I bagged a future wife” – PART 1, 2, 3.

Top 5 Romantic Destinations

• Cape Town and the Winelands – Cape Town has it all and wins over hearts with ease. From its natural beauty and views with the ocean and mountains to the romantic restaurants and intimate drinking spots (see our favourites here), you’re sure to get a little sentimental. The Cape Winelands are the perfect Valentine’s Day setting. There are several places to stay and get amorous while restaurants and wine estates are in abundance such as La Petite Ferme and Delaire Graff Estate, which both offer exquisite views.

• Mozambique – It’s the perfect beach destination with white sand and warm water beaches to lounge on all day with your dearest. Skimpy bikinis and topless men by day and intimate sunset cruises and dinners on the beach at night, ending the day together in luxury king-size beds… Has you wild-eyed already, hey? Find out more about Mozambique on our website and read about the exotic and private Quirimbas Archipelago on our blog.

• Maldives – We here at Rhino Africa swoon every time we come across a photo of this magical Indian Ocean island, admitting that we’d probably accept a wedding proposal from just about anyone who was nice enough to take us there… Any takers? Exclusivity is key here and the resorts and lodges on offer are otherworldly (just take a look). Beach dinners under the stars, luxury cruises arm-in-arm, spa treatments… you’ll be weak at the knees.
• Botswana – This destination epitomises the idea of the romantic African safari (also, if diamonds are a girl’s best friend you’re sure to win with Bots since it is one of the world’s largest diamond producers, with annual revenue streams in the tens of billions of dollars). There are some truly wild places, including the Okavango Delta, Chobe, Makgadikgadi Pans and the Kalahari. See the Big 5 together with your beau, go on a private mokoro ride, sleep in luxury beds and enjoy special treats like massages and picnics.
• Samburu National Reserve – Situated in Kenya, this is place where “Born Free”, the movie, was filmed. The film tells the tale of Elsa the lioness who is raised to adulthood and successfully reintroduced into the wild by the famous Adamson couple. There are several places to stay here amid the wild and vast plains. For example, there is the intimate Elsa’s Kopje which has a bath tub with the most enticing view and great spots for sexy sundowners.

Top 5 Romantic Lodges

• Mnemba Island Lodge – Mnemba Island is renowned as one of the most romantic ocean destinations in the world. So it’s a good bet, then? Enjoy rustic luxury on a private island, just 4,5 kilometres off the north-eastern tip of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, surrounded by an atoll of breathtaking coral reefs. It’s great for honeymooners and couples looking to get away together – with perks like romantic candle-lit dinners on the beach with waves gently lapping at your feet and some of Africa’s most wonderful dive sites.

• Tswalu Kalahari – The Malori Sleepout Deck is especially romantic as you get to sleep with a full view of them starry night skies. The Tarkuni and Motse lodges are also an exceptional setting for romance, here in South Africa’s largest private Game Reserve, with luxury bedrooms and heated swimming pools. Enjoy sundowners on lantern-lit dunes, boma dining and mountain lookouts under the umbrella thorn acacias.
• Singita Pamushana – Singita in general is a favourite with couples. We suggest you give Pamushana a try; it’s one of Africa’s best kept secrets. It is situated beneath the trees within the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in south-eastern Zimbabwe and has a magical ambience, great riverside views, lush gardens and luxury accommodation.

• Banyan Tree – This accommodation is situated in Intendance Bay on the island of Mahe in the Seychelles, one of the world’s best 10 beaches. It boasts an array of luxury villas, each with its own swimming pool and private outdoor jacuzzi – the perfect place to spend quality time. Tropical paradises don’t not come much better than this.
• Londolozi Private Granite Suites – take a dip in your own private heated plunge pool with your sweetheart and gaze into each other’s eyes over romantic candle-lit dinners. This is luxury and exclusivity in the extreme, all enjoyed under African skies.

 Top 5 Romantic Experiences

• Camping under the stars – such as in Lion Sands’ Chalkey Tree House. Feel totally alone with your loved one in the remoteness of the wild surrounding you. You will be taken here at sunset to welcome drinks and a delicious picnic dinner. The following hours of African dusk are wholly yours to enjoy as you sleep under the stars and hear the sounds of the bush.
• Dinner on the beach/ bush.
• Couples massages – enjoyed at most lodges mentioned above with an array of spa treatments to boot.
• Sundowners with a view – especially from a hot air balloon with a glass of champagne in hand… For a list of restaurants with great sea views in Cape Town, read our blog.
• Sharing a bubble bath…

If you’re planning a honeymoon in Africa, be sure to check out the Honeymoon section on our website. View more romantic lodges and destinations in Africa that we recommend.

Contact us for more information or to plan your perfect honeymoon or simply an exciting and romantic African getaway.

Dugong

Dugongs, we think you’ll agree, are rather splendid marine animals. They’re sometimes called “sea cows” because they graze on large amounts of sea grass. They can grow to about 3 metres in length and weigh as much as 500kg.  The Bazaruto Archipelago is one of the largest nature reserves in Mozambique and it is believed that this is the only place along the East African coast that still hosts a significant population of Dugongs. They are an endangered and protected species in Mozambique. Dugongs are a different species to Manatees, but are part of the same order (Sirenia).

Pangolin

A pangolin is a prehistoric-looking mammal with large keratin scales covering its skin, creating an impenetrable armor that protects it from predators. It uses its well-developed sense of smell to find insects. The pangolin is a nocturnal animal, which makes spotting it on a game drive during daylight, extremely difficult, as it spends most of the day curled up into a ball, sleeping. Tswalu Kalahari is considered probably the best place on earth to view pangolin. This unusual animal is rarely seen elsewhere but the open grasslands on Tswalu make it easier to find, particularly during winter when they emerge in daylight to search for ants and termites.

(Image from Tswalu Kalahari)

White Lion

White lions are not albino, instead the white color is caused by a recessive gene known as chinchilla or color inhibitor. At the moment there is a small population of white lion in the Timbavati Game Reserve. The white lion gene from the Timbavati is thought to be the source of almost all white lions in the world! For the most part they can only be found in zoos, a few in the Timbavati and at Sanbona Private Game Reserve on the Garden Route there is a free roaming pride of white lions.

Read more about the white lion in our blogs:

• Genetic defects and anomalies in African animals
• Niki visits Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Klein Karoo

Aardvark

The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a rare sight because it is completely nocturnal. The name is Afrikaans, and means “earth pig”. Aardvarks are omnivores that are about 1,6 metres long with a life span of about 11 years. Aardvarks are found throughout Africa except for equatorial forest and northern desert regions. They are highly adaptable and can be found anywhere with plenty of ants or termites – its principle diet.

Watch this video of an aardvark digging by Tswalu Head Ranger – Marco Tonoli:

Red Lechwe

The Red Lechwe is an antelope found in abundance in the Okavango Delta in Botswana and notable for its adaptations to swampy conditions. The hind legs are somewhat longer in proportion to other antelopes, to ease long-distance running in marshy soil. They use the knee-deep water of the Okavango Delta as protection from predators and their legs are covered in a water repelling substance allowing them to run quickly through the water. The splayed, elongated hooves act like fins in water and as stabiliser on soft, muddy ground.

Black Serval

Melanistic (black) servals are relatively common in the Aberdare mountains of Kenya. Most Aberdare servals are black and this may be an adaptation to help retain body heat in the cold mountainous area. Melanism is also associated with isolation and inbreeding. The base color of the pelt is darkened to a grey-brown so deep that the black spots are barely visible. Black servals have been reported on the moorlands of the Aberdare Mountains at 9800 ft (3000 metres) and they have also been reported from Mount Kenya, the Mau Forest, the Cheringani Hills and Kilimanjaro.

Indri

The Indri (Indri indri) is the largest living lemur and inhabits the montane forests of eastern Madagascar. It resembles a giant panda with its black and white fur, but its long neck and arms, and small ears make it look more human. The Indri lives on canopy fruits and leaves. It is characterised by its strange yet beautiful song, which can carry for more than 2 kms. It barks when confronted with danger and makes kissing sounds when affectionate. It doesn’t move along the ground, but instead leaps between tree trunks – often over 10 metres. The Indri population is dwindling due to habitat loss and hunting.

Aye-Aye

This thing is freaky looking! A cross between Golum and Dobby, the Aye-Aye is actually a lemur native to Madagascar and is the world’s largest nocturnal primate. It is characterised by its unusual method of finding food; it taps on trees to find grubs, then gnaws holes in the wood and inserts its narrow middle finger to pull the grubs out. The Aye-Aye is currently classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

The Ostrich

The ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest egg of any living bird. Commonly found on South Africa’s Garden Route, Ostriches can run at speeds of up to about 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), the top land speed of any bird. Their eggs are so strong that the average human can stand on it without it breaking – since it needs to be tough enough for an ostrich to sit on. One ostrich egg is the equivalent of about 24 chicken eggs. That’s one big breakfast! Or a big breakfast for one.

Gerenuk (Waller’s Gazelle)

Gerenuk means “giraffe-necked” in the Somali language. Gerenuks are a type of gazelle, with a small head in proportion to its body, and a long thin neck that makes it look like the result of someone stretching an impala. Gerenuk prefer lightly bushed areas and are found in East Africa – (mainly in Kenya, north-east Tanzania, southern Somalia and southern Ethiopia). They are very well adapted to arid conditions and don’t drink free water. Gerenuks are exclusive browsers, feeding on leaves, shoots, and sometimes flowers and fruits, which they often acquire by standing on their hind legs to pick from a tree or a bush.

Gaboon Adder

The Gaboon Adder (Bitis gabonica) is a venomous viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the world’s heaviest viper, has the longest fangs (up to 2 inches), and the highest venom yield of any venomous snake. Not a guy to be messed with! He’s a master of disguise with the colouring and patterns enabling him to blend in with rocks, leaves and other African terrains. He’s also got tiny horns between the nostrils and two stripes below the eye. Alias’s include butterfly adder, forest puff adder, and swampjack.

Bushbaby

They’re as cute as a button until you realise they pee on their hands and then jump around marking their territory on things. They are also known as galagos or nagapies (meaning “little night monkeys” in Afrikaans, since they are almost exclusively seen at night.). They are small, nocturnal primates native to Africa. Some say that the name bush baby comes from either the animal’s cries or appearance. Cute factor 10.

What are your favourite African animals? And do you have any interesting wildlife facts to share? Post a Blog Comment below or share with us on our Rhino Africa Facebook Page.

Your experience on safari will depend heavily on the quality of the game viewing experience and the knowledge and experience of the rangers. That is one of the reasons why prices for safari holidays vary so widely. Our expert travel consultants know what to look out for and they know the very best experiences to recommend so that you get the best value for money. If you’d like to see some of these extraordinary creatures and many more under the expert supervision of Africa’s top guides and rangers, then contact Rhino Africa Safaris today to start planning your African Safari Holiday of a lifetime!

Photography has the ability to totally transform and enrich your experience of life, especially on your travels. Suddenly you see differently. You see the little things, the obscure, the artistic. You see it all and get to take the sights and memories back home so family and friends can experience it too. We travel a lot here at Rhino Africa, scouting and sussing out the best destinations and lodges in Africa to send our clients – you travellers and adventurers – to.

These are the top 20 photographs taken mostly by our consultants last year. We think they epitomise the essence of Africa and show quite obviously why it is that we dig this continent so much. Take a look. Enjoy.

Keen to go on your own African safari with us to snap some of your own shots? Contact us and we’ll help you tailor-make the perfect itinerary at the best cost.

Yesterday we handed over the cheque to the Wildlife ACT Fund in a small presentation in our Rhino Africa offices. You can read more about our 1 ‘Like’ $1 Campaign here on our blog.

But this was just the tip of the iceberg… We decided to go above and beyond that and donated a total of R160,000 to the Wildlife ACT Fund.

In the spirit of saving rhinos and other endangered animals, we also donated a further R150,000 to the Save the Rhino Trust Namibia to fund critical anti-poaching units and enable the Save the Rhino Trust to enhance security and improve rhino monitoring in Namibia.

What about the money, honey?

Wildlife ACT Fund will use the money to purchase new wildlife saving equipment for their Endangered Species Monitoring Programme and their Rhino Relocation Programme, such as the various forms of tracking collars used to track animals like Cheetah, African Painted Dog and Leopard.

These include the latest location transmitters, using either VHF radio technology or GPS devices transmitted via cellular networks or satellite. This equipment makes it possible to monitor these animals daily, which means that if they are injured, sick, trapped in a poacher’s snare, or have escaped out of a reserve, help is not far away. A valuable spin off of this is the data, which is available for important research on animal movement patterns, population demographics and inter-species interactions, all of which helps with the future conservation of these species.

Who are Wildlife ACT?

They are a team of experienced conservationists, who get our hands dirty, working in the field, to save endangered and threatened species. They are a small, but efficient team who stretch every cent to make sure it is utilised in meaningful conservation operations. Their main focus is on the critically endangered Black Rhino and Painted Dog populations, as well as the threatened Cheetah and Vulture populations in Southern Africa. They focus on:

• Finding and funding the right equipment needed to effectively monitor endangered and threatened species
• Managing, capturing, transporting and reintroducing these animals to new areas
• Implementing anti-poaching measures and technology in the field
• Helping rural communities who live alongside protected wildlife areas to develop a love and respect for nature, provide them with reasons to protect it, and advance economic empowerment.

We at Rhino Africa will continue to raise money this year for conservation efforts, starting with some grand plans for Challenge4aCause 2012! Watch this space for more and find out about our other Doing Good efforts here.

About Royal Chundu

There is a choice of two lodges – the River Lodge and Island Lodge. The 10 riverfront suites at River Lodge feature double showers, an infinity pool, 15 kilometres of private river, a boma, library, business centre, satellite TV, WIFI & cellphone signal, and more. Island Lodge consists of four private and exclusive villas, each with an open-air bath, glass-walled double showers, infinity pool, boma, two lounges, dining area, private dining decks, WIFI & cellphone signal and much more, providing you with all you will need for a comfortable and well-pampered stay.

Watch our latest video on Royal Chundu:

 Ryan’s Highlights of Royal Chundu

1. It was the best service I have ever experienced. The staff were incredible and there was always someone around to assist, but subtly so.
2. Everything is really long and high here, as if the place was made for giants, which it sort of was. The owners – the O’Mahoney family – are tall folk and were fed up going to lodges and being too tall for the beds and doorways, etc. So when they established Royal Chundu they made sure the beds were king size and extra long, and that the shower heads were high up and the doorways tall. The showers are great and big enough to enjoy with a partner…
3. The sunset cruises were great and completely private with no one around. The boats had circular beds on the front which were like cuddle stations with a hood over it for extra privacy. It’s just you, your partner, the driver of the boat and your own barman (you can invite them for a cuddle too if you like). Unlike other lodges in the area there was no one else on the river so you feel utterly alone in nature.
4. There are lots of activities on offer but the river rafting was my favourite. The rapids are tame but exciting as hippos wade past you in the river. This was followed by a gourmet river bank lunch with several courses, again enjoyed in the middle of nowhere. On the raft you can spot mokoro riders going past and cows grazing on the banks.
5. The food here is excellent – the mighty fine fillet stands out the most. The dishes echo the heritage of the region and the hospitality of the Zambian people. The boat cruise lunch was great but you can also enjoy meals on an island picnic lunch or sundown picnic, at the bush bar with its viewing platform or in the Chief’s boma with an authentic African BBQ and traditional song and dance.
6. The community tour was very enlightening as you get to see how people in the area live. It really brings you down to earth. You see children and chickens running around, and how the villagers live in such wild and rural conditions with elephants ambling past. There are no predators here which makes you feel safe.
7. Royal Chundu is self-sustainable. They grow their own vegetables and fruit, have a pig farm and cattle. The only thing they order in is their wine so it cuts the cost and carbon emissions of flying and importing vastly and supports the local communities.

Activities

There are numerous activities at the lodge to enjoy. You can choose between (or pick them all) a tour of the great Victoria Falls, a sunset and sunrise cruise, fishing, canoeing, bird watching, a village tour and bush walk. There are several more that the lodge managers can help you organise, from helicopter rides to white water rafting. There’s also a floating spa on the Zambezi River, where you can enjoy the benefit of a majestic treatment setting as well as treatments that will provide you with the utmost in R&R.

Final Word

Keen to visit Royal Chundu and see the mighty Victoria Falls on the Zambian side? Contact us and we’ll help you book a trip of a lifetime to suit your needs and wants. Africa. Tailor-Made.

Read more about Vic Falls and watch the video here and find out more about Zambia here.

A five star boutique hotel in Stellenbosch with 22 rooms, it achieves the Goldilocks balance between intimacy, service and facilities. After a leisurely meander through the abundant Stellenbosch wine estates we arrived at Majeka and continued the theme of the day with an afternoon by the pool sipping on a few G&Ts and crawling between the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.

I gave the gym a wide birth, but had we had time, I would certainly have arranged for a treatment in the Sanctuary Spa with its unique Himalayan Salt Bath and colour treatment. Pampering of the highest calibre.

The rooms are great – spacious and tastefully decorated. But it’s worth spending a bit extra if you can and going for one of the pool suites or a mountain view suite. The mountain view suites are smaller and a bit darker, but the design is really chic – think Soho House in the winelands.

Now for the nitty-gritty: Chrysalis 300 thread count linen, flat screen TVs with DSTV, Lavazza coffee machines, gowns, crocs (yes, you read correctly – those nasty looking rubber shoes – for comfy poolside/spa/sauna/steam room transitions – you will still be judged for wearing them – ‘borrowing free crocs’ does not make it right), super thick towels, full laundry service, private terrace or balcony, in-room dining, Moya body products, a well stocked minibar (including one of my favourite wines – De Toren Z) and a huge DVD library.

If you can’t tear yourself away from your room, you can have your bath turned into a mini-spa with a number of treatments and romantic flourishes to choose from on the Bath Menu.

The Makaron restaurant and M-Lounge at Majeka won the Eat Out 2011 Boschendal Style Award and it’s easy to see why. In the M-Lounge eclectic design combines modern and classical in ways that only the bravest of interior designers or most deluded of drag queens would imagine possible. But it works. A dark-leather, tufted Chesterfield sits cheek by jowl with a grand piano, an illuminated blue bar, golden pigs, a faux library and a model ship.

Across the hall is the Makaron restaurant which is an altogether less cluttered space incorporating lots of light wood and pastel colours. It’s a spectacular space which certainly enhances the sense of occasion. You can read more about the Makaron Restaurant in our Horny Grazer review, suffice to say that it was a huge treat to eat there and then be able to stumble a few yards to my room and the exceedingly comfortable bed.

There’s also a gorgeous terrace for an al fresco lunch and one of the best breakfast spreads around. Whether you’re in the mood for champagne and oysters, eggs royale or a made-to-order super-smoothie you’ll be well set up for a day exploring the magnificent Stellenbosch wine route.

For more…

For some tips and further information about Stellenbosch, take a look at our recent Blog. Keen to stay at Majeka House? Let us help you plan a great tailor-made itinerary that includes this accommodation along with other great spots in the Cape Winelands.

Los Angeles Times Travel Show

First up is the LA Times Travel Show – it’s the 14th Annual Show and has been named one of the top ten trade shows and conventions in Bizbash’s Southern California.  Here you will discover loads of amazing travel destinations, attractions, activities, resorts, products, luxury goods and services and more, ranging from safaris to scuba diving, wind surfing to wine tours, archeology excursions to relaxing on a pristine beach. It’s essential for anyone planning trips and adventurers to hit the road and maximize the experience of travelling.

Along with us, there will be hundreds of exhibitors. There will also be trip giveaways, cultural entertainment, celebrity speakers, the Times‘ renowned editorial experts to offer a wealth of practical information, and Q&As with Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award-winning reporters and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers including:

• Christopher Reynolds: revealing guide to local travel, “Southern California Close-Ups”
• Mark Boster: stunning visual portrait of “Four Seasons in Yosemite”
• Chris Erskine: in-depth, behind-the-scenes reports on LAX and John Wayne Airport
• Jen Leo: web buzz and digital apps for tech-savvy travel
• Kathy Pyon: expert tips for taking vacation photos like a pro

Times Travel editor Catharine Hamm and a full roster of guests will also be speaking throughout the weekend. Don Wildman (“Off Limits”), Josh Gates, (“Destination Truth”), Sarah Schlichter (IndependentTraveler.com), Alice Short (Times Features editor) and Booth Moore (Times fashion critic) are scheduled to join headliners Rick Steves (“Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door”), Lisa Ling (“Our America”), Arthur Frommer (Frommer’s travel guides), and Adam Richman (“Man v. Food Nation,” “America the Edible”) for talks and panel discussions on topics ranging from budget travel to the best shopping destinations.

Details

When: January 27-29, 2012
Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles
Open to the public: Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Travel Trade: Friday, January 27, 2012 9 am – 6 pm

Rhino Africa will be attending and you can visit us at the show at the Rhino Africa booth (stand number 1635) Saturday and Sunday10h00 – 17h00. For more info visit  events.latimes.com/travelshow

We have a limited number of free tickets to give away, so if you’re going to be in LA, then just drop Tamlin an e-mail and she’ll arrange a ticket for you if we have any left (tamlin@rhinoafrica.com).

New York Times Travel Show

Next up is the New York Times Travel Show which promises to be a spectacular international celebration. There will be six cultural stages with live performances and culinary presentations from around the world. you can explore over 500 global destinations – from the top hot spots to more off-the-beaten track escapes. Get travel tips and advice at the seminars held throughout the day, hosted by experts in the travel industry.

Details

When: March 2-4, 2012 for Travel Professionals and 3-4 March for General Public
Time: Saturday 3 March – 10 am – 6 pm; Sunday 4 March 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City

Rhino Africa will be attending and you can visit us at the show at the Rhino Africa booth (stand number 1057 in the African pavillion). For more information see www.nyttravelshow.com

If you’re in the area please do come down and find us! We’d love to meet you all face-to-face. We can tell you all you need to know about travelling in Africa. Several of our expert travel consultants will be at the stands in both Los Angeles and New York. Come and get brochures and your own fabulous Rhino Africa 4-gig USB Flash Drive.

The consultants that will be going and ready to greet you with a friendly smile at either the LA or NY shows include: David Ryan, Anton De Wit, Ingo Brüggemann from the Rhino Afrika German Division, Samantha Myburgh, Monique Vally, Justine Ryan and Niki Duncan. Find out more about some of the team on our website.

See you in America!

Christmas time approached, the countdown began, kids munched away the chocolates in their advent calendars, and I said hello to two weeks of freedom. Holidays! Having fourteen days to suddenly do as you please – no work, no meetings, no deadlines – can be overwhelming. You want to get the most out of the days, to not miss a moment.

As offices closed and families gathered around lit up plastic trees and stuffed themselves with mama’s trifle, I decided the best idea was to jump in a car with friends and family and head on straight down the highway out of town.

Road trips – they’re the epitome of freedom. In a plane you miss all the good stuff. But on the road it’s all at your fingertips. You can stop off at all the places along the way – the farmstalls, wine farms (definitely my favourite), the fields of hay barrels and sheep and cows, different B&Bs and hotels and backpackers and guesthouses and game lodges, the ostriches, the hawks on electricity wires, the crows in the sky… You get to meet weird locals and foreigners with stories to tell.

We started on the coast – headed out from Cape Town on the N2 and along Clarence Drive, one of the most picturesque drives in the Western Cape. The road meanders around the mountain with the waves lapping up against the cliff on the other side. Out the window you can spot seals, whales, speedboats, kayakers, people fishing off the rocks and the horizon in the distance with Simonstown and Kalk Bay on the other side of the wide False Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

We pulled into Pringle Bay in the Cape Overberg for some shut eye and down time. Such is holiday life – beach days, sundowners and stargazing on the balcony and cheesy pizzas at the local bar-restaurant Perigators. Whatever our hearts desired.

On Christmas Day we drove on past Betty’s Bay and Kleinmond to the Botrivier Hotel for Christmas lunch – home cooked and wholesome, grandma’s kitchen style. Botrivier is a small village also in the Overberg, in the foothills of the Houw Hoek Mountains, en route to Hermanus. The hotel is friendly and unpretentious with comfy accommodation options if you plan to hang around longer.

Just a stroll away is the Beaumont Wine Farm, home to the region’s oldest wine cellar, which dates back to the 1700s. We did a wine tasting and bought a few bottles for the trouble. Beaumont is a family-run estate and has an intimate feel about it. They sell hand-crafted, classically-styled wines at the cellar and homemade produce. You can overnight in their farm accommodation and during your time experience one of the oldest working water-mills in the Overberg, meander through vineyards on foot or horseback, see the abundant bird life, or take a hike in the fynbos trails of the Green Mountain Eco Route.

We jumped back in our laden car and travelled on to McGregor, a small village in the mountains of the Western Cape. It’s known for being a bit of a hippy, new age town with its artists and carpenters, cob houses and permaculture courses, and so on. I stayed in the hippiest joint of all – Temenos, a spiritual retreat where loud talking and excessive drinking (two things I do very well) are frowned upon.

It’s a playground really, a country retreat with intricate gardens that go on forever, sacred spaces starring giant Buddhas and other deities and beautiful peacocks trailing around majestically. Every religion and belief sect is featured so that neither one is preferred. Whether religious or not, Temenos is meant to be a place to escape the city to, the stress and noise, for some navel-gazing and contemplation. It’s kind of perfect around the end of a year and beginning of a new one.

After a hypnotising aromatherapy full body massage with one of the local masseuses, we swam in the pool (it can get pretty hot in the countryside this time of year) and spent some time in the huge library, brushing up on our Jungian knowledge. You can’t help but relax in McGregor, slow down to a snail’s pace and just be. The main street is dotted with a few delis, restaurants and antique stores. The roads are wide and the street lamps old and from another time. We dined at night at Tibaldi’s Restaurant – which is annexed to Temenos. And spoke too loudly and drank too much. But hey…

The next day we headed into the mountains on the Boesmanskloof Trail. It’s so rugged and wild out there, in the heart of the Riviersonderend Mountains surrounded with mountain peaks of the Langeberge and Galgeberg. The heat is intense but the reward is a beautiful oasis of a rock pool and waterfall. We hiked about 8 kms and then turned back like happy little campers.

It’s always a bizarre realisation to me to have travelled this country so extensively, to have lived here my whole life, but to still be finding places that I’ve never seen or heard of. You could probably live in South Africa for a lifetime and not even see all it has to offer. But you can try… and I recommend you include the areas mentioned here.

Hot, sweaty and Cape Town bound, we drove on and stopped in at Gabriëlskloof Wine Estate. I’ve knocked back a bottle or two of theirs before so it was nice to see where it actually comes from. The estate is seemingly in the middle of nowhere, away from the pack of wine farms that dot Stellenbosch and Franschhoek like spots on a dalmatian. Tucked away among rolling valleys, just an hour from Cape Town along the N2, you could call it the secret gem of the Bot River wine route. We sat outside and devoured gourmet burgers, as little blonde girls in pink tutu-like princess dresses ran around the pools in the garden.

The countryside never fails to disappoint. As we entered Cape Town again it felt like we’d been away for weeks but only a few days had passed. Wine farms, mountain pools, massages and good food… Wish I was there now.

Keen for a road trip of your own?

Route 62 is another popular road trip destination. It meanders its way between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn and is the inland alternative to the Garden Route, passing through the Karoo’s many little towns on its way.

We can help you plan the perfect self-drive tour that incorporates several destinations in the Cape Winelands and Overberg or further. Simply contact us to find out more and to book your trip. Read here for more about winelands tours and here for a list of great accommodation options in the area.