Give a little it'll mean a lot

ACACIA Africa is asking all of its travellers who are finishing their tour in Cape Town to open their hearts and their backpacks and consider donating to SAVE. The SAVE Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation that works to enrich, educate, and empower various township and settlement communities, every donation going to families affected by the shack fires in the Dunoon and Morning Star housing areas on the outskirts of South Africa's Mother City.

Sabine Behrmann, Cape Town Manager, at Acacia Africa, comments, “So far we have donated 20 camping mattresses, in excess of 30 pillows and an assortment of kitchen equipment including pots, utensils, serving bowls. Our tour leaders let clients on our southbound tours finishing in #CapeTown know that if they wish to donate their sleeping bags, pillows or other personal items (clothes, flash lights, books etc) they should simply leave them on the truck after checking into the lodge in Cape Town. We then pass them on to the SAVE Foundation who see that these items get to the needy."

While there's no better time to put the word out, the fires are frequent, so Acacia #Africa is hoping travellers will continue to give what they can over the festive season and beyond.

Sabine Behrmann, comments, "These families are often left with nothing at all so every donation goes a long way to helping them get back on their feet, and no matter how small, travellers will be making a very real impact on these people's lives."


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Time is the greatest luxury

IN 2018 Thomas the Tank Engine, the little blue steam engine who always strived to be useful on the island of Sodor underwent a major overhaul after 70+ years to embrace the modern world, global trends and a new and inclusive way of thinking. Keeping up with the times means even the best of the best need to constantly strive to evolve, stay ahead and make changes to remain relevant and offer the best possible experience. 

With this in mind, at roughly the same age as Thomas, and despite being recently voted Africa’s Leading Luxury Train at the 2019 World Travel Awards, South Africa's iconic #BlueTrain reinventing itself too! Not only has its second train set been given a makeover and extension – but its classic cross-country journey is changing to in January 2019. Guests will get an additional 10 hours, meaning two nights’ sleep onboard instead of just one, to better enjoy the scenery and luxury rail experience.

Guests will now be able to begin their journey on the same day as their flight lands in #SouthAfrica, since the train will depart in the evening from Pretoria, and in the late afternoon from Cape Town - so they no longer have to book a hotel the night before.

Great news for travellers is that the despite getting to enjoy an extra 10 hours of fully-inclusive wining, dining and pure pampering, the rate will only increase by around £115 per person i.e. from R16,430 pp (about £953) to R18,405pp (about £1,067) - and because it is 2 nights on-board, it saves the cost of that extra hotel night.

www.bluetrain.co.za


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Gloriously Green

ONE of the first things people remark on when they visit Glen Avon Lodge Boutique Hotel in Cape Town’s famous Constantia Valley is often its greenery. Usually they are referring to its magnificent rose-filled gardens – but whilst a lot of love and care goes into the grounds, they are not what this 5-star boutique hotel is most proud of. What the Stringer family and the team at Glen Avon is most proud of is their top rating for other green credentials! 

General Manager Hans Heuer and his team were delighted with its most recent accolade as a “Green Champion with Distinction”, scoring 88% overall for Sustainable Tourism Management. This recognition as a CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE PROPERTY was awarded by Green Tourism Active which is a non-profit, global sustainability assessment & certification company that is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and is also a member of the UN World Tourism Organization.

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A culinary accolade to celebrate a 10 year anniversary

MAJEKA House & Spa in the heart of South Africa’s famous Cape Winelands is a stylish, fabulously quirky, boutique hotel with the added-bonus of boasting one of the country’s best restaurants.

MAKARON, under the culinary expertise of Head Chef Lucas Carstens, has just been announced as one of the winners in the 2018 American Express Platinum Fine Dining awards held in Constantia on 1 October 2018 – a great culinary accolade to celebrate their 10-year anniversary this month. Makaron has also previously been nominated for Condé Nast Gourmet Restaurant Awards and is repeatedly listed amongst the Top 30 restaurants by Eat Out.

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On track for an unforgettable holiday

THERE are many ways to experience South Africa – but if you really want to push the boat out and do it in style, you will be hard-pressed to beat combining a safari in the greater Kruger area with The Blue Train. 

The Blue Train is an icon of #South Africa - renowned for its sumptuous ensuite accommodation, award winning wines, freshly prepared cuisine and superlative service - all the while showcasing some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes along its winding journey. Usually travelling between Cape Town and Pretoria, The Blue Train also makes occasional special departures to the Greater Kruger area allowing a select few guests the opportunity to combine their one-way rail journey with a safari, either in the Kruger National Park itself – or at one of the luxury lodges in the Greater Kruger/Sabi Sands.

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African expansion

AUTOGRAPH Collection Hotels , Marriott International’s distinctive collection of passionately independent hotels, today welcomed five African Pride Hotels to its growing global portfolio, marking the debut of the brand in #SouthAfrica. 

These hotels include, African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel, African Pride 15 on Orange Hotel, African Pride Mount Grace Country House & Spa, African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Arabella Hotel & Spa, Arabella Country Estate, and join the brand’s diverse portfolio of more than 135 one-of-a-kind hotels.

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Cape Town's water crisis, tourists asked to act mindfully

EARLIER this year, as news of Cape Town’s water crisis reach the world and ‘Day Zero’ predictions loomed ever larger (on 17 January Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille announced the city had reached “a point of no return” in its water supplies, and that Day Zero was virtually guaranteed in a matter of weeks) so vital questions were raised as to the impact on visitor numbers to the Mother City and the potential dimming tourism, the country’s economic bright spot.

The majority of #CapeTown hotels, however, currently state that they ask guests not to use baths and to limit showers to two minutes or less. Many, such as Tsogo Sun (who are building a desalination plant to help supply its Cape Town hotels with their own water) and the Vineyard Hotel and Table Bay, amongst others, are implementing innovative water saving measures and say that, on the whole, guests are responding positively, are aware of the city’s challenges and act mindfully when visiting.

Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde recently stated that the Western Cape has worked hard to develop the Cape Town tourism industry into the award-winning sector it is. He urged visitors to not cancel their trips, but to join Capetonians by using water responsibly while they were visiting. “Saving water in Cape Town means saving jobs in Cape Town,” said Winde.

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Pilgrimage to the Eastern Cape

OVER the next twelve months, South Africa’s Eastern Cape will be a #safari hotspot, with travellers expected to make the pilgrimage to Mandela’s home province, to mark what would have been his 100th birthday. Events linked to ‘Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018: Be the Legacy’ will be held in #SouthAfrica and London, UK (a Nelson Mandela Exhibition running for a fortnight around his birthday in July), and a statue honouring the former president will be unveiled in Glasgow.

It’s bragging rights assured, after landing a much coveted spot on Lonely Planet’s top 10 Best Countries To Visit In 2018, there’s even more reason to visit South Africa, as the Otter Trail (the country’s oldest hiking trail) will also celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.

Cape Town is the jumping off point for Robben Island (where Mandela served 18 years of his 27 year sentence) and the perfect place to feel the Madiba buzz post your Big 5 safari. With stops in the Mountain Zebra National Park, the Addo Elephant Park and Tsitsikamma you can experience a taster of the country’s oldest hiking spot in a single afternoon - the complete Otter Trail is a more serious five day trek. 

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Ultimate Africa tour from Latitude 33

AFTER overwhelming success of its inaugural Ultimate #Africa tour in 2016 and a record-sell out of its 2017 tour – Australia’s newest elite travel company, Latitude 33, has released a land-only luxurious African #safari tour for 2018.

Departing Australia on April 7, 2018, this 13-night African adventure includes staying at some of the most elite hotels- including the only six star hotel in Africa, the One&Only Cape Town, an exclusive stay at the contemporary Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, the historic landmark Victoria Falls Hotel and a number of privately chartered jet flights within Africa which eliminates the hassle of commercial airports giving guests the ultimate travel experience. 

This limited numbered tour is also packed with more inclusions like airfares from Australia with Qantas Airways, fully escorted land touring in Africa, two-nights accommodation at Four Seasons in Johannesburg, a helicopter tour over Victoria Falls, an all-inclusive five-night exclusive stay at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge with all meals, beverages, mini-bar, laundry service, double-daily guided safaris and emergency evacuation insurance, transfers and port charges and government taxes. 

www.latitude33.travel

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Picture Credit: Dev WR 154076139@N08/35649402742 Patterns in nature.via photopin

Sky high savings on Christmas day

HOLIDAYMAKERS who are prepared to forgo the traditional Christmas Day celebrations at home and enjoy their turkey dinner mid-air, can land sky-high savings according to leading global flight search and travel deals website, Cheapflights.co.uk.

Savings of up to 23 per cent can be made on out-bound #flights to the most popular Christmas holiday hotspots if travellers are happy to fly on #ChristmasDay. 

The top 10 searched-for Christmas destinations are all long-haul with Bangkok in pole position and New York, Dubai, Sydney, Los Angeles, Goa and Cape Town also riding high.

Andrew Shelton, Managing Director of Cheapflights, said: “If you have always wanted to visit Australia, South Africa, Asia or the USA but have been put off by the prices, travelling on 25 December could be the way to get you there. “Our advice is to plan ahead and book early to make the most of the Christmas Day savings but for holidaymakers hankering for a Christmas getaway this year, there are still bargains to be snapped up.

For more tips on travelling on Christmas Day, go to www.cheapflights.co.uk/news/things-anyone-travelled-christmas-day-knows-true

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Picture Credit: David441491 flickr.com/photos/97578613@N08/23589725299 Strongsville Christmas Lights 12-24-2015 - 12 via photopin

Johannesburg: Africa's most visited city

JOHANNESBURG is set to be the most popular destination city in #Africa for the fourth year, according to the 2016 Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index.

The city is expected to welcome 3.6 million international overnight visitors in 2016, a 6.2 percent increase on last year’s 3.39 million visitors. 

Cairo in Egypt is the second most visited African city with 1.5 million international overnight visitors followed by Cape Town (1.4 million visitors), Casablanca in Morocco (1 million visitors), and Durban (831,000 visitors).

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Picture Credit: Paul Saad flickr.com/photos/114138418@N08/31103120895 Johanneburg HDR At Sunrise via photopin

Gardens around the globe

HIGHLIGHTS of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 2016/17 #garden #holidays programme include: 

• The Landscape Gardens of Capability Brown 
• Gardens and Wildflowers of South Africa's Western Cape 
• Two tours of the French Riviera featuring the Menton Lemon Festival in February and the International Rose Festival in Grasse in May 
• Architecture and Gardens of Andalucia tour, which includes a visit to Cordoba's patio festival 

With expert hosts on many departures, the programme features 26 escorted tours to destinations including Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the Azores, Sweden, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, Chile and Sri Lanka, plus Britain and Ireland. 

Hosts include Christopher Bailes, former curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden, Jekka McVicar, one of Britain’s leading experts on herbs, and Sabatino Urzo from RHS Garden Wisley.

Itineraries showcase horticulture in its widest sense encompassing private, botanic, and historic gardens, wild landscapes, national parks, vineyards, nurseries, and charitable gardening projects. Wherever possible, exclusive access has been secured as well as private openings and a welcome from the garden owner or curator. 

www.rhsgardenholidays.com 

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/93242958@N00/4827924180">Pincushion at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Bali named cheapest long-haul destination for third year

#BALI has retained its position as the cheapest long-haul #destination for the third year running, according to research by Post Office Travel Money. 

The Indonesian island was among 16 of 33 destinations to register a year-on-year price drop, including Cape Town and Tokyo.

Dubai was the most expensive destination surveyed at £167.10, while a rise of 15.2% in Muscat has seen Oman costs go up to £145.16.

The items counted in the costs study include an evening meal for two with a bottle of wine, bottle of beer/lager, soft drink, glass of wine, cocktail, chocolate bar, mineral water, suncream, and insect repellent.

Cape Town at £41.58 remains second cheapest for the third consecutive year. Tokyo at £51.81 has seen its value improve due to a combination of the strong pound and local price cuts. When this year’s 21.5% price reductions in the Japanese capital are added to significant falls reported 12 months ago, costs for UK visitors have halved since 2013, making a destination previously thought expensive an increasingly affordable option.

Other good value Asian destinations highlighted in the study include Phuket at £58.31, Hoi An (Vietnam) at £73.02 and the South Korean capital of Seoul at £69.02.

Andrew Brown, of Post Office Travel Money, said: ‘Price remains the big issue and so it is good news to see so many long-haul destinations offering great value, even though the strength of sterling is the main reason for the low resort costs. Local prices have fallen in only eight resorts this year, while sterling has risen in value against the currencies for most destinations.

‘The trick is to do some holiday homework before booking and pick destinations where the cost of living is already low and where the strong pound is making prices even cheaper.’

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9751325@N02/8011463655">Welcome to Bali</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

New in South Africa

NEW on the self-catering market in South Africa is La Clé des Montagnes – a cluster of four villas in the Winelands village of Franschhoek.

Set in gardens and with private pools, the houses are for couples, friends, and families seeking the privacy, space, and the conveniences of a private home, yet with daily servicing, a 24-hour concierge, and a butler. 

Services range from private chefs and childminders to helicopter transfers and golf excursions.

A 45-minute drive from Cape Town, the Franschhoek area features 40 wine cellars and a higher concentration of award-winning restaurants than anywhere else in South Africa.

Prices range from ZAR4,050 (£224) per person per night: www.lacle.co.za

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Picture Credit: "Franschhoek Valley" by User:Da_Legend - Own work via Wikimedia Commons; "Pool" courtesy lacle.co.za