Best wildlife in the World

For me, there is one leopard that I feel the most affection for. The Maxabeni Young Male, so called owing to the spot pattern on either side of his shiny pink nose. Unlike his more evasive twin brother, this young male is willing to share his journey into adulthood. Cocky and cheeky but still desperately trying to learn where his place in the world is, every moment spent with him is different, interesting and thought provoking. I have watched him hunt his first antelope, leap away in fright from prowling hyenas and how his body language shifts from fear to confidence in momentary flashes. He has taught me lessons of persistence, courage and the value of cutting your losses. He is only a year old, yet he is wise. http://www.londolozi.com/ http://sarocks.co.za/2009/11/18/the-best-wildlife-in-the-world/

South African Festivals

Splashy Fen Splashy Fen South Africa's longest-running and most renowned annual music festival, Splashy Fen has evolved into the ultimate outdoor experience for music and nature lovers alike. Apart from music, draw cards include a host of fun outdoor activities for the whole family.

OppiKoppi Music Festival OppiKoppi Music Festival One of South Africa's most popular music festivals, held bi-annually at the foot and on top of a hill on a farm in the middle of the bushveld near the small town of Northam, Limpopo.

Football Fever Football 2010 In June 2010, millions of football-loving tourists will descend on South Africa, and billions of television watchers around the world will watch The FIFA 2010 World Cup being played.

Cape Town International Jazz Festival Jazz Festival This proudly South African event are hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre over two days at the end of March or beginning April each year and is known as Africa's Grandest Gathering.

South African Festivals SA Festivals List A list of some of the festivals held annually throughout South Africa - from the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival on 2nd New Year to the Oppikoppi Bushveld Musical Festival held on a farm near Northam (Limpopo).

National Arts Festival Arts Festival The biggest and most vibrant celebration of South Africa's rich and multi-faceted culture is the annual Standard Bank National Arts festival held in Grahamstown. This quaint Eastern Cape city is transformed into the country's creative crucible and for 11 days in July it's the only place to be.

Wine Festivals in South Africa Wine Festivals A number and variety of wine festivals and shows are annually held in South Afric

Is travelling in South Africa still save?

Only when you are nice with the locals

Eastern Transvaal South Africa (Mpumalanga)

Eastern Transvaal - South Africa

Eastern Transvaal in South Africa often referred to as "Big Game Country" is the setting for dozens of sanctuaries teeming with wildlife and birds. Among them, the Kruger National Park is world renowned, as are several of the luxurious private reserves on its western boundary. The entire area of Eastern Transvaal offers exceptional opportunities for bird-watching, hiking, horse-riding and fishing. Streams once panned for gold have become the haunts of eager anglers and lazy trout.

Eastern Transvaal is steeped in the history of pioneers, hunters and fortune seekers, fascinating gold rush towns abound. Barberton and Pilgrim's Rest are among the most famous. A special, additional dimension occurs in the Middleveld region which is inhabited by Ndebele people, notable for their traditional costumes and attractively decorated houses.

En route to the Kruger National Park through Eastern Transvaal, you have the advantage of some stunning scenery. Turn off the N4 to the village of Dullstroom, travel over the Long Tom Pass and its splendid panoramic views to Lone Creek Falls and the charming forestry town of Sabie. Just beyond Sabie, the Mac Mac Falls are worth stopping for; and you can treat yourself to a swim in the crystal-clear pools.

A small detour leads to Pilgrim's Rest; a fascinating historic town, well worth exploring before continuing to Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve. In the reserve, you can feast your eyes on the Blyde River Canyon and the rich bird life. At the southern tip of the reserve, the view from God's Window stretches to eternity across the lowveld. From there, it's a short and easy drive to some of the finest private game reserves in the country and Orpen Gate to the Kruger National Park.

This is the land of baobabs, fever trees, knob thorns, marula and mopane trees underneath which lurk the Big Five, the Little Five (buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion and rhino beetle), the birding Big Six (ground hornbill, kori bustard, lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, pel’s fishing owl and saddle-bill stork) and more species of mammals than any other African Game Reserve.

Best Hotel in the World

SA het beste hotel in die wêreld!

)

Having been rated against the finest hotels around the globe, Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat was voted the Best Hotel in the World in the 2009 US Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards Reader’s Survey. The exclusive five-star wilderness retreat at the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains, some 270m north of Cape Town (South Africa), also took pole position as Number 1 Lodge/Resort in Africa and the Middle East.
Sister property, The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa performed equally well, winning top honours as both Best City Hotel in Africa and the Middle East, as well as Best Hotel Spa in Africa and the Middle East.
The results of the extensive annual Travel + Leisure magazine readers’ survey were announced in the USA on NBC’S Today Show on Friday (10 July 2009). Winners will be honoured at a Travel + Leisure winner’s dinner and award ceremony at the new Cooper Square Hotel in New York City on July 21st.

Die Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat is pas deur die US Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards as beste hotel ter wêreld aangewys.

Hierdie vyfster- wildernis-wegbreekplek is geleë in die Cederberge, 270 km van Kaapstad. Dis 'n ekologiese oase, 'n eg Suid-Afrikaanse erfenisgebied, waar luuksheid en die natuur in harmonie saamleef. Van die aardse dog luukse-verblyf, tot die kontemporêre Kaapse kookkuns, top-klas spa en vlaktes vol vars lug, is dit g’n wonder dat Bushmans Kloof bekroon is. Daar's sowat 130 plekke in die reservaat waar boesmantekeninge nog sigbaar is en talle bedreigde plant- en dierspesies het hier 'n huis gevind.
Besoek www.bushmanskloof.co.za vir meer.

Het jy geweet?
Die Twelwe Apostles-hotel in Kaapstad het die toekenning as beste stadshotel in die wêreld en beste hotelspa in Afrika en in die Midde-Ooste by dieselfde geleentheid gewen.

Dubai Island Abu Dhabi

Not futuristic and advanced enough? How about “Rotating City” urban concept, which will be built anytime soon on an island in Abu Dhabi. The Rotating City, also by High Rise RE, is a city project where every building rotates and faces different environments according to the owner’s wishes. At 10 million square feet, this city definitely has the closer look to Spaceport in Star Wars. The city will consists of 20 rotating building 300 revolving, floating and flying villas on the water, also able to rotate at wish. Inside the city there are also 5-star hotel tower with 300 rooms, 4-star hotel tower with 350 rooms and Attraction Park with an animation box, magic carpet, river adventure, conference room and wedding room.

Top Disney World Resources

Disney World A-Z
http://goflorida.about.com/od/disneyworld/a/wdw_azlist.htm
Disney World withou the Theme Parks
http://goflorida.about.com/cs/disneyworld/a/wdw_resortfun.htm
Orlando
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/orlandowithkids/tp/Orlando_Florida.htm
All about Disney World
http://goflorida.about.com/lr/disney_world/246808/1/
All about Theme Parks
http://goflorida.about.com/lr/theme_parks/246808/2/
Top things to do
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/orlandowithkids/tp/Top-Things-to-Do-in-Orlando.htm

Namibia Sand Dunes

Skeleton Coast

Longwall

Cherry Festival Fickburg

19-21 Nov 2009

The busy town of Ficksburg is situated on the slopes of the Mpharane Mountain near the border of South Africa and is considered to be an important gateway into the neighbouring Lesotho. It is the principal cherry-producing centre in the country and is the regions top producer of grain, corn, livestock, potatoes, fruit and dairy products. Ficksburg has great outdoor and adventure activities to entertain any visitor and is currently the highest altitude dive point in Africa. History and Activities for Ficksburg The area around Ficksburg was always a revered region due to its excellent climate, good rainfall and attractive environment. It was therefore subjected to many ongoing land disputes between different tribes. The European settlers arrived in this area in the mid 1830’s and over the next 30 years remained in a state of turmoil. Commandant General Johan Fick became a renowned figure in this area during these Frontier Wars between the Settlers and the neighbouring Sotho’s. The town was eventually founded in 1867 and named after the Commandant General. The following activities are available: * 4x4 Trails * Abseiling * Altitude Scuba Diving * Architectural significance * Art Gallery * Asparagus Festival * Birding * Boating * Cherry Farm and Tours * Cherry Festival * Cherry Products * Game Viewing * Hiking * Historical significance * Horse riding * Hunting * Memorial * Meulspruit Dam * Mpharane Mountain * Mpharane Nature Reserve * Museums * Music Festival * National Monuments * Quad Biking * Rock Climbing * San Rock Artwork * Skiing (Lesotho) * Water sports

Cape Town Downfall?

You know, not everything about Cape Town is so spick and span. The city crawls with the undergrowth which every developing city acquires, from homelessness to crime, litter to the daily offerings on Long Street of any drug under the sun.

Scared yet? You shouldn’t be. As far as cities go, Cape Town is actually one of the best in the world in terms of safety, cleanliness and a transportation networks top in its class in the country. Yes, there may be down sides to this seaside town, especially if you are used to cities where the grime of the underclass is hidden from view. If you happen to stay in Cape Town accommodation, from Rondebosch to Roodebloom, Woodstock to the Winchester Mansions, you will inevitably come across someone who is off their rocker on drugs or using a trolley to ferry his or her belongings about town. Should you run and hide? No. You should take it all in. This is Cape Town; this is the Mother City; this is natural life. Although you may not agree with it and want to help out, life is not always so orderly. Your passport entitles you to see the countries of the world in anyway you wish to see them. However, it also entitles those cities to impose their way of living on you – even for just a little bit. If you have a passport and you wish to travel on it, make sure you realise that cities around the world rock to their own metronome, some adhere to the rules you are used to, some do not.

For your next Cape Town holiday, why not take a trip into the ghettos of Khayelitsha or Gugletu. You might find yourself surprised at the welcome you get.

The Lion Whisperer

Kevin Richardson, a zoologist and animal behaviouralist, has raised and trained some of the most dangerous animals known to man.The Kind of Animals most people come to see on African wildlife safaris are what Kevin refers to as playmates.

To do this he does not use the common methods of breaking the animal’s spirit with sticks and chains, instead he uses love, understanding and trust. With this unusual method of training he has developed some exceptionally personal bonds with his students. He sleeps with lions, cuddles newborn hyenas, swims with lionesses.Kevin can confidently look into their eyes, crouch to the their level and even lie down with them - all taboos in the normal world of wild animal handling - yet he doesn’t get mauled or attacked. Some people call him crazy; others shake their heads at his unique method of interacting with the animals.To others he is a hero because he has been able to tame and handle beasts that haunt our imagination, triggering our deepest fears.This has earned Kevin the name the Lion whisperer.The Lion whisperer’s secret - get to know the particular personality of each animal, what makes them angry, happy, upset, irritated - just like a mother with a child.

Kevin’s interaction with these animals has raised questions, and dispelled certain myths.Kevin goes to show that animals do have individual characters, they do show feelings and most of all they can develop a special bond with a man.Not only does the whisperer get them to do things but he makes these dangerous creatures to show their playful side.The relationship Kevin has with these creatures is that of respect. Both man and animal have great respect for one another. Kevin treats each individual differently, speaking to them, caressing them and, above all, treating them with respect.Richardson who has been working with the animals for the last ten years , has had his share of close encounters. This in the early days of his work when a four-year-old male lion gave him a lesson he will never forget.He says the beast put him to the ground and bit him until something in his passive attitude stopped the lion.Honestly i don’t understand what he means by that. Maybe the lion wasn’t just interested in having him for lunch.I mean how do you put sense in a lion that is about to turn you into a snack?

Having learnt his lesson early on the lion whisperer says he relays on his instincts to gauge situations and will not just approach a creature especially if it doesn’t feel right.He is also more confident with animals he has known since birth.

Main

Popular Cities to visit

Popular Cities to Visit

• Chicago, IL, United States
• Mumbai, India
• New York, New York, United States
• Delhi, India
• Los Angeles, CA, United States
• San Paulo, Brazil
• San Francisco, CA, United States
• Shanghai, China
• Moscow, Russia
• Seoul, South Korea
• Beijing, China
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Edo, Japan

Most Visited Countries

• Australia
• Mexico
• The United Kingdom
• France
• Italy
• Germany
• Jamaica
• The Bahamas
• Japan
• China
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Hong Kong

Great Websites for Travelers

Some great websites for travelers!

Recently, I have been doing a lot of research on travel and travel writers. I have been keeping track of sites I really like, and, whenever I can, I tweet about them. Since today is #traveltuesday on Twitter, I thought I'd share my fave sites this week with you all in one place! Whether you are seeking travel advice or tips, travel photography, travel stories, bloggers or travel experts, this short list is sure to help you before you make any major travel plans!


For travel news/advice/stories/tips
World Hum - http://www.worldhum.com
Tripso - http://www.tripso.com
Matador Travel - http://www.matadortravel.com/
Travelsense - http://www.travelsense.org
TravelandLeisure - http://www.travelandleisure.com
Away.com - http://www.away.com
Viator - http://www.viator.com
BrilliantTrips - http://www.brillianttrips.com

For travel photography/videos
Digital Apoptosis - http://www.digitalapoptosis.com/
Darwin Wiggett (check out the Canadian landscape!)- http://www.darwinwiggett.com
Travelistic - http://www.travelistic.com/
Virtourist - http://www.virtourist.com/
Reason To Wander - http://www.reasontowander.com/
Travelvice - http://travelvice.com/

For solo travelers
Travel Betty - http://www.travel-betty.com/
Overland Tales - http://www.overlandtales.com/
Where the hell is Matt? (funny!) - http://www.wherethehellismatt.typepad.com/blog/


Cheers,
Katy Lynch
Community Manager
katy@whereivebeen.com

France's Chateaux Directory

Chateaux de Bourron

French Chateaux Directory [ l'annuaire Châteaux français ] by Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Alsace Aquitaine Auvergne Bourgogne - Burgundy Bretagne - Brittany Centre - Loire Valley Champagne-Ardenne Corsica Franche-Comte Ile-de-France Languedoc-Roussillon

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Limousin Lorraine Midi-Pyrenees Nord-Pas-de-Calais Normandy-Lower Normandy - Upper Pays-de-la-Loire [W.Loire] Picardie Poitou-Charentes Provence-Alpes Rhone-Alpes

Learn Afrikaans before 2010

Learn to speak Afrikaans before you visit South Africa for the 2010 Soccer World Cup
http://www.openlanguages.net/afrikaans

Fastest Water Slide at Walt Disney World Florida Summit Plummet

Walt Disney World isn't known for its thrills, but Summit Plummet is one of the world's tallest, fastest water slides. And it just may be the single most thrilling attraction at the Florida resort.

Summit Plummet Up-Front Info

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 9
  Insane height and speed for a water slide
• Water slide type: Speed slide
• Height restriction to ride: 48 inches
• Height of slide: 120 feet
• Speed: Varies according to rider--approx. 60 mph for adults and 50 mph for kids
• Summit Plummet and other Blizzard Beach Scenes Photo Gallery

Big Hole Kimberley and Museum

Bar-Museum

Old Town

The biggest diamond rush which the world has ever seen. Kimberley (the capital of the Northern Cape, South Africa) is famous with the Big Hole. It’s a huge open-pit diamond mine and claimed to be the largest hole excavated by hand. 50,000 miners dug a almost circular hole with a surface area of about 17 hectares, a perimeter of about 1,6 km and depth around of 215m, right in the middle of the town.
Continue reading The Big Hole, Kimberley

South Africa's Attractions rated by Foreign Visitors

According to South African Tourism the top 20 attractions in South Africa, as rated by foreign visitors on departure from the country and published in the South African Yearbook (link at bottom of page), are as follows (Africa Deluxe Tours serves all of them):

1. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (Cape Town)
2. Table Mountain (Cape Town)
3. Cape Point (Cape Town)
4. Western Cape Wine Routes (near Cape Town)
5. The Garden Route (Eastern & Western Cape)
6. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (Cape Town)
7. Ostrich Farms (Oudtshoorn)
8. Robben Island (Cape Town)
9. Pretoria sights (Gauteng)
10. Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga & Limpopo)
11. Durban beachfront (KwaZulu-Natal)
12. Cango Caves (Oudtshoorn)


13. Drakensberg Resorts (KwaZulu-Natal)
14. KwaZulu-Natal Game Parks (KwaZulu-Natal)
15. Soweto (Johannesburg - Gauteng)
16. Gold Reef City (Johannesburg)
17. Blyde River Canyon (Mpumalanga)
18. Pilgrim's Rest (Mpumalanga)
19. Shakaland / Zulu Villages (KwaZulu-Natal)
20. Private Game Parks/ Reserves in Mpumalanga
(Mpumalanga)

Internet resources: South Africa Yearbook (pdf files)* - tourism chapter.

South Africa's Top 10 Attractions

TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS

©South African Tourism	KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Experience the bushveld and romance of 'real' Africa in this extraordinary park, indulge in a holistic spa at a luxury game lodge or get your pulse racing on a cycling safari... More info
©South African Tourism	CAPE TOWN Table Mountain, the Waterfront, Cape Point, Robben Island, Beaches, the Winelands, wonderful things to do, don't miss attractions like whale watching, fascinating history and culture, the fynbos of the Cape Floral Region in Kirstenbosch Gardens... More info
©South African Tourism	DURBAN An invigorating blend of India, Africa and the Colonial past spices up this sub-tropical city with a strong beach holiday and surfing culture... More info
©South African Tourism	BEACHES There's a beach for every season and every reason, from the beautiful, long, lonely beaches on the West Coast or the sultry North Coast to the most hip and hot in Cape Town... More info
©South African Tourism	GARDEN ROUTE Gorgeous beaches, rocky headlands, leafy forests and dramatic river cut gorges, world class golf resorts, so much to do and an abundance of great places to stay... More info
©South African Tourism	WINELANDS A World Heritage Cultural Landscape, the classic Winelands of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek is a sybarites delight with a plethora of delightful restaurants, coffee shops and fantastic places to stay... More info
©South African Tourism	EASTERN CAPE Golden beaches, the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth, East London, great surfing, malaria free game and bird watching, Addo National Park... More info
©South African Tourism	THE KALAHARI & NAMAQUALAND Bright carpets of wild flowers in Namaqualand, the black maned lion of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park... More info
©South African Tourism	CUTURAL VILLAGES & TOWNSHIPS Visit fascinating and colourful cultural villages, experience traditional and contemporary culture in a rural or urban homestay, township tours, music festivals in Soweto... More info
©South African Tourism	DRAKENSBERG Cloaked in emerald green in summer or golden and snow capped in winter, this dramatic mountain range is an awesome scenic destination with beautiful rock art, great places to stay, fly fishing, golfing... More Top 50 attractions in South Africa go to http://www.countryroads.co.za/content/south-africa-top-50-attractions.html

Things to do in South Africa

http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/