18 Feb |
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That's the shout heard all over Europe this summer as the rand takes a beating and overseas travel becomes a rare treat. But just because you've stashed your passport in the safe doesn't mean that you have to sink back in your couch and only explore the world through Animal Planet!  The rand is still king in SA, so take the opportunity to get to know the ins and outs of sunny South Africa. Tourists flock here from across the globe, so shouldn't you be making the most of the land you call home? You won't have to endure airline food or airport security, and you'll even understand what the locals are saying! Besides, South Africa offers a world in one country, with everything from furry felines and sun-kissed beaches to superb sunsets and verdant vineyards. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek have long bagged the limelight when it comes to the fruits of South Africa's vines, but the Breede River Valley in and around Robertson has become the wine route to explore for those in the know. This 'valley of wine and roses' is famous for growing some of the country's best shiraz grapes, while the likes of Graham Beck, Bon Courage and Weltevrede produce top-notch bubblies to toast your successful day on the fairways. The area is also famous for its stud farms, and among the horses you'll see gambolling in the paddocks are the sires and heirs of some of South Africa's top racehorses. Over the jagged peaks of the Riviersondend Mountains, the landscape softens into the rolling hills of the Overberg. Endangered Blue Cranes dot the fields and you'll be spoilt for choice between enjoying fynbos views on the course or packing your cozzie and heading to the coast. The upmarket seaside town of Hermanus is famous for its whale-watching, but by now most of these deep-sea visitors are heading south to Antarctica for the summer. The water may be too warm for the whales, but it's perfect for taking a dip at the nearby Grotto Beach, one of 18 Blue Flag beaches in SA. If you're feeling adventurous you can also take a 'swim with the feeeshes' on a shark-cage dive at nearby Kleinbaai, and then calm your nerves with a pint from the Birkenhead Brewery outside the quaint village of Stanford. Your nerves will calm themselves down once you hit the gorgeous Garden Route though. Soaring mountains, kilometres of beaches and lush indigenous forests… it's no wonder the region is one of South Africa's holiday hotspots. Oudtshoorn is just over the Swartberg if you fancy an ostrich ride or a peek inside the Cango Caves, otherwise hit the scenic N2 to Knysna to shlurp down a platter of oysters and cruise the Lagoon in search of the rare Knysna seahorse. The Garden Route gets busy in the summertime though, so take your time and go with the flow of the crowds. Crowds are something in short supply in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg though. With names like 'Barrier of Spears' and 'Dragon Mountain' a warm welcome is the last thing you'd expect, but there's a reason cosy inns like Cathedral Peak Hotel have been going for nearly 70 years! Make sure you keep your eye on the ball when you're playing the hotel's immaculate nine-hole course – the jagged peaks of this World Heritage Site might just throw you off your game! And don't forget to pack your walking shoes; the area offers a range of trails for you to explore on your own or you can join one of the free guided walks to marvel at nearby Bushman paintings and tumbling waterfalls. Twitchers can grab their spotting scopes and head for the three bird-hides, while kids will be entertained by everything from floodlit mini-golf and a climbing tower to horse-riding and beach volleyball. It might be the 'Water mountain', but there's probably not much beach volleyball on offer in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. There is, however, some of South Africa's best game-viewing! Close enough to Gauteng for a weekend break, but a world away from traffic jams and shopping malls, you'll also find horse-riding, health spas and hot springs to entertain you after a day on the course. Of course sometimes you just want to kick back and enjoy the peace and quiet of South Africa's wide open countryside, and there are few better places to do it than the Magaliesberg. Just a stone's throw from Johannesburg, you can wander through peaceful gorges, hit the trail on your mountain-bike or just sit back and soak up the silence. What's more, the Hartebeespoort Dam is just around the corner for canoeing and boating, while Sun City and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve make excellent day trips. With summer in full swing there's never been a better time to get out and explore South Africa. From wine to whales and the big five to a par five… that's something you won't get overseas! » Originally published in Greenside Golf World. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites            |