Globe Trotter

Globe Trotter

Its time for Africa!

Want to escape the summer heat? Then head on for an African Safari. Far off in the Southern Hemisphere coast of Indian Ocean, South Africa at this moment welcomes you to enjoy the cosy winter sunshine.
By Dipti. P

Pic Courtesy - Taj Properties - Taj Cape Town, the Guest Room

THE BEST OF SOUTH AFRICA

Explore the land of fun, adventure, wildlife, pristine beauty and gourmet delights. Go over a few must visit places in the country.

Tinley Manor is famed for its incredible sea views and spectacular beaches.

Worcester Wine Lands

KwaZulu Natals Dolphin Coast

Home to a large Indian community with the offerings of spicy cuisine and fresh produce is KwaZulu-Natals Dolphin Coast or North Coast. This magical Dolphin Coast on the northeast coast of South Africa is a favoured holiday spot for both locals and international visitors. The lush strip of coastline stretches north up to the city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal Province, from the Tongaat River in the south of Ballito to the Umhlali River, and is famed for its warm Indian Ocean waters and range of recreational activities. Considered as a playground for all visitors with its gorgeous beaches, great waves, nearly year-round warm weather and a relaxed village atmosphere is a must visit. You can indulge in swimming, surfing, fishing and all water sports here. Thompsons Bays Olympic-sized tidal pool Charlies Pool, Salt Rock holiday resort, Shakas Rock with its gorgeous beach and the Sheffield Beach are some of the other attraction in Kwazulu Natals Dolphin Coast that should not be missed. Zimbali, an exclusive hotel set in the unspoiled coastal forest, offers a luxurious stay while

If you are a wine lover then you should stop by The Worcester wine lands. Why? Because it is the largest wine growing area in South Africa! Stretching from the Hex River Valley in the north to the Villiersdorp in the south, there are great value wines and spectacular drives over passes connecting the Worcester wine estates. And not to be missed is the annual Worcester Wine Lands festival in May/ June. Among these Worcester wine estates are Slanghoek Wine Cellar; the award-winning Nuy Wine Cellar; and the Du Toits Kloof Wine Cellar, which has won international acclaim. The region offers much more for visitors than just the wine lands of Worcester. There are Open Air Living Museum and Reptile World, 10 hectares of indigenous gardens at the Karoo National Botanical Garden, architectural walking routes and the Leipzip Herb Centre in the Nuy Valley.

Pic Courtesy - Taj Properties - View of the Taj Cape Town, the Lobby

rich city; Taj Cape Town offers a distinctly different experience to both business and pleasure seekers. The property stands at the heritage building of the South African Reserve Bank and Temple Chambers (later the Board of Executors) dating back from as early as 1896. The hotel offers 177 exquisite rooms to its guests with a blend of sophistication and unmatched comfort.

Taj recommends the 5 Must Dos in Cape Town

Cape Town

Your visit to South Africa would be incomplete if you do not visit the Mother City-Cape Town. In May 2011, Cape Town was declared the worlds No.1 destination by Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Awards which was voted by 45-million globe trotters. The impressive bulk of Cape Towns iconic Table Mountain looms over the city as a silent sentinel to the Mother Citys vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, rich history, for worldclass shopping and entertainment facilities, and friendly citizens add charm to the city.The city is steeped in history. Highlights include a trip to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for much of his life; the Castle of Good Hope, built by the early Dutch settlers and expertly restored; and the historic homestead of Constantia. Visitors to Cape Town can choose from a wide range of accommodation like Taj Cape Town. Unravel moods of Cape Town with the Tajs hospitality. Situated at the very centre of this culturally diverse and artistically

Table Mountain: In 2011, Table Mountain was named among the 7 new wonders of Nature. Known for its rich biodiversity, Table Mountain is home to over 1500 species of plants and was established in 1929. The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway takes visitors right to the top of the mountain in one of two cable cars, each with rotating floors and huge windows to ensure that your views while travelling to the top are almost as spectacular as those from the summit. Tour of Cape Peninsula: Guests can drive along the Atlantic seaboard and discover the mystic appeal of the Cape of Good Hope and take in the spectacular sight of ostriches and penguins. This mythical meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean will sweep you off your feet. The Culture Walk: The Culture Walk demystifies Cape Towns rich culture and local shopping experiences. The Taj Cape Town is close to the famous Company Gardens and the Iziko South African Museum founded in 1825. Also right across the hotel is historically important Slave Lodge, built to house the slaves who worked in the Gardens. The Hop on and Hop off Bus tour: The bus takes you on a trip to the beautiful Constantia valley and vineyards. Enjoy the wine tasting, leisurely walks through the vineyards, visit the historical manor and savour a sumptuous meal at any of the places in the wine farm.
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Globe Trotter

Globe Trotter

V&W Waterfront: V&W Waterfront is located in the historic harbour and offers a variety of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, museums for guests to choose from. The Moods of Cape Town package not only allows guests to experience the city in ways like never before but one can also indulge in an authentic South African dining experience at Mint, specially crafted by the chefs at Taj Cape Town. The package starts at ZAR 11,700 (` 76,000) onwards on double occupancy with the last night compliments from the Taj. Offer is valid till 30th September, 2012.

right whales at the Paradise Coast and on your way back you can visit the seals of the Robberg.

down run and so will start in Pietermaritzburg and come to a blissful end in Durban.

FESTIVALS DURING JUNE: Greyton Genadendal Classics Festival

Knysna Oyster Festival 2012 6-15 July

The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival offers food lovers and sporting enthusiasts a bonanza of fun activities for the entire family. One of the highlights of the festival is the South African Navy visiting Knysna (weather permitting) in huge mine sweepers, followed by a street parade and concert at the Waterfront by the Navy Band. The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival raises over ` 1 million annually for local charities. This oyster festival in Knysna attracts over 70,000 visitors annually; particularly food lovers who slurp and swallow their way through more than 2,00,000 oysters at over 20 dedicated oyster hot spots where the delectable molluscs can be eaten natural or cooked in a variety of ways. Oyster-eating, oyster-shucking, oyster farm tours, oyster recipe challenges and gourmet oyster-themed dinners happen throughout the festival, along with wine and champagne tastings. Besides oysters, the festival hosts 2 top-notch competitive sporting events. The Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Cycle Tour and the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Marathon are booked up months in advance due to their popularity. There is a special focus on activities for children at the Pick n Pay Young Oyster Festival. Tots to teens can attend youth theatre and puppet shows, creative art workshops and cooking courses. The first Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival took place in 1983. The festival was introduced in an attempt to attract people to this seaside town during the quiet winter period and it has succeeded beyond all expectations. With inputs from South African Tourism Board and Taj Hospitality. n
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Mpumalanga

The magnificent Panorama Route in Mpumalanga is best known for its dramatic landscapes. The en-route includes Blyde Motlatse River Canyon which is the third largest canyon of its kind in the world, Bourkes Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, and Long Tom Pass. Mpumalanga is also home to many of South Africas awardwinning private game reserves like the Kruger National Park which stretches upto 352 kilometres from north to south along the Mozambique border. There are 16 different eco-systems and, along with the much sought after Big 5 (are the five mammals considered by the 19th century hunters to be the most dangerous to hunt), there are 147 species of mammals and 507 species of birds. Going on a safari in The Kruger is a major highlight of any trip to sunny South Africa.

The Greyton Genadendal Classics for All is one of the most impressive festivals in the Western Cape which stages on the weekends of 1st to 3rd June, 2012. Some of the countrys top classical artists will be performing in 8 concerts as well as 5 fringe concerts which contain performances including ATKV winners Minette du Toit-Pearce and Vanessa Tait-Jones (who will be performing with the local Moravian Choirs), soprano Zanne Stapelberg and baritone Federico Freschi, the South African Youth Choir, pianists Willem van Schalkwyk and Jos Dias, and the exciting new group, Dolci Tenori (who will be performing with popular TV personality Charlene Truter). So music lovers, dont miss it!

Comrades Marathon 2012 03 June

Knysna

Located along South Africas famed Garden Route in the Western Cape, Knysna is famous for its oyster festival, warm people and the most magnificent views from Leisure Isle to the Heads. The Knysna Elephant Park is where you can interact with and feed the relocated jumbo families. A visit to Monkeyland down the N2 is also recommended to see lemurs of southern Africa. You can sight dolphins and the southern

The famous ultra-marathon is known as the worlds oldest and largest marathon. Taking place annually in KwaZulu-Natal, the route alternates between an up run and a down run every year. The up race is run over an extremely tough course which can be best described as The Big Five - the uphill sections on the route. On the down run there are another set of equally challenging hills, and many runners are surprised that a race described as down still has some exceptionally tough hills to climb. The 2012 marathon will be a

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