by africagirl | Nov 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
As the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup approaches, hoards of dedicated fans from around the world are sure to descend upon the African continent’s Southern tip, South Africa. They’ll be laden with loads of luggage, sunscreen and expectations.
Despite the worldwide hype surrounding Fifa World Cup, many teenagers are still quick to turn up their noses at the prospect of having to endure an African holiday away from civilisation, with only family and wildlife as company. After all, it is considered “social suicide” to spend time with one’s own family, away from the excitement and hustle and bustle of city life.
Few realise the huge diversity offered by this country and the excitement it presents, not only in the game reserve but also in our cities, brimming with fast paced action, entertainment and extravagance.
Johannesburg, or ‘Jozi’ as it’s more commonly known, is without a doubt the great big beating heart of South Africa. It is the biggest city in South Africa and has the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Not only does Johannesburg offer riveting night life, it also offers visitors’ trendy suburbs like Parktown and Norwood, with restaurant-lined avenues – catering to the dining and décor set – and the extensive malls of Sandton, all combining to make the city a great place to be.
Cape Town, or the Mother City, is described as the city which merges historic architecture, breathtaking natural beauty and modernity. It attracts hoards of visitors yearly, all drawn by the myriad of things to do, see and experience. Framed by the world renowned Table Mountain, Cape Town is said to possess a form of magic, compelling visitors to return time and time again.
A relaxed holiday filled with spectacular scenery, wildlife and exhilarating game drives, coupled with the fast-paced metropolitan sophistication of South Africa’s biggest cities, will create a get-away sure to satisfy even the harshest of family critics, truly offering the best of both worlds.
by africagirl | Nov 27, 2009 | Uncategorized
The Zululand coastal plane is home to a wide array of bird species. The province has proven to be the most diverse part of South Africa regarding bird life.
Often overshadowed by the infamous “Big Five”, the beauty of bird life is regularly overlooked. But with their exquisite feathers and their big part in the local Zulu culture, they are valued members of the African wildlife family.
The Bateleur Eagle, also known as the rocker and acrobat, sweeps through the sky, displaying spectacular acrobatic skills. Its vivid black and white feathers, accented by its red face and feet, adorn the sky. The Bateleur Eagle, when seen in unusual numbers, is thought to bring war and is thus feared among the local Zulus.
Another bird said to bring misfortune is the Ground Hornbill, a strange turkey-like bird which is believed by the local Zulus to be the bird of execution. The locals believe killing the bird will disrupt the elements and cause the destruction of homes by lightning or floods.
The Burchell’s Coucal, however, is a welcome sight, acting as the local weather forecaster. The Coucal predicts the weather and indicates imminent rainfall through his liquid bubbling call. According to the locals, if the bird’s call tumbles down the scales, the weather will be fine; but if the scale ascends, then rain is bound to follow.
The Litany Bird, also known as the Fiery-Necked Nightjar – exquisite with its shades of grey and brown – was in early years referred to as the “goatsucker”. Since the bird showed no other means of survival, locals believed it suckled goat’s milk at night, when nobody was looking.
Closely observed, the local bird life of KwaZulu-Natal is fascinating, not only due to their intricate beauty, but also due to the mirage of local folk lore that surrounds these delicate creatures.
So next time one fervently searches the bush for a glimpse of a lion or leopard, why not take a moment to notice the little creatures that hide among the trees?
by africagirl | Nov 23, 2009 | Uncategorized
‘Shade’ and ‘oxygen’ are usually the first two words that pop to mind when one mentions trees. However, the word ‘tree’ has much more meaning for some, such as the local Zulus of the KwaZulu-Natal region. For decades, the Zulus have used the local vegetation for practical, spiritual and even medicinal purposes.
Medicine, coffee, perfume, marriage and fever are not typically associated with trees, but those are just a few of the uses the trees provide for the locals.
The Transvaal Saffron’s bark is often used by the Zulu and Tsonga people for dyeing and tanning and also medicinally for stomach cramps, body pain, menstruation, acne and infections.
The Weeping Boer-bean with its bright red flowers and corpus nectar provided Boers in the early trekking days with a coffee substitute. They used the roasted beans inside the pods of the tree as an alternate caffeine boost.
The Tamboti tree offers a different use, providing locals with a pleasantly scented “dangerous” fragrance. The sandalwood-like scent is of dangerous origin, because the sawdust, smoke and sap of the tree are poisonous and can be deadly, and should therefore be handled with care.
Successful marriages are attributed to the infamous Marula tree which, according to the Zulu culture, represents fertility and is used as a cleansing ritual before marriage. In order to ensure the preferred sex of a married couple’s child, the pregnant woman drinks a concoction made from the bark of a male or female tree.
Previously less welcomed by the local Zulus, is the Fever tree, which was thought to be the reason many European adventurers and travellers who camped in Fever tree vicinities, died from high fever. Years later, it was revealed that their deaths were in fact caused by the malaria-carrying mosquito which also frequents Fever tree populated areas. Today, locals actually use the trees bark to reduce fever and for treating eye complaints.
These beliefs and cures held so dear by the locals are often slammed as outdated, mythical and unrealistic. However, if the properties of the vegetation prove true, imagine how much time and money they could save us? If true, it could offer free medicine, perfume, fertility treatment and even marriage counselling. Therefore one should perhaps admire the locals and their resourcefulness, and question whether we with our western-held beliefs are not possibly the ones in need of a revamp.
by africagirl | Nov 20, 2009 | Uncategorized
Gone are the days when a bush holiday simply involved a relaxing, peaceful getaway filled with long naps and lazy afternoons. Nowadays the ideal holiday consists of an eclectic mix of leisure, African beauty and exhilarating adventure sports. Boundaries have been pushed, creating the need for guests to exceed the “typical bush excursion” and surpass their limits by experiencing the ultimate in safari experience, including adrenaline inducing activities such as shark diving, deep sea fishing, beach horse rides and whale watching.
Shark diving is definitely not for the faint hearted, getting up close and personal with the oceans fiercest fish is sure to get the heart rate going. However for the less adventurous, divers can suspend into the ocean inside steel cages, preventing the sharks from getting too close for comfort. Guests don’t require experience or equipment, just themselves and a touch of Dutch courage. For the less adventurous, or as some would say the more sane, whale watching can be enjoyed, above the water! Whale watching proves to be breathtaking, and witnessing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat is sure to make unforgettable memories. For the more romantic guests, horse riding on the beach proves to be idyllic, galloping along the beachfront with only the ocean breeze, soft sand and ones loved one, truly is the perfect way to spend a romantic afternoon.
With the countless options, and array of adventure sports available, guests nowadays really can fill their days with riveting entertainment and are sure never to be bored. The prototype of an African Safari has shifted to include something for everyone, ensuring that guests’ holidays are extraordinary and unforgettable in every sense of the word.
by africagirl | Nov 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
With the stress of our daily lives, one can easily forget to treat ourselves. Everything and everyone else often take priority over our desires, leaving our bodies and minds tired and restless. Everyone deserves to say thank you to themselves once in a while, spoil their body and mind with a rejuvenating spa treatment, where the only decisions that need to be made include roses, hot stones, body oil and aromatherapy.
Easily distracted the outside world often finds a way to creep into “our” time so rather prevent disturbances by making a complete getaway experience out of it, a treatment in a secluded bush spa sounds idyllic, with only the distraction being the African landscape and odd wildlife creature sneaking up to the pool side for a drink. Sounds pretty perfect, and tranquillity doesn’t get any better than in a quiet African setting, minus the hustle and bustle of city life, noisy traffic or menial daily tasks.
All experiences have their difficulties however and Bush Spas prove to be no different. Firstly the task of a selecting a treatment proves tricky, one may resolve to select a few as the temptation often prevails. Secondly the ability to stay awake can really be tough as one battles not to sink into a deep sleep as every muscle floats into heavenly bliss. Finally, probably the most difficult of all is the ability to drag oneself away from the Bush Spa at the end of stay and reside to a stress filled chore driven life. However one can take solace in the fact that another visit is simply a phone call away or mouse click away.
