All, Family, Good to know, Hotspots
Whales have arrived!
Although we are still experiencing certain levels of lockdown as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, it is so good to see nature taking centre stage the past few months with some amazing animal sightings a lot closer to home than one would have expected.
We have also just received our first snow of the winter which funnily enough coincided with the return of the migratory Southern Right Whales to our shores from Antarctica. Maybe it was nature’s way of welcoming these giants back, waving the white flag so to speak that all is still fine along our South African shores for these gentle giants to come and safely calve in our sheltered bays.
Did you know?
Although the Southern Right Whales are spotted along most of our South African coastline, Hermanus is considered one of the best land-based whale-watching destinations in the world.
Whale-watching in Hermanus
Hermanus, along the beautiful shores of Walker Bay, is the official whale-watching capital of Africa. Surrounded by majestic mountains and indigenous fynbos, it is the heart of the whale coast and offers the best land-based whale-watching in the world.
The annual Whale Festival, usually held in September, is highly popular and attracts over 100, 000 visitors. Created to raise awareness and to help protect marine life, the Hermanus Whale Festival is the only enviro-arts festival in South Africa. Although the festival draws top South African musicians, crafters and sports celebrities, the whales are always the star attractions of the event and cause thousands of visitors to return to Hermanus year after year.
In addition to breathtaking whale watching from the cliffs and the boats, Hermanus offers many natural attractions such as mountain walks and bird watching, as well as great surfing spots and plenty of excellent accommodation available.
The art of whale-watching
When looking to sight a Southern Right Whale, the easiest method is to scan the ocean surface for their v-shaped blow or spout – a tall, smoky plume lasting a few seconds. This is the whale breathing out just as it surfaces and one can also confirm this species by their lack of a dorsal fin. If you see a whale thrust high out of the water and fall back with a great splash, you were lucky enough to see a whale breaching.
Averaging around 15 metres in length and up to 60 tonnes in weight, individual whales can be identified year after year by the callosities pattern on their heads, kind of like their fingerprint. In fact, they have strong maternal connections with the locations and gene pools they are born into with females usually returning to their birth spots to calve.
Other activities in Hermanus
If you’re drawn to Hermanus for its whale sightings, there are plenty of reasons for you to stay and explore this quaint, pretty town. For the adventurous types, you can go mountain biking or abseiling, enjoy sea cruises to Dyer and Geyser Islands to see sharks, penguins and seals, take the plunge and go scuba diving, kick up some dirt while quad biking and take in the landscape while horse riding.
For the less adventurous, the smooth bays and tranquil lagoons offer lovely kayaking opportunities or a gentle boat cruise from nearby Stanford if you’re a bird lover. Fernkloof Nature Reserve is popular among hiking and photography enthusiasts, and golfers will be thrilled to discover an award-winning course at the Arabella Country Estate.
There are also many markets, such as the Fernkloof Farmers’ Market, Hermanuspietersfontein Boeremark and Lemm’s Corner Craft Market every Saturday and the Onrus Market once a month.
Wine & Craft Beer Tasting!
The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley behind Hermanus has become famous in its own right with fantastic award-winning wines being produced year after year. This valley is best known for its elegant, cool-climate wines made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, although the Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon also contribute to the valley’s many awards. Estates such as Creation, Newton Johnson, Bouchard Finlayson, Southern Right and many more are waiting to be enjoyed over a slow lunch or dinner.
For craft beer lovers, the nearby Hemel & Aarde Microbrewery and Hermanus Brewery offer award-winning lagers and ales, along with the more established Birkenhead Brewery in Stanford, just east of Hermanus.
Want to discover the beautiful whales of Hermanus?
The Southern Right Whales have arrived so contact us to book a Private Hermanus Whale & Wine tour or possibly we can customise a multi-day tour to this area and include so many more highlights.
Share your experience with us on social media with #AfricanBlueJourneys
All, Company, Good to know, Hotspots, Wildlife, Wine
QUICK FACTS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is a diverse country at tip Africa – the world’s second-largest as well as the most populous continent. South Africa counts several bordering countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland. With a population of almost 60 million, South Africa is truly part of the African continent. Moreover, our Constitution is considered one of the most progressive in the world and recognises the use of eleven official languages.
The country has emerged from a turbulent past and since the first democratic elections in 1994, unity is sought through diversity in a place where all people are now equal.
What to do in South Africa?
With a long coastline that stretches almost 3000 kilometres across two oceans and a climate that ranges from desert to subtropical, South Africa is truly a unique place to visit.
From breathtaking beaches of KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape to expansive game reserves like Kruger National Park and picturesque winelands like in Stellenbosch, South Africa offers both domestic and international tourists a wide variety of options.
One fun fact!
Did you that South Africa is three times the size of Texas and five times the size of Japan? Surprising!
Emergency numbers
The South African Police are reachable at any time on 10111.
Time
South Africa’s time is GMT + 2.
Getting there
South African airports gather many of the world’s major airlines with direct flights to every continent on a daily basis. South Africa’s three main gateway airports are:
Oliver Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg
Cape Town International Airport (CTIA)
King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban
Now that you have read some quick facts about South Africa, click on the following links to find out about our private Cape Town day tours, options for longer multi-day packages through South Africa, and our many safari options here!
Let African Blue Tours provide you with the best of Southern Africa on one our private tour and safari experiences.
Share your experience with African Blue Tours and tag us on social media with #AfricanBlueJourneys.
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South Africa has two luxury trains: Rovos Rail and The Blue Train. Both offer a very relaxing way of crossing the landscape of South Africa and both will give you an unforgettable experience.
The Blue Train
This moving five-star hotel takes its passengers through the breathtaking countryside of South Africa. The Blue Train operates on two routes: Pretoria – Cape Town and Pretoria – Hoedspruit. The Blue Train takes you from Cape Town to Pretoria in 27 hours, and has been known for its excellent hospitality since 1946.
The Blue Train offers two different types of suites: The Deluxe Suite and The Luxury Suite. The Deluxe Suite, measured 4 by 2 metres, contains a double bed, a bathtub with handheld shower, individually-controlled airconditioning and floor heating. The Suite will transform from elegant and relaxing lounge during the day to a subtly-lit bedroom during the night. The Luxury Suite extends the offering from a Deluxe Suite even further. This suite, which is measured 5 by 2, offers twin or double-beds, a luxurious bath tub and digital interactive entertainment system (music, DVD/Blue-Ray).
The entire train is fitted with Wi-Fi, offers elegant lounges and superb dining. Relax with a cognac and a Cuban cigar in the Club Car, or breeze into the Lounge Car for an afternoon High Tea.
Rovos Rail
The main routes of Rovos Rail, which is often referred to as the most luxurious train in the world, are Cape Town – Dar Es Salaam, Pretoria – Swakopmund, Pretoria – Cape Town, Pretoria – Durban and Pretoria – Victoria Falls. The journey from Pretoria to Cape Town takes 2 nights/50 hours, and include a visit to Matjiesfontein and the Diamond Mine Museum.
The train offers 3 types of suites: Royal Suites, Deluxe Suites and Pullman Suites. The Pullman Suites (+/- 7 square metres) are equipped with comfortable sofa-seats during the day, and a double or twin bed in the evening. They have an en-suite bathroom with shower. The Deluxe Suites (+/- 10 square metres) have a twin or double bed, a lounge area and an en-suite bathroom with shower. The Royal Suites, which take up half a carriage, have their own private lounge area and a bathroom en-suite with a Victorian bath and separate shower. With its wood panelling and period Edwardian features, this suite will give you the ultimate luxury travel experience.
All the suites mentioned above have a bar fridge filled with beverages, and room service is available 24/7. Furthermore, the train offers a beautiful pre-1940 dining car, lounge cars and an observation car at the back.
Main differences
On some routes, Rovos Rail operates with a vintage steam locomotive, giving you a very unique travel experience. Rovos Rail also operates on more routes than The Blue Train. Also the most popular route, Pretoria – Cape Town, takes a day longer with Rovos Rail and is thus more expensive. Both offer the same facilities and both stop at the old village of Matjiesfontein, but the Royal Suite of Rovos Rail is probably incomparable. Both trains have individually-controlled air-conditioning in the suites, but only with Rovos it is possible to open the windows. Contrary to The Blue Train, the trains of Rovos Rail are not equipped with Wi-Fi. What both trains have in common: They will give you an unforgettable experience of ultimate luxury travel through the ever-changing scenery of South Africa.
All, Family, Good to know, Wildlife
Below we unpack the main differences between the world-famous Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger Park, which although not as famous as its larger neighbour, offers in our opinion a superior safari experience.
Greater Kruger Park (GKP)
The term Greater Kruger Park is used to describe a number of private game reserves situated along the recently unfenced mid-western border of the Kruger National Park when private landowners saw the benefit of joining the iconic national park to allow game to flow freely through the area. One of the main advantages of a safari here is that there are limited amounts of persons as one has to be staying in one of the private lodges and for this reason, you will experience a less crowded safari with no more than two game vehicles per sighting. Also, in our opinion you will enjoy more exciting game drives as most properties allow real off-road game viewing in their 4×4 open safari vehicles, getting you right up close to the animals. Finally, the smaller lodges here are more up-market than the rest camps found in the Kruger National Park and thus offer a more exclusive safari experience.
Kruger National Park (KNP)
The Kruger National Park consists of a 20,000 km2 area in the north-east of South-Africa, run by government controlled Sanparks. Here you will be able to do a self-drive safari in your own vehicle, although along with everyone else which at times does lead to traffic jams around sightings with a general lack of game viewing etiquette. There is a good network of tar and gravel roads, keep to the speed limits and do not go off road anywhere in the Kruger National Park. You are also NOT allowed to get out of your vehicles (seriously some people have and are not around anymore!) unless in the safety of the ring fenced rest camps.
The park has several of these rest camps accessible to day or overnighting visitors, of which most have a shop and a restaurant to stock up on supplies or enjoy a nice meal and stretch the legs a little. There are well appointed signs leading you to the rest camps and several points of interest.
Which one to choose?
Because the border between the two parks in unfenced, the flora and fauna found in both areas is basically the same. But if you’re on safari for your very first time and don’t feel like driving in the Kruger National Park yourself, then a safari in the Greater Kruger Park might be the best option. In the all-inclusive lodges, the staff will take care of every aspect, while you can relax and enjoy your Big 5 African Safari experience. If you’re looking to enjoy a self-drive safari, then the Kruger National Park has a choice of well priced rest camps spread around the park which you can book direct with Sanparks here, or you can stay in one of the surrounding towns. You can also combine the two parks easily and explore the best of the two worlds!
Parting shot: When planning a South African itinerary with a safari element, we always suggest spoiling yourself with an upmarket private safari lodge experience and saving a little on the accommodations in places like Cape Town, as you will be outdoors exploring the city most of the time anyway.
To learn more about the Kruger Park in general and what to bring on a safari, please read our blog post here.
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If you’re looking for a first time safari experience close to Cape Town, you may find yourself choosing from either Aquila or Inverdoorn Private Game Reserves. In this post, we briefly explain the differences between the two well known private game reserves.
Aquila Private Game Reserve stands in an area of 4,500 hectares of Southern Karoo Highlands, closely surrounded by mountains, valleys and kloofs. Aquila is home to various animals, including the Big Five however it is highly unlikely that you will spot leopard as they are wild in the surrounding mountains and pass through the reserve from time to time, usually in the still of the night. Aquila is acclaimed for its renewable energy, social responsibility, conservation programs and can be divided into three separate biomes – Fynbos, Renosterveldt and succulent Karoo. Aquila offers different types of accommodation, from the newly built lodge with standard (mountain facing) and premier rooms (overlooking the reserve), luxury cottages and larger luxury cottages suitable for extended family.
Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve is a 10,000 hectare reserve dedicated to wildlife conservation and is home to various animals and birdlife, including the Big Five, however once again it is highly unlikely that you will spot leopard as they only pass through the reserve from time to time. Inverdoorn offers different types of accommodation, including 3-star lodge rooms, 4-star luxury chalet options and the newly opened 5 star Kughana Tented Camp.
Please note: The lodge rooms are not suitable if you are looking for complete privacy with peace and quiet.
Main differences
Aquila is a little closer to Cape Town as it is just over 2 hours, while Inverdoorn is just short of a 3 hour drive. Aquila is a lot busier with a much higher number of day and overnight visitors than Inverdoorn. Furthermore, Aquila is situated in a mountainous area, while Inverdoorn is surrounded by more expansive plains.
We do not suggest anymore than a 1 night stay at either Aquila or Inverdoorn Private Game Reserves. If you wish to experience something more upmarket, authentic and really special safari experience, then I would suggest the below Sanbona Safari options which is a 3.5 hour drive from Cape Town up the scenic Route 62 in the Klein Karoo.
2 day Sanbona Safari
3 day Sanbona Safari
To view any of the above safaris, click here for our Cape Town safari options.
Please note that ALL safari options close to Cape Town are in newly established private game reserves and thus cannot be compared to a safari in a more established game viewing area like Kruger National Park which has been around for a hundred or so years.
These options fill a very important role in the safari market by offering those persons who have never been on safari and who do not have the time to visit a more established reserve the chance to view Africa’s wild animals … sometimes for the first time.
Some of our Reviews
Excellent and professional services = Good memories
Reviewed on May 5, 2016
5 of 5 stars
“First of all I must thank David for always swift response to any request/questions with positive and good input and solutions. Also and not least to Matt taking us around the Peninsula tour , the wine tour and to Aquila private game/safari.
His local knowledge and friendly/calm attitude was really a good experience matching us perfect.
So whoever is asking me how to plan, to do, to contact for a stay in CT I give them the same answer NO PROBLEM call David and African Blue Tour.”
John Styles, Illinois, USA
Fantastic 2 day tour
Reviewed on March 4, 2018
5 of 5 stars
“We booked through African Blue Day Tours and had the pleasure of Duncan’s company for the two day excursion to and from Inverdoorn. We have to say that Duncan was a great and fun guy to be with. He accommodated and structured our tour to perfection, from stopping off at points of interest, proving us with his extensive knowledge of the surrounding areas, to taking those all important pictures of my wife and myself together. He even organised a lovely picnic on the return journey from Inverdoorn to Camps Bay. Perfect. Thanks so much Duncan for everything, if and when we revisit Cape Town again we will be looking you up!”
Roy B, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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You may have thought that travelling through the Garden Route would not be suitable for your children. Well, not exactly. Along the Garden Route, there are plenty of places to visit with your children. In this article I’ll give you examples of fun activities you can do with them.
Go wild and learn all about our amazing wildlife at a place like Monkeyland, the world’s first free-roaming primate sanctuary. Take one of the guided tours, and you’ll see more than 700 primates. Combine Monkeyland with Birds of Eden, which is home to about 220 different types of birds, and with Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to several big cats, zebras, wild dogs, raccoons and various snake species. Visit Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary, and take one of the hourly tours to see over 100 snakes and other reptiles.
To learn everything about the indigenous wild cats of South Africa, visit Tenikwa Wildlife Centre. They’re open daily and offer a selection of conservation based programs to suit all interests and budgets. During your visit you will be charmed with the sincerity of Tenikwa, the friendliness of the staff and the way in which Tenikwa’s passion for conservation shines through.
Another recommendation is to do one of the Ocean Safaris in Plettenberg Bay. Although the whale season is only from June till November, Ocean Safaris are organised all year round. The safari will start with an adrenaline beach launch with 400hp motors. You will be taken to some of the best spots along the coastline. With some luck you will spot all kinds of animals, including whales, seals, sharks, big fishes and octopuses. It is advised to book on time, as the Ocean Safaris are very popular.
Explore Plett Puzzle Park, a unique park offering interactive fun for the whole family. You can also go to Natures Valley, and explore the beach and rock pools. Enjoy one of the many activities at Keurbooms River, including angling, swimming, kayaking, boating and picnicking. Ride a horse or enjoy a horse drawn carriage tour with Hog Hollow Horse Trails. Enjoy magnificent views over mountains forests and farmlands from a classic wooden carriage.
For some more adventure: Do a two to three hour kayak & lilo adventure on Storms River in Tsitsikamma. Challenge your fear by taking a leap from the cliffs into the deep pools or just relax and enjoy the stunning nature.
Also make sure to visit the Elephant Sanctuary at Plettenberg Bay. Take one of the guided tours to get an interactive experience with the elephants and to see the sanctuary and stables. Tours depart hourly from 8:00am. until 3:30pm.
To enjoy destinations like the ones mentioned above, please click here for our Garden Route Tours.
Some of our Reviews
Excellent outing – highly recommended
Reviewed February 6, 2018
5 of 5 stars
“I was blown away with not just the incredible experience we had in Africa- David surpassed all expectations of customer service. He listened to what we wanted, asked questions, matched us with the best guides in different places as well as made the tours specific for us.
We booked David as we were on a cruise ship and they would not take our young children on the safaris- so we ended up booking all of our day tours with David. I am sooooo grateful we did this! We would not have had the experiences we did if we had been on the ship tours. David had a different guide waiting for us in each port who was perfect for us each time and the adventure he had planned for us.
It is the small things that speak volumes. We were so tired and delayed one day and the guide more than made up for it- even though it had nothing to do with him and happily had coffee while waiting for us to sort out the ship dramas and then customised our adventure even more.
With 2 young children we wanted more time in game parks and less in restaurants- so we were surprised with a glorious picnic and an incredible vista to refuel in the middle of our animal search. Perfect.
The knowledge of our guides was brilliant and they patiently answered all of our and our childrens’ questions.
We had the experience of a lifetime and full credit to David and his team. Seriously cannot recommend him highly enough. And I have not even begun to chat about the tours… Needless to say- I thought binoculars would be needed (as they were with the ship tours) in our case- well the animals were so close we could have touched them! Exilerating! And at all times we felt completely safe.
THANK YOU!!!!!”
Katherine B
Amazing 12 days in South Africa!
Reviewed on June 6, 2016
5 of 5 stars
“We have just returned after a 12 day trip to South Africa. Our entire trip- 3day Kruger Safari and Blyde River Canyon tour, Cape Town and 5 day garden route tour was entirely managed by David Smith and how well he managed it. Our tour guide for 7 days was Duncan Petre an excellent gentleman, professional, friendly and very flexible. His knowledge shows his passion for his profession. Travelling extensively with 2 kids is never easy but Duncan made it so and I must mention, David was himself present at the airport to pick us and he himself drove us back to the airport at 5.30 am in the morning for our return journey. I have never come across an owner who does this personally for his clients. Kudos to African Blue…..stay blessed and go miles guys…”
Anomitraroy, India
