For those that will be visiting the lovely Mother City in July this year, its good to know that the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has announced it will be closing once again for its annual maintenance period.
The cableway will undergo it’s annual maintenance (this is a good thing) from the 7th – 27th July 2020 and (notwithstanding any issues) will reopen on Tuesday, 28th July 2020. This certainly does not mean the mountain is off limits so the more adventurous can still enjoy using any of the beautiful trails to hike up, down or around our natural wonder of the world
It’s happening! After all this time you will finally go on a Safari: Game Drives, the Big Five and maybe even a Safari Walk are on the top of your list, but … what do you bring?
There are multiple things that are super convenient and that really contribute to the most amazing safari experience you can get. The following list provides you with the most important stuff you need before you start your new adventure:
Sunscreen: easily forgotten but very important. Imagine being out in an open safari vehicle with the sun in your face and the wind blowing through your hair. Sounds amazing, but looking in the mirror afterwards might be a bit of a rude awakening. You don’t want to miss out on all the animals because they’ve already spotted your red nose before you could even come close!
Insect repellent and long clothes to protect you (in the early mornings and early evenings). Make sure you’ve got socks that cover your ankles at dusk and dawn when the mosquitos are around the most. During the day you are fine with shorts and a T-shirt.
Flashlight, binoculars and photographic equipment. Of course you have to bring some awesome photos back home with you.
Money for lunch and hydration on transfer days to your safari destination and for those long days in the national parks and private game reserves.
Closed walking shoes, sunglasses and swimming gear to cool off from the midday heat in the swimming pool, not at the many watering holes!
Casual neutral-coloured clothes by day and a pullover for the sunset drive. It can get quite cold in the evenings so make sure you have something warm and comfortable to wear for activities that take place in the evening or at night.
Pair of flip flops in case your other shoes get wet.
Last but not least: a good pair of eyes to spot the magic of all of those hidden animals! Don’t worry on your first few game drives if you struggle to spot game, your eyes will soon adjust and become bush savvy.
If you make sure you have the above things with you on your trip, it could just give that little extra comfort to the Safari!
Malaria risk
In general, Kruger National Park and surrounding areas are low risk malaria areas. However, our rainy months from December to March bring a higher risk. Therefore, we recommend discussing preventative medication with your medical practitioner or travel clinic.
Travel insurance
We strongly recommend to all our guests that they obtain comprehensive travel insurance. Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance to cover cancellation penalties. Special insurance may be required if you undertake any extreme or potentially dangerous activities (e.g. adrenalin or endurance sports).
Penguins are normally seen surrounded by snow, ice and cold conditions. But there is one species however, that likes the sun just as much as we do. While most penguins are huddling up to stay warm, the African Penguin waddles around in the sand and occasionally catches a wave to stay cool. The following facts will give you some more information about these true African surfer dudes:
As the name suggests, African Penguins live in Africa. They are usually seen in colonies that can be found from southern Namibia all the way around the South African coast to Port Elizabeth. But the most famous (and probably the coolest) spot to visit these tuxedoed chaps is just outside Cape Town at Boulders Beach on the Cape Peninsula.
The African Penguin is often called by it’s peculiar nickname: the Jackass Penguin. This nickname arose because of their donkey-like braying sound they use to communicate. So don’t be startled when you think you hear a donkey at the beach, it’s probably one of our little friends coming to say hi! And another name for this penguin is the black-footed penguin.
African Penguins are covered in water-proof and dense feathers. Even though temperatures in Africa are quite pleasant throughout the whole year, the water can be extremely cold. The black and white feathers keep the penguins warm when they go out for a swim or hunting. The feathers are also very convenient for camouflage. Whereas the white belly will blend with the light as predators look up from down below, the black backs blend (try saying that 6 times without failing) with darker seas when there’s predators coming from above.
African penguins have an average lifespan of 10-15 years. However, many do not reach this age and populations have been decreasing for a while. Overfishing and pollution are a great cause of this problem. Luckily the penguins are now considered endangered and many try to solve the problems so that the penguins can hopefully live a long and happy life.
The only thing cuter than the full-sized penguins are probably their chicks. African Penguins breed within their colonies, it means they don’t travel places to give birth. The Penguins create burrows which they dig out themselves and create with their own excrement, called guano. These burrows will be their nests for the coming chicks and are perfect for protecting the young ones against the sun and predators. It takes two caring parents and 2-4 years for these fluffy balls to fully mature.
