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Cape Town, South Africa, South Africa Adventure

Kitesurfing Cape Town: It’s Time To Book A Trip

South Africa has everything you need to enjoy an amazing, exotic vacation. Whether you’re interested in seeing some larger than life safari animals, or just want to kick-it by the water, you’ll be able to find it. As far as water sports goes, the best region for you to be in is Cape Town. This city experiences great winds, tropical temperatures and crystal-clear waters almost year-round.

A popular water sport in the town is kitesurfing. It’s sort of like traditional surfing, but with the incorporation of Cape Town’s amazing wind velocities. The current of the water and the winds in the area work to propel the surfer. Because of the two forces of nature, a lot of sports enthusiasts claim it’s even easier!

English-Speaking kitesurfing Cape Town Schools

Enjoying a tropical vacation in a brand new region can be difficult when communicating with the locals is impossible. While not everyone in the area speaks it, English is spoken fluently in all the tourist-type locations. Especially in all the surfing and kitesurfing schools. In fact, 70% of the natives speak it as their first language.

Rarely Dips Below Freezing

It may be necessary to wear a wet-suit for a few days in July. But fortunately, it is possible to kitesulf all year when you visit Cape Town. The temperatures almost never dip below freezing. Since it’s below the equator, our off-seasons are their on-seasons. You may not be able ti kitesurf in the U.k in January, but in Cape Town it’s the best season for it.

Atlantic Seaboard Or West Coast

Kitesurfing is either done in the Atlantic Seabord region or the West Coast of Cape Town. These two areas are filled with tourist destinations and beaches. The Atlantic Seaboard is a wealthier area and heavily populated. In fact, it has some of the most exclusive real-estate properties in South Africa. Many choose to vacation in this region for this reason.

Kitesurfing Cape Town: You’ll Need A Board

Kitesurfing supplies aren’t cheap. The board can cost anywhere between $500 to $1,000. So you really have to be able to commit to this activity if you want to try it. Some schools may let you rent a pair. If you enjoy surfing, trying this activity may be worth the expense. Remember, buying a kite is going to be another $500 on top of that.

Great Winds And Spots

Visit Cape Town for its sprawling beaches, fair weather and predictable winds. You won’t be underwhelmed and under impressed. Weather you’re just starting out, or are already a champion, Cape Town should have what you need to help you leave a better Kitesurfer.

It’s Time To Enjoy A Different Kind Of Water Sport

Before, water sports only harnessed the ocean. Now, they include what the wind can do for us too. Isn’t it time for you to jump on board and try this modern, revolutionized version of surfing? Kitesurfing isn’t just newer, it’s better. Try it to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N66ZZPNAki0

Leave your commentPosted by gtn-ad on January 14, 2016No Comments

Nespruit, South Africa, South Africa Adventure

4 Of The Best Things I Did On Holiday In Nespruit

People come to this area of South Africa for its combination of lush, local parks and friendly tour guides that are more than willing to navigate people through the city. Yes, there’s nothing missing in Nespruit. It certainly isn’t experiencing a shortage of activities for you and your family an engage in. This northern area of South Africa is filled with great theater, excellent football fans (soccer if you’re American), motocross for us car lovers and shopping. Here are four activities me and my crew never miss out on when we drift into Nespruit.

17 Local Parks

Did you know they’re 17 (official) local parks in the Newpruit area? Me and my family think it’s neat that many of them are scattered throughout the city. It allows tourists and busy shoppers to gain instant access to nature. All of them are well-kept and extremely green. Many think of a desert when they think of visiting Africa. When it comes to this part of the continent, this couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s a lush, green paradise.

One of my favorite parks to visit is riverside. Just like the name suggests, there’s a pretty sizable river flowing in it. It’s perfect for those who love fishing and other water sports. You’ll certainly find some interesting species while fishing these foreign, waters.

See A Rugby Or Soccer Match At The Stadium

When me and my family were venturing in a few years back, we got lucky and scored some tickets to see Italy play Somalia. All and all, it was a pretty exciting game. Of course, the players weren’t nearly as impressive as the luxury provided by the stadium. The place is super modern, large and top of the line. It was actually built to host a FIFA world cup game back in 2010. To this day, African sports teams are getting plenty of us out of it.

As of today, the stadium is called the Mbombela stadium. It’s probably one of the largest structures in the city. If it were at full capacity, it would have 43,500 people in it. Don’t worry about running into crowds. The stadium’s never that full when me and my gang are in it.

The Innobis Arts Festival

Be sure to check out some of the local shows in the area next time you’re in town. I went to an arts festival that wasn’t too overcrowded. Almost all the pieces in the venue were on sale. I made sure to purchase some of the best pieces. The Innosbis Art Festival is filled with original works by prominent, local artists in the area.

Local Produce Markets

Be sure to check out some of their produce markets. While it’s much of the same stuff you’ll find in a grocery store in the states or Europe, the markets are not more than five miles from where the produce is actually grown. So it’s much fresher. Plus, they have African-Sized versions of your favorite fruits. Tired of those small, tart mangoes from Mexico? Try a juicy, freshly plucked, African mango from a Nelspruit market. You’ll notice the difference.

Check Out Other Activities While You’re There

These are just four of my favorite activities to fit in when I’m vacationing in Northern South Africa. You may find other favorites, if so we would love to hear them. When you’re here even visiting one of their markets is exciting. So really, you can’t go wrong. It doesn’t matter which activity you choose to partake in. Just be sure to fit in as many experiences as possible. Vacations filled with adventures are never a miss!

I would definitely stay for a couple of nights when visiting Nelspruit. There are lots of choices for places to stay, but check out our favorite Nelspruit Accommodation which is the Shandon Lodge.

Leave your commentPosted by gtn-ad on January 2, 2016No Comments

Durban, South Africa, South Africa Adventure

My 5 Favorite Things To Do While On Holiday In Durban

Durban is probably one of the most popular tourist destinations to visit for those venturing into Northern, South Africa. Currently, it’s also an extremely popular choice for the locals of South Africa as well. In fact, there are over 3 million people living within the city limits. That’s because loads of money is constantly flowing in and out of it. The number of millionaires inhabiting the place grew by 200% between 2000 and 2014.

With more rich people, comes nicer attractions for tourists. As if their thousands of miles of good beaches weren’t enough to get me down there. Here are five other things I have to do when I’m in the Durban area that don’t have anything to do with the water.

#1- The Burman Bush Park

It’s nice to take the family to a local park that’s not too far away from the coast or the city. While enjoying the local bird life is nice, there are other things we want to explore. It’s nice to not be too far away from them. This park is also only a few kilometers wide. So the little ones won’t get tired as they’re walking around it.

#2- The Hawaan Forest

This forest is a pretty interesting. It’s actually one of the last of its kind to grow on dune. The area dates back 18,000 years. A lot of really interesting insects can be spotted that simply can’t be seen in a European and North American Forest. Be sure to wear bug spray and don’t get too close!

#3- Suncoast Casino And Entertainment World

Having fun with the kids during the day? You don’t have to sacrifice your nights as well. They’ll have fun playing in the hotel pool. You can have a night out with your significant other at Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World. It’s a pretty well-kept, friendly place to be. Plus, there are over 400 rooms to gamble in.

#4- Kingsmead Cricket Ground

This is one of the smaller, yet no less impressive, stadiums in South Africa. Its capacity is 25,000 people. Last time I was in town, I caught a game between South Africa and England. It was exciting to see two big teams in a modest stadium.

#5- Kings Park Stadium

Maybe rugby is more your speed? Then you’ll want to catch a game at Kings Park Stadium. This one’s a little larger, but both stadiums mentioned are equally nice. In my experience, this stadium can actually get overcrowded if there’s a big team playing.

There’s Loads Of Other Stuff Too

Durban’s a major city with millions of people in it. There are loads of restaurants, art dealers, theaters and other entertainment options. Plus, if you get bored of the parks and shows, you can always hit the beach! That’s what I do for most of my holiday when I’m down there!

Leave your commentPosted by gtn-ad on December 30, 2015No Comments

Kruger National Park, South Africa, South Africa Adventure

The Big Five Kruger Park Animals

Kruger National Park in Africa is one of the largest game preserves on the continent. Located in the northeastern part of South Africa, it covers more than 7,500 square miles. There are nine gates to the reserve which allow access to the flora and fauna in the area. However, what really draws visitors to the park are the big five Kruger Park animals: the White or Black Rhinoceros, African Leopard, Cape Buffalo, African Elephant, and the African Lion.

Black Rhino bulls are smaller than their White Rhino relatives, but weigh in at a significant 1,200 kg. These vegetarians prefer to browse on herbs, bushes, and tree leaves, but will eat grass when resources run low. Courtship can get fairly violent, with the males often butting females with their horns. Black rhinos are seriously threatened but a small population does roam the park with the ever present threat of poaching due the trade in rhino horns.

Tourists who get the chance to see an African leopard for the first time when they visit the big five Kruger Park animals are awed by their natural beauty. It surprises most people to learn that lions, leopards, and cheetahs often live in the same area. Leopards are most often found in the riverine woodlands, but can be seen anywhere in the park at any time of the day.

One of the best ways to see the Cape Buffalo is to sign up for a guided safari or stay in one of the camps and head out to the watering holes. These members oof the bovine family spend much of their time grazing in the grasslands, but are never more than 12 miles from a watering hole. They live in herds which are impressive to view. However, they can be quite dangerous when alarmed, so it is always best to keep your distance.

The African Lion is the most famous member of the cat family and roams freely throughout the entire park. Lions are noted for their aggression during the kill, which is why visitors to the park should always keep their windows to their cars rolled up. While the government of South Africa technically owns the park, it is the African lion that rules it as the primary predator. They roam freely and can be seen anywhere in the park.

Finally, the African elephant is the largest land mammal in the world and is flourishing in Kruger Park. Some have lived for 70 years and the largest top seven tons. They are found in the open grasslands and will charge when threatened.

Learn more about the Kruger Park from the official Kruger Park and South African Parks Website.

Leave your commentPosted by gtn-ad on December 23, 2015No Comments

Cape Town, South Africa, South Africa Adventure

What I Enjoyed On My Three-Day Weekend Holiday In Cape Town

The City of Cape Town is the capital city of the Western Cape Province. Because of the stunning natural scenery and mix of cultures, it’s possible to spend three years here and never get bored. However, I’m going to recount the tale of my packed, three-day Cape Town Weekend. Next time, I promise that I will try to extend my stay!

My Three-Day, Capetown Weekend

One of my main stops was the coastline. This place is an absolute riot of colors from all of the local flora. In order to introduce myself to the beach the right way, I decided to try a bike ride with one of those fat-tire bikes.

It took awhile to get the hang of riding like that, but after awhile, it was pretty fun. Once I got used to the bike, riding over the sandy beach at Blouberg was almost like sailing over the water.

After the bike ride, I felt like having another adventure. I had already “sailed” over the beach, so now I figured it was time to fly a little. For this, I stopped at a para-gliding dock. From there, I simply paid a fee for a chance to get hooked up to a boat that send me sailing over the water.

I thought it would be scary, but it was really exhilarating. If you’d like to experience the sensation of flying, but you aren’t really willing to jump out of an airplane, I suggest this as a good alternative.

On the second day, I decided to explore the waterfront. Because of the mix of cultures in this African city, there are plenty of shops and places to eat with favorites from anywhere in the world. It was tough to choose between an American-style burger or spicy Indian food for lunch. I won’t tell you what I picked, but I’m sure I would have been happy with either.

I also did a bit of shopping for myself. I picked up some carvings from native craftsman because I think they’ll look great in my office when I get home. I also bought my mother a nice pair of silver earrings because she always enjoys it when I bring her a present when I have an adventure.

For my third day, I visited the aquarium. It seemed a shame to be so close to the sea and not get a chance to view sea life. It was an incredible adventure in itself, and I intend to return next time. I spent the day there, but I could have spent three days roaming around between tanks and exhibits of all sorts of shellfish, fish, and even sea mammals.

Why I’ll Return To Capetown

Really, this city is a great place to spend a weekend holiday. However, it really just gave me a taste for the place and a thirst for more. Since the city has a Mediterranean climate, it’s a good place to visit almost any time of the year.

For more information about Cape Town visit: Cape Town Tourism

Leave your commentPosted by gtn-ad on December 6, 2015No Comments