Hermanus’ Birkenhead House and Villa: Where a New Adventure Awaits You Each Day

On January 29, 2010, In African Safari Tours, South Africa, By Sandy Salle

Hermanus from Birkenhead HouseA favorite among wine lovers, nature enthusiasts, and passionate beach goers, Hermanus in the Garden Route, South Africa is praised for its exceptional ability to accommodate for a variety of interests. Some of the region’s most famed characteristics include its wildlife-abundant hiking trails, exceptional whale watching, and stunning beachscape. Whether you love to sunbathe, relax by the ocean, walk, or hike, Hermanus has some of the best mountain trails and beaches in South Africa to satisfy any passion.

For the ultimate experience in Hermanus, the Birkenhead House and Villa is the premier accommodation for superior ocean and mountain views, exceptional activities, delectable international cuisine, and the finest interior décor and linens. Known for its remarkable ability to exceed the highest of expectations, the Birkenhead House and Villa is the absolute embodiment of luxury. Its location overlooking the ocean is the perfect place for you to observe southern right whales during your stay, relax by the infinity pool, or enjoy a blissful massage outdoors with the soothing sound of waves crashing in the background.

To the other side of the exquisite Birkenhead House and Villa lies spectacular mountains, interlaced with hiking and walking trails, that are perfect for observing Hermanus’ exceptional wildlife.

The walker and hiker: With indescribable birds-eye-views of Walker Bay and its surrounding mountainous coastline, hikers to Hermanus’ Fernkloof Nature Reserve are rewarded with the experience of a lifetime. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, than you will undoubtedly fall in love with not only the view at the top of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, but also the hike to the top. During your hike, you will see a wealth of indigenous birds, small game, exotic plant species, and fascinating wildlife. If you prefer a less physically challenging experience, one of the many walking trails along the mountains in Hermanus is the perfect way to view nature and the gorgeous Fynbos without the rapid heart rate and huffing and puffing.

gardenroutebeach2The beach lover: Hermanus is just one of the many places in Garden Route that offers exquisite beaches. As a matter of fact, Hermanus’ Grotto beach is so beautiful that it was awarded the Blue Flag Status. Other beaches within walking distance of Birkenhead House include Voëlklip, and Kamma Bay. Whether you’re looking to soak in the sun, whale watch from the shore, enjoy a picnic, or play some paddle ball, Birkenhead House is dedicated to fulfilling your every need and desire—down to the very last detail.

The ocean enthusiast: If you simply cannot get enough of the ocean, than you’re in for a real treat at Birkenhead House. The terrace that juts out from the plateau that Birkenhead House sits atop has an infinity pool and luxurious white wicker chairs that melt into the ocean for a seamless view. As you relax on the terrace, you can easily view whales across the long coastline, which are prominent during the months of May to December—August being the birthing month. If you want to get up-close to these magnificent creatures, than an intimate voyage around Dyer Island is the perfect activity for you. Deep-sea fishing, whale tours, and shark cage diving are also activities offered by Birkenhead House and are absolutely splendid to take part in.

The complete relaxer: If you love to escape from the hustle and bustle of life, relax, soak in the beautiful scenery, and enjoy a rejuvenating spa treatment, than the Birkenhead House Spa is your ultimate escape. Featuring two rooms, the Lavender Room and the Cinnamon Room, you’re sure to find complete peace and serenity at the spa. The Lavender Room is designed to restore the balance of the senses with its soothing music, subtle scents of lavender, and trickling water in the background. The Cinnamon Room was also created to inspire complete relaxation and is filled with the sweet aroma of warming cinnamon. Spa treatments include aromatherapy, Swedish massages, hot-stone massages, reflexology, waxing, manicures, pedicures, and facial treatments—to name a very few.

Whether you’re a hiker, walker, beach lover, ocean enthusiast, a complete relaxer, or anything in between, Hermanus’ Birkenhead House and Villa is a must-visit destination.

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Immerse Yourself in Local Cape Town Culture As You Help Conserve the Local Community

On January 27, 2010, In African Safari Tours, South Africa, Sustainable Tourism, By Sandy Salle
AWOL Bike Tours

AWOL Bike Tours

Imagine taking a relaxing stroll through a charming South African village, where the unique African spirit, the scent of authentic cuisine, and the joy of the local community fills the air.

When you take part in an AWOL bicycle township tour, you’re not only experiencing a breathtaking journey through Cape Town’s beautiful township, Masiphumelele, you’re also, simultaneously, giving back to the local community. Famous for their exceptional ability to fuse a rich cultural learning experience with sustainable efforts, AWOL has been awarded the Imvelo Award for their responsible tourism efforts and is also a certified Fair Trade in Tourism organization.

AWOL, which means “a world of learning,” is a proud partner of the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN), and works closely with BEN to spread their conservation efforts across the local townships. BEN is a nonprofit organization that works to alleviate poverty through the importation and use of gently used bicycles, and works to promote the bicycle’s health benefits and environmental benefits.

How do you benefit from an AWOL tour?

  • Unlike any other tour in Cape Town, the AWOL bicycle township tour is filled with a variety of activities that allow you to completely immerse yourself within the local Xhosa culture.
  • As you stroll through the quaint Masiphymelele township on bicycle (without the confinements of a bus or vehicle), you’ll have the opportunity to observe and interact with the locals in their everyday lives. During your tour, you’ll learn about the Xhosa people’s unique customs and traditions from a highly-knowledgeable and certified local guide.
  • One of the greatest highlights of the bicycle tour is the chance to view a traditional Xhosa dance performed by a Sangoma (African traditional healer). This is one of the most enlightening experiences of the bicycle tour as it incorporates authentic music with traditional dance rituals. And we promise, you’ve never seen or heard anything like it.
  • Enjoy an authentic, home cooked meal in an African home and taste the delectable flavors of local spices and produce. During this lunch, you’ll be able to interact with a local family and participate in the cooking experience if you so choose and you will also be able to view the interior of a traditional Masiphymelele home. Nothing is more satisfying than taking the time to see how traditional African cuisine is prepared and learning first-hand cooking lessons from the locals.
  • See the joyful faces of children at a local pre-school and interact with them for an even deeper insight into the local customs and community lifestyle.

AWOL Bike Tours

AWOL Bike Tours

How does the community benefit from an AWOL tour?

  • AWOL strives to sustain the local economy by assisting locals to start up their own business and by employing locals to become qualified guides. This not only allows the locals to proudly share their knowledge of their cultural and historical heritage with visitors, but it also allows them to be paid for these services.
  • Because the bicycles used in the AWOL bicycle tour are second hand and produce no carbon emissions, they are completely safe for the environment and allow the local community to financially profit from the tours. In addition to helping sustain the local economy, the fact that bicycles produce no gas emissions means a healthier environment and lifestyle for the locals.
  • Locals who offer their cooking expertise to visitors are also compensated for their efforts and have the opportunity to share their natural born skills with visitors.
  • Some of the proceeds from the tour go to a local pre-school that is visited during the tour, which helps to sustain the local education system.
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Upcoming Uthando Projects: Why One Group of Women Are Taking Their Clothes Off

On January 25, 2010, In South Africa, By Sandy Salle
The Underberg Calendar Girls Facebook Page

The Underberg Calendar Girls Facebook Page

As one of the leading community project facilitators and supporters in South Africa, the Uthando Foundation strives to “raise moral and financial support for children who are infected or affected by the HIV / AIDS crisis in South Africa.”

Through their relentless efforts to bring happiness and health care to local South African communities, the Uthando Foundation is working hard to provide children with basic necessities, such as food, medication, moral support, education, shelter, and more. As of the beginning of January, 2010, Uthando has delivered to all of its projects for its second, full year in business. With a handful of new projects lined up for the year, Uthando is seeing great strides in their efforts and has a positive outlook for the future.

The Underberg Calendar Girls Facebook Page

The Underberg Calendar Girls Facebook Page

One of the newest—and allegedly controversial—projects this year is The Underberg Calendar Girls. The discreet and humorous calendar is comprised of nude photos of a group of mothers in the small South African town, Underberg, who are taking their clothes off to help raise money to heat the local school pool. Because the pool is usually cold throughout the year, children usually don’t use it for athletic purposes or even for play.

Looking to brush the dust off the pool, the mothers of Underberg are hoping to raise money for their non-profit calendar, but not without some scolding from local conservatives who are accusing them of “promoting sex and immoral acts.”

We wish them luck and hope that their brave efforts and hard work pays off!

Visit their Facebook group, The Underberg Calendar Girls, to view some of their photos and join the conversation.

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Cape Fusion Peninsula Tours: Above And Beyond Your Greatest Expectations

On January 8, 2010, In African Safari Tours, Family Safaris, Honeymoon Safaris, South Africa, By Sandy Salle
Cape Point

Cape Point

For many seasoned travelers, a guided tour is not their idea of a personalized and intimate way to spend a vacation day. Some believe that a tour limits their freedom and ability to enjoy other things they want to see and do, while others think that tours are too expensive and would rather explore on their own. Although all of these reasons are legitimate for most “touristy” tours throughout the world, a Cape Town Peninsula tour with Cape Fusion Tours redefines the traditional guided tour.

Here’s what you’ll get on a Peninsula Scenic Tour through Cape Town with Cape Fusion Tours:

Cape Point

Cape Point

The opportunity to learn from a guide, who is arguably South Africa’s best, Pam.

Based in Cape Town, Pam is equipped with an endless knowledge of the region, its suburbs, the beaches, the historical heritage, the Winelands, and the Garden Route, and is a treat to anyone’s itinerary. With an obvious passion for food, wine, history, and her love for Cape Town, Pam ensures her tours are exceptional affairs, which are often the highlight of travelers’ itineraries.

A low cost rate for an invaluable experience. Because Cape Fusion Tours is passionate about sharing the beauty, rich history, and cultural heritage of Cape Town with all who visit, they believe it’s important to be affordable to all. In addition to a great price, you can also rest assured that your family is safe and free to enjoy their vacation in its entirety.

capefusion3A journey from Cape Point to the south-westerly point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Point is a peninsula where the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean meet and is a large focus for conservation efforts. Now a nature reserve, this peninsula is home to the highest sea cliffs in the world, two coastlines, a plethora of exotic flora, exceptional wildlife, an eco-friendly boardwalk, sprawling beaches, and gorgeous walking trails. A tour through this area brings out the hidden secrets and elements of the peninsula and opens your eyes to things you otherwise would have never known about had you explored on your own.

 

Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach

The rare and truly exceptional opportunity to observe a residential penguin colony on Boulders Beach.

Perfect for all ages, Boulders Beach is the ideal place to observe one of Africa’s most outstanding species, the African penguin. On a peninsula tour you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the penguins, their heritage, and even swim with them! Unique to South Africa, the African penguin is a delightful treat to observe as they are very social and playful creatures.

The chance to observe Cape Town’s magnificent wildlife. Some of the most popular wildlife to see in Cape Town includes baboons, bontebok, ostriches, an abundance of bird life, and the southern right whales. On the peninsula tour, you’ll not only be able to observe these animals in the wild, but you’ll also learn quirky facts about them, and perhaps even get up-close-and-personal with some.

The opportunity to visit Simons Town historical naval base. Whether you’re interested in learning about the exciting history of this naval town, sunbathe on one of the many beaches, or observe penguins in their natural habitat, Simons Town offers something for everyone and a guided tour through the area allows you to experience it all.

capefusion5Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Established in 1913, this 528 hectares estate works to conserve the flora indigenous to South Africa and is a haven for nature lovers. Located on the eastern slope of Table Mountain, stunning flowers, shrubs, and fynbos (a coastal vegetation species) make up the fascinating Kirstenbosch gardens. With a backdrop of sharp mountains, fields interlaced with streams, paths, and walkways, the Kirstenbosch estate is home to arguably the world’s most unique botanical gardens.

Experiencing everything Cape Town, South Africa has to offer can be quite a challenge without the guidance of a knowledgeable guide. Although it’s very possible for travelers to explore Cape Town on their own, the fact that there is so much to see and do can be overwhelming for visitors who realize that it’s nearly impossible to do everything on their own. Because a trip to Cape Town is a once in a lifetime opportunity, wouldn’t you want to be able to see it all and understand the deep rooted history and cultural heritage behind Cape Town’s legendary existence?

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What To Do and See In South Africa: A – Z Part I

On October 23, 2009, In African Safari Tours, Family Safaris, Honeymoon Safaris, South Africa, By Sandy Salle

Antique Shopping: With history dating back to the 1600s, South Africa is filled with delightful antiques and artifacts from the home, and from times of apartheid, imprisonment, and war. Whether you’re looking to purchase an antique chair or an ancient relic, South Africa’s antique shops are full of spectacular cultural and historical heritage.

Sugardbd_C-Mvert1-Jy05-wwBirding Safari: Bird lovers find South Africa to be one of the greatest countries in all of Africa to observe an abundance of unique birdlife. Currently, South Africa has over 850 different species of bird, and many of those species are endemic to the area. The best time to enjoy South Africa’s birdlife is during the spring and summer time (September – March). From ostriches to bateleur eagles, and African penguins to Cape parrots, you’ll observe some of the most exotic birds in the entire world on a South African birding safari.

Cape Town: Home to some of Africa’s best restaurants, shopping, and tours, Cape Town, South Africa is a must-visit destination for travelers. Some of the many attractions throughout Cape Town include, Table Mountain, Port Elizabeth, museums, art exhibits, and Cavendish Square—to name a few.

Dive with the Sharks: In Gansbaai, an island off the coast of South Africa, there are a variety of shark dive safari providers and excursions to choose from—some including cages, photography opportunities, manta rays, hammerheads, tiger sharks, Great Whites, and more. If you’re not feeling as adventurous as those going into the water, a shark viewing safari from the comfort of a boat is also highly rewarding and adventurous.  

Elephant and Horseback Riding: Take a ride on the back an elephant and experience stunning views of Africa and wild game from 13 feet above ground, or enjoy a horseback safari through indescribably landscapes. A horseback riding safari and elephant safari are two of the greatest ways to get up-close to nature and run with herds. 

Franschhoek: Informally dubbed the “Food & Wine” capital of South Africa, Franschhoek’s historic French Huguenot Village is one of the most exceptional places in all of Africa to enjoy stunning countryside landscapes, experience exciting cultural affairs, dabble in wine tasting, explore charming bistros and boutiques, and observe classic Cape-Dutch architecture. 

the-garden-routeGarden Route: With a chain of sprawling mountains, valleys of wildflowers, lakes, forests, and majestic beaches, Garden Route is the perfect destination for honeymooners and families alike. Whether you enjoy fishing, sun-bathing, water sports, birding, hiking, scenic tours, or cultural tours, Garden Route has it all. 

Hot Air Balloon Ride: Take a relaxing trip past jagged mountains and above plump treetops on a hot air balloon safari. Get a new perspective on South Africa’s diverse terrain as you glide through the air on this tranquil safari and enjoy fantastic photography opportunities.

Inkaba Body Balance: Experience this revolutionary and completely rejuvenating Inkaba massage therapy at the Serenite spa at L’Ermitage Franschhoek Chateau & Villas. This hands-on therapy is used to connect the body’s energy and create balance within. During this treatment, the entire body is stimulated—from the toes to the face.

Jardine: The contemporary and hip ambiance of the Jardine restaurant in Cape Town is one of the many reasons why the restaurant has landed a spot on South Africa’s prestigious Eat Out award list. Jardine boasts a delightful selection of fine African and Contemporary cuisine, such as tender duck confit, Chalmar beef fillet, and tantalizing desserts.

HOA_Kruger1Kruger National Park: As the first wildlife reserve in southern Africa, Kruger National Park has made a name for itself as the premier place to observe the Big 5 on a South African family safari or honeymoon safari. Kruger and its adjacent private reserves are home to some of the most luxurious and exclusive lodges and camps in all of Africa, including Singita, Londolozi, and Mala Mala. 

Local Village Tours: Take a tour through one of South Africa’s many quaint and charming villages and discover interesting facts and stories about local cultures and history. During these tours, you’ll have the amazing opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their lifestyle and cultural heritage.

Mpumalanga: Breaking free from traditional African safari tours, Mpumalanga, South Africa is a haven for people who love the outdoors. Whether you enjoy hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, historic site seeing, or water sports, Mpumalanga can accommodate your every desire.

 

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