Electrical Storm over Durban

Photograph by Justin Klusener

Drakensberg Cave Accommodation

Did you know that you can actually sleep in a cave while visiting the Drakensberg?

Yes you read correctly. You can book your cave for the night and experience the scenic beauty in a new way. 

How awesome must that be to spend the night in a cave while listening to the crickets outside. Truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Drakensberg Mountains

 

Would you do it?

7 World Heritage Sites

Did you know South Africa is home to 7 World Heritage Sites?

Here they are:

Cradle of Humankind, Johannesburg, Gauteng

1. The Cradle of Humankind 

The discovery of early human activity dating back 3 million years ago. The most popular      cave is Sterkfontein where over 500 fossils and over 9000 stone tools artifacts were     discovered. 

Australopithecus sediba was discovered two years ago.

2. The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal

It is now known as the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. The Park was declared a World     Heritage Site on the 1st of December 1999. The Wetlands is home to the largest Hippo      population and over 1000 crocodiles. the Wetlands has a very special visitor during   November, the Leatherback Turtle and the Loggerhead Turtle uses the protected beaches to lay their eggs.

The Leatherback Turtle

3. Robben Island 

Robben Island, Cape Town, Western Cape

Famously known as the prison where President Nelson Mandela was held for 27 years. The   Prison was used for many reasons such as training and defence station in World War II     (1939-1945) and a hospital for people with leprosy, and the mentally and chronically ill    (1846-1931).Political and common-law  prisoners were kept on the Island during this time. 

Nelson Mandela

4.Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu-Natal

SA-Venues describes it in perfect detail:

"The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of this world heritage site."

Visit their site: http://www.sa-venues.com/game-reserves/kzn_drakensberg.htm

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Limpopo

5. Mapungbwe Museum, Limpopo

 The two main sites, Mapungubwe and K2, were proclaimed National Monuments in the early 1980’s. Boundaries are being set for the creation of a cross-border peace Park, named Mapungubwe National Park, this is also now a World Heritage Site.

6. Cape Floral Kingdom

Cape Floral Kingdom

The famous Fynbos region is found here. It is one of the richest areas for plants in the World. It is home to 20% of the continent's flora.

 7. Vredefort Dome

This is the biggest meteorite impact that geologists have yet found on Earth and it is nearly twice as big as the impact that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. It is also the oldest impact crater that has been found on Earth. It is mainly for these reasons that it has been made a World Heritage Site. 

Vredefort Dome, Free State

Source: 

Cradle image: http://johannesburg.jozibeartours.co.za/images/mar.jpg

Cradle info: http://www.southafrica.info/travel/cultural/sterkfontein.htm

Skull: http://www.savingwater.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Australopithecus_sediba.jpg

St Lucia: http://www.south-africa-tours.com/images/st-lucia2.jpg

Leatherback Turtle: http://www.wildlifeextra.com/images/leatherback-underwater.JPG

Robben Island: http://www.robben-island.org.za/

Nelson image: http://members.shaw.ca/mklerck/robbenisland/madibajail.jpg

Robben Island: http://www.flintstours.co.za/images/robbenisl.jpg

Drakensberg image: http://www.nature-reserve.co.za/images/1ukhahlamba001.jpeg

Mapungubwe: http://reservedlife.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/62290_resized_mapungubwe_entrance.jpg

Cape flowers: http://www.safarinow.com/files/images/travel-guide/Cape%20Floral%20Region/300%20wide/CF-Watsonias.jpg

Vredefort Dome image: http://news.cheapflighthouse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/vredefort.jpg

Vredefort Dome: http://www.vredefortdome.org/index.html

Golf in South Africa

Golf is one of the most popular activities to take part in. Here in South Africa, there are a number of beautiful golf courses to visit. 

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/1f/95/eb/giraffe-on-golf-course.jpg

All over the country no matter the Province, I promise you there is a lavish green course waiting to be explored. Even our wildlife cant resist the temptation of the green lawns stretching across hectares of land.  These gentle giants paid a visit to one of the Golf Courses in Phalaborwa, Limpopo.

While you  exploring South Africa be sure to visit some of the beautiful Golf Courses around our country.

Images speak louder than words, so I have attached some photos from the courses:

Royal Cape Golf Club Pearl Valley Golf Club

Durban Country Club

Sun City, North-West

 Picture sources:

http://www.golfdirect.co.za/specials-Golf-Special-Cape-Town-and-Garden-Route-8-nts--16.php 

http://www.embassyconferences.co.za/media/social_programme/cities_surrounds/jnb/sun%20city%20golf%20course.jpg

http://www.livethemagicofafrica.com/putt-your-way-through-south-africas-most-celebrated-golf-courses

Wouldn't you rather be here?

The Majestic Drakensberg Mountains

http://www.icec2012.org.za/photogallery/SouthAfrica/Drakensberg.jpg

It is here!!

Good Morning South Africa,

A rather chilly morning to start off with, apparently it is snowing by the Drakensberg Mountains. Brrrrrrrrrr

Grab your coffee and hot water bottle because winter has officially arrived.

Source: http://www.photoaxe.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/winter-coffee.jpg

Whats your winter warmer secrets??