Winter is here, but that doesn't mean you have to stay bundled up at home. South African winters, which are from June to August, typically comprise of crisp days and cold nights in the higher-lying areas. The coastal regions of South Africa along the Indian Ocean enjoy excellent weather during winter months. The Western Cape has most of its rain during this time but there are bright sunny days in between and these can be the most gorgeous days ever. When travelling in South Africa during winter always remember to pack warm clothes and keep an umbrella handy; and of course don’t forget to charge the batteries on your camera and your phone because the photo opportunities are unlimited! So put on those woollies and enjoy the season with our Top 10 things to do in Winter. 1. Go Whale Watching Without a shadow of a doubt whale watching is something you have to do during winter and one of the best and most renowned whale watching spots in South Africa is Hermanus. Hundreds of Southern Right whales make their way to Hermanus’ Walker Bay every winter to breed and watching these majestic creatures of the sea can be quite an amazing experience. Carry a pair of binoculars if you want to spot the whales from land or get adventurous and take a boat ride out to sea to get a closer look. 2. Watch the Sardine Run An extraordinary marine spectacle that takes place every year during the winter months is the sardine run. This is when large shoals of sardines, specifically the Southern African pilchard, move in a band up the coast to spawn in the cool waters on the continental shelf of the east coast. The shoreline is coloured silver as the tiny fish make their way to the shores of the beaches in KwaZulu-Natal. This is a phenomenon that is worth watching from land, sea or even underwater. Carry a cooler box with you because chances are you will be able to scoop up sardines from the sea and take them home to eat! Enjoy affordable car hire with First Car Rental and plan a …
I Am Worthy charity benefits from Travelbags luncheon at the Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport
I Am Worthy charity benefits from Travelbags luncheon at the Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport On Friday, 30 May the South African travel club Travelbags hosted their monthly networking lunch at the Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. Founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation to provide networking opportunities for women in the travel industry, Travelbags lunches provide an opportunity for hospitality industry service providers to market their products and services directly to members of the travel industry. Travelbags raise funds for charity organisations with every lunch they host and proceeds of this event will go to I Am Worthy in aid of initiatives to empower women and caring for widows and orphans. “I would like to thank Henk Bredenoord and the Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo team for inviting us to spend the afternoon with them and everyone attending the Travelbags luncheon. It was an absolutely wonderful day. I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to speak about I Am Worthy and the cause we support and we want to express our sincere gratitude for the donation we have received to support abused women and children in need.” Said Samantha Bronkhorst, General Manager of I Am Worthy after the event. Premier Hotels and Resorts sponsored accommodation at any of their hotels across the country as prizes in the raffle which raised R8600 for the charity organisation. The hotel group also supported a professional conference organisers held at Turffontein Race Course last month where R15000 was raised for I Am Worthy. Says General Manager Henk Bredenoord: “It was our pleasure to host the luncheon this month and to give attendees the opportunity to sample our culinary philosophy, which is ‘fresh, fast and fun’.” End. Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo offers 275 rooms with en suite bathrooms, bar fridge, complimentary Wi-Fi, LED televisions with 24 channels, VOIP telephones, a complimentary bottle of mineral water and tea and …
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City Lodge Hotels AWARDED 2014 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE
21 May 2014 – City Lodge Hotel group today announced that 3 of its Hotels have received TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence awards. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Establishments awarded the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website. The 3 Hotels that received the award were the City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport, the Courtyard Hotel Port Elizabeth and the Country Lodge Nairobi. When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honorees that takes into account reviews ratings. Businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, volume and recency of reviews. Additional criteria include a business’ tenure and popularity ranking on the site. Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at City Lodge Hotels and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor. There is no greater seal of approval than being recognized by one’s customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence. “TripAdvisor is pleased to honour exceptional hospitality businesses for consistent excellence,” said Marc Charron, President of TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award gives top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers. From Australia to Zimbabwe, we want to applaud exceptional hospitality businesses for offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer …
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Courtyard Hotel Port Elizabeth Gets Fresh New Look
The Courtyard Hotel in Port Elizabeth has received a fantastic makeover over the past five months, ensuring an even higher standard of accommodation, features and facilities for its discerning guests. The new-look hotel was officially re-introduced to corporates and the travel and hospitality trade at a function attended by about 100 people on May 15. Begun on January 9 and completed on May 12, the refurbishment has been extremely well received by guests – both first time visitors and regulars. Blending in superbly with the hotel’s close proximity to the sea, a nautical theme has been introduced to the hotel’s public areas. All of the hotel’s rooms and suites have been treated to painting, carpeting and tiling while woodwork and upholstery has been replenished and improved. Lighting has also given some attention with low energy LED fittings sharply reducing lighting expenses and environmental impact. According to the hotel’s GM, Eduard van Zyl, a fresh, comfortable minimalism remains in the hotel which has built up a strong group of loyal followers over the years. “The response to our makeover has been overwhelming and we look forward to sharing our new-look hotel with many satisfied guests in the months and years to come,” said van Zyl. Courtyard Hotel PE is one of five hotels the City Lodge Hotel Group owns and operates in Nelson Mandela Bay – the other being City Lodge Hotel Port Elizabeth, Town Lodge Port Elizabeth, Road Lodge Port Elizabeth and Road Lodge Port Elizabeth Airport. Courtyard Hotel Port Elizabeth’s makeover is part of the City Lodge Hotel Group’s ongoing commitment to keep its hotels as fresh, relevant and modern as possible. Author: City Lodge from City Lodge Hotel Group. Twitter: https://twitter.com/CityLodgeHotels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/City.lodge.hotels.limited Images: For high res version/s of One image/s please contact: City Lodge Hotel Group. Caption: An interior view of Courtyard Hotel Port …
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The Lakes Boutique Lodge – Where Families and Business People Go
If its style, comfort and opulence you seek, then the Lakes Boutique Lodge is your destination. Located on the Silvers Lakes Golf course, East of Pretoria, this family-owned lodge offers top-class accommodation for holiday makers, relocating families and travelling business people from all over the world. The Lakes Boutique Lodge boasts of fully furnished and equipped apartments that are designed to provide all the convenience of a home for anyone seeking accommodation in silver lakes Pretoria. The family-friendly accommodation allows families to go about their day-to-day activities as if they were in their own home. You can stay for extended periods and get special rates for stays that extend beyond 12 days. The one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments are exclusive and allow for privacy. There is a separate dining and lounge area and private balcony overlooking the golf course, providing children with space to play. If you are coming with children you are advised to make prior arrangements for such provisions as toys, books, games and DVDs to be made available. Other facilities and services that make this lodge a complete package include a concierge/reception desk which is manned between 06h00 to 22h00, a dining area, breakfast packs, a swimming pool and sun-deck, 24/7 security, wireless broadband, and a personal security access card to the golf estate. For an extra charge you can also get daily grocery shopping for your room, shuttle services, laundry services, and you can purchase additional bandwidth. Visitors need not worry about hotels in Silver Lakes Pretoria because the Lake Boutique lodge is the answer to all your accommodations needs. The fact that it is located within the proximity of the major centres of commerce in Pretoria makes it an ideal base for business people. It has also been strategically located in that it can be accessed easily whether by car or the Gautrain to Johannesburg. This four-star lodge is certainly the pride of Pretoria, …
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Where to See Rhino in South Africa
You've heard about the shocking numbers, you've probably even had the misfortune of seeing the gruesome pictures; you've perhaps been generous and made a donation to conservation groups trying desperately to save them. The tale of the rhino is a sad one and there is no denying that unless we do everything we can, they will disappear forever. As sad as their story may be, there is still a glimmer of hope. South Africa has a number of parks and reserves where you can watch the beautiful rhino live happily in their natural habitat. First Car Rental has put together a list of places where you can get a glimpse of rhino in all their splendour. Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga If you are looking for an unmatched wildlife experience, the Kruger National Park is the place to be. Home to the famous Big 5 and about 5 000 rhino, both black and white, Kruger gives you a fantastic opportunity to watch the majestic rhino in their natural habitat. The guided game drives and the amazing nature walks with knowledgeable rangers give you a great deal of insight into the life and behaviour of rhino in the wild. Spotting rhino shouldn't be hard even if you are on a self-drive safari. The southern half of the park has the highest density of rhino and they are seen on most game drives. Accommodation facilities range from camp sites to luxury lodges making this park perfect for everyone. Pilanesberg Game Reserve, North West Situated in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province and next door to Sun City, Pilanesberg is a stunning retreat that sprawls over 572 km² of pristine bushveld terrain. At Pilanesberg you can go on guided game drives and spot black rhino along with the many other birds and animals in the reserve. Remember that all game drives have to be booked in advance. Self-drive safaris are also permitted here. The luxurious, African-inspired accommodation has been strategically placed in the reserve for privacy and a wondrous African …
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GREAT EXCITEMENT OVER PLATTELAND’S AUTUMN EDITION
The second issue of Platteland, the new quarterly lifestyle magazine from the Go! stable, appears on magazine shelves countrywide this week. And when one considers the reaction to the first issue, this down-to-earth magazine, available in English and Afrikaans, is being welcomed with open arms by readers, who can hardly wait for the next issue to go on sale. Although the audited sales figures will only be available by July 2014, Platteland has got everybody talking. Letters, emails and comments on social media are flooding in explaining how the magazine has touched their lives. Thea Brand of Jacobsdal writes: “The first edition of Platteland impressed me – from the quality paper to the interesting and valuable articles, tips and recipes. It truly is a coffee-table magazine with ‘something for mom and dad and daughter and son’, as the theme song of the Esmé Euvrard programme Hospitaaltyd decades ago taught us, along with numerous plans on how to apply old skills today – a guide to living ‘better naturally’ and ‘naturally better’.” City slickers are equally excited: “After I started paging through your mag one afternoon, my herb garden is now taking shape in my head and the ‘slower-living, better-living’ ideas overwhelm me; what a wonderful escape to Loxton and Nottingham Road; and as for the Waterberg preserves story … my mouth is watering and I’m eagerly awaiting the following issue,” says Johan Ferreira, who hails from the City of Gold. Edith Bartholomew from Cape Town comments: “I had tears in my eyes while paging through Platteland. Happy tears. Every page brought back wonderful memories of the little town in the Eastern Cape where I grew up. For a farm girl, this magazine is a big gift.” So, what can readers look forward to in the Autumn Platteland? We look at life in Cullinan just east of Pretoria, as well as experience the less showy side of the Eastern Free State; visit a couple who left behind the rat race of the Midrand for a more fulfilling life …
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First Car Rental’s Top 10 Valentines Gifts for Men – The Perfect Guide to Inspiring Love for the Man in Your Life
Valentine’s Day is back and people all over the world are looking for great ways to express love. Valentine's Gifts are, of course, one of the best ways to woo and win over that special someone and women are spoilt for choice this season. Gifts for men, on the other hand, are a bit tricky, because, unlike women, men hardly offer pointers on what they really want! First Car Rental has decided to help you with your Valentine’s gifts this year and has put together a list of some ‘out of the box’ Valentine’s Day gift ideas for men. 1. Quad Biking Boys will be boys and giving them a day with a powerful, fast machine, is definitely going to put a smile on their face. A great gift for men who love adventure sports, quad biking on Valentine’s Day is a rather untraditional way to express your love, but it does the trick! 2. Cooking Class From the super adventurous to the super sexy, men who can cook are every woman’s dream come true and if your partner shows some serious talent in the kitchen, sending him on a professional cooking class could be a great gift for him on Valentine’s Day. It could also prove to be beneficial in the future, especially when you are craving a delicious home cooked meal, made by anyone but yourself! 3. Relaxing Massage If your partner is someone who doesn’t know the joy of a good massage, then this will be one of the best gifts for him. If you want to make this a gift for the both of you, book a couple’s massage. 4. Helicopter Ride An adrenaline rush is always a good thing on Valentine’s Day, and the one you can get from a helicopter ride is going to make this day unforgettable. The birds-eye view of the majestic mountains and the bragging rights your partner can enjoy are certainly worth your time and money this Valentine’s Day. 5. Beer Tasting Who would say ‘no’ to spending a day sipping on some terrific beers? A beer tasting tour could be a great Valentine’s gift for men! There are some amazing breweries all over South …
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Premier Hotels and Resorts offers an exclusive promotion for Passover
Premier Hotels and Resorts, one of South Africa's leading independent hotel groups, has just launched a new package, exclusively for Passover. The package is offered at Premier Hotel Knysna - The Moorings, one of their top hotels and includes, for the duration of Pesach, a kosher kitchen (supervised by the on site Rabbi), a Shul on the premises and Seder accoutrements. Says Sigal Nassimov-Geva: "There is a large Jewish community in Plettenberg Bay and surrounds and with our Knysna hotel being so accessible, we felt that by offering our Passover packages at this property, we would make observing this tradition simple for families who want to celebrate with convenience and style. This package not only offers amenities to make Pesach as meaningful as possible, it also gives families the opportunity to relax and unwind at a gorgeous hotel in one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa." The full programme includes: Seder accoutrements including Shemurah Matza, wine and more A Shul on the premises A tour of the Garden Route during Chol Hamoed Daily children's entertainment Packages are available from April 14th to 23rd and include a long weekend, Seder only or the full week. Anyone interested can contact the Premier Hotel Knysna at 043 705 5033 for individual packages. More information is available at www.premierhotels.co.za or via passover@premierhotels.co.za. Ends. Issued by MANGO-OMC on behalf of Premier Hotels and Resorts. For more information or comment, please contact media@premierhotels.co.za or 021 447 8048. About Premier Hotels and Resorts Since 1991 Premier Hotels and Resorts has built a fine reputation offering a range of service-orientated luxury hotels and conference venues carefully situated in the mainstream of regional business and travel destinations in South Africa. Premier Hotels & Resorts is one of South Africa’s growing independent groups, focusing on key destinations with properties in Cape Town, Knysna, East …
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Johannesburg, a trip in the Desert
Johannesburg, a trip in the Desert : Johannesburg is a city in South Africa, the capital of the province is Gauteng, its currency is the Rand (Zar), the official languages are Afrikaans, Ndebele, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Zulu, Xhosa, Venda and English. Johannesburg has the tallest building in Africa, the Carlton Center, 222 meters, the country has been engaged in export of gold and diamonds (markets dominating), is a country where crime and poverty in general prevails despite being one of the largest exporters of gold. My experience in Johannesburg was wonderful, exactly what I was looking for and what I needed within myself, I woke up one morning and decided to make that trip to a month they had not given me bad news about my health and for years wanted to do a journey alone into the forest, full of animals, 100% contact with nature, so I went to an agency and I kick the airfare and hotel, and adventure I embarked. I first went to a trip away from my people and alone, he had traveled to many countries before, but never alone. Once I got to the airport, I spent thousands of things to the head, the first was, what am I doing here? I'm crazy, where I've been? I was the first time traveling to South Africa and I felt instantly that I was in a special place, just inside the ground, another culture, another world, maybe not the world that anyone would like to visit, but my visit was special, a little fear itself that caught on landing, with the agency had included the transfer from airport to hotel and vice versa?, and I were waiting for a man with my name on a placard and a security guard (my mother, I did if I am a wenaaa girl), was a kind of protection for the tourist who puts the hotel. Once installed in the hotel, I felt good about myself, I sat for hours on the deck to watch the sky, the landscape, the people, do not know how to explain that afternoon/night is not left there and the next day. I was visiting the Lion Park is a trip that I really liked, there …