South Africa is the most amazing place, during Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter there is always something to do and beauty all around.   With Winter upon us, here are a few ideas of things to do and places to go.

The World Famous Namaqualand Flower Route is a must.  The wild flowers start bloom­ing from July to October.

This phenomenon will never cease to delight and amaze anybody who experiences this
The Namaqualand Flower Route is roughly 5 hours north of Cape Town. The main areas being a series of drives that centre on the towns of  Springbok, Kamieskroon, Garies and Port Nolloth up the N7.
As there are almost  4000 different speciesyou could find many different selections of flowers from year to year.  We recommend that you take at least two to three days to explore, either by driving, hiking or cycling this area. 

The Sardine Run

Thousands of visitors flock to the KwaZulu Natal’s east coast to witness the Sardine Run, Aptly named  The Greatest Shoal on Earth, where millions of Sardines migrate annually.  The Sardine Run starts in Durban Saturday, 11 June 2011 to Saturday, 23 July 2011

The Sardine Run 

The Greatest Shoal on Earth, as it has been named, sees thousands of visitors flock to the KwaZulu Natal east coast to witness the annual migration of millions of sardines. Hundreds of thousands of dolphins, sharks, whales and seabirds follow the impressive body of sardines as they move along the coast.

It is truly a magnificent spectacle for locals and visitors. Visitors will also enjoy a full programme of entertainment, including cultural activities and music shows.

NOBODY SAYS WINTER IS BORING, HERE ARE A FEW OTHER NOT TO BE MISSED WINTER ACTIVITIES.

1. Winter is great for Hiking.  There are many amazing hiking trails around South Africa.  The beauty of hiking in Winter on a sunny day is that you do not have to wake up so early to avoid the mid-day sun.  Take something warm to wear, your celphone and plenty of water.
2. During Winter in the Cape the rivers are a lot less dry and so besides the cold, White water rafting is more enjoyable.
3. Unlike the Cape, Winter is dry sea­son in most of the coun­try. Since the days are warm and because it is dry, Winter makes for great game viewing. You will find more animals converging at the watering holes and there are no tall grasses for the animals to hide behind.  Daytime is cool and comfortable, but the evenings are cold, so make sure you go prepared with jackets, blankets etc.
4. Great White Sharks are known to be more active in Winter.  Take a trip to Seal Island and watch them hunting from the safety of the surface. For the more adventurous you can go Shark Cage Divng in Mossel Bay or Gansbaai.
5. Go to the beach! South Africa has spectacular beaches! What better way to spend a sunny Winters day then going to the beach instead of being cooped up inside.  Take a walk and clear your head with the crisp ocean air.  There are many amazing outdoor restaurants  on the beaches.  Treat yourself and your friends and family.  

So don’t despair, besides the above mentioned Winter ideas there is snow man building, Winter is the month for Rugby, support your team! Restaurants, skiing, health spa’s, craft markets, botanical gardens and so much more!

Go out there and HAVE FUN!!!!!!

I personally find the following information, provided to us by Earth Probiotic www.earthprobiotic.com
very exciting.  If everybody did their 'bit' to save the earth, then I believe it will be a much better place and healthier place.

"This decade has been labelled “The Green Decade”. As global warming
combines with natural phenomena such as El Nino we have seen floods,
droughts and the eminent demise of particular species of fauna and flora.
Earth Probiotic is a company focussed on helping individuals, companies and the
hospitality industry reduce their carbon foot-print by recycling their food-waste.
While the recycling of metal, plastic, paper and glass is now well known and
established, food-waste has not been focussed upon as a recyclable resource.
When not managed or recycled, food-waste is a major contributor to
environmental degradation. Food-waste, when dumped in landfills, produces
green houses gases (in particularly methane), attracts vermin, is a breeding
ground for e-coli and salmonella and degrades above and below-ground water
sources.
But when treated properly can be easily reutilised very productively in the
production of fertiliser/compost for agriculture and domestic use.
While there are a large number of people utilising worm-bins, Earth Probiotic
utilises the power of good bacteria (probiotics) to ferment food-waste and turn
this into microbial rich fertiliser and “super soil”.
How does it work?
Food-waste is collected and then placed in an anaerobic (without air)
sealed bin. As the waste is placed into the bin it is repeatedly layered with
bokashi (Japanese for “fermented organic matter”) bran until the digester
is full.
Once the bin is full, a final layer of bokashi is sprinkled over the top and
the bin is then sealed. The bin is then left to ferment for a minimum
period of 14 days.
During the fermentation period a liquid “bokashi juice” is produced. This is
an extremely powerful liquid. Once decanted the juice needs to be diluted
1:200 and then can be applied as a liquid fertiliser. The liquid is loved by
acid loving plants but should not be used on cactii, succulents or fynbos
species. Undiluted the liquid can be used as a sludge cleaner for drains or
used in septic tanks.
After the fermentation period the waste can then be trenched into soil or
placed in the centre of a compost heap (where it accelerates the
decomposition process).
After 4 to 6 weeks the food-waste will have completely turned into a rich
compost or microbial rich supersoil. Thus helping you reutilise your waste
in your vegetable garden or flower beds.
The advantage of the system is that (1) you can ferment ALL cooked and
uncooked organic waste including meat, chicken, fish, small bones, onions, citrus,
cheese (these are often not suitable for a worm bin); (2) there is no bad odour
(a slight cider/brewing smell is emitted); (3) the bin does not attract flies or
roaches as it is sealed and bokashi tends to be unattractive to these pests
And, of course, the bokashi system is pathogen free (CSIR tests have shown no
counts of e-coli or salmonella) and does not produce green house gas."

For more information and pricing please contact:  Gavin Heron. 076 581 3087. gavin.heron@earthprobiotic.com

Go ahead! Make your mark!

We would like to thank  Tourism Marketing SA  www.tourismmarketing.co.za  for the following information on travel trends for 2011.

Top Travel Trends in 2011

1.  Business travelers are looking for value: Companies are still limiting corporate travel and today’s “road warriors” are looking for a deal.  Free WiFi, complimentary parking, free breakfast and multiple stay discounts are important to them in 2011.

2. Escapism: People want to escape the stress of their everyday lives.  Although people have always wanted to “escape”, from day to day pressures today, escape means “unplugged” to many.  Don’t be surprised if guests arrive armed with smart phones, laptops or iPads, but then check technology at the door.  Many travelers want to adopt a slower pace.  They will use modern technology to find you, but many will power down and switch off and simply unwind. Health spas and off the beaten track destinations should do well in 2011.

3. Not Just Seeing and Relaxing but Experiencing and Learning – The popularity of adventure and educational travel will continue to thrive in 2011. Travelers are interested in learning and doing, not just seeing. If you can present yourself as a great resource for your guests to learn and experience new things while staying with you and in your location, chances they will book with you are higher.

4.  Family Re-unions and Celebration Vacations: When the budget is tight, people need a reason for travel. Weddings, anniversaries, graduations and birthdays are a great excuse for people to take a few extra days away.  Many will choose to add a few days to their trip to explore once they have “celebrated” with family. By offering family deals, and special packages, you can convince your ideal guests to stay with you.

5. The Luxury of Your Own Space: Relying on room-service from the 25th floor of a luxury hotel no longer satisfies todayís ambitious luxury traveler. Instead, travelers are looking to villa rentals to ensure that their time abroad is truly unique. Even in the budget segment, self catering holiday rentals are a very popular option to the traditional bed & breakfast options with limited space and privacy.

Please go to www.tourismmarketing.co.za/top_ten_resolutions.php to read more about their top 10 marketing resolutions for 2011.