Things to do – Outdoor South Africa

Apr 03

by Outdoor SA in Accomodation, Explore South Africa, Fine Dining, Hidden Gems, Hiking, Photographic Opportunity, Things to do 0 comments tags: KwaZulu Natal, Oribi Gorge, The Gorge

The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa

An absolute seven star gem perched on the edge of the Orbi Gorge, The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa is an absolute must visit. An easy drive from Durban for 90 minutes or 2 hours if you are flying in and landing at King Shaka Airport. A warm and friendly welcome awaits you from the moment you announce yourself at the gate to the extremely warm and world class service that is provided throughout your stay. As if by magic every single staff member knew our names before we even introduced ourselves. The villa’s and suites provide unparalleled views of gorge, whose enchanting vistas are constantly changing. The suites are large and luxurious with king size beds and bath tub allowing you to relax and enjoy the serenity of the incredible views of the gorge. There is both an internal and external shower for the more adventurous. The villas are away from the main hotel complex, while suites are connected to the hotel. All your needs and requirements are met in the rooms which are difficult to tear yourself away from. Breakfast and dinners are served in the main dining room which is beautifully appointed providing incredible views during […]

Feb 11

by Outdoor SA in Accomodation, Beautiful Walks, Camping, Explore South Africa, Food, Hidden Gems, Hiking, Photographic Opportunity, Things to do 0 comments tags: Clarens, free state

Clarens

We will be covering this unique area of South Africa over the next few weeks highlighting interesting and novel details on the area and reviewing some of the places to visit in the area. Are you looking for a difference experience away from the hustle and bustle of city life? A road trip to Clarens in the Free State is well worth the time. Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes from Johannesburg and 4 hours 30 minutes’ drive from Durban, it is time well spent. Nestled at the foot of the Maluti Mountains there are a wide range of accommodation types to choose from and a myriad of activities to enjoy both in the town and in its surrounds. There are many outside activities from fly fishing, to mountain walks and serious mountaineering to horseback riding, quad biking, to even hot air ballooning or golf. Established in 1912, the town of Clarens was a result of two farms being sold, after negotiations a decision was made to name the village after President Paul Kruger influence on the area after he as a voluntarily exile lived his last days in the town of Clarens in Switzerland. Following the Free State-Basotho War of […]

Jan 06

by Outdoor SA in Accomodation, Cape Town, Explore South Africa, Fine Dining, Food, Franschhoek, Photographic Opportunity, Things to do, Winelands 0 comments

Franschhoek Country House and Villas

Franschhoek Country House and Villa’s situated in the central village of Franschhoek offers the ideal place to stay if you are looking for accommodation in the Franschhoek valley. The tranquil ambience of the location while still very central allows the visitor to unwind and relax with five-star service in luxury surroundings. Accommodation on offer ranges from luxury Villa’s, Garden Cottages, Luxury Rooms and Standard Rooms. No detail has been spared with regards to the furnishing, décor and creature comforts provided in range of offerings providing the discerning traveler everything your heart desires. The overall theme and décor of the French Chic, with beautiful artwork and finishes throughout. The warmth and hospitality of all the staff is heartfelt and they go out of their way to make your stay pleasant and enjoyable. Breakfast is served every morning in the upstairs area overlooking the reception quadrant. For lunches and dinners, you can book at the Monneaux restaurant which is on the property. This multi award winning restaurant offers an enchanting setting both within the restaurant or on a pleasant day / evening you can sit outside in the garden area. The restaurant is located on the historical site which was first Franschhoek […]

Nov 24

by Outdoor SA in Accomodation, Beautiful Walks, Explore South Africa, Photographic Opportunity, Things to do 0 comments tags: accomodation, Clarens, free state, Self catering

Ridge Road Country House & Cottage.

Travelling to Clarens in the Free State and lost as where to stay? Large group looking for superb accommodation and self-catering, then look no further than Ridge Road Country House & Cottage. A short drive of 9 km’s from the town of Clarens, on the R711, the accommodation boasts everything that the weary traveller could desire. The main house – Country House sleeps 12 with certain of the rooms having en suite bathrooms while others can share nearby bathrooms. The entire look and feel of the main house is French Provençal, hewn out of sandstone rock and perched on a ridge overlooking a nearby stream; its location is perfect to get away from the hustle and bustle of the town. The house offers all the necessary home comforts and utensils needed, you only need to bring your food and drink. 100% cotton percale linen in the bedrooms, heaters in winter and a splash pool outside for the long lazy summer days really provide a splash of luxury and comfort. The kitchen is a chef’s dream with a large table to accommodate a large crowd of hungry folk. The setting is ideal for a large group wanting to relax and unwind […]

Oct 02

by Outdoor SA in Explore South Africa, Fine Dining, Food, Hearty Meals, Things to do 0 comments tags: Butcher Block, Durban, fillet, Great Cuisine, great food, Indian Ocean, lunch, meat, rump, sirloin, Steak, Steakhouse, T Bone, Umhlanga, wine

Butcher Block Umhlanga

The team decided to visit the restaurant for dinner recently. Set in the Holiday Inn Express in Umhlanga just off Umhlanga Rocks Drive allows for plenty of parking for guests visiting the restaurant who are not staying in the hotel. The restaurant has a sister situated in Crowne Plaza Johannesburg, Rosebank. The Umhlanga restaurant is large and spacious with a warm ambience. It has a modern and clean design and caters for a more upmarket meal, family meal or a quick bite to eat. We found the staff to be warm friendly and attentive. They have a good wine selection for those with a discerning palette. Well known for its main feature on the menu of steak, the group was founded in 2003 as a steakhouse. The menu is full and varied with a great range of starters from chicken livers to the well-known favourite prawn cocktail through to soup; SA stock of boerewors, Mozambican strips chicken or beef, mussels and mushrooms. The full range of steak types, fillet, rump, sirloin, T-Bone and prime rib are all on offer with various cuts and basted to perfection. Chicken, fish, prawns, calamari, lamb shank, curry. The list is endless and there is […]

Aug 29

by admin in Coffee & Cake, Explore South Africa, Hearty Meals, Hidden Gems, Off the Beaten Track, Things to do, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: bakery, coffee, relax, scones & cream, waffles

Drakensberg Valley Bakery

The Valley Bakery in the hilly slopes of the Drakensburg has become more than just a bakery in the Berg, it has become a Berg Institution. Travelers should not dream about vacationing in the Berg without stopping at this prized gem tucked away beyond an airstrip and behind rows of tall shady trees. This past weekend we made two stops at the Valley Bakery and we were not disappointed. On the first occasion, it was a glorious sunny day and we decided to have a cold beverage and treat in the shade of the verandah. Delicious looking biscuits, donuts and breads are the first treats that you notice when entering the bakery. There is also display cabinets showing off cute kitchen wares, baby clothes and various arts and crafts. Multiple cakes line the counters and sit in the cool fridges for customers to choose from, definitely making your mouth water at every sight. Creamy milkshakes, lemon meringue pies, cooked shoestring chips and quiche were our choice of the day and we could not falter the Bakery on any of these. On the second occasion, it was a chilly day and we were soothed by warm cappuccinos, a pepper steak pie […]

Aug 27

by admin in Beautiful Walks, Hiking, Things to do, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Drakensberg, hiking, walking

Sterkspruit Falls

While on holiday in the central Drakensberg we decided on a beautiful August morning to walk to the Sterkspruit Falls from the Monks Cowl Ezemvelo office. We decided on the short walk to Sterkspriut as it is relatively flat and we were feeling a little fragile after the weekend’s activities. We paid the park entrance fee of R 35 per adult and signed the mountain register. We were all quite happy to pay fee as Evemvelo KZN wildlife do such an amazing job of conservation around the province. We walked the circular route first stopping at Sterkspriut Falls its self, the river has dramatically eroded the river valley. The path arrives at a viewing platform at the top of the falls and from the perspective offered it is difficult to comprehend the power of the water and the time taken for the river to have made such a dramatic mark on the landscape. The path continues onto Crystal Pools where one could actually swim in the pools formed by the river, by this point we were all quite hot and were all very tempted to just jump into the icy cool water. Although no one jumped in we all took […]

Oct 30

by Outdoor South Africa in Accomodation, Explore South Africa, Hidden Gems, Photographic Opportunity, Things to do 0 comments tags: scenery, wildlife rehabilitation, Zululand

Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre

As we embarked on our three hour car journey to the Hluhluwe area from Durban, we were filled with excitement and anticipation. We were headed for Emdoneni Lodge which has a Cat Rehabilitation Centre onsite. For the sum of R180.00 per adult, a tour guide will walk you into each cat enclosure, which gives you a close-up and personal experience with a variety of cats. Our first enclosure held wild cats which looked like ordinary ‘tabby’ cats with a more distinctive feature, being their red ears. The wild cats were as close as a metre away from us, which allowed us to identify with the guide’s description of the cats and with each of their individual personalities. The next enclosure held caracals, which are rather bulky looking cats with beautiful black tipped ears. One was relaxing in the tree above us and looked at us as though she knew we were talking about her. Being breeding season, the male caracal was in a separate enclosure, which we were guided into by our tour guide. As the guide was telling us more about caracals, Bar One (which was the male caracal’s name) was rubbing himself against our legs like a normal […]

Oct 13

by Outdoor South Africa in Explore South Africa, Hidden Gems, Photographic Opportunity, Things to do 0 comments tags: birds of prey, wildlife rehabilitation

Falcon Ridge

An awesome show to attend whilst in the Drakensberg area is the bird of prey show at Falcon Ridge. A team of dedicated and adventurous bird handlers put on an excellent show which offers an up close experience with the birds of prey. An educational talk is provided with each bird species and thereafter a jaw dropping presentation is exhibited by the birds themselves. The eagles were flying so high that they looked like a speck on my sunglasses and they were lost amongst the clouds catching the warm thermals as they rose higher and higher. In a few seconds they became visible again, like a rocket ship piercing through the blue skies to land back on a tree in front of us. Falcons are small birds of prey but possibly the fastest. The falcon on display was flying and making manoeuvres at ridiculously high speeds. There was also a beautiful owl on display who at first was a bit skittish but as his presentation continued got cheekier and cheekier and had the crowd laughing and loving him. This outdoor show is perfect for the whole family and will leave you feeling in awe of these amazing birds that we […]

Oct 05

by Outdoor South Africa in Explore South Africa, Things to do 0 comments tags: gardens, kloof

Kloof Garden Route

An ordinary Saturday morning turned into an unexpected horticultural experience as we stumbled across a Rotary event in Kloof called “Open Gardens”. All of a sudden we were drawn into different peoples’ properties to view their spectacularly well-kept gardens. It was a glorious sunny day and therefore perfect outdoor weather for this type of event. As our journey began we were given a map and lead on a type of garden treasure hunt. The beautiful blooming flowers and their layout enthralled all our senses. Vibrant flowers in every colour could be seen along with pollinating bees and chirping birds. Ducks and swans paraded around in ponds in the heart of nature. It was such a relaxing event as we could walk around the properties ourselves and appreciate the beauty and tranquility that each garden provided. This event was was such fun for the whole family, especially the grandparents who enjoyed a cup of tea at the Tea Garden whilst admiring the aesthetically pleasing views.