Kruger National Park Calendar - October

Weather:

• daytime temperatures soar
• first hard rains
• it can get extremely hot & humid if the rains are late

Temperatures:

• between 16°C - 32°C (Fahrenheit: e.g. 28°C = [(28x9)]/5 + 32 = 82.4°F)
• visit travelcomments.com/webcams_sa.htm and follow daily game drives via webcam to check the weather & how the landscape is changing during the year

Landscape:

• Grassland beginns turning green
• many trees in flower
• lush vegetation
• river levels start rising

 Animal Activity:

• breeding season begins for many antelopes
• game begins dispersing through the Park
• most of the northern migrant raptors arrive

Kruger National Park info guide >>
Kruger National Park tours >>
accommodation in the Kruger NP area >>

online car hire >>

Tour: Helicopter ride over Cape Town

Cape Town is regarded to be one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Depending on your choice of flight you will get to see the Capes most famous sights and then some, including the bustling V&A waterfront, the rugged 12 apostles, the white sandy beaches of Simon’s Town and maybe even catch a glimpse of Whales breaching and playing off the shore.

helicopter tours in Cape Town >>

Cape Town city guide, tour & accommodation booking >>

Intrepid Travel - 20% off gorilla tours in September 2010

Intrepid Travel is giving you a 20% discount on two tours in September 2010. If you've ever dreamed of seeing Africa's gorillas in their natural habitat, then now is the time to start planning your adventure...

Gorillas, Chimps & Game Parks >>
16 days ex Nairobi    
Departure: between 04 Sep 2010 and 20 Sep 2010
Meet Rwanda's noble mountain gorillas, Track playful chimps in Kibale Forest, Help out the Kariandusi School Trust Project, Spot a shy antelope in acacia woodland, Experience peaceful wilderness in Lake Mburo National Park, Cruise into hippo heaven in the Kazinga Channel, Marvel at swirling rapids near Bujagali Falls, Spot the Big Five in the remarkable Queen Elizabeth National Park, Search out hippos in the Kazinga Channel

Vic Falls to Cape Town >>
22 days Livingstone to Cape Town
Departure: 21 Sep 2010
Encounter iconic wildlife in Chobe National Park, Camp out in the lush Okavango Delta, See animals come to drink at Etosha National Park's waterholes, Experience the San Bushmen's hunter-gatherer traditions, Feel the thunder of Victoria Falls, Slither down a slippery sand dune in the Namib Desert, Put amazing Fish River Canyon in your viewfinder

Serengeti Trail >>
8 days (ex Nairobi)
Departure: 26 Sep 2010
Spot iconic African wildlife in the Serengeti, Shop for local sculptures and textiles at a bustling Musoma market, Camp high above the Ngorongoro Crater, Visit the home of our earliest ancestors, Experience the grandeur of the Great Rift Valley, Safari through the renowned Serengeti, Search out Africa's Big Five

Overland tours in Africa >>

online accommodation booking >>

online flight booking >>

Transnet to stop operating the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe train

South Africa's rail company Transnet announced the decision to terminate the world-famous Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe train service. According to Mboniso Sigonyela, Transnet’s External Communications Manager for Group Corporate and Public Affairs, Transnet identified the Choo-Tjoe as one of its non-core assets.

Therefore Africa’s last scheduled steam train will stop operating within the next couple of month unless a new operator for the service will be found. The company already tendered for a new operator as it hoped to privatise the service, but the parastatal could not identify a suitable new operator. The Outeniqua Transport Museum in George will remain open to the public.

UPDATE (14 Sept 2010): MOSSEL Bay has swung into action to try to save the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, Africa’s last scheduled steam-hauled train, which has been slated for closure later this month. More on weekendpost.co.za

Garden Route info >>
rental car online booking >>
accommodation & tours along the Garden Route >>

more info about the steam train >>

Namibia: Summer time starts on 05 September

On Sunday, 5 September 2010, Namibian time changes from winter time (UTC+1) to summer time  UTC +2. The time will change officially at 02:00am.

• 04 September 2010 > sunrise 05:59am > sunset 17:42pm
• 05 September 2010 > sunrise 06:58am > sunset 18:42pm

The time will not change in the Caprivi, as this area is not subject to summer and winter time changes. The time will change back to winter time on 3 April 2011 (first Sunday in April).

Namibia country guide >>

accommodation in Namibia >>

Promotional video: The Cacadu District (Eastern Cape, South Africa)

The Cacadu District, which was formerly the Western district, covers the rural western areas of the Eastern Cape province. The coastal parts of the district have temperate winter rainfall, with around 500 -700 mm of rain per year. The Tsitsikamma and Baviaans parks lie in the west of the district close to the Western Cape. The interior of the Cacadu District is mainly dry Karoo and grasslands comprised of commercial farms. In spite of the barren interior, the Sundays and Fish Rivers maintain large irrigated farming and these rivers are supplied by water from the Orange River. The only eco-system not found in the Cacadu District is the true desert. The district is one of the finest game viewing areas in South Africa. It is the place where major cultures in South Africa came into contact.



Accommodation in the Cacadu District: Tsitsikamma & Langkloof | Addo | Jeffreys Bay & St. Francis | Grahamstown | Sunshine Coast | Baviaans & The Gamtoos Valley | Karoo

View Cacudu District in a larger map

also on this blog: Tsitsikamma Treetop Canopy Tour | Hostelworld podcast: Jeffrey's Bay - A surfer's paradise | Shamwari Game Reserve Conservation Project & much more

Table Mountain half price after 6pm

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway's renowned Summer Sunset Special starts on 01 Nov 2010 and runs until 28 Feb 2011. For four months visitors pay half price after 6pm (valid on return tickets only) to travel to the highest sundowner spot in Cape Town.

Sunset Special rates:
Adults: R95 (instead of R180)
Childeren under 18 years: R45 (instead of R90)
The special is valid from Sunday November 1, 2010 until Sunday February 28, 2011
The Cableway operates weather permitting. For information call (021) 424 8181 or visit http://tablemountain.net.

UPDATE: From 01 Oct 2010 you can buy your tickets online!

Cape Town city guide >>
Cape Town tours & activities >>
accommodation in Cape Town >>