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South
Africa Story
by
Jerry W. Bird
Africa Travel Magazine's focus on South Africa is
gaining momentum, and to move things along even
faster, our editors and photographer plan to return
to the Rainbow Nation via SAA this year. We are
doubly excited, with two of Africa's top travel
industry events happening in close proximity; the
Africa Travel Association's 28th Marketing Congress
in Lusaka and Livingstone, Zambia, May 11 to 16 and
Indaba 2003 in Durban, South Africa, May 3 to 6. If
you are a travel agent planning to sell more
African destination packages , be sure your
calendar is circled for both important
dates.
Many
positive things have been happening in South Africa
that have made our job as the "Worldwide Voice and
Right Arm of ATA" even more enjoyable. The most
exciting news is the emergence of three thriving
ATA Chapters, each with a highly capable
professional at the helm. Muguette Goufrani
(see
page two)
plans to interview the three South African Chapter
Presidents and we will feature them in Africa
Travel Magazine's Congress Edition. The photo on
the right is of Rube Khan, President of ATA East
Cape Chapter. Her company, Cape Doctor Health and
Tours, is based in Cape Town. http://www.capedoctor.net,
mailto:info@capedoctor.net
South
African Airways' new route to Johannesburg from JFK
International Airport in New York via Dakar,
Senegal, is another winning move that is of prime
importance to our ATA member travel agents. Most of
them are active in all parts of the African
Continent and welcome this connection, which opens
up many new optilons for them and their
clients.
Above:
Tastic Table of Unity, Sunday, May
18
Mark
Your Calendar: Cape Gourmet Festival
(details)
Great
Drives in the Cape Area. Thanks to excellent roads,
the most friendly, well informed drivers one could
ask for, and sturdy, comfortable vehicles, we
managed to visit most of the highlights in the Cape
area in a few days. We keep in touch on a regular
basis, since all three have web sites and
newsletters. For example, I heard from Daniel Dunn
(photo below) this week and his family history is
one for the classics,since he is part Scottish and
part Zulu. Here is a potpourri from our South
African Travel Diary:
The
Cape Gourmet Festival: It never ceases to amaze me
how much of a gourmet haven South Africa really is.
The Cape Gourmet Festival is a shining example. If
you ever wanted to combine a tour of the country,
with an exciting special event in Cape Town, this
is it. Check out our special page.
Jurassic
Park in South Africa? Our destination for day two
of the Cape Country Tour was "Kagga Kamma," a
private game reserve. Not expecting anything too
far beyond the ordinary, after a rugged 3 hour
motor trip from Cape Town, our group of five was
little prepared for the amazing 'moonscape' of this
spectacular hideout in the rugged Cedarburg
Mountains. It was a site (and sight) that could
easily be the movie set for "Jurassic Park" or
"Planet of the Apes." As twilight approached, many
of the odd rock shapes near the camp cast weird
shadows. Continued
 Khayelitsha
Township Tourism a Big Success in South
Africa.
Cape Town Tour Guide Dan Dunn (right) helped
make our final week in Cape Town one of the most
memorable ever. Dan introduced us to Thope Lekau
(far right) and started off a beautiful friendship.
We enjoyed an overnight stay at Kopanong, a
charming bed and breakfast which has been featured
in a number of hospitality trade magazines in South
Africa. Now we know the reason why. Contact Thope
at Kopanong B and B, e-mail: kopanong@xsinet.co.za
. Contact Dan Dunn at Southern Tip Tours
(stt@global.co.za) Follow Africa Travel Magazine's
journeys in and around Cape Town, South
Africa.
Penguins
at High Noon. Did you know that there were
penguins in South Africa? Now you do! I saw my
first South African penguin while visiting Robben
Island prison in Cape Town's scenic and historic
harbor. This little fellow came around the corner
from his hiding place behind a clump of bush and we
met face to face. It reminded me of a scene from
the movie "High Noon" as two strangers eyeballed
each other on the main street. Later that week I
would encounter dozens more of his gang frolicking
on the beach. Visitors to the area will discover an
entire colony of Jackass penguins lounging and
fraternizing (with each other, not the tourists) at
a local community called Boulders, not far from
Cape Town. Photo by Muguette Goufrani.
Blue
Train! White Glove Service!
Our
Associate Editor Muguette Goufrani comments on this
famous South African Railway. "For years I had read
that South Africa held many pleasures for those of
an adventurous spirit or romantic nature. So one
summer, taking a month's vacation from my job as a
travel agent in Ivory Coast, West Africa, I headed
south. Here at last was my chance to spend some
leisurely, laid back weeks getting to know that
fascinating country surrounding the Cape. While the
sights and delights were many and varied, the
epitome was my experience aboard the famous Blue
Train. It was like the finest luxury cruise,
sailing across a sea of ever-changing landscapes .
Yet there was time and space to savor every waking
moment.(photos to come) I managed to read some
pamphlets about the line's history, which spans
over 50 years. Back in 1928, it became the first
luxury train in South Africa. Continued
South
Africa's Diversity: Helen Broadus, of ATA Mid
Atlantic Chapter in the Washington, DC area,
invites our readers to discover the immense
diversity of South Africa, which she describes as a
land full of rich cultural heritage, friendly
people, spectacular wildlife and stunning
landscapes. South Africa is truly famous for its
mixture of cultures, heritage and traditions that
are blended together through its festivals, music
and foods. You will also find that there is much
more than a traditional safari experience to see
the "Big Five" in South Africa. Continued
Getting
around South Africa: During our weeks in the Cape
area, we were very impressed with the highway
systems, since we seemed to be touring
continuously. For those who want to get an idea of
the immense size of this country, there is a
South
Africa Map on
our site. The nine provinces of South Africa are:
Gauteng (Capital - Johannesburg, Kwazulu-Natal
(Capital -Pietermaritzburg), Northern Province (
Capital - Pietersburg), North West (Capital
Mmbatho, Mpumalanga (Capital Nelspruit) , Free
State (Capital Bloemfontein), Northern Cape
(Capital - Kimberley), Western Cape (Capital - Cape
Town), Eastern Cape (Capital - King Williams
Town).
South
Africa Story- Continued
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