Car Hire In Capetown - 3 Must See Locations While In Cape Town

Car Rental South Africa companies operate with you in mind

 Travellers approaching car rental South Africa companies need different things. There are those who are able to splurge on their choice of car rental South Africa vehicle. Others must be more careful. Some are inclined to explore the country’s wilderness in their car rental South Africa vehicle, while a different group may enjoy the buzz of driving around the major cities. Thus, here at the tip of the continent, where car rental South Africa companies are familiar with all of these people and their preferences, the car rental range on offer is extensive.

As regards markets, car rental South Africa companies cater for travellers wishing to see lots of the country on a conservative budget. By way of example, consider the case of the students who, at an average age of 21 and travelling with limited means, heard five of South Africa’s official languages spoken in their native regions. That’s a lot of driving in their car rental South Africa vehicle. But necessary for a trip which they might never forget.

Car rental in South Africa vehicles which favour this sort of traveller include car brands like the Opel Corsa, Ford Fiesta, and City Golf. And the price for these car rental South Africa vehicles is somewhere between R200 and R250 per day.

Car rental South Africa companies recognise that the country has a number of locations which may appeal to off road drivers and campers. There’s the dry, rugged Sekhukhune area in Gauteng; the lush bush of Chuenespoort on the northern side of the Olifants River; and the Lekgalameetse Provincial Park in the Drakensberg mountains.

Thus, car rental South Africa companies have vehicles which may appeal to this market. They include the Toyota Hilux Single Cab 4x4, and the Voyager Double Cab 4x4.

There are car rental South Africa vehicles available for those wishing to see the country in large groups; options like the Toyota Qantam eight seater.

Moving into the luxury car rental market, travellers wishing to experience the country in upmarket cars have a wide selection from which to choose. Their car rental South Africa options include the BMW 330Ci 3.OL, the Mercedes Benz SLK, and the Audi A3 convertible.

And lastly, car rental South Africa companies cater for travellers with particular tastes. These tastes may revolve around exploring Cape Town and the Garden Route, or visiting wine estates for picnics in vintage car rental South Africa vehicles.

This type of traveller will be able to choose from a number of car rental South Africa vehicles which include the 1980 Peugeot 504, the 1968 Jaguar 420, and the 1975 Alfa Spider.

So, with this extensive a range of vehicles, travellers in the country are more than likely to find a car rental South Africa option which suits their needs.

South Africa Car Rental

Cape Winelands Tour - Full Day

Cape Winelands Tour - The Cape Winelands with its magnificent natural beauty, its rich cultural heritage and its world-renowned wines as a region is synonymous with all the best that the Cape has to offer. The Cape Winelands are a mere 45-minute drive from Cape Town where splendid mountains form a dramatic backdrop to lush vineyards and gabled Cape Dutch homesteads steeped in history.

Experience the hospitality and beauty of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek and a drive through the small town of Pniel. The excellent wines produced in this area are world-renowned. Join the winemaker on a tour of his cellar where he explains the process of our wines from the vine to the bottle and then you able to have the pleasure of tasting our wines and cheese. Stellenbosch, the oldest town in the country after Cape Town, is undoubtedly one of the most scenic and historically-preserved towns in southern Africa.

Franschhoek is well known for its excellent restaurants, top accommodation establishments, splendid mountains and openhearted hospitality. Paarl is synonymous with the Afrikaans monument built on Paarl rock which gives recognition to the origins of the Afrikaans language.

Paarl Wine Tour

Games Give South Africa Hope in Fighting Woes

 CAPE TOWN — As host of the most-watched sporting event on earth, South Africa set out to reinvent itself in the eyes of the world, casting off its reputation as a place defined by violent crime, poverty and AIDS. To a remarkable degree, it succeeded. But as the World Cup ended Sunday, what most surprised South Africans was how much the monthlong sporting extravaganza had changed the way they see themselves.

“This World Cup brought out South Africa’s better angels,” said Shaun Johnson, a writer who leads a charitable foundation that Nelson Mandela helped establish. “In this country, so riven racially, it’s unbelievable how much this World Cup has brought us together.”

A fledgling democracy that has struggled to address its profound social ills proudly discovered it could deliver a mega-event that required years of careful investment and planning. A country whose politics have been damaged recently by bitter, racially tinged invective offered hundreds of thousands of visitors an affectionate welcome.

And a body politic fractured by race and inequality caught glimpses, perhaps as fleeting as the games themselves, of what it would mean to overcome those barriers. At a free fan park set up for big-screen viewing of matches here on the public square known as the Grand Parade, South Africans mingled across lines of race and class in a way that is rare and precious here.

A black waiter and a white college student shared a cigarette as they gabbed about soccer in the square, where southern Africa’s first white settlement was established in the 1650s and Mr. Mandela first spoke when he was freed after 27 years in prison. Black teachers from the townships merrily downed cups of beer amid rowdy white fans. A mixed-race theater worker, ordinarily fearful of crime, took his first nighttime ride on a public train along with vuvuzela-blowing, Xhosa-singing South Africans so he could be part of something larger than himself.

“This experience will stay with me,” said the worker, Ricardo Abrahams, 35, a production manager at the Artscape Theater. “It’s something unique.”

Again and again, South Africans described doing metaphorical double takes as their countrymen — and sometimes they themselves — did unexpected things. Athol Trollip, the parliamentary leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, supported mostly by white and mixed-race voters, said his family — which had followed the “white” sports of rugby and cricket — got caught up in soccer, the passion of the black majority.

“In my home, no one used to watch soccer, except for my son,” he said. “The rest have never watched it in their lives, but they sat glued to it for the first time.”

Niq Mhlongo, author of “After Tears,” a comic novel of black township life, rooted in the final match for the Dutch — colonialist forebears of the white Afrikaners who for decades oppressed blacks here — in part because it would do the country good to “see our own Afrikaner brothers being happy.”

He described the disorienting delight of watching white South Africans fly the flag of democratic South Africa, blow vuvuzelas and wear the bright yellow T-shirts of Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s soccer team, which lost early on. The unabashed patriotism of whites for their black-led nation heartened many.

“This is a South Africa I don’t know,” he said. “The country became pleasantly alien to me.”

Before the World Cup started a month ago, the conversation here was focused less on the tournament’s potential spiritual benefits than on whether it made sense to lavish $5 billion on a giant party for the rest of the world when South Africa has such staggering social needs.

This debate over priorities continues, but for now optimists are talking about the short-term gains and long-term promise the hosting of the games allowed.

The government estimates that spending on stadiums, roads, airports and new public transportation services, among other World Cup-related investments, helped create about 130,000 jobs, softening somewhat the impact of a global recession that has cost South Africa more than a million jobs. And while some, if not most, of the stadiums may turn out to be white elephants, the broadened highways, sleek airports and fledging bus rapid transit system will bolster growth, economists say.

The hope is that the gains for South Africa’s reputation will eventually pay off in greater foreign investment and a surge of tourism that helps employ the country’s legions of unskilled workers.

South Africa is now waiting anxiously to see if threatened new attacks on impoverished Zimbabwean and Mozambican immigrants — resented as competitors for jobs by South Africa’s own poor — materialize. If they do, Thabo Leshilo, an editor, warned in The Sunday Times, “We can say goodbye to the good will and tourism billions expected to flow our way.”

For the past month, South Africa has escaped with nary a major labor strike or incidence of civil unrest among its disgruntled poor and very little crime. But beneath the good fortune lies something more fundamental: The way South Africans of all races live is shaped by fear of crime, and during the World Cup, the government carved out public spaces that it made safe with a highly concentrated police presence that critics say will be impossible to sustain.

In ordinary times here, crime has replaced apartheid — the legally enforced system that ruthlessly separated the races — as the great social divider. Middle-class people, black and white, live behind walls edged with electrified wires and drive to heavily guarded malls with their car doors locked and windows rolled up.

But for the past month, the 44,000 of the country’s 190,000 police officers who were deployed to protect tourists also managed to liberate their own countrymen, freeing them to leave their isolated bubbles.

Police officials say crime was down, not just for tourists, but more broadly.

Here in Cape Town, the police were not posted just to the city’s Giorgio Armani of a World Cup stadium — spare, elegant and lovely — but also in free fan parks, along streets where people went club-hopping and on public transportation. That included the train line that ran through the colored township where Mr. Abrahams, the theater worker, lives and Langa, a black township, before reaching downtown.

Mr. Abrahams said the extra contingent of armed policemen roaming through the train cars helped him overcome his fear of muggers there.

“I didn’t have to be scared,” he said. “I didn’t have to think about terrible things happening.”

Indeed, the World Cup brought a kind of normalcy to South African life. “There’s a sense this World Cup hasn’t been about the legacy of apartheid, but about how good the roads are, how safe the streets are, how great the game parks are,” said the historian Bill Nasson.

Tourists here at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront did not talk about Nelson Mandela when asked what they thought of the country, but admired the plentitude of fancy shopping malls, smooth superhighways and stylish hotels.

“The thing that overwhelms most is the level of professionalism of native Africans in knowing how to serve a bottle of wine properly,” said Philip Crawford, a designer of luxury homes from Noosa, Australia.

Many South Africans wish the rollicking World Cup ride did not have to end and are already asking whether the nation can muster the same unity and can-do spirit to tackle its far more intractable problems. But for now, they are savoring sweet victory for the country.

“What A Show!” exclaimed The Sunday Times, while The Sunday Independent proclaimed it “Africa’s Greatest Moment.”

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If you are travelling to South Africa check out this adventure tours Cape Town site

Kruger Park Car Hire

Aroundabout cars offers discount car rental Kruger Park. We have a wide range of cars in Kruger Park! Come and see the wild life up close, enjoy the african sunsets. Also, you can hire one of our cheap car rentals in Kruger Park from our Kruger Park Branch. Select one of our of cheap Kruger Park car rentals below by entering your rental dates.

Nelspruit Car Hire

Around About Cars, car rental Nelspruit offers quality car hire in Nelspruit, South Africa and a wide selection of quality rental cars. Around About Cars has a 99% availability rate year round and guarantees person local service.

 Stellenbosch Car Hire

Car hire Stellenbosch is affordable but stocks are limited so book early. You also need to make sure that you head to the many wine farms when you are here! So come and enjoy this very warm destination and enjoy your car hire from our Stellenbosch car rentals office. All car rentals vary so ask for the car that suits your needs! Enjoy a glass of wine and enjoy this historic little town.

Car Hire Rustenberg

Car rental Runstenberg is affordable but stocks are limited so book early. You also need to make sure that you head to Sun City when you are here! So come and enjoy this very warm destination and enjoy your car hire from our car hire Sun City office. All car rentals vary so ask for the car that suits your needs!

Bloemfontein Car Hire

Bloemfontein is the city of "mealies" or as the English say "corn". Car hire in Bloemfontein is what we do best! Our Bloemfontein car hire is limited so booking is essential! Enjoy Bloemfontein with one of our car rentals.

Car Hire Pretoria

Pretoria is the land of Rugby. Pretoria also has large amounts of car hire stocks but its also the land of the "Blou Bulle" a fanatic group of rugby supporters! Car hire Pretoria is simple and straight forward. At Aroundabout you will find a large selection of car rentals. Car hire Pretoria is what we do best! So come and visit us in the city of "Blue" organize your car hire in Pretoria at one of our many car rentals Pretoria branches and enjoy!

George Car Hire

George is a great little coastal town on the garden route. Arrange George car hire, South Africa and enjoy this little buzzing coastal town. Our car hire George branch offers a wide selection of car rental. We also offer car rental at George airport.

East London Car Hire

East london is a city that with lots of character. East London is a popular beach destination and is popular with bathers and surfers. Our East London car hire branch offers a wide selection of car rental.

Durban Car Hire

Come to Durban in South Africa and hire your car and experience a great city. Car hire in Durban is made easy and Durban car rental is what we do best. Durban is the kingdom of the Zulu and it has a warm sub-tropical climate with soaring heat in summer and warm conditions in winter.

Port Elizabeth Car Hire

Port Elizabeth Car rentals is convenient and easy with Around About Cars. For your convenience, you are able to pick-up and drop-off your hired vehicle at Port Elizabeth Airport. Visit the friendly city of Port Elizabeth.

Johannesburg Car Hire

Come to Johannesburg car hire and choose from one of our many branches throughout Joburg. This is the city that never sleeps! Johannesburg is a funky spunky city with lots of character.

Cheap Car Hire in Cape Town

Around About Cars offers quality cheap car hire in Cape Town, South Africa and a wide selection of quality rental cars. Around About Cars has a 99% availability rate year round for its cheap car hire in Cape Town and guarantees person local service.

Come and get cheap car hire in Cape Town and see Table Mountain, enjoy the scenic wine farms, jump into the Atlantic Ocean so that it can take your breath away!  You can hire one of our cheap car rentals in Cape Town from our car hire Cape Town Branch. Select one of our of cheap Cape Town car rentals below by entering your rental dates.

 Wacky World Cup bets get punters going

LONDON — Drugs scandals, shark attacks, head-butting, insults, stamping on someone's genitals and the appearance of Jesus Christ: these are just some of the things which can be bet on at the World Cup.

British bookmakers -- who are predicting they will handle a record-breaking one billion pounds (1.2 billion euros, 1.4 billion dollars) on the tournament -- are taking bets on all manner of bizarre events in South Africa.

Of course, bets will be placed on who will win the tournament, with Spain the favourites.

But others want to put their money on who will get sent off first, who will commit the most fouls and who volatile Argentina manager Diego Maradona will insult first.

The tournament gets underway on Friday when hosts South Africa take on Mexico.

But what will be the first goal celebration?

A badge kiss is the 5/2 favourite, followed by somersaults at 4/1, taking the shirt off at 9/2, a prayer to God at 7/1, then "stand there and do nothing" at 9/1.

"The Robbie Fowler: sniffing the white line" is the outsider at 150/1, according to Paddy Power.

Which team will be the first to celebrate by revealing a Jesus Christ t-shirt?

Brazil are the favourites at 15/2, followed by Italy and Argentina at 9/1 then Spain at 12/1. North Korea are the outsiders at 1,000/1.

Spain's David Villa at 9/2 is the favourite to be the first player to bless himself after scoring a goal in Durban's Moses Mabhida stadium, followed by team-mate Fernando Torres.

However, the bets are also on for when football gets a little more unholy.

In the stakes for who or what Maradona will insult first, a match official is 11/8, followed by South Africa at 2/1, the media at 3/1 and FIFA or its president Sepp Blatter at 8/1.

He is only 9/1 to get sent off.

Chile are 16/1 favourites to be the first team to fail a drugs test, followed by Mexico, South Africa and Argentina at 18/1, then Ivory Coast and Paraguay at 20/1.

France striker Thierry Henry, whose handball helped Les Bleus beat Ireland and qualify for the tournament, is 100/1 to score with his hand.

French playmaker Zinedine Zidane was infamously sent off in the last World Cup final, and a player getting sent off for head-butting this time around is deemed more likely than not at 8/13.

Argentina's Javier Mascherano (6/1) and Gabriel Heinze (9/1) are favourites to commit the most fouls, followed by Brazil captain Lucio and England's John Terry at 10/1.

On the receiving end, Argentina's Lionel Messi is 4/6 to be fouled the most, then Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo at 5/2 and England's Wayne Rooney at 10/3.

The first England player to be sent off is tipped to be John Terry at 15/2, then Rooney at 10/1, with Gareth Barry 18/1.

Rooney is 150/1 to stamp on someone's genitals -- surely a red card offence.

But also at 150/1 is for Steven Gerrard to forget he is not playing for Liverpool and accidentally set up club colleague Torres for a winning goal should England play Spain.

The classic way for England to finish their campaign is with a draw followed by a penalty shoot-out defeat and the merciless lambasting by the media of anyone missing their spot kick.

Jermain Defoe is the 9/1 favourite to miss the last kick if England are eliminated, followed by Lampard, Gerrard and James Milner at 10/1.

But if the football is not entertaining enough, you can always take a punt on off-the-field matters.

There are bets available on former South African president Nelson Mandela, including the number of different shirts he will wear, the number of matches he will attend, and the number he will wear on a replica jersey.

Even more bizarrely, fans can bet on the number of shark attacks during the tournament, with none deemed most likely at 10/11, one at 4/5 and two at 12/1.

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If you are heading to South Africa for the World Cup and fancy you chances against the sharks why not go Shark Cage Diving in Cape Town with this Cape Town Adventure Tours company. 

 10 Reasons to Visit South Africa

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Burrows

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Quad biking - Cape Town

Extreme Adventures South Africa Adventure Travel & Tours

Quad Biking on Sand dunes

By far the most exciting thing on 4 wheels, Quad Biking on the sand dunes is a rush like no other. Whether you’re speeding through the fast stretches or navigating the technical sections, Quadding will knock your socks off! All bikes are fully automatic or semi automatic so even the inexperienced can come and join us. Quad Biking on the sand dunes is truly an amazing and unique experience and very popular with our clients.

Approximately 45 minutes from City Centre

Mountain Trails - Elgin Valley

This takes place just outside of Cape Town. The quad bike trails take you through some of the rarest plants on earth and the off road quad tours are perfectly designed for those with a sense of adventure and an appreciation for nature. A qualified field guide leads the quad biking tour group, offering interesting insights as you enjoy your off road quad bike trail through the awesome scenery of this Western Cape region.

Quad Biking on the Dirt Track

This involves guests doing a 1 hour ride on the fun and challenging track we have available on the farm. This is a long route with fast corners and straights for the enthusiast. The track is wide enough for 2 quads to fit next to each other 90% of the way. For those that are slow just keep to the left and let the faster Quad Bike go past.

The adventure starts here

 Let the adventure begin. Whatever your preference, South Africa has all the adventure your adrenalin can handle.

Introduction

South Africa has some of the best rock climbing in the world, with Cape Town particularly well endowed. There are literally hundreds of bolted and natural routes on excellent quality Cape granite or Table Mountain sandstone within the city limits. There are climbing schools and mountain guides in all the main centres, and route guides are available from climbing shops.

River trips range from mostly scenic to grade five whitewater washing machines. There are over a hundred listed paragliding or hang gliding launch sites, and many more less well known, with schools in every centre. Also up in the air, there are many opportunities for helicopter rides, balloon flights, aerobatics, skydiving and microlight flights.

Thousands of kilometres of hiking trails wind around the country, in desert, forest, mountain or coast, and many have mountain bike trails adjacent. Some hikes are a bit more luxurious - you walk from hotel to hotel and have your luggage taken round.There are wonderful easy horse trails through vineyards, on the beach or in the mountains and, for the adventurous and more experienced, horseback safaris in big game country.

We have the highest commercial bungee jump in the world (at 216 metres), as well as lots of pretty abseiling and bridge swinging. For something combining adrenalin, peace and tranquility, and sheer beauty, try the treetop canopy tour in Tsitsikamma. The art of canyoning - known as kloofing in South Africa - is another hot favourite, with self-guided and escorted trips.

Abseiling and rapp jumping

It's only recently that abseiling has become an activity in its own right. Really it's just the method climbers use to get off mountains - or special services forces use to descend deserted buildings into enemy territory in adventure movies - but it's fun, and so it's become available as an activity in its own right.

You can hang out high over Cape Town abseiling from Table Mountain. The "long drop" is 112m high - and about a kilometre above the city - making it the world's highest commercial abseil. There are three abseil routes on the spectacular western head at Knysna, further up the Cape east coast - including a really high, very exposed site hanging right out over the crashing waves.

Not far from Knysna, and also with fantastic views, you can do a combination abseiling and kloofing (canyoning) trip down the Storms River Gorge, which involves a 100m abseil into the gorge, a tubing trip down the river, a short walk out of the gorge and then a cycle back to the village. You can abseil down buildings in Durban and Johannesburg, or even rapp jump if you like. Rapp jumping is abseiling with the ropes attached to your back instead of your front, so you go down facing the ground - and at a run, if you're in a hurry.

Bungee jumping

Weehah! South Africa has the highest commercial bungee jump in the world - it's official. At 216 metres, it's not for the faint of heart. Run by Face Adrenalin, the Bloukrans is on the border of the Eastern and Western Cape. The same company also offers a range of jumps on the much lower Gouritz River Bridge. Here you'll also find South Africa's only commercial bridge swinging operation, run by Wildthing Adventures.

Not sure of difference between bungee jumping and bridge swinging? With bungee, you jump off a bridge (or other high fixed platform) with giant elastic bands usually, but not always, tied to your feet. Bridge swinging, on the other hand, involves jumping from one bridge while tied in to climbing ropes suspended from an adjacent bridge.

Paragliding, hang gliding and flying

OK, not many places don't have sky, but South Africa has lots of it - and very good quality it is, too ... In the hot interior we see thermals like you wouldn't believe, and many paraglider and hang glider pilots have made record-breaking distance flights, particularly in the Northern Cape.
But of course this flat, hot area doesn't have much in the way of relief - for that you need to head for South Africa's coastal provinces, or Mpumalanga. There's loads of excellent ridge soar and some fantastic scenic flying near the coast. In Cape Town, you can launch off Lion's Head in the evening, flying into the sunset, to land at one of the popular beachfront pubs.

And if it's skydiving you're into, Skydive Cape Town can take you to a drop zone that boasts one of the best views in the world from altitude. Further up South Africa's coast, near the Garden Route town of Wilderness, you can fly over the sea, often seeing dolphins and whales. And, of course, the high-lying areas of the Western and Eastern Cape, the Drakensberg and Mpumalanga offer spectacular mountain scenery. There is even reasonable flying about 80km from Johannesburg, near Hartbeespoort Dam, where you can fly under the controlled air space of a number of medium-sized airfields and Johannesburg International Airport.

Rock climbing and mountaineering

The cliffs are big, wild, often remote - and still being discovered. And it's a climate for being out in. South Africa offers some of the best, and most diverse, rock climbing in the world. Gear up, chalk up, and start cranking!

Ever since the German climbing magazine Rotpunkt published an article about Waterval Boven in 1993, foreign visitors have been flocking to this Mpumalanga town for some of the best sport climbing in the universe. The Restaurant (officially known as "The Restaurant at the end of the Universe crags") offers more than 500 routes, and there are still numerous untouched rock faces in the area.

With routes ranging from scramble-easy to a superhuman 33 - and a number of natural or "trad" (traditional, or unbolted) routes - there's something for everyone here.

Outside Durban, there are also a lot of sport climbs, and a few close to Johannesburg. En route between these two major centres, you'll find some wonderful bolted routes in good hard sandstone in the eastern part of the Free State - notably at the Mount Everest nature reserve near Harrismith.

If you're more of a traditionalist, don't worry. You can revel in miles of unbolted rock in the fantastic, virtually pristine Blouberg in the Limpopo, the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal, the Magaliesburg in North West - in close striking distance of both Johannesburg and Pretoria - or in the miles and miles of fantastic mountain ranges in the Western Cape.

One of these deserves special mention. The Cedarberg, two-and-a-half hours' drive north of Cape Town, is a world-class bouldering area - and boasts some of the best trad rock climbing routes in the country.

But for a close-to-city experience, nothing can beat Cape Town, with hundreds of sport and traditional routes within the city limits. The city is built around Table Mountain, a national park consisting of two great, hard rock types - Table Mountain sandstone, which gives nice positive edges, and Cape granite, which offers fantastic friction climbing.

The Western Cape Of South Africa Provides A Unique Backdrop For Outdoor Vacations

 If you are looking for the perfect outdoor adventure, the Western Cape of South Africa is the greatest place to go on Earth. The unending landscape here is beautifully rugged, and the activities are extremely intense. The Western Cape of South Africa has it all: majestic mountains, two oceans, national parks, beaches that go all the way around the Western Cape, and historical sites where the world was changed forever. If you are a world traveler and love the challenge of conquering international terrain, make sure to pack plenty of energy, because a vacation in the Western Cape of South Africa is absolutely extreme.

The first place most travelers want to go to when they visit the Western Cape of South Africa is the beach. The unique aspect of the Western Cape is that it has two oceans. The Indian Ocean is the warmer of the two and best for swimming and sunbathing. However, Haut Bay, on the Atlantic side has incredible surf; and is home to the international Red Bull surfing competition. There is also hiking on the rugged coast and sunbathing on some of the most exclusive beaches in the world.

You can't go to the Western Cape of South Africa without doing some whale watching. This pastime is highly pursued on the Atlantic Seaboard where whales go for shelter to mate and calve. This is a place where whale enthusiasts can watch Southern Right Whales, Bryde's Whales, and the Humpback Whales that come here every year.

The Western Cape of South Africa is also the home of Table Mountain, whose massive peak rises 3,300 feet above Cape Town. Hiking fanatics can climb the trails all the way to the top, where they can experience breathtaking views of Cape Town and both oceans, along with the clouds that surround the summit.

If you need a breather after climbing Table Mountain on the West Cape of South Africa, the Garden Route has easy walking and beautiful scenery. Running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, the Garden Route is a series of trails full of trees and flower gardens with explorable caves nearby.

Another favorite outdoor activity for tourists is the Wine Route, which is a little further inland from the coast. The wine business in the Western Cape of South Africa is booming, and there is no better way to experience it than to tour the historic wine estates in the valley.

On the Western Cape of South Africa, even shopping is extreme. Many shoppers can't wait to go to the 'Diamond Works', one of the best places in the world to shop for exquisite diamond jewelry. There are hundreds of other unique shops throughout the cobble stone streets of Cape Town, including the famous Victor and Albert Waterfront; which has a variety of eateries, pubs, movie theaters, and aquariums.

The Western Cape of South Africa is easier to get to than you might think. There are direct international flights that go right into Cape Town, and once you get there the accommodations are world class. Clearly, for the outdoor enthusiast, the Western Cape of South Africa has it all.

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Xtreme Adventures South Africa Adventure Travel & Tours

 ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef, helping the gauchos with the moving of cattle in Argentina, swimming with turtles and dolphins close to the Galapagos Islands, or zip lining over steamy tropical jungles in Peru's Amazon jungle...

As far as adventure travel is concerned, the world is your oyster, just beckoning you to turn your back on the cares and worries of suburbia, and to embark on an adventure which may see you never returning to normality again ...... EVER!

Adventure travel is all the rage, but not all adventure companies have the required professional experience in running these types of trips. For this very reason, one has to be very careful when going about choosing a reputable tour operator plus finding out some of the valuable information greatly needed from experienced travel companies before departing on your adventure-filled trip.

Cardinal Lodges & Leisure offer an array of world class packages to luxury game lodges in Africa, where you can experience an ultimate African adventure completely arranged by them. Once you have made up your mind as where to go, you will have to decide with whom you want to share such a wonderful getaway with; whether you're going solo, in a group, or just the pair of you.

Over-landing is a rough but safe way of travelling and experiencing Africa on off the beaten track. It truly offers the unexpected! You will be able to jump the highest bungee in the world, raft down the wildest river, and join the locals in tiny dusty African villages, eating 'ugali' with your hands.

On the other extreme, if the icy cold grips you, you can rein up your own dog sled and steer your own team of huskies over the snow at some of the many winter resorts in Alaska or Minnesota. Or, you can even experience the magic and mystery of Africa in 5-star luxury and see the wondrous scenery unfold by rail.

To find out more about this enthralling adventure travel, Click Here, and let your adventure begin!

Packages and Deals:

Some hotels offer packages which include exciting extras, such as lift-tickets if you are ski-ing or snowboarding in the Alps, while others offer early-bird discounts for bookings well in advance of the departure date. Check recommended travel websites for deals on cheap flights as well as one night free accommodation deals at some hotels.

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Cape Town City: Get Into the Thick of Fun and Adventure

All roads lead to Cape Town City, and the Cape Town airport is only 20 minutes from the city, so there you go. But for the first-time traveler rent a car to see the sights and visit the places regular transport or sedan taxis cannot access. This is the best way to get into the thick of adventure and fun in Cape Town Central.

Where the Fun Is
Cape Town accommodation

So hop on and get going for some action in the scenic city. The city is relatively small, and you can go around on foot to see the sights. You can tramp to the V&A Waterfront with a local but get a ride to Camps Bay. Sadly, the place has a high crime rate, but that should not stop you from getting around. Do not bring all your money or show off your mobile phone and digicam to avoid covetous eyes and fast fingers.

• Green Point Flea Market. If you are looking for fun activities that will not burn a hole in your pocket, you might enjoy the festive atmosphere in the biggest flea market in the Cape. Who knows but you might spot an ancient Dutch tea cup here! There is live music to blast your ears, cafes for a steaming cup of coffee, curious like no other, and yes, people! Meet new friends and bump into friendly expats ready to give you some tips so you do not have to wade through the 500 stalls there.

• Castle of Good Hope. Hie off to Table Bay, and get a good view of the ancient fortress built with stone, clay, and timber by the Dutch East India Company. It was first a replenishment station for docking ships but became a fortress in readiness for war when Britain and Netherlands were not seeing eye to eye in 1664.
• Llandudno Beach. Just an hour away you’ll have a whale of a good time taking in the beach scene with waves continually battering the rocky slopes. The secluded cove is perfect for visitors some peace and quiet.
If you dare, sign up for the following fun:
• Hot Air Balloon Ride. Get a sweeping view of Cape Winelands from the air. As early as 5 a.m., you have to be at the meeting site. After rigging, be up in the air in just 30 minutes.

• Two Oceans Aquarium. Dive into the depths in a cage and see sharks up close and watch the giant kelps and feed the fish.

• Table Mountain. Conquer Table Mountain by climbing the rock or ride a cable and get as close as you hang to the gorgeous mountain. Or go abseiling and have your fun captured on video so you can show it off at home.

If you are planning a week’s stay, then you are in. The fun and adventure waits.

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South Africa Adventure Tours

Adventure travel for adventure seekers

 Xtreme Adventures: South Africa Adventure Tours

There are various different forms of travel that are available to the public and depending on what you consider as a good time will depend which travel option you choose. However if you are the type of person that enjoys the rush of adrenaline that you feel with a flip in an aircraft or walking amidst the dangers of African wildlife then adventure travel is for you. In the past the repertoire of adventure tourism companies was fairly limited however the list has expanded beyond expectations. However it is important that you use a reputable adventure travel company to ensure that you get the very best during your adventure.

African safari adventure travel

The continent of Africa is a continent that is abundant in wildlife and expansive sanctuaries for these beautiful creatures. The most rewarding way in which to experience the splendors that this beautiful continent has to offer is to explore the wonders of nature on foot. This may not seem as adventure travel but on such trips you will be trekking through big five territory and who knows what animals you may come across. With a walking African safari you are able to truly “touch the face of Africa” and gain insight into what it is that nature has to offer. With this adventure travel option you will be able to gain knowledge about the intricate system that is the circle of life and witnessing this miracle first hand.

Adventure travel for adrenaline junkies

The sky is vast and seemingly never ending and exploring the skies is something that many people dream of. Now with adventure travel this dream can become a reality but with added aspects. Have you ever though about the exhilaration that pilots felt during World War I experienced with an open cockpit and the with the wind roaring past. Traverse the skies over the Gauteng landscape and become reminiscent of dog fight and airmanship with Tiger Moth flights.

However if you are looking for something more exhilarating, more adrenaline then Extra 300 Aerobatic Flights might be the better option. With these flights you will be impressed with the incredible agility that these aircrafts display. You are able to catch some air while momentarily hanging in suspension before you tail slide into a dive. This adventure travel option ensures that every part of your body experiences the exhilarating rush of adrenaline.

A reputable adventure travel company

If you are looking for a company that can offer you quality African hiking safaris or perhaps even a flight across the Gauteng landscape. Cardinal Lodges and Leisure is a reputable adventure travel company that is in the business of creating memorable and exciting tours for you and your family or friends. There are a range of services that are offered by Cardinal Lodges and Leisure including rail tours exploring the splendors of Africa in luxury or on foot as well as executive air charter. Contact cardinal Lodges and Leisure to ensure your next trip is well planned and the epitome of adventure travel.

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South Africa - adventure heaven!

You've landed in adventure heaven. Whatever your preference, there's bound to be an adventure to keep the adrenalin pumping.

We have some of the best climbing in the world, with Cape Town particularly well endowed. There are literally hundreds of bolted and natural routes on excellent quality Cape granite or Table Mountain sandstone within the city limits. There are climbing schools and mountain guides in all the main centres, and route guides are available from climbing shops.

River trips range from mostly scenic to grade five whitewater washing machines. There are over a hundred listed paragliding or hang gliding launch sites, and many more less well known, with schools in every centre. Also up in the air, there are many opportunities for helicopter rides, balloon flights, aerobatics, skydiving and microlight flights.

Thousands of kilometres of hiking trails wind around the country, in desert, forest, mountain or coast, and many have mountain bike trails adjacent. Some hikes are a bit more luxurious - you walk from hotel to hotel and have your luggage taken round.

There are wonderful easy horse trails through vineyards, on the beach or in the mountains and, for the adventurous and more experienced, horseback safaris in big game country.

We have the highest commercial bungee jump in the world (at 216m), as well as lots of pretty abseiling and bridge swinging.

For something combining adrenalin, peace and tranquility, and sheer beauty, try the treetop canopy tour in Tsitsikamma.

The art of canyoning - known as kloofing in South Africa - is another hot favourite, with self-guided and escorted trips.

Adventure trips in South Africa

180º Adventures has offices in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, and activities countrywide.

Active Africa Adventure Tours offers Western Cape-based adventure tours covering the full adrenaline spectrum.

The Adrenaline Adventure Activity Guide lists stuff adventurers can do on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast: abseiling, archery, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, hiking, microlighting, kayaking, whitewater rafting and more.

Adventure Purists offer various adventure package tours which include a variety of activities across South Africa.

AR.co.za is the website for South African enthusiasts of adventure racing - a new sport made popular by the Eco Challenge television series. The site offers news, upcoming events, advice, features and more.

Ashanti Travel Centre, based in Cape Town, offers a wide range of packages for adventure junkies, including kloofing, scuba diving, bridge and bungi jumping, great white shark diving, kite boarding, paragliding, sandboarding, skydiving and abseils off Table Mountain.

Cape Sports Centre on the Langebaan Lagoon caters for kitesurfers, windsurfers, mountain bikers and kayakers. They sell and rent equipment, offer lessons and tips, and provide various adventure packages.

Downhill Adventures offers the Cape Great Eight Adventure Experience, a combination of the best and most exciting adventures available in this area: shark cage diving, sandboarding, mountain biking, surfing, tandem skydiving, abseiling, sea kayaking and quad biking.

Exploration Society of Southern Africa - A non-profit organisation founded in 1988, Essa provides a platform for "the conceptual and physical exploration of the Southern African landscape". The society organises expeditions, holds discussions and presentations by world-class adventurers - and throws good parties.

Extreme 3 Adventures will take you on the ultimate extreme sport adventure tour of South Africa, with activities such as scuba diving, kite surfing, white water rafting, mountain biking, sky diving, power kiting and abseiling.

Felix Unite Adventure Travel is a comprehensive adventure tour operator, providing trips throughout Africa.

Glenmore Ecoventures offers loads of adventure activities at Glenmore Beach on the KZN South Coast.

Kamala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape offers the Sheercliff Adventure Centre, with a wide range of adventure sports: a gorge glide, abseiling, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, paragliding and the 4x4 Samil mountain ascent.

Oribi Gorge Resort near Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal has the Wild Five: abseiling, whitewater rafting, the Wild Slide (a foofy slide 120m along a steel cable 160m above the ground), the Wild Swing 100m into a gorge, and hiking and mountain biking.

Otters Den, a river lodge on an island in the Blyde River at the foot of the Drakensberg near the Kruger Park, offers whitewater rafting, hot air ballooning, kayaking and abseiling.

The SA Orienteering Federation is the controlling body for the sport of orienteering in South Africa, with a number of affiliated clubs.

SEAL Adventures offers abseiling, rafting, quad biking and other activities in and around Knysna in the Western Cape.

Stormsriver Adventures operates a wonderful, somewhat strenuous trip called the Stormsriver Challenge: abseiling, tubing and mountain biking.

Travel Unite is a Cape Town-based adventure tour company operating in southern Africa.

Wildthing Adventures, based in Gauteng, specialises in both soft adventures for all age groups - from eight years and older - and more adrenaline-pumping activities. These include canoeing, rafting, bridge jumping, mountain biking, abseiling and overland rafting expeditions.

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With its temperate Mediterranean climate, beautiful surroundings, magnificent backdrop of mountain ranges, modern facilities and close proximity to all major places of interest in the Cape Peninsula, Stellenbosch is the ideal get-away holiday destination.

Soon after the Cape of Good Hope had been established, the newly-appointed Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, set out on a discovery journey east to explore the wild and untouched land beyond the Cape Peninsula. On 6 November 1679 he came across a river running through a beautifully green, fertile valley. He named the river "Eerste Rivier" (First River) and the surrounding area "Van der Stel Bosch" (Van der Stel's bush). Before long, news of the finding of this fertile valley spread and the first families settled there in 1680. The settlement later became known as Stellenbosch, and is the second-oldest city in South Africa.

The warm summers and winter rainfall provided an ideal farming environment, and by 1682 the settlement had become an established town. In 1685 it became the seat of a magistrate, whose authority extended over 25 000 square kilometres. The first school was built in 1686, followed soon afterwards by the first church.

A yearly celebration on Simon van der Stel's birthday was held in honour of the founder. This tradition was started in 1686 and included games, parades, festivities and dances. As the celebration took place on October 14th, it was a celebration of spring at the same time. The highlight of the celebration was when marksmen shot at a wooden parrot to win the main prize, and to this day the hill where this event took place is still known as Papegaaiberg (parrot hill).

Simon van der Stel launched a project to plant oak trees and the mighty trees still line the streets of Stellenbosch. The town is appropriately known as "Eikestad", or the Town of Oaks. Unfortunately a recent disease has affected the trees, and the towering oaks are slowly dying. Fortunately, since the oak trees are a symbol of Stellenbosch, the town council started planting new trees soon after the discovery of the disease.

In 1866, the Stellenbosch Gymnasium was founded. In 1880 it changed its name to Stellenbosch College, but was renamed in 1887 to Victoria College in honour of Queen Victoria. In 1918 the college officially became the University of Stellenbosch, known affectionately as "Maties". The University has over the years become the heart of Stellenbosch and is regarded as one of the best in the world. During the year, the estimated 17 000 students fill the town with a cheerful vibe and bustling activity in the hostels, lecture halls, restaurants, coffee shops, bars and discos. Holidays are the times when the tranquillity of the natural surroundings and the comparative quiet in the streets allows Stellenbosch a chance to breathe and prepare for the influx of young people that is sure to follow with the next semester.

Stellenbosch is a treasure of beautifully restored buildings - elegant Cape Dutch, Victorian and Georgian architecture can be seen particularly in historic Dorp Street, which is reminiscent of the rich and colourful past. Several international businesses have their headquarters in this historical university town. Just outside Stellenbosch, nestled between the majestic Simonsberg, Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek, Twin Peaks and Helderberg mountains, a "clean" industry settlement has been established at Techno Park. Once a quiet little village, Techno Park has become a centre for industry, business and education, as well as the heart of the wine industry.

Wine and the are of winemaking are woven into the history of Stellenbosch. From its humble beginnings with Simon van der Stel and the Huguenots, the valley has evolved to becoming the centre of the Cape's wine industry, and produces some of the finest wines in the country. The famous Stellenbosch Wine Route, established in 1971, allows you to enjoy our fabulous local wines while undertaking entertaining and fun expeditions into the countryside.

Stellenbosch is an amazing place to be. Events and activities take place throughout the year - music, street, wine and art festivals delight both young and old. Outdoors enthusiasts can partake in hiking, mountain climbing, horse riding and cycling, while sports fans can attend international sporting events.

Stellenbosch has a bustling sidewalk café scene in the French tradition, excellent restaurants and coffee shops, modern shopping facilities and a vibrant Nightlife. A peaceful, cheerful town and its friendly people, a never-ending choice of entertainment and activities and a breathtaking valley with majestic mountains embracing it - this is what makes Stellenbosch such a special tourist and conference destination.

Source: http://www.cape-town.info

Great White Shark Cage Diving - Cape Town

In the shark cage

This is no aquarium!!

Your day of shark diving begins with a breakfast or light lunch in Gansbaai. Here you will be given a briefing of the day by your fully qualified skipper.

Prepare yourself for one the most xhilarating days of your life!

Dive certification is not necessary and all equipment is provided.

If you are not up to jumping in the cage you can get a brilliant view of these spectacular predators from the upper deck of the boat.

Chumming(way of attracting the sharks attention) will then begin and then wait in participation as these huge predators appear from no where.

There is no limit on time in which you can spend in the cage.

Whales

Time permitting, the boat will visit Geyser Island en route, to view the Seal Colony.

During the right season you will also definitely have a very good chance of viewing the whales along the way.

A light lunch and snacks and drinks will be served on the boat.

Video of your day is an optional extra.

Great White Shark Cage Diving - Cape Town

In the shark cage

This is no aquarium!!

Your day of shark diving begins with a breakfast or light lunch in Gansbaai. Here you will be given a briefing of the day by your fully qualified skipper.

Prepare yourself for one the most xhilarating days of your life!

Dive certification is not necessary and all equipment is provided.

If you are not up to jumping in the cage you can get a brilliant view of these spectacular predators from the upper deck of the boat.

Chumming(way of attracting the sharks attention) will then begin and then wait in participation as these huge predators appear from no where.

There is no limit on time in which you can spend in the cage.

Whales

Time permitting, the boat will visit Geyser Island en route, to view the Seal Colony.

During the right season you will also definitely have a very good chance of viewing the whales along the way.

A light lunch and snacks and drinks will be served on the boat.

Video of your day is an optional extra.

People who enjoy white shark diving might also like to try these activities:

• Shark Breaching
• Scuba Diving
• Predator Dive
• Copper Hat Dive
• Bungy Jumping

Please note that due to the nature of the activities certain weather conditions can cause delay or cancellation of the activity for that day.

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Jet Fighter Passenger - Cape Town

Top Gun Come along and don't be shy to live out your Top Gun fantasy! Not for the feint heated but certainly provides the ultimate adrenaline junky the ride they have been waiting for their whole lives! Xperience the Cape at supersonic speeds! The English Electric Lightning The world's only twin-engine two-seater (side-by-side) supersonic interceptor, the English Electric Lightning. Two Rolls Royce Avon 302 turbojets power this amazing aircraft. This aircraft is the crème-de-la-crème of fighter jets. The Lightning still holds a number of world climb-to-altitude records and is known for its vertical climb performance, capable of a speed of Mach 2.2 (1500mph), and an initial climb rate of 50,000 ft/min. High 'g' adrenalin Bae Buccaneer The British Aerospace Buccaneers are only flown in Cape Town. This tandem two-seater aggressor is designed for low-level, high-speed attack. Powered by two Rolls Royce Spey non-afterburning bypass turbofans, these awesome machines perform just below the speed of sound at zero altitude.

My Briefcase Add to My Briefcase View My Briefcase Go to Checkout About the Briefcase   Hawker Hunter The Hawker Hunter was originally designed as a superior air fighter which, due to it's versatility, was easily adapted for air to ground attack and reconnaissance flights. It is an exceptionally agile two-seater air combat trainer. There are 2 two-seater Hunters that can be used for training, aerobatics, low flying and general flying. Powered by the Avon 122 series turbojet, this immaculate aircraft allows you to experience high 'g' adrenalin performance, like you have never felt before. With all of the above your training includes a full morning's briefing, survival training, ejection seat training, oxygen management, as well as the kit and all your equipment. Tours of the hangar can also be arranged where you can inspect these mechanical beasts and even sit inside one of them.

People who enjoy jet fighters might also like to try these activities:

• Helicopter/Fixed Wing Flips
• Game Fishing
• White Shark Cage Diving
• Safari
• Triple X Adventure

Kamikaze Canyon - Cape Town

Swim, hike, jump

"Looking for adventure? This is the trip for you!

Join the guides on a full day's adrenaline pumping adventure.

Hike up the rugged gorge arriving at a series of rock pools.

This might seem crazy but it will give you an xtreme xperience.

Thunder Falls

Then it is your turn to abseil down Thunder Falls - a 65 meter cascade of water!"

People who enjoy canyoning/kloofing might also like to try these activities:

• Abseiling
• Bungy Jumping
• White Shark Cage Diving
• Dune Boarding
• Surfing/Kite Surfing

Please note that due to the nature of the activities certain weather conditions can cause delay or cancellation of the activity for that day.

Source: XtremeAdventures