Clarens , South Africa | Golden Gate National Park

We recently drove from Johannesburg to Durban and on the way stopped and spent the night in Clarens.

Clarens is a beautiful little town on the edge of the Golden Gate National Park and the Drakensberg mountains. In many ways it reminds me of small towns dotted through Australia's Blue Mountains and southern highlands. Little gift shops, cafes and specialty food stores are in abundance. The air is crisp and has that alpine freshness to it. I was surprised to learn we actually were at quite an altitude - Clarens sits at just over 1900 meters.

Equidistant from Johannesburg, Durban and Bloemfontein, Clarens is fast becoming a semi alpine, trout fishing and golf getaway resort for the South African wealthy.

We discovered that the Golden Gate National Park that we drove through earlier in the day actually contained large elk and some large elk and springbok

We were all in awe at the colours and contours of the incredible cliffs that cleave the landscape. Car high grass made us feel like we were the only ones exploring the vast park and added an element of danger and excitement to the experience.

Eagles, kites and hawks circle and ride the updrafts above our heads as we slowly drive the paved roads that wind through this stunning national park. We did spot Zebra and a solitary blue wildebeest.

Not the usual tourist spot in South Africa, Clarens, the Golden Gate National Park and the Drakensburg are well worth a visit.

Check out Marius Coetzee's photos and blog of his recent trip to the Drakensburg

Watch this great video of the Golden Gate National Park from Siyabona Africa

Check out this amazing time lapse footage | Moonrise and Dawn over Golden Gate National Park, South Africa  | with thanks to Craig Hind




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Kilwa to Mafia Island on a dhow 'Shaniyake'

While looking around on the internet for great new product for our Indian Ocean travel company we come across all kinds of amazing things.

I recently found this great youtube video from Wazza2007

I love the music and think it perfectly matches this short video of a few friends enjoying sailing off the coast of Kenya. Kilwa has an awesome old Arab fortress in ruins at the entrance to the river. It is a very difficult place to find out anything about.

Enjoy !! Let us know your thoughts.....

Reunion Island Tourism | Radio Segment

Listen to the new radio advertising segment for Air Austral.

What do you think ? Leave a comment below




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Exploring North West Madagascar | Silhouette Cruises' exedition vessell Maya's Dugong

In my opinion, the most spectacular array of diversity in Madagascar is to be found along the north west coast. Rare birds, lemurs and chameleons share a stunning backdrop of tropical islands, ancient baobab trees and white-sand beaches.

Due to the remoteness of this area the majority of this region cannot easily be accessed. At sea, using a vessel with the kind of range necessary to travel these distances, we can unlock the secrets of Madagascar’s northwest coast.

In 2010, Above and Beyond Holidays are offering travellers the chance to discover the amazing northwest region of Madagascar aboard the expedition vessel Maya’s Dugong. A Silhouette Cruises vessell | see past Silhouette Cruises blogs

This former research vessel has been completely retro-fitted for expedition cruising – perfect for the traveller seeking an out-of-the-way adventure holiday, without forgoing the comfort and service of a modern yacht.

Maya's Dugong has only 9 cabins and a maximum of 24 guests. Expedition cruises are also small enough to give guests freedom and flexibility in deciding how they wish to discover Madagascar, be it trekking through the wilds looking for wildlife or diving the many reefs and lagoons. Aboard the vessel and throughout the cruise passengers have the experience and knowledge of a dedicated onboard naturalist and dive guide to call upon.

This is a unique opportunity to experience Madagascar and see its true diversity. On a full 14-night expedition aboard Maya’s Dugong, you will venture north from Nosy Be to Nosy Hara and then south to Baie de Mourambe. Each day allows guests to experience the numerous and varied coastal attractions along the way.

Shorter cruises of 7-nights can also be booked. Choose between the northern or southern leg of the 14 day journey. All departures leave from Nosy Be.

Past Madagascar Blogs | Lile De Nosy Be, Madagascar | The day it rained in Madagascar
Past Silhouette Cruises Blogs | Kayak Adventures Seychelles and Comoros

View the 2010 Maya's Dugong brochure and itinerary online