Tour to South Africa

What are the Exciting Places to Visit While Taking a Tour to South Africa, the Adventure Capital of the World?

South Africa has earned its reputation as one of the world’s fastest growing leisure, and business travel destinations. It is a popular tourist’s destination basting a range of cultural, historical, archaeological and geological sites that are protected under the UNESCO World Heritage Site project. The climate, culture, tourist activities and infrastructure in South Africa is so diverse that if you take South Africa flights on regular basis and visit this place over and over again it will not let you get bored off. Some of its attractions are:

KwaZulu Natal Durban: It is a breathtakingValley of a Thousand Hills in an exciting city of Durban. It provides multitude of leisure options for the visitors. Throughout the year, holiday-makers flock to their favorite KwaZula Natal taking cheap flights to South Africa from UK and other worldly destinations. To reserve your flights look for some trust worthy travel company like cheap flights to south Africa . One can cultivate a tan, ride the waves, eat, drink and generally have fun by surfing, snorkelling, fishing and swimming here. KwaZulu Natal’s game sanctuaries epitomize the best of the African wilderness.

Johannesburg Gauteng: The largest and most famous city of South Africa.It offers visitors taken flights to South Africa with natural gardens, wild life,and entertainment playground offering world-class restaurants, shebeens, stadiums, shopping malls and music venues. It is known as entertainment Mecca of South Africa.

South Africa World Heritage Sites: South Africa is endowed with fertile natural beauty, and long cultural and historical back ground that’s why South Africa has become the center for tourism for locals as well as for those taking cheap South Africa flights. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seek to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage of South Africa. These are 8 sites Enlisted with UNESCO; Vredefort Dome WHS, Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park WHS, The Cradle of Humankind WHS, Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape WHS, Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park WHS, Cape Floral Kingdom WHS, Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape WHS, and Robben Island WHS for which visitors reserve flights to South Africa from UK.

Western Cape, Cape Town: Cape Town’s Attractions are plentiful and diverse which have made it a premier tourism destination. It is well known for the world-famous landmark Table Mountain

Nikko

STEPPING into the ancient, forested sanctuary of Nikko feels like stepping back in time 400 years – before the Western influence, before the steel-reinforced concrete apartments, before the buzzing illuminated signs and back to a quieter and more beautiful time.

Nikko is a town at the entrance to Nikko National Park, most famous for Toshogu, Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Nikko is a UNSECO World Heritage site that is only two-hours north of Tokyo. While it is possible to visit during a day trip from Tokyo, I feel that rushing through a place like this will ruin half of what is special about Nikko – the serene, picturesque Japanese experience that everyone who visits Japan craves.

Nikko had been a center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for many centuries before Toshogu was built in the 1600s, and Nikko National Park continues to offer scenic, mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys and hiking trails.

Nikko and the Okunikko area around Lake Chuzenji, in particular, are well known for their beautiful autumn colors (koyo). In the average year the colors start descending from the higher elevations of Yumoto Onsen in early October, are best around Lake Chuzenji and the Irohazaka road in mid to late October and reach the town of Nikko in the first half of November.



The main attractions of Nikko are the old temples and shrines, most of which were built over 400 years ago. Granted, there are much older temples and shrines in Japan, but while they have survived, the area surrounding hasn’t; It’s a little hard to feel the connection to a 1300 year-old temple, when you’re hearing the industrial sounds of heavy traffic and seeing the visual pollution of the neighbouring concrete buildings, and their connected jungle of overhead power cabling.

In contrast, Nikko is set in a remote and mountainous area, surrounded by giant trees, pristine rivers and mountains. While there is a city nearby, the actual location of the temples and shrines is enveloped within a fortress of ancient pines, stretching up to dizzying heights that even light has a hard time penetrating. As you walk around this ancient site, you’re removed from all modern stimuli and teleported back to an era of shogunates and samurais.

If you’re lucky, you may even spot some wild monkeys roaming around.The temples and shrines within are the most spectacular that I have seen in Japan. The colours are vivid, the wooden carvings are elaborate and the scale is unmatched. There are many famous carvings, including the ‘hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil’ trio of monkeys and a carving of an elephant based purely on a written description. It’s far too easy to spend several hours looking at the details.

There is more to Nikko than just old buildings. The area surrounding is almost as popular with Japanese tourists, especially during the brief cherry blossom period in spring, and the equally brief and stunning autumn colours that set the region ablaze in vivid hues of red and yellow. One of Japan’s most famous waterfalls, the 97m-high Kegon Falls, also happens to be high in the hills surrounding Nikko.
Travel is only half experienced if local food is ignored. Nikko is famous for yuba, which is the skin that forms on the surface of heated soymilk. It’s a versatile ingredient that can be eaten raw, added to soup or even fried. There were several places to try Nikko yuba in all it’s variations, which I did and recommend. Raw it’s a little sweet, in soup it’s delicious and fried… just mmm. Apart from yuba, the other specialty of the area is
soba noodles.



In my mind, Nikko is the ultimate Japanese experience. It is a culmination of exquisitely preserved cultural heritage set amongst equally exquisite and ancient natural surroundings.

This truly sets Nikko apart from any other location in Japan.

Due to the special tourism partnership between Nikko and Kutchan, the Tourist Information Center in Kutchan has a variety of brochures on the area should you desire more information.

Where: Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture
Getting there: Trains frequently leave from Shinjuku and Asakusa in Tokyo.
When: Beautiful and popular in all seasons.
Cost: ¥1000 for combination entry to the temples/shrines

7 Places to see before they disappear

Arunachal Pradesh
China’s proposal to build dams on the Brahmaputra’s Tibetan stretch is threatening to kill the gushing tributaries of one of the biggest rivers of South Asia. The course of the Brahmaputra after it enters India sees the river drastically lose height, creating several waterfalls and rapids, making the white waters ideal for rafting. Although China has said that it would not build reservoirs with these dams and, therefore, not affect the water levels downstream, the construction of a dam on the Subansiri River tributary has already put an end to rafting on that stretch. China’s effort to generate more hydroelectricity is sure taking the charge away from India’s adventure tourism.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
This is not just for the mountaineering enthusiast. The sheer marvel of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain rising amid the arid vastness of north-east Tanzania has fascinated and captured the imagination of innumerable people through the ages. The Africans worship their ‘White Mountain’, which is a dormant volcano. But the snows of Kilimanjaro — as Ernest Hemingway famously put it — are fast receding, thanks to global warming. Researchers claim that about 85 percent of the snow that covered the mountain’s peak had disappeared by 2007. The glaciers on the mountain are shrinking and thinning at the same time. Loss of vegetation around the mountain too is believed to have had an impact.

Turtuk, Ladakh
This border village in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh once fell within Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Although India reclaimed it after the 1971 war, the government imposed the Protected Area Permit Regime in the area, making it off-limits for foreigners. This, however, ensured that the region’s stark beauty remain untouched. Towards the end of 2009 the government lifted its restrictions. Foreign tourists have, since then, been queuing up for Bactrian camel rides and hot water springs. There goes the neighbourhood.

The Caribbean
The coral reefs of the Caribbean are some of the world’s best for scuba diving, with consistent conditions throughout the year, and dive spots suitable for everyone from novices to PADI-certified instructors. Spots such as Bonaire and the Dutch Caribbean offer shallow diving among coral reefs while Provo, Turks and Caicos are must-visits for snorkelling. But pollution — increased levels of carbon dioxide in the sea water — and global warming are taking a toll on them: While acidic waters affects the corals’ ability to secrete new skeletons, warmer waters disrupt their growth. Frequent hurricanes don’t help either. Plan that Caribbean cruise soon.

The Western Ghats
The Marathas built fortresses that were protected by the difficult terrain and isolation. But now, with developments like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway scything through the hills and making transport a breeze, developers are conquering the Ghats. Planned cities that took advantage of changes in the land zoning regulations in the area, which converted hill and agricultural land to residential and commercial ones, are taking shape. Leading the pack: Aamby Valley (10,000 acres) and Lavasa (25,000 acres of land and 60 km of lakefront). And the Ghats, nominated for a place on the Unesco World Heritage List, home to more than 300 threatened species, and one of the world’s top 10 biodiversity hotspots, look like becoming the middle of a vast Mumbai-Pune megapolis. Get that monsoon trekking done soon.

Sinking Islands
The Maldives are the lowest country in the world. With no spot on the islands rising more than two metres above sea level, this archipelago comprises about 1,200 islands and is located south west of India, in the Indian Ocean. Over the last century, changes in global climate are making sea levels rise, threatening the existence of the beautiful country and its people. They’re not the only ones in trouble. A pristine speck in the Pacific Ocean, half-way between Hawaii and Australia, called Tuvalu (it’s one of the smallest nations in the world, better known, perhaps, as the country with the registrar rights to the ‘.tv’ first level Internet domain), will, eventually, disappear under rising sea levels. Coral reefs, atolls and lagoons: Go see them while you can.

Zanskar, Jammu and Kashmir
Part of the Kargil district, Zanskar has become famous for its frozen river trek. Also known as the Chadar Trek, the route follows the Zanskar River that freezes during the winter months. The walls of the gorges cut out by the river reveal geological layers of the Fold Mountains and are best viewed in winter. Traditionally, this frozen route was the only link between the local population and the outside world. Now, of course, there is an airport at Leh. As civilisation creeps in, the presence of tourists can be felt by the junk they leave behind at camping sites along the river. The influx of tourists is also affecting the lives of the people, who had so far led isolated lives.

Where on Earth will you find yourself in 2011?

Here's wishing it's somewhere unforgettable -- and the time to plan your journey is now, as the New Year brings the customary yearning for a fresh start and the promise of new people and places.

To set your itinerary in motion, we sought out recommendations from three travel experts: Robert Reid, U.S. travel editor for Lonely Planet; Pauline Frommer, creator of Pauline Frommer's guidebooks; and Martin Rapp, senior vice president of leisure sales at Altour.

Here are nine of their top destinations for 2011:

1. New York

A huge tourist destination in any year, the city will be especially unforgettable as it marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks next year.

Visitors who have been flocking to ground zero are finally expected to get a chance to pay their respects to the victims at the National September 11 Memorial, which is scheduled to open in time for the anniversary.

"It's going to be a massive moment for New York," Reid said. "It feels like the healing begins."

Visitors also shouldn't miss the High Line, once an abandoned elevated railway track that's been turned into a popular park. It expands in the spring, to the delight of New Yorkers.

"It was like a secret garden in the middle of New York," Frommer said. "It's become a park that other urban centers are studying because it's brought new life, a new vitality into the area below it."

No wonder the Big Apple tops Lonely Planet's list of top 10 cities for 2011.

2. New Zealand

The Rugby World Cup will be held next fall in New Zealand, adding excitement to an already popular destination.

Wellington, which brands itself as the "coolest little capital in the world," will host some of the activities and hopes to attract fans who want to explore other parts of the country.

"It's a great kind of springboard," said Reid, who is planning a visit and is determined to learn the haka, the fierce Maori dance used to unsettle opponents before matches.

Wellington is known as "Wellywood," thanks to a thriving film industry and director Peter Jackson, who is now working on "The Hobbit." Indeed, fans of the "Lord of the Rings" films already know New Zealand for some of the stunning sites used in the trilogy.

Rapp also recommended the country for its "most fantastically luxurious lodges," including The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Huka Lodge and Otahuna Lodge.

3. Peruvian Amazon

When many people think of the Amazon, they think of Brazil, but Peru offers a great base for exploring the region: Iquitos, a metropolis of almost half a million people in the heart of the Peruvian jungle.

Iquitos is a fitting destination for 2011, which has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Forests.

"You can create your own adventures when you're there," Reid said.

It's the biggest city you can't drive to in the world, he added. You have to fly in or take a boat.

To experience the region in a unique way, Rapp recommended taking an Amazon River cruise from Iquitos on Delfin or Aqua Expeditions.

4. Barcelona, Spain

Visitors can get a chance to see La Sagrada Familia, the stunning but still unfinished Catholic basilica, like never before after a visit by Pope Benedict XVI in November spurred progress on the interior of the site, Frommer said.

"For the first time in years, most of the scaffolding there is gone," she said.

"Everybody knows how astounding it is on the outside. The inside is just as glorious."

Foodies have their own reasons to visit Barcelona and the surrounding region. El Bulli, chef Ferran Adria's famous restaurant, closes for good next year.

But even if you can't snag a reservation at the notoriously hard-to-get-into eatery, Barcelona is dotted with restaurants inspired by Adria's cutting-edge cuisine, like Moo, which Frommer called "astounding."

5. Norway

For lovers of the outdoors, Norway offers an especially outstanding experience, Rapp said. Adventurous travelers can go heli-skiing, paragliding and bungee jumping. (Rapp was considering a bungee jump himself during an upcoming summer trip to Norway.)

For a more mellow experience, hire a private boat on the fjords and go to little hotels that you can't get to by road, or stay at the Amot Opera Farm for an unusual combination of accommodations and music.

"All of Scandinavia is really underestimated," Rapp said.

"People [usually] go to the major cities, Copenhagen, Stockholm or Oslo, but the countryside is extraordinary. Truly majestic mountains, and the fjords are just unbelievable -- they seem endless when you're there."

6. Albania

The top pick on Lonely Planet's list of top 10 countries for 2011 may be a surprise for many people, but Albania gives travelers a taste of the Mediterranean without the crowds and the prices, Reid said.

The real rising destination is Gjirokastra, a city whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, he added.

"It's this cobbled town with Ottoman-era mansions," Reid said. "It's a very atmospheric place that has a lot of history."

With picturesque beaches, good food and a number of heritage sites, Albania won't be off the beaten track for much longer, Lonely Planet says in its review.

7. Japan

Many people still have the misconception that Japan is too expensive to visit, but once you get there, it can be more affordable than a vacation in New York, Reid said.

Why go in 2011? The country is ramping up its tourism marketing efforts after some recent disappointing years, so the number of visitors is expected to rise soon.

"We think that the crowds are going to get worse. Maybe it's time to think about it now," Reid said.

For help with booking an affordable stay, he recommended visiting the International Tourism Center of Japan and looking into minshuku, traditional guest houses that offer very simple but clean and inexpensive accommodations. You might pay $40 a night in Tokyo, for example.

8. Guatemala

More than 10 years after the end of its civil war, Guatemala is coming into its own as a tourist destination, Frommer said.

The country is an appealing alternative for people looking to travel south of the border and trying to branch out beyond popular places like Costa Rica, she added. Once there, you'll be amazed by the sites -- and the low prices.

"Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful places in the world. In fact, Aldous Huxley said it was more beautiful than Lake Como. I was there in March, and I would agree," Frommer said.

She called the destination "a bargain wonderland." A round-trip flight from New York cost Frommer $350, "decent hotels" charged as little as $35 a night, and a meal at a sit-down restaurant might set you back just $3, she said.

9. Bulgaria

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union, sparking interest in former Soviet bloc countries.

Reid's favorite choice on that list is Bulgaria, which has the best Black Sea coastline for beach enthusiasts and offers great skiing in the mountains in the winter, he said.

"I love doing road trips in Bulgaria. It begs for it. It's beautiful, and there's not much traffic. It feels very safe," said Reid, who rode around the country last year in a Soviet-era 1972 Moskovich, which he bought for $500.

Reid recommended visiting Veliko Târnovo, an ancient capital, and the picturesque city of Plovdiv, home to Roman ruins.

Planning to holiday in Kerala? It's almost houseful

Tourists hoping to usher in the New Year amid Kerala's laidback charms would do well to have a plan B ready - if they haven't booked already. Most hotels, resorts and even houseboats are sold out for Christmas, and only divine intervention can get you a place in 'god's own country'.

As a result of the holiday rush, tariffs have touched stratospheric levels. Plush resorts in the backwater havens of Alappuzha and Kumarakom are charging upwards of Rs.75,000 a night for the New Year eve.

Likewise, travel agents too are running from pillar to post to get reservations for their clients at premier destinations like Kovalam, Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Thekkady and Munnar.

Tomy Pulikattil, who owns a dozen houseboats in Alappuzha, said anyone who manages to book a houseboat now should consider himself extremely lucky.

"We are finding it hard to accommodate people who have not made a booking. The peak season would begin from Dec 20 and continue till the first week of January. We are fully booked and now people are calling us daily to see if there have been any cancellations," Pulikattil told IANS.

Alappuzha, popularly known as the Venice of the East, has the largest concentration of houseboats, numbering more than 400.

Tariff for the peak season has gone up by 25 percent. A two bedroom houseboat would cost you about Rs.20,000 a day.

Tourism has become one of the biggest money spinners in industry-starved Kerala. The tourism department says both foreign and domestic tourist arrivals for the first half of this year have shown a rise.

Around 335,000 overseas tourists arrived here till June 2010, a rise of 13.9 percent over the corresponding period last year. Domestic tourist arrivals too grew by 5.59 percent to reach 4.1 million.

No wonder hotel and resort owners are in a festive mood.

"All our rooms have been fully booked for the second half of this month and so is the case with resorts in and around Kovalam. Unlike in the previous season, this time we feel that there are more domestic tourists," said K. Sudish Kumar, who owns a premier resort at Kovalam beach.

"Moreover, we hope the rains lashing the state halt briefly so that tourists can enjoy the beaches."

However, tour guide Koshy John sounded a word of caution, saying the lingering effects of economic slowdown were still visible.

"The free flow of foreign tourists that was visible from the end of November last year has not happened this time. But I am told that foreign tourists' January bookings look healthy," he said.

"On its part, the state government also should promote newer destinations because the premier destinations are choked during the holiday season."