Golfing in South Africa

The weather in South Africa is fairly consistent, in that it is perfect for golf almost all year round. With a long coastline you can find a number of fine Links courses and there is even a number of high altitude courses which mean your ball will travel further!
The Dress Code is fairly standard on the more significant courses, with smart casual or normal golf attire accepted. A collared shirt and no t-shirts or jeans permitted. You may need an official handicap on some courses and it would be wise to book a tee time well ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
Best Courses

In the Western Cape near to Cape Town you can find the Arabella Country Club. This course is located next to the largest natural lagoon in South Africa. You can find the course in Kleinmond which is about 70kms along the coast from Cape Town. Designed by Peter Matkovich the course is designed to be challenging to experienced golfers but not overly so for amateurs. The course is 6381 metres in length and offers the features of both Links and Parkland. The course is also home to the Nelson Mandela Invitational.

Also in the Western Cape is Pearl Valley Golf Club found within the Cape Winelands. This is a 6801 metre in length, Par 72, Jack Nicklaus designed course is situated between the orchards and vineyards of some local wine producers. The Berg River also runs through the course which provides an interesting water hazard for this inland course.


The Glendower Golf Club in Gauteng was built in 1937 and is conveniently located fairly close to O R Tambo international airport. The course is notable for its large number of trees, water hazards and bunkers dotted throughout the course. The course is 6770 metres in length and it a Par 72. Because of the lush vegetation and the large amount of local fauna the course was proclaimed a nature conservation area in 1973.

The Durban Country Club is well known throughout South Africa as the course to host more South African Opens than any other course (14 times!). The course borders both the city and is cut into the dunes of the Indian Ocean coast. This semi-links nature can make it challenging when you encounter strong offshore breezes. The course is about 6111 metres long and is a Par 72 and is recommended only for more experienced golfers.

Down the South Coast from Durban you can find the Wild Coast Sun Golf Course. Relatively short at 5807 metres and par 70, don't let this lull you into a fault sense of an easy course. This Robert Trent Jones course is set up next to the Indian Ocean, so it can be punishing when the wind gets up. The course is quite spectacular with such holes as the 13th which is a par 3 played in front of a waterfall!

Some other major courses found elsewhere in the country include The Links at Fancourt found in the Southern Cape Province. Designed by Gary Player and opened in 2000 this course was the home for The Presidents Cup in 2003. The course is about 6154 metres long and is a Par 72.
The George Golf Club is located close to the Garden Route and it is consistently placed in the Top 10 of South African courses. The setting of this course is highly lauded and makes for an excellent day out. The course is about 5777 metres long and is a Par 70.

In Mpumalanga you can find the Leopard Creek Golf Course which is currently rated as the No. 1 course in South Africa. The course is located close to Kruger National Park, so if you are lucky you might see some Elephants or other African animals roaming outside the bounds of the course.
And finally, the Gary Player Country Club located at Sun City in the North Western Province. The course is quite difficult with water hazard and bunkers in plentiful supply, so accuracy is valued more that big hitters. The course is a Par 72 and at about 6938 metres long is one of the longest in the world!

Visit Novacarhire for all you need to know before you take to the roads in South Africa, like where to go and what to see with your car hire.

The Drakensberg - South Africa's Best Kept Secret

South Africa offers tourists coming to our country a huge choice of holiday destinations. But it’s the Drakensberg Mountains that are still South Africa’s best kept secret, and although it seems a bit off the beaten track, some folks do make the trip.

The best place to start your journey would be to download the free Drakensberg Tourist Map which will give you a great idea of where everything is. This is the only to scale tourist map that’s available for the region. It shows all the back roads, indicates those recommended routes and the distances in between. But what I like about the map is that it’s freely distributed and includes all the activities that the region has to offer as well as a great selection of the best accommodation.

 
The Drakensberg starts in the North with Clarens and the Golden Gate National Park and ends in the South at Bushmans Nek. In between you will find the Royal Natal National Park with it’s Amphitheatre, Mweni the wildest part of the mountains, Cathedral Peak, Monks Cowl, Injasuti, Giants Castle National Park, Kamberg with the best bushman rock art site in the whole Drakensberg Mountains, Loteni, Sani Pass, Cobham, and Garden Castle.

There is a lot to do in the region but the main reason you come to the Drakensberg is because of the mountains. While every part of the Drakensberg is special it has it’s own uniqueness and there are a few spots you don’t want to miss seeing. The best place to get to the top of the escarpment is at Sentinel Peak. The return hike is 5 hours and takes you the top of the Tugela Falls which drops some 948 meters into the Royal Natal National Park below. The view from the top of the Amphitheatre is probably one of the most spectacular views in the world. Most tourists tend to walk at the bottom and while it’s worth the visit it’s just not the same as seeing the view from the top.

The Central Drakensberg and Northern Drakensberg form one region and by far the best example of this section of the Drakensberg Mountains is Giants Castle National Park. Essentially the experience in any part of this region is the same where you have the opportunity to hike the lower reaches of the Drakensberg Mountains or otherwise stay low in one of the valleys. What makes Giants Castle more interesting is the large choice of trails and its isolation. It unfortunately will not stay that way forever but the experience of walking in the mountains and not seeing another human being can still be found here. From Giants Castle looking south the mountains become softer, less dramatic but make no mistake hiking trails in this gentle landscape is just as good and should be included in your trip. Kamberg is a really good spot where the added attraction is the best site of bushman rock art still available.

Bushman Rock Art is most definitely a reason to visit the Drakensberg Mountains. The excellent video presentation before the 3 hour guided tour at Kamberg gives a great explanation of the history of the people as well as the rock art at game pass shelter. The rock art at Giants Castle at the main caves is also good and is a very easy walk. The Didima Rock Art Centre at Cathedral Peak offers a great presentation although the paintings are reproductions. All rock art must be viewed with a guide.

Horse riding through the foothills of the Drakensberg is an experience not to be missed. Sengani horse trails offers safe trails for beginners and experienced alike. Spionkop game reserve even offers game viewing on horse back.
Steeped in history, the Battlefields Region offers enthralling tales of British, Boer, Zulu and Voortrekker history. The Anglo Boer War reached as far south as Mooi River and the many sites are best visited with a specialist guide.
The region offers a fun and fascinating collection of art galleries, craft shops, cheese tastings, leather work, antiques, clothing, gifts and pottery. All the activities represent a unique collection of South African creativity. Take a slow journey to view outstanding galleries such as Millgate, Indigo Fields Gallery, and Zombeza. Community development projects like Eyethu Ceramics and Thandanani Craft uplift local communities allowing tourism a wider benefit.

A trip up Sani Pass into Lesotho and a visit to the highest pub in Africa is a must. It’s a dramatic 4x4 trail climbing 1330m in 6,5km’s. Passports are required.
Game viewing is available at Weenen, Spionkop, Umgeni Valley and Golden Gate. For Birders the Lammergeyer nest at Giants Castle, the Crane Foundation at Kamberg and the birds of prey display at Falcon Ridge are highlights. Fort Durnford in Estcourt offers one of the most complete bird egg collections in South Africa.  For adventure seekers the region offers white water rafting and quad bikes, the longest cable slide in South Africa, a gorge swing and a flying trapeze, bicycle tours and even hot air ballooning



The Drakensberg Boys Choir is a world renowned choir which performs most Wednesdays at 3:30 pm. Bookings 036 468 1017. Don’t miss this enriching cultural experience. Another enriching cultural experience is Mpopomeni Zulu tourism experience where tourists have the opportunity to meet local people, hear a bit of the history of the settlement and taste some of the traditional food.

Or you can just pamper yourself at one of the region’s many health spas. For a difference Indigo Fields offers a real African day spa experience

See - Mountain Guide for the Drakensberg Region

Travelling in South Africa - Top 10 Tourist Destinations

So you have been given the green light to arrange your next exciting overseas travel adventure. You have chosen South Africa as your travel destination but in the planning process, you're at a loss to know what  to include on your itinerary. You've made the decision to take that  long flight from your home country and want to make the most of every moment of your time travelling in South Africa by including the most exciting highlights.
You may ask what South Africa's highlights are and maybe the first thoughts that jump to mind are Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. Well, can I take this opportunity to tantalize your taste buds?
Cape Town and Kruger National Park are the biggest selling destinations in South Africa, but wow, there is so much more to explore in this beautiful country....

Cape Town, Western Cape Province

Just recently been voted "the 3rd Best City in the World" by US Travel and Leisure Magazine 2008. Cape Town offers a huge diversity of things to do including culture activities and theatre shows, great shopping, casino entertainment, outdoor adventures and scenic nature tours, historic tours, wine tasting, beer tasting and brandy tasting. You will find a number of things here to keep you entertained. She's beautiful, she's vibrant and she's the Mother City. She'll leave you with lasting memories.

Cape Winelands, Western Cape Province

The Cape Winelands refers to the beautiful wine growing area stretching from Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch all the way over the Hottentots Holland mountain range to Montague and Robertson showcasing over 200 different wine estates. These world-class estates offer wine tasting and some offer cellar tours providing a fascinating insight to the winemaking industry. The scenery is magical with dramatic mountain backdrops and endless vineyards that change colours with the changing seasons.

Hermanus, Western Cape Province

Known as the best land based whale-watching destination in the world, Hermanus is visited by Southern Right Whales between May and December every year. Moving north from the cold Antarctic, attracted by the warmer waters along the South African coastline and the calm waters of the protected bays, they come to mate and calve. The most spectacular close up sightings of these gentle giants can be seen from the rocky coastline or from a licensed chartered boat offering exhilarating boat-based whale watching. Witness them skyhopping, lobtailing or breaching, typical actions that when seen close up leave you breathless. September month seems to attract the majority of numbers and this is also when you can experience the colourful Hermanus Whale Festival, festivities celebrating the return of the whales.

Garden Route, Western Cape Province

The coastal area stretching from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma is known as the Garden Route. A beautiful area made up of rugged rocky coastline, long white sandy beaches, fairytale evergreen forests, protected endemic fynbos vegetation and botanically rich lakes and estuaries. The popular coastal towns of George, Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay attract a huge number of tourists every year who come for the temperate climate, natural beauty and numerous outdoor activities.

Game Reserves of the Eastern Cape Province

Africa is well known for its exciting wildlife but also for its malaria. The Eastern Cape offers excellent Big 5 game viewing in a malaria free zone, a big draw card, especially for families travelling with young kids.

Isimangaliso Wetland Park, Kwazulu Natal Province

Listed as South Africa's first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty. Covering about 240,000ha, with a further 84,000ha in, on or under the sea, this is a large chunk of sub-tropical paradise stretching 220km along the East Coast from St Lucia to the Mozambique border. As well as a mind-blowing range of natural systems, ranging from dune, swamp and coastal forests to rocky and sandy shores, coral reefs and submarine canyons, mangroves, savanna grassland and the largest protected wetland in southern Africa, it is a culturally fascinating area and has immense fun potential. Game drives, bird watching, hippo and crocodile cruises, cultural tours, fishing, canoeing, scuba diving, snorkelling and whale watching are some of the activities that can be enjoyed.

Kruger National Park, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province
World renowned as an exceptional wildlife destination, Kruger National Park is approximately 2 million hectares in size and is South Africa's largest game reserve. Unrivaled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.

Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Mpumalanga Province

The Sabi Sand Reserve is the birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa, and is the oldest of all the private reserves in South Africa. It has only ever been a wilderness area and is home to a vast wildlife population, including The Big Five, and a number of endangered species too. Flanking the Kruger National Park, animals pass unhindered between the reserves. This is where you will find some of the oldest and well-known private game reserves such as Londolozi, Mala Mala and Singita offering their exclusive luxury lodges and the authentic all-inclusive African safari experience.

Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng Province

The Cradle of Humankind Site covers 47 000 hectares of land, mostly privately owned and is made up of 12 dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossilised remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and most importantly, hominids. The dolomite in which the caves formed, started out as coral reefs growing in a warm shallow sea about 2.3 billion years ago. The Maropeng Visitors Centre, an internationally acclaimed tourist attraction, highlights, by means of interactive, visually stunning exhibits, the universal relevance of the Cradle of Humankind as our ancestral home. A fascinating display and a definite "must see".

Soweto, Gauteng Province

Soweto - melting pot of South African urban culture, rich with the history of the struggle against apartheid. Soweto is the most populous black urban residential area in South Africa with a population count of close to 900 000. The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, a cluster of townships sprawling across a vast area 20km south west of Johannesburg. Soweto is best visited accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will not only give a real sense of its history but help you understand its ongoing evolution. A tour to Soweto would normally include the Mandela Museum, where Madiba once lived; a stop at the Hector Pieterson Memorial; a drive down Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel Prize winners (Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu); Freedom Square, where the ANC's Freedom Charter was proclaimed to thousands in 1956; and the Regina Mundi Church, the "Parliament of Soweto", where the bullet-marked walls are witness to ex-security-police brutality.

These suggestions offer a basic insight to travelling in South Africa and her ability to "wow" her visitors but there are many more hidden gems under her veil. The "off the beaten track" areas are sometimes even more spectacular so be sure to investigate these. Also combining a visit to a neighbouring country like Botswana, Namibia or Mozambique adds great value as well. So is South Africa a great travel destination? I believe you will find it absolutely fabulous!

Specialists in travel to Southern Africa with many years of first hand travel experience, Africa Tamed designs and coordinates value added all-inclusive holiday packages throughout South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique.
Africa Tamed Tours and Travel.