Welcome to 2007 – Travel inspirations for Southern Africa

Welcome to a whole new year, with 52 weekends and 12 public holidays to look forward to – and that’s before you take leave. So organise your life and get travelling. To inspire you, we’ve put together 14 pages of month-by-month ideas. By Justin Fox.

Planning your activities and travels for the year ahead can be taxing. South Africa has a rich diversity in each province, and each season – no matter where you are – has something to recommend it, even the Kalahari in midsummer or the high Drakensberg in midwinter. However, you’re best advised to plot your travels around the climate, school holidays, tourist peaks and according to your own interests. The following pages will hopefully make your choices a bit easier, or at least more informed.

South Africa’s distinct climatic zones will influence which destination you pick. Cape Town, the Overberg and Garden Route enjoy a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Many locals regard the shoulder seasons – March to April and September to October – as the best times to be in these areas. There is very little southeaster (the irascible summer wind) and most of the tourists have left… or not yet arrived.

Winter is probably the best time to visit KwaZulu-Natal, when the days are warm and sunny and the humidity low; the Indian Ocean stays warm throughout the year and the Drakensberg’s peaks are layered with snow. The Highveld is blessed with a near-perfect climate, making it a year-round destination, although it is far prettier in summer when the land is made verdant by almost daily thunder storms.

Unless you are an avid birder (in which case you’ll want to catch the summer migrants), winter is the time to visit the Lowveld and Bushveld regions. As the season progresses and water becomes more scarce, wildlife gathers along rivers and remaining water holes, making for ideal game viewing.

The Northern Cape and Kalahari are, for the same reasons, good winter destinations, although the nights can be bitterly cold. If you’re travelling in Namaqualand, you’ll want to try to co-ordinate your journey to take in the displays of wild flowers that occur in August and September.

Having sketched these climatic parameters, it needs to be stressed that there are a thousand exceptions to the rule. Although the Cape is a favoured summer destination, the winter ‘green season’ is the time of whales and the best fynbos viewing. Indeed, a golden midwinter Cape Town day is more drop-dead beautiful than anything summer can produce. Similarly, although KwaZulu-Natal might be more temperate in winter, high summer sees the arrival of visitors such as whale sharks and turtles. And although Grahamstown might be bitterly cold in midwinter, it’s exactly the time most people visit the town for the annual arts festival.

SEASONAL MUSTS

Summer:

• Jol in Cape Town during the carnivalesque season of silliness.
• Make for your nearest patch of beach sand.
• Go birding in the Lowveld.

Autumn:

• Climb the Drakensberg.
• Visit the Cape Winelands to see the vineyards in their scarlet livery.
• Explore the Garden Route.

Winter:

• Head for the bush, any bush.
• Tackle one of South Africa’s famous hikes.
• Visit the Overberg to see the whales.

Spring:

• Explore Namaqualand to witness the floral extravaganza.
• Going further afield? Head for the OkaVango Delta to take advantage of the Flood waters.
• Pack a tent into your car and go touring through Namibia.

January 2007
HOLIDAYS – Monday 1 January, New Year’s Day
Getaway‘s choice – The Cape Carnival at New Year

South Africa sizzles and Highvelders disport themselves on the coast or the nearest stretch of water. It is the time of year when everyone, even those not normally predisposed, indulge in watersports of one kind or another.

Yacht clubs are crammed and round-the-buoys races are fully subscribed. Hobie Cat sailors, windsurfers and kite-surfers launch from beaches around the country. Kayakers nose along our shores and rain-swollen rivers, while surfers delight in small, but warm, summer waves (unless they’re unlucky enough to find themselves on Atlantic beaches, chilled as they are by icy upwelling).

For divers along the KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique coasts there’s the thrill of whale sharks and turtles are there to lay eggs on deserted beaches. Sodwana is packed to the gunwales, so too Ponta do Ouro (amid the quad-bike army).

With good summer rains on the Highveld, the rivers swell: scarlet with soil and broiling. White-water rafters hurl themselves into the maelstroms of the Orange, Tugela, Mzimkulwana or Mkomaas rivers. And for landlocked folks, there are dammed delights such as water-skiing and tranquil day sailing.

Don’t miss

• Join the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival in the streets of the Mother City and at the Green Point Stadium around New Year. http://www.2camels.com.
• The Hansa Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon takes place from 18-20 January, from Maritzburg to Durbs. Line the banks of the river and cheer the intrepid paddlers. Tel 033-342-1528 or http://www.dusi.co.za.
• The Big Blue Sports and Music Festival takes place from 4-6 January on Kleinmond Beach. Part of the proceeds go towards the Cape Nature Conservation Fund which supports the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Tel 021-511-7130.
• Nelson Mandela Bay will host the Mirror Class Association World Championships based at Algoa Bay Yacht Club from 6-19 January. Tel 041-582-2575.
• The Women’s World Cup of Golf will be held at the Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, from 19-21 January. http://www.womensworldcupofgolf.com.

• The Performing Arts Network of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal hosts the second MUSHO! International Theatre Festival from 11-21 January in Durban. http://www.mushofestival.co.za.

• Fun in the sun throughout the school holidays at the Plettenberg Bay Summer Festival. Tel 044-533-4065.

February 2007
Getaway‘s choice – Romantic weekend in Maputo

Ah, the month of roses, hearts, chocolates… and an empty wallet.

Christmas and the festive season have bust the bank, so the last thing you want is another big outlay for that romantic retreat and yet. And yet you have to make an effort, for the season is still pretty merry and summer is still as shrill as a cicada. So what to do?

Well, the basement-budget end of the spectrum is roses, Cadburys and a bottle of sparkling wine. Pop them in a basket and head for a vantage point, loved one in tow, to watch the sun go down. Maybe a beach, a koppie, a bubbling brook or, for the less fortunate among us, the summit of a mine dump.

Some can afford to whisk said loved one away to a romantic destination for a night or two. The millionaires among us might hop on a charter flight to a Mozambican island to be pampered like royalty. But for budget-bound mortals there are alternatives. Take a look at the July 2003 issue of Getaway for 10 great romantic escapes close to Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Or get hold of copies of Bridget Hilton-Barber’s Weekends for Lovers and Weekends with Soul, both published by Struik, for lots of ideas on romantic hideaways.

Don’t miss

• At Delheim’s Seventh Annual Grape and Wine Tasting you get to taste the grapes… and then the wine that’s the end product. It’s held at the estate near Stellenbosch on the 17th. Tel 021-888-4600/7 or http://www.delheim.com.
• The Midmar Mile is allegedly the largest open-water swimming event in the world. Don your Speedo and head to Midmar Dam near Howick on 10-11 February. http://www.midmarmile.co.za.
• Dias Commemoration Celebration to celebrate the landing of the Portuguese navigator, Mossel Bay, 3 February. Tel 044-691-1067.

• The Cape Country Picnic Festival is organised by Cadek and takes place from 23-25 February on Bien Donn farm, halfway between Paarl and Franschhoek. Tel 0861-2-CADEK (22335) or 021-855-4750, or http://www.picnicfestival.co.za.

• Bielie Mielie Festival, 15-17 February, Reitz. Tel 058-863-2811.
• Matroosberg Gravity Adventure Festival (high jinks in the heart of the Hex River Mountains), Matroosberg Reserve. Tel 082-453-9841 or http://www.matroosberg.com.
• Swellendam Show, 23-24 February. Tel 028-514-2770.

March 2007
HOLIDAYS – WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH, HUMAN RIGHTS’ DAY
Getaway‘s choice – Birding in Pafuri

We have chosen this golden, late-summer month as our time for the bush, specifically for birding. For devout twitchers, all the summer migrants are still here, and the weather is not as hot as high summer. Great places for birds at this time of year are the Pafuri region of Kruger, Nylsvley, Wakkerstroom, Madikwe, Mapungubwe National Park and Ndumo and Mkuze game reserves.

Your best option would be to spend a few days in one of the parks, settle yourself near a water hole, and watch the fowl parade. For Mkuze, tel 033-845-1000 or http://www.kznwildlife.com; for Kruger we suggest you stay at Punda Maria Camp, tel 012-428-9111 or web http://www.sanparks.org; for Nyslvley, stay just outside the reserve at Dinonyane, tel 014-743-0957 or http://www.dinonyane.co.za. Or perhaps you’d like to do your birding from the comforts of a quaint village… if so, we suggest Wakkerstroom, with its wide array of grassland and wetland birds; http://www.sabirding.co.za.

Don’t miss

• The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour takes place round the Cape Peninsula on the 11th. It’s your chance to join thousands of crazy folk in bright spandex and clog up the roads of the Mother City. Tel 021-685-6551 or http://www.cycletour.co.za.
• From its days as a humble agricultural show targeted at the farming trade, the Rand Show has evolved into Africa’s largest annual consumer exhibition and entertainment forum. Hosted at Nasrec near Gold Reef City in Johannesburg, it spreads over 51 hectares and offers exhibitions relating to agriculture, travel, technology, home and outdoor living. It takes place from 30 March to 15 April. Tel 011-661-4000 or http://www.randshow.co.za.
• The Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (or KKNK) in Oudtshoorn is to the Afrikaans community what the Grahamstown Festival is to English-speaking South Africans. Held from 31 March to 8 April, it’s an arts and Kultuur (with a capital K) jol that’s not to be missed. Tel 044-203-8600 or http://www.kknk.co.za.
• The Bathurst Show (30 March to 1 April) is a festival of all things farming, with loads of entertainment, markets, food and fun. Bathurst is in the heart of settler country between Port Elizabeth and East London, and claims to have the oldest pub in the country. Tel 046-624-5421.
• Sani-to-Sea (Sani2c) is a three-day mountain bike event held off-road between the mountains of Sani Pass and the beaches of Scottburgh in southern KwaZulu-Natal. It’s for the hard-core and takes place from 3-5 March. http://www.tworivers.co.za.
• Rustler’s Valley Mountain Retreat is holding a two-day Equinox Party in Fouriesburg in the Free State, bru. Tel 051-933-3939 or http://www.rustlers.co.za.
• Bell’s Whisky Wild Trout Festival, Rhodes Village, 21-25 March. http://www.wildtrout.co.za.
• Prickly Pear Festival, 31 March, Uitenhage. Tel 041-992-2063.
• The Cape Epic, Knysna to Cape Town, 24-31 March. Web http://www.cape-epic.com.

April 2007
HOLIDAYS – FRIDAY 6 APRIL, GOOD FRIDAY; MONDAY 9 APRIL, EASTER MONDAY; FRIDAY 27 APRIL, FREEDOM DAY
Getaway‘s choice – Hiking the Drakensberg

The hills are alive with the sound of hikers. This is the month we have chosen for getting high on mountain air, and there’s nowhere better than the Drakensberg. It’s autumn, still green, but cool enough to hike. The days are temperate, mostly free of rain and mist and the winter snowfalls are a little way off yet. Don your backpack and head into South Africa’s highlands for spots such as Cathedral Peak, Champagne Castle and Giant’s Castle.

Don’t miss

• The Splashy Fen Music Festival, a groovy outdoor extravaganza on a farm near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal from 5-9 April. Tel 082-892-6176 or http://www.splashyfen.co.za.
• The Witblitz Festival in Philippolis will be held from 20-21 April. Their brand of ‘hooch’ differs from regular mampoer in that it is made from grapes, where mampoer is distilled from other fruit, such as peaches. Web http://www.philippolis.co.za.
• Gardenex – the enormous floriculture exhibition – takes place from 20-22 April at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg. Gardenex offers local and international exhibitors a platform to showcase every aspect of flora, gardening and landscaping to thousands of keen gardeners and homemakers. http://www.gardenex.co.za.
• The Seventh Annual Dirtopia Mountain Bike Festival will be held in Greyton from 6-9 April. Tel 021-884-4752 or http://www.dirtopia.co.za.
• The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, round the Cape Peninsula, will be run on 7 April. Tel 021-671-9407 or http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za.
• The annual Eleven O’Clock Rooibos Cederberg Festival – a celebration of music, theatre, culture and local cuisine – takes place in Clanwilliam from 27-29 April. Tel 027-482-2024.
• SA Cheese Festival, Bien Donn estate near Franschhoek, from 27-30 April. Tel 021-975-4440 or http://www.cheesefestival.co.za.

May 2007
HOLIDAYS – TUESDAY 1 MAY, WORKERS’ DAY
Getaway‘s choice – Tour the Eastern Free State

May is our touring month. In the Cape, the vineyards of the Winelands are blood red and the high peaks sport their first dusting of snow. Jewel in the crown is the Hex River Valley, especially the nook at the southern end of the kloof.

But for us, the Eastern Free State is the place to go ameandering at this time of year. Golden poplars, first snowfalls it’s just the spot to lose yourself among ancient sandstone buttresses. A good place to base yourself for exploring the area is the Golden Gate Highlands National Park (tel 058-255-0012 or http://www.sanparks.org) or any of the charming highland villages – Clarens, Ladybrand, Zastron.

Don’t miss

• Loosen your belt for the Winter Good Food and Wine Show, held from 24-27 May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Cell 084-565-0069 or http://www.gourmetsa.com.
• The Hex River Valley Autumn Splendour Festival runs from 23-28 May with a golf day, concerts and plenty of activities for the whole family. Tel 023-356-2041 or http://www.hexrivervalley.co.za.
• Knysna’s annual Pink Loerie Mardi Gras takes place from 25-28 May. It’s the Garden Route’s take on gay pride during which this lagoon town is painted pink. For details and to book pink accommodation, see http://www.pinkloerie.co.za.
• Prince Albert hosts its annual Olive Festival from 28-30 April; don’t miss the olive-oil tastings and the olive-bread and lamb-stuffing competitions. Tel 023-541-1366 or web http://www.patourism.co.za.
• Nelspruit in Mpumalanga hosts the Brondal Avo Festival on 19 May. Cell 083-507-8997.
• The Royal Show, Pietermaritzburg, 25 May to 3 June. Tel 033-345-6274 or http://www.royalshow.co.za.
• Bela-Bela Tourism Festival. Tel 014-736-3694 or http://www.belabelatourism.co.za.

June 2007
HOLIDAYS – SATURDAY 16 JUNE, YOUTH DAY
Getaway‘s choice – Hike the Fish River Canyon

June is the month for hiking, especially in places that get too sweltering in summer. Some of our favourite areas include the Fish River Canyon, Mana Pools, the bush (especially the Kruger Park trails) and the Wild Coast.

Don’t miss

• Africa’s premier big-wave spot, Dungeons (off Hout Bay), hosts the annual Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing event. There is a waiting period of three weeks, during which contestants prepare for the ‘perfect storm’. When the swell gets big enough (over five metres), head to the Sentinal to check out the action. http://www.redbull.co.za.
• The Wacky Wine Weekend takes place in Robertson from 1-3 June. This event spans the valley and includes 33 wineries from Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson, with a special focus on food and wine. Tel 023-626-3167 or http://www.robertsonwinevalley.com.
• Aimed at amateur golfers, the National Festival of Golf on the Garden Route is played on 12 different courses including Fancourt, Oubaai and Goose Valley. Enquire about packages to suit every budget. The festival takes place from 4-10 June. http://www.golffestival.co.za.
• Innibos in Nelspruit is Mpumalanga’s largest festival, complete with music concerts and dozens of theatre productions. It takes place from 27 June to 1 July. Tel 013-741-5294 or http://www.innibos.co.za.
• The National Arts Festival, South Africa’s premier cultural event, is held in Grahamstown from 28 June to 7 July. Tel 046-603-1103 or http://www.nafest.co.za.
• Stand by for the sardine run, ‘the greatest shoal on earth’. Hotline 082-284-9495.
• Napier hosts the Sweet Potato Festival on 16 June. Tel 028-424-2584.

July 2007
Getaway‘s choice – Mokoro the Okavango Delta

This is our wildlife month. South Africans traditionally hit the bush in midwinter when the weather is mild and game congregates at water holes. In the Lowveld the days are warm, the skies are porcelain blue and the grass turns blonde. In the Okavango Delta, the waters from Angola have arrived and filled the pans and channels. It’s time to hitch a ride in a mokoro and let your poler weave a path through this animal-rich waterland.

Where the east of South Africa is dry at this time of year, the west receives its winter rainfall. That means the rivers of the Western Cape are swollen for those who want to raft the Doring, canoe the Berg, bob down the Breede… or run the lower reaches of the Orange.

Don’t miss

• The East Coast Radio House and Garden Show, 29 June to 8 July. Tel 031-368-7630 or http://www.housegardenshow.co.za.
• The Annual Bushveld Festival takes place over the first weekend of July in Lephalale, Limpopo Province. There’s a market, entertainment, as well as displays by representatives of tourism destinations in the region. Tel 014-763-3003 or cell 073-256-5890.
• For a shucking good time head to the Garden Route for the Pick ‘n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival from 6-15 July. Tel 044-382-5510 or http://www.oysterfestival.co.za.
• If putting money on a pony is your thing, don’t miss the Durban July on the seventh. http://www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za.
• Calitzdorp Port Wine Festival, 20-21 July. Tel 044-213-3775.
• Raise the tricolour, don your red and blue berets and celebrate Bastille Day in Franschhoek with a food and wine fair in mid-July. Tel 021-876-3603.
• Potjie and Mampoer Festival, Stonehaven on Vaal. Tel 016-982-2951.
• The Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival takes place in Somerset East from 13-15 July. Tel 042-243-1333 or http://www.somerseteast.co.za.

August 2007
HOLIDAYS – THURSDAY 9 AUGUST, WOMEN’S DAY
Getaway‘s choice – Skiing at Tiffendel

August is green season in the Western Cape and yes, it’s rainy, and yes, it can be cold, but the whales are there, the fynbos is at its most comely and Table Mountain is in full viridian blush. Whale spotting can be good all around the coast, but the most popular place for land-based watching is Hermanus. In truth, everywhere from Betty’s Bay to Pearly Beach can be just as good and the sea off De Hoop Nature Reserve is often overrun with southern rights. Popular boat-based whale-watching outfits operate from Hermanus and Kleinbaai (contact Dyer Island Cruises, tel 028-384-0406 or web http://www.dyer-island-cruises.co.za).

For some, particularly on the KwaZulu-Natal coast and in landlocked places, it’s a windy month – time to head for the Hartebeespoort or Gariep dams, or Durban or Richards Bay, to hoist your spinnaker or mainsail.

For others, August is the time for chasing snow, whether it’s the Drakensberg or the Ceres mountains. Intrepid skiers and snowboarders make for out-of-the-way and little-known peaks for extreme snow. But for us ordinary folk, the pleasant slopes of Tiffindell, South Africa’s only ski resort, is a simpler and safer option. Tel 011-465-4370/1 or http://www.snow.co.za.

Don’t miss

• It’s the winter/spring cusp, so flowers are beginning to show their faces all over the Western Cape. Visit the Clanwilliam Wild Flower Show to see a concentration of some of the region’s riches. Tel 027-482-2024 or http://www.clanwilliam.info. While you’re in the area, why not pop in at the Hantam Meat Festival in Calvinia. Tel 027-341-1712.
• The ever-popular Getaway Show takes place at the Coca-Cola Dome in Randburg from 24-26 August. http://www.getawayshow.co.za.
• Don your walking shoes and take part in the Blisters for Bread Family Walk in aid of the Peninsula School Feeding Association. It takes place on the last Sunday of August in Cape Town. Tel 021-447-6020 or http://www.psfa.org.za.
• The Swazi Reed Dance attracts young maidens from every area of the kingdom. It provides the young women the chance to pay homage to the Queen Mother at her village, Ludzidzini. http://www.swazi.com.
• The legendary Oppikoppi Music Festival takes place in Pretoria from 9-11 August. http://www.oppikoppi.co.za.
• Whatever floats your boat. The Wesbank National Boat Show will be held at the Coca-Cola Dome in Joburg from 17-19 August. http://www.nationalboatshow.co.za.
• Stellenbosch Wine Festival, 2-5 August, tel 021-886-4310 or http://www.wineroute.co.za.

September 2007
HOLIDAYS – MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER, HERITAGE DAY
Getaway‘s choice – The flowers of Namaqualand

Spring is in the air, the flowers are out, cherries are red on the bough spring fever is everywhere and in full swing. September is about flowers in the Cape, and the synchronised blossoming of large tracts of semi-desert stretching all the way from the outskirts of Cape Town to the Orange River is one of the wonders of the region. The best way to get up-to-date information is to consult local tourism authorities in the areas you intend to travel and enquire about the best time and place for floral pyrotechnics.

If you’re heading into dark corners of Namaqualand, call the MTN Flower Line for tips on 083-910-1028. A great place to base yourself in the area is the Kamieskroon Hotel (tel 027-672-1614 or http://www.kamieskroonhotel.com).

Don’t miss

• The North West Cultural Calabash is a rural arts festival in North West Province and provides a creative outlet to upcoming local artists. It takes place in Taung over three days in late September. http://culturalcalabash.blogspot.com.
• Join the fishers of Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront for the annual spring blessing of the fishing fleet. Tel 021-408-7600 or web http://www.waterfront.co.za.
• The Whale Festival in Hermanus runs from 21-24 September. Come see the lobtailers, sailors and breachers. Tel 028-313-0928 or http://www.whalefestival.co.za.
• At WineX you can meet local and international wine makers, taste their current releases and learn about the latest trends in wine making. It’s held at the CTICC from 5-7 September. Tel 021-851-1563 or http://www.winex.co.za.
• Rugby World Cup: the South African campaign kicks off in Paris on the ninth. Drag on a Springbok jersey and find a television set.
• Aardklop National Arts Festival, 25-29 September, Potchefstroom. Tel 018-294-7509.
• The Aloe Festival in Albertinia takes place from 20-24 September. Tel 028-735-1000.
• The annual Kite Festival will be held in September in Muizenberg. Tel 021-447-9040 or e-mail pdalvie@telkomsa.net.
• Asparagus Festival, Fouriesburg. Tel 058-223-0280.

October 2007
HOLIDAYS – MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER, HERITAGE DAY
Getaway‘s choice – Mountain bike around Sabie Mpumulanga

The weather round most of South Africa is just perfect. ”Oktober is die mooiste, mooiste maand’ (‘October is the prettiest, prettiest month’) the saying goes. This is the time to ‘get down and dirty’ with fun, budget activities. The days are warm, summer is almost upon us and South Africans are heading outdoors. Ride off-road on your mountain bike, launch a kayak into the surf or spend your weekends camping in out-of-the-way places. Dip into the Getaway Adventure Guide to find out about adrenalin activities round the country, or log onto http://www.ndorfin.co.za/events.

Don’t miss

• WineX takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 23-26 October. Come and taste the best the country’s vintners have to offer.Tel 011-482 5936 or http://www.winex.co.za.
• The annual Overberg Photographic Workshop (24-28 October) coincides with the wheat harvest and captures the Overberg in one of its special moods. It’s hosted by Wicus Leeuwner in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus. Tel 023-625-1593 or http://www.agape.co.za/overberg.
• The South African Airways Cape Town Flower Show takes place on six hectares of land at Lourensford Estate, Somerset West. It will be held from 25-28 October. Tel 021-422-0390 or http://www.capetownflower.com.
• The UNICA Christmas Market, in aid of people with autism, will be hosted for the 21st consecutive year, with selected crafts from more than 200 exhibitors. It’s in late October at the LC de Villiers Sports Centre, Pretoria. Tel 012-460-6539 or e-mail autism@mweb.co.za.
• Rose Festival, Bloemfontein, from 20-21 October. Tel 051-444-6914.
• Karoo Food and Wine Festival, 25-29 September, Steytlerville. Tel 049-833-0024.
• Foot of Africa Marathon, 6 October, Bredasdorp. Tel 028-425-1087.
• Pretoria’s Jacaranda Festival takes place during the third week of October. To celebrate the blossoming trees, the citizens organise a fest, which includes food stalls, flea markets and a range of children’s activities.

November 2007
Getaway‘s choice – Tour the South coast

November is a great month to beat the crowds, especially for those without kids or who are retired. Given that every touristy spot in South Africa is about to be overrun for the summer season, now is the time to travel! So, hit the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast or Durbs or Cape Town and miss the madness.

Many shy away from the Western Cape at this time of early summer gales, but for kite- and windsurfers it’s a blessedly blustery period of howling cross-shore winds from Milnerton to Melkbos. Oh, and it’s also apricot season in the Boland.

Don’t miss

• Head to Franschhoek for the Bien Donn Expo: among the attractions are shooting and tractor competitions, as well as a market with buchu, olive oil, biltong, and a daily produce market with fresh farm vegetables. Tel 021-863-0397 or http://www.biendonne-expo.co.za.
• The Summer Good Food and Wine Show – featuring innovative kitchen gadgets, food and cocktails – takes place at Gallagher Estate in early November. Tel 011-791-2852 or http://www.gourmetsa.com.
• The Elgin Valley Market showcases an array of locally produced goods, including award-winning wines, fresh produce, preserves, olives and flowers. The markets will be held concurrently with both of the well-known Elgin Open Gardens weekends. These take place on the first two weekends of November at Applewood Preparatory School. Tel 021-859-1398.
• The annual Cradle Arts Festival features stalls with fine art, metalwork, knife makers, ceramics, jewellery, semi-precious stones and organic body products. It’s held in Muldersdrift in early November. Cell 084-341-2616 or e-mail sarah.hallett@ewx.co.za.
• The Strydom Gallery in George holds its 38th summer exhibition of prominent South African art, opening in late November and running until the end of January 2008. Tel 044-874-4027 or http://www.artaffair.co.za
• McGregor’s Apricot Festival is held on 24 November. Tel 023-625-1954 or http://www.tourismmcgregor.co.za.
• The Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge takes place in Johannesburg on the 18th. Tel 011-463-2743 or http://www.cyclechallenge.co.za.
• The Ficksburg Cherry Festival takes place in the second week of November. Tel 051-933-6486 or http://www.cherryfestival.co.za.
• The FNB Whisky Live Festival will be held from 31 October to 3 November at the CTICC and from 7-9 November at the Sandton Convention Centre. Tel 021-851-6285 or http://www.whiskylivefestival.co.za.
• Cape Times Big Walk, Cape Peninsula. Tel 021-685-3333 or http://www.bigwalk.co.za.

December 2007
HOLIDAYS – SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER, DAY OF RECONCILIATION; MONDAY 25 DECEMBER, CHRISTMAS DAY; TUESDAY 26 DECEMBER, BOXING DAY
Getaway‘s choice – Camp along the Wild Coast

It’s the time when upcountry folks pack their bags and head for the seashore. The most popular destination is the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and there are, consequently, 1?001 activities laid on for visitors. In addition there are summer beach festivals in places such as Durban, Margate and Scottburgh.

Other popular beach destinations are the North Coast, Eastern Cape, Garden Route and Cape Peninsula. Less overrun, and possibly more rewarding, are the Wild Coast and Cape West Coast, although the latter suffers badly from the southeaster at this time of year. To find out more about some of our favourite beaches round the country, look at our ’20 Best Beaches’ issue.

Don’t miss

• The Waka Waka Music Festival is held in Ladismith in the Little Karoo on the first weekend of December. Tel 028-551-1241 or e-mail wakawakamusic@gmail.com.
• The eighth annual Drakensberg Festive Celebration will take place in early December. At this small and intimate festival in the Champagne Valley, you’ll have the opportunity to hear and see the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir performing their Christmas repertoire. Tel 036-468-1012 or http://www.dbchoir.co.za.
• Mossel Bay’s Summer Sun Festival – featuring an array of entertainments for holidaymakers – is hosted throughout December by Diaz Strand Hotel and Entertainment Centre. http://www.diazbeach.co.za.
• Don your fancy-dress rags and boogie the night away at the annual Mother City Queer Project party, Cape Town. http://www.mcqp.co.za.
• The seventh Summer Beach Festival will be held on Durban’s North Beach during the last week of the month. http://www.durban.gov.za
• Margate Summer Festival. http://www.hibiscuscoast.co.za.