Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts

Friday, March 27, 2009

Soul Safari to Africa with Ainslie MacLeod: The Itinerary



Are you ready to take a once in this lifetime journey to South Africa where you will uncover the innermost secrets of your life's purpose and discover the spiritual pathway to Living the Life your Soul Intended?

Then, join author and psychic Ainslie MacLeod on an expedition to uncover your soul’s unique purpose in this life. On this 9-day Soul Safari, you’ll explore the mysteries of the life plan your soul created before you were even born, and learn to harness your own spirituality to create a happier and more fulfilling future—one of total self-acceptance and endless potential.


THE ITINERARY
Dates: October 19–27, 2009
9 days/8 nights
We carefully crafted the itinerary for our “Soul Safari with Ainslie MacLeod.” It consists of only 2 destinations; Madikwe and Cape Town, but don’t let its simplicity fool you. It is one powerful journey!

October 19 – 23 (1st 4 nights)
Destination: Madikwe
Accommodation: Madikwe Safari Lodge

Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe Game Reserve marks the ecological transition point from the Savannah to the Kalahari Desert. This diversity of ecological habitat results in a very broad base of animals. Home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant) game viewing is excellent. Professional and skilled rangers will deliver a world-class interpretive experience of the bush in 4X4 safari vehicles. Photographic opportunities of the reserve’s fauna, flora and topography are excellent.

The reserve was proclaimed in August 1991 and is currently one of South Africa's largest game reserves and best-kept secrets. This reserve has the distinction of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be established purely because it was the most appropriate and sustainable land use for the area. The reserve consists of vast plains of open woodlands and grasslands, dissected and bordered by rugged mountain ranges and rocky hills. The re-stocking of Madikwe with animals indigenous to the area began in mid-1991. Since then, more than 8,000 animals of 28 species have been introduced in the largest game translocation exercise in the world at that time.

Madikwe Safari Lodge
Madikwe Safari Lodge offers nothing short of luxurious hospitality and spectacular wildlife encounters in a malaria-free environment. The camp has a total of 20 suites with no luxury forgotten. Guests will enjoy the large bedroom area, their own private plunge pool, circular fireplace, spacious dressing area, personal bar, and private bathroom with a choice of indoor or outdoor shower.



October 23– 27 (2nd 4 nights)

Destination: Cape Town
Accommodation: 12 Apostles

Cape Town

The "Mother City" was the first South African port established by European settlers in the 16th century. Cape Town is the cultural and creative epicenter of South Africa, with more artists, designers and poets choosing the melting-pot palette of people and natural beauty of Cape Town as their inspirational home.

Visitors to Cape Town can explore the dichotomy of a less-than-perfect past with a present and future full of possibility – a discourse that many creative people can fully engage with and which visitors will instinctively relate to.

From the curated exploration of cultural, historical and social issues by Iziko Museums to the exhibition of musical street life in the Mother City’s townships, Cape Town has a strong creative economy and a treasure chest of talent of music, dance, theatre, poetry, fashion, art, culinary skill and design.

Cape Point and Boulders Beach
One of the most popular tours which offers a spectacular coastal journey through to Cape Point – the romantic meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This area along the Peninsula boasts some of the most breathtaking and unique scenery in the world. It combines a fascinating collage of beaches, mountain ranges and wildlife.

Boulders Beach and the Penguin Colony
Boulders beach is an idyllic beach located close to Simonstown heading towards Cape Point. This unique beach is perhaps more popular due to its inhabitants, a colony of some 3000 African Jackass penguins. It is said a pair of the penguins first settled in 1982 and the colony has steadily grown ever since.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is well known around the world for the diversity of indigenous plants cultivated there and the scenic mountain setting. Half of South Africa's species of flowering plants are cultivated, including about 9000 varieties of indigenous plants unique to the Cape South Africa - locally known as Cape 'fynbos'. There are also many specimens of rare and endangered plants on display.

Cape Town City and Table Mountain

Take a step back in time and join us on an exploration of the “Mother City” – its views, its history and its people.

Table Mountain
The ancient Table Mountain often draped in swirling cloud and flanked by its attendants Devil's Peak and Lion's Head, forms an impressive backdrop to the sprawling city of Cape Town and is a well known subject for many postcards and photographs. It stands at the head of a chain of mountains forming the Cape Peninsula National Park which follow the line of the Peninsula to Cape Point.

Daily Activities
Table Mountain October 19 – arrival, afternoon game drive, lunch and dinner at Madikwe Safari Lodge, evening workshop with Ainslie MacLeod

October 20, 21 and 22 - morning game drive, full English breakfast, mid-day, 3 hour workshop with Ainslie MacLeod, tea, afternoon game drive, lunch and dinner at Madikwe Safari Lodge

October 23 – breakfast, morning game drive, check out of Madikwe, charter flight to Johannesburg (50 min), domestic flight to Cape Town (90 min) transfer to 12 Apostles Hotel in Cape Town, assignment of new rooms, Dinner with Ainslie MacLeod at 12 Apostles

October 24 – breakfast, full day, private guide wine tasting tour with lunch at Grande Provence and dinner at Africa Café. Evening workshop with Ainslie MacLeod.

October 25 – breakfast, full day, private guide tour of Cape Point, Hout Bay, Simons Town, Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach with lunch at Black Marlin and dinner at Five Flies.

October 26 - Cape Town City Tour and Table Mountain, lunch will be at a restaurant of your choosing, dinner will be an Andulela cooking experience.

October 27 –breakfast, transfer to airport.

THE COST:
ITINERARY COST: $7,497pp
(Per Person Cost is based upon 2 people sharing – we will assign room mates for those traveling alone)

Includes: -
• Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival at JNB
• Charter flight from Johannesburg Airport to Madikwe Game Reserve
• 4 nights all inclusive accommodation at Madikwe Safari Lodge, South Africa
• Charter flight from Madikwe Game Reserve to Johannesburg
• Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival at Cape Town and transfer to hotel
• 4 nights B&B accommodation at 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa, Cape Town, South Africa
• Lunch and Dinner at Select restaurants per the itinerary on Oct 24 and 25
• Full day, private guided tour of Cape Winelands on Oct 24
• Full day, private guided tour of Cape Point on Oct 25
• Half day, private guided tour of Cape Town city on Oct 26
• Andulela Cooking experience on Oct 26
• Road transfer from 12 Apostles to Cape Town Airport for return flight

Excludes: -
• International Flights: USA to JNB, round-trip, to arrive JNB by 10AM on October 19, 2009 and depart Cape Town on October 27, 2009
• Domestic Flight: JOHANNESBURG to CAPE TOWN, to depart JNB no earlier than 3PM on October 23
• The following meals are not included: Dinner on Oct 23, Lunch on Oct 26, Lunch on Oct 27
• Gratuities
• Items of a Personal Nature

What are you waiting for? We can't wait to show you the Magic of Africa and help you Live the Life Your Soul Intended.

Click here to book your Soul Safari to Africa with Ainslie MacLeod.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Life is perfect on the Garden Route's Beaches



Home to stunning backdrops, sprawling white beaches, and magnificent wildlife, the Garden Route in South Africa is one of the most celebrated vacation destinations in the world. The year-round beauty and ideal climate offer locals and visitors alike, the opportunity to relax on the Garden Route’s many beaches under the African sun.

The pristine, white coastline of the Garden Route is accented perfectly by a mountainous and lush green backdrop. With sheer beauty and tranquility surrounding the area, it’s no wonder the Garden Route is one of the most world-renowned beach destinations.

The variety of Garden Route beaches to choose from may be a difficult task, but whichever beach visitors choose, they’ll never be disappointed. Each beach is a haven for a wide spectrum of outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you enjoy breathing in the ocean’s salty sea breeze, whale watching, diving, water sports, basking in the sun, or photography, you’ll love the golden beaches of the Garden Route.

Choose from:

Mossel Bay

Bordering the Indian Ocean, this seaside delight is rich with culture, adventure, luxurious restaurants, high-end accommodations, museums, and so much more. When the beach gets too hot, take the whole family on a whale watching tour, to the Shell Museum and Aquarium, or to the Maritime Museum. With so much to do you’ll never want to leave.

Plettenberg Bay

Enveloped by the jagged Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains, Plettenberg Bay is an excellent place to hike extraordinary mountains and witness unbelievable landscapes. Relaxing at a nearby café or high-end restaurant is a great way to cool off and spend time reminiscing about the day with family. For a little more adventure, enjoy a one-of-a-kind whale watching excursion for a break from the beach.


The Wildern
ess Beach

If you’re looking for a beach backdrop with rugged terrain, serrated mountains, and frothy, crashing waves, Wilderness Beach is the place to go. Also excellent for sunbathing and relaxing, this beach uniquely combines excitement and tranquility.

Port Elizabeth

Famous for its sea port, beaches, and fantastic climate, Port Elizabeth is one of the top vacation spots in Africa. The year-round breeze and the warm waters of the Algoa Bay, make Port Elizabeth the ideal location for sailing, windsurfing, and swimming. When it’s time to take a break from the beach, the city offers great shopping, a variety of eateries, historic sites, and much more.

Let Hills of Africa Travel take you to a land where outstanding beauty is met by sheer adventure. Contact us today at (877) 845-4802 or visit our website at www.hillsofafrica.com to learn more about our African family safari and honeymoon safari ) itineraries .

Isn’t it time you took your trip of a lifetime?

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Hills of Africa Travel is so proud of our new consultants

Hills of Africa Travel is so pleased to announce that we have two new consultants. Actually one new and one we've never wanted to share with you because she's so brilliant.

Michelle Potuzak joined Hills of Africa Travel in January 2008. We absolutely love her and we haven't told you about her because we didn't want to share our secret. But she's too wonderful not to share. Michelle is so excited to be sharing her love of animals, safari, Cape Town and Africa with you.


We have just added Marcia Sandry to our growing company and we are so excited that she's decided to come work with us. Marcia is so looking forward to sharing the Magic of Africa with you.

So come visit us at Hills of Africa Travel and we look forward to giving you an Africa trip of a lifetime. We can't wait for you to Live the Magic of Africa.

Monday, December 1, 2008

A warm thank you from Hills of Africa Travel - we love you!



We want to thank all of our fabulous clients for all your wonderful testimonials over the past few months, we are so grateful to you for traveling with us and we thank you for allowing us to give you the trip of a life time. A very special thank you to all you travel agents that amaze us with your requests, we are honored to help you with your VIP clients.

Here are just a few of our recent client testimonials:

Sandy - just to let you know that our trip was fabulous. Thank you. Beth Rosener, CA

Hey, Sandy! Wow...what an amazing trip I had! I loved every minute of it! I can see how people get addicted to Africa!!! I think you will be hearing from me again really soon!!! Thanks so much for all of your help!!! Kim Baumbach, NY

WOW! You girls put together an AMAZING itinerary for our trip to South Africa! Needless to say, we will insist that all of our friends planning trips to South Africa and the future winners of our charity auction safari use your services before traveling. My husband was less than thrilled about the prospect of traveling to South Africa. In the weeks leading up to our trip, I repeatedly overheard him telling people where we going, followed by the comment "Mary has always wanted to go..." Well, upon boarding the plane home, he told me that it was the most fantastic trip we had ever taken. Considering that we've been traveling together for 21 of our 41 years-that's HUGE! I cannot thank you enough for the arrangements you made. The itinerary gave us such a wonderful perspective of the different landscapes, cultures, cuisine, wine and people of South Africa. Your choice of lodging was impeccable. Each one outdid the previous one. Thank you for all your help and suggestions. Thanks to you, we truly had a trip of a lifetime! Mary Macchiaroli, FL

Call Hills of Africa Travel to "Live the Magic of Africa" and we promise a trip of a lifetime.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Day 4 of Hills of Africa FAM to South Africa


Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!! Long drive today as we headed to the area of Knysna. We piled into the van but refrained from sing alongs. En route, we stopped at the little town of Swellendam, the third oldest town in all of South Africa, for a tour of a local museum, their gardens and lunch at a local restaurant. It was delicious.

Back in the van for more driving. We eventually arrived at Lairds Lodge about 5:30pm....just in time for cocktails! Another stunning place. A picture perfect version of Cape Dutch architecture. Many of us wished we could carbon copy the decor and bring it back home for us. Dinner began with a cooking demonstration by their head chef, Bee Bee. We learned that Bee Bee began with Lairds Lodge as a gardener but the owner recognized a drive to work hard and a passion for cooking. The dinner again was delicious and we rolled into bed.

Book your travel through Hills of Africa Travel and we will make sure that you have a trip of a lifetime.