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A Cheap Vacation Destination in Stann Creek Belize

Monday Jun 30, 2008

Looking for an affordable destination close to the Barrier reef in Belize with comfortable accommodation, good food, and not too far away from the mainland, then check out Thatch Caye Resort.

With only eleven rooms, and an average year round cost of slightly over USD200, Thatch Caye Resort will give you not only an affordable vacation, but it is also a cheap vacation destination bearing in mind what you will get for your money. Thatch Caye is an island complex within the protected South Water Marine Reserve in the Coco Plum Range of Islands. It is renowned not only as a top resort for scuba diving in Belize, but also as a great place for fly fishing in Belize.

You will be one of a maximum of 22 guests accommodated in 11 beautifully positioned villas, some of which have lovely ocean views. There are 4 Casitas, which are single storey up on stilts, with a sundeck on the roof, complete with hammocks to catch the cooling breeze and allow you to enjoy the spectacular views. With the breeze you won’t need air conditioning, although there are ceiling fans, and the casitas which are very private could be perfect for a honeymoon in Belize, complete with king size beds, hot shower, and very comfortable indeed.

Then there are the Cabanas situated over the water, each cabana having two accommodation units. They have thatch roofs, tiled floors, spacious baths, and Queen size beds, and again are cooled by the prevailing breeze, and ceiling fans

The heart of the resort is Thatch Central where reception, and the dining room is found, and one of the two bars, the outdoor Wave Bar also has a thatched roof shelter and glorious local hardwoods.

This is a very nice resort and Thatch Caye Resort in fact may be an affordable vacation spot because of the reasonable price, but it is light years away from being what you think a cheap vacation destination would be like. It might be cheap, in other words not expensive, but a long way from being cheap as in nasty.

The comments made by guests over the past weeks and months are indicative of how highly Thatch Caye Resort is rated.

It is not rare to hear this affordable vacation spot described as “Heaven on Earth”, and words like “Wonderful Hospitality”, and “Magnificent Hospitality”, give you more than a clue as to how good the staff are at what they do for you here. Often heard are descriptions like “A Wonderful Place”, “Beautiful Surroundings”, “Paradise found”, which has to tell you something.

It is very rare to hear a bad word said about Thatch Caye Resort, and in fact there is a definite feeling that guests are quite anxious to keep what has been described as “An Undiscovered Gem”, exactly that, and frankly who can blame them.

As a base for Scuba Diving in Belize Thatch Caye Resort is hard to beat, and descriptions like “The healthiest and most pristine reef “, should inspire divers to book this cheap vacation destination for that reason alone.

“ I cannot praise the staff of Thatch Caye Resort enough”, makes very reassuring reading, plus “We felt so well taken care of”, sums it all up.

“The fly fishing was incredible”, is a box ticked for those who want to go fly fishing in Belize for their vacation.

As can be easily understood the comment “An Unbelievable honeymoon”, adds weight to the argument that there are few better spots than Thatch Caye Resort for a honeymoon in Belize.

All round, this is a resort that puts the lie to the expression cheap vacation destination, instead use affordable vacation, and what a vacation the Thatch Caye Resort will give you near Dangriga, Stann Creek, in Belize.

Jim Brown recently began developing Belize Vacation Spots as well as contributing several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends Caribbean Vacation Spots but given a choice he would choose Belize before anywhere else Please visit our other web.


A Belize Honeymoon on Turneffe Atoll

Monday Jun 30, 2008

If you are looking for a vacation that isn’t average, but is much more an adventure, then check out Blackbird Caye Resort on Turneffe Atoll

The perfect spot for a honeymoon in Belize is 32 miles offshore on Turneffe Atoll, reached after a spectacular transfer by boat from Belize City. It takes just over an hour, past coconut covered sand and mangrove islands, to the Belize Barrier Reef, and then the eastern side of Turneffe Atoll, and here you will find Blackbird Caye Resort.

Blackbird Caye Resort is on two miles of jungle and beach, dominated by hundreds of coconut trees, sitting in 166 acres, and is a small resort, with accommodation for only 36 guests based on double occupancy. All of the accommodation is air conditioned, and is divided into Standard cabanas with are oceanfront, Deluxe cabanas which are newer and more spacious with a living room. Then there is The Triplex with three private rooms and is perfect for a family group as is The Duplex which also faces the Caribbean.

There are two docks sticking out into the clear turquoise Caribbean, the southern dock is for relaxation, swimming, drinking, and stargazing. The main dock is where you board for scuba diving, fishing and leisure trips, and it is here you will find the Dive Shop.

The dining area is in front of the main dock and there is a huge palapa style restaurant and lounge area. The food is always fresh, with breakfast and lunch buffet style, afternoon snacks are served here, and dinner is served at the table with meat, fish, and chicken choices. There really is something for everyone here, and that isn’t only food but also activities.

Blackbird Caye Resort is a world class Belize Dive Resort, with over 70 dive sites near the Caye, and accessible in a little over ten minutes. There are dive packages offering in some instances three tanks a day.

Turneffe Atoll is known all over the world for its flats fishing, but outside the reef there is also some great fishing.

There is snorkelling and kayaking for the non fishermen, non scuba fanatics, or just relaxing in a hammock with a good book and a cool drink

The comments made by guests are always significant, and words like “Blackbird Caye Resort was the perfect Belize Honeymoon Retreat”. An experienced and well traveled diver remarked that “Blackbird Caye Resort was a top Belize Dive resort”. “Two Weeks in Paradise”, and “Never felt more welcome or appreciated in a resort”, is a very strong recommendation. “A Fantastic Family resort”, was a remark that should suggest that this isn’t just for honeymooners and divers. This alongside the follow up comment “The food is delicious and satisfied both adults and children alike”, gives even more reassurance. Finally “ I am very into fishing and Blackbird Caye Resort accommodated me very well in this respect”.

Blackbird Caye Resort really has something for everyone, families, a Belize Honeymoon, as a Belize Dive resort, or Belize Fishing. Turneffe Atoll provides it all. As a last word, the quality and service of the staff is absolutely superb, so check out Blackbird Caye Resort before you choose anywhere else in the Caribbean.

Jim Brown recently began developing Belize” title=”brhttp://www.belize-vacationspots.com/articles/18/1/A-Belize-Honeymoon-on-Turneffe-Atoll/Page1.html\”>Belize” class=”autohyperlink” target=”_blank”>www.belize-vacationspots.com/articles/18/1/A-Belize-Honeymoon-on-Turneffe-Atoll/Page1.html”>Belize Vacation Spots as well as contributing several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends Caribbean Vacation Spots but given a choice he would choose Belize before anywhere else


Is There a Simple Solution to the Problem of Why God Allows Evil to Occur?

Monday Jun 30, 2008

One of the most difficult questions for priests, ministers, and theologians to answer is – Why does a kind, compassionate, personal God that answers prayers and looks out for our personal welfare, allow so much evil to occur in the world? This is often called “the problem of evil.” As far back as the fourth century BCE, philosophers such as Epicurus have addressed this question. Epicurus pointed out that it was hard to get God off the hook. He wrote, “Either God wants to abolish evil and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot he is impotent. If he can but does not want to, he is wicked.”

One of the oldest methods to answer this dilemma was proposed several thousand years ago by the Gnostics, a group of quasi-Christian mystics. To them there was no problem because they viewed God as so inherently evil that he would have no interest in preventing evil. They called this demonic God the Demiurge, taken from a term Plato used to denote the creator of the base world. The Demiurge was the God that interacted with man. The real God or “true Father” represented the less flawed world and could not be held responsible for the actions of the Demiurge.

The deists propose a solution that still leaves God blameless but is less harsh. They propose that God did indeed create the early universe but when this job was completed he was no longer involved. This approach has the advantage that it allows those who believe in this type of God to also believe in Darwinian evolution as the mechanism by which all life including man himself was created. This is far more satisfactory to the rational brain than the proposals of the young earth creationists who believe the Bible is literally true and that the world is less than 6,000 years old, and that Darwinism is baloney.

The deist solution is also not very satisfactory to the majority of people in the world who believe in a personal God that guided the evolution of man and watches over us on a minute-to-minute basis. These are called theists and they have proposed a number of solutions to the “problem of evil.”

The most popular is that God endowed man with free will. This relieved God from the onerous duty of being responsible for all the minute detailed decisions that billions of humans make everyday. God could not be responsible if it was a person’s individual decision to do evil things. This, however, did not explain the evil done by nature in the form of hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Some have suggested that nature also has its own free will.

Another creative answer to the problem of evil is the yin and yang solution. This says we cannot have good in the world if the opposite, evil, is not around to compare it to. We cannot have hot without cold, love without hate, or good without evil. Another explanation is that evil is part of God’s mysterious plan. This is especially evoked when a child dies or is killed. Somehow the pain is supposed to be lessened if this event is all part of God’s mysterious plan. A further solution, popular with several fundamentalist religions is that “people get what they deserve.” This was especially popular during the 2004 tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people in the orient. Some ministers proclaimed that was God’s pay back for abortions, liberal sex, homosexuality, failure to pray to God in public school, and many other supposed transgressions against God’s laws. The problem is, none of these answers is truly satisfying if your child is killed, your spouse dies at a young age, or thousands or even millions of people are killed in natural disasters, purges, genocides, wars, epidemics or other horrors humans have been subjected to.

There is however, one simple solution to the problem of evil, one simple answer, one explanation that does not require any circuitous stretches of logic. That is a simple reversal of the assumption made by most people that God created man – to man created God. This proposes that man created the theory of a personal God who created the world, who answers prayers, and who attends to our minute-by-minute needs. In pre-modern times this theory was the best possible solution for the unknown questions – Where did we come from? Where are we going? When I die am I gone forever? Is there life after death? In modern times with remarkable advances in biology, physics, and the neurosciences, these questions now have answers that do not require the ancient theory that we have a personal God. This takes God out of the issue entirely. The most simple and satisfactory answer to the “problem of evil” is to realize that man created God.

David E. Comings, M.D., author of Did Man Create God? is a world renown physician, human geneticist, and neuroscientist, past president of the American Society of Human Genetics and head of the Department of Medical Genetics at the City of Hope National Medical Center for 37 years. See Did Man Create God.


Belize Has a Top Exclusive All Inclusive Caribbean Resort

Monday Jun 30, 2008

If you want a top exclusive all inclusive Belize resort, then a few miles offshore you will find St. George’s Caye Resort, which needs checking out before you book anywhere else

An exclusive resort sitting on a very private island, just twenty minutes away from the mainland of Belize sounds more than perfect. The island is called St George’s Caye and it is home to the terrific All Inclusive St. George’s Caye Resort.

St George’s Caye is the closest inhabited island to mainland Belize it is far enough away to give you, as a guest, all the seclusion you want.

To describe St George’s Caye as a combination of beautiful palm trees, shimmering white sand that almost hurts you eyes to look at, beautiful orchids, and backed by the incredible turquoise Caribbean. Words cannot hope to do it justice, but when you add in the tranquility, and the completely relaxed yet exclusive atmosphere, you still can’t do St. George’s Caye Resort justice.

Like an exclusive resort should be, whether it is a Caribbean Exclusive resort or anywhere else you look for great service, and that is exactly what you get at St. George’s Caye Resort. You will be made to feel like royalty such is the quality of the service, and trying to mark it out of 10 would mean 10+ without any question of doubts at all.

Whilst the all inclusive option does include three gourmet meals every day, plus coffee and fresh juice delivered to your door, evening appetizers, and unlimited use of Hobie Cats, windsurfers, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, plus wireless internet service it does not include bar drinks or in room minibar.

The all inclusive meal plan gives you three splendid meals every day, eaten family style so you get to know the few other guests there are at St. George’s Caye Resort. The meals are of uniformly high quality with lots to choose from, but if you are a bit picky then that is taken care of without fuss. What you will discover is that they make the best fruit juices you can imagine

St George’s Caye is quite narrow and long, and you have the lagoon view cabanas on one side, and the ocean view on the other, and it only takes two minutes to get from one side to the other. The lagoon side has the amazing sunsets, and the view of a tiny island with a very attractive house standing alone, plus views of the mangroves. The ocean side watches the sun come up in all its splendour, and it’s here you have the beach, the pier, the coconut palms, and the thatched sunshades on the beach. The thing to do is to get up early and grab a hammock, and watch the sunset with the coffee that arrives at your door every morning.

Unfortunately whilst the beach looks good it isn’t great for swimming, so the hotel organizes trips to a sandbar, so the guests can swim there.

The accommodation choices are either Oceanfront Cabanas, Lagoon Cabanas, Garden Cabanas, or Resort Rooms, and Resort Reef Rooms which are in the main resort where you take meals. As a preference for privacy the 4 Oceanfront Cabanas, or the 2 Garden Cabanas would be best because the Lagoon Cabanas sit in a semi circle on the decking over the water. They have all been refurbished and are well equipped.

If swimming off the beach is important to you then St. George’s Caye Resort may not be to your liking, but for scuba divers this place is a good choice. If you want service then you will soon discover why this place is a top exclusive Caribbean Resort.

Jim Brown recently began developing Belize Vacation Spots as well as contributing several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends Caribbean Vacation Spots but given a choice he would choose Belize before anywhere else


7 Tips and Steps to Learn How to Care For a New Tattoo

Monday Jun 30, 2008

One of the first things you should know when getting a tattoo is how to take care of a new tattoo. Lucky for me I had a really good tattoo artist doing my tattoos if not I probably would have messed things up quite a bit and that would have been an unpleasant experience.

On one of my first pieces I used way too much ointment and drew a lot of the ink out of the new tattoo. I had to go in for some touch up work and go through the pain, again.

Any reliable tattoo shop and their artists will give you instructions on tattoo after care. Be sure you follow them properly. You really would not want to go through all that pain and then have something go wrong. Most artists will do touch up work for you, but it is certainly unnecessary pain.

Here are some tips and steps for how to care for a new tattoo

Keep the bandage over the new tattoo for several hours. After that remove the bandage covering the tattoo and do not re-bandage it. This allows the air to dry it and start the healing process.

Wash the new tattoo gently with an antibacterial soap. Do not scrub or use too much pressure. Make sure to rinse the area of any blood, bodily fluids, and soap. Do this every couple hours until the oozing stops.

After washing your new tattoo, apply a healing ointment to the area. Vitamin D ointment is highly recommended. Just don’t put too much. You’ll want to do this several times a day.

In addition to the ointment, or after several days of using just the ointment, begin moisturizing the tattooed area several times a day. Make sure to use an unscented and alcohol free moisturizer. This will help with the itching as the tattoo heals.

Avoid long baths, hot tubs, pools or any other prolonged exposure to water. Showers are fine, but again do not scrub the area vigorously or keep it soaking in water. If the tattoo is on your hand or wrist, avoid washing dishes for a prolonged period (lucky you!)

Avoid the sun. The sun can always do damage to your new tattoo, but especially so when your new tattoo is still healing. You do not want to dry out the healing tattoo area and definitely don’t want to get a sunburn. Always make sure to use a generous amount of sun block on your tattoo or your tattoo will fade.

Never pick or scratch the tattooed area, even (and especially) if it scabs up or some skin peels away. Allow the tattoo to fully heal on its own.

In general, use common sense when taking care of your new tattoo. Treat your tattoo like you would most other open wounds on your body. Wash it, moisturize it, keep it clean and avoid exposure to water and sunlight. Follow the above tips and you and your tattoo will end up well preserved, perfectly healed and you will be perfectly healthy.

Omar Reyes is a tattoo enthusiast who loves to write about tattoos and tattooing in general. You can read more at Tattoo Care for your Tattoo Designs


A Wonderful Belize Vacation on Turneffe Atoll

Monday Jun 30, 2008

Looking for Scuba Diving in Belize or just a Caribbean Island Getaway, then check out Turneffe Island Lodge.

This Caribbean Island Getaway on the Outer Cayes and Atolls of Belize if you are looking for a scuba diving resort, or just a great vacation getaway then Turneffe Island Lodge would seem to be a definite possibility for you.

Turneffe Island Lodge is about 30 miles off the coast of Belize at the very southern tip of the Turneffe Atoll, right in the middle of the largest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere.

It is a 14 acre private Caribbean Island and is a real scuba diving resort, with 70 dive sites within a mile or so of the resort, it is probably amongst the really great diving resorts in the world.

This isn’t to forget that Turneffe Island Lodge is also just a great vacation getaway, a real Caribbean Island getaway for people who don’t dive but want an idyllic island, with more than a little similarity to a Maldivian island when you look at some of the photographs. A great place to relax, and it is also a great Belize fishing resort, and is renowned for flats fishing including Permit, Tarpon, and Bonefish, and if this is something you haven’t tried then Turneffe Island Lodge could be a good place to start.

To look at more detail about your potential Caribbean Island Getaway it is fair to say that Turneffe Island Lodge is exclusive, and peaceful. There are no televisions, radios, computers, internet, or wi-fi in any of the 20 modern recently renovated rooms. They all have mahogany wall panelling and flooring, air conditioning, ceiling fans, private decks although porches would be a better description, indoor and outdoor showers. There are 8 ground floor deluxe rooms, 4 first floor superior rooms, and 8 detached cabanas.

At an average year round price of USD290 which includes the accommodation, airport and boat transfers, all meals, morning coffee, left outside your bedroom on the deck, evening appetisers, lemonade, water, ice tea drinks, with gratuities and tax extra, and alcoholic bar drinks are not included.

If you don’t dive or fish, then your tropical island vacation can be one of utter relaxation in a hammock with a good book, enjoying the peace and quiet, and the lovely white sand beaches, and the warm blue Caribbean sea. You could be more energetic and paddle a kayak, or sail a Hobie cat around the island, or better still go snorkeling and see a myriad of multi coloured fish. The choice is yours, but energetic or not, the sunrises and sunsets are something to behold.

If you have taken this Private Caribbean Island getaway specifically to dive, then you are in for a major treat, because not only will you get some of the very best scuba diving in Belize, you will get a diving experience that is safe, great fun, and totally memorable. You’ll get to dive the famous Blue Hole, plus night dives, and you can expect to get 15 dives in a seven night package, with pre arrival questionnaires to ensure you get what you want.

Turneffe Island Lodge is a real luxury hands off tropical island getaway, with luxurious touches. You won’t touch your bags from start to finish, and your every whim will be attended to. You’ll love the food, especially if you are a seafood aficionado. The meals are taken family style with shared tables, but as most of the guests are of the same mind as you about vacations so you will find much in common, although Turneffe Island Lodge is probably not for small children who could get bored. A small point is that the island is almost bug free which is unusual for Belize!!

Turneffe Island Lodge is an incredible private island Caribbean tropical getaway. It may not be for you if you don’t dive, but a week of being spoiled here will really recharge your batteries.

Jim Brown recently began developing Belize Vacation Spots as well as contributing several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends Caribbean Vacation Spots but given a choice he would choose Belize before anywhere else


An Eco Resort on South Water Caye Belize

Monday Jun 30, 2008

A Belize Family Vacation is very popular in this day and age, but most people who look for a beachfront location end up on Ambergris Caye, which is becoming more and more developed. A Belize Island more accurately referred to as a Caye, that is worth a good look at is South Water Caye, and especially Pelicans Pouch South Water Caye, which is an Eco resort, and a great place for a Belize Family Vacation.

Pelicans Pouch South Water Caye has only twelve rooms, and whilst the accommodation is a little basic with solar powered lighting and showers, they subdivide into cottages or rooms, each of the cottages with two bedroom units which can be individually occupied. The 8 cottage rooms have private entrances, one Queen Size bed, and a twin or double bed. They all have environmentally friendly technology for not only the power, but also water and garbage disposal.

How this works is the water supply is from stored rainwater, then pumped under pressure, so following the instructions to Rinse-Get Soapy, then Rinse is important, turning off the water in between each stage. Sunshine charges photoelectric cells and the charged batteries are used for lighting refrigerators and fans. You won’t find any plugs in the rooms be warned.

There is a state of the art waste disposal, composting toilets, to minimize the use of water, and are simple to use. If you want long haul travel but are keen on preserving our environment, and want to have a Belize Family Holiday nevertheless, then Pelicans Pouch South Water Caye ticks the right boxes.

The main lodge called Pelicans Pouch has five large guest rooms on the second floor. These are best suited to a family group as they are a little less private than the cottages.

The food at Pelicans Pouch South Water Caye is great for a hungry family, an important consideration on any family vacation destination, and despite the fact that this remote tropical island getaway has to have everything brought in, the food is all freshly prepared and very tasty indeed.

Meals are served on the main sundeck, under large umbrellas, and there are menus telling you what to expect. You will get a lot of local Belize style dishes, lots of seafood, local fruits and vegetables, and all the time free cold water, fruit juices, iced tea, coffee and light snacks are available. Although you pay at the bar for your alcoholic drinks, it’s best to have a tab and pay at the end.

Daily family activities are as active or as leisurely as you want them to be. Whilst parents can lounge in hammocks all day if they want or get up at six in the morning to go fishing. Snorkeling off the beach is a great attraction after breakfast which is served from seven. You can take out the kayaks, and explore the island’s surrounds, go birdwatching.

Dinner is by candlelight, and then one of the great attractions for a family vacation is to settle down to an evening cards, board games, and pool. It is so nice to have family time together, undisturbed by electronic games.

Pelicans Pouch South Water Caye is quite basic, but probably right for a Belize Family Vacation, if your children are happy with water based activities such as fishing and snorkeling. South Water Caye provides a complete Caribbean Island getaway, and if eco friendly is important to you, then this could be an affordable vacation in something close to paradise.

Jim Brown recently began developing Belize Vacation Spots as well as contributing several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends Caribbean Vacation Spots but given a choice he would choose Belize before anywhere else


Beautiful Belize is Calling You

Monday Jun 30, 2008

Come experience Belize by the sea and take a trip that you will remember for a lifetime.

Dive the second largest barrier reef. Swim with sharks and sting rays and pet them if you dare. Visit ancient Mayan temples. Tour the jaguar reserve up in the Maya Mountains. Travel down a river, through dark caves on an inflatable tube.

These are just a few of the exciting adventures that await you in Belize.

Belize is a tiny English speaking country in Central America. It is located just south of Mexico, east of Guatemala, and its entire coast is bordered by the Caribbean Sea. With all its natural beauty, diverse cultures, and warm, friendly people Belize is truly a hidden gem in the Caribbean. Many people consider it the “Jewel of the Caribbean”.

No matter what type of adventure you are looking for I am sure you will find it there.

You can visit one of the larger islands for a day trip, or you can stay there for your entire vacation. It is entirely up to you. Once there, you can plan a dive trip to the barrier reef or one of the many other world class dive sites in Belize and see some truly amazing underwater scenery.

If you are a passionate scuba diver then you must visit the Great Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef. It is one of the most astonishing dive sites in the world. At the center of the reef is an almost perfect circle one quarter of a mile wide. The blue hole descends to a depth of 480 feet (145 m).

If you love fishing then charter a boat to take you deep sea fishing beyond the reef. Do you like fly fishing? Plan a day trip to go salt water fly fishing for bonefish in one of the flats.

Are you a fan of history? Then visit one of the many ancient Mayan sites located throughout the country. Or visit one of the museums rich with Belizean history and artifacts. Each one has something special to offer.

Experience the wild side of Belize by visiting the Belize Zoo. All the animals are native to Belize and they are housed in enclosures that are designed to represent their natural habitat. There is also an abundance of plants and trees to see at the zoo. It is a must stop on your visit to Belize. Don’t forget to stop in their gift shop on your way out. They have a very nice selection of souvenirs.

You can plan a tour to the Baboon Sanctuary and see the howler monkeys. Visit the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and see countless species of birds and plants. Take a tour down a river and look for crocodiles and manatees.

The Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve is located at the foothills of the Maya Mountains. Take a hike with your guide and maybe you will get lucky and spot a jaguar in the jungle.

There is no lack of adventure in Belize. Come discover Belize. Explore all its natural wonder. Read more at http://www.belize-vacation-real-estate.com

Omar Reyes loves to write about traveling adventures and other topics of interest. Read more at Belize Vacation Real Estate.


Exploring Wilderness Trails

Monday Jun 30, 2008

Exploring wilderness trails along the Western Cape provides visitors with the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime adventure. The wilderness trails are located within the boundaries of the Kruger National Park. Visitors are provided with the opportunity to experience the unique nature features of the area up close and personal for three days, on foot. The tour is designed for groups that include up to eight people. During the tour, guests will traverse the trails under the expert guidance of armed rangers.

A base camp provides overnight accommodations, complete with rustic huts to provide guests with a complete cultural experience during their tour. Daytime hours are filled with hiking opportunities, some of which cover up to 20 km distances on foot. Flush toilets and showers are available. Guests are able to avail themselves of socialization and dining opportunities beneath a covered lapa.

These tours are ideal for visitors as young as 12 and up to age 60. It is recommended that visitors have a fairly good level of fitness in order to manage the 20 km walks that comprise the daily tours.

The walks, which occur at a fairly leisurely pace, provide visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the area to the best advantage. Each night the group will return to the overnight base camp for socialization and rest before embarking on the next day’s hike. Wholesome, simple meals are provided for the duration of the tour, starting with rusks and coffee each morning. A light meal is provided in the bush along with a brunch during the noon hour. Evening meals are typically comprised of barbecues and hunters’ stews along with vegetables and salads. Guests are advised to bring along sunscreen, binoculars and a camera along with a powerful flashlight.

Several interesting trails lie within the hiking area. The Bushman trail runs along the southwestern edge of Kruger National Park near a secluded valley. The landscape along this trail features Bushman paintings and such wildlife as buffalo, elephants and white rhinos. The Metsi-Metsi trail is situated area that is to the east of Nwarmuriwa Mountain. Along this trail, guests will enjoy excellent wildlife and bird viewing opportunities.

Between Pretoriuskop and Skukuza, the Napi trail lies in a scenic woodland area, bordered by the Byamiti and Napi streams. Granite hills and soft, rolling plains comprise a large portion of this area. Lions as well as elephants, black rhinos and buffalos are prolific in this region along with numerous varieties of birdlife.

The Nyalaland trail is perhaps one of the more interesting trails in the area due to the presence of numerous cultural heritage sites. Although there is not a large population of big game within this trail area, this spectacular beauty of the region more than make up for it.

A number of interesting types of wildlife can be found along the Olifants trail area, including numerous bird species as well as hippos and crocodiles. Visitors will find the trail slightly elevated on a natural embankment just a few meters from the Olifants River.

We are your source for Cape Town Accommodation, Cape Town Hotels, Bed and Breakfast in Cape Town, and more for your next vacation to the Western Cape.


Activities on the Western Cape

Monday Jun 30, 2008

The Western Cape of South Africa offers a great variety of activities and adventures. If you have never visited this lovely region, you may be surprised at all of the many exciting things there are to plan during your trip.

Whale Watching

One of the most popular activities in the Western Cape is whale watching. The whale season in South Africa runs from July to November, providing the best opportunity to catch sight of these gentle giants. Visitors will find numerous opportunities for whale watching during this time as the whales arrive in the area for mating and to calve in the protected warm waters of the bay areas. The heart of the whale watching region can be found in Hermanus, well known as the best area in the entire country for whale watching. Walker Bay, in particular, offers extremely good sighting opportunities. In fact, it is often quite possible to catch sight of the whales just a few feet from the shore. While Walker Bay is one of the premier whale watching locales in the world, the whale route actually stretches all along the Western Cape, touching upon such places as Knysna, Mossel Bay and the coastline of the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Shark Diving

You will find there are a variety of different options for catching site of the Great White sharks that make their home off the coast of South Africa. Perhaps one of the most exciting of these options is the opportunity to take a cage diving trip near Dyer Island. This locale is well known as one of the best shark diving spots in the world. Cage diving trips provide the opportunity to learn more about Great White sharks as well enjoy an up close and personal experience with the Great White sharks, all from the safety of the diving cage. These excursions provide an excellent opportunity to not only watch the sharks in their native environment but also take fabulous photos as well.

Game Safaris

Game viewing safaris remain of the most popular attractions of the Western Cape and South Africa. Certainly, no trip to the region would be complete without a safari adventure. A number of different game parks are in operation throughout the entire country; however, the oldest, most well known and largest is without a doubt Krueger National Park. Visitors can take advantage of the opportunity to view the beautiful wildlife that makes their home in the region through guided hikes and overnight trips.

Bungy Jumping

Bungy jumping has become an exciting adventure to be enjoyed around the world. Some of the most exciting opportunities to bungy jump exist on the Western Cape, particularly at Bloukran River Bridge near Storms River in the spectacularly beautiful Garden Route region. This site actually offers the highest commercially operated bungy jumping site in the world, reaching up to an impressive 525 feet. The bridge leading to the jumping site is actually a bit higher; however, a walkway which was specially constructed for the adventure, allows jumpers to reaching the jumping site.

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