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Pricing appears more important than the destination

We came across an article which mentioned that a recent survey conducted by 'Travelzoo' found that 64% of people say hotel prices are more important than the destination when choosing holidays.  The survey was meant to examine consumer behavior, it found that most holiday planning was based on price and user reviews.  Of those surveyed, 93% compared prices before booking and 81% used hotel review sites.  Does this mean that hotels should be lowering prices and working towards better online reviews, or the traveler should be educated on how to find the better pricing?

Joel Brandon-Bravo, managing director of Travelzoo UK said, “People are becoming much more price-conscious and may base their whole destination choice on finding a good-value hotel." "We can also see that people are happy to try new hotels and lesser-known brands if it means getting more for their money."

For us it seems obvious that since established travel groups in the destination country normally hold special industry contracts with many Hotels and Guest Houses, this will allow them to offer even better rate discounts when putting together the clients travel package.  If people are more price-conscious then the correct way to look for discounts and specials is to contact an established operator in the destination country.

World Travel Awards – Vote for us

Road Travel have been nominated (3rd year running) for the World Travel Awards, these annual awards were originally launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry.

Please go vote for Road Travel, there is a quick registration process to keep the voting fair.

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Fun in the Sun in South Africa

 

The first perfect summer days always make South African’s heart skip a beat because they know that they are guaranteed one of life’s greatest pleasures: Summer in the southern tip of Africa.  With a wide range of spectacular beaches, a whole host of game reserves, national parks and exciting landscapes, one can quickly understand why South Africa ranks up there on the list of most beautiful places in the world. 

 

Here’s some of our top recommended ways to enjoy the warm summer sun in the place that’s described as “a world in one country”.

Hiking

Africa has some stunning rugged scenery and an assortment of distinctive trails offering panoramic views and wonderful animal and plant life.  A natural beauty in its purest form.  One of the most popular is the Otter Trail along the Tsitsikamma Coast.  There’s no better way to be more in touch with Mother Nature than to put on your hiking boots and take off into the abyss.  Nature awaits.

Abseiling

Cape Town’s superb Table Mountain is the spot for the highest commercial abseil in the world.  A 112 meter controlled descent, with the privilege of the vast scenery below and the ocean at your feet, this is one activity no one should miss.  No previous mountain climbing experience is necessary to fully enjoy this breathtaking experience.

Climbing

Now here’s something for the scrapbook.  For those who have some climbing experience, this activity should definitely be on your list.  Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in the world.  The entire mountain is marked with hiking trails that are graded by various levels of difficulty.  More or less 22 000 climbers get ready each year to conquer it, grading it the most popular mountain to climb.  And you can simply walk up it!  Table Mountain also has some really great scenic trails that range in difficulty.  Some for experienced climbers only.

Off-roading

Off-roading and quad-biking is the easiest way to explore difficult terrain like desert landscapes and sand dunes.  Not even 4X4’s can reach it.  You could opt to turn your joy-rides in overnights if you don’t feel like being stuck with your luggage all day.  Your guide will lead you drudging across crests of dunes and sand.  But don’t worry, there will be a few split seconds for some Kodak moments.

River rafting

If roller coaster water rides are what floats your boat then be sure to visit The Tugela River for the most dramatic rafting experience.  Did you know South Africa is one of the few places in the world that can show off clean rivers, lakes and dams?  Rapids are also graded according to difficulty and adrenalin junkies will love this one.  The best time for rafting in South Africa is between November and May.  So what are you waiting for?  Get on your life-jacket…

Surfing

They say that people who have a day job don’t know how to surf.  For your holiday learn something new and prove them wrong.  You don’t need to book your entire holiday at the beach just to learn how to surf.  You can learn to surf in just one day.  But after your experience, we’re sure that you will ask us to extend your holiday to some of the best known surfing spots in South Africa.

Cape Town surf instructors give beginners the opportunity to learn this sport in a safe and friendly environment along Cape Town’s finest beaches: Blouberg, Big Bay, Long Beach and Cool Bay.  All you need to bring along is your swimming costume, a beach towel, waterproof sunscreen (‘cause you’re going to need it) and a sense of adventure.

Horse riding

Journey to a champagne breakfast on one of Cape Town’s stunning beaches on horseback, or explore the wineland vineyards a different way.

Once you decide to go horse-riding you get to experience a whole new laid back side of South Africa. This activity is perfect for when you need to just kick back and absorb the scenery.  There are loads of exciting and awesome horseback adventures such as game drives where you might just find yourself standing in the middle of a herd of kudu or exploring elephant trails and secluded valleys.

Golf

Sunny weather conditions, the vast and natural beauty of South Africa's countryside  all play a part in providing the absolute best when it comes to golfing.  This, together with a wide range of accommodation options, makes for the ultimate golfing experience.  What's more, a golf holiday in South Africa is value for money.

South Africa has some of the most scenic, and prime golfing regions in the world.  Altogether there are more than 500 golf courses to choose from, one in almost every town in South Africa, and the number keeps growing.  The courses are all of a finer quality, exceptionally equipped and surrounded by beautiful scenery.  Contact us to assist you with choosing your ideal golf holiday, whether it be a links or a parklands course.

Tented safari

There’s no better way to experience pure African spirit, or to be closer with nature than by experiencing a true tented safari.  You’ll soon realize that South Africa is not how you thought it would be and there are no lions in anyone’s back garden.  You have to take a game drive to see the lion, rhino, elephant, leopard, hippo and buffalo. 

A tented safari, or mobile camp is not your average camping, but the epitome of luxury.  5 star tents located in the heart of nature provide an escape from the madding crowd and bring South Africa’s big five, right to your doorstep.

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Robin & Adele
ROAD TRAVEL

Ask us about southern Africa as a tourist destination

Please feel free to write to us and ask questions about southern Africa as a tourist destination.

You can contact us via email info (at) roadtravel.co.za

We look forward to hearing from you!

South African Bushbabies

The Bushbabies are not monkeys, they are primates and along with lemurs, pottos and lorises, they form the primate suborder of prosimians or "pre-monkeys". Like most prosimians, bushbabies are nocturnal and they have a reflective layer in their large eyes that allows them to see in the dark. Prosimians also have an elongated nose, almost like a snout, and are heavily reliant on their sense of smell.

The South African Lesser Bushbaby has large eyes, a soft furry body, a small, rounded head, and extremely mobile, membranous ears.  It is strictly nocturnal and spends a lot of time grooming before embarking on the night's activities.

Lesser bushbabies are more lively than the thick-tailed bushbaby, and also spend relatively more time in trees: they are known for their spectacular leaping abilities.
These tiny animals can jump an astounding 5 meters from a vertical position on one tree to the next. They use their strong legs to push off for a jump and their tail works like a rudder to direct them to their desired landing spot.

They often forage in acacias, the gum from which is a major item in their diet and is either licked or chewed. They also eats insects, scorpions and small reptiles.
These amazing hunters can catch flying prey in mid-air whilst leaping from tree to tree. Bushbabies are also partial to acacia gum, which they gouge out of trees using their toothcomb. This dental apparatus is common amongst prosimians and consists of forward jutting teeth in the front of the lower jaw.

Bushbabies commonly use their toothcombs for grooming and are therefore ingeniously equipped with a second, pointy tongue underneath their normal one (called sublingua), which they use like a toothpick to remove any debris stuck in the toothcomb.

If a convenient hole is unavailable, then the lesser bushbaby will make itself a flat, treetop nest or take over a disused bird's nest.
When a group of lesser bushbabies share a nest, they lie at all angles, some upside down, in comfort: their ears folded back, forefeet covering the head and tail curling over it.
They take a moment or two to wake up when woken and are quite vulnerable at this time.

Bushbabies make loud vocalizations that sound like crying human infants, which is what earned them their funny name. The different species of bushbaby look extremely similar, but they can be told apart by analyzing their differing vocalizations, especially the loud calls. Also helpful in differentiating the various galago are hand pad shapes, reproductive behaviors, genetic analysis and male genital comparisons.

Lesser bushbabies wet the soles of their feet with urine which helps dominant males to mark out their territory. This 'urine washing' is also part of their mating behavior.
The young are born in the shelter of a nest, which may be re-lined with leaves.
When foraging the mother will carry the young from the nest and leave them clinging to a branch, returning them to the nest before dawn.
Potential predators of bushbabies include mongooses, genets, jackals, felids, raptors (especially owls), and snakes.

Within these locales its preferred habitat is the savannahs, woodlands, riverine bush and the fringes of forests. In particular, near the Limpopo River between points of confluence with the Marico and Notwani Rivers. Being a South African species, it has a relatively high tolerance for temperature variation.

Places in Southern Africa where the Bushbaby can be found include Chobe National P ark, Makgadikgadi Pan, Mashatu Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti, Hluhluwe Game Reserves, Kalahari Gemsbok Park, Kruger National Park, Madikwe National Park, St Lucia Wetlands, Maputaland Coastal Reserve, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Caprivi Region, Damaraland, Etosha National Park, Kafue, Lechwe Plains, Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa and  Mosi-oa-Tunya Park.

Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Limpopo is taking care of abandoned, orphaned, injured and poisoned wildlife. Animal species are brought to the centre from all corners of South Africa, and once healthy enough, re-introduced into their natural environments.

The Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary is a privately owned, non-subsidized sanctuary, covering approximately 7 ha, situated alongside the elephant sanctuary in one of the many kloofs of the Magaliesberg mountain range.  Monkeyland primate sanctuary is currently the top eco-tourism attraction on the Garden Route and for very sound and sunny reasons. Monkeyland has captured the hearts of visitors in its efforts to rehabilitate and free previously caged primates. The sanctuary is exceptional as it caters for several species of primates who are not caged. They are free to move about the forest and this they do most harmoniously.

In the past Bushbabies once inhabited the suburbs from Lonehill to Sunninghill and Bryanston to Randburg. Craigavon is the one remaining suburb in the area, which still has a precious few. Due to the rapid development taking place in Craigavon, Bushbaby habitat and survival is threatened. Although Galago moholi is not listed as endangered on the red data list, the latest National Assessment maintains that this species is not guaranteed a future, particularly in Gauteng. Bushbaby SOS has been incorporated into the Klein Jukskei Conservancy’s umbrella and together they fight to save their future as well as enhance the lifestyle in this area.