Family -friendly holidays Archives

Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival 2017

There is never an event that rivals the Oyster Festival in Knysna and days are starting to be counted. Knysna is one of the top oyster cultivating town on the Garden Route where oyster cultivation dates back to 1949. That’s good enough a reason to indulge in 10 days of such joyous celebrations. Despite the recent devastating fires in the town, the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival 2017 is going ahead as planned and it is set to delight.

This year’s event will take place from the 7th to the 16th of July. The annual event, as any other year will bring families, sport lovers and foodies together to celebrate what is best described as ” the best 10 days in winter“. Why couldn’t it be when an estimate of 200 000 oysters are consumed over this 10-day period?

The events will feature several activities for every attendee to enjoy. From The Momentum Knysna Cycle Tour, The BIG 5 Challenge, The Pezula Golf Tournament to the Oyster Rapid Chess Tournament. For kids, the BIG5 Junior Challenge, the Simola Little Phantom Kids Adventure Run, the Fun Fair and the The Momentum Health Kiddies Area will keep the little ones occupied well – enough. Foodies will especially enjoy the Pick n Pay Seafood Wednesday – back by public demand, were top restaurants will showcase the best of their culinary skills of seafood. The Pick n Pay SASSI Fish Braai, Oyster Shucking and Eating Competitions will also be a great amusement. There will be more activities to enjoy and you sure will find a few suited for you.

The festival will also be a perfect opportunity to explore Knysna at its best. Whether you are new to the town or not, it won’t harm to pay the Knysna Heads a visit, Garden Route National park, Thesens Wharf and many other attractions Knysna has to offer.

For information on the festival visit http://www.oysterfestival.co.za

Call : +27 (0) 44 382 5510

Email: [email protected]

If you decide on visiting Knysna during this festive time, look nor further that www.Venues4Africa.com to find your accommodation.

Stay tuned for more exciting blog about the ins and outs of South Africa. This week, we are are proud to announce: Fijnbosch @ Jacobs Bay, luxury self-catering holiday apartments in Jacobs Bay, West Coast ,1-on-Ross, 3 lovely, bright cottages in Grahamstown and Boutique Villa Guest House, a luxury manor house in Somerset West, who have just joined our growing Venues4Africa Family.

Living the Karoo Life

Often referred to as the outback of South Africa, The Karoo is a semi – arid region in the country. It is characterized by vast open spaces with desert flora and fauna thriving across the plains. A bunch of small sheep farming and laidback towns, rocky layers, low rainfall, clear blue skies and either extreme heat or cold constitutes this charmingly arid land. Divided into the Klein Karoo and the Groot Karoo, this expanse spreads across 4 of the country’s 9 provinces and takes up to 40% of the country’s land. The Karoo is that large that you have to explore it slowly, town or area at a time. Otherwise you know what they say “Once you go Karoo, you ever go back.“

With a description so general and so vague, you are almost not enticed to want to visit the Karoo. It all sounds like it is such an uneventful area but that is the actual Karoo life you ought to see. It is the experience that counts, the real rustic country experience of a loving and friendly community and the togetherness of the locals. The Karoo life is such that everyone knows each other, you know your butcher, your storekeeper, your nurse or handyman who fixes anything from you toaster to your tractor. It makes a perfect alternative lifestyle. For those looking to detach from your ever busy life that is profoundly affected by just about anything, the Karoo is your ideal escape. Living the Karoo life is actually liberating.

A Chance to Re-invent Yourself

Stockbrokers become rose growers. Company mavens become cheese-heads. Former coal miners now make forest fairies for a living. Old journos become wine-makers. OK, that’s not much reinvention but it’s something. http://bit.ly/2rFMqrv

Another thing you will enjoy living in the Karoo is its timelessness. The old Cape Dutch and Edwardian buildings will just take your breath. Strolling along the streets of Graaff- Reinet or Nieu – Bethesda is the best thing you can do to relax and take you back in time. Riding ostriches in Oudtshoorn is also great if you need to shake it up a bit. Although change is taking place slowly, the old charm is resistant and is still very prominent in many Karoo towns. The annual gatherings such as the Vleisfees in Calvinia every August continue to hold the sense of community together.

Stay tuned for more exciting blog about the ins and outs of South Africa.

Meander through the Midlands

Sometimes, a vacation is all about doing things you never thought you’d never do, visiting the places you never thought you’d see and ultimately being away from the the city buzz. Away from all the things that make up your daily life and just to choose to live the alternative. It is about letting go of all the things you can’t live without for a moment and experience the natural and unpolished beauty of life. The KwaZulu Natal Midlands is just the exact place where you will experience such a vacation – detached from what is nowadays the way of life.

Set in a tranquil countryside, the Midlands boasts picturesque rugged mountains and the Drakensberg just takes the crown. The sublime nature of the areas is what is most striking as you drive along the narrow country roads. The rivers, the lakes , the waterfalls and the thick and lush evergreen forest, the list is endless, you will have to see it with your own eyes than to hear about it a thousand times. Meander through the Midlands from Nottingham Road to Curry’s Post and Howick making your way to Pietermaritzburg the taking a detour to the inlands of Durban, this trip will only take you a few days to complete.

At each point in the journey make sure you take some time to hike, walk the nature trails, go fishing or explore the lifestyle of the locals on their cheese and trout farms. Why not grab a picnic basket and find your perfect spot in the country and be amused by prolific birdlife. Be enchanted by exquisite creativity in form of pottery, woven items and paintings as you meander through the quaint towns.

When it finally feels like it is time for that getaway, that escape into the where life actually began, a Natal Midlands vacation will be all you just need to revitalise and rejuvenate your body, mind and soul.

Stay in the loop to keep up to date with our newest members of our growing family. This week, we are are proud to announce: Aleandrii Farm Stay, that offers you the most comfortable and affordable accommodation in the Little Karoo.