GREETINGS FROM A SUNNY COLD CAPE TOWN,

We are heading for Winter here in the Cape. After such lovely rain which was badly needed we had beautiful sunny weather for the week-end.  The visitors are still here in Cape Town,  but I think by the end of
the month we will notice a difference once again.  We have many specials here in Cape Town and in many of the country towns for the Winter holiday season. Local Hotels such as The Capital Mirage now have a
winter Luxury Special for R1530.00 per Room which has a King Size bed, lounge area, a 55cm flat screen,
fully fitted kitchen, bath and shower with under floor heating, washing machine and dryer  beautiful  views
of Green Point and not to speak of the wonderful Table Mountain views and of the CBD area of Cape Town.
Situated  in De Waterkant  and surrounded by shopping centres, restaurants and close to the V & A Waterfront.  Contact: Tutam@thecapital.co.za  +27(0) 21 2005100

It was lovely meeting some of our Members, clients and many friends at Indaba, in Durban the beginning of May.. We had much rain, but luckily only in the evening or late afternoon. I was there marketing Richard’s Supper Stage one of my clients. So please do come and visit us when you are in Cape Town on
a visit. Contact: elaine@richardscapetown.co.za  www.richardscapetown.co.za .Twitter: @RichardsSStage https://www.dropbox.com/s/2gjwtod8xlulpbv/Richards%20Supper%20Stage%20video.m2t?dl=0
      

This year I stayed at the Riverside Lodge which had a lovely view over to their Soccer Stadium across the river.  The Hotel had amazing rooms, food and very friendly Staff. I will definitely visit them again when in
Durban.  CTC Marketing will recommend their establishment to all our clients visiting Durban in the future.
Contact person: Roger Reddy  031 563 0600 reserve2@riversidehotel.co.za  www.threecities.co.za/riverhotel

While at Indaba, I also met some new properties and clients I had not met before. One of them was a new
lodge situated in the Welgevoden Game Reserve in Limpopo Province.
Unique features at Mhondoro include a custom-built stargazing ‘star deck’; and a waterhole with underground game viewing hide that is connected with the main lodge by a tunnel. At ground level, the hide provides excellent photographic opportunities from a distinctive perspective, as well as the excitement of getting really up close, anytime day or night, to elephants and other wildlife drinking from the waterhole.

Mhondoro is child-friendly (malaria free), with a dedicated open-air play area protected by an elephant fence and a play room with games where children can enjoy themselves without disturbing other guests. Special children’s activities can also be arranged.  www.mhondoro.com   +27(0)32 563 0600
Contact: Jasper admin@mhondoro.com

I, like most South Africans, am also one of those that would love to visit the Sani Pass in KwaZulu Natal.
so  it was wonderful at last meeting up with someone I could contact for more information on this amazing trip that is available to all.   Lana  +27(0)82 723 4528  info@sanipasstours.com  www.sanipasstours.com
The Tour departs at 09h30 and takes approx. 2.5 hours to reach the summit, travelling approximately 16km to the South African Border Post and then a further 8km up the Sani Pass to reach the Lesotho Border Post, climbing a grand 2874 metres above sea level! Their guides stop at breath taking view sites along the Sani Pass and the two border posts i.e. The South African Border Control and Lesotho Border Control. Once at the Top of the Sani Pass-, you will enjoy lunch at the highest Pub in Africa - The Sani Mountain Lodge. After lunch the Tour continues a further 7km into Lesotho to Skeering - a living Basotho village, where their experienced mountain guide will interest you on Lesotho and its people - the hardy mountainous Basotho folk. Traditional beer and homemade bread offered on request. We will wind down the Sani Pass after this cultural experience and arrive back in Underberg between 16h00- 16h30 depending on the wildlife spotted along the way, plus some goats and sheep.  Ending a wonderful experience and an amazing day.

For those of you,  who have not visited Vioolsdrift in Namaqualand and not had an Orange River Rafting experience, please contact Bushwhacked Outdoor Adventures.  You can have a tour from half a day to a
4-day Orange River Rafting Experience.  Stay over  at the Fiddlers Creek Orange River Bush Camp, where
there is “Camping, “Glamping”, Group Meals. Spit Braais or visit the Bush Bar called “Bozbavok”. For
more information on this amazing Adventure contact: Maudie +27(0)27 761 8953  Vioolsdrift or email:
info@bushwhacked.co.za  www.bushwhacked.co.za

Another very interesting town in Mpumalanga to visit when on your trip to the Kruger Park, is of course the
mining town of Barberton.  This quaint gold mining country town  was discovered by Fred and Henry Barber and their cousin  Barber, the Gold Commissioner from Kaapsche Hoop another small town nearby 1884. Stopforth House, was one of the first and original houses constructed in 1886 by James Stopforth , a
Baker and General Dealer, originally from England and later from Pilgrim’s Rest  The house was occupied by the Stopforth family from 1886 until 1983 and is furnished with the original furniture and household articles used by the Stopforth family. You may visit this home on the Heritage Walk through the town plus various other places as:  The Belhaven House Museum  built in 1904, Ferniea House built of wood and iron built in 1904 and furnished with late Victorian and early Edwardian Periods, which was the lifestyle of a wealthy middle class family. Not to forget the Steam Locomotive which was manufactured in 1898 by the firm Nielson and Co for the Cape Government Railways, The Kaapmuiden-Barberton railway line was opened on 1^st April 1896 and similar locomotives were used on it. This particular locomotive was brought to Barberton on it’s own steam in 1971. Barberton of course had many Hitching posts.  The Barberton Club was the gathering place for men of Barberton. Well known millionaires of the Witwatersrand such as Abe Bailey, Alfred Beit and Sir Percy Fitzpatrick were members.  During the early part of the South African War it was used as a hospital by the Boer Forces.  In 1990 when the British occupied the town, they used the Club as an Officer’s Mess.  Unfortunately, the original building burned down and was replaced with the present building.  In front of this building you can still see the original Hitching posts, where the horses were tethered. In front of the Town Hall the statue of “Jock of the Bushveld” the faithful dog of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick  during his days as a transport rider can still be seen. Do think of going via Barberton next time you are in the area, as there is much, much more to see on their Heritage Walk.  For more information contact: Astrid at their information centre in town: .astrid@barberton.co.za  +27 (0) 82 959 6670  www.barberton.co.za

  What a busy two months we have had here in Cape Town, with wonderful networks and educational
trips which I will write about next month. With all this going on, our office Computer decided to have a
break from all the work, and crashed during the typing of my monthly newsletter, which really put a   spanner in the works and then to my horror, also lost all my information and photographs when it was returned from the Agent repairing it.  Needless to say I had to start all over again, so hopefully have not
left out anything I was suppose to put in.  
We hope all the Father’s had a lovely Fathers Day with their families and wish you all a wonderful winters
school holidays ahead.   Keep warm and we look forward to hear about some snow news from some of
you, as I am sure we are heading for a very, very cold winter.  Today Cape Town is only 14 degrees C.
Warm Regards and God Bless,

Thought of the Day:

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward
           appearance,  but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

Corbett Tourism Consulting, Marketing and Tours
P.O. Box 11535, Bloubergrant, 7443
Cape Town, South Africa  
Mobile: +27 (0) 747 092 502 / 073 1409 700
elainecorbett@ctcmarketing.co.za
Twitter: @ElaineCorbett7
Registered Tourist Guide WC8172