South Africa Travel Guide

/ / / / /

This Could Get Weird: South African Taxi Drivers Launch Their Very Own Airline

September 20, 2011 at 9:29 AM | by | Comments (3)

Oh boy this sounds like a slice of travel hell just waiting to happen. Officials from South Africa’s taxi industry are planning to get into the airline business, and even the organizers of the new airline are calling their new venture a “unique traveling experience.” The operators of these mini-bus type taxi services are probably best known for their less than friendly battles—that even sometimes turn violent—over routes, territory, and turf. Let’s just hope the airline stuff remains pretty peaceful.

They want to link locals to areas of the country considered a little less accessible, along with giving those who have maybe never boarded a plane the opportunity to do so. Everything will be run by the South African National Taxi Council, and they’re going with Santaco Airlines. Apparently the taxi industry is trying to clean up its image a little bit, so hopefully the new carrier is a step in the right direction.

more ›

/ / / / /

Is Kim Kardashian Planning a Secret Honeymoon in South Africa?

June 9, 2011 at 1:07 PM | by | Comment (1)

Kim Kardashian and her fiance Kris Humphries are busy making plans for a lavish wedding worthy of her $2 million engagement ring, but their honeymoon may be a bit less luxurious.

Kim recently told Hollywood Life that her dream getaway is a safari in South Africa:

more ›

/ / / / / /

In-Flight Cocktail of the Month: South African Airways' La Chanson

March 4, 2011 at 10:54 AM | by | Comments (0)

As many already know, we have a serious obsession with airline cocktails, and so much is our passion that we've created a whole first-Friday-of-the-month feature called In-Flight Cocktail of the Month, which highlights the special concoctions that flight attendants whip up with only a cocktail shaker, some tiny liquor bottles and a whole lot of hope that it won't make you drunk and unruly.

Red sparkling wine is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, the fruity stuff isn't nearly as easy to find as, say, regular French champagne or good old Freixenet. Instead, you've often to grab it when you see it, like perhaps on an Africa-bound South African Airways flight.

more ›

/ / /

2010's Destination Of The Year Is...

December 31, 2010 at 10:58 AM | by | Comments (0)

It's that time of the year again, the time when the year just plain ends. Alas, we can't just let 2010 go that easily, especially since travelers spent it both up in the air and up in arms over a crazy range of topics, encompassing everything from nudie scans to tarmac delays. Needless to say, we're ready for 2011, but first we're taking a brief look back at the best of 2010 with the Jaunted Travel Awards,—or as we fondly refer to them—The Jauntys.

Forget that whole story about the honeymoon murder that happened in the slums of Cape Town, because we're pretty convinced that it was a set-up made by the husband, and plus it is soiling what has otherwise been a banner year for South Africa, our Destination of the Year 2010.

Sure, they had the awesome World Cup, but the energy began earlier in the year when we named them one of the top three places for a medical vacation, owing to their reputation as a mecca for plastic surgery and recovery. Then The Bachelor's Jason Mesnick chose South Africa for his honeymoon, as did Chelsea Clinton, and Kim Kardashian made her inaugural visit to the country with sister Khloe in tow.

And then there was the World Cup...

more ›

/ / / /

Cape Town Asks Visitors to Donate One Vacation Day to Cleaning Up the Community

October 27, 2010 at 2:14 PM | by | Comments (0)

The Table Bay Hotel, in Cape Town, South Africa, is getting involved in the community by helping to restore several streets in Langa, one of the Cape's oldest townships, and they are asking their guests to help too.

The initiative is part of the “One Street at a Time” project which aims to build Langa into a sustainable tourism destination. The first street they are tackling is Harlem Avenue, a historic boulevard lined with shops and historic homes, including the home of Chris Hani, the influential anti-apartheid activist. Volunteers will help clean up the area and make needed repairs to homes and businesses along the avenue, which adds a nice positive, active slant to a South Africa vacation.

more ›

/ / / /

Chelsea Clinton May Be Honeymooning in South Africa

August 10, 2010 at 8:58 AM | by | Comments (0)

Right after Chelsea Clinton married long-time beau Marc Mezvinsky two weekends ago in Rhinebeck, NY, the public has wondered one thing: what did she wear? That answer came quickly enough. The bride wore Vera Wang. And then the big question became: where are they honeymooning? This answer didn't come at all.

Now, over a week since the nuptials, there's possibly lead on where Mr. and Mrs. Mezvinsky have headed, and it's far, far away. Sources at WWD have spilled that the couple is currently on safari in South Africa. WWD explains wy South Africa is a perfect honeymoon idea for them:

more ›

/ / / / / /

Emirates Flight Attendants Played a Big Part in the World Cup Final

July 12, 2010 at 9:01 AM | by | Comments (3)

Who were those women in veils behind the South African president and other FIFA officials during the World Cup trophy presentation yesterday? Why, they were flight attendants for Emirates Airlines, a major sponsor of the 2010 World Cup who obviously gave enough money to get their girls up in the spotlight.

Following yesterday's final match between Spain and Holland, which Spain won with a single goal during stoppage time, a whole line of these khaki-clad, red-lipped ladies emerged with trays of the player's medals. Asking who they were was a popular question echoed across Twitter, but the answer lay in the big red ad banners for Emirates around the field. They also showed up the day before to present the third place prize to the German team.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

World Cup Tourists to South Africa Have Already Spent Over $128 Million

July 1, 2010 at 11:40 AM | by | Comments (0)

Are you going through World Cup withdrawal? Yes, us too, and it's only yesterday and today that we have to wait until the games start up again tomorrow when the Netherlands goes up again Brazil and Uruguay faces Ghana. When the World Cup ends for real on July 11, we just don't know what we're going to do, but we do know that the tourists who have headed down to South Africa to support their teams in person will sad to see their credit card bills.

VISA has announced that visitors to South Africa for the World Cup have already spent $128 million, and that's only counting what's been charged to VISA-branded credit cards for a couple weeks. Of course almost 90% of that was on travel purchases like airfare, hotel, car rental and restaurants, but still. That's quite a money waterfall spilling into South Africa right now. Makes the country's building all those $450 million stadiums look worthwhile (ah hem Moses Mabhida Stadium).

So how much of that will stay in South Africa?

more ›

/ / / /

2010 World Cup Travel Guide: Where to Watch and Where to Eat

June 7, 2010 at 4:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

A recent FIFA Fan Fest in Cape Town.

All this week, we'll be giving you the low-down on the many venues of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We've showed you the stadiums, how to get tickets and even how to get around South Africa. Today we tell you where you can watch the games for free, and most importantly, where to get some grub.

PLACES TO WATCH THE GAME FOR FREE:
The FIFA Fan Fests are official public viewing match events, available for those without tickets. All games will be shown live on giant screens complete with events and entertainment before and after the broadcasts. Some popular venues include:

· Cape Town: This prime location, in the heart of the city, is at the foot of Table Mountain, in front of City Hall and next to the Historic Castle of Good Hope, South Africa's oldest building.

· Johannesburg: Fans sans tickets can celebrate in these fields belonging to a local cricket club, five miles from Soccer City. Visit the beer tent for a taste of the home-brewed Castle Lager.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

With Only Four More Days Until the World Cup, Teams Arrive in Style

June 7, 2010 at 11:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

Are you ready for some football?! Oops—wrong sport, unless you're into calling soccer by the better-known name of "football," and then you better be ready, because the World Cup 2010 hype is reaching a peak as teams arrive to Johannesburg, South Africa. They're getting kitted-up for the start of the games on June 11. That's only four days away!

Arriving in style this morning was Germany's team, as they flew in on Lufthansa's first A380, a super group onboard a superjumbo. Of course a double-decker plane has more than enough room for the players, and so their mighty entourage included everyone from their currywurst-loving top chef Holger Stromberg to the player's family members and airline top brass.

more ›

/ / / / / /

2010 World Cup Travel Guide: Flying To and Around South Africa

June 4, 2010 at 1:07 PM | by | Comments (0)

Outside Nelspruit/Kruger Airport

All this week, we'll be giving you the low-down on the many venues of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This five-part guide is designed to inform and ease the logistics of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see all the action, should you decide to get on the ball and go for it! Next up, how to get to the games!

Let’s be real. Unlike previous "winters", flying to South Africa is unlikely to be cheap at this time due to the World Cup. Round-trip air from U.S. gateways like JFK, ATL and IAD on South African Airways,(don’t forget their partnership with JetBlue!) are starting at around $2,000. Yikes.

But this may be the one time where the ultimate fan (and those still holding on to their tax return) may consider upgrading to the flat-bed outfitted biz class (some routes are just double economy fares) for the 16-hr plus flight ahead. You’ll get to sleep and then hit the ground running once you land. Hey, if you’re gonna go for it, don’t do it half-assed.

more ›

/ / / / /

2010 World Cup Travel Guide: How to Get Last-Minute Tickets

June 3, 2010 at 1:20 PM | by | Comments (0)

All this week, we'll be giving you the low-down on the many venues of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This five-part guide is designed to inform and ease the logistics of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see all the action, should you decide to get on the ball and go for it! Next up, how to get tickets to the games!

Kick-off is less than two weeks away, and despite early reports of sold-out games, FIFA says that there are seats still available for choice games.

How is this so? Air/land/ticket packages through Match Event Services, FIFA’s exclusive agent and their approved tour operators, were criticized for holding a mass of both plane and match seats, then releasing them after their packages weren’t quickly snapped up by fans. This means there are now tickets available for games previously said to be sold-out.

more ›

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy (Revised 08/01/2011). © Condé Nast Digital. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast Digital.
Ad Choices