Travel Photo of the Week: Table Mountain, South Africa
Cape Town is a beautifully unique city of South Africa, best-known for the striking natural environment and the harbour. Table Mountain has recently been voted one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature, which is no surprise as experiencing a day on Table Mountain is nothing short of breath-taking. Table Mountain consists of a 3 kilometre long plateau, and features an exclusive abundance of flora and fauna, some of which are not found anywhere else in the world.
To get to the top of the mountain you can either take a long hike up through the natural landscape or catch a lift in the Cable Cars; which is a fun and exciting experience in itself. On the way up, you get to see an amazing and vast view of the coastline and Cape Town from above. From up there, you can also see the famous Robben Island served as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment and where Nelson Mandela alongside many other political prisoners were imprisoned for decades. The picturesque views and the uniqueness of Table Mountain make it a must-see in Cape Town.This photograph is a view of Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand, which was also a nice destination to visit for a walk along the beach and a meal or coffee.
Photo courtesy of Gita Zimmermann
The purpose of our visit to this beautiful part of the world was to visit Mama Lumka, the Charity of choice of my mother’s business Tell IT Media which offers Branding, Design and Website Solutions. For more about Mama Lumka and the kids visit www.mamalumka.org.au or the blog of our visit to Mama Lumka.
Accra, the capital of Ghana, virtually comes alive during the night
Accra is quickly becoming a fun city. First of all talking about the cheap flights, flights are cheap and plentiful. There are just so many international students heading here as well as executives working for the multinationals, young people going to the university and other Africans attracted by the relatively safe work and family environment, the beautiful beaches and green parks. The city, now a tapestry of nations, is coming alive. And there’s no better way to prove this than by sampling the nightlife.
So here’s a list of the top nightclubs in Accra
The Aphrodisiac Night Club was top on my list, especially when I heard Stevie Wonder had come by and loved it back in the day. The cab driver, on the way in from the airport told me it recently relocated to Nii Bodu Street in a suburb called Dzorwulu, not too far from the airport. It was my first stop after a shower and a change.
Ladies, here’s some good news. You get in free. Here, beneath the multi-colored strobes and the pounding music you can dance. There are two great dance floors, two state of the art bars and a laser show to watch if you just want to sit back and enjoy the show. Here it is wild, it is oud and it is packed, but the good news here is if you want to just sit back and take it all in, you can do just that.
Next stop: Vienna City. Ever heard of a night club located within an airport? I didn’t believe it either but the Vienna City night club, while not as high profile as the Aphrodisiac, is well-laid out and very cool inside. The bars are exotic, the poker machines and pool tables are a fun way to while away your time, or to relax after work. And best of all you can actually win! I won! Later that night, we headed out to the Garden Restaurant, which really feels like you’re on a vacation there with its late-night atmosphere and its music.
On my last night in Accra, I decided to be a little more downbeat, I was tired. The concierge recommended the Macumba night club. The people watching were great, but the music was loud, too loud if you ask me and the bars were crazy busy, and not at all what I was in the mood for. But I soon found what I was in the mood for, Le Borsalino. A quiet French meal with warm subtle red wines, Roquefort cheese and steak.
Accra has it all.
Night life in Ghana’s capital is simply great, if you have the time and inclination. Do check for cheap flights to Accra.
Of all the countries in the world, Egypt is perhaps the best known for its historical sites and the sense they give of being truly in touch with the past. From the Pyramids of Giza, to the Colossus of Ramesses II in the ancient capital of Memphis, Egypt is an archaeology buff’s dream – and the scope of Egypt’s archaeological past is certainly beyond the one trip. At the same time, there’s so much more to Egypt holidays than merely touring around the pyramids and being pushed through the crowded Cairo museum. With that in mind, here are three different activities that give a truly unique perspective on this mysterious country.
Cairo Tower
Nestled in the heart of modern Cairo is the Cairo Tower – shaped as a Lotus flower, a symbol of the pharaohs, it is the tallest building in the country. Located on Gezira Island on the Nile, the tower is currently undergoing restoration in preparation for the tower’s 50th anniversary in April 2011. The tower sports a moving restaurant that completes a full rotation every hour, though those on a budget can still travel to the top and make use of several telescopes to view all of Cairo in detail.
Camel riding
Camel riding by starlight
Savvy travellers familiar with Egypt will have definitely experienced this one at some point. From the Harem district in Cairo it’s possible to hire horses or even a camel to ride out into the desert, taking in the pyramids and the Sphinx. The best time to do this is at night – few things are as memorable as approaching the pyramids by moonlight. Alternatively, if you’re in the mood for something a little more adventurous, several companies within Egypt offer camping trips to the hauntingly beautiful white desert, where lavish tents will be set up for your stay and delicious barbecue treats served up each night. Travel is usually by jeep, but intrepid travellers can stay truly authentic by hiring camels.
Ballooning over the Nile
Hot-air balloon over the Nile
If you’ve got a bit of spare cash, it’s worth considering a hot-air balloon ride – which can take you towards the Valley of the Kings or the Nile at sunrise for a truly unforgettable experience. Remember to take your camera – you’ll be witness to views only a small number of people will have seen! Just make sure that you go with a reputable company – many hot air balloon companies are in stiff competition with each other, desperately undercutting each other on price and hence avoiding some of that important stuff like, well, insurance.
One great reason to visit this travel destination is without a doubt, for the history, the pyramids and the Egyptian museum which houses such treasures.
Jardin Majorelle is an expatriate French painter’s botanical garden created in Marrakech during 1924 and was recently enjoyed by guest writer, Julie Wilson.
For an oasis of serenity and shade on a hot day in Marrakech, visit the Jardin Majorelle. Wander along the straight red concrete paths lined with bright coloured pots in this medium-sized garden brimming with cacti, palms, bougainvilleas and bamboo groves. Majorelle was a knowledgeable and avid plant collector. The dry sandy garden beds are studded with a botanical planting of cacti.
Water is an important feature of this garden – lily covered pools filled with small tortoises and lazily active fish, water channels and fountains are highpoints. When I wandered through birdsong filled the air.
The garden was created in the 1920s by the French painter Jacques Majorelle. Rather like Monet’s Giverny, as the garden was designed by a painter the garden is composed and coloured like a painting. Many of the built features are painted in a dark blue (‘Majorelle Blue’) which is striking – contrasting wonderfully well with beige sand, green plants and red paths.
After some years of neglect, the garden was restored by the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. The entrance fee is only 30 MD but when inside, the prices both in the shop and cafe, are very high by Moroccan standards. The delightful cafe has misters which puff out a cloud of cooling mist to help refresh diners with the intense summer heat. I ordered an almond milk with orange blossom water and dates – expensive but wonderful !
Be warned that the taxis outside the entrance seem to see this as a bit of a tourist trap and inflate their prices accordingly – so bargain hard or walk up the road 5 minutes to the crossing and pay much less (20 dirham should get you most places in central Marrakech).
One great reason to visit this travel destination is to see this inspired garden, the Jardin Majorelle, garden created by a Frenchman living in Morocco.
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Accra is quickly becoming a fun city. First of all talking about the 
Jardin Majorelle is an expatriate French painter’s botanical garden created in 
Water is an important feature of this 
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