Go Single Travel - Newsletter October 2005

WELCOME to the 21st edition of our Newsletter. The number of subscribers have grown in leaps and bounds over the last couple of months and, as usual, we have done our best to try and find those elusive bargains for your winter getaways. With a whole bunch of public holidays behind us, the next one to look forward to is only on the 16th of June (Youth Day). This date falls on a Thursday so, once again, it is an ideal opportunity to make an extra long weekend of the event! Book now to avoid disappointment closer to the time.

Should you at any stage decide to unsubscribe from this newsletter, simply reply to this e-mail with the word REMOVE in the subject header.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS

Azure Travel has offered us a number of packages to Spain with reduced single supplements. All packages are based on low season airfares/tours. Accommodation is in standard hotels with the option to upgrade. Supplements will apply for high Season airfares & surcharges at the Costa del Sol/Tours. Contact us for more detail on any of the options below.

5-day/4-night IDEAL SPAIN TOUR

ALICANTE, CALPE, VALENCIA, BARCELONA & ZARAGOZA

Cost: R 9,965.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: From R 2,495

8-day/7-night IBERIAN PENINSULA TOUR

SPAIN & PORTUGAL

Cost: R 11,700.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: From R 2,040

8-day/7-night SUNSHINE COAST TOUR

COSTA DEL SOL including full day tour to Morocco

Cost: R 9,540.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: From R 3,065

8-day/7-night HOME FROM HOME TOUR

COSTA DEL SOL

Cost: R 8,450.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: From R 2,570

6-day/5-night PARTY AT COSTA DEL SOL

COSTA DEL SOL

Cost: From R 8,720.00 per person sharing

Single supplement: From R 1,420

5-day/4-night WINE TASTING IN JEREZ

MADRID, CORDOBA, SEVILLE, JEREZ, CADIZ, COSTA DEL SOL & GRANADA

Cost: From R 9,990.00 per person sharing

Single supplement: From R 1,295

12-day/11-night SPAIN & MOROCCO

CORDOBA, SEVILLE, JEREZ, CADIS, COSTA DEL SOL, ALGECIRAS, TANGIERS, RABAT, MARRAKECH, MEKNES, FEZ & GRANADA

Cost: From R 14,995.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: From R 2,710

TURKEY Antique Cities & Azure Seas
Istanbul - Pamukkale - Kusadasi - Koycegiz - Fethiye (optional Gulet Cruise) - Antalya via Skalikent Gorge - Konya via Perge & Aspendos - Cappadocia - Istanbul via Ankara.

This tour includes :

Flights from Johannesburg on Emirates Airlines
5 Nights in 3* Hotels incl Breakfast
5 Nights in 4* Hotels incl Breakfast
1 Night on Sleeper Train
1 Lunch & 3 Dinners
Return airport transfers
Transportation in fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
Professional English-speaking tour guide

FROM R9,195 per person sharing & R10,995 per person single.

Optional 2 Nights / 3 Days Gulet Cruise

Departing from Fethiye, we cruise for 3 lazy days aboard a Turkish Gulet. Swim, snorkel or just soak up the rays !

From only R980.00 p/p sharing

NEW ADDITIONS

A few recent additions to our website are:

Transfrontier Walking Safaris - http://www.singletravel.co.za/transfrontiers_walking_safaris.html

White Shark Diving Projects - http://www.singletravel.co.za/white_shark_projects.html

Umkulu Overland Adventures - http://www.singletravel.co.za/umkulu.html

Starlight Cruises - http://www.singletravel.co.za/starlight_cruises.html: Cruise on the Silver Wind between South Africa and Mauritius during December/January.

Bundu Safari Lodge (Hoedspruit area) - http://www.singletravel.co.za/bundu_safari_lodge.html

The Orangery (Oranjesicht, Cape Town) - http://www.singletravel.co.za/the_orangery.html

MURDER MYSTERY WEEKEND FOR SINGLES!

A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OTHER SINGLE PEOPLE!

Last chance! Sandford Park Resort (http://www.singletravel.co.za/sanford_park_resort.html) in the Drakensberg has confirmed the weekend of 27 to 29 May as being a 'ton of bloody fun' with the 1st of their Murder Mystery Weekends! This is a great opportunity to meet other singles. Spend some time getting to know each other in the setting of a Murder Scene!

They require a minimum of 14 people per event so why not invite your friends along as well! The cost (excluding accommodation and transport to and from Sandford Park) is R500 per person. This includes 3 e-mail teasers, actors, scripts, newspaper releases, police reports, costumes, props, make-up and travel around the resort. Accommodation at Sandford Park is in 26 guest rooms, tastefully decorated and designed for your comfort and leisure ensuring you have a sanctuary to retire to for those quiet times. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with upcountry cottage décor; all under thatch – being warm in winter and cool in summer. Only three and a half hours from Johannesburg and two and a half from Durban, Sandford is ideally situated for that Unforgettable Mountain getaway. Go Single Travel clients will not pay any single supplements for reservations at Sandford Park! The current rate, inclusive of breakfast, is R390 per person per night. If the demand is high enough we can also arrange for road transfers to and from the resort.

WILDERNESS BEACH SPA SPECIAL

Double:R1,600 per person sharing for 5 nights

Single: R2,600 per person for 5 nights

Rates are subject 1% tourism Levy

Only bank deposits or internet transfers accepted as payment for this special.

This includes:

Bed and Breakfast daily for adults, children under 12 stay free and pay for meals only. (Children under 12 years pay R4.50 times their age for breakfast.)

Day one:

Due to different arrival times, please join us in taking advantage of our steam room. Its a small taster to your week of tranquil pampering.

Day Two:

Salt Scrub

Vichy Shower

Yoga and Tai Chi

Day Three:

Neck/Back Message

Ozone Therapy

Day Four:

Reflexology

Indian Head Massage

Relax Bath

Day Five

Finish off before departing the hotel with either,

Mini Manicure or Pedicure

TRAVEL COMPANIONS REQUIRED?

We all know how difficult it can be at times to find a travel companion to try and avoid that dreaded single supplement! Go Single Travel now offers a service whereby we will advertise your search for a travel companion in our monthly newsletter at no cost, provided the accommodation or tour is booked through us. For any such request that our readers might have, just e-mail the detail to us and we will send the message out. Since our newsletter is only distributed once a month, such requests must be for planned holidays at least a month in the future - longer if possible. E-mails can be addressed to info@singletravel.co.za with the topic TRAVEL COMPANION.

Want to travel to Australia?

English lady, 58, widowed, Johannesburg resident, seeks similar single lady for companionship on trips abroad (and possibly local). She is especially interested in going to Australia later this year. She would love to hear from similar people who would like to travel but don't want to go on their own. Please e-mail her on barbarat@netactive.co.za.

INTERESTING PLACES, TOWNS & AREAS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Saldanha Bay area, Western Cape

Saldanha Bay

This is one of the great natural harbours of the world. Apart from a narrow entrance, it is completely landlocked and the water is deep enough for large ships. It's one disadvantage in the past was its shortage of drinking water. But for this, Saldanha Bay would almost certainly have been the main port of the Cape rather than Cape Town. In fact, the name Saldanha really belongs to Table Bay after the visit there, in 1503, of the Portuguese admiral Antonio de Saldanha. It was nearly a hundred years later that the Dutch transferred his name to the present Saldanha Bay, which he had never visited.

Pirates did come to Saldanha Bay and the sea is littered with wrecks. In modern times,treasure hunters have made some rich finds. From the wreck of the Meresteijn, sunk in 1702, silver and coins worth more than R500,000 were recovered by divers, one of whom used a wooden barrel as a diving bell! Another interesting wreck is that of the Dutch warship Middelburg, set on fire and sunk by the British Navy in 1781.

There are still many seals on the islands in the bay, as well as gannets, cormorants and jackass penguins.

Langebaan Lagoon

The lagoon is 16km long and 4.5km wide, and is connected to Saldanha Bay by a narrow channel. It is a magnificent stretch of sheltered water, only 6 metres deep at its maximum and about 10 degrees Celsius warmer than the bay itself. The lagoon was the home of huge colonies of oysters, but changes in the water temperature killed them off. Today there are no live oysters, but the bed of the lagoon is covered with shells - more than 30 million tons of them piled to a depth of 7 metres in places - making it one of the largest oyster graveyards in the world. The West Coast National Park in an internationally renowned wetland and well endowed with flowers, waders and wildlife. Whale watching is a favourite spring pastime. Another popular attraction is the West Coast Fossil Park.

Paternoster

One of the most attractive fishing villages on the shores of Paternoster Bay. The name probably comes from a particular kind of fishing tackle, though there is a local legend that survivors of a shipwreck gave thanks for their deliverance by means of the paternoster (meaning 'Our Father') prayer. It is a great centre for the catching, processing and export of rock lobsters. Perlemoen and other seafoods are also found in considerable quantities.

Accommodation

DROP ANCHOR BEACH LODGE - http://www.singletravel.co.za/drop_anchor_beach_lodge.html

ELM TREE GUEST FARM - http://www.singletravel.co.za/elm_tree_guest%20farm.html

FALCONS' REST GUEST HOUSE - http://www.singletravel.co.za/falcons_rest_guest_house.html

LAMBERTS BAY HOTEL - http://www.singletravel.co.za/lamberts_bay_hotel.html

LANGEBAAN BEACH HOUSE - http://www.singletravel.co.za/langebaan_beach_house.html

WEST COST NATIONAL PARK - http://www.singletravel.co.za/sanp_west_coast_national_park.html

TRAVEL NEWS

Gautrain bid winner announcement postponed
The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link Project has announced it has postponed the announcement of the successful bidder until the end of May 2005, two years later than the initial date. The announcement was to be made at the end of April, but had to be postponed due to “the complexities of the evaluation process”. Gautrain, with its planned 10 stations, will provide an 80km long rail service between Gauteng’s major hubs, namely Sandton, Pretoria and Johannesburg International Airport. Construction is planned to begin in October this year and the train should be open to passengers by 2010.

Work beginnings on Baviaanskloof upgrade
Work has begun on the planned upgrades for the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve in the Eastern Cape province. The R17m project includes clearing unwanted structures from the reserve and conserving the existing road. The project forms part of the various tourism-related projects in the area, funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (Deat) and the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund. Deat’s R16m poverty relief grant includes a World Heritage Site Interpretive Centre in the Komdomo area near the entrance to the Baviaanskloof, as well as road maintenance and the removal of unwanted structures. The Lottery funding of R1,3m has been allocated to four key projects to make the Baviaanskloof more accessible to attract more nature lovers to the area. The seven entrances to the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve area (including the Groendal Wilderness Area) will also be upgraded. Two related projects include the upgrading of overnight accommodation at Bergplaas, one of the most scenic spots on the eastern side of the Baviaanskloof reserve area, and the development of a premier hiking trail from the eastern entrance at Komdomo to Bergplaas.

Red Tide still in place
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has confirmed that the toxic red tide along the Cape West Coast area still prevails, with particularly dense blooms from Blaauwberg to Hout Bay as well as Kommetjie. The department has reiterated its warning to the public not to collect and consume any shellfish along the affected coast. “The departments' scientists and fisheries compliance officers are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Scientific samples still indicate high toxicity levels, confirming that the consumption of shellfish from the affected areas remains a serious safety and health risk,” said the department in a statement. The department's Red Tide Information line, 021 434 4457, remains in place. Members of the public can call this number to get the latest updated status of the red tide.

kulula.com launches Nelspruit flights
Flying to Mpumalanga is now a whole lot easier, with kulula.com today launching daily flights from Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Nelspruit. The launch is the first initiative of flyMpumalanga.com, which seeks to reposition Mpumalanga as a tourism destination.

South Africa lobbies for more heritage sites
In July 2005, Durban will host the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee in Durban. During the committee, South Africa will be lobbying for three additions to its current list of national heritage sites. Those being lobbied for include Vredefort Dome, bordering the North West and Free state provinces, Makapans Valley in Limpopo and Taung Skull Fossil site in the North West.
To date, South Africa counts five heritage sites: the greater St Lucia Wetland Park (1999), Robben Island (1999), the Cradle of Humankind (1999) and uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park (2000), Mapungubwe (2003), and the Cape Floral Kingdom (2004).

Tourism minister urged to address Blyde River name change
Environmental affairs and tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk is being urged to intervene in the renaming of the Blyde River in Mpumalanga. The river gives its name to the world famous Blyde River Canyon and was recently renamed "Motlatse" without consulting local tourism or conservation authorities. The word "Motlatse" is meaningless. The closest equivalent would be the sePedi word "Motlatsa," which means "a river that is always full." Tourists are told how Voortrekker women named the river Blyde (joy) when their husbands returned safely from an expedition. The women earlier named another river Treur (sorrow) when they thought their husbands had died. Neither the Mpumalanga Tourism Authority nor the Mpumalanga Parks Board were consulted during the name change process.

Cradle launches new Website
The Cradle of Humankind has launched its new website – www.discoveryourself.co.za. The new website has been designed to be easy to navigate and attractive, providing comprehensive information on the World Heritage Site, including the Sterkfontein Caves. The site provides information on restaurants, conferencing, events, education as well as contact details and links to associated companies. There is also a dedicated section for tour operators.

No more visas between Bots, Moz
Mozambique and Botswana have signed a bilateral agreement which will allow for travellers to move between the two countries without a visa. “The signing of the bilateral agreement scrapping visa requirements means a lot for the two countries. This means that there will be free movement between the two countries and the results achieved will be felt in different sectors of the economy such as tourism. The two countries have a high potential for tourism,” said industrial relations manager at the Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower, Tebogo Rapitsenyane, quoted in the Mmegi newspaper. The move follows shortly after Mozambique and South Africa signed a similar agreement implementing a 30-day visa waiver between the two countries.

SA Airlink to Sun City again
SA Airlink is reinstating its service to Sun City from May 3. The airline will fly from Cape Town to Sun City on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Franschhoek launches value-add season
Product owners in the Western Cape wine region of Franschhoek are banding together to offer specials from May 1 to September 30. Over 80 guesthouses, restaurants, wineries and spas in the Franschhoek Valley are offering overnight visitors specials on accommodation, meals, wine and wellness treatments during this period. At least 29 participating wineries are offering overnight visitors complimentary wine tastings for up to eight people, special deals at cellar restaurants and free wine delivery to anywhere in South Africa. When staying at participating guesthouses, hotels and lodges, a guest’s partner will be entitled to stay at no extra cost. In addition, some of Franschhoek’s top restaurants are offering a complimentary dessert to any overnight guest who orders a starter and main dish.

Multi-billion rand development at Vaal Dam
A new 700ha development is set to get underway this year at the Vaal Dam, on the Gauteng/Free State border. The development, called Lizard Point, which is budgeted to cost around R4bn, will include two golf courses, a residential housing estate, five-star resort, boutique hotel, conference facilities, retail area with shops and restaurants and extensive watersports. Phase one, to begin this year, will include the golf courses and residential estate. Phase two will see the construction of the resort, followed by the hotel. Lizard Point is scheduled to be completed by 2010, in time for the influx of visitors arriving for the World Cup soccer.

Robben Island risks heritage de-listing
Robben Island, one of South Africa’s key tourism attractions, recently came under fire when a Sunday newspaper reported that the site might be de-listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The paper reported that Robben Island was failing to meet UNESCO maintenance standards following the release of a UNESCO report last year. However, Palesa Morudu, head of marketing and communications for Robben Island, told TNN that this is not the case. “It is not true that there is a prospect of Robben Island being de-listed as a heritage site as this has not been communicated to us by the World Heritage Committee. The island is far from such an occurrence” she said. “We are currently developing a statement of significance on the site, which will be made available for public comment, on how to manage the site. Once this is done, the statement, along with a conservation management plan, which serves as guidance around intervention of the site, will form an integrated management plan. We have a deadline of the end of the financial year,” said Morudu. She added that for a site to be de-listed as a World Heritage Site, there has to be a complete collapse in the management of the site and “Robben Island is far from that situation”.

SA a ‘Champion of the Earth’
South Africa has been honoured with a ‘Champion of the Earth’ award in recognition of its achievements in environmental management. The awarded was presented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). South Africa was recognised for its commitment to cultural and environmental diversity; the initiation of the Peace Parks programme; the fact that it has brought nearly 19% of its coastline under direct protection through the establishment of four new Marine Protected Areas; the creation of courts specialising in environmental issues; and was party to more than 43 multilateral environmental agreements. Speaking at the award ceremony in New York, minister of environmental affairs and tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, said the award recognises South Africa’s hard work and encourages continued effort in environmental management. The minister also highlighted issues affected the planet that required global efforts to combat. “Sanitation, fresh water resources, global warming, climate change, biodiversity loss, and desertification – these are all intertwined and interconnected challenges, shared by both the developed and the developing world,” said van Schalkwyk.Other countries that received the award included Canada, Mexico, The Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, and China. This year was the first time that the awards were presented.