Monthly Archives: September 2011
South Africa – 6th least expensive longhaul destination
Some good news at last! A Travel Money 2011 report in the UK has ranked South Africa as the sixth most cost-effective long-haul destination for British travellers. The Holiday Costs Barometer compares the cost of a basket of 10 items, including a bottle of beer, a cup of coffee, sun cream, and a three-course meal [...]

The Blue Train: in love with Matjiesfontein
Lee & Maddy recently travelled on The Blue Train. Here are Lee’s thoughts: “It was an early start that morning and I was very excited as this was to be my first real train journey. On arrival at Cape Town Station we headed for the Blue Train check-in lounge. We were met just outside the [...]

Triple rooms in South Africa
Every now and then we are asked for triple rooms. Whether it’s by people who are very budget conscious or, more usually, families with three teenagers or one adult child. We hate to be kill-joys but triple rooms are not AT ALL common in South Africa. Many hotels allow children under 12 years of age [...]

Glen Avon Lodge – Good Cooks of SA
After my Kruger trip, I stayed a night at a lovely full service guesthouse in the Constantia area of Cape Town. Glen Avon Lodge prides itself on personal service, but not the ‘in your face’ kind – just understated friendly attentiveness – just the kind you want. This guesthouse has been operating for years and [...]

Final thoughts on Simbavati River Lodge
I am leaving Simbavati now. It’s been a great, if all too short, stay. The setting was super, the beds were supremely comfortable, the food was delicious – very tasty bush cuisine with delicious salads at lunchtime – and the game-viewing excellent as I mentioned earlier. We (again) missed the morning drive due to a [...]

My second drive at Simbavati River Lodge
I missed the morning game drive as we were stuck in a meeting so my next drive was also an afternoon/evening one. It was also eventful starting with a lovely rhino sighting of three white rhino. One was rubbing every part of him on some low tree branches. He worked himself around rubbing his face, his [...]

First game drive at Simbavati
What a fantastic game drive we had at Simbavati River Lodge last night. It shares traversing rights with Kings Camp and Tanda Tula in the Timbavati Game Reserve and this area is apparently known for it’s cat sightings. We certainly weren’t disappointed either. Having seen elephant, giraffe, waterbuck, huge crocodiles – amongst other wildlife – [...]

Pleasure of the Direct Cape Town to Hoedspruit flight
I’ve just landed at Hoedspruit ready for my two night stay in the bush at Simbavati River Lodge in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve. I’m here for meetings, but hoping to get some game drives in as well. I flew up from Cape Town on the new direct flight to Hoedspruit. What an absolute pleasure! The [...]

Trip Report on Waterberry Lodge, Victoria Falls
Post from Peter Bates, Cedarberg UK: I thought Waterberry Lodge was great. I arrived late/stressed from site inspections and wondering if I was too late for the sunset cruise but instantly felt calm and relaxed. The place itself has lovely lawns with the 7 cottages spread through the grounds. Accommodation is simple and crisp and [...]

Canoeing in the Lower Zambezi river & Sausage Tree Camp, Zambia
Post from Peter Bates, Cedarberg UK: My love affair with the Lower Zambezi continued as I moved on to Sausage Tree Camp. Sausage Tree Camp definitely lived up to its billing in terms of accommodation, service, food, activities and atmosphere. It’s a very well run camp that manages to be both super-efficient and reasonably easy [...]


Kate Bergh is co-founder of Cedarberg African Travel, a specialist tour operator for Southern and East Africa.
She heads up the South African office, having lived in South Africa since 1993. Her home looks up to the Cedarberg Mountains, where she enjoys hiking and cycling, when she’s not out discovering new places to visit, with her three children in tow. Kate has travelled extensively throughout the region to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe as well as most areas of South Africa. She also loves history, meeting people and a good thriller...

Have you liked us on Facebook yet?
