Afrika T: S Africa the hot destination again

Blogging Hiatus

Gentle Reader,

Some five years into the life of Afrika T, I now find myself unable to keep up with contributions at a level that I and you have come to expect from this blog. Partly this is because of other activities in responsible tourism (see example here, and another here), partly from other projects in sustainability (see examples here and here), and partly for reasons that are more personal.

I am certainly still active online and in responsible travel, so feel free to comment on existing posts here, to follow me on Twitter, and to note what I've been reading online via Delicious. I also hope to return to Afrika T, so am not bringing the blog to a halt, just declaring a hiatus of indefinite duration...

Thank you for your support over the years, and, if you're a newcomer to the site, may it still prove valuable.

Kind regards

Kurt

5 December 2011

Saturday, 9 January 2010

S Africa the hot destination again

Yes, yes the FIFA World Cup™ will be in South Africa in 2010, but that's just for 2 months, and soccer fans are a non-traditional tourism crowd - they follow the tournament, wherever it goes. The New York Times, however, has seen that the country is a hot destination in any case. Some may think it's because of the soccer, others in spite of it. The fact is, South Africa was listed as 22nd of 31 'Places to Go in 2010'. From the article:

As host of the 2010 World Cup this summer, South Africa has gotten its game on with a flurry of new stadiums, new hotels and safari lodges.
While soccer is being played across nine cities, much of the action off the field is taking place in Cape Town. Already known for its stunning beaches, mouthwatering cuisine and sophisticated night life, the city is welcoming high-end hotels, including the recently opened One & Only Cape Town and the forthcoming Taj Cape Town (www.tajhotels.com/capetown). Set to open this month, the Taj will have 166 rooms, many with views of Table Mountain. Also scheduled to open in Cape Town this year — but not in time for the World Cup — is the second branch of the nascent Missoni Hotels group (the first property opened in Edinburgh last year, with future outposts planned for Kuwait, Brazil and Oman).
Between matches, there’s plenty of time to go on a safari. If money is no object, check out the Ulusaba (www.ulusaba.virgin.com), a private game reserve that’s part of Richard Branson’s collection of luxury vacation properties. It has opened the new Cliff Lodge, with private swimming pools and spectacular views of the bush. Prices start at 13,800 South African rand (around $1,878 at 7.35 rand to the dollar) a night for two. — Denny Lee

A nice bit of promotion for the Mother City in there, but frustrating that their entire view of the country was through the lens of ultra-super-mega high-end accommodation. The One & Only is a soulless generic palace. Ulusaba? Lovely, but it's all about the wildlife - you see the same leopard for half the price (or one-tenth, for that matter). And it's not new. So there.