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Africa

Taking a Karoo Guided Tour

The large Karoo region of South Africa covers nearly a third of the country’s landmass. For decades, this location, with its haunting arid splendor, was overlooked by the majority of travelers and tourists to Southern Africa. But people who took the time to investigate its remote expanses were compensated with the discovery of beautiful natural attractions set amidst lunar-like scenery.

Going to the Karoo The Karoo has now assumed its rightful place as one of Southern Africa’s most beguiling locations, bringing in equally local and foreign travelers looking for isolation and adventure. The region is definitely an suitable year-round holiday destination because of its steady climate and its closeness to the city of Cape Town, a significant travel and leisure destination in South Africa. Visitors to the Karoo in many cases are surprised by the large variety of natural and cultural attractions this semi-desert area provides. These include:

The Swartberg Mountains: This is an old mountain range that divides the Klein Karoo from the Great Karoo. The Swartberg Mountains constitute the highest mountain range in the Western Cape and they are famed for their spectacular, unspoiled natural beauty. Several of the Karoo’s most popular locations can be found within the folds of the Swartberg, for example the Cango Caves and the Swartberg Pass. An ascent of this range offers spectacular vistas over the Klein Karoo and interior.

The Gamkaskloof Valley: Gamkaskloof is one of South Africa’s most remote and inaccessible valleys. Visitors who brave the four-wheel drive trip into the Gamaskloof are rewarded with genuine privacy and seclusion from today’s world. The isolation and perfect organic beauty of Gamkaskloof makes the region an ideal spiritual wellness retreat, and travelers can find accommodation in the traditional farmhouses built by the farmers who once populated the valley.

Karoo villages: The Karoo houses some of South Africa’s quaintest and most atmospheric little villages. Apart from the advantage of an energizing sunny climate, these warm and friendly villages are filled with galleries, Victorian buildings and an almost tangible sense of heritage. The neighborhoods of Matjiesfontein and Prince Albert are two of the most popular attractions on Karoo guided trips, whilst the charming town of Oudtshoorn serves as the gateway to the limitless expanses of the Great Karoo.

Some great benefits of taking a Karoo tour

  • A guided tour of the Karoo is the best way for first-time tourists to explore this region.
  • Important things about a Karoo tour include: 
  • Booking of accommodation in reputable, comfortable Karoo hospitality establishments 
  • Transport through the Karoo with a tour guide present to promote knowledge of the region and its ethnic and natural traditions 
  • Advance planning and reserving of all meals prior to departure 
  • Access to a program of activities and ethnic encounters at each location on the tour route 
  • Visits to noteworthy Karoo attractions such as the Swartberg, Gamkaskloof and numerous Karoo towns 
  • Advance arrangement of all journey specifics, permitting individuals to chill and enjoy the experience of a journey through the Karoo 

Have you thought to book a Karoo tour online today? Select a reliable Karoo tour operator and then reserve your holiday break to this unique South African destination. Time Out of Time is an expert Karoo tour operator offering rewarding holistic wellness holidays to the Karoo.

Visit the website now to explore a Karoo tour itinerary, or contact janec@telkomsa.net for tour rates, departure dates and to book your place now.

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African Vacations: The Real Scoop

Let’s be honest here, taking a Africa vacation is not heading to the Jersey shore….this is the big leagues and if you are really going to take a vacation in your lifetime…this is it!!!

I took my first trip to Africa 10 years ago, and believe me it is a culture shock. Never have I felt like I was truly away as I did in Africa. Like most people, I wanted to go on a Safari, so I went to Kruger National Park. It was one of the most spectacular sights on earth. It makes the San Diego Zoo look like a Pet shop. But that was only the beginning.

My next stop was South Africa where I stayed at a boutique hotel right on the water with a backdrop of “Table Mountain”, what a magnificent and exotic vacation. Now, a few words of advice, do your homework and research. There are things that you may not know, like the fact that you should get some recommended shots before leaving, (ask your doctor).

A word of advice here, if you are thinking that travel throughout Africa will be easy, get that out of your thinking…cabs and rentals are very difficult even from the biggest cities. It’s very easy to get overwhelmed and lost in Africa without a guide that you can trust.

Additionally, it’s not cheap, but what is, so get online and start to plan accordingly, there are so many points of interest that aren’t known by your standard Liberty Travel Agent and aren’t offered on a Perillo Tour. So try find what suits you on your own, Plus is more fun to plan it for yourself. Touring Africa will affect you in so many ways, it’s almost like being your own explorer but remember to bring your sunscreen, chap stick and a pair of good hiking boots.

If I were headed back on an Africa vacation, I would give myself six weeks prep time. No less. It really is that important for a trip this big.

I can tell you this first hand, yes, there is some prep work involved in taking an Africa vacation…but the rewards from that work are simply astounding!!!

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