South African wine yards in pictures

I really like the South African wine regons and not only because of its wine. The view and scenery is so beautiful. Isn´t it? Here are some pictures from my trip to South Africa in 2010.

Flowers and wine yards in Stellenbosch

Thelema wine yard

Sunny South Africa

10 top things to do in South Africa?

South Africa has a really special place in my heart. It has everything sea, wildlife, fishing, mountains, wine district, shopping and great food!

Visiting Johannesburg?
Stay at the Michelangelo hotel in Johannesburg by the Nelson Mandela square. Or at the Sandton towers . Another nice new five star luxury hotel is the Da Vinci.
The Saxon Boutique Hotel and Spa has been voted the world´s leading boutique hotel and the Best Day Spa in South Africa. Stay there, or at least have dinner there and you will find out why...
Want something cheaper, but nice? The Irene lodge is really nice and have great jazz lunches in the weekends. The Centurion hotel is ok, has a pool but not so fancy

Shopping in South Africa Johannesburg!Go shopping at the shopping malls Rosebank, Sandton and try the big shopping mall Menlyn shopping mall in Pretoria.

Restaurants Johannesburg and Pretoria South Africa!

• Ritrovo in Pretoria, has fabulous Italian food opera-evenings and dinners. The owner also sings beautiful opera if you ask him nicely. Don’t miss it!
• Cynthias in Pretoria is a restaurant and art gallery. The food and wine is great and the prices are great too. Not a common combination.
• Butchers in Johannesburg is a butcher and restaurant in combination. Great food and huge wine cellar. Ask to have a look before you order your food! http://www.thebutchershop.co.za/
• The luxury West Cliff hotel and restaurant, marvellous food and a great view form the hill.
• Maximilien is a new restaurant at Sandton Sqaure in Johannesburg. Great food and it has a spectacular cigar bar. http://www.maximillien.co.za/
• Restaurant Pappas is also located on Sandton Sqaure in Johannesburg. Great meditarian food, a taste of Greece. Lovely! http://www.pappasrestaurant.co.za/

When tired of the cities go out to the bush on safari
Sun city in South Africa is close to Johannesburg and a strange place built in the middle of nowhere but has everything, hotels, restaurants, pools, casino, safari. It is convenient for families with small children. Play golf at the Gary Player golf course.
Or do the real thing and go to the Kruger national park.
If you don´t have time to go to bush to see the animals you should visit the Lion Park. If you dare you can go into the cage and touch the lion cubbs (they are not so small, wear trousers, they can jump and bite!) or feed the giraffs. It is an outdoor zoo close to Pretoria and Johannesburg.

When in South Africa you also have to visit Cape Town and the wine district.
Stay in with a great view of the sea in luxury at the Table bay hotel. Or in the cheaper but not cheap SAS Waterfront Cape Town.
Rent a car or take a tourist trip with a tourist company to the wine district. Short overview on: http://www.wineanorak.com/saregions.htm
My favourite is Franschhoek. There are so many super nice hotels and restaurants here!!

And don’t forget to bring your golf clubs. There are great golf courses everywhere! Try one way of living in South Africa. Stay by the golf course at the wonderful Wings & Water Guest House at the gated community Silverlake. It is close to the air port, shopping centres, golf course etc in Pretoria. And it has a great chef. The owner has also another lovely guest house for a safari weekend, and a third by the coast.
When in Johannesburg or Pretoria you should arrange a tour guide to take you to the Apartheid Museum and on a Soweto tour. There are plenty of sites to visit in Soweto for example Nelson Mandelas home and the home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It is also nice to visit the Parliament in Pretoria.

Get to know some more about the culture of South Africa in the Lesedi Cultural Village, Magaliesberg. Local families live permanently in five traditional homes including Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele. Have lunch in the restaurant and try ostrich or crocodile.

If you dont want to drive a car yourself, it is nice to go with a tour operator. For example JMT Tours http://www.jmttours.co.za/