The Bamboo Guest House - Hermanus

This weeks accommodation feature is the recently opened Bamboo Guest House, located in the seaside town of Hermanus, one of the top land based whale-watching destinations in the world.

The Guest house is perfectly situated, close to the town centre, beaches, the 27 hole golf course and a stones through form the beautiful cliff paths. This also makes it the perfect base to go shark cage diving at Gaansbaai, an hours drive away.

The entire guest house has been furnished in hand crafted Bamboo furniture which has been custom designed and purpose made by Bamboo Living. Floors are Bamboo and towels are 50% Bamboo/Cotton mixed fibre.
A beautifully landscaped garden and pool area with a custom built bar will reward you with hours of entertainment and relaxation in the Overberg sun.

All rooms at The Bamboo Guest House are spacious with either sea or mountain views. Each en-suite room is furnished with hand crafted Bamboo furniture and equipped with flatscreen LCD televisions, bar fridges, hospitality trays and executive desks. Bathrooms are spacious with luxuriously appointed showers and baths.

The Bamboo Guest House offers great value for money, with affordable rates of between R 450 and R 550 per person per nigh sharing.

For bookings and more information.

Adventure Hikes in the Cape Peninsula

Adventure Hikes in the Cape Peninsula has been written for the adventurous hiker or mountaineer, from keen beginners to rock climbers wanting a day off from their ropes and 'friends'. Whatever your background, following a route description is an adventure.

Here are more than 30 tried and tested hikes, with detailed descriptions illustrated with more than 450 colour pictures to help you find you way. The routes are classified into three sections: easy, moderate and difficult. The guide includes additional information about the flora and history, as well as and safety and conservation tips.

Adventure Hikes in the Cape Peninsula is the ideal guide to carry in a rucksack, whether a beginner, moderately fit or experienced hiker, or just curious.

This is Karen Watkins second book; the first was Adventure Walks & Scrambles in the Cape Peninsula, published by Double Storey in September 2003. She has been leading day hikes and trails, including to wilderness areas for people of all ages, for more than 18 years. She is involved with many hiking organisations and has been a volunteer for the Table Mountain National Park for ten years.

At present the book is available at R130 (pre book launch price) from the author at karen.watkins@inl.co.za or call 076 543 7266. It will also be available at R150 at independent bookshops such as The Book Lounge in Roeland Street, Bay Bookshop in Hout Bay, Book Shoppe in the Pick 'n Pay Centre in Tokai, Folio Books in Main Road Rondebosch, Kalk Bay Bookshop, Kirstenbosch book shops and others.

Dewani arrested in Britain

British millionaire Shrien Dewani was arrested in London on Tuesday night for suspected involvement in his wife Anni's murder, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

He was arrested at 11pm London time at the request of South African authorities on suspicion of conspiring to kill her, Scotland Yard told the broadcaster.

Speaking to reporters on the court steps afterwards, an emotional Vinod Hindocha, Anni's father, expressed his gratitude to South Africans.

"I'd like to say thank you to the South African people for their support and thank you for the whole world for the condolence messages to our family," said Hindocha, who had flown out from Sweden for the hearing.

"And I hope... no, I have nothing more to say. Thank you all. Thank you."

Namibia in Top 10 Best Value Destinations for 2011

Lonely Planet has announced its top 10 list of Best Value Destinations for 2011. Here at Finding Africa it comes as no surprise that Namibia is ranked at number 5.

Namibia is a land of unique and contrasting landscapes offering the wild rugged skeleton coast, the solitude of the mighty dunes in the Namib Desert, great game-viewing in the Etosha National Park and of course the colonial German architecture from a bygone era. Namibia is well geared towards backpackers and tours aimed at budget travellers, but if you go up a price bracket you can eat and sleep well in excellent midrange value-for-money options. Namibia has become a photographer’s and outdoor adventure enthusiast’s paradise. View this amazing video of a flight over the Namib Desert.

Bangladesh topped the Lonely Planet list at number one.

World Aids Day: A fighting chance

This battle is being won. With global co-operation, we can give hope back to the helpless, writes Elton John.

This World Aids Day marks the beginning of a fourth decade living with a global killer. I understand that many of you have just picked up your morning paper and may not want to think about disease, death, and devastation. I understand that you may think Aids is too complicated and too persistent for us to solve. I understand that you likely have a dozen other issues clamouring for your attention – global warming, poverty, world peace, just to name a few – and the day has only just begun.

I am compelled not by despair but by hope. I'm heartened by the recent statistics from UNAIDS that tell a promising story – 5 million people on treatment and a 25 per cent drop in new infections across the worst-affected countries since 2001. I'm motivated by the progress that Aids has quite unintentionally moved forward, rather than the destruction it has left in its wake.

For the rest of the article on World Aids Day