Tourism Indaba South Africa

South Africa and Africa's biggest tourism show, Indaba, kicked off in Durban on Friday and runs till Tuesday. 15 000 travel and tour operators from around the world converge in Durban for the annual conference to showcase southern Africa's tourism opportunities... beaches, the ocean, game lodges and safaris, mountains and nightlife... all represented at Indaba.

The boys from Gay Flag SA are also here and staying at Durban View Gay Guesthouse along with other Indaba delegates. Welcome to Durban guys.. South Africa's warm hospitable gay destination.

 

Eugene, "Lola Fine" and Henry from Gay Flag SA hand over a flag to Durban View Guesthouse owner Dave



Gay Durban View guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn with the flag boys

Mr Gay South Africa 2011 - finalists sail away



Mr Gay Sa 2011 Finalists at Durban View Guesthouse

Barman Ian and fiends meet the Mr Gay SA finalists

Llewellyn (Durban View Guesthouse co-owner) with Gavin Deale

Durban View Guesthouse co-owner Dave (left) with Rainbow Cruise organiser Leon Nel (centre) and former Mr Gay SA Finalist Gavin Deale (right)

Coenie Kukkuk, organiser of the Mr Gay South Africa pageant with his Finalists

The November Rainbow Cruise which sails from Durban to Mocambique is the most festive with the finalists of the Mr Gay South Africa competition on board. The sail-away party at Durban View Guesthouse gives us a chance to meet the finalists and the other rainbow passengers the night before the ship sails.

Visiting South Africa this year?

Here are some travel tips for those who would like to visit South Africa this year. For more gay information, also visit our Gay Durban, Gay Johannesburg and Gay Cape Town blogs.





The big 5 animals of South Africa









Durban beachfront on the warm east coast of South Africa







Table Mountain Cape Town



I was asked some advice for a tourist to South Africa, so I thought I would write a blog post and extend it to a wider audience.

Most tourists imagine that they can drive around the country in 2-3 weeks and see it all. This would not be adviseable as South Africa is a big country. If you did want to see parts to the north, south, east and west, you would need to fly to some and drive between other parts as I will recommend. An itinerary also depends on how much time you have and your budget.

TIME OF YEAR

April is the best time of year to visit South Africa. This is because the weather is generally the best... the heat of summer is over and winter is not yet upon us. Peak season would be summer when the schools are on holiday, but I personally prefer it off-peak when the crowds have thinned out and it is not so hot. Durban is best all year as our winters are never less than 15c and no rain. Cape Town is worst in winter as it is cold, windy and rainy.. best for Cape Town would be October/November and March/April. Cape Town is on the Atlantic Ocean so swimming is generally out, whereas Durban is on the warm east coast so August to end of April is good with best swimming/beaches December to March.

AIRLINE ROUTES

Emirates fly to Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg via Dubai, so best would be to fly in to one city and fly back out of another city, travelling between cities by car, train or bus. Most of the other airlines fly in to either Johannesburg or Cape Town, which means a stop in Durban and the east coast means additional flights or travel. I would even avoid Johannesburg completely and fly into Durban and then out of Cape Town home. My favourite Airline to Africa is SAA of course, but their routes are not the best and sometimes the prices are over the top. Check them out and compare.

WHAT TO SEE

Your routing may depend on what you want to see. The Kruger National Park a few hours drive from Johannesburg is probably the best but requires getting to Johannesburg and a few hours drive each way. I personally would avoid that as there are many excellent game parks around South Africa. If you have loads of time you could include the Kruger Park.

So suggestions could be... fly to Johannesburg, hire a car and drive to the Kruger Park. Stay 3 - 4 nights and drive back to Johannesburg to return the car. Fly to Durban and stay for 3 - 5 nights. Fly to Port Elizabeth (2/3rds of the way to Cape Town), hire a car and drive along the coastal Garden route to Cape Town stopping off en-route for 2- 3 nights. Spend 5 nights in Cape Town and fly home direct.



The Drakensberg Amphitheatre

 

Beach sculptures in Durban



Alternatively fly direct to Durban and stay 3- 4 nights. Drive up to the Hluhluwe Game reserve and stay 3 nights. Drive back to Durban and fly to Port Elizabeth following the same suggestion above ie cut out Jhb and the Kruger park.

As an extension to either route, you could drive to the Amphitheatre in the Drakensburg Mountains which are half-way between Durban and Johannesburg (2 1/2 hours drive), or you could drive from Jhb to Durban intead of flying. Another option is the train from Johannesburg to Durban which I believe is good.

Wine lovers would love Cape Town as the Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franshoek wine routes are within 40 mins drive of the city. I personally love Stellenbosch where my son goes to University at the moment, so I can visit him and drink loads of wine. There must be at least 200 wine farms in a few kilometres radius.

If you have a shorter or longer visit planned and want to come at an odd time of year or have any other queries, feel free to email me at durbanstadiumview@gmail.com and I will try and help out with my recommendations. Enjoy!

Happy New Year

So here's to an awesome 2011. 2010 saw our Mr Gay South Africa, Charl van den Berg take the title of Mr Gay World so we're on the right track. Come visit gay South Africa this year and you will be pleasantly surprised... mmm

Welcoming the World to South Africa

Welcoming the world to Durban are Guesthouse co-owners Dave and Llewellyn on the rooftop of the house with views of the new FIFA World Cup Football Stadium in the background.

The past few weeks have been busy ones at the Guesthouse recovering furniture, painting, choosing new furniture and curtains for some of the rooms, putting desks and safes in every room and pimping up the Pub for the visitors from around the world due for the World Cup Football event.

We will be welcoming guests from Australia, Germany, Portugal, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, United States, England, Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland.  

We hope you have a really awesome time in Durban guys. And don't forget to visit Durban's one and only Gay Club, The Lounge at 226 Mathews Meyiwa (previously named Stamford Hill) Road, or give us a shout on +27-837033329 if you want to pop in at the Guesthouse to say hi.

mr Underwear 2010

Meet Gerhard Venter. he is the new Mr Underwear 2010 chosen at this year's Pink Lourie festival in Knysna.

Durban View Guesthouse sponsored a weekend in Durban for 2 to the winner so we hope to see Gerhard here in Durban at the Guesthouse sometime soon.

Congratulations and good luck Gerhard.

Hot in South Africa

April is the finest month to be travelling in South Africa. The beach is best in Durban, where the sea temperature is still great.. sunny skies and awesome weather before the winter sets in.

Mr Gay South Africa Tonight

Guest at Durban View Guesthouse Hendrik from Windhoek, Namibia, was delighted to be on the Rainbow cruise this week that hosted the finalists of the Mr Gay South Africa Pagent which culminates in a Grand Finale in Pretoria tonight.

In the photo with Hendrik on board the MSC Sinfonia is finalist Chris McGreggor, who hails from Durban and is looking awesome here at the White Party on board the ship resplendant with wings and cock-tail... mmm

Spring Gay in SA

So how many of you would you like to spend Spring Day in the company of these Guys....?

1 September is Spring Day in South Africa and summer is just around the corner so why not book your trip to beautiful Durban.... home of sunny beaches, warm ocean and gorgeous surfer boys... Book now and enjoy our hospitality at Durbanview Gay Guest House.

New gay resort

It is great to find new exclusively gay guesthouses, lodges or retreats in South Africa. Here is a new one just opened in Warmbaths, about 80kms north of Pretoria.

Manfields is appropriately named and promises to liven up the list of available gay resorts in this country. Here is what owners Andre and Jaco have to say about their resort: "Wake up to most amazing sunrises and fill your lungs with the fresh, crisp and crystal clear bushveld air to get you going. Go for strolls in the lovely bushveld, relax in the lounge at the bar and make friends in the splash-pools. Watch the sunset from a splash pool with a cocktail in your hand or share your greatest stories around a crackling bonfire or just allow the flames to carry you into dreamland." Check out their website by clicking on the link in this story and maybe we'll see you there!!

Gay Travel and Accommodation

Zoom Vacations - Your Gay South Africa vacation awaits you. And, instead of another Thanksgiving holiday filled with the same Turkey and Stuffing as last year, why not treat yourself to the South Africa vacation of a lifetime!

Gay Info.co.za - is poised to become one of South Africa's most comprehensive Gay Guide for the local and international Traveller.

FREE listing for South African gay businesses.

Out In Africa - dream holidays for singles, partners or groups of friends choose your own flights your own dates your own route your own pace.

Gay Mart - Gay-MART specializes in travel information and internet shopping of interest to Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites, Transsexuals and Intergendered Persons and their friends and allies around the globe.

Safari now - Gay destinations South Africa. A useful booking and holiday accommodation guide.

Gay Durban - Accommodation, travel and gay tourism guide for the sunny east coast of South Africa port city of Durban. Party Gay, Stay Gay and Travel Gay. Book Now ONLINE.

Back to glorious Durban

It's always great to be home, especially the glorious March weather of Durban, our home town on the sunny east coast of South Africa where we run an exclusively gay Guesthouse. We had a wonderful short break though.. visiting Borovets, the ski resort of Bulgaria and then Barcelona. Seen having fun with us are from top, Alex and Valentine (Russian friends middle), Llewellyn on the ski slope at night in Borovets, Dave and barman Bobby at the Mamacita's Pub in Borovets, gay friends from the UK Stu, Vic, with Llewellyn, Chris and Harry at Buzz Bar in Borovets, and bottom photo is of LLewellyn and Dave on the streets of gay Barcelona.