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!

South Africa clinches 2nd Mr Gay World title tonight!!

Congratulations to Francois Nel have been pouring in.

The new Mr Gay World 2011 chosen tonight in Manila, Philipines, is South Africa's Francois Nel seen right above with Mr Gay South Africa organiser Coenie Kukkuk.

This makes it second in a row for South Africa as Charl van den Berg (left in picture right) handed over his reign as Mr Gay World 2010 to Francois. Charl is pictured in Durban with Durban View Gay Guesthouse co-owner Dave Mc Naught.

We are so proud of both you guys holding up the flag for South Africa at such a prestigeous competition.

The 1st runner-up was USA, 2nd runner-up Spain, 3rd runner-up Australia and 4th runner-up New Zealand.

Gay Directory South Africa updated

The Facebook group Gay Directory South Africa is the largest gay Facebook group with over 4 200 members and has just been re-vamped. Created by Dave Mc Naught of Durban the directory has been steadily growing and gives an easy link to nationwide gay interest groups, accommodation in the various provinces and more...

Check out the Gay Directory South Africa here.

Here we come

If you're thinking of making a trip to South Africa, April must be the best time of the year to visit. Fabulous weather, hot guys! Come visit us on the east coast, where the beaches never end and the ocean is warm and the boys even hotter.

Legality of same-sex sex and Marriage in South Africa

The legal age for sex in South Africa has changed over the years and on the 1st January 2008 we achieved gender equality.

Same-sex legality was previously 19 and for hetero-sexuals was 16 but all provisions that discriminate have been formally repealed  - including an equalised age of consent now 16 regardless of sexual orientation, and all sexual offences are now defined in gender-neutral terms.

South Africa was also the fifth country in the world, the first in Africa, the second outside Europe and the first republic to legalise same-sex marriage with the coming into effect on the 30th November 2006 of the Civil Union Act allowing same-sex partners to choose between a marriage or civil union, both with identical implications. A copy of the Act can also be downloaded - see our side blog and civil union or pre-marriage agreements are also available. Tel 083-7033329 if you need more help. - Dave

Summer in South Africa

I know how cold it is in the northern hemisphere, but here in South Africa it's a sizzling summer and the beaches are hot... especially on our east coast where surfers are king.

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

Francois is Mr Gay South Africa 2010

Francois Nel is the new Mr Gay South Africa 2010.

Here are the full results:

Mr. Personality: Francois Nel;

Top 3 SMS results: 1. André Lammers; 2. Jared Lee Smit; 3. Francois Nel;

Bone Wear Model of the Year: Francois Nel;

Schwarzkopf Model of the Year: Jared Lee Smit;

Mr. CW Design Jewellers: Francois Nel.

Overall: Second runner-up: Karl-Heinz Michel, first runner-up André Lammers, Mr. Gay South Africa 2010, Francois Nel!

Congratulations guys and to Charl van den Berg, the outgoing Mr Gay South Africa who did South Africa proud by going on to win the Mr Gay World 2010.

Good morning South Africa

It's beautiful summer weather in South Africa. So it's shirts off and fun in the sun... let's toss the scarf!

Pride Movies in South Africa

Not very well publicised but Ster Kinekor are halfway through their Pride Film Fest in South Africa with 2 movies left to screen in their Cinema Nouveau complexes around the country.

In Johannesburg/Pretoria there will be a screening of The Kids are Alright on the 12th November in Brooklyn (Pretoria) and V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, and in Rosebank Johannesburg on the 26th November, whilst their other movie Eyes Wide Open screens only at 4 venues on the 12th (Rosebank and Cavendish) and 26th November (Brooklyn Pretoria and V&A Waterfront Cape Town). Durban has one remaining movie, the Kids are Alright on the 12th November.

Last year I was appalled by the lack of publicity for the few films they were showing and adverts at the Cinema for the gay film fest apologised to straight patrons for the screening on one day of the year of films to suit the gay community. Poor show Ster Kinekor.

Yes you can

Everything is possible in South Africa.

gay Durban Durban View Hot Bodz

Go PRIDE Go - Johannesburg Pride 21st Birthday

It's all happening in Gay Johannesburg this weekend 2 Oct with South Africa's largest Pride gathering, Parade and Parties.

Check out the Events listing down the sideblog of our Gay Johannesburg blog and here's a pic of the Parade route from Zoo Lake to Rosebank and back. The Pride Parade and Festival celebrates it's 21st birthday on Saturday! Wow, a coming of age of Gay Rights in South Africa.

The 2010 Pride Parade, featuring a host of colourful floats and thousands of revellers, will kick off from Zoo Lake Sports Club at 10am through the streets of Rosebank. Participants should note that this is an hour earlier than in previous years – so make sure you get there on time!

Refreshment points for marchers will be provided along the route. No alcohol is permitted to be consumed in the Parade and participants are reminded to wear sunscreen and a hat or cap.

Marchers return back to Zoo Lake Sports Club at around 11.30am for the rest of the Pride Day festivities until 5pm. Revellers will be entertained by local artists and DJS as well as a guest teaser performance and appearance by British pop-star and DJ Sonique who will perform with her dancers at the Official Joburg Pride After-party later that night at the Standard Bank Arena. (Tickets for the after-party are available through Computicket).

Besides the entertainment there will also be Pride stalls - with all sorts of goodies on display and on sale - bars, food and a kiddies’ play area. LGBT organisations such as OUT will be informing the public about their work and will provide services such as free on-the-spot HIV testing.

Mr Gay South Africa finalist

Meet Ernest Gravett hot finalist in the Mr Gay South Africa 2010 competition. Like the previous winner of the 2009 competition Ernest is from Cape Town.

South Africa in Russia and Amsterdam

We were in St. Pertersburg last month for Llewellyn's 40th Birthday and imagine our delight to find the DJ in the Central Station bar sporting a South African shirt! Not be be outdone, in Amsterdam for gay Pride 2010 the street barman was happy to pose with the South African flag we carried along the canals as we followed the parade.

Dave and Llewellyn show the flag during Amsterdam Gay Pride 2010 in August

Mr Gay South Africa ™ Finalists

Congratulations to finalists in the Mr Gay South Africa ™ pageant who have been chosen from Cape Town - Andre' Lemmers (top) and KwaZulu-Natal - Jared (left) and runner-up Prince (right) who will be among the 12 finalists competing for the 2010 title in Pretoria in November. The Glen Hotel in Cape Town and exclusively-gay Durban View Guesthouse in Durban hosted the two regional finals.

Kzn Finals of Mr Gay South Africa 2010

Dave and Llewellyn hosted the Central region (Kzn) finals of the Mr Gay South Africa 2010 Pageant at the Guesthouse last night and pose here with winner Jared who goes through to the national finals later this year.

The Heat is on

The heat is on as the 2010 Mr Gay South Africa finals around South Africa  take place over the next few weeks. In Durban, Sat 24th July sees the KZN (Central) regional finals @ Durban View Gay Guesthouse, in Cape Town the Southern regional finals take place @ The Glen Boutique Hotel on Sat 7th August and @ the Brooklyn Theatre in Pretoria on Sat 4th September the North (including Gauteng) regional finals will be held.

Event bookings are through Hennie - hennie@mrgaysouthafrica.co.za

Towards Mr Gay South Africa 2010

It's the KZN finals of the 2010 Mr Gay South Africa pagent at our Guesthouse next weekend in Durban, so if you havn't already booked to stay with us and enjoy the hot guys around the house, there is limited space still available.

GO Bafana GO! Opening game

One would be mistaken in thinking our SA National Football team, Bafana Bafana, were not the world favourites to win today as they take on Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup.

I have never seen so many yellow shirts in South Africa on one day... everyone - uniting the nation - are showing their colours for Bafana Bafana and South African flags are everywhere.

Fridays have been the days South Africans and schoolchildren have been allowed to show their support by wearing a Bafana shirt to school or work. In the photos from top to bottom are images painted on a garden wall just up the road from the Guesthouse showing Bafana Bafana in action, a handwritten message  in wet concrete, my office staff gearing up for the opening game today, and a self-pic of myself in my car on the way to work - full time lawyer, inbetween running the Guesthouse with my partner Llewellyn, who also has his own SpecSavers Optometry practices by day.

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.

Hot bois all in one country

One thing about South Africa is that we have the hottest guys as well as the hottest weather. So be it winter or summer, there's plenty of both, especially in our coastal city, Durban.

And we boast one of the most liberal constitutions that protect gay rights and our cities are all gay-friendly...

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.

Winter dawn in Durban

The sun has risen and it's another glorious winter morning in Durban. For those not from Durban it is almost hard to believe it is winter; we went to the beach yesterday and tanned coming home a little pink. This is not the case for the rest of South Africa though - it is already quite cold inland and whereas we have a dry winter, it is usually raining and cold this time of the year in Cape Town.

27 April - 2 May: Pink Loerie Festival

The Pink Loerie Festival in Knysna is upon us and the final programme has now been loaded on their website. And it's their 10th Annual event so promises to be even bigger and better than before.

There is a Pink Parade, parties every night, pink soccer tournament, art exhibitions and openings, Mr Mardi Gras and Underwear shows, Miss Mardi Gras, Go-Go dancers and comedy show... and more.

It started as a way to kick-start the slow May (cold) economy in Knysna and hasgrown over the years to be one of the town's, albeit controversial, biggest money spinners.

So hats off to the organisers. It's a huge event. 

Miss Gay SA 2010

Now there's a Miss Gay South Africa 2010 - beauty queens in drag.

The organisers of the beauty pageant promise that while most of you have probably been to a few drag beauty pageants, with this South Africa-wide one, you will be able to see ALL the entrants from the smallest town to the biggest city, and not only a few selected representative from a certain province or club.

The competition is organized to showcase our beautiful drag talent in South Africa, and entrants and sponsors can contact the organisers by e mail to info@gaysa.co.za (Anton Swanepoel).

There is also a Facebook group with the link here.