Lighthouse Getaways

Best Holiday Accommodation in South Africa

What You Don’t Know About African Safaris

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Many wouldn’t know how to go about planning a safari trip to Africa. Lucky that today we have many safari tour companies that handle all the intrinsic details when it comes to travel, accommodation and which locations you would wish to travel to in packages best suited to your pocket. However, there are other details that would not hurt to know about.

African Safaris

The time of year to go on a safari trip. Many would wish to optimize their experience on a safari tour and would hate the rainy season to spoil their experience. As much as Africa is summer most of the year, there are very cold and wet seasons to be weary of. Most importantly, many would like to see the migration of wildebeests from the Maasai Mara to the Serengeti which occurs during the month of July and October. This will be the ideal time of the year to take a safari vacation.

If you are travelling with kids make sure to keep them busy. Most children have the attention span of a fish and would be utterly bored by all the waiting during a safari excursion. It is best to get a family-oriented guide that will not only keep them entertained and prevented from any graphic sightings. This brings me to my next point…

Patience. Safari excursions and wildlife sightings are not fast paced and easy to spot. It will require a lot of patience and driving around to spot the perfect scene. Since most game animals will be spotted from a distance, it would be wise to bring a pair of binoculars or two.

Stick to your planned schedule. Many people would lag behind after seeing a couple of attractions and national reserves not knowing that it could prevent you from seeing bigger and greater things that might be just arond the corner. Keeping time is very fundamental as well; the best sightings are normally in the early hours of the morning.

Carry extra cash. As much as your tour agency covered on your trip it would be wise to carry some extra cash in case of an emergency or other activities that the tour packages do not cover.

Cheap Cruises – Quality Budget Holidays

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cheap cruises

Cheap cruises are becoming the best way to have a five-star holiday at an amazing price. Although you will be paying less you are still receiving all of the facilities and service that you would expect from a world famous cruise. Mini cruises and last minute cruises are a great way to save money, but experience a fantastic holiday. With the current financial situation around the world people are becoming more inclined to want to save money.

Although holidays can be the first thing to go when you are trying to cut back, if you can book cheap cruises you can still have your time away. The yearly holiday is often what many people work towards, and removing this from your life can make the year a very long time. Holidays have been proved to help families, and relationships develop. They are the perfect way to unwind, and relax leaving your worries at home.

Last Minute Cruise Holidays

Last minute cruises do not mean that you will be getting less quality, and they are the ideal way to save money. Many of the cruise companies are offering some great deals at the moment to encourage people to continue booking their vacations. By offering incredible packages, and cheap cruises they are ensuring that their bookings are still good.

As with any cruise you need to ensure that you fully understand what is included in the overall price. Although many things will be included there are often surcharges for additional items, and this can begin to add up. However, if you are clear from the beginning what your cheap cruises include there will be no unexpected bills at the end of your vacation.




All cruise ships have different categories of cabins, and with the cheap cruises you have to appreciate that you will not be staying in one of the best suites. However, all of the cabins are clean and homely. You will also pay less for your last minute cruises if they are booked off season, and to destinations that are not as popular.

There is no benefit for the cruise company to leave the port without their rooms all full, so they would rather sell them as last minute cruises than not at all. You will be surprised at the standard of cruise that you can get if you shop around. Knowing where to look for cheap cruises is often the key, and being able to be flexible is important.

If you can go on your cruise at any time, and do not mind where you sail to it will be far cheaper. Often this is one of the great ways to see areas of the world that you may never have thought about before. You will be pleasantly surprised at the destinations that you will end up in, and may even want to return there again.

Cheap Cruises

Although you are looking for cheap cruises you have to remember that they are actually affordable ones, and not bad quality. The cruise ships want to ensure that you have a great time, and want to book with them again. If you have a great time it maybe for longer, and to more expensive destinations in the future.

Margate – Meet The Bustling Holiday Town

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holiday accommodation in margate

Quaint little holiday towns and villages pepper the Kwa-Zulu Natal south coastline from Amanzimtoti, just outside Durban, all the way to Port Edward, the last town just before the Eastern Cape & Transkei border.

The NKhongweni River flows into the sea at Margate and the translation of the Zulu name means “Place of Entreaty”.  It is said that the local inhabitants at the time were so vicious that any travellers had to beg for any hospitality.  Henry Richardson, a surveyor, laid out the town in 1908 and named it after Margate in Kent, United Kingdom.   The town has grown into this bustling holiday mecca and features an eclectic mix of old and new buildings all nestling quite happily together.

Margate Holiday Accommodation

Margate is the holiday heart and soul of the south coast which sees an enormous influx of thousands of visitors to its shores every year, and particularly over the Christmas holidays in December.   It is a fact that many families are 2nd or 3rd generation Margate holiday-makers!  It’s the place with the biggest and most contagious holiday vibe that young and old enjoy together!

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The absolutely stunning tropical weather that we on the KwaZulu-Natal coast are blessed with makes it possible to holiday throughout most of the year, with just a few weeks of really chilly weather keeping the thin-blooded locals out of the warm Pacific Oceans.

Kilometre stretches of soft white sands, beautiful lagoons and water parks ensure days of fun in the sun for the whole family.  There are so many beautiful beaches to choose from and there are lifeguards on duty for your safety.  Margate boasts the stunning Blue Flag beach which sees a multitude of costume-clad visitors every day.  Then there are the forests, nature reserves teeming with phenomenal bird life and a variety of buck and monkeys which are perfect for the energetic hikers.  The nearby crocodile farm, birdpark and butterfly farm will keep young and old enthralled as well.

Some of the best surfing spots are located here.  Then there is deep sea diving amongst well-known wrecks, deep sea fishing and underwater cage dives amidst the sharks and other colourful marine life to serve the adrenalin junkies well, as will bungee jumping and zip-lining at the nearby Oribi Gorge!

And let’s not forget Mom – flea markets, shops, boutiques galore line the streets and once can easily become so engrossed so as to lose a day or two browsing.   Add to that a huge variety of pubs, clubs, restaurants and speciality stores and you have the absolute perfect mix in the perfect place for a perfect holiday!!

Are there any places that you particularly love on the South Coast – let me know and I will do a feature article on it for you.

What About Port Edward Makes It Exciting

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holiday accommodation in port edward

Today I am going to introduce you to the town of Port Edward.  This young town, named after the Prince of Wales who later became Kind Edward VIII was only set out in 1927 and has fast become very popular with holidaymakers from both South Africa and abroad.

Port Edward is the most southern and last town on the Kwa-Zulu Natal south coast before you cross the UmtamvunaBridge into the Eastern Cape. This bridge was built in 1966 and is the largest steel suspension bridge in South Africa, with a total span of 206m.

During 1831, a battle arose between King Dingaan of the Zulu nation and the settlers in the Port of Natal (Durban). A group of settlers fled along the coast with the Zulu warriors in pursuit. They were finally caught and massacred in the area now known as Port Edward, on a hill called Isandlundlu – the translation of which means: shaped like a hut. That area has since become known as Tragedy Hill and the bones of the victims still litter the hillside.

Several ships too, have foundered along the coast and one of the earliest recorded wrecks is that of the Sao Joao which ran aground there in 1552 and it is believed that is the first time that people from Europe met the people of Africa.

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Port Edward and the surrounding area is rich in archaeological artefacts  dating back millions of years to the Upper Cretaceous period,  in the petrified fossil forest, known as the Mzamba Cretaceous Deposits.

Then there is the world’s smallest desert – The Red Desert situated about 10km west of Port Edward. This area, roughly 200m in diameter and about 11 hectares in its entirety is an anomaly in this lush area of sub-tropical vegetation.  Local folklore suggests it was the scene of an alien spacecraft landing but the more scientifically based explanation is that  a Zulu tribe used the  area  to keep vast amounts of cattle they stole from the local Pondo people and this led to the subsequent over population and over grazing of this tract of land. Together with wind erosion, this resulted in the desert situation developing. Both the Mazamba Fossil Forest and the Red Desert are now nationally proclaimed and protected Heritage Sites.

Today, the town of Port Edward consists of an eclectic mix of people – artists, retired folk and those who live and work there full time.  It is the place of choice for those who love visiting the Wild Coast Casino which is just across the river.  This huge resort offers the world class casino, accommodation and a wide range of water sports, including the popular water park.

So, along with surfing, boating, fishing, world renowned golf courses, restaurants, nature reserves, caves, deserts, gorges and various wildlife parks etc, this stretch of the south coast is a veritable feast of activities to keep any visitor occupied and enthralled.  In fact, you’d need a holiday to recover from your holiday!   So why not let us help you with making your accommodation booking – we at Seaverge Holiday Chalets have a wide range of stunning apartments that you can choose from just a short scenic drive away!