100% Africa !

There are times when everyone wants to get away and experience something a little different. Sometimes it may be as simple as wanting to get away to see relatives who live in another part of the country. For South Africans who do not own a car or who do not want to drive their own car, there is AVIS Rent a Car - South Africas leading Car Rental Company. Renting a car to travel in South Africa is a smart choice. The rates are good, the cars are reliable and the locations are convenient.

It can be an expensive proposition to live and work in South Africa. Some people manage to save some money by not owning a car. This can suit some people who live in the major cities for awhile, but even those people will sometimes want to get away or run errands where they simply need an automobile. AVIS Rent a Car – South Africas leading Car Rental Company has locations in many places throughout the country.

Entertaining visitors from out of town is often a great experience. Everyone wants to show off where they live and share the highlights of their land. It is a problem if you drive a car that is on its last legs. You want to provide the best experience for your guests and so going to AVIS Rent a Car – South Africas leading Car Rental Company before your guests arrive to pick up a car will make everyone have a better time. You will feel more relaxed driving a clean and dependable car, your guests will feel better seeing the sights in comfort.

Whether renting for pleasure or business, choosing a car rental company is easy when you go with a name that has built up a reputation of trust all over the world. It makes sense to use AVIS Rent a Car – South Africas leading Car Rental Company because they have a long history of providing dependable cars at an affordable rate. South Africa is changing fast, but many companies are still offering quality service. The last thing anyone wants is to have their trip spoiled by car trouble, this will not happen when you rent with a dependable company

Botswana is, without a doubt, the very best part of Africa. A country known for peace and tranquility, which alone is an attractive point, where you’ll find diamonds and beef, and it also holds lots of other surprises for you. Come and explore the diverse cultures of the people of this country, and where nature can be found at its very best. If there is a place, where one wished time could stand still, it is in this beautiful country.
This land-locked country is geographically dominated by Kalahari Desert. Botswana is bordered by Zambia and Zimbabwe to the north-east, by Namibia to the north and west, and by South Africa to the south and south-east. The Zambezi River calls for a single pointed meeting between four countries, namely Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. It is here that you will also find the Chobe River, running along the northern boundary, the Nossob River running along its south-western boundary, the Molopho River, running along the southern-boundaries, and the Marico, Limpopo and the Shashe Rivers, running along the eastern boundaries.
Amazingly enough, the Kalahari Desert stretches west covering 84 % of the country. “Desert”, is a misnomer, as its earliest travelers defined it as a “thirst-land”. Most of the Kalahari, is covered with vegetation – including stunted thorn and scrub bush, trees and grasslands.
The Chobe River runs along the northern border of the Chobe National Park. Rising in the northern Angolan highlands, it’s called the Kwando and travels enormous distances through the Kalahari sands, before reaching its destination in Botswana. It’s here where it becomes the Linyanti, and then when it reaches Ngoma, it becomes the Chobe. These three mighty rivers carry more water than all other rivers in Southern Africa.
The Chobe River first off flows directly south, but is caught by a rift at Divei, and drops out onto a swamp. It then turns north through Lake Liambezi, and then finally turning east, passing Kasane and then joins the Zambezi at Kazungula, flowing briefly together before spilling over the Victoria Falls. The Chobe twists and turns through swamps of wide reed and papyrus beds, forming hidden lagoons, which sometimes fill with beautiful water lilies. Its south bank, alternating from open flood plains, dotted with pans to thick woodlands, and across the river from Botswana, lies the Caprivi Strip – the scene of grazing cattle contrasts sharply with the scenes of wild animals in the Chobe National Park.
The second largest national park in Botswana, the Chobe National Park covers 10, 566 square kilometers and has one of the greatest concentrations of game to be found on the African continent. It’s because of its’ uniqueness in its abundance of wildlife, and true African nature, that any safari taken here, is going to be an experience of a lifetime!
Divided into four distinctly different eco-systems, your choice of where to safari is not limited by any means. Serondela – its lush plains, dense forests in the Chobe River area; Savuti Marsh – in the west and about 50metres north of Mababe gate; Linyanti Swamps – the hot dry hinterland in between. From Kasane, follow the new tar road, past the airport to Sedudu Gate. This is where all persons are required to check in. But don’t forget that your four wheel drive vehicle is essential here, especially if your intention is to travel into the park!

In the vast bushveld expanse of eastern Swaziland, where the hot still sun of Africa beats on the dry, but life-giving soils as it has for thousands of years, is what you as a visitor will find when exploring the Hlane Royal National Park. Named by King Sobhuza II, its adjacent dispersal areas cover 30 000 hectares of Swazi bushveld, dominated by ancient hardwood vegetation. In the cool dusky evenings, you’ll hear the rumbling roars of the lions, and you’ll be able to find elephant and white rhino, along with an abundant and diverse birdlife, along with the nesting of white backed vultures in Africa. Take a game drive along the network of self-drive game roads that criss-cross the park’s flat terrain. It weaves between the 1000 year old hardwood vegetation, and shallows pans attracting great herds of animals, during the dry winter months. Head for the bush and experience the sights and sounds of Hlane against the roar of Hlane’s magnificent lions – definitely the symbol of royalty, as well as the pride of Swaziland.
If you are going to Swaziland, you need to book yourself into this stunning Bush Lodge. Hlathikhulu has everything and more! Situated in the heart of the park, it is elevated on a terrace overlooking the Black Mfolozi River. With excellent opportunities for walks into parts of Imfolozi, an area the most people never see. Situated in a well grown stand of umThombothi trees in a park like setting, with the grass grazed short, by the resident group of white rhino. As you sip your morning early morning coffee, your view from the deck stretches down across the Black Mfolozi River where crocodiles and hippos come to drink. And in the evening, a visitor can see a variety of animals make their way out of the surrounding bush, to drink ever so cautiously from the edge of the river.
Choose from four 2-bed units, with en-suite shower and toilet linked by wooden walkways to a central living area. As a visitor, your needs will be attended to by the staff who cook and clean and a field ranger who on request, takes visitors on walks through the African bush. The cooks can produce a variety of tasty meals to suit the bush lodge lifestyle. The exciting part about this, is that the bush camps and lodges only cater for one party at a time, so for the period of your stay, this becomes your home in the African bush!
Named after William Peak, Piggs Peak is found in the northern parts of the country, namely, the Hhohho region. Famously known for its spectacular gold mining, which was mined during the years 1889 and 1957 respectively, this town is not only known for its gold, but also the accommodation with luxurious hotels and casinos, lodges and guest houses it provides for visitors.
If you’re passing through on your way to the Kruger National Park, Orion Piggs Peak hotel which located on the main route, between Kruger National Park and Mbabane, making it the perfect stopover. It is also the biggest hotel found in this area. As a visitor, you won’t find it necessary to gallivant while you’re at Piggs, there is a redecorated and a wonderful resort for tourists at the Bulembu Lodge. This town is overflowing with accommodation, with plenty of things to do, places to see and with the time line being “Africa Time”, nothing is done in a hurry, and so perhaps for this reason, people here are very friendly. This is a holiday destination you don’t want to miss the opportunity of taking!

What was previously known as Lourenzo Marques, located in the extreme south of Mozambique, at the mouth of the Santo River, 90 km’s from the border of South Africa. Maputo’s a sprawling capital city with a bustling harbor and a population of about two million people! The city was called Lourenco Marques until the country’s independence in 1975. It has been the capital of Mozambique since 1898 is now called Maputo.
It was once one of Africa’s most beautiful and fashionable cities, with impressive skylines of tall buildings, and a cosmopolitan Portuguese/African atmosphere. The Polana Hotel buzzed with chatter of socialites and nightclubs thumped til the early hours of the morning.
Unfortunately, in the Mozambique war in the 1970’s and 1980’s, threw this prosperous African city into chaos and poverty, and when peace finally came, the proud city was in disrepair. Litter lay everywhere, major services including water and electricity were out of commission, and immigrants crowded the buildings.
Slowly recapturing some of its former glory, Maputo has still not managed to reach the romantic heyday of the 60’s and early 70’s. Multi-million dollar mansions overlook the sea whilst massive slums ring the city, and with dilapidated concrete high rises standing next to beautiful Portuguese villas, the gap between rich and poor is vast.
But don’t be fooled. There are amazing things to be seen in Maputo. The most important landmark being “Our Lady Of Conception” or the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceiao – the nucleus of the original settlement. Another building to definitely be visited is the Central Railway Station, which looks more along the lines of a palace for kings, rather than a siding for commuters! Whilst the bustling market is also worth a visit, with stalls selling a wide range of fresh food – you’ll find heaps of cashew nuts and chillis. Not to mention some of the excellent restaurants serving peri-peri prawns, wash it down with a cold Laurentia beer. Or visit the infamous Fere de Populare, with dozens of bars and discos, Mozambicans dance into the night to seductive Latino beats.
For most visitors however, Mozambique’s incredible coastline is the main attraction. Unfortunately, with the cyclone hitting Maputo’s beach in 2007, most of it was washed away so it’s not really advisable to swim in the ocean. But for a true tropical island holiday, rather look at the picture-postcard islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago.
And with a regular ferry service, it will take you from Maputo’s fishing harbor to Inhaca Island, a favourite for divers and snorkelers. Otherwise head south to Maputo Elephant Reserve – a sanctuary for elephant, hippos, crocs, side-striped jackal and antelope. But remember that you’ll need a 4×4 to get through on the sanctuary’s bumpy roads, and with no restaurants or lodges in the reserve, you’ll need to ensure you’re accommodation is ready after your amazing trip through the sanctuary.
A brief stop-over in Maputo on the way to the Bazaruto Archipelago or Quirimbas Archipelago is highly recommended. With a couple of upmarket hotels in the city, the best being the Polana Hotel, with a grand view over the harbor, the tea gardens, the large, inviting pool and the Victorian lift.

Traveling in a foreign country is an exciting proposition. There is always a great deal to see and to do. Oftentimes the difficulty is being able to squeeze in the greatest amount of sights in the shortest amount of time. For people who enjoy seeing things in a far off part of town, renting a car makes the most sense. While visiting South Africa many people turn to AVIS Rent a Car - South Africa’s leading Car Rental Company to meet their needs. It is important to choose a trusted name in the automobile rental business. There are enough uncertainties while traveling, why not eliminate one and go with a company that you know to be reliable.

Another factor people need to consider when renting a car is convenience. You want the car rental company to be where you are. You do not want to have to spend a lot of time and effort trying to track down one of their locations. AVIS Rent a Car – South Africa’s leading Car Rental Company has numerous locations throughout the country. As you would expect, they have locations at the airports and train stations in the major cities, but they also have rental locations sprinkled throughout the country. It is easy for visitors and residents to find a location to rent or return their car.

South Africa is an ever changing country that has much to offer the world. It is up to the world to make a small effort to travel to South Africa to see and experience all that is happening there. South Africa is a diverse country that is taking steps to move beyond its past. It is important to get out to the smaller cities and regions to see all the changes. The best way to travel is often with an AVIS Rent a Car – South Africas leading Car Rental Company. Guided tours are fun and useful, but there is nothing like getting out there on your own.

Business travelers need to follow their own agendas. They need to be somewhere to make their deals at specific times. These times may not coincide with a bus or train. Renting a car is the best way for them to get around. Choosing AVIS Rent a Car – South Africas leading Car Rental Company makes perfect sense for cost and convenience.

Welcome to the amazingly picturesque Kingdom of Swaziland! As you travel through this beautiful country, you’ll discover, as many others already have, that Swaziland has a quaint offering of diverse vegetation at every turn, something one would expect from a larger country. Borne out of an ancient dynasty of royal leadership, in this present-day, it is reflected in the status according to the King and Queen Mother, a unique dual monarchy. It may be among the smallest countries on the continent and one of Africa’s remaining monarchies – but there’s far more novelty value on offer here.
Crossing the border, you are almost able to feel the undercurrent of tension from South Africa fade away as you enter this friendly, easy-going little country. This makes it a relaxing stopover on the trip between Mozambique and South Africa. It’s also surprising as to how much there is to do in Swaziland. Think of the royal ceremonies, the excellent wildlife reserves, the superb scenery, this should all be more than enough reason.
Hlane Royal National Park, an eyeful of white rhinos, lions and antelopes – and you have plenty of camping options available. Situated in the northeast near the former royal hunting grounds, this park offers wonderfully low-key wildlife watching. With white rhinos and antelope, you won’t regret it. Elephants and lions have also been welcomed again. Enjoy yourself with either a guided walk, a two-hours wildlife day drive, a cultural village tour which includes dance performances, or with mountain-bike trails.
Choose between Ndlovu Camp, a pleasant and rustic fenced off camp, a communal area and a restaurant, but beware, there’s no electricity at this camp, so it’s back to basics; or choose from Bhubesi Camp which are self-contained huts with electricity.
Pass through Mbanane on your way to Ezulwini and Malkerns Valleys, re-known for its picturesque scenery and for its handicrafts. Starting near Mbanane and going all the way down past Lobamba Village, 18km’s away, you’ll find the homeland of the Swazi Royalty. Lobamba Valley is lush with greenery, however it’s becoming less picturesque with all the hotels and other developments.
With the majority of the population being ethnic Swazi, mixed with a small number of Zulus and non-Africans, you’re in for an experience of a lifetime. Traditionally, the history of the Swazis has been of farmers and herders, but now, some work in the growing urban formal economy and in government, with some Swazis working in the mines in South Africa. When it comes to religion, Christianity in Swaziland is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs. You’ll find that the official languages spoken in Swaziland are SiSwati, which is a language related to Zulu, and English. Everyday business and governmental business, is mainly completed in English.
A major festival that is celebrated is the Reed Dance performed every August at Ludzidzini – which is the home of the Royal Swaziland household. The purpose of the Reed Dance festival is to give King Mswati III the opportunity to add to his ever-growing number of wives. The maidens dance before the queen, and the king chooses his next wife, an honour a girl cannot refuse although it’s by free choice the maidens attend the dance.

Kenton-on-Sea offers the individual a coastal vacation with a difference. One can get the opportunity to explore hidden coves, bubbling lagoons, winding rivers and tranquil beaches. There are a number of car rental companies available and you can explore until your heart is content. With such majestic scenery and active wildlife, one can surely question why it took you so long to visit. With Neighboring towns such as Kariega, Port Alfred and Grahamstown, there will be plenty of places to travel, but you will most definitely be captivated by the this quaint little seaside village which also happens to be a malaria free area.

Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, is a vibrant and colourful city, situated in the flat valley between Kgale and Oodi hills, on the Notwane River in the south eastern corner of Botswana. It’s often described as Africa’s fastest growing city, and one only has to see the growing number of inhabitants of this land, to understand why. With a population of 192 000 people in 1998, it is the capital city, with the seat of government and the commercial and administrative heart in the centre. It is named after Kgosi Gaborone, who led the Batlokwa tribe into the area in the 1880’s. Settling in Tlokweng, which is the first urban are you reach when driving into the city. In the early 1890’s, a colonial fort was built in the area now known as The Village near Tlokweng. Its ruins can still be seen near the Village Cinema.
The Main Mall – definitely the starting point for your journey in Gaborone. Planned in 1963, the area was prepared for the Independence, its purpose to be the town centre, cleverly located between the Railway Station and the Army Garrison. Today, it’s the heart of Gaborone. It has shops, banks, business offices, and walkways with people selling crafts and many other goods of interest. At the eastern end of The Mall, is where you’ll find the Civic Centre, housing a public reference library. Commemorating the Independence of Botswana, you’ll find the Pula Arch opposite the Civic Centre.
Surrounded by other tall government buildings, The National Assembly is found at the top of the Main Mall. At the centre of this government enclave is where you’ll find a paved square with a War Memorial, built in memory of the 300 Botswana people who died fighting with the Allies against Fascism in the Second World War, 1939, to 1945. You’ll also find a statue of Sir Seretse Khama, the first President of Botwana.
Just south of the Main Mall, you’ll find the National Sports Stadium, the Gaborone Golf Club, the Cricket Club, the Rugby Club and the Botswana Tennis Association Courts where the international Davis Cup competition was hosted in 1997. Numerous gymnasiums throughout the city all have good in-house health club facilities. With a second golf course also having recently been completed in Phakalane, your visit can be filled with activities of all kinds.
On the western edge of the city, Kgale Hill dominates Gaborone. Offering pleasant climbing conditions with breathtaking views of the Dam, and not to mention the city. Visitors are allowed to choose one of the three well-defined routes up the hill namely Rusty’s Route – steep up the rocky face; Transfeldt Trail – longer up the back; Cross Kopje – the undulating walk across the saddle. All take less than an hour, but beware of the troop of baboons living on Kgale, and the pair of black eagles, consistently nesting in the craggy cliff-face below the peak. There’ve also been reportings of early morning sightings of leopard!
But we all know that lions are the major attractions, so why not pay the St Claire Lion Park a visit, it has a great deal more to offer! Situated on the Lobatse Road, set in an open woodland, a variety of outdoor activities are offered for the family, also offering a relaxing spot for weekend picnics and getaways.

There are numerous car rental companies in South Africa, however there is only one company that stands out above the rest. This company is known for it’s superb customer service, affordable rental rates, and selection of vehicles. AVIS Rent a Car - South Africa’s leading Car Rental Company, is the top car rental corporation in the country. In addition to renting cars, Avis offers several extras to ensure the client experiences total safety, convenience, and comfort. Today’s modern consumer wants all of the added comforts, at the most cost efficient price.

One amenity Avis offers to their customers is a complimentary cell phone package. This can be a lifesaver to travellers. For the person on a business trip from another country, a cell phone would enable him to retrieve information very quickly, and be able to communicate with clients without accruing roaming charges. AVIS Rent a Car – South Africas leading Car Rental Company, provides a mobil phone that is great for the family who wants to talk to loved ones back home, or to send vacation pictures. A phone is also great for unexpected emergencies, when a person is in a new country, and does not know where to go.

Another amenity Avis offers is special equipment to travellers who are disabled. For people who are immobile from the waste down, there are cars that encompass highly advanced hand controls, that enable such a person to drive with ease, safety, and peace of mind. AVIS Rent a Car – South Africas leading Car Rental Company offers these services so that travel can be accessible to everyone, disabled or not. This can be a welcome dream come true for people who would not be able to travel, if this service was not offered.

A fun amenity Avis also offers are computerized maps, so a person can tell where they are going without getting lost. AVIS Rent a Car – South Africas leading Car Rental Company offers this along with information on restaurants, recreational activities, weather, and current news. These are just a few of the many extras that Avis offers to their devoted and loyal customers.

Have you ever had the urge to get in your car and just drive? Drive into the country side and just relax. Maybe pack a picnic basket, some divine cheese and biscuits, some wine and find a space in the sun where no-one else is around, where it’s just you, nature, the beautiful lush soft grass, the sounds of the birds chirping around you, the mountains, and peace.
When I think about this kind of drive, this kind of atmosphere, the first place that comes to my mind is the Magaliesberg. Depending on where you’re coming from, the drive to Magaliesberg is just a little over an hour, and then you’re in paradise! Stretching for 120km from Bronkhorstspruit Dam, which is east of Pretoria, all the way to Rustenburg in the west, and then they separate the Highveld grasslands to the south from the bushveld savannah in the north. The Magaliesberg mountains are among the oldest in the world, being almost 100 times older than Everest.
If you’re a mountain climber, or hiker, you can enjoy the deep gullies and wonderful kloofs created by the water runoff from the mountain. Some of these are more than 100 metres deep, and have perennial waterfalls of crystal clear water spilling over from the heart of the mountain.
Having mountain climbing enthusiasts visiting the Magaliesberg since the 1920’s, it’s one of South Africa’s main sites for climbing, and especially for the Mountain Club of South Africa, promoting conservation in the area, sparing it from abuse.
A now proclaimed World Heritage Site since 1999, Maropeng, which in Setswane means “The place where we once lived”, is representative of the wars that have waged on its soil. The Magaliesberg region is recognized as the birthplace of mankind, visitors are welcomed! The Cradle of Humankind Visitors Centre, has been awarded the Best New Tourism Project of the British Guild of Travel Writers.
Personally, I love driving through the mountains, then finding a nice quiet spot and just enjoying. Knowing that Magaliesberg was once the home of huge elephant herds, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, big cats and many species of buck. Private game lodges are re-introducing species back into the region. Sable, roan antelope, gemsbok, wildebeest, giraffe, zebras, and others have been seen in the Rustenberg and Sikaatsnek Nature Reserves. The other creatures that make this drive exciting and that you should look out for are creatures such as porcupines, polecats, bushbabies, dassies and weasels, roaming wild, and in the forest vervet monkeys, shy duiker and genets. And especially look out for the tree squirrels. All part of the adventure of a Sunday afternoon drive.
Don’t be surprised that you’ll find plenty of accommodation on-route, so if you find yourself wanting to plan a short weekend away, you can find accommodation of all kinds – from self-catering, to hotels, all with views, all with nature on your doorstep. But if you’re only looking for that drive with maybe a stop for a bite to eat, yes, that can also be catered for. There are plenty of restaurants tucked away in this beautiful part of the world. So what’s stopping you? Take a moment for that relaxed moment, it’s not something you’ll regret, in fact you may enjoy it so much, you may decide to take that drive far more often!