MoreCarHire.com

Nantes the best city in France Posted By : Doug S.
Nantes city is the sixth largest in France. It is a city in western France, located on the Loire River. The quality of life surveys it the best city in France in which to live.

The Mayas are Coming to the Windy City
Chicago s IMAX Theater at Navy Pier to host Mystery of the Mayas from June 18 to 24 Vote Chichen-Itza! In the spirit of driving the vote for the archaeological site as a new world wonder, the Mexico Tourism Board will be hosting the film “Mystery of the Mayas” at the IMAX Theater at Navy Pier in downtown Chicago from June 18 to 24. The film is open to the public and free of charge (subject to availability). Filmed on location at numerous sacred sites throughout Mexico, the film explores the culture, science and history of the Mayan civilization. The story is told through a modern-day archaeologist and a young Mayan descendant who explores ruins and legends to unlock secrets of the past. Mystery of the Maya takes the audience through a breathtaking trip on Mayan culture and history. Dr. Joel Palka, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Latin American and Latino Studies of the University of Illinois at Chicago will give a special presentation on the giant IMAX screen highlighting state-of-the art in Maya archeology (recent finds, new directions, etc.) for the VIP audience. Dr. Palka s current research covers ancient Maya social differentiation, settlement archaeology and the collapse of the Maya civilization. Show times are Monday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, June 19, at 7:15 p.m.; Wednesday, June 20, at 12:15 p.m.; Thursday, June 21, at 5:45 p.m.; Friday, June 22, at 9:45 p.m.; Saturday, June 23, at 9:45 p.m. and Sunday, June 24, at 3:00 p.m.. For tickets, please contact Erick Laseca via email at Erick.Laseca@bm.com, phone at 312-228-0517, ext. 14 or fax at 312-312-228-0515. A voting station at the entrance of IMAX Theater at Navy Pier will enable visitors to vote for Chichen-Itza as one of the new seven wonders during the week-long showing. Voters will be eligible to win a free trip to Chichen-Itza, including roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations for two. We are pleased to be sharing our Mexican culture and history with the Chicago community through this film, said Eduardo Chaillo, director of the Strategic Business Unit for the US and Canada for the Mexico Tourism Board. Residents will be able to appreciate the Mayan culture and see why Chichen-Itza is worthy of becoming one of the new seven world wonders, he added. About the Mexico Tourism Board The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations nationally and internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. About Chichen-Itza, the World Wonder Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation is revising the original seven ancient wonders of the world, and Mexico s Chichen-Itza in Yucatan State is one of 21 finalists to become a new Seven World Wonder. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, Chichen-Itza is considered to have been one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan peninsula, and today is one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico. To vote for Chichen-Itza as one of the new Seven World Wonders, visit the new7wonders website. # # # Erick Laseca Mexico Tourism Board 312-228-0517 ext14 erick.laseca@bm.com http://www.visitmexico.com

Erick Laseca works for Burson-Marsteller as public relations liaison for the Mexico Tourism Board in Chicago. Author owns copyright and allows use of the article - free for reprinting and publication.

Vacationing In Mexico: Nuevo Vallarta
Villa del Palmar Flamingos is located in Nuevo Vallarta, which is a sister city of Puerto Vallarta. The Mexican vacation rental resort sits right on the water s edge, providing white sand beaches for relaxing and aqua blue waters for keeping cool. Guests staying at the Villa del Palmar Flamingos vacation rental resort will have plenty to do while on the property. Adults can swim in the dual level pool, snorkel, windsurf, take an aerobics class, or indulge in a spa treatment at the resort s European style spa. Some children will, of course, enjoy many of the adult activities but younger children tend to have much more fun hanging out with their peers. That s why, in addition to the activities above, the resort has a special kid s area, kid s pool, and a unique children s program (ages 4 ” 12). All of the kid-centric activities are designed to keep children busy having their own kind of fun in the sun. A number of other fun activities that both children and adults will enjoy are available not too far from the resort. The short list of activities includes horseback riding, fishing, boating, parasailing shopping, and golfing. With all that fun it s easy to work up an appetite and at Villa del Palmar Flamingos, guests have plenty of options on what they want to eat as well. Each vacation rental is furnished with a kitchenette or a full kitchen where guests can cook their own meals “there s a grocery store on the resort premises “or they can always eat out at one of the four on-site resort restaurants. There are a number of Mexico vacation rentals to choose from, especially in the Nuevo Vallarta / Puerto Vallarta area. However, few offer the 4-star quality at half the four-star resort prices like the Villa del Palmar resort vacation rental. Fewer still have so much to do for adults and children on-site. So if you re looking to vacation in Mexico and you want a great deal, Villa del Palmar Nuevo Vallarta is one of the best Mexico vacation rentals you re going to find. by Karen Lovendahl, Premier Beach Vacations

Wake Up to Sea, Sand and Surf. Discover <a href="http:// www.premierbeachvacations.com"> www.premierbeachvacations.com</a> and deluxe vacations at gorgeous luxury resorts worldwide. Beautiful 1-bdrm Condo Suites - Only $999 per week, 2-bdrm (sleeps 6-8) Just $1,399. You'll cherish this vacation for a lifetime. Call Us Toll Free 1 866 736-3390.

Travel To South Africa: Modern Nation, Ancient Origin
South Africa is an extraordinarily unique sub-Saharan African nation jutting formidably for sailors who have planned to round its cape into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans at the southernmost top of Africa. The archeological evolution of humanity has been documented in South Africa, with a history as old as any on the planet. Even more, the wildlife and biodiversity of South Africa s semi-arid plateaus, bush and coastline are possibly the most thrilling and rewarding in all of Africa. Explore the vibrancy of a multiethnic, forward thinking democracy interlaced with the splendor and community of traditional Africa!

The South African Identity 11 Languages Strong
South Africa stands apart from the rest of Africa with its unique colonial origin that carried over to modern day. Those who travel to South Africa are often drawn by the fascinating multicultural immersion found in a modern country that is confronting racial issues head on. Dutch navigators and settlers occupied the area for much of the 17th and 18th century, importing slaves from India, Madagascar and Indonesia to make up for a labor shortage. The descendents of the resulting interracial marriages make up a large population of the Western Cape today ( Cape Malays ) and displaced much of the local Xhosa and Bantu people. The British ultimately colonized South Africa when the Dutch could no longer fight their own battles against native resistance.

After independence, the European minority remained in political control and apartheid ensued until 1994 when black Africans finally gained full political rights and enfranchisement. Interestingly, South Africa is the only African nation to be ruled by a continuous democracy and the first and only nation in the world to build nuclear weapons only to voluntarily dismantle the weapons program altogether.

Whales, Wine and Wetlands
Since the end of apartheid, it has been much easier to enjoy the spectacular sights of South Africa. From the busting city of Cape Town, hike the iconic Table Mountain National Park when the flat top is covered in an eerie layer of clouds or travel west to the Shipwreck Coast of the Cape of Good Hope where a graveyard of unfortunate naval expeditions are well preserved and add character to the stunning coastline. Also signature of South Africa s coastline is the abundance of whales. Spend an afternoon in the seaside town of Hermanus, famous for whale watching, or take a guided boat trip to catch a closer glimpse of the majestic creatures. From here, a trip along the popular Garden Route winds through hidden nature reserves, tucked-away coastal towns, national monuments, indigenous forests, sea caves and borders the peaceful desert highlands of the Karoo. The Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park to the north is worth a visit to see the massive hippos rummaging quietly through the marsh. Unwind from your expeditions in South Africa s prosperous and productive wine region northeast of Cape Town. Arrange for a stay on an estate in Stellenbosch and treat yourself to a tour of some of the world s best wine, introduced by Europeans in the 17th century.

Most of the popular areas are in the Western Cape and along the coast, although more pristine wilderness and less urbanized indigenous culture will be found inland. Also, the commercial capitals of Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria (the administrative capital) are exciting for their urban juxtaposition to the African wilderness at large. South Africa is a wondrous and historic land of global culture that has never been more accessible or enjoyable. Don t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to explore the gem of the oldest and most diverse continent on earth!

For more information on international travel and <a href="http://www.cfares.com/southafrica/">discount airfare to South Africa</a>, visit <a href="http://www.cfares.com">www.cfares.com</a>, your source for <a href="http://www.cfares.com">cheap airfare</a> on the web.

Lapland Polar Dreams Finland
My love affair with Finland began the moment I stepped off the Finnair plane. My ancestry is Norwegian and I guess something primal in my Viking genes bonds me in kindred spirit with this unique Nordic land. Having toured over a hundred countries, this is virgin territory for me and what an utterly cool place to visit in January. I ve packed enough thermal gear to survive the most brutal blizzards but on arrival in Helsinki today, there is no snow.

This is a friendly cosmopolitan capital for all tastes. Everyone speaks English, it s safe and I m told, the cleanest city in Europe. It is virtually graffiti free as I stroll the elegant Esplanade. This is the boulevard of trendy shops and cafes. The sidewalks are heated. So much culture here with 7 symphonic orchestras, opera house and a library on each corner. Fins are big on design and big names have left their distinctive mark around the world with cutting edge style.

I am grateful to be here by invitation from the Finnish Tourist Board for a site inspection and travel conference. After hotel check in, I am given a private city tour by Irene, a local guide with sincere passion for her city. There are 560,000 inhabitants and 43% are single! What a venue for a creative AFS trip. Finland is 10% water with 187,000 lakes and 584 islands.

This is a high tech capital of the world. Fins have an extreme appreciation for innovation and love their toys. Everyday tasks are preformed on their Nokia Imaging cell phones. With it they can buy a tram ticket, pay a parking fine or program their lights to turn on before they arrive home. This is also sauna world where nearly every house has an electric sauna. There are over 2 million and even some restaurants have them. Caf © Tin Tango is a place where you can do your laundry, eat lunch and sip a beer in a sauna with locals discussing how to solve the world s problems.

The shopping is great for designer knitwear, jewelry and glassware. Although tax free, prices are high, yet I am told Oslo is far more expensive. At night locals fill clubs that provide some Nordic oddity like gay karaoke , sauna and ice bars.

Sunday I fly the polar express 600 miles north to Roveneimi, gateway to Lapland and where the fun begins. People here ride bikes in the snow, swim in the ice holes and do artic picnics. The hottest activities happen in winter. Last month the city of 35,000 received 20,000 visitors. It is 2 Fahrenheit and considered exceptionally warm

We are a group of 22 tour operators from around the world and check into a cozy wilderness lodge. Each room has a private sauna. Dinner is presented in a rustic lodge lit with traditional candles muted lighting. Glow fried salmon was prepared over an open hearth along with wild mushroom soup and blackberry mousse. Afterward we gather to bake in a smoke wood sauna.

Monday morning we are outfitted head to toe in Gortex artic suits for a full day snowmobile safari. We each mount our super Skidoos and head out to the forest. Across the lakes we reach speeds of 50mph! First stop is a husky farm with 200 dogs to greet us. Seven blue eyed huskies are chosen per sleigh for our dog sled adventure. The cacophony of yelping, howling and barking is near deafening as the dogs anxiously await their turn to run. So strong, so gentle and they love their work. Upon rope release, they re off like a bullet and the journey is thrilling. We get to view 9 new puppies. After a thousand licks, I hate to leave.

We stop at a farmhouse for a lunch of saut ©ed reindeer, goat cheese potatoes and cranberry ice cream. Back on our snowmobiles, we traverse a snow covered paradise. We cross the Artic Circle, the most northern terrain of all my travels. Parallel with Siberia and just 40 miles to the Russian border, I want to defect but we soon stop at a reindeer farm to be greeted by costumed Lapp-lads. They perform the customary Lappish baptism and give us an official border certificate as well as a reindeer driver s license. We then enjoy a sleigh ride from the docile yet powerful deer.

This is the land of the indigenous Sami. We learn of the fascinating culture of these semi-nomadic people who live on top of the world. Reindeer husbandry is the oldest livelihood. They possess a genuine love of this frozen land.

We had 4 hours of daylight today. As I change back into my jeans, I recall that I was never cold, not even my toes. We motorcoach north to Luosto, a village of 40 residents and check into a beautiful ski resort. Outside on my balcony is a theatre of wilderness. The purity of nature is shown through a forest of birch trees backlit by the moon. The snow listens. White silence surrounds me. I am entranced by the tranquility. This is a romantic environment where all haste is forgotten. Simply put, it is spectacular. Here I wait. Here on earth, the Aurora Borealis presents its most amazing spectacle. Perhaps I ll get a glimpse. A peaceful sleep overcomes me after a totally exhilarating day.

The next day we dine on a hearty breakfast of smoked fish and set out to tour the area. One resort has 310 log cabins each with a private sauna. We tour an amethyst mine, the largest working mine in Europe. With picks in hand, it was a treasure hunt to dig out the brightest purple gemstone. On to the tiny ski town of Pyha, where we lunch at the worlds largest log cabin. There is a snow chapel here entirely sculpted from snow and ice. Weddings are routinely performed. With ice pews, the sermons are short. Another highlight here was a visit to Santa Claus Village. I got to meet the real Santa. He lives here and is fluent in a dozen languages. His elves are busy in the post office answering the annual 40,000 letters from children around the world.

Back at the airport, our plane lifts off a runway of solid ice. I will miss the polar darkness and yet long to return for a visit in the summer with its 24 hours of sunlight.

The following days are productively spent at the travel trade show in contemporary Helsinki. I have learned so much of a land that exceeded my expectations. I never had a chance to overnight in the Ice Hotel of Kemi, ride the Sampo Ice Breaker or swim the Baltic Sea in a floating survival suit. But I m grateful for a taste of Lappish adventure. On my last night, a flickering of northern lights dance in the sky. It s a perfect scene to bid me farewell and is said to bring good luck. I hope good fortune will allow me the chance to share this adventure with a group soon. It is like no where else I ve been. Everyone should experience such a warm atmosphere in the heart in winter.

President, founder and tour leader of AFS has traveled to 150 countries and partically invented the concept of singles travel. Suzy's goal is to provide an affordable,vacation that exceeds expectations.

Find The Best Beach Vacations Online Posted By : Gnubas
Before we begin, let’s talk over what we are hoping you will learn through this educational article about beach vacations. So we can begin to put it together for you.

St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) and Baslica Cistern of Istanbul
The most important 2 landmarks of Istanbul are St. Sophia and Yerebatan (Baslica) Cisterns. They were both built by the Byzantines and two of the few historic sites in the world that has been preserved in perfect condition until now. They are both located at the old city and the distance between them is only a few minutes.

Once a church, then became a Mosque and now it is a Museum. The Hagia Sophia is over 1600 years old and it is still one of the most incredible and significant buildings in the world. It has a 31.24 meters diameter dome with no apparent supports to it. Hagia Sophia, right now is arguably considered to be the 4th biggest cathedral in the world but the reality still holds true that it had been built 1,000 years before any of the first three. Still, it is not possible to classify cathedrals in size because there are many different variables like the size of the diameter of the dome or how tall it stands. For the first 1000 years after it was built, it has continuously been considered as the greatest church in Christendom.
The pendentives that hold the dome are triangular shapes that let the circular base of a dome to stand weightless on a square shaped construction . The weight of the dome is supported by these four points of piers and passed to ground. This was tried to be accomplished for a long time by the Romans but it was the Byzantines that managed to build it for the first time at Hagia Sophia. Later, the technique was used at the construction of many other European churches during the 2nd millennium. This was an idea of two geniuses of their time, Anthemios of Tralles, and Isidoros of Miletos. When Byzantine Emperor Justinian stepped into this church for the first time, he proclaimed Solomon! I have outdone you!” After Istanbul was conquered by the Turks in 1453, it served as a mosque for another 500 years. The minarets were added to the structure after it was converted into a mosque.
By the order of Ataturk, the Turkish government changed the status of this Istanbul landmark into a museum in 1935. Some of the Byzantine mosaics still survive in the museum. Some alterations were made when it was converted to a mosque to facilitate worship facing Mecca of Arabia. Hagia Sophia is a unique architectural monument. It has a total height of 55.6 meters and its dome has a diameter of 31.24 meters. Today, Hagia Sophia is a cultural monument protected by UNESCO.
Yerebatan Cistern is the old Roman built water reservoir of Constantinople. The 336 columns of the reservoir were built by Emperor Justanian as a water support to the city. The columns were collected from old Greek monuments; two of which to the northwest have upside down Medusa heads on their bottom. While there is water dripping from the ceiling and fishes are swimming in the eternal darkness you can hear the echoes of every drip in the cistern. The Cistern is as impressive as it sounds and it is definitely one of the most important places to see while you are in Istanbul.

Basically, the most important 2 landmarks of Istanbul are St. Sophia and Yerebatan (Baslica) Cisterns. They were both built by the Byzantines and two of the few historic sites in the world that has been preserved in perfect condition until now.

H. Silistre - is the author for Hotel Lamartine's travel tips section. Please visit <A HREF="http://www.lamartinehotel.com">Istanbul Hotels Guide at Lamartine</a> for more travel tips and city specific information written solely for prospective travelers headed towards Istanbul.

African lion in kenya adopts 6 oryx calves;
Free to publish as is. Wonders in the world come in all shape and sizes. In Kenya, East Africa on December 2002, the world woke up to the most unimaginable news. The Blessed Lioness among African Lions A 2-3 year old lioness Kamunyak had adopted a Fledgling young Oryx calf. The news was treated with a lot of skepticism since an Oryx is a type of antelope upon which lions usually prey. Experts were at a loss to explain the big cat’s affection towards the calves. The lioness, nicknamed Kamunyak, or The Blessed One, by locals, had protected her adopted young from danger and had allowed them to nurse from their biological mothers. The Hungry Lion King According to wildlife experts in Kenya, believe the lioness might have been unable to conceive her own cub and had ”unfulfilled maternal instincts. “Unfortunately the union was short lived and the 1st calf s life was snubbed out by a hungry male King Lion. This happened when Kamunyak had gone to drink water from a river. The African Lion is known for being overly aggressive of cubs/calves sired by other males let alone one from an Oryx. Lioness adoption history Three years have passed and astonishingly Kamunyak, (the lioness Samburu name), had in total adopted six Oryx calves. The sequence of her adoptions are as follows: Dec - Jan 2002 1st Adoption: 16 days ” calf eaten by male lion; Feb 2002 2nd Adoption: 2-3 days ” calf rescued by Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS); Apr 2002 3rd Adoption: 2 days ” calf rescued by mother, lioness injured; May 2002 4th Adoption: 24 hrs ” calf abandoned, rescued by mother; Sept 2002 5th Adoption: 2 days ” calf starves to death, and when dead is eaten by the lioness (lions sometimes eat their own cubs when they die). Jan 2003 6th Adoption: 24 hours ” calf escapes back to its mother, shortly after there were reports of a battle between Kamunyak and other females. Lioness age It is thought that Kamunyak may be around 7 years old now. She was estimated to be about 2 to 3 years old when she adopted her first Oryx calf, so she was still an adolescent. Kamunyak was most often alone. She seemed to move in the same territory as a pride of 7 lions, which is in the heart of Samburu National Reserve, and is possibly one of the better feeding grounds for Samburu African lions. When she adopted Oryx calves she moved in a very small area and when she was alone she sometimes disappeared for months. She has not been seen since February 2004. If she shares the same territory as the pride of 7 African Lions, could she possibly have had a history with the pride in whose territory she resided?. It is believed that in the past Kamunyak had a sister. However her solitary life could be a result of being kicked out of a pride. Perhaps her pride became too large and sub-groups split off to form new lion prides. Perhaps she was cast out as a single lioness and had to fend for herself, in between warring territorial prides, as a vagrant nomadic female, eking out an existence on the periphery. Theories: Kamunyak had been seen hunting warthogs and other small prey. During the first adoption when she remained with the Oryx for 16 days, she kept a 24 hour vigil over the Oryx. Despite being very thin and hungry, when she caught sight of prey she refused to let the Oryx out of her sight. In February 2003 she was seen in a big fight with two females who are thought to come from the same territory. She was skulking around the edge of a giraffe carcass that the pride of 7 lions had been feeding on. There are several theories that have been proposed to explain this extra ordinary behavior of the female African lion. 1) The question has been raised whether this could have begun on a hunt with an unusually long game of cat and mouse, where after 24 hours she bonded with the calf. Sub-adults have been known to play with mongooses and other small species over a short period of time. However three weeks suggests that the cat and mouse game turned into something else. However, now on her 6th adoption, it seems that the lioness actively goes in search of Oryx calves to kidnap. 2) The Samburu people suggested Kamunyak is barren. However this seems unlikely considering that her body is responding to an overactive maternal drive. Plus she was so young and it is very difficult to tell whether a female is barren. 3) She could have a serious hormonal imbalance, which is triggering this abnormal behavior with another species. There have been records of lioness with huge cysts on their ovaries that affect their behavior, but perhaps not to this degree. 4) According to a scientist who has studied elephant reproduction, phantom pregnancies are quite common in feline species. It could be compared to domestic dogs that have phantom pregnancies and start lactating. If a lioness rank affects their endocrinology perhaps a phantom pregnancy is a possible explanation. 5) Kamunyak only adopted Oryx calves. Like all cats, lions have acute vision primed especially to pick up on movement. But they do not seem to be very good at individual recognition from a distance, and rely primarily on their sense of smell at close quarters to identify one another. Oryx calves are remarkably similar in colour to the tawny coat of an African lion, and it is possible that once the lioness had locked onto the smell of cub in the calf then it s lack of a feline physique ceased to matter. 6) The park rangers suggested that she found the calf shortly after it was born and the smell of the amniotic sack on the calf s body triggered some kind of maternal response. The fact is that we will never really be sure by in the middle of the Kenyan game reserve, a young female African Lion decided to start adopting Oryx calves. And not just one, but six different calves at different days and for increasingly longer durations. Sometimes even to her expense as she could not effectively hunt so as to keep guard; a fact that emaciated her to a point of near death. Where to see the cast Today Samburu, one of the calves rescued by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was taken to an orphanage in Nairobi. The Oryx is now a fully grown male. In September 2006 he had a fight with another orphaned antelope and one of his long horns broke. The KWS were quick to administer veterinary aid and he is now fine but will have to do with a single horn. The operation on the wound was recorded on tape as most of his life in the orphanage probably for visitor education on their Kenyan tour. He has continually attracted a lot of tourists in the Nairobi National Park “Orphanage on their Kenyan Tour. He continues in good health. Kamunyak, the Lioness has not been seen for over 2 years now and all we can guess is that she got her groove back. Kenya Tour The Nairobi National park is the only park within a city in Africa and possibly the world over. It is extremely popular with business and holiday visitors on their Kenyan tour or safari vacation. Getting there can be arranged from your transfer hotel in Nairobi before or after your interior Kenyan safari. Samburu National Park is to the 400km North East of Nairobi and is usually included in wildlife safari itineraries over 3 days long. Accommodation in the reserve is available as tented camps, safari lodges and ground camping. You might just be lucky enough to meet Kamunyak. To plan your own self-made safari vacation, visit www.landmarksafaris.com/planner/ Robert Muhoho www.landmarksafaris.com www.eastafricasafari.blogspot.com www.safarishots.blogspot.com

Robert Muhoho is a travel consultant and conservationist from Kenya, East Africa. www.landmarksafaris.com www.safarishots.blogspot.com www.eastafricasafari.blogspot.com www.eastafricasafaris.travellerspoint.com

<b>The 10 best golf courses in South Africa</b>
South Africa s courses offer some of the world’s best golfing and the climate is ideal for golf year-round. Many of the courses have featured on both the European PGA Tour, as well as the local Sunshine Tour. Compiling a list of the top ten courses will be contentious, but here goes.

Arabella Country Club

Host to the Nelson Mandela Invitational since 2003, and designed by Pete Matkovich, this Western Cape course was ranked among the top 100 best courses in the world, outside of the United States. Bordering a large natural lagoon, this demanding course stretches over rolling fairways, and has deceptive bunkers and tricky water traps.

Durban Country Club

The host of 16 South African Open Championships, this prestigious 18-hole, par 72 course has the honour of having three of its holes listed in the top 500 holes in world golf. The course undulates along the coastline, not far from the Indian Ocean, and wind variations will have a big effect on your game.

Fancourt Hotel Country Club

Located on the picturesque southern Cape, at the foot of the imposing Outeniqua Mountains, the four courses here have something to suit all types of golfer. Designed by Gary Player, the main courses have hosted major events, and Fancourt has one of the finest golf academies in the world, with state-of-the-art practice and teaching facilities.

Gary Player Country Club

Set in an extinct volcano in the Pilanesberg Mountains, this iconic par 72, 18-hole course hosts the annual The Million Dollar Golf Challenge tournament. One of South Africa s longest and toughest courses, it includes two holes that rank in Golf Online s list of the world s 500 best holes. The course requires accurate approaches, due to the many bunkers and water hazards.

George Golf Club

Near Fancourt, in the southern Cape, this par 72, 18-hole picturesque course, lined with trees, features wide fairways and requires accuracy, especially on the long seventeenth, which is rated one of the 500 best holes in the world.

Glendower Golf Club

Founded in 1937, the 18-hole, par 72 course hosted the Transvaal Open in which champion Bobby Locke made his world-record score. Over the years, the course has been reshaped and rebuilt, and trees, water hazards, and bunkers are plentiful. The fairways feature numerous hazards and the greens are excellent.

Leopard Creek Country Club

Arguably South Africa s best-known course, on the border of the world famous Kruger National Park, was designed by Gary Player. Wild animals such as lions, elephants and rhinoceroses are separated from players through innovative landscaping techniques, and over 200 bird species have been noted. The elegant clubhouse is sited on the bank of the Crocodile River.

Pecanwood Golf and Country Club Estate

This Jack Nicklaus-designed, flat course, bordering the Hartebeespoort Dam, and with the beautiful Magaliesberg Mountains in the distance, has well-placed bunkers and caters for golfers of all standards. Carefully positioned water features and strategically placed bunkers make the course a challenge.

River Club Golf Course

The exclusive River Club Golf Course in Johannesburg is for members and their guests only. The long course is kept in stunning condition, and has one of the toughest finishing stretches in South Africa.

Wild Coast Country Club

With the Indian Ocean as your backdrop on nearly every hole, this 18-hole, par 70 course near Port Edward has a testing layout, with wide fairways and huge greens, and is one of the most scenic in the country. When the wind is up, this course is tricky. Carts are compulsory.

Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors.<A HREF="http://www.billgoff.com"> Bill Goff Golf Tours</a> and <A HREF="http://www.longshotgolf.co.uk">Longshot Golf Holidays</a> offer great value golf breaks to many European and worldwide destinations.