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October 1, 2009

I'm very excited to be heading out to South Africa in a little less than 3 weeks to join Ainslie MacLeod and our Soul Safari friends on our journey of a lifetime. We're in for some real life lessons, as well as being on safari and in Cape Town enjoying the beauties of Africa. It's going to be a rejuvenating trip for me, that's for sure.

Recently I was in Cape Town and had the pleasure of taking a tour of the beautiful Bo-Kaap region with my friend Pam, owner of Cape Fusion Tours. Bo-Kaap is colorfully called The Malay Quarter of Cape Town, which is home to the Cape Malay community. You can actually smell the wonderful aromas of spices and curry wafting down the streets as you arrive into Bo-Kaap. We booked ourselves into a lady called Newhal where we had lunch in her home, a brightly colored home in the area. Newhal offers the opportunity for visitors to come and "meet the locals" and learn about the local way of doing things. We had so much fun making samoosas, chili bites and roti for lunch, getting very dirty doing it too. I am a big curry fan, so is my husband Mark and we're slowly teaching our kids how to eat curry, so for me this was such a treat to be able to spend the day learning about the vibrant Cape Malay spirit and culture, and of course how to pretend to cook like a true Cape Malay.

I'm always asked by my clients why I recommend that they take our private guided tours, hopefully this article will show you why you should take a private guided trip and how it can give you a valuable lasting impression. You might even get to meet my new friend, Newhal.

Enjoy!

Sandy Salle

Cape Town Tours: Discover Secrets of the Past and the Present

Cape Malay Cooking

Green market

Parliament

Rotair

It's truly amazing how your mind can open up and your point-of-view can change with a little background information and some guidance. Whether you're touring through the internationally-renowned Sistine Chapel or through a historical region rich with deep cultural heritage and mystery, a guided tour is a must if you want to leave with a valuable lasting impression.

Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa is one such region where participating in a guided tour is a must. The history behind its existence coupled with the impression it has on you as you observe it first hand, is what makes the strongest impact. It's amazing how Cape Town can truly speak to you once you begin to understand the cultural heritage and historical background, and how its' past has shaped the region into what you see today.

At the end of your tour you'll leave with a wealth of knowledge you otherwise would have never had if you decided to view the area on your own without a knowledgeable guide. Although many city tours throughout Africa don't necessarily require a guide, a Cape Town City and Table Mountain tour is highly-encouraged for visitors in the area who want to experience the authenticity of the region.

One of the most highly-acclaimed tour providers in Cape Town is Cape Fusion Tours. Their knowledgeable and friendly guides ensure you discover all the wonderful elements that make Cape Town and Table Mountain historical and cultural icons. On their off-the-beaten-path tours, you won't be lectured with boring or popularly known facts found in dusty history text books. You'll get a rare insight into the region's profound history and its intricate wilderness.

Why take advantage of a guided tour through Cape Town City and Table Mountain? Simple.

The rich cultural heritage you'll become acquainted with. Home to some of the world's most inspirational cultures, a guided tour through Cape Town provides you with the exceptional opportunity to learn about the indigenous people by interacting and observing them in their daily lives. You'll also discover the stories and legends of past generations from their living relatives. During your tour, you'll learn about various art forms and their historical and cultural significance, as well as the lifestyle of certain cultures and how those lifestyles came to be.

The opportunity to enjoy a guided view of Table Mountain as you journey up the rocky mountainside in a rotating cable car. Each cable car has the ability to fully rotate, giving you the opportunity to see 360 degrees around you. On your cable car trip you'll see stunning gardens, death-defying cliffs, and playful dassies—furry brown creatures that live on the mountain whose closest relatives are elephants.

You'll also learn about the history of the cable car and the grounds beneath you as you venture up the mountainside. And awaiting you at the summit is one of the most stunning and indescribable views in the entire world.

The safety and convenience factors. Because there are 350 routes up the mountain, having a guided tour is highly recommended, as it can be extremely difficult and sometimes dangerous to navigate the mountain on your own. And not to mention the headache of choosing which path to take, out of the 360 different ones! When you experience Table Mountain on a guided tour, you can rest assured that your family is safe. The elimination of the stresses of getting lost or hurt allows you to relax and truly enjoy your trip.
The deep insight into Malay Quarter's fascinating evolution into what it is today. You'll discover how religious influences, changes of European power, and slavery all worked to shape this region into the place it is today.
The exciting history of The Castle of Good Hope. This military fort relic, which was built between 1666 and 1669 by the Dutch East India Company, was the main protection for Cape Town and was constantly threatened by outside forces. Capturing the combination of the structure's fascinating history with the sheer size and intricate architecture of the castle can only be experienced while on a guided tour.
The beauty and captivating scent of the flower market. Over the past 100 years, flower selling has become a cultural tradition on Cape Town's Adderley Street. On this walking tour you'll discover the cultural heritage of Adderley Street and meet vendors known for their friendliness and humor, and you'll have the opportunity to purchase their vibrantly colored flowers.
The local crafts and works of art at the Green Market Square. Originally Cape Town's first fruit and vegetable market, Green Market Square is a sensational place to go for cultural enlightenment. Today, it is a market offering African goods and art, and is surrounded by charming cafés that invite visitors to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and socialize. On your guided tour, you'll uncover the large impact Green Market Square has on the local community, as well as the local economy.

Soul Safari - October 19-27, 2009

Experience this once-in-this-lifetime journey to South Africa where you will uncover the innermost secrets of your life's purpose and discover the spiritual pathway to Living the Life Your Soul Intended.

Join author and psychic Ainslie MacLeod on an expedition to uncover your soul's unique purpose in this life. On this 9-day Soul Safari, you'll explore the mysteries of the life plan your soul created before you were even born, and learn to harness your own spirituality to create a happier and more fulfilling future-one of total self-acceptance and endless potential.

Go to www.hillsofafrica.com/Soul_Safari/Soul_Safari.html to learn more.

Recently, Hills of Africa was featured in an article about visiting South Africa on AARP online. Check out the article here.

We've not traveled outside the United States before. Can you please tell me how to plan a trip for my wife and me to visit South Africa (Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town) and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe? We could join other travelers from the United States on a 12-15-day tour but do not know how to get started. Several travel services offer the trip, but in checking them out with the BBB, we find that they do not quite meet acceptable standards. Perhaps you could direct us to a reputable travel agency or service in the Denver area. That would be nice.

–Melvin, Aurora, Colo.

Here's the issue, Melvin: The best travel agent or company for this type of African trip may not be located in the Denver area. Unless you really insist on being able to go into an office to speak with an agent, you're better off looking outside Denver for an agent or agency specializing in these sorts of African trips.

One high-quality travel provider to check out is the Africa Adventure Company. Specializing in African travel, this company was chosen as a "Top Travel Specialist" by Condé Nast and boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Among the many trips the company offers are tours that include South Africa and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls.

Another company you might explore is Hills of Africa travel. This company promotes "fair trade" tourism, which helps locals benefit more directly from the economic impact of tourism than with traditional travel operators. However, this company doesn't do many prepackaged tours and would be most appropriate if you're looking to design your own itinerary.

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Meredith Hill and Sandy Salle Hills of Africa Travel specializes in customized African safari tours.

We offer spectacular adventures with personalized and customized service, guaranteed to provide you with the experience of a lifetime.

Hills of Africa Travel is a team of extraordinary travel agents and tour operators who are passionate about sharing the magic of Africa through first-hand knowledge and exemplary customer service. Our expert knowledge, experience, and passion for our customers allow us to create a personalized safari adventure of a lifetime for all travelers.

Whether you're taking a romantic honeymoon safari, a fun-filled family safari, or have always dreamed of experiencing the natural beauty of Africa and its wildlife, our exceptional agents and dedicated tour operators are here to provide you with the perfect African safari vacation.

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The Hills of Africa Travel Newsletter is written by Meredith Hill and Sandy Salle and Hillsofafrica.com. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: hoainfo@hillsofafrica.com