Blessed with gorgeous scenery, fabulous eateries and world-class hotels, the seaside town of Knysna in the Southern Cape is a town for all seasons. Regardless of when you plan to visit, you are assured of a superb getaway filled with adventure, romance, good food and good times. There is so much to do in Knysna, you could easily spend a week or two discovering its delights. Knysna might be famous for its seafood and especially its oysters, but it has every type of restaurant to suit your taste buds. You can wine and dine your way through seafood taverns, pubs, coffee shops and fine restaurants. It is possible to enjoy a different eatery every night for a month and not repeat any restaurants. When you’re at the seaside it makes perfect sense to indulge in seafood and what better place than the divine East Head Cafe? Combining a spectacular view of the Heads and the estuary, and serving simply delicious seafood, this is one of many restaurants not to be missed. Zachary’s at the exclusive Pezula Estate will delight you with exceptional fine dining while an evening at The Chutzpah, a north African-themed restaurant in the Phantom Forest, will leave your taste buds begging for more. If experiencing the high notes of adrenalin is your buzz, then Knysna, and the surrounds, is the place to be. You can paraglide, quad bike, take a helicopter flip, snorkel the reefs and shipwrecks, surf, bungee jump, traverse from one platform to another on a canopy treetop tour, or abseil and skydive. You can also hire a boat and cruise the lagoon at your leisure, or take a registered boat trip through the Heads. And as many of the waterways are restricted to non-motorised craft, peaceful canoeing is but a paddle away in utter peace and quiet. A great way to learn more about the history of Knysna and take in some natural highlights is to walk, cycle or ride through the surrounding forests on horseback. This outing is incredible value for money. For only 15 rand per person you get entrance into the national forests. At your disposal are beautiful forests, crystal clear spring water, picnic facilities and a slice of nature at its purest. The Jubilee Creek is a short walk of just under 4km that doubles back on itself. Halfway you are rewarded with the most intriguing waterfall that gently cascades into a little pond that promises to be the ideal swimming spot on a hot summer’s day. Jared Jantjies will be your guide through the forest and his knowledge of the trees, bushes, flowers, moss, wild mushrooms and toadstools is seemingly limitless. But it is his recounting of the woodcutters and their history that really brings the forest to life. This motley crew would spend weeks or months living and working in the forest, sometimes with their families in tow but mostly not. They would make camp in a clearing and sleep on a plant known as Bushman’s Bedding. This leafy ground cover sports soft, downy, succulent leaves. When crushed, the leaves give off a beautiful, soporific fragrance – perfect for a night under the stars. The forests are famous for the wide range of timber that the woodcutters brought into Knysna. Great beams of yellowwood, stinkwood, candlewood and more were exported right from Knysna’s docks all around the world. However, the woodcutters were not the only people to inhabit the Forest. In the mid to late 1800s, a nugget of gold was discovered in Jubilee Creek, prompting a mini gold rush. Prospectors and other so-called experts – those of the arboreal kind – came to visit. And as far back as 1876, alien vegetation was identified. On the Jubilee Creek walk there are a few Eucalyptus trees that were ring-barked between 1876 and 1890. They have yet to fall and present an eerie backdrop against this pristine forest. An adventure not to be missed is to get up close and personal with some other famous forest inhabitants – the elephants. While there are no more genuine Knysna ellies to visit, the Knysna Elephant Park, just 22km outside the town, is home to a family of orphaned African ellies and their handlers. They live in a free-range controlled environment, only spending the evening in their paddock to ensure their safety from poachers. With the spectacular backdrop of the Outeniqua mountains you can ride through indigenous fynbos on the back of these mighty beasts. Then enjoy sundowners at the Lapa while you interact with the ladies and babies of the herd. This is undoubtedly the experience of a lifetime, which you can also extend by staying at the Elephant Lodge overlooking their paddock. Give yourself plenty of time to experience everything Knysna has to offer, because a short honeymoon just won’t do it! The stylish Rex Hotel makes a good base for your journey. The Rex is conveniently located near the entrance to the waterfront.The apartments have a large open-plan lounge, dining room and fully kitted kitchen complete with WiFi and DVD player and are self-catering.

Enjoy honeymoon bliss at Club Med From the moment a honeymoon couple arrives, Club Med is committed to celebrate the romance in their lives with them. Everything is taken care of – from glorious breakfasts, cocktails at sunset on the beach and moonlit al fresco dinners for two to fun sporting activities, fabulous world-class entertainment, dancing late into the night and even sensual pampering treats to calm the mind and relax the body. Club Med’s unique all-inclusive honeymoons are tailored to meet your every need. With air fares, stylish accommodation, sport and leisure activities, evening entertainment and sumptuous cruising all included, our honeymoon experience is designed to allow you to spend more time enjoying yourselves. Contact: 011 840 2600 / www.clubmed.co.za

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Whilst honeymooners are sure to find joy and love in one of the many gorgeous resorts and hotels the island offers, all Zanzibar’s visitors will come away with a lifetime of rich memories. Zanzibar is truly welcoming. The people are friendly and giving, the facilities on offer are exceptional and the experience you will enjoy is unparalleled. Arriving around midday at Zanzibar International Airport, your experience begins somewhat unromantically with the chaos of baggage reclamation. The system is unnervingly simple. All the bags are stacked ten high on a long, low table and then the bun fight begins. You identify your bag, attract the attention of the baggage handler and then use a combination of sign language and frantic pointing to explain which set of luggage is yours. But despite the mayhem, everyone gets their rightful bags and then it’s off to magical Stone Town. Declared a world heritage site, old Stone Town, as the locals refer to it, is truly spectacular. The buildings have been constructed from coral and the influence of Arabic architecture is everywhere. For an overnight stay in Stone Town, try the very elegant Seyyida Boutique Hotel. Ideally situated next to the Palace Museum, the former residence of the Zanzibari royal family, the Seyyida – or ‘princess’ in Arabic - is a short walk from the harbour, the House of Wonder, the Old Fort and Mercury’s – one of the most well known restaurants in Stone Town that is named after one of Zanzibar’s famous celebrities – Freddie Mercury of the band Queen, who was born on the island. A tour of Stone Town reveals the historical nature of this city. You wind your way through a maze of alleyways, passing school children and lazy cats, dodging the bicycles, the motorbikes and the many traders. Stop to admire the hand carved doors, some dating back to 1694AD that used to signify their occupant’s trade and religious affiliation. Wilfred, the guide, reveals that a door carved with a chain motif signifies the original owner was a slave trader. This is part of the sad history of Zanzibar, when the island was central to the East African slave trade. A very poignant reminder of this dark past can be re-lived by a visit to the Slave Market and the Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ, which was built over the original slave whipping post to bring a little bit of light to a very cruel past. The Church also provides a unique link to one of Africa’s great explorers - Dr David Livingstone. When Livingstone died of malaria his heart was buried under the Mvula tree. A cross made from this tree rests inside the church. Livingstone’s remains were brought to Zanzibar by his two guides, Sussi and Chuma, who then escorted the body back to England. Zanzibar and her people broke the chains of slavery in the 1800s and set about bringing spices to the world. Known universally as the Spice Island, no visit would be complete without a trip to a spice farm. Indulge your senses of smell, touch and taste on this tour. Your guide will take you through a game of ‘guess the spice’, sniffing lemon grass, nibbling on cloves so fresh that they numb your tongue (it’s no wonder we use cloves when we have toothache) and wracking your brain to identify the taste of a piece of bark, whose warm, inviting scent will remind you of cake baking with your mum… cinnamon! You’ll be tempted to purchase vanilla, chillies, saffron, peppers in all colours and cardamom. Of course Zanzibar offers awe-inspiring snorkelling. Safari Blue is one of the top experiences your travel agent can arrange when you visit the Spice Island. n less than an hour on the Safari Blue excursion you will see dolphins and snorkel with a beautiful array of marine life. After your time spent with a kaleidoscope of tropical fish, crabs and a whole host of sea-life among the coral reefs, make your way ashore where, on the sandbank, under the shade of a lean-to, the guides are waiting with freshly chopped green coconut and soft drinks to wash down the salty sea water. After your snorkelling session, the dhow heads out towards a deserted island. The catering staff has gone ahead so, when you arrive, a traditional Zanzibari meal, no…make that a gastronomic feast, awaits you. Besides the very welcome, ice cold Kilimanjaro beer, you can tuck into a selection of grilled fish, slipper lobster and squid served with rice, tamarind and coriander sauces. This is followed by a fruit tasting where the guide takes you through 10 to 15 different tropical fruits. From the garden variety banana to the rather interesting Jack fruit, you will be spoiled for choice. Coffee and Amarula liqueur follow and then it’s off to have a little afternoon nap under the sala. When the tide allows, return to the dhow for the homeward journey via a beautiful mangrove lagoon where you can swim through the mangrove forest. From the Seyyida Boutique Hotel, make your way to the exceptionally romantic Kono Kono Villas, one of the most gorgeous honeymoon destinations in the world. On the way, don’t miss stopping at the Jozani Forest to catch a glimpse of the Red Colobus monkeys. These monkeys are a sub species only found on Zanzibar. Their home in the forest provides a safe haven and these cheeky little creatures gamely swing about the trees, chasing one another and getting up to mischief.Situated on the south east coast of Zanzibar, don’t let the 4x4 ride to Kono Kono put you off. It is yet another reminder that you are away from the trappings of big city life. Situated on an ecological reserve, you are just as likely to see one of the local deer as you are to sip a delicious cocktail under a shady umbrella on the beach. The beach at Kono Kono is exceptional. The sand is so pure and soft it feels as if you’re walking on icing sugar. Each morning the sand is combed and manicured so beautiful that you almost don’t want to walk on the beach, but the temptation to have that sand filter through your toes soon takes over. The beach is nicely secluded, as are the 11 bush or beach view villas which have been designed to give you maximum privacy. Your villa has a spacious garden with a private plunge pool, outdoor bath and an enormous veranda where you are served breakfast every day. After a long hot day spent on the beach, your plunge pool beckons, so take a refreshing dip before getting ready for dinner. Afterwards, wander barefoot down to the beach for cocktails and you will be welcomed by a huge beach bonfire and a delicious five-course dinner. Sitting on a lounger under a full moon you will think you are in paradise. The perfect setting to end the perfect day.

Nubian Bride Readers Special: Honeymoon special from Indigo Bay Island Resort & Spa, Federal Air and MTBeds Promotional Code: MTB5HM From R17 705 per person sharing for five nights. Package includes: • Return flights from Johannesburg to Vilanculos on   Federal Air • All pre-payable airport taxes and fuel levies   (approximate taxes of R1 553) • Return light aircraft transfer from Vilanculos to Indigo   Bay • Five nights’ accommodation in a standard beach chalet • All meals and local drinks • Non-motorised water sports • 15 minute mystery spa treatment • Scheduled daily snorkelling trip to Neptune’s Nursery   (weather permitting) • Honeymoon value-adds: - Sparkling wine in room on arrival - One authentic Dhow cruise for   two (excluding beverages) - Honeymoon surprise gifts - Romantic turndown - Free Spa Rasul treatment for two Valid: 1 September to 15 December 2011 Terms and Conditions i. Package prices are from a starting price – per person sharing ii. Subject to airfare increases, exchange rate fluctuations and availability iii. Airline taxes are based on the current exchange rate and are subject to change - the exact  Useful Portuguese phrases Hello – Hola Goodbye – Até logo I am from – Eu sou de ... Thank-you – obrigado Excuse me – Faz favour How are you? – Como esta? I am fine – Muito bem obrigado Toilets – casa da banho We want to go to – Queremos ir a ... When – Quando? Where – Onde? Mineral water – agua mineral