» Getting ‘out of town’ http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:42:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Get your walking shoes out to explore Joburg and its surrounds this week-end http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/get-your-walking-shoes-out-to-explore-joburg-and-its-surrounds-this-week-end http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/get-your-walking-shoes-out-to-explore-joburg-and-its-surrounds-this-week-end#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:07:54 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=3196   You can’t complain about the lack of variety of what’s on in Jozi this weekend:

* Sat …5th Nov at 14.00 Join Parktown Heritage Association for the last Jacaranda Walk of 2011; park at the La Roche offices, 54 The Valley Road; no booking necessary; R40; stunning views of Parktown & Forest Town; more info phone 011 482-3349 

OR
* Meet at Arts on Main at 9.30 on 5th Nov for an Inner City Walk exploring the east of the city

And if you have explored the east of the city on Saturday with Main Street Walks, then you can explore the west with Walk and Talk Tours on Sunday.  Meet at Museum Africa Bree Street Johannesburg at 8am.  The walk will be approximately two to three hours.  The route will go Mary Fitzgerald square, Newtown,  past the old stock exchange,  going past the City Hall, Rand Club, Library Gardens, Corner House, Rissik Street Post Office, also going up Main Street Mall, Hollard Street, Standard Bank Mine Stope – also with a special visit to two to three buildings in Kruis and President Streets.  enquiries@walktours.co.za Cell: +27 83 269 9769

* and for something very different look for mushrooms and fungi (yes, I did say Fungi!) at the Kloofendal Nature Reserve Two-hour walk from 9am led by Bernice Porter, a fungi expert. Contact Karin Spottiswoode 011-674-2980 or 072-595-6991  

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/get-your-walking-shoes-out-to-explore-joburg-and-its-surrounds-this-week-end/feed 0 Get out of Joburg and do something different this weekend http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog#comments Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=2948 Pay a visit to the Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre, on the outskirts of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site - learn about herbs at the Herbal Centre, have a  cup of tea at the tea garden or pay a visit to the historic apothecary.

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/feed 0 It’s concert time again at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/its-concert-time-again-at-the-walter-sisulu-national-botanical-gardens http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/its-concert-time-again-at-the-walter-sisulu-national-botanical-gardens#comments Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:32:25 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=2694

Watershed Concert  Sunday 12th June 13-1500 

Vivere Sunday 26th June Vivere meaning ‘Alive’ in Italian, is a production consisting of a powerful duo, Jannie Moolman and Joseph Clark. It is an ultimate cross over show, featuring musical assortments such as opera, rock, pop, blues and a handful of other musical genres.

Zebra & Giraffe Concert Sunday 10th July They are a Joburg based group that won awards with their debut album. They won the SAMAs in 2009 in the categories Best Newcomer, Best Album Packaging and MTN Record of the Year with their second album ‘The Knife’.

Pre-sale at Ticketbreak: R80 www.ticketbreak.co.za Pre-sale before Concert day at the Garden: R90 On the day sale at the Garden: R100 Children under 13 Free Walter Sisulu’s new number is 011 6684903

 

   

 

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/its-concert-time-again-at-the-walter-sisulu-national-botanical-gardens/feed 0 Two great weekend outings to visit on the outskirts of Jozi http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/two-great-weekend-outings-to-visit-on-the-outskirts-of-jozi http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/two-great-weekend-outings-to-visit-on-the-outskirts-of-jozi#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:32:53 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=2614 See http://www.jhblive.com/reviews/adventure/a_walk_on_the_wild_side/68982

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/two-great-weekend-outings-to-visit-on-the-outskirts-of-jozi/feed 0 More tours of fossil sites in the Cradle of Humakind http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/more-tours-of-fossil-sites-in-the-cradle-of-humakind http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/more-tours-of-fossil-sites-in-the-cradle-of-humakind#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:47:08 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=2306 I blogged on the tours to Swartkrans in the Cradle of humankind  http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/cradle-of-humankind-fascinating-tour-of-our-originsn but now there are opportunties to visit Cooper’s Cave, a relatively new excavation site in the Cradle of Humankind, with Wits University palaeoanthropologist Christine Steininger. For R350 per person, including lunch, you get to explore the cave, interact with Christine while she explains fossils and the site, and learn how to make stone tools.    The family friendly tour starts at 09h00. Don’t forget to bring your sun hat, apply sunscreen and wear comfortable walking shoes.  There will also be tours on 6th Novemebr as well as 4th, 15th, 22nd and 29th December and 5th January. You can only book on line. Go to www.maropeng.co.za and click on the ‘Book here’ icon.

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/more-tours-of-fossil-sites-in-the-cradle-of-humakind/feed 0 Take a ride out to Nirox sculpture park in the Cradle http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/another-excuse-to-pack-a-picnic-basket-a-blanket-and-take-a-ride-out-to-nirox-sculpture-park-in-the-cradle http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/another-excuse-to-pack-a-picnic-basket-a-blanket-and-take-a-ride-out-to-nirox-sculpture-park-in-the-cradle#comments Tue, 05 Oct 2010 05:47:07 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=2206 I have blogged before about one of Jozi’s best kept secrets – Nirox Sculpture Park out in the Cradle … http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/76 and http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/taking-cultural-symbols-out-of-context-nirox-sculpture-park , and now there is another opportunity to go out and experience this gem of a parkland. Do yourselves a favour and make a trip out there to see Eric Pladevall’s massive sculptures in his exhibition entitled The Mystery of the Elements which runs from 9 October to 15 December. So don your hat and walkings shoes, pack your hamper with some chilled white wine, great cheeses and breads, and be prepared to be blown away by both the sculpture and the setting.  There will be a parallel exhibition of Pladevall’s work at Circa Gallery from 7-28 October.

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/another-excuse-to-pack-a-picnic-basket-a-blanket-and-take-a-ride-out-to-nirox-sculpture-park-in-the-cradle/feed 0 Upcoming tours of fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/upcoming-tours-of-fossil-sites-in-the-cradle-of-humankind http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/upcoming-tours-of-fossil-sites-in-the-cradle-of-humankind#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:58:41 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=2095 11th sept: Visit Cooper’s Cave situated 1.2km from the famous Sterkfontein Caves near Johannesburg,  a relatively new excavation site where several species of animals and a number of stone tools have been found. Activities on offer for the morning include an interactive fossil and site talk, cave exploration and fossil finding, and an opportunity to learn how to make stone tools, all followed by a light picnic lunch. The price is R350 per person including lunch, and the tour will start at 09h00. This is a family friendly event. Remember to pack a hat, birng a camera, apply sunscreen and wear comfortable walking shoes.

18th Sept: join a small group led by scientist Morris Sutton to see Swartkrans, one of the Cradle of Humankind’s richest fossil sites, usually closed to the public. Swartkrans has yielded the largest sample of Paranthropus robustus, and contains evidence of the earliest use of controlled fire in Southern Africa, dating back 1-million years. I went on this tour this time last year and loved it. See blog post http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/cradle-of-humankind-fascinating-tour-of-our-origins 

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/upcoming-tours-of-fossil-sites-in-the-cradle-of-humankind/feed 0 FiftyTwo:29 This week’s pick: The contrasts of Magaliesberg (Thanks as always to adrian@fiftytwo.co.za) http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/fiftytwo29-this-weeks-pick-the-contrasts-of-magaliesberg-thanks-as-always-to-adrianfiftytwo-co-za http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/fiftytwo29-this-weeks-pick-the-contrasts-of-magaliesberg-thanks-as-always-to-adrianfiftytwo-co-za#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:46:53 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=1981 Best thing to do this week: Email Adi to get onto his list:  Adrian@fiftytwo.co.za Here is his suggestion for Week  29 of 2010

Genre: Rough it – Relax it
What: On a clear day you can see (from most good vantage points in Joburg) the Magaliesberg Mountain range – stretching for 120km from Bronkhorstspruit to Rustenburg. Amongst this mountainous zone you’ll find ample hiking routes – the tough and temperate – as well as peaceful retreats and spas to stay at. The Mountain Sanctuary Park offers 1000 hectares of land to get lost in with natural pools and endless vistas back home. The Mount Grace Country House (with decked out interiors and hushed surrounds) is the hideaway we suggest you take refuge at after your vigorous day’s hike.
FiftyTwo review:  Mountain Sanctuary, although sparse, impacts with wacky rock formations and far stretching plains – the terrain is unique and dotted with natural rock pools (these pools do however attract the general visitor). The bonus of this sanctuary is it affords the opportunity to mark trails which shoot you far from the designated paths – you can feel quite vulnerable and alone especially when thunderstorms start rolling in around you. Great exercise with deserved relaxation is a win for both the lady and gent so we urge you to move onto Mount Grace for a night of excess. Plush finishes with mountain views. Raging fireplaces with four course meals. Heated rock pools and indulgent wine lists. Lush lawns and a hidden mountain spa. Now’s the time to chill.
Tip: Rough it at Mountain Sanctuary before relaxing at one of the most stunningly set natural spas – your long overdue full body massage won’t get better than this. We highly recommend you enquire as to what specials are running at Mount Grace, out of season is usually the budget friendlier time to go.
Interesting fact: The Magaliesberg are among the oldest mountains in the world, almost 100 times older than Everest.
Where: On the R24 – from Joburg, Mountain Sanctuary is on the other side of the mountain range (give yourself a good hours drive to get there). Mount Grace is just out of Magaliesberg Town.
Book: Always book ahead – for MS call 014 534 0114 or click on www.mountain-sanctuary.co.za for more info & for MG call 021 430 5302 or click on www.africanpridehotels.com/mount-grace-country-house-and-spa for more info.

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/fiftytwo29-this-weeks-pick-the-contrasts-of-magaliesberg-thanks-as-always-to-adrianfiftytwo-co-za/feed 0 The weather’s warming up, the air smells and ‘feels’ different, it’s time to get out and enjoy the sun http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/the-weathers-warming-up-the-air-smells-and-feels-different-its-time-to-get-out-and-enjoy-the-sun http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/the-weathers-warming-up-the-air-smells-and-feels-different-its-time-to-get-out-and-enjoy-the-sun#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:52:45 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=1932 Go to  http://www.jhblive.com/reviews/adventure/searching_for_sunshine/44423 for suggestions of Jozi places to get out into the open and catch the sun 

]]> http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/the-weathers-warming-up-the-air-smells-and-feels-different-its-time-to-get-out-and-enjoy-the-sun/feed 0 Hike at Melville Koppies http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/hike-at-melville-koppies http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/hike-at-melville-koppies#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:58:23 +0000 liz http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/?p=1927 Sunday 29 August 08:00 two-koppie hike. Two to three hours. Not for wobblies or kids under ten. Park at Marks Park, opposite the entrance, in Judith Road, Emmarentia.

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