Thursday, March 4, 2010

Missed the tweet up? Catch up with everything South Africa right here on our blog!

Missed last Friday’s South Africa Wild Tweep Tweet Up? If your morning meeting overran through lunchtime or you had to make that last minute dash to the post office followed by a wait in an endless queue, never fear, as you can catch up with the entire online event right here on our blog!

First, here’s a quick run down of our SA poll vote – Cape Town for obvious reasons securing the number one spot!

1.Cape Town 2. Kruger 3. Wild Coast 4.Hermanus 5. Battlefields…

And if you’re looking to sample the overland buzz online, check out the following Acacia adventurer video or follow in Sharyne’s footsteps, our winning Wild Tweep, and head off on the 6-day African Insight overland safari.

From monkey gland soup to South African slang and the Big Seven – here’s our Twitter session covering everything and anything SA. (Please note: no monkey’s were harmed during or after the event!)

Before we begin we have to say a BIG thanks to all the adventurers who entered the competition, our Wild Tweep Judges including, PlanYourSafari.com, AfricaFreak.com and Travelcomments.com, all the wonderful tweeters who joined us on the day and of course, Sharyne our winning Wild Tweep!

Q. Hi :) #WildTweep People often talk about the big 5. In South Africa however, the big 5 is 2 become the "big 7" What are we referring 2?

A. Lion, leopard, cape buffalo, elephant, rhino, whale & great white (cage it, play chicken w/h a great white! Check out Great White cage diving and the Kruger and you might see all 7! And what about Addo for the Big 7:)

Q. Your friend tells u about her plans 2 travel 2 South Africa. All her friends are warning her against it. What would you tell her?

A. Just go, take pictures, buy cool stuff, have a great time, come home and tell all of the "dream stealers" how much they missed!

Q. What is the busiest and the least busy time for tourists in SA?

A. I'd say avoid Christmas and Easter - when the beaches in CT will be pretty packed. Don't forget Acacia's tours run through the year so you can visit anytime!

Q. The Kruger park is now part of a new ecosystem, what is it called?

A. The Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.

Q. Hi Sharyne. Name 6 national parks or game reserves in SA.......and your favorite is?

A. Kruger, Phinda, SabiSabi, Addo-can't think of 2 others now, but love SabiSabi

Another answer: OK have to start with the Kruger, then Addo (elephant love!), Hluhluwe, Wilderness NP, Tsitsikamma, St. Lucia

Yet another answer from one of our experts PlanYourSafari. (obviously a hard choice!) How about Madikwe and KTFP?

Q. Hi Sharyne. How close have you been to a rhino? Did you know they had hairy tipped ears...

A. hmm…have stopped in the midst of a herd of Cape Buffalo, could have touched them, so close

Q. How many official languages does South Africa have?

A. 11

Q. How do they call traffic lights in South Africa?

A. (oops!) you got me on the traffic lights - help pls!

Real answer... Robots?! of course ;-)

Q. What is the fastest route to fly from the USA to SA?

A. There isnt really a fast way but the SAA non stop service from JFK is the quickest and offers great service! JFK-JNB

Q. Why is the country called the "rainbow nation"?.

A. Many different cultures make up the country. Desmond Tutu 1st coined it Nelson Mandela used it; after Apartheid:)

Q. Do they really add monkey glands to South Africa's very unique "Monkey Gland Sauce"?

A. (oops!) don't know, but I'll watch you make it - lol

Real answer: yes and according to Travelcomments.com it's quite simply the best sauce in the world

Additional following comments!: nice - yummy!:) Poikie pot!! Yes, that's a cast iron pot that you can use over a fire or a gas stove. It makes delicious vegetables too...

Q. What is the gestation period (in months) of an elephant?

A. 22 months - aren't you glad you're not an elephant! We would become extinct – lol

Q. On a day when time is limited will visitors see more Rhino in Kruger or Hluhluwe-Imfolozi?

A. H-I, correct! Check out Operation Rhino!

Q. The SA national Anthem was composed out of 2 hymns. Which ones?

A. "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" and the former anthem "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika/The Voice of South Africa"?

Q. Impressive! work on the National Anthem! (Got any helpers near by?)

A. Ok I did wiki! lol:)

Luckily, AfricaFreak was on hand at this point: Looks like some of you will need our FREE Safari Tips 101 Ebook! Coz there's still room 4 improvement:)

Q. Are dassies really the African elephant’s closest living relative?

A. hmmm... is that a serious ? Well, would love to go to Namaqualand if we're talking Daisies - spring time looks heavenly:)

Real answer: yebo, rock dassies or rock hyrax are the African elephant’s closest living relative!

Then came a few helpful hints from our Wild Tweep tweeters!: great slang words in SA link:

Looking to meet the Xhosa people - learn a few lingo tricks in just one click:)

And pix: BTW guys we've just posted some new pix on flikr if you want to take a peek later: :)

Q. Where in SA can you go for an underwater ocean walk with sting rays?"

A. (not an easy one!) Hmm Stringrays... you got me thinking there. Still looking @ SA but u can swim w/h stingrays in Madagasgar! NOSY IRANJA - ISLAND OF TURTLES

THE answer, courtesy of AfricaFreak: Great q :) short-tail stingrays can b seen Cape Town & Hermanus, but 2 swim w/h them is another story...

Q. Where is this?

A. Beautiful Pic of Augrabies Falls NP...

Q. Overwhelmed with what to do in the Cape ... Is there a "must-do" or reasonable top 10 list?

A. Check out the top 7!

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