Everyone interested in wildlife and the Kruger National Park should have a look at the following beautiful pictures taken by visitors of the Park in 2009:
Public sightings
Dreamfields Guesthouse is only 10 kms from Phabani Gate to the Kruger National Park. Guided safaris can be arranged prior to your arrival.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Top Valentine`s Day destination
Forget about the Maldives, Hawaii or Paris – Southern Africa is the place to be this Valentine’s Day. The continent is increasingly being associated with luxury and romance. Where else can you – like you can in Hazyview - combine activities like an exciting Safari, a day in a 5 star SPA, a round of golf on one of the top golf courses and Hot Air Ballooning?
Book your romantic holiday now.
Book your romantic holiday now.
Monday, 11 January 2010
FIFA World Cup 2010: Mbombela Stadium Pitch Re-Laid
The rain-storms we had over the last weeks left the new stadium's pitch water-logged. After a FIFA inspection the Mbombela Stadium pitch has to be resurfaced and a suitable drainage implemented.
World Cup organizers in Nelspruit said the new pitch will be ready for match competition by the end of February - and there was no cause for concern about the ground's ability to host its four World Cup matches in June when there is traditionally hardly any rain in the area.
Plans for the proposed opening of the stadium on March 3 with a friendly international between Ghana and Bosnia-Herzegovina are going ahead as planned.
World Cup fixtures due to be staged at Nelspruit's Mbombela Stadium are those between Honduras and Chile (June 16), Italy and New Zealand (June 20), Australia and Serbia (June 23) and North Korea and Ivory Coast (June 25).
Only about 60 kms from the stadium Dreamfields Guesthouse still has got availablility for some dates.
Monday, 04 January 2010
TOP 25 Useful South African Words
South Africans speak English, that does not mean that you will always understand them!
For all the visitors – not only during the World Cup 2010 - we would like to introduce a few words that are good to know while travelling in South Africa:
babbelas (bub-buh-luss) - A hangover.
bakkie (buck-ee) - A pick-up truck.
biltong (bill-tong) - This South African favourite is dried and salted meat
boerewors (boor-uh-vors) - Literally, farmer's sausage. A savoury sausage developed by the Boers - today's Afrikaners - some 200 years ago, boerewors is South African food at its most traditional.
boet (like book, with a t) - A term of affection, from the Afrikaans for brother.
braai (br-eye) - An outdoor barbecue, where meat such as steak, chicken and boerewors are cooked.
café (kaf-ay, kaff-ee or kayff) - The ubiquitous small neighbourhood convenience store, often found on street corners and stocking cigarettes, cold drinks and newspapers.
droewors (droo-uh-vors) – Dried boerewors, similar to biltong.
eish (aysh) - Used to express surprise, wonder, frustration or outrage.
gatvol (ghut-foll) - Taken from Afrikaans, this means fed up, as in “Jislaaik”. I'm gatvol of working in this hot sun." Translation: "Gee, I'm fed up with working in this hot sun."
howzit - A traditional South African greeting that translates roughly as "How are you?", "How are things?" or simply "Hello".
is it (as one word: izit) - An expression frequently used in conversation and equivalent to "Is that so?"
ja (yaa) - Yes.
jislaaik (yis-like) - An expression of outrage or surprise: "Jislaaik, I just saw Elvis!"
just now - If a South African tells you they will do something "just now", they mean they'll do it in the near future - not immediately: "I'll do the dishes just now."
laduma! (la-doo-mah) - A popular cheer celebrating goals scored at soccer matches, from the isiZulu for it thunders.
lekker (lekk-irr with a rolling r) - Nice, good, great, cool or tasty.
mampara (mum-puh-rah) - An idiot, a silly person. From the Sotho languages.
now-now - Shortly, in a bit: "I'll be there now-now."
oke - A man, similar to guy or bloke.
robots - Traffic lights.
sarmie - Sandwich.
shame - Broadly denotes sympathetic feeling. Someone admiring a baby, kitten or puppy might say: "Ag shame!" to emphasise its cuteness.
sharp - Often doubled up for effect as sharp-sharp!, this word is used as a greeting, a farewell, for agreement or just to express enthusiasm.
vuvuzela (voo-voo-zeh-lah) - A large, colourful plastic trumpet with the sound of a foghorn, blown enthusiastically by virtually everyone in the crowd at soccer matches. According to some, the word comes from the isiZulu for "making noise".
And do not forget, South Africa is a multilingual country with 11 official languages!
For all the visitors – not only during the World Cup 2010 - we would like to introduce a few words that are good to know while travelling in South Africa:
babbelas (bub-buh-luss) - A hangover.
bakkie (buck-ee) - A pick-up truck.
biltong (bill-tong) - This South African favourite is dried and salted meat
boerewors (boor-uh-vors) - Literally, farmer's sausage. A savoury sausage developed by the Boers - today's Afrikaners - some 200 years ago, boerewors is South African food at its most traditional.
boet (like book, with a t) - A term of affection, from the Afrikaans for brother.
braai (br-eye) - An outdoor barbecue, where meat such as steak, chicken and boerewors are cooked.
café (kaf-ay, kaff-ee or kayff) - The ubiquitous small neighbourhood convenience store, often found on street corners and stocking cigarettes, cold drinks and newspapers.
droewors (droo-uh-vors) – Dried boerewors, similar to biltong.
eish (aysh) - Used to express surprise, wonder, frustration or outrage.
gatvol (ghut-foll) - Taken from Afrikaans, this means fed up, as in “Jislaaik”. I'm gatvol of working in this hot sun." Translation: "Gee, I'm fed up with working in this hot sun."
howzit - A traditional South African greeting that translates roughly as "How are you?", "How are things?" or simply "Hello".
is it (as one word: izit) - An expression frequently used in conversation and equivalent to "Is that so?"
ja (yaa) - Yes.
jislaaik (yis-like) - An expression of outrage or surprise: "Jislaaik, I just saw Elvis!"
just now - If a South African tells you they will do something "just now", they mean they'll do it in the near future - not immediately: "I'll do the dishes just now."
laduma! (la-doo-mah) - A popular cheer celebrating goals scored at soccer matches, from the isiZulu for it thunders.
lekker (lekk-irr with a rolling r) - Nice, good, great, cool or tasty.
mampara (mum-puh-rah) - An idiot, a silly person. From the Sotho languages.
now-now - Shortly, in a bit: "I'll be there now-now."
oke - A man, similar to guy or bloke.
robots - Traffic lights.
sarmie - Sandwich.
shame - Broadly denotes sympathetic feeling. Someone admiring a baby, kitten or puppy might say: "Ag shame!" to emphasise its cuteness.
sharp - Often doubled up for effect as sharp-sharp!, this word is used as a greeting, a farewell, for agreement or just to express enthusiasm.
vuvuzela (voo-voo-zeh-lah) - A large, colourful plastic trumpet with the sound of a foghorn, blown enthusiastically by virtually everyone in the crowd at soccer matches. According to some, the word comes from the isiZulu for "making noise".
And do not forget, South Africa is a multilingual country with 11 official languages!
Monday, 21 December 2009
Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a year of happiness
The holiday season is a wonderful time for us to remember our friends and guests who make our new life a pleasure all year long.
So we’d like to take this moment to say thank you and send our best wishes to you and your families. May your new year be filled with all the success and happiness you deserve.
Happy holidays!
Neil & Tina - Dreamfields Guesthouse
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Kruger National Park Tour
During one of the few days off we have, my husband – a qualified field guide – took the chance today and guided me on a tour to the Kruger National Park. A couple of weeks into the rainy season I was amazed how much the vegetation in the Park has grown and how green it was. It was even hard to spot an elephant.
As my husband always seems to find Leopard, I was banking on him finding one. He did not disappoint me!!
We even drove along the Crocodile River where we could see Leopard Creek Country Club where the Alfred Dunhill Championship is ending today.
Kristina - Owner Dreamfields Guesthouse
Friday, 11 December 2009
FIFA World Cup 2010: Booking essential!
After the final draw the fans are busy organising their tours through South Africa.
One of the most important things will be to watch the live matches but many of the visitors want to get the most out of their stay in South Africa.
One of the “must do`s” is a visit to the world-renowned Kruger National Park. It offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa!
It is getting more and more complicated to organise tours and day trips to the Kruger National Park or even other activities like Elephant Interaction or Bush Walks because big groups and FIFA booked well in advance.
Dreamfields Guesthouse works with some local tour operators and is still able to organize tours and other activities.
To avoid disappointment: Please contact us now to secure your World Cup accommodation and wildlife experience.
Wednesday, 02 December 2009
FIFA World Cup 2010: Seedings
The clock is ticking to the World Cup draw with all 32 teams waiting anxiously to learn their opponents for next summer's finals. Speculation can begin as the choice of opponents is narrowed by each team being seeded into a pot. One team from each pot will make up a group. The Teams from pot 1 will head each group as the seeded team. (South Africa will head group A as the host nation).
These are the seedings for the Final Draw
Pot 1 - South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain.
Pot 2 - Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Honduras, Mexico, USA, New Zealand
Pot 3 - Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
Pot 4 - Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland
Source Sky Sports News
For more news check the FIFA page.
These are the seedings for the Final Draw
Pot 1 - South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain.
Pot 2 - Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Honduras, Mexico, USA, New Zealand
Pot 3 - Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
Pot 4 - Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland
Source Sky Sports News
For more news check the FIFA page.
Tuesday, 01 December 2009
Dreamfields Guesthouse: Summer Thunderstorms
Last night 30.Nov 09 Hazyview saw its 2nd major thunderstorm this summer. It started at around 19:00 hrs, over 100 mm rain fell during the night and even hail! There were still piles of ice this morning from the hail storm. Meanwhile the weather has calmed down and the temperature is about 23 degrees.
FIFA World Cup 2010: Trophy tour
Today the World Cup Trophy will be officially greeted by the people of South Africa, as it arrives in Cape Town, for the official World Cup Draw.
The real solid-gold trophy was taken by FIFA and Coca-Cola to 86 countries during a 225-day tour, enabling thousands of fans to enjoy a rare close-up view of the sport's biggest prize. The Trophy travelled 134,017 kilometers and visited every nation in Africa to give the continent's fans the once-in-a-lifetime experience of having their picture taken with it.
Secure your World Cup accommodation and book online.
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