Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) was founded in 1886 by the Voortrekkers. They retreated here after establishing a town 100km to the northwest but were chased out again by the native tribes. Pietersburg became a city in 1992 and, then, in 2003 its name was changed to Polokwane or 'place of safety'. Today Polokwane is the largest metropolitan area in South Africa north of Pretoria and is the capital of Limpopo.

When South Africa hosts the 2010 World Cup a number of games will be played in the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

What to see in the Polokwane area?

Polokwane is a very interesting place to visit and within the city itself you'll find the Eersteling Monuments. These are dedicated to South Africa's first gold crushing site. The Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho Open-Air Museum is also worth a visit, while the Polokwane Game Reserve is located adjacent to the city and features over 20 species of animals.

If you're looking to get out of the city there are a number nature and game reserves within easy reach. These include the Lapalala Game Reserve, to the west, which has all the big 5 of African animals; rhinos, leopards, elephants, lions and cape buffalo. Located to the east is the northern section of the Kruger National Park, though the southern section is more popular with tourists, the northern section has plenty to offer and is less crowded.

Located closer to Polokwane are Makapansgat Valley, which has a number of archeologically significant caves related to the birth of the human race; Wolkberg Wilderness Area, with its amazing landscape; and the Bewaarskloof Nature Reserve.

Why not hire a car?

The nearest airport is Gateway International Airport.

If you're hiring a car, which is probably the best option, the N1 national road passes through Polokwane. This links the city with Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town to the south and Zimbabwe to the north. Car rental will give you the freedom to explore the stunning landscape at your own leisure.

Mairead Foley writes for where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

Visit N for all you need to know before you take to the roads in South Africa, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Polokwane now.

Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa and is located in the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Although more of the park lies in Limpopo, much of the tourism is based in the Mpumalanga area. This is because the park area within the Mpumalanga Province has more vegetation, animals and camps for staying overnight. Kruger is the flagship park in the SANPark group.

What to see in the Kruger National Park area?

Kruger National Park is a great place for any visitor to South Africa to get to see their favourite savannah animals. The area is an absolute treasure and is home to a whole host of plant, animal and marine species. There are a number of activities on offer that can enhance your wildlife experience.

There are a number of 3-day Wilderness Trails you can take part in, each with its own unique merits (different animals and different landscapes) so you should give it a go. Groups set out into the wild on foot with a pair of rangers and returning each evening to your base camp for a well-deserved dinner.

Though the public aren't allowed to drive at night, you can take one of the Night Drives with a park ranger and get a chance to see the nocturnal hunters, such as the leopards and hyenas, at work.

One of the most fun things to do is to visit the Crocodile River View Point, here you will leave the car behind and take a river boat with a park ranger and meet crocs and hippos as they wallow in the water just a few metres away.

If you can't leave home without your golf clubs, why not bring them and try your hand at the 9-hole Skukuza course?

Why not hire a car?

The main access point for the park by road is from the city of Nelspruit on the R40 and in through the Numbi Gate. If you're flying, the closest airport is Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), which will get you to within 40km of the Numbi Gate.

However you arrive, the best way to see the park is definitely by car as you get to spend as long as you wish observing the animals. The roads in the park are decent enough for any vehicle, though sometimes a 4x4 can be handy for the raised sitting position, and are more comfortable on sidetracks. Just remember that you won't be allowed to drive at night.

So, just pick up your car rental and off you go exploring the 2 million hectares of Kruger National Park.

Mairead Foley writes for where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

Visit N for all you need to know before you take to the roads in South Africa, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Kruger now.

Saldanha is located on Saldanha Bay, just 140km north of Cape Town on the west coast. The bay was used for centuries as a sanctuary from stormy seas. Although there have been settlements and villages around the harbour for a long time, the area didn't really take off until WWII, when a military base was established in the bay, which necessitated the piping of fresh water from the Berg River.

What to see in the Saldanha area?

Saldanha has much to offer the adventurous tourist who is interested in water-based activities such as fishing, boat trips, yachting, sea kayaking and shipwreck diving.

If, on the other hand, you don't have sea legs, then you might be more interested in the horse riding stables, the wagon rides or the hiking opportunities. The absolute best time to visit this area is in the South African spring when the countryside is in bloom with colourful flowers. Other areas of interest include Docs Cave, the World War II Coastal Cannon Battery and the French Huguenot Memorial.

Venturing out of town you'll find the West Coast National Park. This is especially good for bird watching and the Postberg section is open during the spring and is full of mammals. West Coast Fossil Park is located adjacent to the National Park - this is your chance to see some of the animals that used to frequent this part of the world. Hoedjieskoppie Nature Reserve is the ideal place for bird and dolphin spotting and to check out the stunning scenery, while the SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve is great for some Southern Right Whale watching.

Why not hire a car?

Saldanha/Vredenburg Airport serves a number of domestic flights to major cities in South Africa such as Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Cape Town is the nearest international airport.

The R27 connects you directly to Cape Town and the N7 passes through the West Coast area on its way up to Namibia.

The best way to get around Saldanha Bay and the surrounding area is by hiring a car. Public transport isn't great and you won't have the freedom to come and go as you wish. You can pick up your car rental at Saldanha/Vredenburg Airport or in the city Vredenburg, 13km north of Saldanha.

Mairead Foley writes for where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

Visit N for all you need to know before you take to the roads in South Africa, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Saldahna now.

Sandton is the richest part of Johannesburg - some say the entirety of Africa. The area is something of a Manhattan of the city as space is at a premium here and skyscrapers are sprouting up all over the place. Why not check out the Michelangelo Towers, a new 135 metre tall structure and offers excellent views over the entire region.

Sandton is South Africa's ultimate shopping experience and those who want to splash their cash will have plenty of choice. Nelson Mandela Square (previously known as Sandton Square) is the largest such store in the southern hemisphere. While you're here be sure to get your photo taken with the 6-metre tall statue of the man himself. And if you're interested in learning a bit more about Nelson Mandela you can visit the Nelson Mandela Museum, located in his former home in Soweto.

Located in the middle of the city, between Johannesburg, Sandton and Randburg you'll find Johannesburg Zoo. Spread out over 54 hectares, it's home to over 2000 animals of 365 different species. A little further south on the other side of Johannesburg city centre, Gold Reef City and the Apartheid Museum are located.

If you want to get out of the city, why not visit the Rietvlei Nature Reserve? Here you can check out the new arrivals such as the hippos and cheetahs introduced in 2007. The Heia Safari Game Reserve with hippos, giraffes and rhinos as well as many more animals is also worth checking out while Krugersdorp Game Reserve, which is located about 40 minutes or so outside the city centre, is also home to the most popular African animals.

Why not hire a car?

The N3 (Johannesburg - Durban) forms a ring road around Johannesburg and is convenient to Sandton. The R1 passes right through the middle of the city and is connected on either side to the N1 (Cape Town - Pretoria), which orbits around the city of Johannesburg and Randburg on the west side.

Luckily Johannesburg Airport is situated on the east side of the city. So it's easy to get to and from Sandon.

The public transport network is somewhat limited so a hiring a car is the probably your best option so have a look at our Car Rental Sandton or our Car Hire Johannesburg pages.

Mairead Foley writes for where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

Visit N for all you need to know before you take to the roads in South Africa, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Sandton now.

Its spring time in the Huon Valley in Tasmania and there is that brisk chill in the air, enough to stand your arm hairs up but not enough to freeze you to the core. The heater in our hire car stabilises the temperature, and we can comfortably watch the stunning scenery float past the window. On a holiday to Hobart, we just couldnt resist a couple of days checking out the Huon Valley. No one seems to have anything bad to say about these southerly parts of the island, and driving through it now I can see why. The landscapes remind me of fairytales my grandmother used to read to me as a child, and looking at the low lying clouds swirling around the tops of the thick forest Im filled with a strange sense of nostalgia, despite never having visited these parts before.

Its just a 30 minute drive from Hobart to Huonville, the commercial capital of the Huon Valley. Driving into this small town of 1700 people is like taking a step into the past, and we soon notice that about all the settlements in the Huon Valley. While Hobart is a modern and vibrant city, towns like Huonville and Geeveston seem to have retained the elements of their past very faithfully- although they have incorporated elements of modern life with these. Its a good combination, as you get a feel for the history of the area whilst having all the conveniences one may need to be comfortable.

For many years the apple industry of Tasmania has been one of the biggest in the world, and the Huon Valley has always been at the forefront of this. The towns here were the centres of production for the industry, and a lot of the heritage buildings are associated with apple growing and producing. To really see what the apple history here is all about we paid a visit to the Huon Apple and Heritage Museum. Set up in an old packing shed, you get a good feel for the evolution of the apple industry here- an evolution that is inextricably tied in with the history of the Huon Valley. There are a host of old machines on display, as well as other associated artefacts, plenty of photographs and over 500 different species of apple. The insights into the lives of settlers in the early 1800's I found particularly interesting.

Another major element of the Huon Valley are its forests. Huon Pine is a much sought after softwood timber that produces exquisite furniture, and it is very important to the economy of the region and of Tasmania. For a tourist such as myself it is the forests that are simply breathtaking, and to cut them down seems such a shame. But a visit to the Forest and Heritage Centre in Geeveston shows how the harvesting of the timber is done in alignment with conservation and preservation policies. The centre is a fun place to take kids, as it has a large collection of antique machines and an especially interesting sculptured log truck.

To really appreciate the forest we took a trip to the Tahune Forest Reserve, a beautiful reserve on the banks of the Huon River. This is a must see for tourists because of the Tahune Airwalk, a 600 metre walking platform built through the trees, 20 metres above the ground, that provides stunning views of the surrounds. In the centre of the walk there is a cantilever that rises 48 metres above the ground, and somehow I overcame my fear of heights to reach the peak of this. Majestic views of the confluence between the Picton and the Huon River were my reward, so its one climb Im thankful I took!

We overnighted in a cosy little town called Franklin, which again had that feeling that time seemed to forget it behind. Built on the River Banks, it has hung onto a village atmosphere and many of the buildings are made from the local pine, which gives it a very alpine feel. We were told by many that a visit to the Hastings caves were in order, and indeed the 40 million year old chambers took mine and my familys breath away. Stalactites and stalagmites rise and fall in a rich tapestry of colour and light, making it easy to picture oneself being on another planet. A visit to the caves was topped off with a swim in the warm thermal springs, and conveniently there are picnic and barbeque facilities there as well.

We left the Huon Valley satisfied. It is an area that has managed to avoid the pitfalls of mass tourism, yet at the same time it provides the beautiful countryside and the secluded escape spots that any visitor may want. Being so close to Hobart it is very easily accessible, and I would have to say that a driving holiday through the valley is the way to go. Just pick up a rental car in Hobart, and you have the freedom to explore the Huon at your leisure.

Gavin Wyatt is a journalist with a passion for travel. originally from Zambia he has traveled around the world to end up on the sunny shores of Australia. For more of his articles visit Tasmanian Car Hire

Eurochocolate 2008 is an event dedicated to that delicious confectionary that we all love. It will be taking place in Perugia from the 18th of October to the 26th. When you arrive at the fair, you will be immediately be tempted by the smell of freshly made chocolate and pastries as the whole town has been transformed into an open-air confectionary market. This is no ordinary chocolate like you would find in your local shop, no, this is pure butter and cocoa mass and none of those added vegetable oils or added fats.

Through the 9 day period of the festival there will be dozens of events and seminars all concentrating on Chocolate. You can learn how it's made in cooking classes, or simply go to a chocolate banquet and indulge. You can sample all the goodies at the stalls and you may wait in eager anticipation for the results of the Eurochocolate Awards to see if your favourites win.

How to get there: Perugia is located right in the middle of Italy some 180kms north of Rome. Take the A1 north until you get to Orte, then take a right onto the E45 which should see you all the way to Perugia. In-between your meals of different types of chocolate you might find time to have a look around the town itself which has some really attractive medieval buildings to look at.

Mairead Foley writes for where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

Visit N for all you need to know before you take to the roads in Italy, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Italy now.

The route for the Venice Marathon 2008 is definitely one of the most appealing. The run starts in Stra on the 26th of October, a village situated some 26 miles from Venice, outside the beautiful Villa Pesani. The route winds its way through the Riviera del Brenta before setting up for a spectacular finish along the Venice waterfront at Riva dei Sette Martiri, past Saint Marks Square and dash home at Palazzo Ducale. The end of the race is particularly difficult as there are 3 big hills just as the athletes are reaching their breaking point.

If you would simply like to watch or support someone else then you will have 26 miles of beautiful scenery to choose to spectate from. Venice itself would be an obvious choice as it marks the end of the run and is it will be home to a large number of site events to entertain the crowd as they wait for the runners to make their way to the city.

These side events are taking place inside San Giuliano Park under the banner of Exposport. The events being run include a Family Run, a Pasta Party, an African Village and the sports interactive areas managed by the sports Federation participating in the CONI (National Italian Olympic Committee). Aside from this you could also just take a look around the city which is full of historic landmarks.

How to get there: Venice is located in north-east Italy on the coast of the Adriatic. If you are travelling from Rome you will need to head north through Florence and Bologna; if you are coming from Milan you will need to head east through Brescia and Verona. Stra the start point for the race is about 26 miles west of the city and should not be difficult to find.

Mairead Foley writes for where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

Visit N for all you need to know before you take to the roads in Italy, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Venice now.