Fly Airlink - Freedom of the African Sky

1. Discounts offered will vary from establishment to 1. Discounts offered will vary from establishment to establishment.
2. It is up to the traveller wishing to claim the discount to check whether or not the establishment in question is indeed an AAQAA participating establishment. (Please see website for details.)
3. It is up to the traveller wishing to claim the discount to check what discount is being offered by that particular establishment and whether the discount applies to the accommodation only or also includes meals at the discounted rate.
4. The discount will most probably be offered by establishments only during off-peak periods but this may vary from establishment to establishment. All bookings must be made directly with the establishment via telephone.
5. There is no limit to the number of people who may benefit from the discounted offer provided that they possess a valid SA Airlink or AVIS document as described above or the traveller is a current AA South Africa member, and that the discounted offer is used during one uninterrupted stay at a particular participating establishment.
6. Only one discounted stay at a participating establishment may be redeemed using a particular SA Airlink or AVIS document or AA South Africa membership card; a copy of which will be retained by the establishment.
7. The discounted offer from participating AAQAA establishments will be valid for the duration of the programme which will run from 1 September 2011 to 29 February 2012.
8. With the validity of any of the qualifying criteria being for 6 months from the date of SA Airlink or AVIS travel and including AA South Africa members, the discounts will therefore be honoured by participating establishments until 31 August 2012. Any extension to the programme will be communicated via the appropriate SA Airlink, AVIS, AA South Africa, and AA Travel Guides channels.
9. Additional Bonsela prizes linked to a loyalty programme are included for participating travellers. Establishments will sign and stamp blocks on a form for every room night spent at their establishment, for example, two rooms for two nights would equal four blocks being signed. Once all 10 blocks on the sheet are completed the traveller must submit the form to AA Travel Guides Head Office in order to enter a bi-annual holiday draw which includes air fare, car hire, and accommodation for two. (Please see website for details.)

Bush Divine: Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa

As featured and advertised in the November 2011 issue of Skyways, Airlink's inflight magazine

Situated on the border of the world-renowned Kruger National Park, the Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa offers a unique blend of golf and game to both local and international visitors. Guests are able to experience a unique package offering luxury accommodation, sports, conference facilities and a world-famous golf course that is home to a wide variety of game and over 200 species of birds.

Rooms
The bedrooms epitomise luxury and home-away-fromhome comfort, incorporating locally manufactured sleeper wood furniture and a feeling of space. Families have also been considered and many of the rooms have comfortable sofa beds for children. The bathrooms are spacious, with large baths and a separate walk-in shower, again furnished with quality products.

All of the bedrooms boast air conditioning, selected DSTV channels and telephones. Visitors to Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa can choose to stay in a chalet overlooking the golf course or in superior rooms closer to the hotel itself. The Estate comprises 61 fairway-view chalet rooms, 70 luxury garden-view rooms and five self-catering family chalet units and can accommodate 250 guests in comfort.

Attractions
Activities in the area include:
Kruger game drives
African evenings
Olifants River safari cruises
Panorama/Blyde Canyon
Visits to wild animal rehabilitation centres
Half-day trips to Hoedspruit and the surrounding areas
Open mine pit
Local cultural experiences

Conferencing
When you decide to bring your conference or meeting to the Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa, you are not just choosing a venue that has all the usual conference facilities, equipment and audio-visual aids, you are choosing a venue that has a unique and exciting world of options that can be utilised to make your conference an unforgettable success. You will find a world filled with possibilities, where creativity is the norm and the ordinary does not exist. Capacities from 12 to 180 delegates can be accommodated.

Weddings
For weddings with a difference, this is the perfect venue. Whether it's a romantic setting in one of the gorgeous green gardens, or a luxurious bush setting by the banks of the Olifants River for a bit of a more adventurous scene, you’ll find it here. Wedding venues can seat between 100 and 250 delegates.

Getting around Gauteng with Gautrain

As featured and advertised in the November 2011 issue of Skyways, Airlink's inflight magazine

The Gautrain system provides you with a safe, comfortable and reliable train service between OR Tambo International Airport and the Sandton CBD; and between Rosebank Station and Tshwane’s Hatfield Station.

The Gautrain system includes:
• specially designed airport coaches offering comfort and space for commuters with luggage;
• drop-off and parking facilities at all stations (except at OR Tambo International Airport); and
• a dedicated bus system at eight stations.

These services are fully integrated and may be used separately, or jointly by transferring from one service to another.

The Gautrain services are all accessed by means of a contactless smartcard - your Gold Card.

Using the Gautrain system
Commuters are required to purchase special preloaded Gautrain Gold Cards from self-help ticket vending machines or ticket offices situated in Gautrain stations, or at a number of off-site locations. Once you have purchased your Gold Card, you can use it to access and pay for the train, bus or parking services.

Ticket products can be loaded on to your Gold Card via cash, debit cards or credit cards. Only Mastercard and Visa credit cards are accepted.

At the station
Electronic information display systems are provided at stations as well as in the trains.

Train services:
• Five trains per hour, per direction, during peak periods on weekdays: a train every 12 minutes.
• Three trains per hour, per direction, during offpeak periods: a train every 20 minutes.
• Two trains per hour, per direction, during weekends and public holidays: a train every 30 minutes.

Train services will commence daily at 5.30am and the last train departs no later than 8.30pm.

Using the Gautrain bus system
A valid Gautrain Gold Card is required to board a Gautrain bus; these can be purchased at the stations and at selected retail outlets. A minimum amount of R20 must be loaded onto your Gold Card in order for you to enter the system.

Bus fares
• Rail-user, single fare: R6 (if you use a bus and a train within one hour of each other).
• Non-rail-user, single fare: R20 (If you use a bus and don’t also use a train within one hour).

These bus fares are applicable to any Gautrain bus trip. Bus tickets cannot be purchased on the buses. To find out where your bus is, call 010 223 1098.

Visit www.gautrain.co.za for more information.

Orient Expressions

Chinese look to Orange River wines
Chinese wine drinkers' love of a taste of sunshine in a glass has led to an increasing demand for wines from South Africa, particularly Orange River Cellars, which is based in Upington. According to Raymond Tsoi from Hong Kongbased wine importers Plato Trading, the Chinese market for wine is growing each year. But as wine is a fairly new cultural experience to the Chinese, consumers are still employing a trial-and-error basis in making their decisions. "French wine is very popular in China, as that country's reputation for wine and their renowned wine culture preceded the general availability of French wines in our country," said Tosi. "But the Chinese are also especially attracted to wines from a diversity of countries and regions whose products are exciting, fruity and accessible to new wine drinkers.

"When I looked for wine to export to China, I knew that wine from Orange River Cellars would be popular due to the uniqueness of the region where it is produced and the sunny, fruity flavour profiles.

"With the flourishing Chinese economy and the general increase in wine consumption, I predict a real increase in wine exports to China from Orange River Cellars and wineries in other New World countries," he said.

Good luck
Another challenge was to find a suitable name for the wine to export to China. "This is a big challenge for exporters, especially as certain names and symbols do not mean the same as they do in the western markets," says Tsoi. "Our language is phonetically challenging - even people fluent in Mandarin would struggle to pronounce 'Orange River'. That is why together with Orange River Cellars, we created the name 'Gilysipao', which means good luck."

According to Tsoi, who regularly visits Orange River Cellars to look at new wine styles, he knows the stretch alongside the Orange River has the uniqueness that is attractive to the Chinese market. "One can see that you're in Africa - the weather, the landscape, nature, wildlife - it is a real wilderness, something that fascinates us Chinese. And this image of the Orange River makes the wine more exotic and attractive," explains Tsoi. "The nice long sunny days ensure a fruity wine which complements the spicy foods we Chinese love."

Koos Visser, Marketing Manager of Orange River Cellars, is confident that the Chinese wine market will become very important for South African products. "Annually, South Africa exports approximately 800 000 litres of bottled wine to China, but the volumes are increasing as an awareness of our wines and of South Africa as a wine country grows among the Chinese," he concluded."