Not mentioning wildlife in an Africa travelogue is a way to invite some ire but hey, this isn’t a brochure anyway .

Point is, if you’ve had your share of animal sanctuary outings in India, spotting some more value-additions such as zebras or giraffes shouldn’t be the ‘only’ agenda of your Africa trip. Yes, the ‘big five’ – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo – appear intriguing if gaped at from a jeep (though the spotted cat almost never lets you see itself) but there is much more that we first-world-loving Indian travellers can explore in more civilised parts of southern Africa. Did you, for instance, know…

That there is a European hangover here
Having been colonised by the Dutch and British in the past, South Africa today bears a quiet hangover of it. Nearly half its cities have Dutch names (Johannesburg, Bloemfontein et al) while Cape Town, which has hitherto served as the interim port for European ships to Asia, flaunts distinctive Amsterdam-esque architecture. Thanks to the rainbow nation’s fine weather and a historic location on the ‘wine route’, it’s a proud producer of wines too. Also, its cities’ palates are unmissably European, so finding an Irish bar or a French-styled cafe won’t take too much of your time. In fact, the locals themselves head to Montecasino of Jo’burg for an authentic Italian experience.

That Cape Town leaves you sleepless
Arguably the most vibrant harbour city in the world, Cape Town is sure to catch your day time attention with its history (Robben island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned), its picturesque vineyard drives and of course the Table mountain, SA’s contender for the New Seven Wonders. However, stay up and you’ll find that its nightlife appetite is enormous. Dozens of pubs and lounges on Long Street throb with revelers from across the world and the alcohol, coffee and an uber-friendly vibe keep flowing till sunrise. For best results, begin on a Friday night and pub-hop your way to glory till Sunday morning!

That you can be a gold-digger for a day
A city formed thanks to a gold-rush in the 1880s, Johannesburg still considers mining as serious business and it is at one of its significant mines – the Gold Reef City that visitors can get a feel of being a miner. The theme park’s gold mine tour takes you several metres down a shaft into a dark, humid gold mine, and gives you a crash course on the risky business of extracting yellow life out of an ore. In between adjusting the torch on your head-gear and gasping for breath, you will surely realise how fascinating the world beneath us is.

Though it’s easy to find dal fry, biryani or even jain food…
South Africa claims to be home to the largest Indian community outside the sub-continent and hence is also home to some good, bad and ugly Indian eateries at unexpected corners. Such as the expansive ‘Raj’ (which serves rubbish gulab-jamuns) right over a flashy casino in a Sun City hotel, or the impressive ‘Bhandaris’ (run by a South African!) en route a wine drive in Cape Town. That said, we’re yet to recover from the elaborate Jain food spread we encountered at a picturesque beach restaurant in Simon’s Town. Though we proceeded to gorge on the king clip (fish), this is good news for Gujjus and Marvaris, who reportedly love coming here.

You can always eat an ostrich/crocodile/zebra…
..and gather some stories for your grandchildren while doing so. ‘Game meat’, specifically hunted and delicately prepared, is a unique local treat you must try if your heart (and credit limit) allows. The common ones are ‘biltong’ (cured beef/ostrich meat, spiced and dried) and the spring buck (antelope). However, if you want adrenaline rushes at the dining table, try the smoked crocodile meat, charcoal-grilled zebra or the kudu (cute in the bushes but apparently delicious on your plate). While stuff such as ostrich membrane/knuckles is sold at malls, the wilder varieties are to be tried at restaurants such as ‘Carnivore’ in Jo’burg.

But won’t have the heart to touch the penguins here .
It may be called the jackass penguin owing to its bray but the African penguin at Boulders beach near Cape Town will still get the ‘aww’s going among your group. This colony of two-three feet long black-andwhite beauties is on a spectacular beach, and for those who thought such screen saver-like situations were experienced only in New Zealand, this is a sasta, sundar option.

That they love their beer… and cricket
As apparent from the stands in any cricket match in Centurion or Newlands, the South Africans love their golden brew as much as they love cricket. While many ‘shebeens’ (traditional taverns with smiling fat ‘mamas’ getting everyone drunk) have given away to plush bars, the locals continue to down ‘Castle’ and argue on their Smiths and Steyns. In fact, beer aficionados might consider it criminal to miss the exquisite audiovisual tour of the history of the drink and sample the world’s dishiest brews at SA Breweries’ ‘World of Beer’, the coolest museum of Jo’burg.

That safety and friendliness are under-rated
All this said, your father/in-law might still clamp down upon your South Africa itinerary for ‘safety’ reasons. But having been there twice and done things such as hailing a mini-van filled with African-Americans from an empty street post 11pm; asked a hundred strangers for directions and partied till dawn, this writer can vouch for the land’s safety and amiability. Yes, there are security concerns (GP can be Gauteng Province or Gangster Paradise!) but then being cautious was in every trip’s instruction list, right? Unless you insist on being stupid, you will be ‘sho-sho’ (all well).

Malay Desai leisure.mirror@indiatimes.com

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While Mother Nature heaps on the extreme weather in Colorado, extreme sports fans are counting the days to when winter sports take to the Rocky Mountains in 2012. Does your adrenalin skip a beat when you’re dropped from a helicopter onto a snowy peak? Maybe your thing is sinking your ax into the ice while summiting a wall. You’ve come to the right place — Colorado has your extreme sport.!

Whether you’re a diehard extreme sports participant or a fan, find a sampling below of adrenaline-pumping events to watch or winter activities to try:

Ski and Snowboard Events and Competitions:

ESPN’s Winter X Games, January 26-29, 2012: For the 11th year in a row, more than 200 ski, snowboard and snowmobile athletes from across the globe will land in Aspen/Snowmass to compete in ESPN’s Winter X Games 16 on Buttermilk. All events at Buttermilk are FREE and open to the public.  In addition to the action at Buttermilk, Aspen/Snowmass will host a FREE Bud Light Hi-Fi concert at the base of Aspen Mountain. 

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U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships, February 8 -12, 2012: Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) and Mountain Sports International team up to bring the U.S. and World Freeskiing Tours to the birthplace of Big Mountain competitions. Crested Butte was the first in the U.S. to launch an extreme skiing contest, and this season marks twenty-one years. Competitors vie for the largest cash purse on the freeskiing circuit and coveted prizes from all the sponsors. 

The Telemark World Cup, February 11-18, 2012:The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club hosts approximately 100 international telemark athletes as they compete in all telemark events over seven days. See the world’s best international telemark athletes compete in both men’s and women’s fields. 

Extreme Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Adventures:

Guided Skiing at Silverton Mountain:Silverton offers extreme and unique lift-served ski adventures accessing up to 1,819 acres of backcountry-type terrain. There are no groomed runs, no cut trails, just loads of nature’s finest black diamond skiing in the country. Each guided group of eight skiers or less can expect to hike 5-10 minutes to ski runs although some drop straight from the lift. 

Cat Skiing at Monarch Mountain:Great powder, spectacular views, 1,000 plus acres of expert terrain, steeps, trees, cliffs, and bowls – that’s Monarch Mountain’s snowcat terrain. Considered some of the best snowcat skiing in Colorado, guests enjoy skiing/riding in closely spaced trees, variable snow conditions and extremely steep slopes. Space is limited to 12 guests per day and the snowcat runs from the end of December through early April as conditions permit.
  

Heli Skiing with Telluride Helitrax:Telluride Helitrax operates in some of the highest ski terrain in North America: ranging in elevation from 10,000 to 13,500 feet. Telluride Helitrax is one of the most experienced yet personal heli-ski operations in the U.S. Up to twenty seats are available each day. Skiers are sorted by reservation groups, ability and helicopter load weight. 

Ice Climbing:

The 17th Annual Ouray Ice Festival, January 5-8, 2012.The Ouray Ice Festival is the world’s premier ice climbing event.  This annual gathering is attended by ice climbers from around the world, as well as industry sponsors, inspiring speakers, and the world’s top exhibition climbers. Festival events are held in and around the Ouray Ice Park as well as various other venues around town. 

2012 Lake City Ice Climbing Festival, February 4, 2012: This event includes timed lead and top rope ice climbing events with men’s and women’s categories held at the Lake City Ice Park. Hot food and beverages are served on site with an apres-climb awards party and door prizes. 

Jeep Ice Racing: I remember my first sighting of jeeps racing across the frozen Georgetown Lake. I happened to be driving past on I-70, and it was a beautiful — and scary sight! For the past 36 years, Our Gang Ice Racing has been holding jeep ice races on Georgetown Lake in the charming Victorian town of Georgetown. On weekends in January and February, Georgetown Lake becomes frozen over and is transformed into a race track for Jeeps and other four-wheel drive vehicles.  Races are separated by class including a beginner’s class, meaning that anyone can participate in a race, either as a driver or spectator. 

Ice Fishing:

Antero Ice Fishing Contest, January 14, 2012:Get your poles, your bait, your sled and head to the Antero Ice Fishing Contest at Antero Reservoir in Park County. This contest is loaded with excitement, adventure and great prizes. 

Leadville/Twin Lakes Ice Fishing Derby, February 18-19, 2012:This is an annual Leadville Rod Gun Club event at Twin Lakes with prizes by type of fish. Categories include mackinaw, brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon. 

Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 26 renowned ski areas and resorts.

Want more Colorado? Order your 2012 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide now by visiting www.Colorado.com or call 1-800-COLORADO.

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