According to a new research, most banks offer the worst currency exchange rates for those looking to exchange their holiday money at home. We urge travellers to shop around for the best currency deals. We suggest you look at the total costs and not assume that "commission free" is necessarily the best deal.

For ideas and suggestions on how to benefit from the exchange currency, grab <a href="http://www.flightsite.co.za/flights/airlines/mango-airlines/">Mango Airlines contact details</a> and give them a call. Mango Airlines is known as the first true low cost airline in South Africa. Their service is incredible and cheap fares unbeatable.

<a href="http://www.flightsite.co.za/flights/airlines/mango-airlines/">Cheap Mango Airlines flights to Cape Town</a> can be bought for less than R 500 rand. Did we mention unbeatable fares? The airline tries to make the cost of travel and holiday making as easy on the budget as possible.

Mango advises holidaymakers to avoid buying any kind of overseas currency from airport exchange bureaus. Rather book online and pick it up at the airport to save costs. Also be advised that most banks do impose foreign loading fees for using cards to purchase goods and services overseas, or to withdraw cash from foreign ATMs. Be mindful of costs involved when exchanging money and spending on your credit card.

Cape Town is unquestionably the most beautiful city in South Africa and one of the top destinations in the world. The Mother City is known for her beaches, her landscapes, her diverse range of activities, and cosmopolitan cultures. Cape Town is a destination you visit, and visit again, and again.

Top 5 things to do in Cape Town

1. Wildlife Safari

There are a handful of game reserves just outside of Cape Town. Cape Town safari tours offer visitors the ability to view wild animals such as buffalo, rhino, giraffes and predators. Hey, if you’re lucky, maybe event the big 5 will be spotted too. Top reserves are Inverdoorn Game Reserve, Aquila Game Reserve and Kagga Kamma.

2. Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium

The aquarium is at the world class V & A Waterfront. View over 3000 living animals, including fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and birds.

3. Horse riding on the beach

Go for a 2 hour horse ride along a quiet and pristine beach. If you are lucky you might see dolphins playing in the waves, with occasional sighting of whales.

4. Go club-hopping

Cape Town is renowned for its vibrant cosmopolitan night life. Everything from fancy cocktail bars to cheap pool bars is available. Also be sure to go to live concerts at venues such at Mercury Live, Zulu Bar or The Armchair Theatre.

5.  Surf

Cape Town offers some great surfing spots for avid surfers. Elands Bay is about three hours' drive up the West Coast from Cape Town. Great swells are to be expected.

The Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal coastline offers some of the best sport fishing in the world. The Indian Ocean is unspoiled and relatively unexplored – making it the ideal place for a fishing holiday. It harbours some of the world’s most exciting game and bill fish and attracts fisherman and woman from all corners of the world.

In the far North Eastern corner of KwaZulu-Natal lays Kosi Bay.  It shares its coastline with Mozambique. The main target species in the Kosi Bay Lake system are Grunter, Kingfish, Rock Salmon and Yellowfin Bream. For self drive travellers we suggest getting Kosi Bay border post contact details and confirming when posts are open.

There are great fishing expeditions to be experienced at Kosi Bay and surrounding areas. Some of the largest fish have been caught here.

Record Breaking Catches

1. Sailfish

Sailfish are caught throughout the year. The largest sailfish taken so far was 55kg.

2. Game Fish

Mozambique offers some of the best and most challenging game fishing in the world. Large black and striped marlins are regularly caught. In November 1998, off the north point of Bazaruto, the largest game fish was caught. It weighed 1298lbs.

3. The largest Wahoo caught

The largest wahoo caught here weighed just over 70 kilograms. It weighed more than the fisherman who caught it.

A well planned road trip to and through South Africa can be an unforgettable experience. You can get the full complement of wildlife, beaches and coasts, sweeping terrain and first hand cultural experiences. You could even fit in a community-based volunteer program on your trip.

We suggest spending a day shaking off the jet lag on the beaches of Cape Town. Once relaxed and well rested head to the Garden Route. The Garden Route, which is basically a highway from Cape Town to Tsitsikamma Forest, is likely to be one of the most popular drives in South Africa. It stretches more than 370 miles.

After catching great waves and doing some quad biking why not head to Lesotho. Roads aren’t as great as Cape Town’s so be prepared for this. A very popular activity is the six-hour pony trek to ancient Bushman paintings.

It is very important to be prepared for your trip. Knowing border times goes without saying. Many road trippers have found themselves stuck at say, Skilpadshek border post, which closes at midnight, due to not enough research done.

Road Trip Tips

• Know border crossing times.
• Have your car services before you leave.
• Have a plan – as rough as it may be.
• Have an escape plan – you can never be too safe.
• Join a roadside rescue service.
• Get enough rest between destinations.

The great thing about Cape is its centrality. The Mother City is a stone’s throw from South Africa’s world-famous Cape Wine lands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek and, of course, the capes wild life safaris. Safari options include morning, noon and even drives. Also quad biking, horse riding and picnics at ancient rock art sites are on offer.

Aquila Private Game Reserve is the closest private game reserve to the city and considered the best safari near Cape Town. A variety of indigenous animals have been re-introduced into the area such as, Rhino, Lion and Giraffe. Large herds of other African wildlife such as zebra, black wildebeest, klipspringer and ostrich can also be seen here.

Safaris slightly further away offer a unique experience of the Karoo. The Karoo is characterised by endless mountains, incredible sunsets and breathtaking skies at night. Wildlife to be viewed in this area includes Lions, Cheetahs, Blue Wildebeest and Springbok. Birdlife is also abundant with over 165 species to be spotted.

Another option is doing a safari in the peaceful southern Cedarberg Mountains. It is about 3 hours from Cape Town and worth every minute of the drive. Interesting activities include quad biking and visiting ancient rock art sites.

And the hotels are as world-class as the mountain, beaches, and mesmerizing highland. The hotels in South Africa are all of a high enough standard for overseas visitors to think they’re back home. Some hotels and lodges are ideal for families; other hotels and lodges are more suited to couples or single travelers.

Botswana is a land-locked country located in Southern Africa. Wildlife is Botswana’s main draw as well as the fascinating culture. For culture savvy travelers, the villages of D’Kar and Xai-Xai have many offerings, including arts, crafts, and the opportunity to participate in various rituals,

Discover the country your way

It is a land of staggering beauty. The enigmatic, rugged terrain is home to the largest elephant population in the world. Enjoy inspiring scenery, rich concentrations of wildlife and breathtaking sunsets.

Botswana offers the traveler a choice of accommodation options from top class hotels, luxury lodges and safari camps, to budget guesthouses and camping grounds.

Take mokoro rides through the Okavango Delta. Discover San rock paintings at Tsodilo. Take a cruise on the Chobe River.

Discover the country your way. Whether it is by mobile safari or luxury lodge fly-in; there Safari options include classic and family safaris, Elephant-back Safari, Fly-in Safari and Mobile Camping.

Egypt stimulates the western imagination like few other countries. It is safe to say that Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations world-wide.

Highlights of an Egypt holiday are the famous archaeological sites; the Pyramids, the temples, the Citadels and ancient Mosques. Apart from visiting and seeing the ancient temples, there are adventure sports, Nile boat rides, sporting and even some nightlife.

Spend some time in Egypt

Egypt is relatively easy to enter and obtain visas for. There are three types of Egyptian visa namely; tourist, entry and transit visas. There are several international airports all of which being great entry points to the country.

The climate does vary a bit depending on where you are in the country. However, generally, the summers are hot and dry, and the winters are moderate. There is almost no rain and November through to March is the most comfortable months for visiting.

Spend some time in Egypt, step back into a magical, ancient history. Eat hot and spicy food. Sail the Nile from dusk to dawn. Egypt has a full range of accommodation options, from basic backpacker hostels to five-star resorts.  A visit will not be a regrettable one.

Africa is the second largest country in the world. It is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

More and more cruise lines are offering clients an opportunity to experience Africa and become acquainted with its culture. Consider New Years Cruise Packages for an exotic and sophisticated way to see in the New Year.

New Years Cruise Packages

Sail the seas whilst enjoying the vast number of activities on board. Activities include casino slots, live performances, discos, comedians and more.

Enjoy Panini’s and pastries around the pool. Enjoy a soothing massage and fresh fruit at the rejuvenating spa. Watch a movie under the stars and other moving picture entertainment on a giant screen.

Generally restaurants onboard organize two dinner services per day and passengers dine at allocated times. Modern cruise ships also feature one or more casual buffet-style eateries that are open 24 hours.

Eccentric little hamlets, sprawling farmsteads and historical towns are what lie ahead.  The Klein Karoo is nestled between the Swartberge and the Garden Route in the Western Cape.

The Karoo is a boundless area of desert and multilayered mountains. Visitors are spoiled for choice for outdoor activities. This quiet area is renowned for its hiking, biking, and nature trails. The Karoo also offers some of the best star- gazing in the world.

Cape Town Car Hire

Cape Town Car Hire invites you to spend 3 days in the Karoo, an unforgettable road trip guaranteed.

Fossils of some of the earliest forms of life have been discovered in the Karoo. For the die-hard nature lovers, there are 235 bird species to identify and a wealth of plant life to discover.

We’d suggest visiting during one of the annual events. They include the Castle Lager Biltong Festival, the Spring Rose & Flower show, and the Bruintjieshoogte Cycle Tour.