By Cheryl Tan

CALL OF THE WILD

Ostrich meat, lobsters and South African abalones are just some of the delicious fare awaiting those taking up Sino-America?s 10-day tour to Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa.

You land in Cape Town and visit the West Coast Ostrich Ranch before taking a cable car to the top of Table
Mountain for breathtaking panoramic views of the capital.

There's even a whale-watching tour from September to October and visits to a cheetah farm between November
and March.

Wine enthusiasts will perk up during the cellar and wine-tasting tour in Stellenbosch, a town renowned for its
wines.

In Johannesburg, apart from touring an old gold mineshaft, you also get to go on a game-reserve tour in open-top bush vehicles.

Try and spot the lions, elephants and rhinoceros in the wild. But be careful, you might want to keep your arms and legs safely in the vehicle.

Tour packages start from $3,238 per person.
For more information, call Sino-America Tours on 6535-8911 or e-mail outbound@satours.com.sg

FEMALE BONDING

Round up your best golfing girlfriends and head to Bintan Resorts for a girls' only weekday getaway.

Challenge your friends and play a round of 18-hole golf at either the Laguna Bintan Golf Club, where forests and natural wetlands span the greens, or the Ria Bintan Golf Club, known for its woodlands and windswept beach views.

The miles of sandy beaches and turquoise waters are a good escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Once you're done exploring the area, bond with your girlfriends and exchange hot gossip over massages at the three spas available there.

There's a Golfer's Relaxation Massage, which is highly recommended after a tough game to relax those tight, overworked muscles.

The women-only Golf & Spa package includes return ferry tickets (excluding taxes), express check-in for golf bags as well as two-way land transfers on Bintan.

This offer is available from Mondays to Thursdays, excluding eves of public holidays, and is valid until Nov
15.

For bookings, log on to www.bintan-resorts.com

BACK TO SCHOOL

It is a second chance at travel bargains for those who missed them last month.

This time, apart from the usual sightseeing tour offers, Chan Brothers Greatest Hits Travel Fair has family
educational tours to Beijing and the Australian Gold Coast.

The eight-day Beijing Family Educational Tour allows visitors to sit in with Chinese students during their lessons
as well as their art and craft sessions at the Beijing International School.

This way, both parents and children can get a glimpse of how school is conducted in a different culture.

A specially arranged opera performance by students of the renowned Beijing Youth Palace, which trains talented Chinese children, will also be put on for visitors.

If your children are into animals, sign up for the seven-day Gold Coast With Dolphin Experience.

Departing on Nov 17 and 24, the tour allows visitors to participate in collecting scientific dolphin data as well as witness a feeding session. A visit to the veterinary facilities at the Australian wildlife section in Dreamworld is also on the itinerary.

If touring with celebrities is more up your alley, spend 11 or 12 days in Portugal and Spain with MediaCorp artist Dasmond Koh.

Visit the St Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon and be wowed by the facade and structure of the capital's most prominent monument.

On the trip to Spain, you can admire the Islamic architecture of the Alhambra palace and fortress complex in Granada as well as visit the spectacular Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

The latter is a massive Roman Catholic church which boasts an intricate facade.

Tours depart on Oct 20 and 21.

The travel fair is on at Suntec Exhibition Hall 401, Level 4, this Sunday, 10am to 8pm. Admission is free.

WHITE NIPPON CHRISTMAS

Ski enthusiasts now have another snowy slope to try their stunts on.

The newly opened Hilton Niseko Village in Hokkaido offers a ski season that starts in November and lasts well
into April.

The resort sits at the doorstep to 48km of manicured slopes and also offers therapeutic thermal spring baths to help you relax after a day of skiing.

For newbies, there are ski and snowboard instructors on hand.

Activities are also not just limited to winter.

The resort has two 18-hole golf courses and visitors can also go mountain biking and explore nature by hiking,  horse riding or white- water rafting.

Starting from 15,000 yen (S$194) a night per person for a minimum twin share, the Niseko Golf Package includesa round of golf and buffet breakfast.

Visitors can also choose to stay a few hours longer with their ultra-late 3pm check-out time.

The Mountain Escape Package starts from 27,000 yen per person for a minimum twin share. This includes a 45-minute mind, body and spirit treatment at the hotel's Wakka Spa, breakfast and dinner as well as a late check-out.

Packages are valid till Nov 30. To book, log on to www.hilton.com

tcheryl@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times on September 09, 2008.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here