Posts Tagged ‘Drives’

How to fix DVD/CD-ROM drives (Code 39 error) in Windows XP or Vista

Friday, January 16th, 2009

DVD/CD-ROM drives (Code 39 error)
At present, the player’s devices are CD-ROM, DVD-ROM. The faults are caused by hardware and software kinds. Considering the mechanical is too difficult to the inexperienced, so we here just focus on software dealing with drives’ error (Code 39 error).

After loading the Windows, the DVD/CD-ROM drives work properly, but we can not see the drives in “My Computer” (System can not recognize the drives.). When try to run the drives, it shows up a notice “Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code39).” Before solving this error, check the drives connection correctly, then follow the steps below:
Delete Device Manager. Most people will firstly think of Windows “Find New Hardware” when drives missed, but it does not always work out. To fix the problem: open “My Computer”→ “Control Panel” →“System”→“Device Manager”→ “HDC(Hard Disk Controller) ”, then click “Delete”. Follow the note to reboot computer. After rebooting, the computer will find the Primary IDE Controller and Secondary IDE Controller again and install the drivers. Restart the computer again while the installation is completed. In this, we can get back our CD/DVD-ROM Drives.

The other way is by editing the registry to return the missed CD/DVD-ROM drives (Code 39 error.). Obviously, it is too risky to edit the registry if you are not familiar with it. To fix the error from the registry, carry out the following steps:
Exit and close all applications currently running on your PC.
Step1. Click Start > Run and type in Regedit, press Enter.
Step2. Look for the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Delete any of the following registry entries under this key directory:
LowerFilters
LowerFilters.bak
UpperFilters
UpperFilters.bak
Step3. Reboot your PC and open My Computer to check that the CD-ROM drive is visible.
Also, have a look at the Device Manager to see if the yellow exclamation mark and the error code 39 are gone.

System errors are not welcome guests that bring up unhappy computing experience. Registry Easy (www.registryeasy.com) is a professional troubleshooting system maintenance tool that can help you to solve this error and many more.

Buy Traffic for Geo-Targeting Your Customers Targeted Traffic by Location Drives Your Visitors to Yo

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

Buying targeted traffic for your website that clearly differentiates your geographical market from your competitors can bring you closer to top search engine results and your customers closer to you.

Buying a business with targeted traffic determined by location, location, location has always been a cardinal rule of business success. Even though the web is the “World Wide Web” – the location of a business, and the targeted location for traffic that the business serves, is still paramount to success – particularly if competitors ignore the competitive edge of geo-targeting.

Geo-targeting is quickly becoming more influential in search engine results. Google’s top results often include geographically determined businesses first, or the ability for a search engine user to search by zip code. Google Maps is quickly gaining ground around the world, and is making explosive growth in website applications. Google, Yahoo and MSN also offer the opportunity to buy pay-per-click ads that target specific geographical areas in a search request. Even if a user doesn’t explicitly state a geographical area in the search engine request, Google can recognize the area from the user’s personal history and IP address – and they do take this into consideration when determining the order of the websites listed in search engine result pages.

The opportunity to buy traffic for geo-targeting is expansive – but not always expensive. Marketing strategies available to buy traffic for targeted traffic are not limited to listing your website in the yellow pages or the local online phone directory. Many search engines offer a website the opportunity to list their website’s geographical area served in the search engine’s own local directory. The cost to buy traffic for search engine listings can range from $0 to hundreds of dollars. There are also many location specific directories that provide an opportunity for you to buy traffic through a directory submission listing relative to your targeted traffic market. These directory submissions are often offered at a reasonable price – and if your targeted traffic market has been analyzed thoroughly, these can provide your website with a rich return. There is no limit to the number of directories you can submit to, so if you serve internationally, you can buy traffic promoting listings in each individual city, state, territory and country.

There are many travel and entertainment directories that allow you to buy a listing to increase traffic. The most recognized directories are for restaurants, hotels and travel services. But there are niches that go deeper than that. You can also buy traffic listings for directories that focus on stores, products, hobbies and other specific interests.

Buy traffic for geo-targeting, and your targeted traffic market will become your website’s regular traffic. Taking the steps to implement specific marketing strategies that your competitors are likely to set aside can make a significant difference in your website’s placement in the search engine result pages. Take the time to determine your website’s geographical advantages and limitations, and buy traffic in the directories that are available to promote your website. Drive your targeted traffic to your website through geo-targeting, and your targeted traffic will begin to target you.

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Advantages of External Hard Drives

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

Internal hard drives have more space than ever before. But obviously, we cannot keep pulling it out of our computer and taking it around with us when we travel. Nor can we insert it into anybody’s computer each time we want to share something. A laptop is still not affordable for all and not suited for all situations. The portable hard drive has come up as the answer to such needs. The external hard disk is a plug and play device – just like the tiny USB drive – but with all the advantages of being a complete hard drive by itself. It is now possible to carry around 1 Terabyte of data in a small packet.

The Advantages of External Hard Drives

Let us first weigh the points in favour of external hard disks.

* The first advantage is space – and this alone can be its winning streak. For more details go to www.infozabout.com .The portable hard drive is as good as the old desk top at home when it comes to storage space. For those who have to move around frequently with their data, have the laptop already, and still need more space, this is the answer to prayers.

* Its sheer ease of use is a boon that cannot be discounted. The rise in the demand for easy sharing of music and video files has been particularly facilitated by this gadget. Media files are huge in size when compared to data, and require both more storage space and good reproduction quality. If the DVD was an improvement on the CD in this regard, the portable hard disk is a great leap forward. It is definitely more secure than online sharing as well.

* Security, in fact, is a major advantage offered by the external drive. After all, it is sitting on the table physically outside the computer case. It can be disconnected at even a hint of an impending hardware failure. It can be scanned for virus prior to being plugged in, and disconnected immediately at the slightest warning. What is the use of creating a backup if that is going to be virus infested as well? The external hard disk has solved this problem. Our favourite songs and video clips can be downloaded from the net, scanned and then saved on the external hard drive in a ‘clean’ condition.

* Manufacturers of portable hard drives are competing with each other to make it more attractive. Some of them come with built-in antivirus, firewall and other security utilities. We can buy external hard disks with an OS already loaded, making it as actually like an independent computer by itself. Besides, there is a whole software package that comes with it, along with backup provisions so that automatic copies are created each time we work on a file.

The Disadvantages of External Hard Drives

There are some disadvantages too, but hopefully they can be remedied to a degree with time.

* The first hurdle is, of course, the price of the hard disks. The external hard drive is more costly than even USB drives. This issue will be solved only when larger scale of mass production starts off after the product has gained enough popularity in the market.

* Size is a factor for portable devices. A pen drive is, after all, tiny, light, and very convenient.

Data Loss from External Hard Drives

The easiest way to lose data from a portable storage media is by losing the device itself. Given below are some of the ways in which data can be lost from external disks.

* We are always open to data loss at any given point of time. For more details go to www.make-ezee-money.com .A thunderbolt will not announce itself before striking our rooftop and sucking the data away. Yet, very few people give importance to creating a logical partition for automatic backup within their external drive. This is as important as the recovery disk of a laptop.

* Regular virus scans and updating of the given software is very important. The built-in software will get deactivated unless the registration is renewed within a given period of time.

* Like all other devices, the external hard disk is also susceptible to fire, water, heat, humidity, dust, shock, electric discharge and direct sunlight.

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Portable Computer Hard Disk Drives at Lowest Price in India

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Searching for best branded portable computer hard disk drives online in the market like freecom, lacie ruqqed, portable and many more? Stop your searching and select the one from the best deals given below:

(1). Portable HDD from Laice 160 GB with Protective Cover for all Terrain Usage
Features:
• Capacity: 160 GB, Interface: 1x mini USB 2.0 port
• Rotational Speed (rpm): 5400rpm, Interface Transfer Rate: up to 480Mbits/s (60MB/s)
• Maximum Drop Height: 35 in. / 90 cm in non-operating mode (dropping is not recommended in operating mode)
• Software: LaCie 1-Click Backup Software (Windows / Mac OS 10.2 or greater)
• Silver keeper for automatic backup and file verification with Mac OS 9 & Mac OS X
• Driver-free for Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Vista and Mac OS X;
• Silver lining for Windows 98SE, Windows Me, and Mac OS 9

System Requirements:
• Windows 2000 / Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 98SE / Windows Me;
• Intel Pentium II 350 MHz compatible or greater;
• Apple G3/G4/G5/Intel processor; Minimum 128MB RAM
• Comments: 1GB (gigabyte) = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Once formatted, the actual available storage capacity varies depending on operating environment (typically 5-10% less).

Box Content:
• Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable (USB 1.1 compatible), USB power-sharing cable
• Quick Start Guide, LaCie Utilities CD-ROM including: User Manual and Utilities book

(2). Freecom Mobile Drive 250GB USB-2

Features:
• Need to expand your notebook, PC or Mac with a high capacity drive? No problem, the Freecom Mobile Drive is available from 80 up to 250GB!
• Don’t want annoying noises while working? No problem, The Freecom Mobile Drive has no cooling fan, which ensures quiet operation at all times!
• Need a hard drive but want to be trendy as well? The Freecom Mobile Drive has a stylish design and is made from lightweight aluminum. It will look perfect next to your notebook!
• Need to protect your data? No problem, the Mobile Drive comes with an extensive software package, featuring tools for making easy backups, synchronizing files, encrypting files, password protection and more
• USB 2.0 interface, Bus powered, Hot swappable, Reliable 2.5″ Hard Disk
• For Windows & Macintosh enabled PCs (It is Inclusive of Software Package (Backup, Secure & compress, Password protection, Auto Run, Sync)

Author suggests you to buy hard disk drives from homeshop18 in India.

Brendon Long offers you the latest and best information to buy lcd monitors and tv tuner cards in India.

USB Flash Drives As a Sales Vehicles:

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Give Your Customers A Little Something Extra…
If I could sell you a brand new $50 note, for the bargain price of $20, you`d bite my hand off, wouldn`t you?
Well, I can! Sort of…
You see, Promotional USB flash drives aren`t just a way to keep your customers happy, to build or sustain your brand image or get a new product out there. They can also drive sales. And of course, more sales means more money.
Why not try offering a free USB drive with every order over $50 this month? Or a free USB Drive if you recommend a friend and they in turn spend over $50? Perhaps you could offer a range of incentives, matching memory size to the amount spent? Stand out from the crowd by using promotional gifts in a different way, to actually increase the bottom line now, rather than just building for the future.
Of course, the question has to be “Will offering a free USB Drive make my customer spend more than they usually would? Or spend money when they`d usually wouldn`t?”
To answer the first part, I have four words for you. Amazon Super Saver Delivery. How often have you wanted a $5 book, but ended up spending $15 or more, just to qualify for the chance to have it delivered free? The answer for me has to be “More often than I`d admit”. Now if they can make someone triple their spending to qualify for a $2 saving, what could a USB Drive make someone spend? Far more than it would cost you to buy it in, I`d wager.
As for the second part, how often have you been browsing through a catalogue, walking down the street or surfing the internet, not intent on buying anything, when the offer of a free muffin with every coffee, a free cookie with every sub of the day or free songs with the latest iPod has drawn you in?
Meanwhile, even the customers that would have bought enough to qualify for the free Promotional USB Drive aren`t a loss. After all, it`s still going to build their loyalty to you, make them feel appreciated, and acts as a brilliant way to deliver a new catalogue or showcase a new product launch to them by additionally preloading something onto the Drives
Imagine that once your valued customers have made a larger-than-expected purchase, received a complimentary flash drive, and whatever information you chose to pre-load onto it. Perhaps there is a contest or promotion you’ve been thinking about running. Utilizing USB flash drives as a means of information dissemination keeps your message at your customers fingertips…literally.
USB Drives really are Win-Win.

Author Bio.

The USB Superstore offers a revolutionary way of promoting your products with their promotional USB . Log on to The USB Superstore and find out how you can take advantage of their wholesale USB .

USB Drives Make Medical Conference More Productive

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Lecture materials provided to attendees on flash drives

Thanks to storage solutions from The USB Superstore, medical professionals got something extra at a recent conference in Orlando, Florida.
The seminar featured a roster of leading researchers who spoke on medical advances and cutting edge procedures. Instead of having to take detailed notes during the lectures, attendees were able to listen instead, knowing that all the presentations, notes and support materials were already on hand – preloaded on a flash drive that conference sponsors gave to each attendee.
As most conference, seminar and tradeshow planners know, attendees are often swamped with information that is hard to carry around. Lecture presentations, notes, sales materials and marketing collateral can really weigh a person down during a long day at an event. Not only is this information difficult to cart around, but it also has to be shipped home – and with some airlines charging for a second bag and in some cases the first bag – this can become very expensive.
In the case of this conference, professionals didn’t have to deal with packing around paper. Everything was stored neatly on a branded USB flash drive from The USB Superstore. Convenient and affordable, the drive not only provided attendees with the information they needed, but the drive itself could be used long after the meeting at the office, the lab or at home to transport and store data.
USB promotional items not only save space, but money as well. Compared to the reams of printed materials created for major conferences and tradeshows, a flash drive is inexpensive. Plus, they reduce the amount of paper that needs to be recycled, making them a green promotional giveaway at the same time. It is much more convenient to have all the pertinent information stored on a flash drive, than to carry around a large bag full of brochures and documents.

For conference organizers, flash drives provide a unique opportunity to entice premium sponsors for the conference. Often times, a conference organizer will offer a co-branding opportunity to a premium sponsor whereby the sponsor’s logo is co-branded flash drive with the name of the conference. So, when the attendees leave after the conference, they carry with them all the relevant information from the conference, as well as the premium sponsors logo, all on a functional promotional USB drive that can be used for years to come.

For more information on USB promotional products that can be customized for your next seminar, conference, tradeshow or event, contact The USB Superstore:

Author Bio.

Do away with printed materials for your seminars and use custom USB flash drives . By providing your pre-loaded promotional USB memory sticks , your attendees don’t have to take down notes and can just listen intently to your seminar.

Sharing Music and Video a Snap with USB drives

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Portable drives store favorite songs or video for easy sharing and transfer

In a world filled with iPods and other MP3 players, the ability to store and share music, photos and video with family and friends has not only become fashionable, but commonplace as well.

But did you know that the venerable iPod uses the same storage technology as The USB Superstore’s line of innovative USB-compatible promotional products? If your clients are using their MP3 player to transfer their favorite tunes or videos with others, USB flash drives offer the same convenience at a fraction of the cost.

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons USB products have become such a popular choice among companies seeking to gain an edge in the marketplace. Not only are they finely engineered and affordable, but they are extremely convenient and easy to use.

Using a USB drive is as simple as plug and play. Insert the drive into the USB port on any PC or Macintosh and it will act as a regular storage drive on your system. Move any files you want to store, transfer or share to the drive. Then take your files with you, including your favorite songs, video files, documents and even movies. When you arrive at your destination, reverse the process and all your files are ready to enjoy and use within minutes. The drive is universally compatible, even with computers at an Internet café in a third world country.

As a promotional item, they are highly prized by recipients as well. Unlike a pen, flashlight or coffee mug, a USB flash drive has year-round use and will last for years, too. Recipients enjoy the ability to easily and quickly transfer files using a USB device so much that they continue to use them long after the tradeshow, conference or event they attended.

For businesses, that means effective use of marketing dollars, particularly in a tight economy. As most marketing professionals know, nothing’s worse than spending limited marketing dollars on a campaign, only to have your promotional items end up in a drawer somewhere, or worse, the trash.

A flash drive product never suffers this fate. It will be used day in and day out, putting your logo and marketing message front and center with your prospect or client as they transfer files between home and office or between coworkers, friends and family.

For more information on USB promotional products that can be customized for your next seminar, conference, tradeshow or event, contact The USB Superstore:

Author Bio.

USB drives are popularly used for storing, sharing, and transferring files. Now you can use them as promotional USB gifts for your clients or as custom USB with your company logo for your tradeshows.

Fall Foliage Scenic Drives in New England – Six of the Best

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

Fall foliage in New England provides a showcase for Mother Nature. Perhaps nowhere else in America, and maybe even the world, are the fall colors as stunning and spectacular as October in New England.

Fall foliage in New England really begins in August. The shortening daylight hours trigger the deciduous trees to begin the process of shedding their leaves. It happens all around North America, and all around the world. But in New England it results in a display of special landscapes painted with fiery autumn colors.

Why is fall foliage in New England so different and special?

It`s a factor of many things but mostly an abundance of different types of deciduous trees, warm autumn days, and cool – but not freezing – nights. When these and a few other conditions are all mixed in the right proportions, then you get the world famous stunning shades of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns on the hills and mountain sides of New England.

Between mid-September to late-October, visitors flock to New England to see the fall foliage. Many take special bus tours or even train rides. But most take to the road and these six scenic drives offer some of the best autumn views available from anywhere on the planet.

FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – MOHAWK TRAIL MASSACHUSETTS

In Massachusetts the most popular fall foliage scenic drives are along the famous Mohawk Trail, and the area known as The Berkshires. The Mohawk trail rolls out through the northwestern part of the state on route 2, and winds through the hills and mountains of the Berkshires, touching picturesque towns like Williamstown, Deerfield, Shelbourne, Colrain, Charlemont, and Shelburne Falls. The road follows an ancient foot path used to move between Massachusetts and New York by Native Americans.

Mount Greylock, the highest point in The Berkshires and Massachusetts, offers stunning views of the surrounding area and Mohawk Trail.

FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY NEW HAMPSHIRE

The White Mountain National Forest is home to many wonderful scenic drives but the most popular – and rightly so – has to be the 34-mile Kancamagus Scenic Highway that runs along route 112 from Conway to White Mountains Visitor Center in Lincoln. This drive is considered by many to be the top fall foliage New England scenic drive. You`ll see beautiful forests ablaze with autumn colors and plenty of photo opportunities with walks along gorges and streams, and with breathtaking views of the highest mountains in the Presidential Range.

FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – CENTRAL VERMONT AREA

Vermont is a popular destination state in the fall. With many fall foliage scenic drives to choose from, the Central Vermont area, around Killington, and the towns and highways of Woodstock, Rutland and Ludlow, offer up some of the most dazzling. This area is deep in The Green Mountain National Forest area, and not surprisingly offers dramatic fall foliage color and scenery.

FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – LAKES AND LEAVES MAINE

Maine is a vast wilderness and given its proximity is the first New England state to display peak fall foliage color. Maine has many unparalleled scenic drives to choose from, and it`s difficult to single out one. But the Lakes and Leaves drive that skirts the shores of Moosehead Lake on Route 15 and then heads south on route 201 provides an amazing view of this empty, but beautiful backcountry. You`ll see incomparable fall foliage views of the tree-lined banks of the Kennebec River, and the surrounding mountains on this Maine Scenic Highway.

FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – RHODE ISLAND COAST

Rhode Island provides open roads and coastal drives for fall vacationers and leaf peeping.
The 61-mile Rhode Island Coast Scenic Drive follows the coastline east from Westerly towards Point Judith passing nature reserves and secluded beaches, until turning north along Narragansett Bay, and eventually over Newport Bridge on route 138. The drive finishes over the breathtaking Ocean Drive in historic Newport.

Always close to a picnic stop along this short drive it begs to be taken slowly and to stop occasionally and breathe in the crisp fall salt air.

FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – CONNECTICUT ROUTE 169

Far from being the forgotten step child of the other fall foliage scenic drives in New England, Connecticut is full of its own collection of scenic drives. One noteworthy trip to take in autumn is Route 169 in the eastern “Quiet Corner” region. Here the backdrop is rolling farmland, stone walls, and picturesque towns and villages that line the route.

New England is littered with fall foliage scenic drives, and look at those mentioned here as springboards to visiting other country roads that lead to surprises and discovery at every turn. The backroads of New England are where the gems are located, so don`t be afraid to explore.

About The Author:

For more details on these and other New England scenic drives and to grab your free valuable travel reports go to Cliff`s Vactions in New England travel site at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/

Five Best California Scenic Drives

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

Five Best California Scenic Drives

California day trips, weekend getaways and Pacific Coast highway vacation

Don`t let summer pass you by! In the spirit of Jack Kerouac – take the weekend off and head out on the highway. Here are some of the best California scenic drives, Pacific Coast highway vacations and California day trips.

Sonoma – Mendocino Coast Scenic Drive: Marin City to US 101

This California scenic drive starts on the Marin Peninsula just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and follows Highway 1 up the beautiful Pacific coast. The highway passes through historic sites, redwood forests, wave carved coves, quiet sandy beaches and much more. From Muir Woods to Point Reyes National Seashore there are tons of state parks and beaches to visit and be awed by. It`s the perfect day or weekend retreat away from the bustle of San Francisco.

Angeles Crest Scenic Byway: La Canada to Mountain Top Junction

Only sixty-six miles long, this California scenic drive offers a secluded and scenic getaway from the traffic laden Los Angeles. The Angeles Crest Scenic Byway climbs up from La Canada into the San Gabriel Mountains, offering a stunning panoramic view. From the many vista points along the way, travelers can view the Mojave Desert, the San Gabriel Mountains and Pomona Valleys. This Pacific Coast highway vacation is so peaceful, you`ll forget about your busy life.

Route 1: Monterey to Morro Bay

Not that it needs mentioning, but Route 1 from Monterey to Morro Bay is a scenic drive that tops them all. Beginning south of Monterey, the highway takes you along the Big Sur where the Santa Lucia Range meets the Pacific Ocean. This scenic drives offers an abundance of marine life, sandy beaches and breathtaking views. In general, Route 1 from San Francisco to San Diego is a drive worth-taking and renting a convertible is recommended. For photos visit TravelPost blogger Marlon`s entry.

Carson Pass Scenic Byway: Jackson to Woodfords

The Carson Pass Scenic Byway travels along through alpine forests and meadows and over the towering Caron Pass in the central Sierra Nevada region. Spectacular views of rocky peaks and lakes, coupled with volcanic landscapes, deep canyons and dense forests make this seventy-five mile long scenic drive as varied as it is beautiful. There are plenty of historic sites, camping, hiking, fishing and backpacking to be done for this California day trip or weekend getaway.

Sonoma-Napa Valleys Scenic Drive: Santa Rosa to Hopland

A scenic drive and wine tasting extravaganza! This 132 mile scenic drive loops through the wine country of Sonoma and Napa and follows three California highways. Winding through rolling mountains and dense forests, the scenic drive also passes through Clear Lake, the largest natural lake entirely within the state. Along with wine tastings, there are numbers state parks and sites including Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga and the Jack London State Historic Park along the way on this California scenic drive.

BONUS Scenic Drive: San Francisco

At only 49 miles, San Francisco`s official self-guided driving tour is one of shortest. Simply begin anywhere you see one of the Scenic Drive signs with the big seagull, and follow the looping route counterclockwise to Mission Dolores, Coit Tower and other San Francisco highlights. Be wary of rush-hour traffic, I recommend hitting it up mid-week during the day.

Jillian Scheeler makes it easy to provides the ways to enjoy best drives and road trips in california. To recieve the free part mini course visit the Road Trip website

Classic Drives – The Garden Route, South Africa

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

The stunning Garden Route runs from South Africa’s most popular tourist destination, Cape Town, for 800 km along the scenic coastline between this city and Port Elizabeth. The area enjoys a Mediterranean maritime climate and the trip is regarded as one of the world’s truly classic coastal drives.

As you drive along the well-forested coastal plain, you’ll find freshwater lakes, lovely lagoons filled with water birds, indigenous forests of giant yellowwood trees and fields covered in colourful wildflowers. It’s easy to see why visitors are drawn to this beautiful region year-round.

One of the highlights of a drive along the Garden Route is a stop at the sleepy coastal town of Hermanus near the southern-most tip of Africa. The town is situated next to a 12-km path that runs along the cliff top, right next to the ocean. From May to December, pods of Southern Right Whales swim to within 20 metres of the cliff as they travel along the coast.

The more adventurous traveller can try some heart-stopping shark cage diving, sea kayaking, abseiling, scuba diving, sand boarding, and paragliding. Those looking for something more relaxing to do can visit the vineyards in a nearby valley and do the short drive to the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.

You will have to drive inland to visit Oudtshoorn, which was built in the early 1800s, in the centre of the Klein Karoo, a semi-desert area wedged between the coastal mountains to the south and the spectacular Swartberg mountain range to the north. The town was the world capital of the Ostrich feather industry during Victorian times, and many grand houses from that era are still standing today. There’s plenty to do in Oudtshoorn – you can try riding an ostrich at an ostrich farm, take a tour through the magnificent Cango Caves that stretch for kilometres throughout the mountains, visit the vineyards, and even stroke a Cheetah at Cheetahland.

Back on coast, the Garden Route takes you to George, located on a 10-km plateau that runs from the majestic Outeniqua Mountain to the Indian Ocean. Besides enjoying whale watching, surfing, swimming, scuba diving and paragliding, you’ll find three of South Africa’s top golf courses are also located here. The Fancourt Golf Estate is especially popular, with an 18-hole course designed by Gary Player, a golf academy, exclusive hotel and conference centre, restaurants, and numerous sporting facilities.

Further along the coast toward Port Elizabeth is the town of Knysna, also a very popular tourist destination. This laid-back town is situated between a lush indigenous forest, home to the last of the forest-dwelling elephants in Africa, and a beautiful lagoon teeming with birds and other wildlife. The oysters grown in this unpolluted lagoon are among the tastiest in the world. The closest beach is in nearby Buffalo Bay, a favourite spot for fishing, surfing and swimming, as well as whale and dolphin watching. The entire area surrounding Knysna, with its incredible biological richness and beauty, is a paradise for the eco-traveller, with plenty of places to camp, hike, canoe, kayak, and observe the unique wildlife.

At Plettenberg Bay, there are ten important nature reserves as well as marine reserves. The endangered Southern Right Whale calves in the bay from July to December, and seals and dolphins live here all year round. In the bay you can snorkel and scuba dive on unique soft coral reefs, and on the beach you’ll find a wide range of water sports on offer, including fishing, surfing, swimming and sailing. Nearby, there are superb hiking and mountain biking trails, horse riding, kayaking and canoeing in scenic Nature’s Valley and Stormsriver.

Your drive along the Garden Route ends in Port Elizabeth, on the shores of beautiful Algoa Bay.

Author Bio

Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. Bon Voyage Travel and Tours provide tailor made tours and holidays to South Africa for the individual traveler. Visit their website at www.bon-voyage.co.uk.