Lightleys Holiday Houseboats: May 2008

No need to bring out the Captains Daughter*, me hearties – it’s easy enough to persuade anyone to take a relaxing break aboard Lightleys Holiday Houseboats at this time of year. And, with three fantastic venues to choose from – Knysna, Port Alfred and the Vaal – and some hot, HOT mid-year packages (see below) – there’s plenty of choice indeed!

Tour Operators – are you going to Indaba?
Meet us at stand WCA28
in the Western Cape Pavilion
Mail us for an appointment
- or, if you aren’t going to be there request our Rates Card

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The Lightleys Lagoon Mile at the Pick ‘n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival

Sailing Lore – Monsters of The Deep: Mermaids
Mermaids – or mermen or merfolk – are half-fish-half-humans which appear in the legends of almost every sea-going culture. The oldest mermaid stories date back to the Assyrians – who prospered a thousand years before Christ – and people are still claiming sightings to this day (after the tsunami of 2004, pictures of a Fijian ‘mermaid’ – which was supposed to have been killed in the devastation – surfaced on the internet. But of course these pics were no more real than the ‘mermaid’s corpse’ which the famous showman, PT Barnum, exhibited in his ‘museum’ in the late 19^th century.

Special Offer on the Vaal River

Go on – you know you deserve a breakaway – just the two of you! Book now for a holiday between 5 May and 31 Aug 2008 with Lightleys Vaal River and enjoy these special rates for two:
Just R995.00 per night on weekends OR R695.00 per night on week days
This offer* is valid only for visits to the Vaal on the dates specified and is not valid during long weekends and school holidays. Price excludes fuel and security deposit.
Want to book? Mail us – vaal@houseboats.co.za
…or go here to watch a video about Lightleys on the Vaal River.

Where Fine Wine And Culture Meet -
The Vaal River Meander Wine Route 2008
Winter’s here – and although it gets cold on the Vaal River at night, the chill does offer the opportunity to cuddle, to have the river to yourselves – and, of course, to do the Vaal River Meander Wine Route (or at least a part of it) by boat.

Dock at any of the Wine Route’s riverside venues, taste the superb products of various estates – and buy the wines if you like them. A truly unique experience!

The fourth Vaal River Meander Wine Route will run from 7 July to 9 August 2008: and if the wine doesn’t keep you warm enough (or if the heaters that we can provide if you dock at our jetty don’t do the trick), then perhaps our new beanies will – because we’re offering a free Old Willow No. 7 beanie with every booking at Lightleys Vaal River this winter. WINE ESTATES represented this year include Zorgvliet, Meerlust, la Bri, van Loveren, Roberston, Steenberg, Alto, Avondale, Boland, Spier, Rietvallei, Krone Wines and Vrede & Lust, as well as boutique estates Horse Mountain and Glen Carlou. Venues participating in the Vaal River Meander Wine Route will offer entertainment programmes and activities to complement the initiative. More information at Vaal River Meander Wine Route

The Kraken
This legendary monster – which was said to resemble a giant squid – lived off the shores of Norway and Sweden, and was believed to have destroyed many a sailing ship. The thing is, though, that giant squid really DO occur – and they grow up to 13 metres in length (to put that into a Lightleys perspective: 13 metres is almost twice as long as our 4-berth Leisure Liners, which measure ‘just’ 7.8 metres from stem to stern. But don’t fret: the Kraken lives in the deep, treacherous ocean – while Lightleys Ports are selected for their shallow water and comfortable bathing conditions!).

Great Value-for-Money Specials in Knysna & Port Alfred!

Mid-week Madness!
- up to 15% off our daily rate

Book for 2 nights or more (any nights, Monday to Thursday between 1 May and 15 September 2008) and we’ll knock up to 15% off the price – just for you!
Want to make a reservation? Mail us – info@houseboats.co.za
This offer* is valid only during mid-week periods and is not valid during long weekends and school holidays. Price excludes fuel and security deposit.

A Pensioner’s Present – 20% off our daily rate

Book for 2 nights or more (any nights, Monday to Thursday between 1 May and 15 September 2008 ) and we’ll knock 20% off the price – because you’ve worked for it!
Want to make a reservation? Mail us – info@houseboats.co.za
This offer* is valid only during mid-week periods and is not valid during long weekends and school holidays. Price excludes fuel and security deposit. And you have to be at least 60 years of age (and yes, we might ask to see your ID as proof of that!)

Lightleys Holiday Houseboats Lagoon Mile at the Pick ‘n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival

Thursday 10 July 2008 @ 11:00am
Swimmers, triathletes – and anyone who loves their sport – should enter the second Lightleys Holiday Houseboats Lagoon Mile. This year we’ll be racing at the Waterfront at the Knysna Quays – and we’re offering BIG cash prizes. All ages are welcome!
More information from Volenté Smit -
marketing@houseboats.co.za – tel. 044 386 0007.
Read about last year’s Lagoon Mile here

Lightleys Knysna / Thesen Islands
Fabulous 
Foursome

Enjoy 4 nights on a Lightleys Holiday Houseboat in Knysna and receive a FREE Thesen Islands shopping voucher; PLUS overnight mooring facilities on Thesen Islands AND a value voucher for lunch or dinner at the fabulous and elegant Sirocco on the water’s edge.
2 People pay just R3,580.00
4 People pay just R4,380.00
6 People pay just R5,180.00
Want to book? Mail us – info@houseboats.co.za

The Cadborosaurus
Affectionately known as ‘Caddy,’ the Cadborosaurus (named for Cadboro Bay in British Columbia – and not after your mother’s favourite chocolate) is a sea serpent believed to be living off the Pacific Coast of North America. With more than 300 sightings during the past 200 years (including some from Francisco Bay) – and even some ‘authenticated photographs’ in existence, it’s difficult NOT to take Caddy seriously. But can you imagine a snake with tandem humps behind a horse-like head, with a long neck, small front flippers, webbed hind flippers and a large, fan-like tail? That’s some goooood stuff they brew in California…

STAY-AND-PLAY-IN PORT ALFRED – OUR HOTEL AND HOUSEBOATS SPECIAL OFFER
Enjoy 2 nights self-catering aboard a Lightleys Holiday Houseboat in Port Alfred AND 3 nights Bed & Breakfast at The Halyards Hotel.
2 People pay just R3,444.00 in low season and R4,678.00 in mid season; AND
4 People pay just R5,362.00 in low season and R7,724.00 in mid season.
Want to book? Mail us – info@houseboats.co.za

The Coelacanth
A South African ‘sea monster’ story: but one that’s not based on myth or legend. In 1938 a fishing trawler found the first of the ‘modern’ coelacanths near East London. This strange, four-legged fish was thought to have become extinct more then 65 million years ago, but is now known to occur in various places on the Indian Ocean rim – including the Comoros, Indonesia and South Africa. One-time Knysna resident, Prof. JLB Smith, correctly identified the East London specimen and went on to describe the second one (which was caught off the Comoran Island of Anjouan) and told the story in his best-selling book ‘Old Four Legs.’ To learn more, go here for details of the Lightleys Holiday Houseboats Featherbed Eco-Experience – and visit the JLB Smith display at the Food Forest Restaurant at Featherbed Nature Reserve in Knysna.

Ahoy Captain!
With best regards From the
Lightleys Holiday Houseboats
Crew

* The Captain’s Daughter – better known as the ‘Cat o’ Nine Tails’ – was a short, nine-tailed whip used for flogging errant sailors. When not in use, the Cat was traditionally stored in a baize bag by the bosun’s mate – hence the term ‘letting the cat out of the bag.’ This is also where we get the term ‘enough room to swing a cat.’ Aboard Lightleys Holiday Houseboats, of course, there’s plenty of room to swing a cat – so best you be careful when criticising the cook’s efforts (or when you’re tempted to say something belittling about the fisherman’s catch!).

You’re Captain Of Your Own Holiday with Lightleys Holiday Houseboats!