Stony Brook Vineyard, South Africa

After visiting so many commercial wineries in Franschhoek Valley, South Africa, we were delighted to find the family-run Stony Brook Vineyards. We felt like we had just walked into someone's home. The owner brought us to the verandah and we tasted some of the best South African wine. The "Ghost Gum Cabernet Sauvignon" was a winner. You'll end up buying many bottles as we did. Worried you can't finish it all? Some of the restaurants in Franschhoek allow BYOB -- just ask. Headed for a safari and can't carry it all? Give your wine as a "tip" at hotels. Do that and you may score upgrades. Don't bother shipping wine back home as it's exorbitantly expensive. Put Stony Brook at the top of your list when touring the winelands. For more info: http://www.stonybrook.co.za/index.html

JAWS

If you can't swim, why would you ever get into a shark cage? As a fan of Discovery Show's "Shark Week," I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get up close to a great white at Seal Island, South Africa. Being separated from a 20 ft predator by a metal cage may seem unnerving to some, but the feeling you get when the shark approaches is unmeasurable. Pure excitement is rushing through your veins and you can't decide if you want the shark to linger or swim away. If you're lucky, you may also get to see a shark breach. Unfortunately, that didn't happen for us. Regardless, this trip was worth getting up at the crack of dawn. For more info: http://www.ultimate-animals.com/

Brave Enough to Ride an Ostrich?

So long as you weigh less than 75kg (165 lbs), you can straddle one of these birds in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. This is not the most comfortable ride (and some people may find it a bit cruel) but it sure is fun. There is no saddle or harness to keep you in place. Rather, you keep from falling by holding on to the bird's feathered wings. Once the handlers pull off the ostrich's hood, you will be sprinting across the dirt field in no time. Just when you get the hang of it, the ride is over. You can experience this strange ride at one of the many ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn, including the Cango Ostrich Show Farm. For more info: http://www.cangoostrich.co.za