Amsterdamcitytours.com/ keukenhof-tours.
famous Keukenhof Gardens. You can also see the vast fields of commercial tulips from the air, or take a day tour with Amsterdam City Tours to see them up close. See
Provence, in the south of France, is renowned for its farmed lavender fields. These are at their best in late summer, July or August. This is also the best time to see the sunflowers which brighten the already beautiful landscape of Tuscany in Italy.
How you get to see these flowers is up to you. I suggest you hire a car and travel the back roads in each case. You can also get up close on a walking tour.
European activity holiday specialists UTracks and Sherpa Expeditions offer trips to all of the above, but you have to get to Europe, of course. For more, see UTracks.com and sherpaexpeditions.com.
importantly, imported into the UK and other European countries?
Properly treated hides and skins are popular with tourists from abroad. However, they are not that cheap and your friend is looking at a figure closer to R10 000 for a good zebra skin. An Nguni cattle hide would be a cheaper option. There are a number of reputable dealers offering export services on the Internet.
Check that any company you buy from — in store or on the Internet — is recognised by, registered with and approved by the South African State Veterinarian Authority; the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT); Trade of Protected Species (TOPS), and The European Union Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES).
Any supplier must issue you with a permit to export. This will cost R150 for a Burchell’s zebra skin and R500 for a Hartmann’s zebra skin. This should come with a declaration from the company selling the skin, and a vet certificate. The permit usually takes two to three weeks, but can be done in days for a higher fee.
This applies to any animal skin for export. One often sees beautiful cow and other animal skins for sale on the roadside, but these products are mostly for the local market and may not carry export clearance. Check it out first, and don’t accept a verbal assurance.