Mining takes place in all the world's continents with the exception of Antarctica, which has a treaty in place preventing short to medium term exploitation and exploration of minerals. Traditional mining countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Chile continue to dominate the global mining scene - becoming entrenched leaders in mining and exploration methods and technology. 

However, with demand outstripping supply, exploration and development funding has changed over the past few years, with emphasis shifting to areas that have been poorly explored or have had poor access for reasons of politics, infrastructure or legislation.

"There has been a general boom in the mining industry over the last five years, driven largely by a growing demand from China specifically and Asia in general," said Tim Goldsmith, global leader for mining at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). "Currently there is a lot of consolidation in the traditional markets and emerging markets in the developing world - particularly Russia, India and Indonesia," added Australian-based Goldsmith.

Relax and rediscover an alternative way of being at the BRC 

Sitting quietly, in full lotus position, in the midst of a small copse of trees on a 125 hectare country estate near Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal, you will find a nine by four metre, larger-than-life image of Buddha gazing serenely out over the valley below into indigenous grasslands and misty wattle plantations.

Should you be awake around sunrise you will see a straggling and motley group of up to thirty bleary-eyed and generally work-stressed visitors make their way quietly past the impressive, large white Buddha.

They will be quiet, observing noble silence (often with great difficulty), as they head in the direction of the thatched studio for a morning yoga stretch or a chi kung energising session to start the day.

Ensuring that life on the trail is not a trial

Family hiking trips - those do-it-yourself walking holidays - are a wonderful way to bond with your children, to discover personal strengths and weaknesses, to immerse yourself in nature and unwind … and to discover the natural beauty of South Africa. The bonus is that although hiking holidays require a lot of planning and preparation, they generally cost significantly less than conventional holidays and leave you with far richer memories.

We set off from the car park in high spirits, making the last final adjustments to our pack straps as we strode out on the three kilometre stretch of tar, before diverging at the U-turn in the road to follow the first of many well-worn footpaths into the Drakensberg wilderness.

It was a little after 2 pm on an overcast winter afternoon, and my teenage boys set a cracking pace up to Sherman's cave, our first overnight stop in the Cathedral Peak area - and I quickly realised that I had underestimated their strength when distributing the loads. Here I was a 40-something pack horse with 18 kg on her back, breathing raspishly and labouring on tired legs behind lithe youth with about 13 kg each. Who, out of courtesy (and in fear of the severe safety lectures), waited periodically for me to catch up.

The warm waters of the Indian Ocean, sunny sands and mild winters turn the KwaZulu-Natal coastline into a scene of migration between May and July. Many flock to the welcoming waters and hospitable beaches … and we're not just talking people.