Walking Tour of Bo-Kaap in Cape Town If there's one place that I must visit every time I go to Cape Town , it's the Bo-Kaap. I'm ever so fascinated by this historic, colourful district, which is always a sight for sore eyes. On my most recent trip to the Mother City, I did a walking […]
City Sightseeing Cape Town Did you know that the Cape Doctor is actually the local name for the strong south-easterly wind that blows on the South African coast from spring to late summer, and that it is thus named because it is believed to clear Cape Town of smog and pollution, leaving clear blue skies […]
The President Hotel Review For over 250 years, the location of the current President Hotel has been a coveted one. In the 18th century, it was the site of the Society House, a recreational retreat in Cape Town where the rich and elite of the day would travel to be seen. After several ownership changes […]
Shelley Point Hotel & Spa The Cape West Coast is one of South Africa’s most picturesque and alluring regions. Offering everything from pristine beaches and striking mountain ranges to colourful wildflower carpets in spring, it is no surprise that the area is so popular with holidaymakers. For us, it was also a great stopover destination […]
Namaqua National Park Namaqua National Park may be best known for its annual explosion of bright carpets of wildflowers in spring, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have anything to offer during the rest of the year. We spent two days in the park in autumn and discovered that there was much more to […]
Augrabies Falls National Park Instagram made me do it. There, I said it! Although the Augrabies Falls had been on my South African bucket list for a long time, it was the posts of the falls in full force flooding my Instagram feed over the past few months that spurred me into planning a trip […]
Red Sands Country Lodge Review The Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest province, comprising over 30% of the country’s land. It was also the province we had explored the least. Besides The Big Hole of Kimberley, we hadn’t seen much of its attractions. In an effort to change that, we planned a Northern Cape road […]
Morukuru Beach Lodge Review I’d never seen a starfish in its natural environment before. Nor a sea anemone, sea urchin or abalone. Even though I’d been on many land-based wildlife-viewing safaris, this was my first time witnessing the aquarium under the sea and I was mesmerised. As you may have guessed, I am not a […]
Jock Safari Lodge Review Africa has an ethereal quality…its breath whispers on plains of grass, its sound whistles in the bushveld trees, its heart sits in the souls of wild animals and its dust remains on one’s feet…forever”. J.C. Smuts We fell asleep to the sound of lions roaring on our first night at Jock […]
Kapama River Lodge Review We were about to embark on our first game drive at Kapama Private Game Reserve, when our ranger Rassie asked us what we’d like to see – as rangers normally do. Having seen all of the Big Five, wild dogs and cheetahs multiple times, I half-jokingly said that I wanted to […]
Mabula Game Lodge Review The adorable trio of cheetah cubs frolicked in the sand, pursuing and pouncing on each other, and climbing termite mounds and trees. They reveled in their youthful energy and freedom, eyeing us curiously in between their play, while their mother scanned the horizon for breakfast. As she strode forward sensing the […]
Seven Villa Hotel & Spa Review “The foundation of human experience and sensory development is anchored in the -SEVEN senses. Seven Villa Hotel & Spa Is a respite from the fast-paced life and allows guests to fully engage their sense of sight, smell, touch, hearing, taste, movement and balance.” Seven Villa Hotel & Spa An inner-city sanctuary in the heart of Sandton, […]
Where to go for the best hikes in Johannesburg and Pretoria Hike: a long walk especially for pleasure or exercise. (Merriam-Webster) I never really bothered much with hiking in Johannesburg until we were locked down in our own province. We started looking for parks and nature reserves in Johannesburg and were thrilled to discover that […]
My 2021 Travel Year in Review 2021 was like an extension of 2020 although we did get more opportunities to travel locally. The year began tentatively, because we kept expecting our January travel plans to get cancelled, as parts of the country were at the height of the second wave. Fortunately, we didn’t go into […]
Thanda Safari Review It was a sunny morning in the African bush, and we were tracking a pair of cheetahs – a hungry mother and a daughter on a hunt. The mother seemed totally oblivious of us but the cheeky little one turned around and snarled at us, barely a metre away from our vehicle. […]
Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge Review Our welcome at Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park was very African and rather unique. Shortly after our arrival, as we sat and completed the mandatory paperwork in the brightly coloured communal lounge, a herd of elephants paraded past the lodge deck, their trunks moving up and […]
Dubai is one of the most visited cities on earth, characterised by its man-made islands, huge skyscrapers and shopping malls. According to the latest Mastercard rankings, more tourists now go to Dubai than New York, Tokyo or Barcelona. A city that never sleeps, it is known for its constantly evolving, modern skyline and endless opportunities […]
Looking for things to do in Johannesburg ? Read on... Johannesburg – South Africa’s biggest city and commercial epicentre. Also known as Jozi, Joburg, or Egoli (City of Gold in Zulu), it began as a gold-mining settlement in the 19th century. There is more to this cosmopolitan city than shopping. If you are visiting Johannesburg, […]
Family-friendly weekend getaways near Gauteng I recently wrote a post about weekend getaways in Gauteng, which has been quite popular. This is the second post in the series and it covers weekend getaways near Gauteng. These are family-friendly places that I’ve personally stayed at and enjoyed with my family. They can be found in nature […]
8 Great weekend getaways in Gauteng A weekend escape from the city always sounds tempting but a long drive to get there usually isn’t as appealing. These weekend getaways near Johannesburg are in countryside surroundings, and they’re all in Gauteng – in case we Gautengers are put into lockdown again! Kids are welcome at most […]
Review: Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Camouflaged by the tall grass, the young lioness crouched, her lithe body taut. She was surrounded by zebras, warthogs, and white rhinos, and her eyes darted between all of them. They were close enough to observe but not to ambush – yet. We watched with bated breath […]
The Marine Hotel Hermanus - Review It began as a summer grazing area for livestock then eventually progressed to become a small fishing village. Today, Hermanus is known as the whale watching capital of South Africa, even recognized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world. From […]
Looking for things to do in Mauritius ? Read on... “Welcome to Paradise” said the Captain as the plane touched down in Mauritius. One did not have to look far to discover the motivation for such a bold claim. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is synonymous with postcard-like turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, palm […]
How to apply for a South African passport online How to apply for an ID online (Scroll down) South Africans can apply for a passport online , and renew their expired passports online too. Here is my detailed guide on how to do an online passport application. For updates on the How to apply for […]
12 things to do in KwaZulu Natal (besides visit Durban) KwaZulu Natal is one of South Africa’s most beautiful provinces and one of its most popular tourist destinations. It is a spectacular, multi-cultural, subtropical region flanked by the warm Indian Ocean and the striking Drakensberg mountain range. The province stretches from Port Edward in the south […]
Tintswalo at Boulders Boutique Villa Review Did you know that penguins mate for life? Once they have identified The One, they "propose" by giving their potential mate a smooth pebble. Isn’t that sweet? The iconic Boulders Penguin Colony along the False Bay Coast is one of the best places in South Africa to get up […]
Things to do in Hartbeespoort and surrounds In this age of social media, the Instagrammability of a destination is a key factor in deciding on a getaway destination for many people. The Hartbeespoort area boasts Instagram opportunities galore, and it’s proximity to Johannesburg and Pretoria make it an ideal weekend destination. Meaning “Gateway of the […]
In keeping with the Africa theme on this blog, here are 10 Books about Africa that you must read, “There are as many Africas as there are books about Africa — and as many books about it as you could read in a leisurely lifetime. Whoever writes a new one can afford a certain complacency […]
Looking for things to do in Cape Town ? Read on... Cape Town, also known as South Africa’s Mother City, is consistently listed amongst the best cities in the world. It is endowed with abundant natural beauty, umpteen opportunities for adventure, world-class shopping, delicious food, and captivating history. There are so many places to visit […]
Interested in Travellers' Tales From Around The World ? Read on.... I started the “Travellers’ Tales ” section in 2016 and I have now published over 120 interviews. Over hundred travellers from around the world have shared their fascinating travels on my blog thus far. Find the links to their interviews below. Are you looking for travel […]
The Houghton Hotel Review It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for luxury accommodation and our latest staycation at The Houghton Hotel ticked all the right five-star boxes. One of Johannesburg's newest and most luxurious hotels, the hotel has already scooped up the award for Africa's Leading New Hotel 2020 in the prestigious […]
Things to do in Pretoria Before inter-provincial travel re-opened, lockdown had been restricting us to outings in our own province. It was challenging finding things to do in Gauteng that we hadn't done before, and we found ourselves spending more time in Pretoria, exploring its attractions, and thereby prompting this post. Also known by its […]
South Africa is a beautiful country with so much to see and so many places to explore. Here are 30 Photos of South Africa that will fuel your wanderlust Get lost in nature… 1. Go hiking in the Garden Route 2. Or do the Whale Trail in De Hoop Nature Reserve , one of the best […]
Victoria Falls - What you need to know 9 days, 4 countries, and umpteen experiences - many outside my comfort zone. I was enchanted by the Victoria Falls , canoed in hippo and crocodile infested waters, rode a horse in a game reserve and was almost attacked by a massive baboon. Africa is wild .. and […]
Royal Chundu Review “You cannot leave Africa,” Africa said. “It is always with you, there inside your head. Our rivers run in currents, in the swirl of your thumbprints; Our drumbeats, counting out your pulse, Our coastline, the silhouette of your soul.” Bridget Dore The best African destinations are rich with fascinating experiences. Experiences that […]
39 signs that you are a travel addict My earliest travel memory, apart from a safari in Kruger National Park, was when I was seven years old. I travelled with my family from South Africa to India, on my first international trip. That trip instilled a love of travel within me, which has never left […]
21 Beautiful mosques around the world Prayer clears the mist and brings back peace to the soul…Rumi When travelling, religious sanctuaries become more than a place to pray. They provide one with a tranquil escape from the city, and an opportunity to meet locals and witness their culture. I decided to compile a list of […]
Witsand Kalahari Nature Reserve Brilliant white sand dunes surrounded by red Kalahari sands, against the backdrop of the Langeberg Mountains... the Witsand Kalahari Nature Reserve is one of the wonders of the Northern Cape. Not to be confused with Witsand Nature Reserve in the Western Cape, the reserve spans around 3500 hectares, and is known […]
Mount Kilimanjaro guide – What you need to know Is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on your bucket list? Do you want to know what it feels like to stand at the top of Africa? Then this guide is for you! It will provide you with the information you need before making the trek up Africa's tallest […]
The Gautrain: What you need to know Firstly, I must apologise that this post is delayed – by over a decade. In my defence though, I didn’t have a blog then. I began writing around that time but it was for other websites. The Gautrain began operating in June 2010 just in time for the […]
The South African eVisa – what you need to know Often referred to as a world in one country, South Africa is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. It has evolved into a major holiday destination for international travellers thanks to its natural beauty, exciting wildlife safaris, historic attractions, adrenalin […]
