Fascinating Facts about South Africa South Africa is a strong and resilient country, with a rich history and culture that inspires the world. Here are some fascinating facts about South Africa that will make you see this beautiful Rainbow Nation in a new light. General South Africa is the 25th largest country in the world […]
Sandton Sun Review A stay at the Sandton Sun promises an indulgent experience, starting from the moment you step into the elegant and sophisticated lobby. The welcoming staff greet you with a smile, and you're effortlessly checked in. The speedy lift whizzes you up to your suite on the 19th floor where you are instantly […]
Win a 5-star stay for 2 at the Taj Cape Town This giveaway is now closed. A random winner was chosen by Rafflepress. Congratulations to Marc Shaw on winning this amazing prize! One lucky winner will enjoy a two-night stay for two people with breakfast, at the 5-star Taj Cape Town hotel, valued at R7 […]
Why you should visit Seychelles Regarded as one of the world’s ultimate tropical island paradises, Seychelles is a culturally diverse destination set against the perfect backdrop for those looking for an idyllic escape from everyday life. It is no wonder that this archipelago in the Indian Ocean is such a popular travel destination. Here are […]
2022 Travel Year in Review I can’t believe that I am already writing about my 2022 year in travel. It seems like just yesterday, that I was writing about 2021. This post has become an annual tradition for me and I love doing it as a personal record of my travels for the year. Thankfully, […]
Things to do in Hartbeespoort In this age of social media, the Instagrammability of a place 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 Hartebeest” (a […]
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 […]
Things to do in West Coast National Park Situated in the Western Cape, on a stretch of the South African coastline that is renowned for its rugged beauty, the West Coast National Park is a scenic nature reserve with a diverse range of plant, bird, and animal life. The park was established in 1985 and […]
Madikwe Game Reserve - What you need to know 1.What is Madikwe? Madikwe Game Reserve is currently the fifth largest game reserve in South Africa – and one of my personal favourites. Although it is not as well-known among South Africans as the national parks, it is very popular with international tourists, who are lured […]
L’Escale Resort Marina & Spa Review In ancient times, wary seafarers travelling from distant lands would find refuge in “stopovers” where they would relax and recover from long journeys before continuing their travels. Based on this concept, the award-winning L’Escale Resort Marina & Spa was created as an exclusive stopover for modern travellers. For us, […]
Molori Safari Review The word “molori’ means "to dream" in the seTswana language, and Molori Safari truly is a dream in the African wilderness. Situated in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, it was originally built as a private family retreat. After a complete makeover, it was opened to the public in 2007, now boasting a […]
15 Best things to do in Mahé Mahé is the largest island in Seychelles and a tropical paradise known for its stunning beaches, clear waters and diverse ecosystems, which include lush forests, coral reefs, and mangroves. The island is also home to Victoria, the capital city of Seychelles, which happens to be the smallest capital city […]
Best things to do in Praslin Praslin, the second-largest island in the Seychelles archipelago, is a true paradise on Earth. Historically, it was a former refuge where pirates hid their treasure. These days, its treasures are more of the natural kind. With its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and lush vegetation, it will mesmerise you […]
The Best Things to do on La Digue Island Travellers to Seychelles often wonder which islands they should include on their itinerary. After having been there, I can safely say that all three of the country’s main public islands – Mahe, Praslin and La Digue - are must-visit destinations. We almost left La Digue out […]
Constance Lemuria Review Our arrival at Constance Lemuria consisted of a short ride by golf cart through a stretch of rain forest dubbed “Jurassic Park” where we were welcomed by Leonardo, one of the resident giant Aldabra tortoises. As we arrived at the reception area, a ceremonious gong was struck and huge imposing doors opened […]
Constance Ephelia Review When searching for the best hotels in Mahé, it is no surprise that the name Constance Ephelia constantly comes up. Boasting an enviable location on the West Coast of Mahé, between two of its most beautiful beaches, in a unique natural setting encompassing a marine national park, a wetland nature reserve and […]
10 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. If you live in Gauteng and are looking for nearby getaways for this weekend or the next, then you've come to the right place. These weekend getaways near Johannesburg […]
City Sightseeing Johannesburg Bus Review Did you know that Johannesburg was founded in 1886 when gold was discovered on the reef? It was only expected to be a temporary town. Or that it is one of the largest cities in the world not built near a sea or major river? Or that it is an incredibly […]
Hyatt Regency Cape Town Review The historic, colourful district of Bo-Kaap has always fascinated me. It’s the one place in Cape Town that I must visit every time I go there. Originally established in 1760 under darker conditions, it is now one of South Africa’s most colourful neighbourhoods as well as one of the most […]
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 […]
Thanda Safari Lodge 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 […]
8 Things to do in the Northern Cape … and some thoughts about the province The Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest province making up over 30% of the country’s land. It was also the province we had spent the least time exploring, mainly because it seemed too far from Johannesburg. Besides Kimberley and Colesberg, […]
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 […]
City Sightseeing Cape Town Review 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 […]
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, […]
An easy guide on how to apply for a South African passport online Scroll down for information on how to apply for an ID online How to apply for a South African passport online South Africans can apply for a passport online , and renew their expired passports online too. Here is my detailed guide […]
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 […]
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. However, they are also great places for […]
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 to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa Can you name all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa without using Google or ChatGPT? Most South Africans probably can't. Until recently, I couldn’t either. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and […]
Essential packing tips Packing for a trip can be a daunting task, especially if you are travelling for an extended period of time or visiting multiple destinations. However, with a bit of planning and preparation, you can ensure that you have all the essentials for a comfortable and memorable journey. As a frequent traveller, I […]
Looking for poems about travel ? Read on... "Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life'" Michael Palin For the love of travel From the mountains high to the oceans wide, Travel calls to us, it's our hearts' […]
Tsavo's Massive Male Lions If I were to hazard a guess as to one of your worst nightmares, it would be being eaten alive by a wild animal. I won't blame you if it is. For some construction workers building the Kenya-Uganda Railway in Tsavo in 1898, it was a reality. For nine months, their […]
Seychelles on a budget Seychelles is a tropical paradise located in the Indian Ocean, known for its stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, and diverse marine life. With 115 islands, Seychelles offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors to explore, from hiking in the national parks to snorkelling and diving in the crystal clear waters. […]
Family-Friendly Foods to Eat in Mexico Mexican food is known for its bold and complex flavors which combine fresh, locally sourced ingredients, spices and herbs, and traditional cooking methods. And regardless of whether you’re heading to Mexico City or Cancun, there’s a huge range of choice on the menu. Diversity is what makes Mexican food […]
Best National Parks in East Africa Few nature lovers would argue that East Africa boasts of some of the finest game reserves and National Parks in the world and is one of the most popular tourist destinations as far as wildlife safaris are concerned. East Africa is one of the most beautiful regions in the […]
