My 2020 year in review To borrow the words of Queen Elizabeth II, 2020 was an annus horribilis for the world. The kind of year we don't ever want to see again. The year began innocently enough. After a busy year in 2019, we spent the first few days of January 2020 “recovering” from the high […]
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 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 […]
Black Brick Sandton Review Corporate trimming and remote offices have led to many abandoned buildings and office blocks in cities around the world. Fortunately, there are innovative entrepreneurs out there who are repurposing these unused spaces into funky, functional ones. Once the headquarters of a global corporate, 25 Fredman Drive in Sandton found a new […]
Zebra Country Lodge Review South Africa is a country of unexpected surprises. One moment you’re in the chaotic city, and the next in the peaceful countryside. Just 30 kilometres away from Pretoria, in a lush 400 hectare nature reserve where grazing wildlife roam free, you will find Zebra Country Lodge, a charming countryside getaway. Zebra […]
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Abu-Bakr Nadat on winning this amazing prize! Win an amazing 5-star safari for 2 nights for 2 people sharing at Tau Game Lodge worth R25,740. About Tau Game Lodge Tau Game Lodge is a family-friendly, five-star safari lodge in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s […]
The Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway Experience There is a childlike excitement about cable car rides that is hard to beat. Perhaps it is because it is akin to flying, as you soar through the air at altitudes where you can still see the ground below you. We enjoy riding on cable cars, whenever they’re available, even […]
Three Oaks and an Aloe Boutique Hotel – Family-friendly Hartbeespoort accommodation These days, the Instagrammability of a destination is a key factor in deciding on a getaway destination for many people – especially millennials. The Hartbeesport area boasts Instagram opportunities galore, including a beautiful dam with sailing boats, the Harties cableway, a mini Eiffel Tower, […]
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 […]
Safari Plains Review “If there were one more thing I could do, it would be to go on safari once again. Karen Blixen (Danish Author of "Out of Africa") Returning from an afternoon game drive, we stopped on a bridge over the river to admire the golden sunlight bathing the river below. A pod of […]
Melville Koppies Nature Reserve When the desire to escape the chaos of the city becomes too strong, but you don’t have time to go far, then head for one of the city’s many green lungs. One such sanctuary is Melville Koppies, a 160-hectare nature reserve and city heritage site, and a reminder of what Johannesburg […]
Zebras Crossing Very Private Game Lodge "Africa remains in the realms of the magical. It is a place of spectacular beauty and unpredictable passion". Sean Frazer We trudged up the winding mountain paths surrounded by lush thickets. In the bushes ahead, a herd of impalas sprinted past us like a mirage. We rounded a bend […]
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 on how to do an online passport application. For updates on the How to apply for a passport online process, be sure to enter your […]
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 cool off on the river banks in Drakensberg... 3. Admire the spectacular Blyde River Canyon […]
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 […]
15 Nelson Mandela sites in South Africa “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Nelson Mandela No other person has had such a powerful impact on modern […]
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, […]
Review: The Plettenberg Long walks on golden beaches, year-round sunshine, the scent of the ocean breeze in your nostrils and the sea and forest at your doorstep. Add to this – personalised service, barefoot luxury and the freshest gourmet seafood – and you have the ultimate seaside escape. You have The Plettenberg . The exclusive […]
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 […]
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 […]
Review: Tintswalo at Lapalala As the sun began its descent towards the horizon, we drifted lazily along the river, surrounded by ancient mountains and bushveld-covered valleys. Skittish waterbuck scrambled behind the trees as we approached, and a trio of hippos ahead of us bobbed up and down over the water surface. Above, a fish eagle […]
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 […]
Hennops Hiking Trail Travelling is what I missed the most during the extended lockdown period. Yes, I know that it is a first-world problem, but I can’t help it - I’m a dromomaniac. Dromomania is a term used to describe a desire for frequent traveling or wanderlust. So until travel resumed, I had to find other […]
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, many opportunities for adventure, world-class shopping and food, and captivating history. I often get asked about things to […]
How to plan an international trip These days, booking a trip yourself has become infinitely easier with the Internet. However, people often say that they prefer to use travel agents because they are afraid to plan a trip themselves – afraid of doing something wrong, afraid of booking the wrong flights, afraid of booking accommodation […]
Armchair travel - 5 ways you can travel when you can't actually travel "It’s important to remember that travel is also a state of mind, and that you don’t necessarily have to go far away to feel far away. And no matter what you do right now, don’t forget to dream about that next big […]
Hartford House Review The picturesque Kwazulu Natal countryside is a region steeped in history. The Zulus, the Boers and the British fought fierce battles for dominion of the territory here and Mahatma Gandhi served as a stretcher bearer for the British (before the advent of satyagraha), in one of these battles. Here, Winston Churchill was […]
Mhondoro Game Lodge Review It had been an eventful final game drive on our last morning in Welgevonden Game Reserve, even though we had encountered intermittent rain. Elated, we returned to our home away from home, the exclusive Mhondoro Game Lodge , only to find that the safari experience was far from over. Three huge elephants […]
Today, 23 April, is Day 29 of the lockdown in South Africa, where I am based. Some of the strictest lockdown rules in the world are in place here, with outdoor exercise, dog-walking, and fast food all banned. We are only allowed to go out to buy essentials or for medical reasons. This is probably […]
Looking for things to do in Toledo , Spain ? Read on... While researching things to do in Spain, and specifically Madrid, I constantly saw Toledo being recommended. Once I Googled it, I instantly knew that it was a place I had to go to – even if it meant omitting something else from my […]
21 Beautiful mosques around the world Prayer clears the mist and brings back peace to the soul…Rumi During these difficult times when religious and other gatherings are prohibited, many people are missing places of prayer and the solace and serenity found within them. The call to prayer is still heard from the mosques 5 times […]
Going into lockdown in South Africa When President Ramaphosa announced the impending lockdown in South Africa, I was in Cape Town. We had been staying with family for the past few days, and the following day we were leaving on a road trip where we would be doing media reviews at four amazing hotels and […]
13 Delicious South African foods you must try When travelling, we love to sample the local cuisine wherever we are. It gives us insight into the local traditions, customs and tastes, and exposes our palates to new dishes. Similarly, visitors to South Africa might wonder what South African foods they should be aware of when […]
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 […]
“I love books. I love that moment when you open one and sink into it, you can escape from the world, into a story that's way more interesting than yours will ever be.” ― Elisabet Scott . ...And when you can't travel, then reading books is one form of travelling from your armchair. I've written a […]
Spain had been on my bucket list for a long while, but planning a trip to Spain and Portugal was not easy - because as usual, we tried to do too much in a short space of time. We decided to add Portugal to our itinerary because it was a country we wanted to visit […]
“If there were a beauty contest lining up all the towns and cities of Spain, Granada would surely be declared the fairest of them all – it’s a heart-stealer.” The Cities Book - Lonely Planet Named after the ambrosial pomegranate, Granada is an enchanting city with a fascinating history. Located in Spain’s Andalusia region, it […]
2019 turned out to be a good year in travel for me, despite a slow start. I visited eight countries, three of them for the first time - bringing my total country count to 47. As the year ends, I am relaxing at home, recovering from one of the most hectic trips I’ve ever been […]
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 […]
Morukuru Family Owner's House Review For Africa infects the soul And sets ones senses free Its special gifts – sight, sound and smell Pervade incessantly… (Extract from a poem by E. Dibb) What better place could there be to experience the magic of Africa than your own private bush villa overlooking the meandering river, in […]
Dubai is one of the most visited cities on earth, famous for its man-made islands, huge skyscrapers and shopping malls. According to the latest Euromonitor rankings, more tourists now go to Dubai than Paris, New York or Tokyo. There are so many things to do in Dubai . It is a constantly expanding destination. New […]
Radisson Blu Port Elizabeth Review Port Elizabeth has much going in its favour. The friendly city on the Sunshine Coast is located on the shores of the Indian Ocean and is part of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Home to twenty Blue Flag Beaches, it is also referred to as the ‘Water sport capital of Africa.’ […]
South Africa Itinerary (10 Days) | Road Trip Planner Planning a trip to South Africa? What could be better than a vacation spent soaking up the sun, or going on safari in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations? For most people traveling to South Africa, the exchange rate is favourable, making it a relatively […]
