Thank you to all my loyal subscribers and followers for your support during 2015.
As the year draws to a close, it is time to recap the events that filled it. 2015 was a busy year, even though we were limited to traveling during school holidays and weekends - for local getaways. This is a summary of my blogging year.
January
We spent the first 10 days of the year in Saudi Arabia. We flew on Qatar Airways and I did this comparison between Qatar Airways and Emirates.
February
I spent a night with my family at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel. The hotel has won many awards and we were especially impressed with the delicious cuisines at Central One restaurant.
March
I spent a weekend away with my hubby at Zwahili Private Game Lodge in Limpopo. The lodge graciously offered us the Royal African Suite which was one of the most stunning safari suites I’ve ever stayed in – perfect for honeymooning…
April
During the Easter holidays, we went on a road trip to Cape Town and spent just over a week there. We went up Table Mountain in the cable car, walked around the colourful Bo-Kaap, spent a day at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and relaxed at the beaches.
I finally got to experience the spectacular 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa, one of the leading hotels of the world, and I was bowled over. I also got to experience Africa’s greenest hotel, Hotel Verde . It was certainly the greenest hotel I’d ever been to and I was wowed by the hotel’s green initiatives. So was the rest of the world judging by the amount of accolades it’s received.
May
We had a family weekend away at Legend Golf and Safari Resort, a malaria-free Big 5 game reserve in Limpopo. It was great fun and I saw a live aardvark for the first time in my life. It is one of the most elusive creatures in the wild.
June
Hubby and I had a weekend away at Tau Game Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve, one of my favourite Big 5 game reserves in South Africa. We had some amazing wildlife encounters and my bush fix was satisfied for a while thereafter.
July
We spent a relaxing family weekend at Valley Lodge and Spa in Magaliesberg. Our chalet overlooked the Magalies River and I had a great time at the stunning on-site spa.
August
I visited Constitution Hill for the first time and my admiration for our freedom fighters multiplied manifold.
September
This heritage month, I became a tourist in my own city. I stayed with my family at Clico Boutique Hotel, one of the top boutique hotels in Johannesburg.
I also explored Johannesburg on the City Sightseeing Bus and took a taxi to Soweto.
October
I was invited to review Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition and gave tickets away on my blog.
During the October school break, we spent a few days in the mountainous Drakensberg region and got to experience Cathedral Peak Hotel, one of the most beautiful hotels in the area.
November
We spent a family weekend away on the riverbanks at Tsogo Sun’s Riverside Sun Hotel. It was a hot weekend and the large pool and landscaped gardens provided welcome relief from the hut sun.
I was invited to the media preview of Sleeping Beauty: The Pantomime . I attended it with my daughter and we had a great time.
December
December had finally arrived and it was time to go overseas. We spent a fascinating week sightseeing in London and another magical week visiting theme parks in Orlando, USA. More on that to follow.
Other
Apart from traveling and exploration, I was interviewed on national radio, published in SAA’s in-flight magazine, Sawubona , and the Sunday Times newspaper , attended a few blogger events, held a few competitions, started my Instagram account and received several invitations to events and getaways. I also joined Webfluential .2015 was indeed a busy year even though I didn't get to tick off as many bucket list items as in 2014.
Wishing you a wonderful travel-filled 2016 and I look forward to reading about your travels.
Disclosure: Most of my local trips were sponsored media trips while my international trips were partly sponsored. All opinions remain my own.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 49 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
Masha'Allah just a packed year. Look forward to reading about your adventures in 2016
Such* rather
Thanks Fozia. Hope you have a wonderful year too.
Youve had an amazing year, and from the sounds of it, plenty of incredible adventures.
Heres wishing you a 2016 filled with even more!
Thanks Ayesha and same to you!
What an eventful year you have had, 2016 will bring more awsom experiences for you insha allah.
Wooooow. Mashallah!! I see you are living the life as a traveler. May Allah enable you to travel many more years..
Aameen Zeinab. Hope you have a wonderful year too.
Oh wowww! Lucky you 🙂 That was indeed a wonderful year!
You are one adventurous lady mashaaAllah. May there be more to come...
Busy, busy.....
Wishing you a blessed year ahead with more adventures and explorations.
Thank you Amina. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead too.
ummm..Jealous!
Masha'Allah!
Totally living vicariously through you..and your pictures are stunning Masha'Allah.
looking forward to your future adventures!
Thanks Sahar. Hope you have a wonderful year ahead too.
After reading this list I am like Woooooow.. Is this just a coincidence.. my all time dream is to visit Africa! I pray it would come true..
I am so glad I came across your blog 🙂
I hope that your dream comes true soon Ashfa! Let me know if you ever need travel advice on Africa!
Masha Allah! I'm spell bound! Is this true? 🙂 I clicked some of the links here. Phew! You are real. :-O
May Allah bless you with even more colourful future. Would love to read about it too! May this experiences help you ponder and get closser to Him. I never even heard of
aardvark before. Nice to see him too. 🙂
May you stay blessed. Aameen. 🙂
Thanks for the lovely comments Haya - I wish you all the best for the future too! By the way, I think that the aardvark is only found in Africa 😉
just saw it in your attached link (one on safari) For me, its first glimpse was in your website. 🙂
Looks like you had a lot of fun last year! 🙂
It was certainly a busy year, Rafeda!
You guys had a very good year! I'm jealous haha! 🙂 And nice sum up of the year by the way :)! My bucket list is liking the places you share lol!
Thanks Papatia. Hope you have a wonderful year ahead.
What an awesome year for you-well done! Here's to exceedingly great 2016 for you and all us bloggers! X
Thank you @mommabearTrax and amen to that