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 lockdown again at that stage, and we got the opportunity to explore some beautiful parts of Northern Kwazulu-Natal that we hadn’t visited before.
Our road trip took us first to Jozini Dam then the breathtaking Kosi Bay near the Mozambique border, where the crystal-clear waters made us feel as though we were on a tropical island. We proceeded to the award-winning Thanda Safari Lodge, then on to the quaint town of St Lucia, followed by Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park which had the most amazing views.
In March, we got the opportunity to recreate the Western Cape trip that we were forced to cancel in 2020 when the first lockdown was announced and we had to rush home.
We spent a week visiting some beautiful parts of the Western Cape like the stunning Morukuru Beach Lodge in De Hoop Nature Reserve, which was named the best resort in South Africa; The Marine Hotel in Hermanus, where you can watch the whales from your bedroom during whale season, and Tintswalo at Boulders, a luxurious boutique villa in Cape Town with direct access to the famous Boulders Penguin colony. We had a bit of an accident on the trip when our rental car was hit by another car at a four-way stop in Stanford, but all’s well that ends well.
In May and June, we spent some time exploring various attractions in Pretoria, like Adventure Zone Cullinan, the Voortrekker Monument, and the Cullinan Diamond Mine. We stayed at Bushmans Rock Country Lodge, Kievits Kroon and Sheraton Pretoria Hotel.
I was invited by Joburg Tourism to spend a day with a few other bloggers exploring lesser-known attractions in Johannesburg, including Alexandra Township. It was enlightening.
Then we were placed into Level 4 lockdown again. At the next available opportunity, we spent a weekend at Magalies Park Resort.
Suffering from intense bush cravings, in October, we visited the Kruger National Park region where we had some of our best game viewing ever. We stayed at three fabulous and very different lodges: the colonial-style Jock Safari Lodge, the cultural-themed Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge and the swanky Kapama River Lodge.
My Top 9 photos on Instagram (@inafricaandbeyond)
We also visited Dikhololo Resort and I gave away a 4-night family getaway there. Then we went glamping in the Cradle of Humankind.
Thanks to some generous sponsors, I also gave away getaways at Safari Plains Lodge, Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge, Montagu Springs Resort, and Ruby Rose Country House.
In between, we continued the hiking we began in 2020 and discovered some wonderful new places to hike in Johannesburg in the process.
I wrote for A Luxury Travel Blog, Culture Trip and the Getaway Magazine blog, as well as a few other private clients.
My food account grew significantly and this brought more opportunities. Personal responsibilities kept me quite busy too.
2021 was a challenging and exhausting year for me, although it did bring some rewards. I still want to travel internationally – our last international trip was in December 2019 – but the requirements are just too onerous at the moment.
My wish for 2022 is that Covid-19 disappears in all forms, and that life goes back to normal.
How was your 2021?
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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 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
Sounds like you managed to make the most of a tough year. I loved my visit to Kruger - what a treat that you're close enough to be able to call it a domestic trip!
I am indeed lucky to be able to refer to Kruger as a domestic trip! Glad you enjoyed it too.