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 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. […]
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 […]
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Megan Pringle. Ruby Rose Country House Giveaway The prize The lucky winner and a partner will enjoy a two night stay at Ruby Rose Country House with breakfast. Scroll down to enter... About Ruby Rose Country House Ruby Rose Country House is a lush oasis in Riebeek West, one of […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden "A garden must combine the poetic and the mysterious with a feeling of serenity and joy.” Luis Barragan The Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden is not something one would expect to see in the greater Johannesburg area. Situated below the dramatic, 200-metre-high cliffs of the Roodekrans Ridge in the West Rand, the beautiful […]
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 […]
Kosi Forest Lodge Review “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” John Muir 2021 is all about wide, open spaces - something you’ll find in abundance at Kosi Forest Lodge. Located within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in Northern KwaZulu Natal - near the Mozambique border - the Kosi Bay area […]
Where to stay in St Lucia South Africa Isimangaliso must be the only place on the globe where the oldest land mammal (rhinoceros) and the world biggest terrestrial mammal (elephant) share an ecosystem with the world's oldest fish (coelacanth) and the world's biggest marine mammal (whale) . Nelson Mandela Miracle and wonder…this is what iSimangaliso translates […]
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 […]
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 […]
