When people come back from their South African holidays gushing about how beautiful Cape Town is, they’re probably confusing it with the Cape Winelands- Cape Town’s elegant neighbour (not to say Cape Town doesn’t have its moments). The Cape Winelands are undeniably gorgeous. Romantic vineyards line the valleys of dramatic mountain ranges, with cute little …
Where the Wild Things Are – A Four Day Safari in Kruger
At 19,485 km² Kruger National Park has a total land area greater than the entire Island of Ireland. It’s huge. Which means if you want to see wild animals, you will need to plan wisely. Ideally, you’d spend a few weeks in Kruger to take the time to relax to the slower pace of life there …
10 Unforgettable Hiking Trails in the Western Cape
South Africa spoiled hiking for me. There’s no better paradise for hikers than at the tip of Africa, specifically in the Western Cape. Where else in the world can you get jagged peaks, lush valleys, hidden waterfalls, refreshing swimming holes, and epic views for days? Read on for ten of my favourite hikes in the …
Two Days on the Highlands Trail, Kogelberg Reserve, South Africa
Accessible just an hour and a half outside of Cape Town, the 35km Highlands Trail is the ideal starter trail if you want to get a taste of an overnight multi-day hike. Since we were keen on doing the 3 to 4 day Congo Nile Trail hike in Rwanda but had never done a multi-day …
A Day Along the Blyde River Canyon – Panorama Route
If you’re headed out to find the Big Five in Kruger, you might want to consider tacking on a detour to the Panorama Route to stretch your legs after all the safari drives. The route lies just west of Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, stretching from Graskop in the south up to the Three Rondavels …
Hiking Arangieskop – Mount Kilimanjaro of the Cape
Arangieskop is considered to be the ‘Mount Kilimanjaro of the Cape’, not necessarily because of its height, but because of how the whole first day is ‘up, up, up’ and the second day is ‘down, down, down’. The 21km loop trail up and down the 1696m mountain is typically hiked in two days, with an …
Starry skies, Arches, & San rock art: A weekend in the Cederberg
If you’re looking for a change of scene from Cape Town or want to experience something unique during your trip to South Africa, head over to Cederberg. Just 3 hours drive from Cape Town, and you’re in an entirely different world. While fynbos is lovely and all, nothing beats some really nice rocky landscapes. The …
5 Days Along the Garden Route, South Africa
Overview The Garden Route stretches between beautiful coastal towns from Witsand to Nature’s Valley in the Western Cape, South Africa. Technically, TsiTsikamma isn’t part of the Garden Route, but its lush forests tempted us to include this park as our farthest point east on our Garden Route trip. We only had 5 days we could …
Groot Winterhoek Hike to Die Hel: Weekend Trips near Cape Town
Just 2.5hrs from Cape Town, Groot Winterhoek is a great way to spend a weekend hiking, camping, and swimming in South Africa’s best rock pool
Cape Town in 3 Memorable Days: an Insider’s Guide
Beaches, mountains, and lekker food all at your doorstep… You could easily spend a week in Cape Town. But I’ve spent the last two and a half years of my PhD here distracting myself thinking about how you can do it in three. Admittedly, the itinerary is a lot for three days, but if you’re …