KwaNdwalane Adventure Experience
If you’re a hiker, we have a new trail you'll want to add to your list. The KwaNdwalane Adventure Experience was launched at the beginning of Mar 2024 by the South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise as a travel offering to lure hikers to KwaZulu-Natal’s hinterland. KwaNdwalane is cradled between Port Shepstone and Paddock and is an area that’s rich in natural beauty just waiting to be explored. Choose from two guided hikes: the new 5km Madakane Route, a leisurely track that passes through indigenous forest and past local eateries, or the more established Nyandezulu Experience which includes an overnight stay in a guesthouse. Both routes lead to the Nyandezulu Waterfall where a dip in the cool waters is your reward for finishing.
GallivantingSA app
Launched in February 2024 at The Caravan Show, the Gallivanting SA app offers a mobile campsite services directory. Whether you’re a camper, caravaner, or you're part of the van life movement, this app helps you plan trips, locate campsites with full descriptions of the amenities, and make the most of your camping experience – all on one platform. Plus, it’s free to use. It works across Southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique. Your biggest concern will simply be to find Wi-Fi to connect to.Refurbs and relaunches
Exciting things have been happening in the world of lodges and hotels. If you need any more reason to travel to the Karoo, apart from the dazzling display of stars, Samara Karoo Reserve’s Karoo Lodge has re-opened after seven months of renovations. The lodge is now powered by 100% renewable energy and uses innovative wastewater recycling systems, but it’s the luxurious yet coy home-away-from-home feel of this restored farmhouse, complete with spekboom courtyard, library, and plush yet minimalistic rooms that’s sold us on adding this location to our bucket list.
After extensive repairs were carried out following the floods that wreaked havoc in Lalibela Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape in Oct 2023, Inzolo Lodge is ready to welcome back visitors. Its secluded nature is once again the biggest drawcard for those seeking a tucked-away escape at this hillside retreat overlooking the valley below.
Just in time for the Easter long weekend, Meropa Casino and Entertainment World in Polokwane, Limpopo, recently underwent a 14-month renovation project which added the WildThingz Bird, Reptile and Water Park to the roster of activities that promise family fun. Come school holidays, visitors can expect to be entertained with a jam-packed offering that balances old-school games like sack races and tug of war with PlayStation games.
A little closer to home, Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa has announced that it will be undergoing a transformation ahead of its 25th birthday. Watch this space…
Revamping its food and beverage offering, Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff recently announced what looks to be a dream team to take over its restaurant and bar offering. With Chef Wesli Jacobs (previously the Executive Chef at Spier Wine Farm and The Table Hotel) and Chef Katlego Mlambo (previously from Marabi Club and Kudu Restaurant in London) heading up the kitchen, along with mixologist Brent Davids (from Marble) and sommelier Bazil Cass, this is a dinner booking we’re burning to make.
Hotels you'll love
If you missed the news in Oct 2023 of Hazendal Hotel and Spa's opening in Stellenbosch, consider this the update you needed. The hotel is a welcome inclusion on a visit to Hazendal Wine Estate, with so much to do and sample that you might be tempted to stay put and cancel your plans of hopping along the Stellenbosch wine route. An art lover’s dream, with a dazzling curation of artworks placed throughout the expanse of the space, there is also a chic spa, kids' edutainment centre, movie room, a golf course and pro shop, and, as is the trend these days, padel court. It’s pretty enough to be a wedding venue and casual enough for a wine-tasting pop-in or to explore the cute babushka-themed deli. We highly recommend you book in and spend time to experience what the hotel has to offer.
We know the Blu and the Red; now it’s time for the Safari. Another newcomer we’re all sorts of excited about is the Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit which opened at the beginning of Feb. It is the first of its kind in Africa and is located perfectly between the Kruger National Park to one side and the Blyde River Canyon to the other. It’s easy to reach via Eastgate Airport which means it’s perfect for a quick weekend escape. It's also the kind of place you want to enjoy and appreciate – whether that means going on game drives, exploring the beauty of the Panorama Route, unwinding in the spa, or lazing next to the pool.
It may not be new but we recently visited Majeka House in Stellenbosch. If you're looking for a place where you can laze on a chaise and enjoy good weather against the dramatic backdrop of Stellenbosch's mountainous landscape, this is the boutique hotel for you. Read our review here.
Deals to inspire your travels
If you’ve had your sights on one day taking a trip on the luxurious Rovos Rail, now might be your time. The train-hotel is currently running a 50% discount on specific departure dates for its route from Pretoria to Cape Town, with prices starting from R24,850 p.p.s. for three nights. For more information, email Karin.Livingstone@mytc.com
After the dust has settled following the festive season rush, The Marine Hotel has had the bright idea of introducing an overnight Wellness Escape. As cooler weather creeps in, the Grande Dame of Hermanus might just be the perfect place to enjoy the spa and healthy “champagne air” the town has drawn visitors with since it was founded in the early 1800s. The package is valid between Mon, Apr 1 and Fri, Sep 30, costs from R8,000 p.p.s.p.n., and includes breakfast, dinner, and the two spa treatments per person. For more information, email reservations@collectionmcgrath.com
Festivals worth travelling to
Happening over Easter weekend, Reforest Fest is an annual celebration of restoration that started with the goal of planting trees. Today, it’s a family affair that revolves around restoring the land while offering a space to enjoy workshops, talks, classes, live music, and a food village between Fri, Mar 29 and Mon, Apr 1. The best part? Since its inception in 2011 festival attendees have planted between 5,000 and 10,000 indigenous trees each year. Now that’s a cause worth getting behind.
It's that time of the year again when the Corona Sunsets Festival World Tour visits Cape Town. The music festival returns to the Mother City on Sat, Apr 6 with the invitation to celebrate, disconnect, reconnect, nourish, transform, and travel. Apart from a music line-up that features acts like Maribou State, Nightmares On Wax, Scorpion Kings, and Sun-El Musician, festival activities like drum circles, mixology, and weaving might be the thing you need to ease your way into autumn.
Our Roaming Office
Sometimes all you need is to find a little inspiration right under your nose. As firm believers in following our own advice, we’ve kicked off our Roaming Office for 2024. First launched in Feb 2021 with the idea of visiting hotels and workspaces around the city to get a taste of what they have to offer visitors, we have had the pleasure of visiting some of Joburg's stand-out venues ranging from intimate, boutique hotels to countryside retreats, the city’s finest luxury destination venues, co-working spaces, and more.
So far we've experienced the tranquil Satyagraha House in Orchards which Gandhi shared with his friend Hermann Kallenbach between 1908 and 1909, the business-like yet comfortable Southern Sun Sandton, and the layers of The Troyeville Hotel. We’ll be sharing our adventures with you weekly but if you miss them, read all about it here.
Long weekend getaways
With Easter around the corner, plans for long weekend getaways should be in full swing. If you need inspiration (or want to save our list for future travels), read our recommendations of where to go for a weekend getaway in Gauteng. If you’re staying put but need space and fresh air, why not tackle one of Gauteng’s best hiking trails as tried by us? And if you’re the type to have your holiday plans locked and loaded, we bring you a list of Joburg podcasts we love. Wherever you go and whatever you do, we wish you safe and happy travels!
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