paternoster kayak adventure

The West Coast

The West Coast, as the name suggests is the stretch of coastline on the western side of South Africa and north of the city of Cape Town. It is characterised by small coastal towns, bustling fishing industries and miles and miles of empty beaches. The West Coast Peninsula is a prominent feature along this stretch…

ndumo game reserve sycamore trees

Ndumo Game Reserve

Ndumo Game Reserve is a small, green dot on the map between the uSuthu and Pongola rivers that is home to some incredible surprises. At only 10,117 ha, the Ndumo Game Reserve is one of the smallest of the game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, and South Africa. However, this is by no means an indication of…

wildlife-experience-mountain-zebra-cheetah-tracking
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19 incredible wildlife experiences in South Africa

Natural wildlife experiences are things you will remember forever. South Africa, and its coastal oceans, is home to an incredible array of wildlife. The wild animals are a major draw card for tourists, and a national treasure for those lucky enough to call South Africa home. Anyone can look at bored lions in a zoo,…

Tsitsikamma National Park: A destination apart

Tsitsikamma National Park: A destination apart

If there’s one place that combines incredible coastal scenery and unparalleled hiking in an unspoiled setting, it’s the Tsitsikamma National Park on South Africa’s south-eastern coastline. This unique park boasts the oldest and largest marine protected area in Africa, the iconic suspension bridge across the Storms River mouth, a plethora of coastal day-hikes and of course, the…

Jill looking over the incredible iMfolozi Wilderness area.

South Africa’s wilderness areas

South Africa is a country famed for its endless horizons and spectacular natural beauty. The country’s charismatic Big Five animals and breathtaking landscapes are huge draw cards for international tourists, not to mention a source of pride for locals too. Most of these landscapes and animals reside within areas known as game reserves or national…

elephant road crossing kruger national park

South African national parks: How to choose

If there’s one thing that attracts visitors to South Africa it’s our national parks. And it’s not very hard to see why. The phenomenal network of protected areas is a fantastic way for visitors to get up close to the country’s rich natural heritage. But one thing most people don’t realise is just how many parks we’ve…

Bevan swimming with manta rays at Nusa Penida
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Swimming with manta rays: The best thing we did in Indonesia!

It is hard to adequately describe the incredible experience of swimming with manta rays. The few moments of chaos as you get into the water, waiting for the bubbles to clear and to orientate yourself, and then, the magical, silent and graceful approach of a manta ray from the blue. Simply unforgettable! Manta Point on…

West Coast National Park
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The West Coast: So much more than the beach!

The Western Cape’s West Coast region was new territory for Bevan and I. From the first time that I saw pictures of whitewashed houses and turquoise water, I wanted to visit the West Coast. A life on the ocean, fresh fish straight from the sea, windswept white sand beaches – it all sounded too good…

The most excitement we got from these young lions
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Kruger National Park: South Africa’s largest game reserve

The Kruger National Park needs no introduction so Bevan and I spent some time exploring this famous park to find out what all the fuss is about. South Africans love the bush. I’m not sure exactly why that is, considering a vast percentage of us live in urban areas and our connections to the bush…

Elephant mother and calf in the Kruger National Park
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Nothing Hazy about this View: Hazyview The gateway to Kruger National Park and more

Hazyview is generally known as a gateway town to the Kruger National Park. However, after a few days exploring the town and its other surrounding regions, we discovered that there is quite a bit more to Hazyview than meets the eye. Getting to know Hazyview Hazyview is a relatively small town in Mpumalanga’s Kruger Lowveld…

Ithala Game Reserve
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Ithala Game Reserve: The valley of a thousand mountains

Ithala Game Reserve totally blew us away! Ithala Game Reserve just outside Louwsburg in northern KwaZulu-Natal is a relatively new reserve. Established in 1973, the land previously had a number of uses including gold mining. Evidence of varied and poor land use management is visible in some areas of the park in the form of…