Blog Posts

Fast Cats on Red Sands: a must-read for Kalahari lovers

19/4/2023

By Roxanne Reid
If you love wildlife and the Kalahari in general and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in particular, you’ll really love reading the recently published book Fast Cats on Red Sands: The lives of Kalahari Cheetahs and their researchers by Gus and Margie Mills. Read on to find out why.

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27 things to do in Knysna on the Garden Route

22/3/2023

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Things to do in Knysna: explore Knysna Lagoon

By Roxanne Reid
Snuggling against the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route, Knysna is one of my favourite coastal towns. Its natural beauty, rich history and vibrant culture make it popular with holidaymakers. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, history buff or foodie, Knysna has something for everyone. Here are 27 things to do in Knysna.

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17 things to do in Hermanus on the Cape Whale Coast

22/2/2023

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By Roxanne Reid
Once a tiny fishing village, Hermanus – just over a 90-minute drive south-east of Cape Town – is now a bustling seaside town with a range of accommodation in all price brackets and tons of things to do. Think wine tasting, good restaurants and art galleries, whale-watching, hiking and long white beaches. Here’s my pick of 17 things to do in Hermanus on the Cape Whale Coast, South Africa.

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Tankwa Karoo National Park: everything you need to know

25/1/2023

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Tankwa Karoo National Park: Elandsberg wilderness camp

By Roxanne Reid
There’s a matchless sense of place here in the Tankwa Karoo. If wide open spaces, big skies and silence appeal to you, you’ll love the Tankwa Karoo National Park. Although the peace and serenity you can find at the cottages and campsites may lull you into lethargy, there’s plenty to do and see. Here’s everything you need to know, from things to do and accommodation to roads and tips for making the most of your experience.

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15 things to do in Clarens in the Free State

11/1/2023

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Things to do in Clarens in the Free State - bookshop

By Roxanne Reid
The eastern part of South Africa’s Free State province, lying along the Maluti mountains, is a place for all seasons. Enjoy afternoon thundershowers in summer and see it transformed into a snowy wonderland in winter. In autumn, trees and grasses form a mosaic of red and copper. Here’s my pick of 15 things to do in Clarens.

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The Tankwa Padstal in the Karoo

1/12/2022

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By Roxanne Reid
We pulled up at the Tankwa Padstal in the Karoo. Officially, it’s on the R355 about 70km from Ceres, on the way to Calvinia or the Tankwa Karoo National Park in South Africa. Unofficially, it’s somewhere between nothing and nowhere. Two bikers were switching off their engines and taking off their helmets. We greeted them in Afrikaans and asked how their ride had been. They looked at us as if we were from outer space.

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Swellendam restaurants worth visiting

30/11/2022

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By Roxanne Reid
[Updated October 2024]
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to restaurants in Swellendam, about 200km east of Cape Town. The town has more than 35 restaurants where you can get anything from a pastry to a pizza, a toasted sarmie to bobotie, a plate of pasta to a fine dining experience. Here are some ideas about Swellendam restaurants worth visiting.

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Marakele National Park: everything you need to know

9/11/2022

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Marakele National Park: Tlopi Tented Camp

By Roxanne Reid
Huddling among rocky peaks and valleys in the heart of Limpopo’s Waterberg mountains, Marakele is a place of wild beauty and a refuge for large game species. It’s also home to one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of Cape vultures, some 300 other bird species and more than 700 plant species. Here’s everything you need to know about Marakele National Park.

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22 things to do in Montagu, South Africa

19/10/2022

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Montagu, Karoo is surrounded by orchards and vineyards

By Roxanne Reid
Taste the fruit and wine. Listen to the sound of birdsong. Feel the hot water of a natural spring on your skin. Smell the fynbos as you hike among ancient rocks. See a star-dusted sky. These are just a few of the pleasures that await you a two-and-a-half-hour drive northeast of Cape Town. Here’s my pick of things to do in Montagu, South Africa.

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Mapungubwe National Park: everything you need to know

14/9/2022

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By Roxanne Reid
In the far north of South Africa, where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet and you can peer into Botswana or watch eagles soar over Zimbabwe, lies Mapungubwe National Park. It’s rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty, conserves fossils and ancient rocks that are nearly three billion years old, and has 24 species of acacia tree and a magnificence of baobabs. Discover things to do in Mapungubwe National Park and everything you need to know before you visit.

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