Local Travel is Lekker – Di from The Roaming Giraffe
If you’re a South African, I’m sure you’re familiar with the Local is Lekker phrase. It celebrates and promotes everything proudly South African. This phrase was the inspiration for a new series on my blog – Local Travel is Lekker. I’m an avid supporter of local South African travel and feel extremely blessed to live in this beautiful country. Therefore I’ve decided to feature like-minded bloggers and travellers who share my Local Travel is Lekker sentiment and hopefully this series will inspire our South African citizens to get out there and explore this exquisite country. This week’s featured blogger is Di Brown from The Roaming Giraffe. 1) What do you love most about South Africa? I love the diverse natural beauty of the country, but more than that I love the people. We live in interesting and difficult times, but the resilience of South Africans never ceases to inspire and amaze me. In spite of all the bad news that we are bombarded with daily, I am forever encountering ordinary people from all walks of life, doing incredible good. This makes me very proud to call myself South African. 2) What is your first local travel memory? Going to the Wilderness on the Garden Route with my parents. I was very fortunate in that we went to what is now the SANPARKS Rest Camp for 3 glorious weeks every year just after Christmas. I loathed the drive there, it was before the days of the dual lane N2 and we would inevitably get stuck behind a slow truck, so the trip from Cape Town generally took between 7 and 8 hours. ... read more
Tips For Road Tripping With A Baby
Having a baby is one of the most joyous occasions in your life. It’s also an occasion that requires a lot of adjustment. While I was pregnant I was road tripping up until my third trimester. Just scroll through my Instagram feed and you’ll see photos of me posing with my bump on a mountain higher than Table Mountain and in the middle of a back-road in the Cederberg Mountains. That was when baby was still snugly inside my tummy. Few things could’ve prepared us for road tripping with a baby once he was born. But after a few months of tears and tantrums, I’d say we’ve learnt a thing or two about traveling with an infant. Be prepared If you’re planning on traveling by car with an infant, it is essential to prepare well ahead of time. It’s a good idea to start by compiling a list of things to pack for baby. And don’t hold out on this one! We’ve made the mistake of thinking we could leave some things at home – 200km down the line we wished we hadn’t. Depending on your preferences, some traveling essentials with baby include; LOTS of wet wipes, at least two extra sets of clothes and something to soothe and entertain baby during the ride. Basically, whatever your baby can’t do without at home, he’ll probably need on the road too. Do your homework We’ve been to quite a few places on the assumption that they’re family-friendly and will probably cater for parents with newborns. WRONG. Our first road trip with baby was a rude awakening and since then... read more
Local Travel is Lekker – Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust
If you’re a South African, I’m sure you’re familiar with the Local is Lekker phrase. It celebrates and promotes everything proudly South African. This phrase was the inspiration for a new series on my blog – Local Travel is Lekker. I’m an avid supporter of local South African travel and feel extremely blessed to live in this beautiful country. Therefore I’ve decided to feature like-minded bloggers and travellers who share my Local Travel is Lekker sentiment and hopefully this series will inspire our South African citizens to get out there and explore this exquisite country. This week’s featured blogger is Tamlyn from Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust. 1) What do you love most about South Africa? I love the diversity not just of our people, languages, cuisines and cultures but of the natural scenery too. There is uniqueness ingrained in every inch of South Africa. No province, city or town is alike and yet, each offers something amazing for visitors to enjoy. Whether it is the mountains and historic wine farms that the Western Cape is famous for or the emerald greenery of KZN, there is something really special about every corner of SA. 2) What is your first local travel memory? My first travel memory is probably a holiday at Zululand with my family. I clearly remember the beauty of the huts and the unique culture of the Zulus. Their heritage and ways have been so wonderfully maintained and preserved there without feeling too ‘touristy’ or put on. 3) What’s your favourite place to visit in your hometown? I love driving through the main street, also called Long Street, of my hometown, Montagu.... read more
Unwind Your Mind At Essere Lodge In Tulbagh
Being the sleep deprived new parents that we are; we were in desperate need of a getaway. So when we were invited for a night’s stay at Essere Lodge, our tired bodies obviously screamed ‘yes please’! Essere Lodge is situated in the quaint town of Tulbagh, a mere 90 minute drive from Cape Town. The Lodge Boutique Guest House forms part of the Tulbagh luxury accommodation options and is the perfect escape from city life. We arrived at Essere Tulbagh on a windy Saturday morning. Bright yellow canola fields lined the road from the town of Wellington all the way to our destination. The little road trip did an excellent job of getting us excited for the day ahead. We were warmly greeted by our hosts Alison and Lawrie as well as their cute little pooches – Watson and Sherlock. While enjoying a hot cup of coffee we got to know the rest of the invited media group while taking in the 180 degree mountain views from inside The Barn. Essere Lodge – a place ‘to be’ The Barn is the main lodge of the premises with floor to ceiling windows and two terraces which provides gorgeous mountain and garden views. I particularly love the industrial farmhouse chic design and décor which offsets the lush green gardens beautifully. We were treated to a cheese demonstration and tasting in the lounge area of The Barn by in-house chef Karin Schmidt where after lunch was served, once again overlooking the mountains. Our stomach lining fully in place, we headed to the well-known Saronsberg Wine Cellar for some wine tasting with... read more
Local Travel is Lekker – Monique Van Der Walt
If you’re a South African, I’m sure you’re familiar with the Local is Lekker phrase. It celebrates and promotes everything proudly South African. This phrase was the inspiration for a new series on my blog – Local Travel is Lekker. I’m an avid supporter of local South African travel and feel extremely blessed to live in this beautiful country. Therefore I’ve decided to feature like-minded bloggers and travellers who share my Local Travel is Lekker sentiment and hopefully this series will inspire our South African citizens to get out there and explore this exquisite country. This week’s featured blogger is Monique Van Der Walt. 1) What do you love most about South Africa? This is a tough one, but I’d have to say amount of diversity crammed into every nook and cranny of South Africa – nature, history, culture etc. And of course the roaming cows here in the hills of KZN. 2) What is your first local travel memory? As far back as I remember in my childhood, we local family-holidayed annually at Carmel-by-the-Sea, near Victoria Bay in Western Cape. So many lekker memories! Tubing on the Keurbooms River, horse riding & tractor rides, nature walks to Lone Tree hill and summer days at the beach. 3) What’s your favourite place to visit in your hometown? I was born in Hout Bay, Cape Town, but my hometown now is Bulwer, KwazuluNatal. It’s more like a village and it’s surrounded by almost untouched nature. So my favourite would be exploring the surrounds by car or by gumboots. 4) What’s on your South African travel bucket list? Hot Air Ballooning... read more
7 Photos That Will Inspire You To Explore The Western Cape
The Western Cape of South Africa is a holidaymaker’s dream destination. It is filled with world famous tourist attractions and hidden gems alike. Sometimes we focus so much on the former that we forget about what the latter has to offer. This is exactly what I aim to highlight in this post with a collection of photos that will inspire you to explore the Western Cape. So head out of the busy city and take a Shot Left! West Coast National Park is one of the Western Cape’s most popular natural attractions. Every year during the August and September flower season the park explodes into colour when thousands of flowers come out to play in the Spring sunshine. This also attracts thousands of visitors who come to view the beautiful little things as well as to explore everything the park has to offer. But did you know that the West Coast National Park also offers houseboat accommodation? I can’t imagine anything more calming than relaxing on the tranquil blue waters of Langebaan while soaking up the sun. The Garden Route is a lush green part of South Africa that stretches from Heidelberg in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape. It’s a must on everyone’s list of places to see in the Western Cape and has an array of attractions and accommodation options. One such place is Botlierskop Private Game Reserve nestled in the Outeniqua Mountains. The reserve is a hidden gem accessible by a little dirt road driving and is located just before the town of George. With rolling mountain views... read more
Hi, I'm Gaynor!
Discoverer of hidden gems. Half city dweller. Half road trip explorer. Full supporter of local South African travel!