Local Travel is Lekker – Charlene from High Heels and Fairytales

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 Charlene from High Heels and Fairytales.

1) What do you love most about South Africa?

I love that South Africa is a country of diversity, both in terms of the people of so many cultures, as well as things to do – world class malls for shopaholics, and countless hiking trails and game parks for outdoorsy nature lovers.

Oh, and something else I love about South Africa? The food! Whether it’s the South African Indian take on biryani, or the irresistible smell of lamb chops on the braai, we are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to food.

2) What is your first local travel memory?

My love for travel was truly awakened when I met my husband. Right from the start of our marriage, and then later with our little girl, we’ve explored much of this beautiful country. The first memory I’m going with is our honeymoon – two weeks in Cape Town, and a week in Wilderness. It was the first time I’d been to Cape Town and I loved it, which has led to us returning several times.  We did all the touristy things, one of the most memorable being an early evening cable car ride up Table Mountain. I’m not crazy about cable cars or heights, but this was amazing – taking in the view while sipping on champagne, I didn’t even have time to be afraid. Also, we were newlyweds, so I was pretty much just heart eyes and butterflies then.

3) What’s your favourite place to visit in your hometown?

The town we live in is, as my daughter puts it, “so, sooo boring!” And it’s true, there’s not loads to do in eMalahleni, but it is home. Being a mom, the places I enjoy visiting here are coffee shops/restaurants with a great menu and a decent play area for my little person. The Duck Pond Coffee Shop gives kids a chance to feed the ducks or play on a jungle gym, and Primi has a lovely, large play area. My friend Jules recently introduced us to our new fave, Anelli’s Tea Garden – it’s very pretty and cozy, the food is delicious, and Zee loves playing in the garden.

4) What’s on your South African travel bucket list?

Something we’ve been talking about for a while now, is a road trip to Cape Town. I know I’ve mentioned that we’ve been there already, but the road trip with stops (and stays) in different towns along the way is why this makes in onto my travel bucket list. We’ve only ever flown to Cape Town with my little girl, so I think a trip like this would be so much fun.

5) What are your top tips for planning a local getaway?

• I use booking.com to search for accommodation in the area we’d like to visit. This is a great way to compare prices, or what the different hotels offer.
• travelstart.co.za is most helpful in comparing flight prices. It’s so much better than having four of five tabs open on your screen to check prices on different airlines.
• See what actual people are saying about the place on TripAdvisor. I use TripAdvisor A LOT! Reviews do matter, and they do influence whether or not I make that booking.
• Sign up for rewards programs. It usually means you will receive the best price. The one I use most often is Tsogo Sun’s Frequent Guest card – with accommodation I generally like knowing what to expect/what I’m getting, which is why we usually end up at one of their hotels.

6) Where can we follow your blog?

Blog: http://highheelsandfairytales.co.za

Facebook: http://facebook.com/HighHeelsAndFairyTales

Instagram: http://Instagram.com/high_heels_and_fairy_tales

Twitter: http://twitter.com/HeelsFairyTales

Pinterest: https://za.pinterest.com/charlenebhana/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/fkB75f9WxmQ

How Do I Jump on the Local Travel is Lekker taxi?

That’s a wrap on this week’s Local Travel is Lekker blogger feature. Be sure to stop by every week to be inspired by another local traveller and awaken your own wanderlust for local South African travel. Join the conversation on social media with the Local Travel is Lekker hashtag. And if you’re interested in participating, get in touch with me!