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 Roxanne Reid.
1) What do you love most about South Africa?
Definitely its diversity, with everything from mountains and desert to forest and coast, cities with a vibrant arts and restaurant scene to country towns and wide open spaces, wildlife big and small, culture and heritage, beautiful winelands, the floral riches of places like Namaqualand and the Cape Floral Kingdom. As far as activities go, our country is rich in choices from 4×4 trails, hiking and horse riding to diving, canoeing, mountain biking, kite-surfing – you name it. And best of all, the people can be amazingly friendly and welcoming. There’s simply no excuse to be bored on a holiday in South Africa.
2) What is your first local travel memory?
From when I was a toddler we used to make an annual trek to the KwaZulu-Natal coast to visit family. These aren’t the happiest of travel memories because my brother was usually crabby with hayfever and I hated beach sand in my swimming cozzie. When I was eight we went to the Kruger National Park instead and I was hooked. Even today more than two-thirds of my trips are still to game parks or nature reserves, which are the places where I’m most happy, most ‘me’.
3) What’s on your South African travel bucket list?
I’m lucky to have travelled widely around all nine provinces, hitting most of the high spots at least once. I’d like to go back to northern KwaZulu-Natal to visit Tembe Elephant Park, which we didn’t get to on our last trip, to stay at one of the private reserves bordering Kruger where you can drive off road, and to explore the small towns of the far Eastern Cape interior in more depth.
4) What’s your favourite place to visit in your hometown?
Cape Town has a wealth of photogenic spots to visit, not to mention being close to the Cape Winelands. But one of my perennial favourites is the small fishing village of Kalk Bay on the southern peninsula. Walk the cobbled streets and find eclectic shops. Enjoy the arty buzz, with galleries and people selling their crafts on street corners. Stop for a cup of coffee or a meal, browse the bookshop, buy fish fresh from the sea or watch seals at the harbour.
5) What are your top tips for planning a local getaway?
Don’t over-think it, just do it. You don’t have to go far or spend a lot – going somewhere 20-50km from home will reap its own rewards, even if you have to camp in a small borrowed tent to save on costs. Getting a change of scenery is the thing, doing something new or different. It changes the way you look at life and is a chance to make new friends.
6) Where can we follow your blog?
My blog: http://www.roxannereid.co.za/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoxanneReidSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxannereidsa/
Pinterest: https://za.pinterest.com/roxannereidsa/
Facebook Public profile: https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.reid.336
Africa Addict page: https://www.facebook.com/AfricaAddict/
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!
