We Bust 5 Travel Myths About South Africa

Pack your bags!

There are travel myths that the seasoned around-the-world traveller will encounter:

You must have a backpack if you’re visiting more than one country; women shouldn’t travel alone; the plane will crash if you use your cell phone on board; train travel is always cheaper than air travel in Europe…

These have been well and truly explored, and most of them debunked.

But what about travel myths in South Africa – the type the average visitor might encounter whilst enthusiastically planning to fly to our shores? Continued

5 Favourite Travel Books

Great Travel Reads

What better way to get in the mood for travel than from your armchair. For those in your life who, either won’t get moving and need more than a gentle prod, or are addicted to journeying in any way possible, here is a list of classics and great reads that are guaranteed to deliver wanderlust.

EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert

- because I couldn’t put it down

I’ll start with my recent favourite. Written with a mixture of wit, intelligence and self-introspection with which many women will identify, Elizabeth Gilbert’s travels through Italy, India and Bali to find a balance in her life are at once interesting and thoroughly evocative. Whilst some critics have called it at best ‘narcissistic New Age reading’, others, like Oprah Winfrey, have devoted two whole shows to it, and TIME praised it, suggesting that it is ‘as close as you can (get) to enlightenment-by-proxy’. Made into a film of the same name, 10 million copies of the book have benn sold worldwide. Love it or not, you can’t put it down. If you have a weekend to kill then this will definitely get your travel juice buds going. Continued

Great tips for using your DSLR – PART TWO

Get the perfect shot

I’ve just started using my DSLR and want to get the hang of modes other than auto. Whilst playing around trying to find out where to start and where best to focus, I’ve written a few pointers to share with others who also want to do more than simply point and click:

BUY A UV FILTER FOR YOUR LENS

This is one of the tips I picked up from the journalist fellow I mentioned in part one. Our hike at the time was along the coastline on the beach, thus exposed to typical beach fog, rain and the inevitability of a dropping or scratching the camera. It is cheaper to replace the filter than it is to replace the lens (do I need to add that I have yet to do this!) Continued

Great tips for using your DSLR – PART ONE

Learn how to use a DSLR

I’ve had a DSLR, or digital SLR, for over a year now. And I confess, I still use it on good old auto.

Translated: I border on pathetic when it comes to skilled photography, obviously. Luckily for me, the gorgeous Canon I have literally does most of it for me. So I just line up what I think is creative and the camera seems to do the rest.

And I manage to walk off with better shots than those I used to capture on my point-and-click. But I know I’m not doing the camera justice.

I wonder how many of us there are out there. Those of us with gorgeous cameras  whose younger, tech-savvy sisters-in-law easily make look gormless in less than five minutes, without the use of the manual, when they simply pick up the equipment and get the hang of it. Continued

Planet Friendly Travel – Have Impact On People, Not The Earth

Look after our fynbos

Green travel is not a new concept. But it does bring to mind a long list of prohibitions – don’t buy take away food in plastic containers; don’t buy water in plastic bottles (carry your own re-usable bottle) and don’t pick the fynbos.

All of this is rather patronising; a restrictive list that leaves the average traveller (not necessarily an avid greenie, but still intent on considering the environment) feeling daunted by the prospect of travel, and guilty as charged before they’ve even packed a bag.

Whilst avoiding brochures (waste of paper) and plastic bags, not using the hotel’s shampoo or towel heating rail, taking the stairs and re-using your towels are all commendable (and not picking the fynbos highly recommended!), they’re not as vital as the positive difference you can make to the lives of the people you will come into contact with on your travels. Continued

Packing For Your Trip

Plan Your Trip

The thought of packing for a long trip can strike terror into the hearts of even the most seasoned travellers, especially when there are young children involved.  But, with a comprehensive list of what you want to include in your luggage as well as some research into the place to which you’re going and the seasons you can expect, you can conquer this ugly monster.

Here are some ways to make the packing process much easier:

• Be sure you know your luggage allowance for the aeroplane, bus or train
• Collect everything you want to take with you and lay it out on your bed or the floor. Then, be realistic and get rid of everything that you probably won’t need. Be ruthless. Fold it neatly to see if it will, reasonably, fit in your permitted luggage. Continued

6 Travel Trends For 2013

Where are you going?

Travel constantly morphs as the world changes. But what are the major trends that will define travel in 2013, and how will they affect you?

INCREASE IN FEES = LOCAL TRAVEL

Airline tickets around the world are on the rise. The odd out of seasonal sale will have you dancing in the aisles but, certainly domestically, price hikes are the order of the day. The worldwide trend is ‘shorter trips but higher spending’ and we will no doubt follow suit in South Africa. The consequence? Local is lekker. Travel at home will probably see a huge take-up as people choose to explore the country close to home, rather than exotic international destinations. Continued

Travelling With Children

Travelling With Kids

Children change the nature of travelling. Often, they make it so much better; giving you a different perspective of the destination and holiday as you see it through their eyes. However, it certainly takes some adjustments so that both you and the younglings can get the most from the travel experience.

When planning your trip, keep your children in mind along every step of the planning process. Choose activities that they’ll enjoy and balance adult sight-seeing experiences with fun distractions for them. So, if you want to see a monument or library, try to make the trip there fun for the little ones (perhaps taking a train), for example. Try to give each child a chance to choose what they do or see at some point in the holiday. This will make the entire experience more exciting and memorable for them too. Continued

How To Take Great Vacation Photos

Great Shot

Going on holiday is exciting for so many reasons, but the time just flies and, before you know it, you’re back to the routine of daily life. Taking photos of your holiday, no matter how short or close to home, is an essential part of remembering it. There are few things as disappointing as scrolling through your holiday pictures, only to find that that they didn’t come out well. You might feel that you look terrible in every single one (us humans are so predictably critical) or your landscapes may be a blur.

Here are some ways to ensure that you take stunning holiday photos and make the memories last: Continued

Making The Most Out Of A Beach Holiday

Pack Properly

Ah, a beach holiday. Just what we need at the end of a long, rather tough year. And, in South Africa, there are a number of stunning beach getaways that invite local and international tourists to relax on the warms white sands or take a dip in the cool turquoise waters. Whether in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal or even a part of the Northern Cape, the South African coastline is extensive and exquisite.

To get the most out of your beach-bound vacation, a little bit of preparation and planning is required. It is well worth it when you are enjoying sea, sand and sunshine in sheer serenity. Here’s how: Continued

Travelling With Pets

I Love Vacations

Travelling doesn’t have to mean leaving your beloved pets at home or with a sitter. Depending on where you plan to go on vacation, taking your furry children with you may be a great option for both you and your privileged pets. Of course, taking them along requires some preparation. This 1) makes the entire experience a lot more manageable for you and 2) keeps your pets as safe and comfortable as possible.

Here is a checklist of tips and advice to ensuring that you and your fur-kids have the best vacation possible: Continued

How To Take Great Safari Photos

Take Your Pic

Going on a safari in South Africa is a truly memorable experience, one that you will treasure for a lifetime. Naturally, you want to capture these memories so that you can look at them for decades to come, but also so that you can share some of the splendour of this country with your friends and family back home.

Before providing tips on how to take the best safari photos, though, we want to remind you to enjoy the holiday. Put the camera down for a while and witness the majesty and beauty first-hand. These are memories that will never fade, and you will be able to tell others about your experiences with passion. Too often, tourists are so busy looking through the lens of their camera that they forget to enjoy the magical allure of the destination.

That having been said, here’s how to make your safari pictures really great: Continued

Travelling On A Shoe-String

Shoe-string Budget

Being a little short on cash should never hold you back from seeing the world. Granted, you will still have to save money to travel, but you can certainly explore other countries while only spending the bare minimum. Here’s how:

1. Travel in off-peak times of the year. Summers are usually the most expensive time to travel, depending on the destination. Most accommodation spots, activities and attractions offer special rates during their off-peak periods.
2. Share your costs with one or more other traveller(s). If you can split the costs of transport and accommodation, you will be guaranteed to save plenty of money. Try to rope in some good friends for a really memorable experience.
3. Book your tickets as long in advance as possible to benefit from early booking rates. Continued

What To Pack For A Camping Trip

Family Camping

South Africa is brimming with stunning places in which to go camping, ranging from the exquisite Drakensburg Mountains to the coastline of the wild Transkei. Camping is special. It allows holiday-makers to experience the country in a very personal way; being part of the natural flora around them without the physical limitations of hotel rooms or lodge boundaries.

Still, without the luxuries of formal accommodation establishments, the only way to enjoy a camping trip is to prepare for it properly. This means making comprehensive checklists of what you need to pack and packing well ahead of time to ensure that you have absolutely everything you need. All too often, last-minute packing leads to a motley assortment of random clothing items and foods, leaving a lot to be desired from the camping trip.

So, to enjoy your camping experience as much as possible, include the following things in your bags: Continued