Space to simply coast along
MENTION A safari and Southern Africa springs to mind — but there is more to South Africa than wildlife and wilderness, amazing though those aspects are. The climate and people are friendly and the diverse cultures and sandy white beaches make it one of the most popular travel destinations in the world.
There is something for outdoor and adventure addicts, culture vultures, shopping enthusiasts, golfers, birders, photographers and art aficionadi.
The leading private game lodges and hotels are all world-class. And the lesser accommodation is still of a high standard, with private en-suite bathrooms and amenities. With advance planning, high-quality kosher meals can be made available almost everywhere in the country — even remote safari destinations of Botswana and the Victoria Falls.
For a family holiday, there can be few better places to experience the world together while having fun. South Africa has loads of activities geared to children and plenty of child-friendly accommodation options.
A favourite family holiday destination is the Garden Route, along the southern coast. The narrow coastal plain is well forested and is mostly bordered by lagoons behind a barrier of sand dunes and superb white beaches.
A visit to the Tsitsikamma Forest, with its giant yellowwood trees, lush vegetation and deep gorges, could include a canopy tour, in which you experience the unequalled beauty of the forest from treetop platforms. You gently glide along in a harness, on steel cables, 30m above the forest floor, while your guide explains the ecology of the lush primeval forest.
Colourful birdlife is abundant, including knysna loeries and the elusive narina Trojan.
At Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, experienced game rangers are on hand to take visitors on monkey safaris. Expect to see many species of primates, from the gibbons of Asia and howlers from South America to the lemurs of Madagascar.
Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre is another must-see. On the wild-cat experience, you will see cheetah, serval, caracal, African wildcats and the rare black-footed cat.
At the Plettenberg Bay elephant sanctuary, the herd is a happy, relaxed bunch. The elephant walk is unusual — you do not just walk with the animals — you walk trunk-in-hand with them. Imagine walking hand-in-hand with a loved one, then remind yourself the other “hand” is a trunk.
The main focus of the sanctuary is to educate visitors about all aspects of elephants and elephant husbandry. You will get to touch an elephant’s ear and look closely at the smoothness of the skin on the back of it, compared to the rough outside. You will also enjoy a short elephant-back ride — a privilege historically reserved for kings.
For a honeymoon, there can be few better places. Combine a game lodge and safari with beaches, historic wine estates, mountain hideaways, luxury lodges or idyllic bush retreats, to create the perfect start to your married life.
Celeste Sosnovik is an expert at Celafrica Tours, which specialises in tailor-made travel to Southern Africa, celafrica.com