Economical excursions
If you can’t be spending your holidays at a swanky hotel in Camps Bay or at an Umhlanga getaway that will cost an arm and a leg, don’t despair. There is plenty to do that won’t break the budget.
If it’s the outdoors that you are after, the Mother City has the richest options for a budget tourist, like a full-moon hike up Lion’s Head.
At the top, hikers can enjoy a picnic and breathtaking views of the city under the light of a full moon. Hiking, enjoying a stroll on the Sea Point promenade, surfing at Muizenberg or taking in stunning views of the Atlantic from Signal Hill are some of Cape Town’s betterknown options. But there are others. Green Point Park’s popularity is rising. Aside from the opportunity to picnic, it contains more than 300 indigenous plant species, most of which are labelled. If the entry fee at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is too steep, Green Point is an alternative.
And if you can withstand the temptation to spend, two diamond tours in Cape Town will give you a behind-thescenes look at the factors that affect the value of a diamond. The Shimansky diamond tour at the V&A Waterfront and the sparkling tour at Diamond Works in the city centre are both free.
Moving inland, the popularity of the Free State town of Clarens is soaring, and not without reason. One of the best ways to explore the picturesque town is
7878 by browsing its many art galleries. The Blou Donki Art Gallery, the Art & Wine Gallery on Main, Artefunto Contemporary Art Gallery and Essensual Art Gallery are a few of the options.
They show the work of SA’s leading and emerging artists, but you can also expect to find affordable art, ceramics, sculpture and photographs that may even tempt the penny pincher. The mountains around the town also present an opportunity for keen hikers.
Still in the Free State, architecture buffs will enjoy a stroll along President Brand Street in the centre of Bloemfontein, which has iconic late 19th- and early 20th-century buildings.
In Johannesburg, visiting SA’s constitutional court is free. The court building houses a fine collection of SA art. A tour to the adjacent Old Fort, Number Four prison and Women’s Jail costs R50.
The recently renovated Johannesburg Public Library is a remarkable symbol of the city’s heritage. The 78-year-old building is gleaming. Use a visit to the library to enjoy some of the city’s other architectural relics, as well as its newer developments. These include the Maboneng Precinct and Braamfontein. Both areas have been revived through the development of exciting retail space, as well as trendy accommodation.
For visits of a more spiritual kind, Regina Mundi Catholic Church was a site for anti-apartheid organisers and is an important landmark in Soweto. The Nan Hua Buddhist Temple in Bronkhorstspruit and the newly built Nizamiye Turkish Mosque in Midrand will also inspire. Both bring architectural delights to SA.
If you have a reliable vehicle, the beautiful Mpumalanga landscape is yours to explore free or at low cost. The Lisbon Falls outside Graskop, for example, doesn’t have a cover change. And Blyde River Canyon with its beautiful Three Rondavels is a must-see. The province’s treasures include the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window and Mac-Mac Falls. Entry fees range between R5 and R25 per person.
And despite the controversy about Mpumalanga’s gold mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest, it will be open during December.
In KwaZulu Natal, the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve has black, red and white mangrove trees. Walking trails lead into the swamp or to a bird hide. Other options include the Durban Natural Science Museum, the Japanese Gardens and the Victoria Street Market.
Venturing into the KZN Midlands offers many prospects, but this visit may require a fuller wallet. The art and craft that may tempt you most lies along the Midlands Meander, at small independent establishments like the Glass Cutting