Summer is here – finally. And lockdown life is slowly fading from the periphery of our existence. If you lus for getting out and doing something extraordinary, the borders are open, you’re free to explore your own country and experience the rich natural and historical heritage that Mzansi has to offer.
Make this summer, that summer – the summer that you’ll look back on and think, "aweh, those were the good times". YOLO – that’s all we’re saying, so there’s no better time to tick off those things on your bucket list, or in those cases, add some activities to it. Go forth and do summer!
Africlassic River Lodge | Gauteng | Rivonia
Just Google daai deng mfowethu – You’ll instantly be transported into another dimension. It’s where you go when you want to be treated like African royalty. You can sit at river’s edge and enjoy a cocktail while you soak up the sun and forget that there’s even a reality between this paradise. Each section pays homage to a part of Africa.
At the African Islands section, you can take a dip in the crystalline pool. At POIKIE Restaurant, you can enjoy traditional African stews, cooked in a potjie. Then there’s the Taste of Morocco Bedouin tent, where you can enjoy Moroccan cuisine to the sound of the gushing river. There’s also the Mombasa Supper Club, which can only be described as a “culinary safari.” For fitness fanatics for whom wellness means getting the blood pumping, there are cycling trails and expansive grounds for jogging and leisurely strolls.
Turtle Package | KwaZulu-Natal | Mbazwana
Have you kuiered by a World Heritage Site before? No? Then this Summer, it’s something to tick off your bucket list. The Thonga Beach Lodge is located in a remote part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The adventure starts with a 4x4 trip over gravel roads, grasslands and plantations, to the hideaway that will be your home. The beaches in this region are home to a spectacular range of biodiversity, including majestic sea turtles, which you can see on a guided snorkelling adventure in the deep blue.
Cape Town and Wine | Western Cape | Cape Town
Take a lekker Summer break in Kaapstad – the Mother City, where the beaches are beautiful and the sky is blue. Tourism is Cape Town’s ding, so trust us, any hotel you visit is going to be ready to make you tuis in true Mother City style. This is also the city where you do wine-tasting. Whether you’re a self-titled connoisseur or just in it for the experience of a good ol’ chenin blanc or merlot, you simply have to taste the fruits of one of the world’s finest wine-making destinations. Oh, and whoever said sophistication can’t be enjoyed with a bit of an adrenaline rush on the side, doesn’t know about the sand dune quad biking experience. Take the four wheels out onto the sand and satisfy your need for speed – and some flying sand. Something for the adventurer in all of us.
Moletani Game Ranch | Limpopo | Nylstroom
My bru, trust us, if you’ve never checked a buffalo or a giraffe up close in their natural environment, then you haven’t yet experienced Mzansi. It’s something very different in person from what you see on TV. The Moletani Game Ranch is a private reserve within the Greater Waterberg Biosphere, roughly a 3-hour drive from O.R. Tambo airport. Onsite, you can go on guided game drives, chillax at the pool, get some hiking in, fly a couple of drones, live your best life on a mountain bike and even try your hand at fishing. Sounds legit, ne?
Glamping | North-West | Rustenburg
You get camping. And then you get glamping – the intersection between living your best glamorous life, and camping. It puts the boujee back in roughing it out in the wild outdoors and it’s something every Saffer needs to experience. You still get to sleep in a tent or under the stars, but you’ll have modern-day creative comforts like bedside table lamps, proper mattresses and beds, and deck chairs from where you can appreciate the view with the glass of whatever XYZ tickles your fancy. It’s a vibe magenge, seriously.
For More Information
For more information on what beautiful South Africa adventures lay and wait for you to explore, visit www.shotleft.co.za. You can also contact Sho't Left on 011 895 3000 and [email protected]. Don't forget to check them out on their social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
