Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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Suitcase parenting: Travel with your kids!

The one thing I have learnt is to not stress about the small stuff – but to be in the moment enjoying it. A wind that sweeps hair in your face while you’re trying to take a family selfie is nothing compared to your kid laughing about your misfortune. Having mud on your clothes is a small price to pay for scooping up your baby and hearing them giggle…

I took my kids to "Thailand" and took this picture
I was there… I snapped the picture of hubby and the kids in front of Nan Hua Temple

Don’t count the days; make the days count.

Muhammad Ali

I believe it’s never too early to take your kids on an exploration of the world. They may not remember everything, but they will remember you were there with them – and that’s all I want. You don’t have to tell me that it is exhausting to take kids on trips (even if it is just to a grocery shop) and that your luggage exponentially multiplies…

Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings

Hodding Carter

Remember this photo?

I posted it last year June/July. We were on a family holiday on Reunion Island – 3 generations nogal! It was my mom’s first any only overseas trip and my oldest kid got to have this trip with her grandmother, grandfather and parents. Who wouldn’t one day want to remind their kid of such a special holiday?

Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.

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Not everyone can afford to jump on a plane to an international destination, but you can jump in your car to some of the most amazing places right here in South Africa.

I joked about it to a friend, but you can really fake a trip to Thailand and Paris not too far from Joburg…

  • Nan Hua Buddhist Temple in Bronkhorstspruit (I’ll post some more photos later)
  • The Eiffel in Parys

You also really don’t have to go too far from wherever you stay – just do stuff with your kids. Go to the movies, parks, National Parks or even just prepare meals together…

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yellow frames south africa
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Best things to do in Cape Town: Visit Cape Town’s yellow frames

Finally landing in Cape Town after almost 5 years I knew what to expect from the sleepy town at the southern tip of Africa. I was here with my parents and then again with colleagues for a marketing summit – where we made time to get out a bit. We visited the V&A and we all got on the yellow frame and had fun with it.

The iconic yellow frames in Cape Town perfectly frame some of the most iconic and picturesque attractions. Here is a list of where you can find Cape Town’s yellow frames:

  • Signal Hill, Cape Town
  • Blaauwberg – Eden on the Bay
  • V&A Waterfront overlooking the harbour and Table Mountain
  • In front of the Zeitz MOCAA at the V&A Waterfront
  • Cape Town station
  • Lookout Hill, Khayelitsha
  • District Six, Harrington Street – right next to Charly’s Bakery
  • Silo District

These frames will definitely help tourists find the best spots to take photos and to have an awesome souvenir photo of places visited in the Mother City.

I’m putting it out there, I like fun useless facts…

  • Did you know that the yellow frames are 2.8m tall by 4m wide?
  • The frames are painted in yellow or Pantone C109.
  • The V&A Waterfront was the first location to receive its yellow frame.
  • Signal Hill received the second yellow frame.

Here are some OBVIAAAS tips to get great photos of you in one of Cape Town’s yellow frames:

Best things to do in Cape Town - find Cape Town's yellow frames
Cape Town yellow frame in front of the Zeitz MOCAA
  • Don’t ask a stranger to take your photos.
  • As you can see on the photo above this stranger snapped while I was still getting on the frame and forgot to check that she actually captured the landmark (Table Mountain) in the frame. The rest of the series aren’t better either.
  • Snap pictures of just the frame and landmark.
  • Stand back, seriously, you don’t have to stand on top of the frame to snap a picture. Look for the white X to stand on.
  • The frame, when you stand on the right spot, will perfectly frame the landmark.
  • Take photos in landscape – just like the one my BFF snapped at Charly’s Bakery (see below).
Best things to do in Cape Town - find Cape Town's yellow frames

What to do in Cape Town

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Exploring Cape Town on a City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour

The simple truth about getting on the City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour in Cape Town is that it is a must. I loved it! It was a cheap way to get around Cape Town and I get to see a lot of interesting places without having to look for parking…

Cape Town seems to have a shortage of parking spaces. I even saw a car being pushed out of the way into a wall with a car. I don’t know if it’s normal, but if I rented a car I would get the smallest car possible and take super waiver damage insurance – just saying.

There I was, sitting at the top of the City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour under a canopy/roof looking at all these beaches filled with people… on the beach and not in the beautiful blue freezing water. (Clearly this is not KZN)

I even got off my perfect vantage point to walk and snap photos.

I only booked a 1 day ticket – and it even included stops at 3 wine tastings… The route stretched from the V&A via the Bo-Kaap (depending on the colour line you took)past Kirstenbosch, wineries and even up Table Mountain and down along the coast. It was a really well-planned route!

If I was to ever go back to Cape Town – and I only get there every decade or so – I would totally book my spot on some of the more expensive excursions they have… which are more wine tasting orientated.

If you want to see more of the wonderful things you can expect when you hop on, visit www.citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town or if you are in my hood (that’s Jozi) www.citysightseeing.co.za/en/joburg.

PS. They didn’t pay me to say nice things. I paid for my ticket as if I’m a real person.

What to do in Cape Town

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Hello Table Mountain – solo travel in Cape Town

Let’s talk about all the places you want to visit in Cape Town (and surrounds)… I did the tourist thing and got on a City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour (well, after an Uber).

It was a sunny day in Cape Town, no wind, no clouds and only blue skies. I set off on my solo travel experience of the Mother City with Table Mountain as my first stop.

Pre-booked tickets in hand I stood there looking at the incredibly long queue to get up the mountain by cable car. The long line was made up of local and international visitors all excited about the prospect of having a clear view from the top. One and a half hours in the African sun and an eye-rolling employee later trying to get us to all stand closer to each other – obviously I blew a little gasket explaining in no uncertain terms there will be no getting on top of each other after being baked to shreds. If I hadn’t paid a whopping R330 for the privilege of working on growing skin cancer just to get up a mountain, I would’ve left.

The Table Mountain cable car was a nice surprise. The cable car rotated and gave all its passengers different views. It felt safe enough as they are fairly new – I still don’t like heights.

I followed the footpaths on the mountain, stopping occasionally to snap a picture of the city at its feet. I stared at the wild landscapes on the Hout Bay side and watched the waves break over rocks and even a ship or two.

I might’ve spent more time on the mountain, but 40 minutes later my legs and back begged for somewhere soft to rest and I got back in the queue to make the journey down the mountain. Two minutes after hitting tar the City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour arrived and down the mountain we went.

Looking back, I made a few simple mistakes. I didn’t arrive at 7 am to get in a queue and 750ml of water wasn’t enough for that 1.5 hour wait – and I couldn’t very well leave the queue to go buy stuff… I was solo travelling!

Check my (mostly) solo travel experiences in Cape Town.

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Cradle of Humankind: Sterkfontein Caves

Crawling through caves… yeah, not something I would usually do. However these caves from part of the whole Maropeng experience – and I had to have the whole experience.

They will ask who suffers of from claustrophobia, asthma, knee or back problems. My husband and I were the only ones to raise our hands for asthma, knee and back problems *shame*. We however managed fine even with the loads of steps and places we had to crouch-walk.

The Sterkfontein Caves are famous for fossil-finds and is owned by the University of the Witwatersrand or University of Johannesburg as it is know as today). Scientists from this university are responisible for notable discoveries at the caves – including Mrs Ples.

The tours start above ground, but once inside the cave you will have a dimly lit tour.

The most spectacular part of the tour is the underwater lake with its iridescent water. Other highlights include stalactites and stalagmites.

What you need to know before you go:

  • Take a torch
  • Wear comfortable shoes
  • There are many tours throughout the day, but you can book beforehand
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Take a walk through history at Maropeng – Long March to Freedom Statues

Walk through almost 100 statues of icons from South Africa’s past at Maropeng. The Long March to Freedom public art exhibition is a must-see with its life-sized bronze statues. This exhibition was previously housed at the Fountains Valley Resort in Pretoria but thanks to an agreement with the National Heritage Project Company it found a temporary home at Maropeng.

It is rumoured to be the largest outdoor exhibition anywhere in the world – and with an estimated value of around R100-million! The statues will eventually grow into a procession of over 400 bronze statues over time.

You can walk through the loosely spaced statues and snap selfies with chiefs, missionaries and freedom fighters like Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela. The statues depict figures dating back as far as the 1700s. The details on the statues are spectacular – so pay attention.

How much does it cost to visit The Long March to Freedom exhibition:

The Long March to Freedom exhibition is absolutely free to visit currently. You can opt to visit the Maropeng exhibition while you are here – this however does have a price tag.

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Discover Gauteng: Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind

You want to visit and explore beautiful countries? Now isn’t that funny, we already live in a beautiful country rich in attractions and natural wonders.

I think I am luckier than most, I got to see and experience a lot of South Africa with my parents. Plus I grew up in the far north, made my way to Gauteng and set up home in Jozi and Durbs. I kind of have a map in my head of all the places we’ve been. I never want to stop discovering more of my country or visiting favourites like the Kruger National Park, beautiful Mpumalanga or Limpopo with it’s views of mountains, bushveld and wildness.

However, we can’t always drive to all the beautiful places far, far away – sometimes we have to look a little closer to home.

A few weekends ago we left the kids with the nanny and hubby and I did something together, on our own. I finally convinced hubby that this is one of those quick trips close to home that we need to see. I grabbed the Instax SQ20, my phone and wallet and off we went.

I didn’t quite know what to expect from Maropeng/Cradle of Humankind. I didn’t go with expectations but rather with the mindset that there might be some cool bones. This museum exhibition did not disappoint and I can say for sure that the quality of the exhibition is on par with some really great international exhibits.

I’m going to skip right past the Long Walk to Freedom statues and get back to it later… as in, in another piece next week. (I’m that evil)

The building itself is a marvel to see. It is covered in grass from the front and reminds you of a beehive. Officially the Tumulus Building resembles an ancient burial mound – but I see a beehive. As you make your way into the building you are greeted by the sound of a sunken fountain – where you can toss a coin and make wish. Then you descend into the underground where you will go on a journey of time.

Another surprise was the little gondola ride. It floats by an ice world, volcanoes and more – it was such a fun part of the museum! Then you get out and walk the rest of the journey. We had so much fun with all the interactive pieces and it was really an immersive experience that is great for kids and adults.

I’m not going to spoil it by oversharing, but what I can tell you is that I would definitely go to Maropeng again! If you have time to watch the video at the bottom of the page you can see more of the exhibition and gondola ride experience.

After the exhibit we had lunch at the entrance. It was a simple meal and not too expensive.

What it costs to Visit Maropeng / Cradle of Humankind, Long Walk to Freedom statues and Sterkfontein Caves

  • R190 per adult gets you into the museum and into the Sterkfontein Caves. You can do them separately, but it’s more cost effective to do a all-in ticket.
  • You can visit the Long Walk to Freedom statues for free as it is outside.
Quick peek at what you can expect at Maropeng
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A nomad’s heart

The truth is I’m feeling lost. I miss my mom. I need to clear my head and the only way I know how to do that is to travel. We have one trip coming up this December, but I need one of those chaotic (not chaotic, but rather action-packed) trips that I’m known for.

December is all about my family this year. Taking Lily on her very first real holiday with a big sister that is water mad; adding in my dad, sister with her hubby and the 2 teenage cousins. It’s a family holiday we used to have regularly as kids with my parents – and we are just recreating our childhood with our own kids.

I can’t wait to create family holiday memories with my kids! Going from “you’ll never have your own” to having 2 of my own is kind of a big deal.

…but back to that trip that I so desperately need, for myself.

I planned a trip to Morocco last year, had the invoice in my hands – and then my mom was diagnosed with cancer. It was a knee jerk reaction to cancel all plans that could take me away from her. Now I need that trip more than anything.

I need to clear my head and be a nomad for just a little bit again.

This heart of mine was made to travel this world

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I want to walk through the bustling streets of Marrakech, drink in the blue of Chefchaouen, admire places like Fes and Rabat, chase seagulls in Essaouira, sleep in the desert and maybe even see the Morocco meteor shower in December. I want to stuff my face in Morocco with every flavour and drape myself in a cultural experience. Ag, how I dream of this place!

Why this obsession to travel and explore Morocco?

Morocco has always been this magical place at the top of Africa where the colours are brighter and the people are different.

Morocco Tours that I’m looking at right now:

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I love the Dolphin Coast – and it’s perfect for family holidays

I love the North Coast! It is my other home. My parents brought us here after my matric year – and I’ve been back so many times since. Even crazier than that, my husband briefly went to school here and used to surf the waves down on Willards.

When we bought a place out here we never could’ve dreamt just how this place would become our little hideaway home. At first it buying a place here was so we didn’t have to check out early from a hotel then it became about bringing my cat, Genie. It also just happened to be the perfect place to wait for the births of our 2 daughters and finally now it is a place for our little family.

We feel like locals. We have our favourite spots like Burnedale, Sage and Litchi Orchard. We always eat bunnychows from the Sasol in Salt Rock, donuts from the new Checkers at Mt Richmore and go to Mica every single week we are here. We love the revamp of Ballito Lifestyle and the shiny new mall down the road. We still haven’t been to the Railroad Brewery down the road and we always say we want to visit more spots but somehow when we’re here we end up on the beach or the old familiar places.

The best thing about the Dolphin Coast… dolphin sightings duh!

What to do in Ballito and Salt Rock with kids

Sage Centre

I think I love Sage Centre a little more each time we go – even if Tsonga is no longer there. The little shops are stocked with South African made products – offering such temptations for my wallet. A huge plus of this place is the play park… that you can see from your table at Sage Cafe & Deli.

My favourite shop definitely is Willow and Ruby. Maybe I’m a little biased because they stock IY Apparel bags or maybe it’s the gorgeous jewellery…

Burnedale Farm

We visit Burnedale during every stay. This place has one major attraction for kids that we love… the donkeys! Lexa loves spending time with them and then I get snap happy.

Burnedale is also home to Natural Living, one of my favourite shops. I won’t spoil it, but it’s something between treasure island and heaven when you’re in the shop.

Another not to be missed eatery that is family friendly is Burnedale Cafe but you can also pop into another little gem for a slice of cake and coffee called The Meeting Place.

There are so much more you can do in Ballito and Salt Rock with kids…

  • Flag Animal Farm
  • Litchi Orchard… especially when they have litchi picking season
  • The Great Railroad Brewing Company / Ballito Brewing Company

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What to do in Gauteng: Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve

I grew up thinking that the Kruger Park was in our backyard – that’s how many times we went. One of my most vivid memories was seeing lions for the very first time. I remember pressing my nose flat against the window in the stationwagon to get a better view of these better cats. My parents loved going to the Kruger Park and I still do, but I can’t just pop over there… its far!

I was elated to be introduced to the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve just 2 shakes from our home. Not only do they have lions, but they also have a bunch of other cats and animals to look at.

Once you enter the park adrenaline starts pumping. Just after the gate the very first watering hole with animals, then up and down a hill a gate will be opened that keeps the predators away from the herbivores.

We didn’t get to do the animal interactions as we were at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve for an easter egg hunt and the children were kaput! Next time we’ll do that…

When the driving gets too much you can always go to the Thatch Café for a snack or take on the bicycle ramps. You can also go to the Thatch Cafe and bike park without entering the rest of the park – which means it’s a free place to go! You can also rent bicycles here.

Get more details on www.rhinolion.co.za.

What to do with kids while in Gauteng

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