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Limpopo Attractions
3 Mins Read

Why you should take a roadtrip to Limpopo

The Limpopo province is one of the most diverse and exciting destinations in South Africa. From wildlife to nature and culture, there is something for everyone.

About Limpopo

Limpopo is the northernmost province of the country, and its capital city is Polokwane. The name “Limpopo” has its etymological roots in the Nguni language, meaning “strong gushing waterfalls”.

The province covers an area of 125,755 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 5.6 million people. Limpopo is bounded by Botswana to the west, Zimbabwe to the north, and Mozambique to the east. The Vaal River forms the province’s southern boundary.

Why should you take a roadtrip to Limpopo?

Limpopo is one of the most beautiful and diverse provinces in South Africa (and I’m a little biased because it is my home province). From the majestic Drakensberg Mountains to the wildlife-rich Kruger National Park, there is something for everyone in Limpopo.

Here are five reasons why you should take a road trip to this incredible province:

1. The scenery is breath-taking

The Drakensberg Mountains provide a backdrop for the rolling hills and lush vegetation, while the Kruger National Park is home to an abundance of wildlife. There are also numerous game reserves and national parks where you can see rhinos, elephants, lions and other African wildlife up close.

  • Marakele National Park
  • Mabalingwe Nature Reserve
  • Welgevonden Nature Reserve
  • Kruger National Park
  • Mopholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
  • Mapungubwe National Park
  • Sondela Rehab Centre
  • Modjadji Cycad Reserve

2. There is plenty to do

Whether you want to go on safari, hike in the mountains, or simply relax by the pool, there is plenty to keep you busy in Limpopo. There are also numerous cultural activities and attractions, such as museums, art galleries and traditional villages where you can learn about the local culture and history.

  • Mukondeni Pottery Village
  • Bakone Malapa Open-Air Museum
  • Debegeni Waterfall
  • Echo Caves
  • Magoebaskloof Hinking Trails
  • Big Baobab (Gravelotte)
  • Arend Dieperink Museum

… and if you want to hike:

  • Louis Changuion Hiking Trail
  • Lesodi Hiking Trail
  • Blyde River via Dientjies Falls
  • Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail
  • Lephalale Mountain Trail

3. The food is delicious

Limpopo is home to some interesting traditional delicacies…

  • Mopani worms – dried, roasted or in a dish
  • Magege or roasted termites – dried, roasted or in a dish
  • Chicken feet & heads (walkie-talkies) with samp and beans
  • Thihove – samp and fresh peanuts ‘frikkadels’
  • Tsophi – round balls of butternut and pap
  • Umqombothi – home-brewed beer

PS. I won’t be joining you for mopani worms anytime soon!

You might want to add these to your trip:

  • Zwakala Brewery
  • Qualito Craft Distillery
  • Geluksfontein Goat Cheese Farm
  • Wegraakbosch Organic Farm
  • Kuhestan Organic Farm

4. Adventure by car or through the air

Whether you want to swing between trees, hike in the mountains or try your hand at a 4×4 adventure.

  • Letaba 4×4 Eco-Trail
  • Luvuvhu 4×4 Eco-Trail
  • Makuya 4×4 Self-Drive Trail
  • Great Limpopo Wilderness Trail

… and if you want to zipline:

  • Magoebaskloof Canopy Tours
  • Waterberg Zipline Adventures

There are so many reasons to take a roadtrip to Limpopo and I haven’t even scratched the surface in this post! So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and hit the road!

The SANI brand was established in 1997. SANI Car Rental is a South African homegrown car rental company. Vehicles available to rent include compact cars, economy cars, premium cars, people carriers and SUVs. SANI Car Rental serves customers throughout South Africa including at all major local and international airports. Visit SANI Car Rental at Polokwane International Airport.

#sponsored

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Bush Villas on Kruger
2 Mins Read

Bush Villas on Kruger’s very tempting offers

Get ready to make unforgettable memories with family and friends at Bush Villas on Kruger. Make your booking on www.bushvillasonkruger.com

LIGHT-THOSE-FIRES

Winter in the Lowveld is the best time of the year. Enjoy Kruger Park during the day and huddle around the braai at your Bush Villa at night. We have the perfect special for you:

Stay 3 nights in a Standard or Luxury Bush Villa and receive

  • A complimentary BRAAI PACK including meat, salads and garlic bread

Book now and stay before 4 September 2022. Valid on any day of the week.

T&C’s apply, valid for maximum 6 guests, specials cannot be combined

KRUGER PARK

Take the family for a Kruger Park holiday this winter! Search for lion and leopard at night and find the Milky Way up in the African sky.

Stay 4 nights in a Standard or Luxury Bush Villa and receive

  • 50% discount on a NIGHT DRIVE in KRUGER NATIONAL PARK in an open safari vehicle with a professional guide, including entrance fee

Book now and stay before 4 September 2022. Valid on any day of the week.

T&C’s apply, valid for maximum 6 guests, specials cannot be combined

WOMEN’S MONTH

To honour and celebrate all the beautiful ladies, we have a great special for you and your besties!

Stay 3 nights in a Standard or Luxury Bush Villa during August and receive

  • A complimentary 1-hour PHOTO SHOOT at the lodge

to the value of R1,100

Enjoy a great stay in the Lowveld and leave with precious memories of you and your sisters!

Valid for stay between 1-31 August 2022. T&C’s apply, valid for maximum 6 guests, specials cannot be combined

Magnificent midweeks

Midweeks Only – valid Monday to Thursday nights

Valid 18 April – 30 June 2022

Take advantage of these great discounts!

  • Standard Bush Villa was R2,550 now R1,990
  • Luxury Bush Villa was R3,200 now R2,495

Rate is per night for 1-6 people, minimum stay 2 nights

  • Extra adults pay R450 R330 per night
  • Extra children pay R200 R100 per night

LONG STAY SPECIAL

Our popular long stay special is back!

  • Stay 6 nights and only Pay for 5 nights

Choose between Standard & Luxury Bush Villas

Valid from 1 January – 31 December 2022

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yellow frames south africa
2 Mins Read

Yellow (Red & Black) Frames in South Africa

Please comment below and let me know where more of these yellow frames are hiding in South Africa – I would love to be frames in more 🙂

Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria, Gauteng

This is my favourite – but I am a little bit biased… I loved that they had steps to help you get into the frame – that was a nice touch.

I want to take the kids back to take another one to see how they grow

Golden Gate National Park, Freestate

We spotted this one as we were making our way from the N3 side through the Golden Gate park towards Clarens. I think the background is spectacular!

Cape Town, Western Cape

There are so many – and I still haven’t been to all of them. If you are planning a trip to Cape Town, I have a list of all the yellow frames.

PetroPort N4 Alzu, Mpumalanga

(Not my photo) There are so many – and I still haven’t been to all of them. If you are planning a trip to Cape Town, I have a list of all the yellow frames.

Flavia also reminded me of the amazing red frame at Bourke’s Luck Potholes in the Blyde River Canyon Reserve.

Oribi Gorge, KZN

Not my photo – but how cool are these?

Not my photo – but how cool are these?

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Tasting Room at Indaba
2 Mins Read

Wine Tasting Experiences in Johannesburg

Tasting Room at Indaba Hotel

I invited my social club members, Sunrise Society, to join me for a 10am wine and chocolate tasting experience for R70 per person (4 wines, 3 chocolates). It’s quite an experience as it is actually backed by Spier – and it is almost the same as being in the Cape (except that it’s a lot closer to home).

Tip*: You can buy the chocolate and wine you loved most during a wine and chocolate wine pairing experience

I went home with #2 and a slab of chocolate because I want to relive this experience many more times. The experience is comparable to what you would get in Cape Town.

Gerakaris Family Wines

Tip*: Order a platter to go with your wine tasting experience

This little winery in the heart of Joburg is one of my favourite places to take clients to. It is set between a nursery and artisanal shops in a quiet street.

More places to have wine tasting experiences at in Johannesburg

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2 Mins Read

Standing Tall

This is new! I am definitely printing out this photo to keep…

The Voortrekker Monument doesn’t need a frame, but it does get my kids to stand in one place for more than 2 seconds.

Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion.

Leigh Hunt

It was a rainy day and the wind was howling through the arches – and yet, I still stood there raindrops clinging to my hair while the wind wipped them around, because this is my favourite place on the #VoortrekkerMonument #VTM

I had the top terrace all to myself while walking through the arches. It was a first. It was a perfect moment.

This time I didn’t walk the last set of stairs to see the cenotaph from the top. I will keep that moment for another time.

These 2 half pints of terror had a fun time running around like hooligans in the #VoortrekkerMonument #VTM – I was mortified at their piercing screams echoing through the 40mx40mx40m structure.

299 steps, a small price to pay to walk around in this beautiful monument with its 92mx2.3m marble frieze, 3.3 million stitch tapestry that took 9 women 8 years to complete, and a cenotaph that is touched by the sun on only the 16th of December every year.

For me, this is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is a place of quiet reflection to study the story of my people and to always remember the vow they made.
Which South African monument is your favourite?

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What to do in Johannesburg: Gerakaris Family Wine

Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it.

Anonymous

Jan-tuisbly-se-karretjie is a reality for a lot of us this year, not because we don’t want to see family, but rather because we love them enough that we would stay away. It hurts, I won’t lie.

I’m trying to maintain a work-life-lockdown balance by doing things that takes us out of the house for an hour or 2 every few days. One of these little gems visited on an outing is the Gerakaris Family Wine property out in Craighall.

You can just order a wine tasting or add a platter with cheese or olives. It’s a nice little garden setting – but you can also ask to sit indoors.

PS. Right now I would recommend booking for your Johannesburg wine tasting.

Gerakaris Family Wine Johannesburg

Gerakaris Family Wine Contact Details:

You can PIN it if you want

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Eiffel in Harties
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That time we saw the Eiffel Tower (in Harties)

I like to use “Paris is always a good idea” by Audrey Hepburn for this occasion – but is it still a good idea if it is Little Paris in North West province?

When you have kids you start seeing things differently. Your camera angles up from a much lower perspective – and that’s when the magic happens on roadtrips.

After our stop at the amazing Upside Down House we wanted to get at least the (faux) Eiffel ticked off our list for the day.

We stopped at little Paris with Littles already telling us that it was nearing her nap time, so we ordered a takeaway of French Toast (because how can you stop at a place called French Toast Café and not order that?) and made a beeline for the Eiffel behind the fountain.

We had our pink engraved locks ready and let the kids run wild to search the perfect spot to attach them to. They eventually pointed at the bench and as hubby was finalizing where and how he was going to attach the locks, the kids admired almost every lock they could reach.

We snapped a few photos while we had the Eiffel all to ourselves.

Just look at those locks! There are thousands upon thousands.

On our way out we picked up our takeaway and wolfed down the most delicious French Toast we’ve ever had. It was a bit much for me, but I didn’t let any go to waste.

On the Little Paris premises there are a few small shops, an aquarium and even a wall with a real Paris photo where you can snap a few photos.

If you are looking for fun things to do in or near Gauteng, look no further than this list:

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2 Mins Read

What to do in Gauteng with Kids

The one thing I learnt during lockdown is that in my house there is a real possibility of going insane with 2 toddlers. Right when the lockdown was downgraded to level 3 in South Africa, we were out exploring. We packed snack bags and blankets, changes of clothes plus toys for the kids – and off we went… We didn’t get out of the car or speak to anyone. We had 5 masks per person, liters of sanitiser.

There will never be a perfect time to travel with your children, so do it now, before the opportunity passes you by. You can’t turn back time.

AJ and Natasha, The 2 Idiots Travel Blog

We have seen so many rhinos, lions and bucks that’ve we lost track. The kids are even starting to know what they are too and Lexa is so happy when she sees Zebras! The kids have learnt to keep a little more quiet when we stop to look at animals and Lexa has even taken to snapping them with her tablet.

Having kids is reason to travel, never a reason to stop.

Unknown

So here I am at 41 with 2 kids under 4 and I’m putting mileage on my Kia Sportage – and I really don’t even mind. I do however mind when my husband wants to drive my car… He never stops when I spot something to look at and never gets the perfect angle for photos (I just don’t know how that is even possible.)

When you travel with children, you are giving away something that can never be taken away. Experience, exposure, and way of life.

Pamela T. Chandler

I was probably raised a little more nomadic than most people, so the lockdown was exceptionally hard. Who knows what will happen next year. All I know is that if we don’t keep on roadtripping now, I might swim to China and Hulk out.

Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.

Bob Talbert
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That time we went to an Upside Down House…

One thing I have learnt during a pandemic and having toddlers is that no matter how big your house, it is not big enough for a threenager diva and one that has her mother’s temper plus just entered the terrible twos.

Life is an adventure; we get out of it what we put into it.

Richard Daly, God’s Little Book of Hope

We have visited many little nature reserves here in Gauteng and it was lovely. We saw the usual and got a little too close to rhinos – you know, the normal stuff. (Just kidding, it was spectacularly unforgettable!) We were however also limited to Gauteng…

I’ve had my eye on visiting the Upside Down House near Harties (Broederstroom) for a while. It didn’t take much to convince hubby to get in my car with the 2 hooligans with snacks…

It was fun! Lexa was in awe of the Upside Down House and Lily slapped her hands over her mouth. Hubby was impressed with my activity pick of the day.

Once inside the Upside Down House all the furniture is hanging from the floor above you. The “ceiling” you walk on is slanted… so we felt a little woozy after a few minutes. Don’t even get me started about walking upstairs – or is it downstairs up???

Entrance at the Upside Down House in South Africa is a bit steep for adults, but once you’ve seen it you probably won’t go back unless you have kids that nag you to go back. That said, I had fun and the kids had fun – it was worth it for the almost 30 minutes we were there on our very own.

Upside Down House South Africa Details

What to do with Kids in Gauteng (& North West)

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2 Mins Read

Into the Wild: Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Rietvlei was one of my favourite nature reserves discovered during lockdown level 3. It has an abundance of wildlife, lots of roads to drive and of course… very affordable.

Our first road trip in Rietvlei was so amazing that we returned for a second visit the very next weekend…

We thought we had left early enough on the day and arrived at the gate just to end up in a queue just after 8am. We didn’t know at the time, but during level 3 only 100 cars were allowed to enter at a time – and we were number 100 in the queue.

We drove through the gates and down a hill with a view of a dam glistening in the sun. The kids excitedly yelled ‘water’ and ‘swim’ in the back. The water was a dark blue-is/grey-ish tint with flashes of silver bursts. We drove along the water’s edge while I snapped a few pictures of the beautiful view.

We took the first right onto a dirt road and not 20m later we spotted our first animals of the day, a few zebra and ostriches. The kids started getting excited and hungry and we pulled over for a picnic in the car (as the picnic spots were closed under level 3).

A short while after we resumed our self-drive safari in Rietvlei we drove downhill to be greeted by 3 rhinos munching on short grass – very close to the road. We were so excited!

We drove through a herd of buffalo and zebra, spotted more ostriches and even a ‘hartbees’ or 5.

The kids started falling asleep after hour 3 of driving on the dirt roads of Rietvlei and we made our way back to Johannesburg.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve at a glance:

  • Adults R59, Pensioners R32, Kids up to 17 R32, 2-6 year olds R11 and 0-2 year olds free
  • 4,000 hectares or 40 km² in size
  • 14 Game Reserve Ave, Rietvallei 377-Jr, Pretoria
  • Website

What to do in Gauteng with kids – Roadtrips and Nature Reserves

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