An unabashed tourist and her family explore the world one holiday at a time.
“Do you want to touch it, Aidan?” I ask, hoping fervently the answer will be no. The little one looks at the big yellow snake coiling around the handler’s body, not afraid, but not quite sure either. I don’t want Aidan to think snakes are pets to play with, I want him to respect them for the wild and dangerous creatures...
Marine worlds are usually a controversial topic – either you hate them or you love them. In our case, just as with zoos and other wildlife parks, we firmly believe that as long as animals are treated humanely and ethically, they are wonderful places to foster a lifelong love of animals in little children. So, having heard many goods things...
I recently read an article about literary destinations for children, which made me wonder what book first awakened the traveller in me. I’ve always wanted to explore the world, ever since I was a little girl, and I think that thirst for foreign countries and exotic destinations was inspired by (would you believe it?) Enid Blyton. I don’t remember when...
A few weeks ago we’d had enough of winter and cold and thick jackets and scarves and hats, so when Aidan’s preschool closed for a week-long holiday, we decided it was time for his first trip to the seaside. The three of us piled into the car and drove for nearly eight hours to get to Scottburgh in Kwa-Zulu Natal,...
When two people are travelling together, there are bound to be some things that the one didn’t enjoy quite as much as the other one. I think it’s a good idea to reflect on the trip afterwards, to learn from possible mistakes and to better plan for the next one. So… the verdict is out on our Babymoon 2015 trip: Gareth:...
South Africa is a diverse country and there are so many sights and experiences to recommend to visitors, that it’s almost impossible to select just ten for a bucket list. And, of course, the list would vary depending on whether you’re an adventure-lover, a family with kids, or a mature couple, and how much time you have available to explore...
My heart is beating wildly in my chest as the 4×4 flies across the sand. The full moon paints the ocean a pale shade of grey. We are racing over the beach near Cape Vidal, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in search of leatherback turtles. It’s December, that time of the year when the females make their way up...
Our little 16-month old toddler, Aidan, just loves looking at the animals in his wildlife book, so for my birthday this year we treated him (and ourselves) with a trip to the Pretoria Zoo. Our route through the park was a little haphazard, since we only arrived at 10 am (parents with toddlers will understand that, even with the best...
It’s not every day when you go for a game walk and the only animal you see is an insect. It’s also not everyone who can get excited about pile after pile of dung. So granted, our field guide did an excellent job in a difficult situation. With the region experiencing its worst drought in decades, the game...
The Irene Dairy Farm is a little pastoral haven in the middle of the bustling city. Make no mistake, it’s a popular destination for parents with young children, so don’t expect to come here if you’re looking for solitude and the quiet contemplation of nature. However, should you have your own little gaggle of little ones in tow, then this...