Author: Chukwu Godlove
Bloemfontein’s public assets are underused due to administrative inefficiencies, resulting in lost opportunities for tourism and employment. The city urgently needs action to revitalise its significant public infrastructure. Bloemfontein is a city rich in history, geography and promise. It is the judicial capital of South Africa, home to museums of national significance, heritage buildings and natural vantage points that rival those of far more celebrated destinations. Yet for more than four years some of its most strategically placed public assets have stood empty, locked behind administrative indecision, repeated tender cancellations, and a silence that has cost the city far more…
Many people tend to feel the exhaustion of crowded beaches, long queues, and rushed itineraries. Quiet corners of South Africa and the continent offer calm, immersive experiences that restore perspective and energy. These destinations focus on nature, culture, and slow travel moments that allow visitors to truly pause and reset. Boggomsbaai, Western Cape, South Africa Boggomsbaai beach/Hendrik van den Berg/Wikimedia Commons A near-empty coastal village south of Mossel Bay offers kilometres of sandy beach with almost no visitors. Walking along the shoreline, spotting whales in season, or reading with sand between your toes creates a feeling of complete detachment from…
Across Africa, stories of romance are embedded in landscapes that are waiting to be heard, writes Miriam Kimvangu. Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove/ExploreWithTunde/Wikimedia Commons African romantic legends often emphasise harmony, patience, mutual respect and love rewarded through endurance or spiritual balance. These are stories where relationships are sustained rather than destroyed, and where place itself becomes a witness to affection. This map of love travels across the continent, linking myth to geography and offering travellers a chance to encounter romance as it is remembered in stone, water and ritual. Osun and Shango, Nigeria Sacred Partnership in Yoruba Myth In Yoruba mythology, Osun…
Travel can often come with pressure. Lists, must-sees, and tight timelines can turn even the most beautiful destinations into a blur. A different kind of magic happens when you ditch the checklist and allow time to stretch. These are the places that reward slowing down, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. 1. Scarborough and South Africa’s quieter coastal villages Scarborough, Cape Town/Michael Lammli/Unsplash Life moves gently along this stretch of coastline south of Cape Town. Scarborough and nearby settlements are shaped by wind, tide and light rather than schedules. Long beach walks, quiet observation of tidal pools and lingering over coffee invite a…
NAIROBI — Nairobi’s position as East Africa’s business and diplomatic hub has made it a bellwether for how urban hospitality is evolving in the region. For operators, the city now functions less as a pure leisure destination and more as a mixed-use market shaped by corporate travel, long-stay demand and regional mobility. Hemingways Collection’s presence through Hemingways Nairobi and Hemingways Eden Residence reflects this shift. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Rather than expanding footprint, the group has structured its Nairobi assets to serve distinct segments within the same market. “Nairobi is central to our East…
Romance does not always mean rose petals and candlelit menus. Often, it can come in the form of shared silences, relaxed landscapes, and places that slow you down without asking. From misty mountains to warm-water coastlines and bushveld hideaways, these South African destinations do the emotional heavy lifting naturally, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. 1. Clarens, Free State Clarens welcome sign/Ossewa/Wikimedia Commons Golden hour walks and mountain stillness Tucked beneath the Maluti Mountains, Clarens has an easy intimacy that reveals itself slowly. Sandstone cliffs glow honey-gold in late afternoon, cafés spill onto pavements, and art galleries invite lingering rather than rushing. Days…
Nairobi — The government is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and smart data as key tools to reshape the future of tourism, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has said. Speaking during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Miano said technology is no longer optional in the fast-evolving global travel industry but central to building a resilient, inclusive and competitive tourism sector. “By leveraging AI and smart data to personalise the visitor experience and moving beyond talk to action with low-carbon solutions for conservation-led tourism, we are ensuring our local communities are the primary beneficiaries of the tourism value chain,”…
Not every good day needs a big build-up, writes Zoë Erasmus. Sometimes it’s as simple as meeting a friend, wandering into a museum, and seeing where the hours take you. Magda Ehlers / Pexels On a Wednesday morning, with no real plan beyond “let’s go to Zeitz MOCAA,” that was more than enough, and as a South African citizen we have the privilege of visiting the museum for free on Wednesdays between the hours of 10am to 1pm. Walking into the museum from the V&A Waterfront, the shift is immediate. The noise softens, footsteps echo, and suddenly everyone is looking…
Not every summer needs a checklist, a drone shot, or a crowd to validate it, writes Zoë Erasmus. Carlos Jamaica / Pexels Sometimes what you want is warmth without performance, beauty without an audience, and places that let you exist quietly inside the season. Africa does summer exceptionally well, but not only in the headline-grabbing ways we’re used to seeing. Beyond the bucket lists and peak-season hotspots are destinations that offer sun, rhythm, and richness without the spectacle. These are places where summer unfolds slowly: where mornings stretch, afternoons linger, and evenings feel earned. If you’re looking for travel that…
Romance is not always found in luxury or perfectly styled rooms. It often grows through shared moments like drifting above a landscape at sunrise, spotting wildlife together in the early hours, or taking the long way through an unfamiliar town with no fixed plan. Couples who travel for experiences tend to remember how a place made them feel rather than the details of where they slept. These six romantic getaways are designed for couples who value connection, adventure, and memories that last long after the journey ends, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. Cappadocia, Turkey Cappadocia/Timur Garifov/Unsplash Drift above ancient valleys at sunrise…